The First Epistle. A CRYING VOICE of the holy Spirit of Love, wherewith all People are out of mere Grace, called and bidden by H. N. to the true Repentance for their Sins, to the Entrance into the upright Christian Life, and to the House of the Love of Jesus Christ. Luke 15.7. There shall be more joy in Heaven over one Sinner that repenteth, then over ninety and nine just persons that need no Repentance. O how lovely are the Feet of the Messengers that publish the Peace, preach the Good, and witness or declare the Salvation! Isa. 52.7. Rom. 10.15. Behold, I will send mine Angel or Messenger, which shall prepare the way, or path, the Street before me, Mal. 3.1. Matth. 11.10. Mark. 1.2. Luke 7.27. To day if ye hear his voice, then harden not your Hearts, that ye bide not without the Rest of the People of God, Psal. 95.7, 8. Heb. 3.15. and 4.7. Printed in the year, 1648. The First Epistle. The First Chapter. THis is the Crying, or Voice, which cometh to pass, and is heard now in this present day, through the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ, and wherewith all People, are by H. N. called and bidden to the Repentance for their sins, and to the house of the Love of Jesus Christ; the a Isai. 32. Heb. 3. Heb. 4. Rest of all the Saints, or Children of God; (And not alone with this Calling, but also with all the Scriptures heavenly testimonies, and spiritual Voices of the eternal Truth, which are gone forth from the holy Spirit of Love, and brought to light by H. N.) like as the Holy Ghost hath spoken thereof, and warned all people, that they in that present day when they hear his voice, should in no wise harden b Psal. 95. Heb. 3. their hearts [namely, that they should not refuse c 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. nor resist the same proffered Grace, but humbly endeavour them thereunto] to the end, they might enter into the godly Rest, which, till unto this same day of Love, is reserved for the People of God for to rest them therein. 2. The most highest hath also, after such a long time that He had promised the d Psal. 95. Heb. 3. Rest to the people of God, yet once more appointed a day, on the e Acts 17. which the universal Earth should be judged with Righteousness. 3. Therefore, as the holy Ghost saith, f Psal. 95. Heb. 3. To day if ye shall hear his voice, (that is, when the time now is fulfilled, that the day of Love, which the most highest hath appointed to be a Rest for the People of God, declareth itself, then shall ye hear, that ye, g Isa. 42. Cap. 51. O all ye People, are called and bidden to the same Grace and Mercy,) then harden not your hearts. 4. Let every one h 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. take heed to this same gracious time, that he may live, and rest him in this same day from his Works, Travel, and i Apoc. 14. Labour. 5. Seeing then there is yet a Rest k Isa. 32. Hebr. 4. at hand for the people of God, which is made manifest, and inherited in the family of Love, and that without the same or without his Service, there is nothing but all l Deut. 12. good thinking, m Isa. 59 tedious travel, labour, and misery, therefore doth not the holy spirit of Love cease this day, by his minister H. N. to call and bid all people to the same family of Love, n Psal 16. Psal. 84. Ecclus 24. Apoc. 21. full of all lovely being, and to his safe-making service to the preservation of them all in the godliness. and to warn them every one o Isa. 13. cap. 30. cap. 47. Dan. 12. Matth. 24. of the Woe and misery, & of the plagues of goodthinking that shall come upon them that remain without the same, or that will not suffer themselves to be led into the same through the service of the said family of love, to the end, that they might all now in the service of love, and in the obeying of his requiring, do upright p Mat. 3. Luke 3 Act. 2. & 3. repentance for their Sins, and enter into the Rest of the Lord. The Second Chapter. Bear sorrow for your sins, a Ezek. 18. Matth. 3. and show upright fruits of Repentance, the great b Isai. 14. joel 2. Obad. 1. day of the Lord is come hard by, and will now as a righteous c jer. 46. Soph. 1 2. judgement of God, appear over the whole Earth. 2. Let every one now turn him away from the wicked world, and from the Abomination of d Dan. 9 Matth. 24. her desolation, & make his repair hither to the e Isai. 2. Mich 4. hill of the love, whereon the Lords house is builded, that he may be preserved in this same 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 sake-making service; bear sorrow rightly for your sins, f Matth 3. Luke 3. Luke 13. Acts 2. and show forth upright Repentance or amendment for the same, O ye strayed people, before the day of the Lord fall upon you, g Soph. 2. Mal. 4. to the recompensing of your wickedness. 4. Come now all hither, where the heavenly day light, h Isai. 60. Sap. 5 the Sun of righteousness shineth, and where the waters i Ezek. 36. Apoc. 22. of life flow forth out of the fountain of the living Godhead, to the purging of your Sins. 5. Let every one now forsake his own word, doctrine, and taken-on knowledge, and also the word, doctrine, and knowledge of all k jer. 23.27.29. Ezek 13. Mich. 3. unsent preachers, and good thinking wiseones, whereby ye be seduced, blinded from the true fruits of Repentance, and estranged from the true sanctification of your spirit and mind: and come now all to this same l jer. 29. jer. 31. Mich 1. sanctuary of God, out of the which the Lords living m Isai. 2. word is witnessed, the true repentance for the Sin made known, and the upright n Ephes. 4. Col. 3. righteousness and holiness of Jesus Christ taught, wherethrough ye be brought to the right quieting of your Consciences, to the o Mat. 11. health of your souls, and to the sanctification, or p Rom. 12. Eph. 4. renewing of your spirit and mind. 6. For that cause, come now all to this same hill, q Isai. 2. or house of Love: and in his outflowing water, r Ezek 13. Ezek. 36. cleanse and amend, or hollow your being under the obedience of the Love of jesus Christ, that your sins may be s Acts 3. wiped out, and ye become led even so into the t Isai. 32. Heb. 3. Heb. 4. rest of all the children of God, and Saints of jesus Christ. 7. Come now all likewise, which through your u Rom. 1. Ephes 4. ignorant knowledge, or misunderstanding, have turned away yourselves from this same x Isai. 16. Heb. 5. seat of Grace, and lovely house of the love of jesus Christ, and from our y john 17. 1 joh, 1. Commonalty, grown offended at our means or a 2 Cor. 1. simpleness, and at the godly testimonies of our say, and so made up yourselves b 2 Tim. 1. 2 Tim. 3. resistant against us, and our good doctrine and exercises, separated yourselves from us, and grown bitter or wrathful towards us, together withal ye that have mistrusted us, and c john 8. john 10. 2 Thes. 2. 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 thereof, and so for that cause, through some perverse conceiving towards the same, or, towards us, refused the d Prov. 1. proffered grace, or kept yourselves back: e Ezek. 18. and repent you for your sins, to your sanctification, and to the health of your souls. 8. Come likewise all ye, which through any opinion of the self-wise-ones, or through any good thinking, or imagination of the knowledge, have been f Prov. 18. unregarding towards this same 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 shown no right obedience; as likewise all ye, which have overreached yourselves in any disorderly g Sap. 14. Rom. 1. dealing, or false h 2 Pet. 2. jude 1. freedom, or in hearing, and believing of any i jer. 23. jer. 17. unsent Preachers, and so are fallen to your k Ier 7. jer. 18. 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 strangers thereunto; or ye that through your negligence, or little regarding l Pro. 6. Prov. 24. of the requiring of the service of love, are become vainly minded, with the wicked world, and with the vain or false m Rom. 2. 2 Pet. 2. Praters through the imagination of the knowledge, that false light, come and n Ecles. 