DENUS PETITION To the Lord General CROMWELL. WITH, His Protestation, and Engagement. ALSO, His Description of the House of God, and Original Priesthood. Whereunto is annexed, The Ministerial Duty; And the Personal Reign of the Saints. LONDON, Printed for R. H. MDCLI. To the Right Honourable, OLIVER Lord CROMWELL. The humble Petition and supplication of me poor Denus. THese are to certify your Highness, hoping that with all moderation you will be pleased to condescend so low as to behold and peruse my message from God. It is not an Army or an arm of flesh, but the power of God that de●ndeth you; he is the Lord to whom all the powers of the earth shall stoop, and throw down their Crowns and all their outward honour. For at his appearing man ought not to ascribe or Image out to himself the name (Lord) or in any graven substance; for now he reigneth King upon his Throne since the 13 & 14 days of April last passed, issuing 1650. being Easter day, and the day before, called the Jews Saturday: and I Denus appeared to make known the day of the Lord and his year excepted: and this visible Power did first Oriently appear in the City of London, by four proclamations being placed in the four Corners of the old Exchange, which signifieth a great change of States, of Laws, of Governments, of Religions, of Merchandise, of Priests, of Opinions, and a change of every Condition. Sir, it is in your power to do good, Oh that you would see the end of your Work, and highest enjoyments; there be many refreshments which be Ensigns of God's Love, but none so precious as this, which is to live in God. I hope you strive not for honour, nor yet for any outward pre-eminence, but only for the glory of Christ, and primitive purity; if you have any by-end below him, it will not prosper: for that which is of God will stand, when all other things will decay. I hope your End is to reduce and to bring all things unto their former Original, to heal and restore the breaches, than you shall be called the Restorer of places to dwell in. Now this your pre-eminence is to the Work of God, and consider it, I pray you; It is a cursed thing to do Gods work slightly; and an honourable thing to appear for Christ in case of greatest danger. You have been prosperous, God was and is your defence. Lord say ride on and prosper. Your Army is his Battle Axe, and should destroy humane powers, fully to maintain Christ's power: for other powers I know none that shall stand before him. Now that you would please to stand up for a free Nation, according to promises made to our Commonalty, and not only for reformation, but for restoration, the one without the other is not available; therefore that it may please you to see the great Oppressions among us which be so inhuman and savage, that so violently they spoil and eat out the heart of our Canaan, and destroy a good Land. Oh that you would stand up to help the poor of this Nation, and where you find great Parsonages where the Diviners have and ●njoy too much, that some of it might be distributed in the same places. Oh that you would please to impropriate to them, I mean the helpless and distressed of our Nation, and that you would take in consideration to do good with all impropriations, and deal with the Butcher Towns according to their deserts: but questionless they will say, we or our fathers have bought them with our money. It may be so, but whence did Tithes arise? Though Aaron the Priest paid Tithes of all to Melchizedeck, meaning his whole Substance was liable to Christ, having neither end nor beginning. Or can you show the lawful buying of tithes? if the Minister possesseth them not, why should great men hold them? for aught we know they are proper to the poor of such places, and for God's house. The holy Scriptures add to this purpose by an allusion to the Church, as he saith elsewhere; That ye do to any of those little ones, ye do it to me: and these things keeping away, are but Robbing his house of common Rites. I pray you what tithes were given in the Apostles time? those Ministers could not be so proud, nor their wives neither: Or what impropriations or Church-Robbers without Judas was one? Or which were the best of them that sold the Church Rites, or them that bought them? They may both run in one channel, for they neither bought nor sold their own; nor can they lawfully hold the tithes from the poor and house of God; for God may well say, Why do ye rob me in Tithes and offerings? You shall not keep my Feast of Tabernacles, nor come into my rest, or inward Courts. There be many other dishonourable overruling evils in our Nation, which you may please to vindicate to the Parliament, that there might be a redressement, by a restoring power which may be very comfortable to our state; and in so doing, God may be fully seen in your work, and will answer your desires. It were good if the poor of every Parish could have what helps might be within their own Liberties, as Commons and ancient enjoyments. Our Parliament might see this, God seethe it and saith their Captivity shall return, it is only meant the captivity of the poor; for the rich be not in that Snare, but in a more deep and dangerous condition. The poor cry, and are sent empty away, but the Rich shall have many places, and this will be a firebrand in some of their consciences, when they shall remember and so be shut out from the enjoyment of God, for he can as well give comfort to the poor in their affliction, and give others hell in their great possessions; for at the end every foundation shall stand upon their own bottom: I cannot but declare the things of God. Further your poor petitioner intreateth you to take into your consideration, the abusess of all Common Destroyer's of our good Common wealth or well being. It hath formerly been, when a dear year hath come, the poor have paid for it; but now we cannot find it so, others will pay for it before them; we have so many that do engross privileges, and are loath that the rust of their money should not be a witness against them; therefore they buy whole Lordships, though the earth be the Lords and not theirs, yet they can make it their own from men, until the Lord blow upon it: thus they build Babylon to their hearts desire, which must suddenly fall. There be many other great offenders which keep up and imprison plenty, hoarding up many hundred Quarters of Corn, buying it contrary to the Will of the Lord, and so eat out the heart and name of plenty, to engross as they do. We have some Badgerly Woolves that will come between the fickle and the sith, saying, I will give thus much, or such a Rate for Corn all the year about: and thus they Witch up the prices of corn. These are abominable branches, and thiefs to the Common wealths good. All these and such as these be, would be branded with the letter G. signifying God hath plagued thee. Now this public theft is far worse than poor poverteous theft; for poor poverty judgeth the law, and justifieth itself. When the world and all outward means fail, yet God will be seen in equity, and will justify the poor man's condition in a way of consideration. Sir, you and all the Parliament should be the breasts of our Consolation, yet we know not how you will order our Common wealth's affairs, which as yet we lie under your veil and liable to your Disposing, not yet enjoying a free National stability, according to God's Institution or Creation, but to live in hope and above hope, looking beyond all outward externals, which is nothing in his sight. Now the overruling power and providence of God guide you in those great affairs you take in hand. Yet further to let you understand, we lie yet in Darkness under a sad Dispensation betwixt a King, and an unsettled State full of murmur, distractions, and declinings from true godliness, working our own ends by personal greatness, not seeing that