CHERUBIMS. CHERUBIMS.  
When Man first transgressed and was driven out from God, God placed Cherubims, and a flaming Sword, to keep the Way of the Tree of Life: Mark, to keep the Way of the Tree of Life from the Transgressor; for, against him that did transgress, was the flaming Sword and the Cherubims, which God placed to keep the Way of the Tree of Life; for then man had no right to the Life, but Condemnation; the Cherubims and the flaming Sword is against him, through which he must come before he comes to Life again. Now Moses (who was commanded to do all things according to the Pattern which he saw on the Mount) when he prescribes a way to God, and to the Mercy, even in the first Covenant, he speaks of the Cherubims, and describes them to be two, beat out of one piece of Gold, and made of the Mercy-Seat: Now mark, that out of which the Cherubims were beat, out of the Mercy-Seat, to overshadow it; and the Mercy-Seat is over-shadowed while the Cherubims remain (while the Transgression is) and the Condemnation to the Transgressor; for that spreads itself over the Mercy-Seat, and the Mercy-Seat that is not known, nor the Golden-Pot where Manna is, while Man continues in the Transgression: for the Seed, which is the Seat of Mercy (was figured forth by the piece of Gold, and the Mercy-Seat of Gold, out of which the Cherubims were) that lies under, and the Tabernacle of the Testimony, or witnessing for God (out of which the Judgement, and the burning which delivers from the Transgression comes) that is not known, and the Way unto the Tree of Life again, is by that which brings out of those things which the Cherubims and the flaming Sword were against, which remained even through Moses; for the Ordinances and Service which he prescribed, could not take away Sin to the purifying the Conscience, for which cause the Cherubims' over-shadowed the Mercy-Seat; for the way was not yet prepared, until Christ came: So, though they had Ordinances of Divine Service, and a worldly Sanctuary, and the Tabernacle of the Testimony, which was called the Holiest of all; yet notwithstanding these things, (which were but shadows of good things to come) the Mercy-Seat was over-shadowed, (the Veil remained over people's hearts, and they could not approach near unto God without a Sacrifice for Sin, for fear of Wrath) and they could not see through the Cherubims of glory, but perished in that they abode in Sin, and that which the Cherubims of glory, 〈…〉 Sword was against, that which the Law and the Condemnation was against, which keeps them from the Tree of Life: So they being out of the Righteousness and Obedience, they were out of that unto which the Mercy is.  
Well, but some men may say, These things were indeed added after Transgression, and spoken of by Moses, but since Christ came, they are taken away, so that we have the Seat of Mercy, and can see it with open face.  
To thee, whosoever thou art that shalt say thus, I give answer; The Apostle, who spoke of those things, said, the sum of all is CHRIST; and that which was directed by Moses, was but the shadow of good things to come, but the Body is CHRIST. Now mark, Christ says, I come not to bring Peace on Earth, but a Sword, and a Fire; and what will I, if it be already kindled? And this is the condemnation, that LIGHT is come into the World, Joh. 3. 19 So that his coming, is not to destroy the Law, but to establish it, and to destroy that which the Law is against: Now the Curse of the Law is taken away by Christ, for them that believe; but the flaming Sword and the Cherubims remain in the Condemnation; for the Cherubims are two, made of the Mercy-Seat, even the Condemnation of the Law and of the Gospel, which remains, and are continued and established by Christ, against Transgression; and none can have the Mercy while they continue in their Transgression: Alas for thee, that thinkest these things can be taken away, so long as Sin remains; thou canst not see into those things which concern thy Peace; for the Condemnation and the Death will take hold of thee while thou art in thy sins, and the Seed thou canst not see, which is the true Seat of Mercy, and the Tabernacle of the Testimony for God, which the Law and Moses spoke of, which is the fulfilling of all those things, and the way to God, and the Life which is to be come into, through the condemning and destroying the sins, and the sinful part; So by the Gift of God, all these things are seen, and read through; which gift is Light, which as all come to see, and wait in it, in Obedience to its working against Sin, it will make way into the Holiest of all, and raise up the Seed, which is the Seat of Mercy, and the Tabernacle of Witness for God (in which the Life is, which is the hidden Manna, answering to the Golden Pot, in which the Manna was, and he is the Minister of the Sanctuary, and the true Tabernacle, confirmed by a greater thing than Aaron's Rod which