7. 1 Pet. 5. humble you, and let all your understandings be renewed, and to the obtaining of a good, o Ephes. 4. knowledge of jesus Christ and his godliness, brought to right under the obedience of the love: and under the same p 1 Pet. 1. obedience, q Ezek. 36. wash your bodies with the pure water of the love, and so cleanse your hearts from all ungodly being, r Isai. 1. and wicked thoughts. 9 Come now all hither, and s Gal 6. Ephes. 5. Apoc. 2. Apoc. 3. neglect not your time, to day becometh the grace of the love of jesus Christ, poffered yet unto you all, and the hand reached forth serviceably with the same, to a peaceable t Eph. 4. Col. 3. Reconcilement with each other in jesus Christ, to an unity of heart with us in all love. 10. Yea, to day (ere ever the u Prov. 1. Mat. 15. punishment of the last judgement go forth over all ungodly ones, to their condemnation in the hellish fire) yet ye be all called and bidden, even out of mere Grace x Eph. 1. Eph. 2. and hearty love, to the Commonalty of Saints, which y 1 joh. 1. have their 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 Chapter. COme likewise all ye People, Governors, and Subjects, noble, and unnoble, rich, and poor, wise, and simple, as also all men a Mat. 9 sinners, and women sinners: Turn you about betimes b Heb. 5. to the Mercy seat, 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 Eccles. 5. Mal. 4. Rom. 2. of God. 2. Come now all hither, and confess your sins, lay open the d Prov. 18. Eccles. 4. inwardness of your, hearts, and bring forth right e Mat. 3. Luke 3. fruits of Repentance: and so then suffer yourselves to be f Ezek 36. Heb. 10. washed with the pure and safe-making water of the love in the Font of g Sap 3. Eccles. 2. humiliation, to the end, that ye may be h Rom. 5. Rom. 8. Heb. 9 justified or cleansed from all your sins, received into the holy Commonalty of love, to be i Rom. 12. Ephes. 4. fellow members of the Body of jesus Christ; and bide standing in holy k Psal. 45. Sap 5. garnishing, and not perish with the wicked world, when as she now in this same day is judged with the Lords mighty hand. 3. Which wicked world is kept l 2 Pet. 3. 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 Mat. 25. 2 Pet. 3. judgement of other fires 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, when as now all ungodly ones, n Mat. 25. 2 Thes. 1, 2 jude 1. and all self-wise-ones, with all unrepentant ones, & false hearts of the Scripture-learned, which in their own opinion, have falsely o Mat. 24. boasted themselves very stoutly to be Christians; do inherit the terrible p Psal. 13. Psal. 47. Rom. 2. condemnation with many smarts in the cruelty of the hellish fire, then shall the people of God, [namely, the whole Commonalty of the love of jesus Christ, and all those that have turned them penitently from their sins, to the same Commonalty or family of love] q Isai. 35. Isai. 65. rejoice them in all love, and obtain a perpetual r Isai. 32. Sap. 3. rest 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 heed to this my voice or calling, to this proffered s Prov. 1. Isai. 49. Grace, and to my warning, all ye, saith the holy Spirit of love, which will remain preserved, and be saved now in this same last day. 6. For after the day of love (inasmuch as it is the last or newest day, on t Acts 17. the which the whole earth shall be judged with Righteousness) there shall no u Apoc. 10 day of grace appear any more upon the earth, but a severe, or hard x Heb. 10. 2 Pet. 3. judgement over all ungodly ones, as is before said. Take it to heart. The End of the first Epistle. The Second Epistle. A short and pithy Instruction of the Mystery of the Love. Labour for Love: Earnestly covet spiritual Gifts: but chief, that ye may prophesy, 1 Cor. 14.1. The End of the Commandment, and the chief sum of faith, is love, with a pure Heart, and with a good Conscience, and with unfeigned faith, 1 Tim. 1.5. There was demanded, and an Instruction required thereupon in writing, which is the Secretness, or Mystery of the Love; and thereupon is answered by H.N. in writing, according to the Declaration of the spiritual and heavenly truth; this Instruction here following. He that hath Ears to hear, * Mar. 13. Luke 8. Apoc. 2.3. let him hear. He that hath Wisdom, let him conceive understanding. The First Chapter. WIth whom shall I a Prov. 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 born the contempt, blasphemy, and shame with me, when I lay in the b Prov. 1. Isai 59 street, where the people shaked their Heads at c Psal. 22. Psal. 109. me (as at a d Isai. 53. Sap 2. filthy thing that is worthy to be cast away) and as mad and frantic men, ran over me with feet? 6. Who hath had his pleasure in me, when I was so e Isai. 53. Sap. 2. filthy and so loathsome to look upon, or to behold, before all wisdom of the flesh and of the Unrepentant ones? 7. Who hath denied f Mat. 10. Mat. 16. Mar. 8. Luke 9 Luke 14. himself, and is for the love's sake, gone out of himself with me, when I did in the love require the man's salvation, and was condemned to the death g Mat. 26. Mat. 27. Mark 15. Luke 22. John 18. john 19 of the Cross, and killed with the same death by the wise ones of the earth, as a despised one, or an outcast upon the earth? 8. Who hath born such a death h Rom 6. Phil. 2. of the Cross with me, in all shame, despising, 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 i job 19 Dan. 12. 1 Cor 15. 1 Thes. 4. rising from the death, or trusted thereon, for to rise also with me, with his body? 11. Who hath seen mine k Mat. 16. Luke 24. Acts 1 ascension to God my Father, unto his right hand in the heavenly being, and waited my coming l Isai 25. Isai. 30. Mich 7. Phil. 3. from thence to a righteousness upon the earth? 12. Who hath marked that I live and reign with m Ecclus. 24. God, and that my greatness is more than all n 3 Reg. 8. 2 Par. 2.6. heavens can comprehend; where also no earthly o 1 Cor. 2. understanding, nor all whatsoever is born out of the earthly blood, can know me? 13. And if now there be any man that is passed thorough all these things with me, or that doth now presently go thorough this narrow way p 4 Esd. 7. Mat 7. Luke 13. with me to the life, he shall understand, and know the mystery of the love. 14. He shall likewise taste and feel the perfection of all goodness, and approach to the love in her virtuous nature, and become of one being 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 Second Chapter. OYe lustful Souls to the mystery of the love, gather out the a 1 Esd. 8. mind, and search no further. For doubtless the love suffereth not herself to be approached unto, understood, nor known, neither for this nor that, nor through any manner of cause (let it be by what means soever it will) nor through any manner of mind or will, but only by her own virtuous nature and lovely being, as through herself, or through her service. For she, the everlasting good, excelleth it all far away. 2. Also, she receiveth nothing of any man; 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. refreshing the Paradise of the Lord. 3. The Love is herself a nurse 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 Cor. 13. all things. 4. The Love is also an d Exod. 3. cap. 19, 20 Isai. 33. holy mountain, the which no man being unhallowed, or unprepared, may touch or come near. For whosoever toucheth the same mountain, and is not of her part, to him is she a consuming fire, whose burning heat e Isai. 33. no man can endure, but he which is of her like nature or seed. Who so resisteth, and submitteth not himself under her, and her service, he shall be broken and battered to pieces like f Psal. 2. Isai. 30. jer. 18. jer. 19 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 mind, and thoughts of the heart away from all that is vain, corruptible, and evil. 6. She unbindeth, or looseth the everlasting perfection: For to come into the life of the eternal uncreatedness, in the kingdom of the God of heavens, full of all pure beauty, wherein all earthly, and corrupt self-minded thoughts do cease, and where the corruptible mortality is not beholden. 