sweet enjoyment we might have in God, if we did not so highly prise this fading world; but to see nothing honourable, below Christ, but all men's honours shall quake as an Aspen leaf, and none shall hold but that of godliness. Who is afflicted and I not, or who shall declare, but I from the Lord? I fear not to speak the truth in the Lord's Design. I can have no rest night nor day until I see his work accomplished; but there is much covetousness and oppression in our Nation, that as yet we must not say our God is a reconciled God; but his hand is stretched out still, until he hath bend Juda and gathered in Israel, and restored Jerusalem, and until then the sword shall drink blood and shall not cease: is it riches, honour, or greatness ye strive for? O take the best Season and goldenest Opportunity; it is not an outward enjoyment will make you inwardly happy, but in that you tread down all principalities and powers for Christ Jesus his Crown and Dignities; and that is the highest appearance and fullest power, and God will crown the works of all his Saints that stand up for his Kingly Power; and I beseech you to lay down your honour at Christ's feet, and then you shall be exalted: for things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth, must bow at the Name of Jesus and at his appearance; for God will bring down the high spirits of Mount Seir and Capernaum, and he haughtiness of the proud earth shall come down, and the humble shall be exalted: for the Lord will raise the honour of his Son, that hath been long crucified under the world's tyranny, so that at his appearing both Lord and King shall refuse their titles of honour. I speak not this to your disgrace, but to speak the things I have heard and seen, Act. 4.20. and I dare not but appear for Christ in the face of fire and faggot, or greatest damp or danger. I am a poor man, I am sure I need not look for honour; neither do I acknowledge any thing honourable below Christ; therefore in truth, Lord, your honour must fall at his appearing. O would to God you would make known that which cannot be hid: for now it is high time to awake, that Zion should put on strength; for now it is come to the birth, and wanteth your help to bring forth. O that you would please to stand up to maintain true Judgement, that Justice may run down our streets; so you shall prosper in blessings, even as a garden refreshed with sweet drops from above; verily ye shall be as the morning Star in brightness to pass: the Lord shall bless your going out and your comig in, he shall be your consolation and great peace, and much happiness shall attend your gates. The Work in hand is, to raise the Tabernacle of David that is fallen, which is a restoring of many generations. The duty we are Obliged is to build God's house, and to destroy all other foundations, and to come into one fold, which is Christ's sheepfold, called the new Model or Jewestical Fabric. We are all bound to build up the partition wall, that hath been trod down so long, even the holy City which our Saviour and Lord telleth us shall be trod down until the fullness of the Gentiles come in, Zach. 6.14. & the 3. & 5. he is your King. Hos. 2. I will betrothe thee unto me in loving kindness and in mercy. Make the Lord your King, he is your King, which if you do, the high Lord will bless you in your good name, in your person, and in your estate, and will raise good out of your generations, that you may be called the Repairer of the breach, and restorer of paths to dwell in. He is your King. Psal. 21. thou hast a perfect crown of gold upon his head. Psalm 22. For the Kingdom is the Lords, and he is the Governor among the Nations. Psalm 2. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill Zion. His Kingly power was seen in Joseph, Psalm 150.21, 22. He made him Ruler over all his substance, to bind his Princes at his pleasure, and to teach his Senators wisdom: he set Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen, and his wonders was seen in the Land of Ham. And the Prophet John saith, he that overcometh shall rule the Nations with a rod of iron. Surely our God shall do this and greater things. Another great example under the type of Joshuah, Jos. 3. If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then shalt thou judge my House, and keep my Court, and I will give thee places with them that stand by. In this we see that God is ever ready to crown a good work; also, they that be faithful to God, he will be faithful to them. Further, that your Excellency would be pleased to let the prisoners go free, that their cry may not come up to the Lord; by relation some of them have died in prison by savage cruelty: There is no Nation under heaven but do allow their prisoners something, if it be but bread and water, but in truth some have not had that allowance, which is not Christianlike, being kept there having no relief nor support. Is God seen in it, or shall he not controverse for these things? Open your prison gates for pity, and let offenders be branded as bond-servants with a letter, to be known to whom they have offended, and so to restore as they be able; and and not to keep them in hell upon earth: Also it is manifested, that some poor godly Christians have lost their lives, denying their design, not having justice, which were their arrears, desiring it for their wives and could not have it, and so denied to go forth, which caused the loss of life: And it hath been a woeful spectacle in the world's eye, when it hath been apparently known that some devouring Nimrods' have bought out many poor soldiers pay, some for 4 1, 5 1, or 6 1, in the score, and all for want of justice; Their cries will come up to the God of heaven. I beseech your Excellence promote true justice, for God's cause, and fear no human flesh, and the Lord will be your arm of defence. Oh Army of the Lord, Esay, 1.26. I will restore thy judgements as at the first, and thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness, when Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and when you shall redeem the oppressed, judge the fatherless, and plead for the widow, than the Lord will delight in your works of piety. Now that it may please you to take into your consideration, and to move our Parliament upon the Lord's design; that both they and you may be called blessed in the act of Restoring; Ezek. 47.14. the Lord declareth, saying; Ye shall one inherit as well as another: Meaning the Earth, or the Land which is the Lords. Verse the 22 he saith, Ye shall divide the Land by lot, for an inheritance. And lastly he saith, What Tribe soever the stranger sojourneth in, there ye shall give him his inheritance: Now the clamation of our poor Israel is for want of Commons to plant and build upon; and this being alienated and estranged from them by cursed Ahabs, which now do enjoy Naboths Vineyard, and spoil our good Commons. The Lord hath sent me to move you upon this object, that they which have possessions should not take away the Commons from the poor Common wealth of Israel, but that they which have no inheritance should have their Lots in the Commons, as it is their right by Creation, from God, the Prophets, Esay, Jeremy, and Ezekiel, shall be tilled and become as the garden of Eden. Joel 3.2. I will plead with them for my people Israel, and for my heritage, which they have cast lots for my land, and parted it among the Nation. Now if your Excellency please to help the Lord against the mighty, than he saith, Joel 2. I will restore to you the years that the Locusts have eaten, the Cankerworm, the Caterpillar, and the Palinerworm which I sent amongst you. Lastly, That you would please to fall and kneel at the appearing of the Lord, when he shall set up his Ordination or Determinate Power, than all your subordinate powers must fall: then he that is least in the world, shall