budded, by him that said, The Lord Swore, and will not Repent, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the Order of Melchizedec; and this is He alone, which God hath chosen for Salvation; who consecrateth a new and living way into the Holiest of all; even through his Blood by which he sanctifieth) even for Him of whom the Mercy is, who said, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. This is that which bringeth through the Cherubims and the flaming Sword, unto the Life, and through its working brings out of the Transgression, the cause why the Judgement and the Condemnation was first set to take hold of Man, and to keep the way of the Tree of Life; which no man can come to feed of, but through the witnessing that to be wrought out, which the Condemnation and the fiery Law first passed against; for which cause Man was first separated from the Life; and being separated, they are changed from the Garden, into an howling Wilderness and a Desert, and a dry and thirsty Land, having Death and Condemnation passed over them. But the Lord promised the Wilderness and the Islands of the Sea should be converted, and he would make Rivers in the Wilderness, and Pools in the Desert, and the Wilderness should become as a fruitful Field, and as the Garden of God: But alas for me, I am as one almost amazed, for I look and see that multitudes are not yet come to see themselves changed, from being the Garden of God (in which he dwelled) to be a Wilderness and as a howling Desert, and a dry and thirsty Land, bringing forth nothing but briars and thorns, who are rejected, and nigh unto cursing: And how should they seek to be converted unto God? or, how should they seek to know the Rivers in the Desert, or Springs in the Wilderness, and themselves to become as a fruitful Field, and to be replenished as ●he Garden of God? for Ignorance hath over-shadowed them, so that t●ey are not yet come to know the flaming Sword, and the Cherubims, even the Condemnation to take hold of them, which is glorious, and worketh for the destruction of Sin: nor to know the gift of God, to work unto Condemnation, and unto their purging and cleansing; that the Seed which is the Seat of Mercy might be raised up, and spring forth as Rivers; which Christ said, He that believeth in me, out of his belly shall flow 〈…〉 ●●vers of Living Waters; and the Waters that I shall give him, shall 〈…〉 him as a Well of Water, springing up unto Eternal Life: but no 〈…〉 to know this, but they that come to wait in the Judgement, 〈…〉 Condemnation for the Gift of God, that works unto Judge 〈…〉 so long as the S●n i● given place unto and the Transgression lived in: So, who come to know the gift of God, CHRIST the SEED, they must wait to feel Obedience brought forth, and Righteousness lived in, else it will work unto Condemnation; and the flaming Sword, and the Cherubims will remain, which keeps the Transgressor from the Tree of Life: So the way through the flaming Sword, the Cherubims, the Condemnation, is the Obedience of the Life, and the Obedience will bring through the Condemnation, to see the Seed, the Seat of Mercy raised up, and to behold it with open face; And in this the Tree of Life is, and the Testimony of God, and the pleasant Springs of Life and Virtue: So the Obedience and the Righteousness being dwelled in, than the Gift of God worketh unto Life and Virtue, bringing the Soul and the Creature out of Sin, the cause why the fiery Law and the Cherubims was placed against Man unto Condemnation, and brings him through these things, unto GOD, the Life of all, and to feel him unto Consolation.  
And now all you that know the Gift of God, wait in it, that you may have unity with it, and unity with the Judgement and Condemnation (which is of it) against Sin, and so ye may be kept out of those things which it condemns, and then the Way will be opened freely to the Tree of Life; and the Condemnation which is glorious, that will pass away, and the Glory of the Life remain, unto nourishment; which none can feel, but as they dwell in that, which the Condemnation cannot take hold upon: So let all wait to have unity with that which condemns the Sin, and every appearance of Evil, that the Gift of God may be retained unto Life and Immortality, and to the Mercy which continues beyond the Condemnation, the Cherubims, and the flaming Sword.  
Great and wonderful are thy Works, thou King of Saints, and thy Ways past finding out; Oh the depth of the Wisdom, and the Riches, and the Glory that is in thee! Lord, how do all the world grope like blind men, and have not the knowledge of thee! but thou manifests thyself to thy Servants, so that Hand is not able to write, nor Tongue to express the multitude of thy Revelations; yet thou fillest thy Children with good things.  
GEO. ROFE. Written in Barbados 29th of the 7th Month, 1661.  
And is to go abroad into the World.   

LONDON, Printe● for Robert Wilson, 1661.