7. For in the love is nothing else 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 dwell free without care or fear, with all g Isai. 35. Isa. 51. Apoc. 21. 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, no man can obtain, that hangeth his delight, will, and life, and tieth, or bindeth himself, on the earthly, visible, or corruptible being. But they remain vainly-minded in the darkness of the unbelieving minds, whose h Rom. 1. Eph. 4. hearts are blinded with the vain comfort of this world, and of the goodthinking wise ones. For which Ignorances' cause they cannot understand the right ground of the secret love. 9 But salvation and i Luke 2. Peace be unto all those that are good of will, and that take heed to the time k 1 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. of grace, that give their understanding captive under the obedience of the Love, and that do even so with humble and obedient hearts, believe, or trust the love in her Service. 10. Happy are they, whose devotion of heart God stirreth up thereto. For through the love of God the Father, it shall all be l Acts 5. restored again, whatsoever is estranged or turned away from God from the beginning of the World, and that is well-minded to the Conversion unto his God, to the end, that it may all through the Love stand firm in his upright estate for ever. 11. Even thus it shall all be accomplished in the love, whatsoever God hath spoken in time passed m Acts 3. by the mouth of all his holy Prophets. For all what is gone forth from n Mat. 22. Mar 12. Luke 10. 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-making service, according to the Promises, unto all, and over all those that believe thereon. 12. The same verily is the o Gen. 12. Gen 13. Gen. 15. Gen. 17. Gen. 22. Blessing which the God of heaven hath promised to Abraham and his seed, to the blessing of all generations of the earth. 13. Of the same Blessing and upright being of the Love, we have witnessed and set forth in writing, with more and fuller Instruction or larger Declaration, in the glass of righteousness, to the end that every one which with our Commonalty 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 furthersome to the service of Love, to the salvation of many men, Because that even so, through p Esa. 32. Esa. 62. the Love, the peace may be prepared upon the earth, which hath long lain q Esa. 24. waste. 14. For the end, r Rom. 13. Gal. 5. 1 Tim. 1. or the perfection of all things, (namely, the chief sum 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, that s 1 Cor. 13 1 john 2. 1 john 9 1 john 4. is the Love; and her mystery is the everlasting life. The Third Chapter. BEhold and consider; to that end hath the Truth her flowing forth (like as the same is Image-like or figuratively set forth or patterned out a Exo. 25. Act. 7. Heb. 8. by Moses in the former 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 cleverness and appearing of the b Mal. 3. Mal. 4 Mat. 16. Mat. 24. Mat. 25. Mark 13. 2 Thes. 1. Act. 1. Apoc. 1. coming of our Lord jesus Christ in his glory. In which day or cleverness of the coming of Christ in his Glory, the Resurrection of his dead c Dan. 12. john 5. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes. 4. Apoc. 20. cometh to pass; 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. Sap. 3 Mat. 19 1 Cor. 6. jude 1. coming of jesus Christ, who appeareth and cometh now unto us, from the right hand 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 evill-willing nature, and to an everlasting implanting of the holy ones of God, into his Love, to the end that the earth may even so (through the Love and her Service) be renew-and cleansed from all her unrighteousness. 4. But all those that are unbelieving touching the e Rom. 2. truth, and ungodly or evil of will, shall also be judged in this same day, through the Love and her Service. 5. There shall no man likewise remain standing in the same judgement, that resisteth the Love, and despiseth her service. For the f Esa. 40. Esa. 60. & 62. 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 Psal. 72. glory of God, according to the Promises, and that all people may walk in the Love; and that the Love in her Service, may even so (as a light of life) flourish for evermore, among the children of men, and get the h Col. 3. superiority in their hearts, to an everlasting thanksgiving 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. This same (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 & 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 desired, touching the difference betwixt God the Father, and his Son the Lord jesus Christ. And thereupon is answered by H. N. in writing, according to the declaring of the spiritual and heavenly truth, this Instruction hereafter following. The First Chapter. I Have thus long deferred for to answer thee thy demand in writing, which thou beloved brother desiredst of me, when I was last with thee; because of certain matter that were needful for me first of all to further. Wherethrough I, by that occasion, have not hitherto had convenient time to accomplish the same. 2. But I have not for all that forgotten thy demand, nor through slothfulness neglected to write unto thee: neither do I desire in any wise, to deny thee thy request: but am always welwilling 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 questioned with me, and desired of me to answer the same in writing, is so hard or profound of understanding, to answer, oh no, but because that the understanding of the same mind, is so utterly unknown a Mat 11. Mat. 13. john 14. Ephes. 3. before all sense of the flesh. 4. Yea, how naked and bare soever the Scripture showeth it, according to the mind of the Spirit, yet can it not for all that be understood b 1 Cor. 2. nor conceived by flesh and blood, unless the man must first, according to the counsel of the Scripture, be turned into another mind. 5. Seeing now that the Scriptures of the Apostles of Christ is spiritual, c 1 john 5. 1 john 6. and witnesseth of spirit and life, and that the man which readeth the testimonies thereof in the Letter standeth captived with a fleshly mind, d Rom. 7. under the sin of his own goodthinking and sotaketh 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. so can he not doubtless bring it to pass, for his fleshly senses, and goodthinking thoughts, do surely stretch no further, but like to such an Intelligence, or knowledge of the fleshly understanding. 6. For that cause also the mind of the man doth not out of the letter of the Scriptures, understand nor comprehend the mind of God rightly, by means whereof there is likewise now at this present day (like as came to pass also in times passed among f jer. 26. jer. 28. jer. 29. Mat. 12. Mat. 23. Mat. 26. & 27. the worldly wise, & Scripture-learned ones) 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 understood, giveth unto us in g 1 Cor. 2. our inward mind, another Spirit for to discern and understand withal, which h 1 Cor. 1. 1 Cor. 2. is not of flesh and blood, nor yet minded according to the earthly and fleshly wisdom of this world, nor according to the Prudence of the Ingeniousness of the worldly wise, and of the contentious Scripture-learned, or those of famous Schools, therefore we do perceive, that it is perilous to write over unto any man of the secretness of God i Ephes. 3. and Christ; and that therefore we do daily bear a care or a suspicion, whether those that ask after the understanding of the godly truth, do not desire to know the same k Act 17. out of curiousness or sensuality, or l john 8. to judge the same according to their own goodthinking. 