be greatest in his Kingdom; and he that overcometh shall rule the Nations. Let the high praises of God be in your mouth, and a two edged sword in your hand, to destroy sin, for a spiritual and temporal Justice. So I rest, your poor petitioner to command, Denus to the restored Church in the Isle of Pathmos. A Protestation and Engagement. I Am engaged for the Cause, and shall lay down my life and dearest blood, and will do it in case of conscience, for the defence of the everlasting Gospel; though humane Laws do fail, and men's ordinances come to nothing, yet how unchangeable is the Law of God in his ordination? Christ at his first appearance destroyed every man's law and ordinances, and thereupon wounded the Beast, saying, All power is given me in heaven and in earth, Go teach all Nations; as if be should say, every law, statute, and ordinance of man is at an end, yet many strive for earthly and humane power, and cause the sword to rule by a law, which is not the Law of God, to kill and keep alive, although for common trespasses, making their own wills a law, contrary to the law of Zion; and we hold up the sword by a law, and a law by the sword, which is not good; our Lord saith, he that killeth with the sword, shall die with the sword. He in Genesis, Whosoever killeth Cain, his blood shall be required seven fold: and Revel. 11. Whosoever killeth them shall be so killed: tt is better for a man to die an Anatomy, then to be a , to take away life and free Creation from any of the Creatures of God, and to lord over them by cruelty. Our Saviour saith, offences will be, but woe be to them by whom they do come, it were better a millstone were hanged about his neck and cast into the Sea, then to offend in blood, robbery, or any such thing by legal cruelty, pretending a law above the Gospel and Records of Christ to his Disciples, which law to maintain, is not so ancient as that order of Melchizedeck made to Abraham by a promise, though the law was given by Moses, yet faith and truth came by Christ. So that under the name of Melchizedeck, or under the name of Christ, he the Lord hath always put an end to man's ordinances according to his Divine Ordination; and I know no law of man that can stand before the Law of God in Zion: there is but one Law, and one Lawgiver, which gift to us is the free Gospel, as James saith, So speak, and so walk, that ye may be judged by the Law of liberty, which is the Word of God; for an outward record called by David his Statutes Divine, meaning the Old and New Testament, by way of cau●●●●▪ that every godly Magistrate should lay the Bible book before him, to convince every sin and error of the offender, and not to use any other book of mixture compounded together, lest they add or diminish from God's Word or Commandment; for then, and at that time, the Bible shall be the chief Statute to maintain Freedom and Justice: it is not your statutes of Winchester, London, or Magna Charta, so Evangelical or ancient that can stand when the power of Christ appeareth, and shall shine out of the East unto the West, and from the North to the South, so that all the Nations shall see his glorious appearing; which is his testimony of Light to me a sufferer for the Gospel of Christ: and I know not whether by imprisonment or loss of life, the prison is but freedom's purgatory, and it shall at the last conquer hell, and Freedom shall have victory by his statutes Divine: it is for the Law of God that I die daily, and am much killed in my dear Desires. I stand up for the liberty of the Gospel, and Freedom of the Creation, and to plead for the Kingdom of Christ and the inheritance of the people, which I hope you will not hinder me of: Our Saviour saith, Matth. 10. Fear them not; for there is nothing hid that shall not be known, and I cannot but declare the things I have seen. I am not only ready to suffer your imprisonment, but to suffer death or any torture for the Cause, I mean for the Law and Liberties of the Gospel of the Lord. I am a faithful witness of God, I fear not your Famine, Distress or Death; I am the person to raise John's testimony, he was Juda, and I am Israel. Denus the feet of the two Witnesses. Septemb. 29 1651. The Law of Zion. HEre is an Alligory of two Laws; the first is the singular and pure Law of God; the other is the unjust laws of Man. This pure Law of God shall put an end to all the laws of man upon the seventh Vial; this Law of God gendereth to life and salvation, but the laws of man do gender to cruelty and corruption; which laws of man must fall before Zion, which are not laws according to his Word and true equity; all such laws are but men's ordinances, and shall not stand before the Law of God: for there is but one Law, and one Lawgiver, which is God that hath given us his Word for a Law to be a restoring right to all: and for want of this true execution of God's word, it maketh the curse remain upon the Creature to this day, and because of forbidden fruit, which is contrary to his Institution maketh it so; but God's word should be set in its place, to judge or condemn, to save or justify, and not men's traditions which are vain: Our Saviour saith, Man liveth not only by bread, but by every word that cometh out of God's mouth; which is from his ancient Decree to keep all things by his Providence, which is a hidden law, and spiritual and agreeable to the letter of his Word: and I know no other law that man can erect, but to judge all things by the law of God's Word, and to throw down men's ordinances which be not agreeable to it: for such laws proceed not out of Zion, neither can our Judges be Judges in Israel, except they make God's word the rule of justice to try causes by: And going contrary to this Rule, it maketh many fleshly Judges and weak Jurymen (O simple ignorance and base folly) to go from the Judge of Heaven and Earth, to serve under these Judges which destroy his Word and Law of justice: for there is no offence committed before God or against man, but may be judged by his word of Truth and pure Gospel under the jurisdiction of Christ and his Church, which may be called Jure Divino, that is, under twelve holy persons, or so many Senators of God's house, that your law may wholly proceed out of Zion, that Divine Justice may censure all judicature power, and so to tread them under feet with the scarlet whore which have taken away many men's lives contrary to God's word and holy Scripture: it hath been a poor business carried on so long, that wicked Judges should sit to give sentence, and some wicked foremen among the rest should give up their verdict contrary to the Law of Zion, having judged for reward, and some for want of seeing the pure Will of God, and declaration of his word: his word ought to judge and govern, and shall throw down all oppressing, that his people may have rest from all their enemies: these Judges have been in such esteem before men, and yet ignorant of Divine justice which he hath set before them in his Word. I desire you all to know both Judge and Justice; if you add or diminish from God's Word, it will prove unjustice, and therein ye fall severity, and hinder the free passage of the Gospel, changing it into your own ordinances, using the Gospel to your own turns, which is a cursed thing to do; your laws are of Euphrates, which shall perish in Armagiddon, and fall by destruction: ye Judges, Lawyers, Priests, and Jesuits, your ordinances shall burn with Babylon, and your seven streams of power are struck by the seventh Vial of God's wrath, & his Law must go out of Zion, which shall cast out all your laws, that justice may run down our streets. What makes so much bawling in our Churches? To answer, it is because they go on hood-winked, compounding the laws of men amongst the ordinances of God, which be far distant the one from the other: and for want of the true executing of this word of God, all your Churches are in a combustion, as Bees up in arms one against another for the truth; and until we make God's word the Rule and Law of our civil affairs, to bring ourselves under the Captivity of Christ, and until then, the curse shall remain, I properly mean the cursed laws of man, which have bought and sold the lives of some men contrary to the Word of God, and Law of Zion: this curse, or cursed ordinance of man, God will suddenly burn up and abolish by the brightness of his appearing: and David saith, Blessed are they that keep his testimonies; thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee: I will not forget thy word: Princes did sit and speak against me, but I did meditate in thy statutes divine: Thy Law is my counsel day and night; I have more understanding than all my Teachers; I understand more than the Ancient, because I keep thy Law. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, because of thy word, How sweet are thy words unto my taste? Thy word is a light to my feet, quicken me according to thy word. mine eyes prevent the night watch. I beheld the transgressors and was grieved, because they kept not thy word: Tears run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy word. Now if our Lawyers would truly see this Law of God, they durst not do as they do; and if our Judges would prove causes by this word of God, then might we call them the Judges in Israel; but it is not so, for they prove their own testimonies, and act sin by a law: but look into this 119. Psalms, and ye shall find it pithy to this purpose, he calleth it thy Statutes divine, which if our Magistrates did but savingly look in this glass of God's law, they might well throw away their books, which be but the stepmother to this Law of Zion, called men's ordinances, which have thus traded in power over God's word and true Gospel, until the year of our Lord, 1650. which was then shaken, though not utterly fallen, yet it shall lose its shining light of oriency, and though Lawyers and Judges shall never gain credit nor comfort, until they do erect the true word of God far above the statutes of Winchester, 2 Chron. 19 there ye may find at large, that Jehosaphat made of the Levites, and of the Priests, and of the chiefest of the Fathers of Israel for the judgement of the Lord, and for all Controversies. And in that ye may find he did not set the ungodly to judge, nor bloody men that should judge according to their own wills, but such as were chosen men of the Lord that should make his holy word the rule of justice to end all differences: Now good Jehosaphat gave the Judges a charge, saying, Take heed what ye do, ye judge not for man, but for the Lord who is with you in the judgement: take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts: and he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart, and what cause soever shall come to you betwixt blood and blood, betwixt law and commandment, statute and judgement, let them not trespass against the Lord. Look upon this all ye that have contrary to this holy Law, which is the written word of God, given so long since to judge the earth: this word of Zion shall throw down all your witchcrafts of Jesabel, and your night-spells of subtlety; for ye have not judged according to the holy word of God. Some may say, Woe to you Judges, Lawyers, and Juries, for destroying the declaration and truth of God's word, changing it into your own forms, and not proving all Causes by Scripture, all your legal rudiments must fall at the appearing of Zions glory, and shall cause all your Rivers in Egypt to dry up; for his word and the Saints must judge the earth; and your unstable justice shall fall and come to nothing, when the word of God shall be every man's true testimony to restore and to redress, to bring again, and to reduce, to settle all things to their ancient Oiginal, which have been so long traduced from their place. And without all question, the godly of the people shall govern, meaning, the remnant of the Tribes out of Zion; For I will cleanse your blood, I am the Lord that shall roar from thence, and utter my voice, and the earth shall shake; but I will be the hope and heritage of Jacob: He will be jealous for his land, and have pity by his redeemed, that they may have justice from God out of Zion: And I cannot see how any other law can be warrantable, but only this word of God; and to deny all men's mixture, which are but ordinances of men and legal. 1 Cor. 6.1. Dare any of you having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the Saints; As if he should say, will you bring yourselves within the danger of the cursed laws of the Gentiles: And in Verse, 2. he saith; Know you not the saints shall judge the world, and we shall judge Angels, much more the things that pertain to this life. Joel 3.2. the Lord saith, He will plead with all nations for the heritage of his people; saying, behold, I will raise them out of the place where ye have sold them: And elsewhere he saith, I will restore unto you the years the Locusts have eaten, the Canker-worm, the Caterpillar, and Palmer-worm, which I have sent amongst you: As if he should say, I will take away all the devourers that have led you captive, which have seduced the simple, carrying on causes in Latin and in an unknown tongue. This is not that law which the Apostle James declareth in his second Chapter, saying; So walk and so speak, as you may be judged by the law of liberty (which is Zion) to try all your actions by, and so to be justified by Gospel truths, which is contrary to the laws of men. And wicked men ought not to bear sway, for God will have a community, to communicate justice to all, according as truth shall guide them to this law of liberty, and Gospel freedom; and not by men's ordinances, that must fall; For mercy shall rejoice over judgement, and shall glory over all oppression. We cannot find by either law or Gospel, that men should die by any outward act of theft; but the ancient records of God manifest only restitution, and if the person be not able to restore, then be a servant or slave to the person whom he hath offended: The Lord saith, He that killeth with the sword, shall die by the sword: showing, that by murder, blood shall touch blood; it were good if legal cruelty were restrained, as yet it hath not, but in short time provided by our God, we shall have truth established in our borders, with mercy and justice to remain in our streets; it hath been a long time mixed with Wormwood, by rigorous and cruel laws being enacted, that any malicious man that would swear against another man, whether it were right or wrong, as many times by way of supposition, not considering the danger of an oath, or whether it be right or wrong, the Oath being passed, the Jury presently findeth it, the plaintiff having no way to prove the wrong done, but his own Oath, by an indictment under the King to prove the theft, making the King his grand witness; which hath been an intolerable mark of the beast, and all ye Jurymen may be ashamed, and cover your mouths for all the bloody Verdicts you have given up, look to it, for God will call you to an account for all your works, in that you have set the King to prove men's actions, which hath been a lying testimony, when the King hath been far distant from the Bench; ye corrupt Judges and simple Jurymen, it hath evidently appeared by some that hath been wrongfully and hastily put to death, a miserable spectacle before your eyes, and this is a fin that will lie heavy upon Judge and Jurymen, when ye shall take the King for a witness, as if he were present to prove the felony; this is a high principle for a knave to work his will, to prove the felony done to the Plaintiff; but draw the Curtain there, the King hath something else to do, then to come and prove your unjust act: A miserable heathenish law, and Turkish, the Turk can but demand a man's life, and what is it else to do in this? We see plainly the King may be enriched by such a law, as for bringing in either to himself or some other Lord of a Manor, felons goods, which freedom they have purchased from him that is gone: And this law cannot be satisfied with man's life, but wife and children must be utterly undone, and all taken from them by the lord of felons goods. O down with this Babylon, I wonder the world doth not violently pull her down, for they cannot be contented to take the things that were stolen, which is all they can have, but they will have all, than all shall be mine; so that the thing is, although he never stole before, and the fact be of small value, yet he must lose his sweet life, and die as a dog; which is a base, inhuman, and savage cruelty, Turkish and not Christianlike, the just God and Lord Jehovah, will surely confound such do. Some have been by relation, prepared for the ladder, and yet by accident the right thief hath been taken, and for the same fact hath suffered death; a heavy thing it is unto that Jury, that shall censure a man to death by an indictment under his own pretence, by an indictment in the King's name; yet we do not justify theft, but that it should be lawfully proved as all other trespasses be; under two witnesses every truth shall be established: for one witness which is the plaintiff, may speak out of envy, being his own cause he can be no witness for himself; which showeth your laws are unjust, and shall not stand, and your Judges and Lawyers may restore: there be three sorts of theft; one is an incorrigible wicked thief, that will do it come life come death, many times out of envy to his brother or his neighbour, this is a thief with a witness: the second, is a covetous thief which stealeth to enrich himself, these are both of an high nature. The third, is a thief of necessity, being miserable poor and wanting; it is a saying amongst us, that hunger breaks the stone walls: we see poverty causeth extremity, and extremity causeth necessity, and necessity hath no law, in case of conscience: yet we cannot justify the sin of theft, and putting all into God's hand is to say, The Earth is the Lords, and the fullness thereof. What art thou O man, to controverce with God are thy goods thine own, or the Lords? they were his before they were thine, and tho●●anst not deny it; for all blessings proceed from God, and they are and were from him before they were thine; and if thou be'st not a godly person, thou enjoyest that which is not thine own, and then thou art but a usurper, and worse in God's account then the poor thief that stole for need: then let as put this in as a caveat, and let us consider it is enough to suffer need and want, and not to suffer death too. There be many other things which trouble Power and State, which to relate I cannot have time now; winding up with our Saviour and his disciples, in case of necessity they plucked the ears of Corn, and being reproved by the Pharisees, Christ said, Remember David when he an hungered how he was took of the shewbread and did eat. The House of God, and Original Priesthood. THe reason of my writing, is for an establishment of God's House upon the old foundation, by a pattern from our Father Abraham, and by an offering to Christ so long before his appearing in the flesh. This Original act was for God's house deuce, saying, Thou shalt bring the first fruits of all thy land into the house of the Lord thy God. Which had an allusion to the tithes or tenths of their substance, which was a gift to the Altar of God, for the poor in his house. And I cannot find but such Ministers as take away Church Rights be guilty of the sin of Sacrilege, in robbing God's House. Blessed Abraham in the 14 of Genesis, paid tithe of all to the Lord under the name of Melchizedeck: but now our Ministers have eat up that ordinance, and taken those benefits to themselves, blinding the people; and to that the Lord complaineth, Malachi the 3. saying, Ye have rob me, in tithes and offerings, bring the Tithes into my storehouse. In the Apostles time they did not only keep up God's house, but they sold their possessions and brought it to all the Apostles feet: yet now if God's house were restored, it might be good to the Common wealth of Israel. The Lord saith, Hagg. 1.4. Ye go to your seiled houses, but my house lieth desolate: and ye Ministers know this, if ye bring not Tithes into God's house: as Abraham did, so must ye do, if ye do not, than God shall destroy your Temples built with stone. Now these privileges of God's house are very ancient, though for gotten, yet in the more later times of the Gospel, the people did minister to the Lord of their substance, as you may find in Luke 8. by Joanna and Susanna, and all the Apostles did minister unto him out of their treasury; which showeth God had a house, whatever our Ministers have done with it; and truly if women could do their duty to God's house, it is a shame for men and Ministers to Omit their service to his house; custom to whom custom belongeth: Let us pay our vows to the Lords house in all the people's sight; for now he will sit to purify the sons of Levi, and will purge Jerusalem from her blood, and will come near you in Judgement, Malachi 3.9. And my brethren take heed, God is angry with you, in that you have destroyed the offering of his Temple. I do not mean an offering of Bullocks and Goats, nor any such thing moral or Mosaical, but to do all to the ancient Order of Melchizedeck, which is Christ the Mediator of a new Covenant by his eternal Priesthood, which was and is a more higher Priesthood than yours. Abraham paid Tithes of all to Christ long before any Law was, and it is an Order upon record to God's house that cannot be denied, and it shall destroy all carnal Covenants or men's ordinances which endure but from man to man; but this of our Saviour is and shall be for an endless life; ye shall keep the charge of the Sunctuary and of the Altar, that there be no wrath any more upon the house of Israel. Now ye Ministers, I am to summon you to perform your great Offering which you cannot deny. Numb. 18.28. Ye shall offer up unto the Lord your Heave-offering of Tithes which ye receive of the people. Now as Aaron offered up toe Levites, so must ye to God's House, to settle them in their ancient place, and so bring again the Captivity of that Ordinance; so that all Priests, Levites, and Ministers, must all consecrate the gifts of Tithes unto the Lord and his House: And ye Ministers for changing these Ordinances, ye be included under the seventh Vial of God's wrath poured out upon the beast, Revel. 