8. Therefore it is dangerous in this perilous time to discover, or to write over the groundly depths m Rom 11 of the godly wisdom unto any man, because that we do now find many men that do ask, to the end to know much; Yea they seek many knowledges, whereby to understand, and to judge the godly things, out of their sharpwittedness or industry. And that liketh all those well, which have no lust to do the Lords will. For therein lieth the old root of n Gen. 3. Rom. 5. Adam. whereout the disobedient knowledge springeth or cometh forth. 9 But to o john 8. 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. and to serve, to praise, and to honour him, as he is a God in his Christ, that liketh few or none. Yet is the same the new fruit of the planting of jesus Christ, whereunto the Scripture pointeth us, which neither the q Mat. 11. john 14. 1 Cor. 1. 1 Cor. 2. world nor her wise or Scripture-learned ones 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 submit thyself obediently thereunto, to thy salvation, and to the s Ephes. 1. laud and praise of the godly glory, and so to believe the living God and his Christ, to incline unto him, and to become i 2 Pet. 1. partaker of his being, then for to know much thereof, according to the pleasure of thine own 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 Ephes. 1. thine understanding, and through his Increase or Blessing, to endow thee in thy Spirit with his Grace, and to stir up thy heart to a pure mind towards God, and towards his Love in jesus Christ. The Second Chapter. 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, a Rom. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 2 Cor. 1. Gal. 1. Ephes. 1. namely, God our Father, and the Lord jesus Christ. And that in certain places, Christ in stead of the Son, is also uttered forth for a Father and God. 2. Forasmuch as thy understanding supposed that there was no more but one b Deut. 3● Esa. 44. Esa. 45. & 46. 1 Cor. 8. God (as it is also true) therefore was thy demand thus unto me, whereof thou requiredst an Answer in writing: Seeing now that there is no more but one God, wherefore is he then pronounced forth in two manner 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 desirest the Instruction, could not likewise c john 6. john 7. & 8. 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 manner, are minded after the new Testament, that they have thoroughly well conceived the understanding of this matter, and do for that cause persuade themselves, that they do far exceed and excel the jews, supposing 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-beeing 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 Mat. 11. Mat. 13. & 19 john 14. impossible 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 ground of his reason, yet can he not doubtless, with any manner of prudence of the flesh, conceive that understanding. For it is an understanding, e Esa. 57 Esa. 66. Sap. 1. Mat. 11. that riseth not up in the knowledge, 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. 1 Cor. 2. 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. Spirit, a very true light, h john 1. john 8. john 9 john 11. john 12. & 14. 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. Seeing then that the only God is a i 1 john 1. very true Light, that no darknesses do know or behold, & is not to be known or beheld but in his light, k Psal. 36. therefore is not he known likewise, but by those that do hear and believe his gracious word, and that submit them l john 8. obediently under the requiring of the same word and will; and so do carry the Image m 1 Cor. 15. Eph. 4. of his godly-beeing, or do behold the same n 2 Pet. 1 in their Spirit, as a pattern of God, and hope thereon, through faith. And the Spirit of those same obedient humble ones, is the spirit that giveth respect too the serviceable testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love, to the end to be incorporated o John 15. john 17. Ephes. 3. to the like-beeing of God (namely, the brightness of the cleverness of the godly being, the upright Righteousness p Ephes. 4. 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. Mat. 13. secretness of the kingdom of God and Christ. 8. But seeing now that the man is gone back or fallen away r Gen. 3. Deut. 32 jer. 2. from his God, and from this pure beauty and cleverness of the godly-beeing; and s Rom. 1. Ephes. 4. estranged from the understanding of the wisdom of jesus Christ, therefore is he also become disinherited of this cleverness or brightness of the godly light, and hath neither known the Father, nor his Son, the Lord jesus Christ; by means of which estranging, he hath not borne or carried in his spirit, t 1 Cor. 15. Ephes. 4. the Image or like-beeing of his God, namely, Jesus Christ, to which effect the Gospel or u Mat. 28. Mar. 16. 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 by the self wisdom of the flesh, and by his own opinion, quite led 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, born the ungodly being or the contrary nature unto his God, y Sap. 1. to the which he is neither created nor called. 9 This contrary nature unto God or darkness, hath captived z Mar. 6. Rom. 1. 2 Cor. 4. his senses and thoughts, and stolen 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 from * Ephes 4. Col. 1. the being of God, and hath grounded him on the knowledge. The third Chapter. 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. heaven and earth, and all their garnishing, then did he also create him a man, b Gen. 1. Gen 2. Sap 2. Eccles 17. 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 like 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. Here through was God in the beginning as a light of life, of one substance with the manly creatures, God c Gen 2●. brought forth the memory, for a good and holy understanding, because that his like-beeing should not be alone in the manly creatures, but that the memory should in all good and holy understanding, be an help d 2 Gal. 10 or aid to the like-beeing 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 like resemblance, even as God is a very true e john 1. 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 manner also in them, the memory that God hath brought forth out of his like-being: which memory in those same 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. This in the former Kingdom, was God's glory in his manly creatures whom he had chosen to himself to the end that they should f 2 Pet. 3. inhabit the earth with righteousness, and that even so, therethrough the highest God (as a living and true God) and his holy being and virtuous nature, should as well 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 that same true and like-beeing of God, which is flowed or born out of the eternal and living Godhead, is the first born g 1 Cor. 15. Col. 1. of all creatures; and is the true and living Christ of God, h Psal. 16. Act. 2 Act. 13. which cannot be corrupted; but he continueth always i Psal. 9 and everlastingly. For he is the k john 3. Rom. 1. only born son of God, and avery true l joh. 1. john 14. light, and eternal life for evermore like unto his Father. 7. From hence 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 Eph. 4. Col. 3. is the upright righteousness and holiness, which is everlasting and n Sap. 1. 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. Rom. 5. 1 Cor. 15. the man hath taken on, and therethrough hath born the contrary being to God, p Sap. 2. john 8. that Antichrist, the like-being of the devil, and so is driven from the beholding of God, q Gen. 3 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. Gen. 22. Act 3. Gal. 3. covenanted and promised again, by the God of life unto Abraham and his seed: And through that same, the blessing of all generations of the earth; after which salvation many s Mat. 13. Luke 10. 