16.17. declareth a voice out of the Temple of God, saying, It is done. Now in the mystery of the Vials pouring forth, the Decree of God was finished, though all things not yet effected which time were to bring forth, and now is revealed upon the beast, which is the great plague of the world that we lie under, which is seven Ordinances or Vials of his wrath; whereof this curse hath been poured out upon all, and not only a curse, but a curse under these seven Ordinances, which Jew and Gentile hath not as yet made up these seven breaches of unity, which is a full standing up for Gospel Truths, which being thus omitted by Minister and people, causeth him to complain, saying, What are those wounds in thine hand? then he said unto me, They were those wherewith I was wounded in the house of my friend: So that it grieved God to see profaneness both in priest and people, saying, I took my staff beauty and cut it in sunder, that I might break my Covenant made with Jacob. Now when the Lord shall cut asunder the other staff bonds which is now among us, than all your prison gates shall be open, and there shall be a standing up for the eternal Priesthood in every Nation. Zach. 11.3. there is an howling of the shepherds, for their glory is spoilt: verse the 15. he saith, Take to thyself the instruments of a foolish shepherd: Showing some poor despised Messenger that God shall send to lay the Ministers under wrath by the seventh Vial. Now a pouring forth, further he saith in the same Chapter, Woe to the idle shepherds that leave their flock, his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye darkened upon the sounding the alarm in Zion; which is the pouring out of the last Vial, which produceth Judgement and Justice in the Earth: and by a standing up for it when all the Earth shall be awaked to maintain the Creation of God's inheritance or institution: These seven Vials make out one fullness, that is, all the fullness of God's time, and to that end they be called Vials; six of them are poured out already, the seventh is now in power, pouring forth: which is Kingdom power and glory, for an infallible testimony of his bright appearing, which is called the seventh and last Vial, which shall violate and burn up every All under it, called six Alls or Vial Ordinances, that shall be purged by it. This is King over all the other six Ordinances, whereon all things must be proved upon the Centre, called the Everlasting Word, saying, All power is given me, in heaven and in earth. Thus all Powers die, and live in him, by one Power, which is true Gospel; for he is the Fountain of every Original, and at his appearance every Religion shall be purged, and all conditions changed, and shall darken all things at his bright appearing, and under this everlasting Gospel or seventh Vial, many shall be slain and fall under God's hand; for it shall try the Consciences of men, and it shall judge all the Ordinances. Who can but fear thee, O Lord, Revel. 15. for thy Judgements are made manifest, and the light is discovered that hath lain hid so long, and God is taking off the vail, and covering spread over all flesh, and Judgement must first begin at his own house, and every petty priesthood must fall; for behold the constellations shall fail, the Sun and the Moon, and Ministers may fail, but his eternal Priesthood shall stand for ever: the Stars or Lights shall fall before him, which is true Gospel; and I know no other Gospel, but that of Christ and his Apostles which is not fully preached forth, nor actually performed: but the Lord will now make all things new, a new heaven, a new earth, a new Covenant, and a new Gospel, and old things must become new; and though they have lain in darkness under six or seven Dispensations of time to make out the end of their darkness, yet now the pure Light will spring that shall abolish all under it: and his pure Ordinance is now in pouring forth, which is his Sabbaths Vial, it shall judge all her abominations, and all her oppressions, and shall make out all the Gospel Promises and privileges, by every outward and inward performance. For it is not your pieced out charity, or any meritorious work of your hand that God looketh for. Thou must bring thine offering into God's house; for those that be destitute of comfort must have and receive of the gift from the Altar, and not from any man's personal gift: neither can it be so proper as from God and his Church, as given from a Fountain, and from his house must relief come, which is from the Altar of God, so the left hand shall not know what the right hand doth; for it shall arise from the Tithes or Tenth part of the substance under God's hand; as if we should all say, we give thee this from the overplus, which is a feeding together in one propriety of an enjoyment under God; so that every man's Tithes being consecrated to God's house, should make up every breach, that Charity may have its perfect work to fulfil the Law of Liberty, which is a Gospel freedom from the first Melchizedeck, which may be called an endless freedom for the creatures of God to enjoy, and so to make his house a Common Treasury to the peodle, and not to command Tithes as Dues to the Minister; neither can ye lawfully demand it, either by Law or Gospel, if ye can, then disprove this which is written. What if the Minister shall receive Tithes, yet he is to bring it into God's house for an offering, and not to enrich himself, but to be contented with the meanest condition, to be humble to God, and lowly to man, and in so doing he shall not defile the offering of God's Temple, nor make his Ordinance a profane thing which our Ministers have formerly done. Priest I am your Inheritance, saith the Lord; and no other inheritance can you have of God: for the overplus of his house is for you to eat and to drink with the stranger, the fathenlesse, and the widow. What if thy Tithes be charged into God's House, it is the seventh part of thy gift that God looks for, which shall make up his seventh Jubilee, or seventh Vial, called his rest, which is a fulsilling all his Commands, Ye shall keep my Sabbath Ordinances, and not break my rest: In a word, the Priests of God must be free from all outward inheritance, and in case of want, they may lawfully eat and drink with such as be receivers at the Altar of God. Priest I am your Inheritanee, Deutr. 14.29. declareth of their not having any inheritance: and because of the uncertainty of their condition, therefore they shall eat and drink with the fatherless: this alarm in Zion cometh home to our Ministers, Priests, and Levites. Under the Law it was to them but a time, but to our Teachers for a shorter time: And if the Priesthood failed under the time of the Law, how much more shall it do under the Gospel? By this high Priest, and his eternal Priesthood, and upon the third appearance, your preaching shall cease, and that shall be, when the two witnesses shall stand up to plead for God's heritage, and the people's Inheritance; and at their appearing your preaching must cease, which is the partiality of one man's tongue: for God will have two faithful Witnesses to plead in your Churches, that shall satisfy the Consciences of the hearers. Yet farther, God's Ministers ought not to slain themselves with worldly cares, having food and raiment wherewith to be contented, which is not so low a condition as our Saviour's were, having not where to hid his head. Ministers, what do you fear? if God hath an House, and in it a Common Treasury, then fear not but the Church shall minister to your wants; and be not offended though we move you to the Alt●●; it is not an Altar set up in your Churches to bow unto, but it is to the Altar of God, that shall alter your Customs, and priestly powers, Leviticus 27.30. Numb. 18.28. Deut. 14.29. Exod. 23. Deut. 26.12, 13. Deut. 10.9. & 18.1, 2. the Priests and Levites shall have no Inheritance with Israel, therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren. Lastly, if Christ Jesus had given his Disciples the benefit of Tithes, than might our Ministers lawfully demand them as their deuce; but they nor we cannot find it so: it were denied under the Law, and we have no Gospel for it; therefore saith the Lord, Ye rob me in tithes and offerings, Malachy 3.8, 9, 10. Ministers, are your Ordinances the same that Christ instituted to his Disciples? otherwise they be but humane or men's Ordinances set up by your father Bishops. You say we walk above Ordinances; it is confessed we walk above your ordinances, in that we walk up to the Ordination of Christ and his Disciples, which you deny to the people, which is the true administration of the everlasting Gospel, which we be all engaged to plead for, even that truth: and no better foundation can any man lay, then that of our Lord and his Disciples, and so far as ye preach forth that doctrine, so far we will obey you, and no further. Is your Authority and Calling from the Royal Priesthood, or from the Levitical Priesthood? there can but