1 Pet. 1. Kings and Prophets have sought and inquired, which they saw into afar off 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 time. The Fourth Chapter. THis grace of salvation, and this like being of God, which became unknown through Adam, did in times past appear in Israel, out a Mat. 1. Luke 1. Luke 2. of the house of David, of the tribe of juda, like as God had promised b Psal 78. Esa. 9 jer. 23. jer. 30. Dan. 9 through the Law and the mouth of all his Prophets; and he is published c Act. 2. Acts 3. Acts 13. to the whole generation of Israel to be their King, Saviour and Messiah, and that God had showed the mercy d Luke 1. on them for to help up Israel his servant: And so at the same time God was merciful unto his chosen people and hath not forgotten his Covenant, even as he had promised unto Abraham and his seed. 2. Even thus verily was this like-being of God, the true Christ and only born son of God from Eternity; born of the e Luke 2. Rom. 1. 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 scripture-learned one's after the Law, f Mat. 12. Mat. 15. Mat. 21. & 27; etc. Acts 2. Acts 3. 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 Mat. 23. & not allowed of him but have delivered him over unto the Heathen, h Mat. 27. to the death of the Cross. 3. Yea, so far is the unregenerated man differing from the mind of God (although he bewise, prudent, or understanding in the knowledge and Scripture-learnednesse) that he (for his own wisdom's cause) doth understand i Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 2. nothing at all of the mind of God, nor of the setting up of Israel; neither yet can he attain thereunto, with his own wisdom: like as it hath also come to pass with the wise & Scripture-learned one's of the Law. And this Christ of God k Luke 24. Acts 3. Acts 17. hath been forced to suffer (yea, from the l Apoc. 13. beginning of the world forth) for the wisdom of the flesh, and the sin's cause. And it went with him, m Mat. 26 Luke 22. as was written thereof: and he was killed on the earth, with the contemnable n Sap. 2. Mat. 27. death of the Cross, and buried in the heart of the earth. 4. Seeing now that it was impossible, that the death could hold him, or that he should see the o Psal. 16. Acts 2. Acts 13. corruption, to a consummation; therefore is he risen again p Mar. 16. Luke 24. Acts 2. Acts 10. 1 Cor. 15. 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 Luke 24 shown them (through his suffering and death of the Cross) the victory r 1 Cor. 15 against the sin, death, Devil, and Hell. 5. Now when as these his disciples were renewed and established in the word of his doctrine, and armed s 1 Pet: 4. with the same mind of the suffering of Jesus Christ, t Mar. 16. Luke 24. Acts 1. then was he taken up from them to the right hand 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; u Acts 1. Acts 2. pouring forth v his holy Spirit into them, as a new and true x Apo. 21. Jerusalem, which is not prepared by men, but by God, like a garnished Bride for her Husband. And even thus became God the Father, through his only-borne Son (Christ) of one substance again y Acts 2. with the manly creatures: And to that end also, because that all manly creatures, should (through Christ) be z john 17. 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 Acts 2. Rom 8. 2 Cor. 5. Spirit of Christ, from the right hand of God, b Mat. 13. 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 Mat. 26. Luke 22. john 6. 1 Cor. 11. 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. Acts 1. Acts 2. 1 Cor. 2. in the Spirit: and did bear even thus e 2 Cor. 4. a costly treasure, in earthen vessels; namely, the very like-being of God the Almighty. 7. Which being of God, f 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 2. Col. 1. Heb. 1. is the true Christ himself, according to the spirit: with whom they had their fellowship. And through him (seeing he was one with God) their g 1 joh. 1. fellowship was also with God the Father. Whereby they used that word: God our Father, and the Lord (his Son) Jesus Christ. The which also, many no doubt, do speak or witness in that manner, 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 Acts 2. 1 Cor. 2. 1 john 1. 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. Acts 2. it shall come to pass (saith God) in the last days. 8. This grace of salvation, that k Luke 1. Luke 2. Acts 2. Acts 3. Acts 4. etc. appeared to the Jews (which many of them in that time refused) is published to the Heathen, l Mat 3. Luke 2. Acts 13. to a Repentance for their sins, to the end that they should m john 1. believe on the like-beeing 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 joh. 1. with God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, in one manner of faith. 9 And to that end was the service of Christ ministered o 2 Cor. 10 under the obedience of faith (by the Apostles of Christ) to the unbelieving 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 Acts 3. 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. Gal. 2. Gal. 3. Phil. 3. that is required by the law. The Fifth Chapter. BEhold, even thus, for a a Luke 2. Light and Salvation of the Heathen, is this same (only out of grace, undeserved) published unto the Heathen, for a Gospel, to a mortifying of their vain understanding, b Rom. 1 Rom. 6. Rom 8 1 Cor. 5. 1 Cor. 6. Gal. 5. Gal. 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 Luke 1. Ephes. 4. in upright righteousness and holiness. In whom (and in none other) standeth the forgiveness of sins. 2. These publishers of the holy Word or Gospel of the Kingdom of God (seeing 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, where-thorough they likewise were in Christ, and God in them) have published that word (Grace and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ) in the truth. 3. But although the Apostles did publish this after this manner, 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. 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. 1 john 1. life of God, out of his life, and his like light, out of his light. 4. Seeing then that they did bear this like-beeing 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 Ephes. 3 in the spirit. Wherethrough they also published the life that is everlasting: and so witnessed likewise, that those which had h 1 joh. 5. not the Son of God, could not also have the Father, and that they were without i Ephes. 2. God in this world. For the like-life of God, k john 1. 1 john 1. 1 john 5. is the only born 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. john 14. and that it shall also be obtained in him. 5. This is verily the grace of God the Father (which was published in times passed 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 john 14. john 17. know him in his glory, and his uniformeness 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, vouchfase 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 rehearsed in this manner; seeing otherwise no means 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 far forth as the Lord n Ephes. 1. dothilluminate thine understanding) there shall be 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 Prov. 4. and takest this same to heart, be well-minded to our most holy Service of Love. The Almighty God lead thee into his Righteousness, Amen. The End of the Third Epistle. The Fourth Epistle. A clear Instruction of the Mediation of jesus Christ, that cometh to pass 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, no man cometh to the Father, but through me, John 14.6. If any man enter in through me he shall be saved, John 10.9. I am the light of the world: who so followeth after me, walketh not in darkness; but he shall have the light of life, Joh. 8.12. If any man will follow after me, let him forsake himself: and take up his Cross on him, and follow after me, Matth. 16.24. Luke 9.23. 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, Mat. 10.38. Luke 9.23. 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 pass in us, to our a Rom. 5. Reconciliation with God the Father: and how Christ is an b Heb. 1. heir of all things, and how c 1 Cor. 15. God is all in all. Whereupon this present Letter is written by H. N. 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 the 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 Chapter. FOrasmuch as I have always found myself willingly bend to do thee service, my beloved Brother, so do I also still find myself ready prepared thereto, namely, in that wherein I may be serviceable unto thee, to a guiding into the holy understanding, to the end that thou (if God vouchsafe the same) mightest (through my small Service) be a little furthered to the good knowledge in God and his Christ. 2. But seeing 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, lest that the same (if we should write boldly thereof) might thrust back any one from us and our godly doctrine, or offend him thereby: or that any one should desire to glory or to boast therein, as in a knowledge of the flesh, and not before all things or with his whole heart, to be partaker in the spirit, b 2 Pet. 1. of the being whereof we do write or witness. 3. For albeit that we do know well (according to the comprehension 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. Ephes. 4. strange being, which is none of Gods being, and to cleave unto the same, so is then the knowledge of the holy secretness of God, more hurtful than furdersome 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-being unto God, then is that same to a d Mat. 25. Luke 12. more grievous condemnation unto us. 4. Seeing 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 even so then rise up in e Esa. 58. power, in the inward man, then, where as men do with speakable words (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 Mat. 13. secretness of the Kingdom of God or Christ, consisteth not g 1 Cor. 2 in the multitude of words, nor in the riches of the knowledge, because that thou shouldest not suffer thyself to be bewitched by any man, with outward or strange words, or say of plentiful store of Languages, as to let thine heart commit whoredom therewith. But that thou mightest 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 the end for to live uprightly therein, with a meek-minded spirit. For a meek-minded h Psal. 5. Esa. 57 Isa. 61. Esa. 66. spirit (which hath his proceeding obediently, according to the requiring of the Lords 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 all that, the richness of the spiritual and heavenly knowledge of God, ever the less among us, but rather the greater: and the same, and all that which is of God and Christ, do we esteem very i job. 28. Psal. 19 Pro. 3. Pro. 8. Sap. 7. precious, yea much worthier than all the riches or costly treasures of this world: for that same (of worthiness 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. 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 heed with foresightfulness (so much as we may therein) of the lose ones of heart, to the end, that there be not one godly saying of the precious secret wisdom spoken out in vain. O! how l Eccl. 14. Eccles 15. james 3. happy is he that falleth not in his tongue, and whose words m Col. 4. are tempered with salt? 8. Now this being omitted, I rejoice me doubtless of thee, and of the Commonalty 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 Ghost: Which being (for those that be partakers thereof) are the secret Treasures, and n Mat. 12. heavenly riches of God, whereof the world, the rich Scripture learned ones, nor the goodthinking wise (with all their deep-groundly knowledge) do neither know nor understand o Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 2. any thing at all. 9 It is true, they have the Scripture of the godly witnesses, wherethrough they suppose to be wise and understanding. But seeing they give not their understanding captive under the obedience of the Love of Jesus Christ and come p john 5. not even so to the being, whereof the Scripture speaketh, nor yet believe thereon, q john 7. as the Scripture saith, so is there likewise no light, nor truth, nor yet spirit nor being of God, among them, and they also do neither know nor r Mat. 22. 1 Tim. 1. understand that which they themselves speak thereof. 10. But the God of life ( f Ephes. 2. who is rich of mercy) hath (out of his hearty Love) t Ephes. 1. Ephes. 2. Ephes. 3. Col. 1. revealed the being of his glory unto us, renewed our ignorant understanding (under the obedience of his Love) to a spiritual mind of the upright righteousness, and (when we were full of infirmities, u Rom. 5. Ephes. 2. Col. 1. Col. 2. and dead, for the sin's cause) begotten us again, out of his Love, x Tit. 1. Tit. 3. 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 hand, 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 joh 1. is the everlasting life, which was with the Father, in the beginning: and it is c Psal. 45. Heb. 1. the Mercy-seat of the godly Majesty, which continueth from everlasting to everlasting: Even as I likewise have talked with thee of the same, when I was last with thee. The Second Chapter. 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 pass in us, a Rom. 3. 2 Cor. 5. Ephes. 2. 1 john 2. 1 john 4. for a reconciliation betwixt God and us: and how Christ is b Heb. 1. an heir of all things: and how c 1 Cor. 15. God is all in all: therefore will I open a little of the same unto thee: and I hope also to satisfy thee 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 nature's part omit, but must witness unto thee of that which thou desirest at my hands, also reveal the d Ephes. 3. Mystery of Christ, and make known unto thee, that which is hidden e Rom. 15. Ephes. 1. Eph. 3. Col. 1. before the world, and all her wise ones, 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. 2 Cor. 3. a Spirit, and a g 1 joh. 1. very true light, with whom no darknesses or sins are mingled. But seeing that the man is fallen h Gen 3. Esa. 59 into a strange contrary-beeing unto God, and goeth on, and liveth therein, so is he likewise i Ephes. 4. Col. 1. 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 requireing of the godly-beeing; and so he k Psal. 82. Ephes. 5. walketh in the ungodly-beeing of the darknesses; and that same ungodly-beeing of the darknesses hath l Rom. 1. Ephes 4. blinded his heart. And that verily is the sin, m Esa. 59 which separateth the man from his God; and it is the n Ephes. 2. middle wall, as an enmity between God and the man. By means of which middle wall, both God and the man are grown into two parts, and are partially minded against each other. Yet ought they (both God and the man) to be o john 17 Ephes. 5. one, like as it was p Gen. 2. in the beginning. 4. Seeing now therefore that they are divided, (either of them in his own mind,) q Gal. 5. against each other, so is God, ( r john 4. 2 Cor. 3. who is a spirit) spiritual and minded to all upright righteousness, against the mind of man, and the man who is s Gen. 6. flesh and blood, and not yet circumcied t Gen. 10. Ier 4. on the foreskin of his heart, to a laying away of the sin, u Rom. 8 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 6. 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 seeing that the darkness, the sinful flesh, or ungodly being, is grown between God and man as a foreskin y Esa. 59 Ephes. 2. or middle wall, and as an enmity: 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. 8. 1 Cor. 3. 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 darkness which hath enclosed him; and following those sad lusts a Ephes. 4. of error, he goeth back, and so sinneth daily against the father; and that is the sin that is forgiven b Mat. 12. the man, in his repentance for the sin, because of his ignoance through unbelief. The Third Chapter. NOw mightest thou demand, what spirit or being is this God, of whom the Scripture witnesseth, or unto whom we ought to turn us in the Spirit? the Answer: Of the same have we rehearsed in the a Intro. 22 Intro. 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. 