one of them stand, which is the new and living way consecrated to men, Hebr. 10.21▪ He is our High Priest over the House of God; and he hath laid the foundation. So follow him, according to God's Order and appointment. The Ministerial Duty. BRethren beloved in the Lord, I am bold to write unto you, for a more stability and amplitude of the Church; Hence it is, that God hath oftentimes spoken by the mouth of his Prophets, saying; I will put my Law in your hearts, and write it in your inward parts: So that in those times, and at that day, people shall be inherently taught of God, and shall be free from men's teaching, and void of preaching. But some may say, To what end shall this be? To this objection there be divers answers; As for the first, Jeremy the 32. I will give them one heart, for the good of them and their children after them; this promise actually is made out to his Elect, in that state of knowing God. Secondly, Every one shall live under his own Vine; Meaning Christ and his spirit, with the life of God dwelling in us, which shall be our teacher; For ye shall all know me saith the Lord. That is, under the New Covenant, which is his third or fourth dispensation. Verily, there were a knowing of God before the Law or Gospel was taught; For it is said about the 7. of Genesis, that blessed Noah walked with God; And Abraham before the Gospel, he was taught of God, and lived by faith, and it was accounted to him for righteousness; which passed all the outward declarations. Now under the Gospel here is a knowing of God too, though as yet under a humane power, which may then be taken away. Jerem. 31. vers. 34. They shall teach no more every man his neighbour or his brother, saying know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least to the greatest of them. And at that time there shall be a far higher and clear seeing and beholding of God, when Freedom hath taken off the curse, and Justice hath destroyed all oppression, then preaching may cease, for your children shall be as aforetime, and your offsprings shall be prosperous: and so it was before, and so it shall be after this Ministry may cease. Our Saviour by his Disciples settled the Church, and laid the foundation, which is called the living stone, which were the Gospel settled about 1600 years ago, which were a sufficient foundation; and our preaching hath been little less than 100 years or thereupon, which is contrary to the Gospel which they held forth; for Christ and his Apostles held forth the outward with the inward, saying, If ye will be my Disciples, ye must leave all to follow me. Ye must not only follow me in spiritual things, but put off your carnal things: this was his Disciples care to the Church, that not any should want, and in case of necessity none should know their own; which if we were so taught of God, it should do so likewise, that is, to do the works of the second Table with the first Table, and that would truly adorn the Church of God: and truly I much marvel how our preachers have fallen from this doctrine? It is a great starving the creatures of God, that some have too much, and some destroyed by wants, and in this our Ministry can show no true calling, in that the livelihood of the Creation is withheld from them which be Gods creatures, and our Ministers will not lay open the ungodly abuse of them that carry the world on so: for the Ministers of righteousness should have an outward calling as well as an inward, and in case they fail in any of them, they are then but Truth-breakers, and fail in their Message to God, and will not lay open those full Truths; therefore saith the Lord, Ye shall be inwardly taught of me, and all know me: and whosoever hindereth this work of restoration, they be but murderers of truth and justice, whether they be ministers of men; for behold and see what oppression is taken away by your preach: There were a twofold curse under the old Law, which in part is taken away, the inward and spiritual curse is taken off by the sufferings and power of Christ; now this outward curse still abideth with us, and so shall do till the horn of oppression be broke, and for that end God plagued the earth after the fall of Adam, saying, it should bring forth briers and thorns, which are wicked men Rulers, as briers in the hedge of God's garden; now I can assure you that are the Vine-dressers, if you do not cut out all these briers and abominable branches out of his hedge; it will show ye are not faithful to him, nor good Stewards in your places: Now this three or fourfold curse lying so heavy upon man, as first a natural curse, in lying under a sad and dark dispensation, which is a spiritual dissertion which every one of us lie under, till God comes in to our souls: And thirdly, that legal curse which is the hand-writing of ordinances under a general declaration of God's Justice. Now these three Curses being taken away and censured by the Lord Christ, yet there is one curse more for us to take off, which is our oppression in the world as man to man, which eateth out all Christian community, and causeth men to lead brutish lives in respect of that life they should continue in under him, which is our life. Now this outward curse being so inordinate amongst us, that I think men and ministers be all inherently accursed, that they cannot neither will they see the evil of an oppressing State, which causeth all to be out of order: Now God hath taken off three curses from of man, which we could not have done by ourselves: the fourth is left to man or men's power, that they should thoroughly purge the world of all transgression, and of every cursed thing, behold all your affairs are left upon the record of your consciences, and so long as ye keep back the full freedom of God's bounty, and punish your brethren by this oppressing state, you lie under a far worse curse and judgement than they that suffer under your yoke and bondage; for they suffer but a little outward want and grief, which is nothing to your eternal suffering; ye Ministers preach on, but what oppression is taken away, or as we may say, what wound is cured? Now if Truth were restored, and Justice, we should then be truly taught of God, and preaching might cease. Jerem. 32. vers. 40. I will put my fear in your hearts, that ye shall not departed from me: For it is God alone that keeps us in our Christian way, and stayeth us up by his helpful Spirit; for saith the Lord, I will write my Law in your hearts; so that we find God's Spirit is and shall be our only teacher. It is not your external preaching that shall beget souls, or actually regenerate; it is God that worketh the will and the deed: ye may inform or strengthen the weak, or keep your people under an outward conformity, but not to beget or saved souls, for that is God's ancient work of old called Election; therefore ye Ministers ye are called but Labourers in his vineyard, to keep things in order. But truly we have many Ministers in this Kingdom that are more fit to be taught, then to be Teachers: yet some of them will say, I have begotten many souls; as if an outward act could do it. But I say no, for it is the inward working of God that doth it. If God did not work it, our Ministers might stand long enough in their Pulpits, your preaching doth neither hinder nor further salvation, it is only God's purpose, and not your preservation. Paul may plant, but God prospereth; He is the Foundation of our life, and he will teach us▪ Ye shall all know me, from the least to the greatest; saith the Lord. Why should ye Divines be so high conceited in yourselves, your way of preaching is not so ancient as the Apostles was, neither have ye done so much good as they did, in that short time they taught the Gospel; for they taught their hearers to throw up the possessions, which was true Gospel, but I see no such matter by your new found