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 very true one) is the true c Exod. 3. God of Abraham, through whom the d Gen. 12. Rom. 4. promises of the man's salvation or blessing, do come to pass in his faith, the true God e Mat. 22. of Isaac in whom the f Gen. 21. Heb. 11. promises be inherited, and in whom the seed of blessing is named, and the true God of g Acts 7. Jacob or Israel, in whom the promises of the glory h Numb. 14. Esa. 40. of God, and of the man's salvation, or i jer. 23. jer. 33. blessing become established, and k Luke 1. Gods true righteousness, this self same God, l Sap 5. Eccles. 24. 1 Pet. 2. james 1. is a very true unchangeable light, a clear m Ephe. 1. day, and a glistering delightful beauty. 3. This light is the n joh. 14. everlasting life of the upright righteousness, an overflowing o Ps. 42. jer. 2. john 4. 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 john 1. everlasting firm-standing essential word, q 1 Cor. 2. Heb. 4. full of power and possibility. 5. This word is the r john 6. Ephes. 1. Ephes 6. & 4. 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 certainty of the truth, that he the same God is only s Ps. 116. john 3. Rom. 3. a very true God. 6. This spirit is t Sap. 7. the holy wisdom, and the upright understanding, full of all spiritual heavenly goods. 7. This holy wisdom and upright understanding is the u Eccles. 4. providence, which so reseeth 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. which willeth that all that which is good should be and come to light. 9 In this same good will is the z Heb. 11. belief grounded, as a sure and firm confidence, that all that which is good, and foreseen to the good, shall be performed or come 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. Ephes. 1. Ephes. 3. Phil. 3. is the power as mighty to bring to light all good there through. 11. This power is the deed, or the work of all good, and b Phil. 2. 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 ought to turn him: for he the same God is the right Father, who out of himself, and through the like-being of his Godhead, hath made c Gen 1. Psal. 33. john 1. Ephes. 3. all that is any thing, and all his d Psal 19 Ps. 89. & 97. Rom. 1. works do testify of him, that he the same God, is an everlasting living and true God, to the end that he only should be e Deut. 6. Deut. 10. served, honoured, and worshipped in all his works, as a great glorious God f Ps. 10. & 29. who only is the Lord and King. 13. This everlasting God, seeing that he hath made g Pro. 8. john 1. all that is any thing through his like-beeing (for that the same like-beeing, should be h Heb. 1. an heir in all things) hath also in the beginning, form i Gen 1. Sap. 2. that same (his very like-beeing) in the man: And so hath God made and ordained every thing k Eccl. 39 well through his godly being. And l john 1. without that same being, God hath made nothing that is any what, nor ordained any thing, without the same; and that same like-beeing of his Godhead, m john 1. john. 6. is his only born Son Jesus Christ, and is the n 1 Cor. 15. Col. 1. firstling or the firstborn of all creatures, whom God hath fore-seen thereto, ere-ever o Pro. 8. the foundation of the world was laid, p Heb. 1. and to be an heir of all his works. 14. He is promised q john 3. Rom. 8. 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 Ps. 19 Acts 2. Act. 3. etc. preached and published to the world. But the world hath not believed in him; and therefore also s john 8. john 9 remaineth her sin and death. 15. For in no man else but in that same 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. That same is a very true light, u john 8. 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 came 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 born of blood, nor of the will of the Flesh, nor yet of the will of man, but of God. The Fourth Chapter. OF this self same only born Son of God the Father, the Prophet Isaiah doth also witness; a Esa. 3. A child (saith he) is born unto us, a son is given 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 Ps. 110. Heb. 5. Heb. 7. 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 Priest c Heb. 3. Heb. 10 over the house of God for ever, as d Heb. 8. Heb. 9 a Minister of the spiritual and heavenly goods. Which ministration cometh to pass in the spirit, and not in the letter, even as is written of him. 3. But seeing now that the man is fallen away e Gen. 3. Ephes 4. Col. 1. or estranged from this upright being of his God; therefore hath this Christ (the true Lamb of God) suffered f Phil. 2. the death of the Cross in the man. Which Lamb of God was killed g Apoc. 5. Apoc. 13. from the beginning of the world, for the sins cause. But seeing he is not of the death, but of the living Father, the God for ever, therefore is he also risen h Mar. 16. Luke 24. Acts 2. Acts 10. 1 Cor. 15 Col. 1. again, and as the i Mat. 28. firstling, risen up from the death, k Act. 1. Act. 2. Acts 10. & 13. and hath showed himself alive unto his Disciples and Believers, and set himself at the l 1 Cor. 15 right hand 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 Acts 1. 1 Thes. 5. 2 Thes. 1. should be seen in his coming) is n 2 Cor. 4 2 Tim. 1. appeared and come unto us, in the obedience of the Love, according to the scripture, who must possess the heaven, till unto this time, o Acts 3. wherein all becometh restored again, that God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Prophets, from the beginning of the world. 5. This same was in times past published in the world, p Mar. 16. Luke 24. Acts 1. Acts 2. for a Gospel or joyful message, to the end that all those which were burdened with sin & captived with darknesses, should be baptised or washed q Rom. 6. Col. 2. in his death of the Cross, according to the inward man, and planted into him r 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 3. with his like death, for that all those which beved in him, should be born again out of the same death, & so become partakers of the s Rom. 6 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 3. resurrection of Christ, (the very like-beeing of God, the righteous one) and that they might even so then (in the spirit) have their fellowship with Christ, t Ephes. 2. in the heavenly being, in the Kingdom of God his Father, and so rejoice them in this coming in the everlasting Life. 6. Behold, that is the upright u Luke 1. Ephes. 4. 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. Ephes 2. Unity, betwixt God and the man, to th'end that God may in that sort, be y 1 Cor. 15 all in all, according to the Promises. The Fifth Chapter. BUt seeing now that thy question is, how, or in what manner the same shall come to pass in us▪ so can I not omit to give thee 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. 2 Tim 1. appeared unto us out of his holy heaven, and dwelleth, b 2 Cor. 6. Apoc. 21. liveth, and walketh among us, (the family of his Love;) 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. 1 Pet 1. the belief, and the obedience to the requiring of the same God, is required of all men, d Ephes 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-beeing and e james 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 there (in the belief) is the same living God seen and known, like as he (according to the Spirit) is an upright being f john 1. john 8. 1 john 1. and very true light, for a life of men, and the right Father of his like-beeing 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 even so (in the believing 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. 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. one substance with them, in all Love and upright righteousness. 5. This self same Christ, the true Son and like-beeing k Col. 1. Heb. 1. of God his Father (although he (from eternity) be the l 1 Cor. 15. Col. 1. first born of all creatures, and the only m Mat. 16 Luke 9 john 6. born Son of God) is also (according to his birth of the seed of David after the flesh) named the Son of n Mat. 8. Mat. 12. Luke 6. Luke 9 & 21. 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. Rom. 12. Ephes. 4. 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 Mat. 13. Mar 4. Luke 8. manhood, through the Administration of the holy and gracious word, under the obedience of the Love, and (at the appointed time) born again by us and out of us, as a q joh. 15. 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 Mat. 12. Luke 8. Mother, brothers, and sisters of Christ, which do the will of his heavenly Father. 7. This same Man of God from heaven according to the Spirit, and the Son of man f Mat. 1. Rom. 1. of the seed of David according to the flesh, is in all points minded t Mat. 26. john 4. john 6. & 8. 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. Heb. 2. Heb. 5. 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. regard obediently unto his gracious word, according to the requiring of his Service of Love: and that even so (in his belief and obedience) the same word beginneth to appear or break through, as a very true y John 1.2 Cor. 4. light of the upright life and like-beeing of the perfect clearness of God, and as a z 2 Cor. 5. Gal. 6. new creature from heaven, than hath God the Father his pleasure a Esa. 42. Mat. 12. Mat. 17. 2 Pet 1. only in the same light and life of his like-cleernesse and upright righteousness. For that is his beloved Son (his spiritual heavenly being) whom he hath given unto us for an everlasting b Heb. 1. heir, to the end that we should live through him. 9 Seeing now that the Lord (the God of heaven) is spiritual, and minded to the upright righteousness, and that the man of the earth is fleshly, c Gen 6. Rom. 7. and minded to the sin, and unbelieving 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. 8. pleasure in the earthly man, nor yet the earthly man, in God, nor in his requiring. 10. But seeing now that the only-borne e Mat. 16. Luke 9 john 6. Son of God the Father according to the spirit [namely, Christ, the like f Sap. 7. Col. 1. Heb 1. being of God] is also the only-borne Son, out of the g Mat. 1. Rom. 1. manhood, of the seed of David according to the flesh, and beareth in us the Image of the earthly manhood, as well as the Image of the heavenly Godhead, therefore it is not his will that the man (whom he hath created h Sap. 1. Sap. 2. Eccles 17. to be an Image of his like-beeing) should perish in the disobedience of the earthly man, i Ezek 18. Ez k 33. 2 Pet 3. 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 sin's cause, hath suffered in us the death k Rom. 6. Phil. 2. of the Cross, and armeth us l 1 Pet. 4. 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 belief, he himself m Esa. 53.1 Pet 2. beareth our sins, and justifieth n Rom 3. Gal. 2. us from the same, through the belief. And so taking our sins upon him, in patience he o 1 john 1. john 4. reconcileth us before his Father, and maketh his p john 14. Apoc. 21. dwelling in us. 12. Even thus verily with patience doth Christ come before the man (for his q Rom. 8. 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) r 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. Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 2 Tim. 1. Heb. 2. 1 john 3. break all the bands of the Devil and of the selfe-mindednesse of the flesh: and bringeth the believing and obedient man, to his spiritual and heavenly mind of the upright righteousness, according to the mind of God his Father: and even so (as the f 1 Tim 2. Heb. 9 true mediator, to our reconcilement with God the Father) he putteth away the t Esa. 59 Ephes. 2. middle-wall betwixt God and us: and procureth the man, that he uniteth him with a good will, with a Godhead, and God, u john 17. to an uniting with the manhood. 14. Behold, and have a good regard hereunto, my beloved, for even thus (as is rehearsed) is x Rom. 55. the peace and reconciliation with God the Father, prepared for us through Christ: and so he maketh of two, y Ephes. 22. that they be one, namely, the Godhead and the manhood. 15. But in the mean time that we do suffer with a Rom. 22. 2 Cor. 44. Phil. 3. 2 Tim. 22. Christ, for the sin's cause, and do daily take our b Mat 16. Luke 14. Cross upon us, with him, so do there yet daily no doubt, 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 Mat. 12. in the Son. But if we be good of will, and continue 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. 55 compassion with our weakness: and suffereth likewise with us, in the belief, till that all the contrary-being that is against the upright being of God the Father, be overcome through the belief, in the like-suffering with Christ, f Rom. 6. Phil. 2. of the death of the Cross, and that Christ with his Father, have gotten g 1 Cor. 15. the dominion against the sin. Which Cross or suffering of Christ, is the altar of the offering of Christ, h Heb. 9 Heb. 13. in the holy, whereon our sins be offered up through the offering of Christ, as a sinne-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. 5. Ephes. 1. Ephes. 2. Heb. 9 sprinkled with his blood of the true testament, to the forgiveness of sins, and to an everlasting reconcilement with God the Father, through faith, and that same is the fulfilling of the true God-service in the holy. 17. Through which fulfilling of the foregoing Service in the holy, the godly understanding l 1 Cor. 13 Eph. 4 of the true age of the manly-beeing of jesus Christ, is inherited by us. m 2 Cor. 3. the veil before the most holy, put away from us, and the n Esa. 16. Heb. 1. Heb. 5. mercy-seat, uncovered and declared unto us: and likewise all the costly o Col. 2. riches of the upright spiritual and heavenly Goods in the very true most holy. 18. When as we now are thus renewed p Rom. 12 Ephes. 1. in jesus Christ, through faith, also come to the same q Ephes 4. age of the man Christ, and become one body with jesus Christ, so is God the Father then likewise r Ephes. 2. one substance or manned with us, through Christ: and f 1 Cor. 15. is all in all: and we have the t 2 Cor. 1. pawn of his inheritance: namely, the holy Ghost, wherewith we be grounded, sealed, and established n Ephes 3. in God, through jesus Christ. And all that godly being (even as we have witnessed before of God the Father) doth then live substantially in us: and so we have our x 1 joh. 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 Sinne. For in that we are dead, y Rom 6. that are we dead 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 Luke 16 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. Rom 4. Gal. 3. seed of Promise, to the blessing of all generations of the earth. The Sixth Chapter. MY beloved, this same (even as I have here witnessed unto thee) is the right mediation of Jesus Christ, inwardly in us, to our safe-making and reconciliation a Rom. 3. 2 Cor. 5. Col. 1. 1 john 2. with God the Father: wherethrough also Christ is an b Heb. 1. heir of all things, and God, all c 1 Cor. 15. in all. It is very true. 2. And with this Instruction out of the heavenly truth, do I hearty salute thee in the Lord, d Ephes 4. 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 writ unto thee, to the end that thou mayst comprehend the secret understanding of the spiritual and holy knowledge whereof I writ unto thee; and let thine understanding awake, to the Love and to her Service. I desire likewise of thee, that the Commonalty which is with thee may also read the Letter, and salute them all in my behalf, e Rom. 16. 2 Cor. 13. 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 blasphemers, but stand well-minded to the unity of heart in the Love, let them also read over this writing: And love always the unity of heart in the Love, to an increasing of the hely knowledge, and rejoice you among each other in the Love, through the spiritual f Ephes. 1. 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. 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 the end that I may be strengthened in him without fear, and so may stand fast against all mine 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 Fourth Epistle. Our heart is the mind of God most High. Our being amiable, as the sweet Lilly. Our faithfulness, love, and truth upright, Is Gods light life, and cleverness bright. FINIS.