Doctrine, and your foundation cannot hold, it is something too young: For the Apostles foundation was not only laid 1600 years ago, which is ancient, but Christ Jesus was their Author and finisher of their Temple, and for that cause he suffered, which proved it true Gospel; But what our Ministers have made on it, I cannot tell, but this I am sure, they have changed those Ordinances of Christ, and those which they have erected, will hardly be proved true Gospel; they carry it on with a power which shall fall with Babylon. It is not your Ministry which shall stand, for ye divine for money, and some of ye will leave your people for gain: But the Prophet Esay saith, Come buy wine and milk without money. But many doth now both buy and sell the word of God; as by Funeral-Sermons, receiving money; Or by a marriage Exhortation: Oh what Taskmasters be these? to stand two, three, or four hours in a Pulpit (as ye call it.) Alas, it is not your way to save souls, it is proper alone to God; ye may counsel them, or inform your people, which all you can do. For God saith, I will write my Law in your inward parts; And what he hath so done, you can but preach the Letter to the people; But God ministereth the Spiritual gift to the hearer, and infuseth grace in the heart: It is Christ's feet that are beautiful and bringeth salvation; all your external preach without Gods internal work, is nothing. Yet for all this, I have heard some of our Ministers say, they have begot souls: which is but a vain pamphlet. Again, I can give relation of a godly man, that said such a Minister was his adapted father, so that men or Ministers may err in the sectet works of God's election, resting upon vain dictates and self ends, which is a meritorious work to do; for he that ascribeth any power to himself, he taketh away and diminisheth the power of Christ, and without the spirit of God, what can ye do? A Lay man having God's spirit, may do as much as you can do, setting your trade aside, which is Latin and Logic, learned at Oxford and Cambridg, which edifieth not the soul; you be one against another, which showeth your Temple is not yet built in its own place. Levi persecuteth which the tongue, and Reuben looketh high, so that as yet Judah can have no entrance: Behold all your Churches must come to a Synod, which is a grand consent to make up one model or holy lump, called one unto the Lord, for God will not behold all your mental know, Ye must all know me; He will have but one way, and one Church, which is the ancient foundation; and I know none other. Therefore come and acknowledge Christ to be your Master-builder, Ye shall all know me; That is, the major or vulgar sort of people shall so know God, that they shall put down your power, I mean your Ministerial priesthood: For God his will and power are both one, and he laid them both upon that foundation, which we be all called to build upon. I am ashamed of your ignorance, both ministers and hearers, if otherwise ye know and do not reform and comeout form the people; your blood be upon your own heads: For I cannot but speak the things I have heard and seen, desiring the Lord of his goodness to open your eyes, that ye may see this main work. Ye shall all know me, that is, to be King, priest, and prophet: As he is King, to govern; and as he is both priest and prophet, so to be all our teachers. And out Lord saith, No man can come unto me, except it be given him of the Father: So it is not your teachings that shall beget souls, for then and at that time, there shall be one Priest one people, which is a living under their own Vine Christ Jesus. Isaiah 55. He hath given him to be a Leader to them, a witness and a Commander to the pesple; so that it is Christ Jesus alone that begetteth souls. And at that time he shall be the only teacher, when you Priests shall move out of their holes. Micha 3. and shall not divine any more; when Vision shall cease, and we shall come unto him which is the patifical Vision, which is our beauty in perfection. When all men's teachings shall fail, than our true Vine shall be the Teacher, when we shall dwell under our own figtree; ye shall no more say, know the Lord, for ye shall all know me. And to wind up this discourse, our Lord saith, Joh. 6.45. It is written in the Prophets, that they shall all be taught of God; So that all of the New Jerusalem, shall walk in that Light, above men's teachings. DENUS to the restored Church, in the Isle of Pathmos. The personal Reign of the Saints. REvel. 5.9. And they sang a new Song, saying; Thou art worthy to open the seals, for thou wast shame, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, people, tongue and nation, and hast made us Kings and Priests to God, and we shall reign on the earth. This promise of God, beareth us up by a living hope, and as Saint Peter saith, we look for new heavens, and a new earth, where Righteousness shall dwell; These words have an inference to a new state of Justice, when none shall reign but his kingdom of Saints, which must execute justice under him by a personal power, in so high an enjoyment of God, that they well be called a new heaven on earth, or an heavenly people that shall reign on earth, so that the world seeing their high and sweet enjoyment, may imitate them, and become a new earth, and so comply and rejoice together: As Saint Paul saith, Rejoice ye Gentile with his people; so that the natural branch may rejoice with the spiritual kingdom and government, and grift in with them to sing to God, saying; Thou art worthy O Lord. This personal reign of the Saints shall be a visible State that the ends of the earth shall have, when the oppressors shall no more pass through their kingdom or City; Zach. 9.8. when they shall have all given into their hands: As you may find by Daniel the 7. vers. 27. That the dominion and greatness of the kingdom, shall be given to the people of the Saints. Revel. 20. Saying, Ye shall be Kings and Priests to God, and shall reign with him. Which is interpreted by some, that Christ shall reign with his people again in a personal or visible estate, which he hath done already upon his participation; but now we look only to his substantiality, and to bring all into the Godhead; which is one substance, almighty, and king of Saints, without person or persons; which is an undivided substance, most high, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him, which is God without end, or dividing into parts any more; For the Lord shall reign in Zion, before his ancient glory, and the earth shall be silenced, when the Saints shall grown in that new heaven, and shall reign as Kings over the world, in that high calling, and Royal Priesthood: the Lord will do great things, at that time the Saints shall bear the Image of the heavenly, by a sure walking with God: for he hath made us Kings and Priests to him, and we shall reign on the earth, when he hath put all rule and Authority under his feet; he shall give up the kingdom to his father, and shall reign, and shall put all powers under him. I do not mean that Christ shall reign personally any more, but as in power in all places, both in Heaven, and Earth: as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost joined all in one power, and the Saints shall govern as Deputies under him: for David shall never want a man, nor the people of God a Priest, to offer sacrifices continually, which is him above: for no flesh shall behold any more, but by his power, and not by his bodily shape: the soul may behold him when it is out of the body, and for any further beholding of him I know none: for his personal reign hath been already, and he hath appeared to his Disciples, saying, go forth and declare as by a personal command, So it appeared. FINIS. LONDON, Printed for Henry Hasilwood, dwelling in the Parish of Windsor, in the County of Berks. 1651.