Concerning Chriſt Jeſus and his Names, &c.

AS concerning Chriſt Jeſus, what he is, and what he was, and where he is none knows, or can rightly or truly know, but ſuch as have received the Spirit of Truth, which leads into all Truth, and ſhews the things that are, and are to come; which reproves the world for ſin, for righteouſneſs, and for judgment; which is the Comforter of all them who forſake their ſins, their own righteouſneſs, and all falſe judgment, and puts on his righteouſneſs, and righteous judgment, which exceeds that of the Scribes and Phariſees, who in all ages did (and do) ſhut the Kingdom of Heaven againſt men, not entring themſelves, nor ſuffer (but perſecute) them that would. And the Kingdom of Heaven is within, &c.

1. Chriſt is a [Name] given to ſome [thing] which was before that [Name] was; and [Jeſus] is a [Name] given to the ſame thing; and Emanuel, and many other [Names] are given to the [one] ſelf-ſame [thing] according to the diſcoveries, operations, and manifeſtations unto them, and in them (in ſeveral ſeaſons) who declared of him according as they witneſſed, and knew his appearances, and effectuall workings in their inward parts; even the holy men of God, who ſpake as they were moved by the holy Spirit, which Spirit revealed the Myſteries of Godlineſs unto them according to his will, and their ſeveral meaſures and abilities of his gift.

2. This Chriſt of whom they ſpeak, was in the world before the Law, and in the time of the Law was that myſtery hid under all the vails and types, figures and ſhadows, carnal ordinances, and ceremonies; in which time he was as a ſeed, (or that good part, or ſubſtance of truth, and righteouſneſs) hid in the conſciences of the Children of Iſrael; which anſwered the outward Law written in tables of ſtone. This Moſes ſaw in his day, who received the Laws, ordinances, ſtatutes, judgements and ceremonies, which were to keep them in a ſence, and in a fear towards God, againſt whom they had tranſgreſſed; and to keep them near the feeling of his tender ſeed and witneſs in them, that they might not be wholly hardened againſt his appearance, when the time came that [he] ſhould be manifeſt to Iſraell, which was the end & ſubſtance of all theſe outward things; Which once being rightly known and obeyed in the inward parts, keeps the heart and conſcience tender and upright, pure and undefiled in God's ſight and fear, without the precepts of men, ſhadows or ceremonies; for I have ſeen that wiſdom of God that gives the interpretation of things, and to underſtand the dark ſayings of old, and what was hid in all thoſe Ceremonies in the time of Moſes's Laws; and he that makes known the Parable (I am ſure) is the end and ſubſtance of them all; in whoſe Light let me ſpeak of two or three which in ſimplicity hath been hid from the wiſdom of man, who cannot anſwer them, but as that underſtanding is brought to nought; but let that anſwer in which they are given forth, and you ſhal underſtand them with ſatisfaction; and my queſtions are theſe: 1. Why did the Lord command, that when any one found a birds neſt, that the Dam was not to be taken with the Young? 2. And thou ſhalt not ſeeth a Kid in his mothers milk? 3. Nor fow thy field with diverſe ſorts of ſeeds? 4. Nor wear a garment of linnen and wollen together? 5. And thou ſhalt not muzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the corn, &c.

Now if thou canſt ſee with that eye which Paul ſaw (who was a fool for Chriſt) when he ſaid, Doth God take care for Oxen? or, Speaks he not this for our ſakes? For our ſakes, no doubt, &c. Then thou wilt anſwer, Doth God take care for birds neſts? or the ſowing of fields? or garments of linnen and wollen? or Kids, or their mothers milk? or was there not ſomething in all this for our ſakes? Well, but however theſe things ſerved to keep them in a ſence of the unknown ſeed, which ſuffered becauſe of the hardneſs of heart, and corrupt will of man, which had loſt the knowledge and guidance of God's good Spirit, and theſe things ſerved for a time, even till the fulneſs of time came, in which the ſeed came to be manifeſt (which was Chriſt) who had been hid from ages and generations, and till the ſame ſpirit that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead comes to dwell in people, and quicken their mortal bodies, the power of God vvitneſſed, and the Spirit of Truth to be the guide and leader into all truth, and to be their Comforter, &c. But vvhen this is fulfilled and vvitneſſed, there is no more need of any ſhadovv, figure, or ceremony to put us in remembrance, but the Spirit of Truth being received brings all things to our remembrance, and ſhews us things (paſt, preſent an) to come; vvhich declares plainly of the Father, and no more to us in parables, figures, or ſhadows.

So now, this Chriſt was before the World (that now is) began, and was a ſeed before any Name was given to it, which in proceſs of time (being begotten of God) was born of a Virgin, had a Body prepared, to do the will of his Father, (as it is at this day) but none knows him (or ever ſhall) Born but of a Virgin; (he that hath ears let him hear) whoſe eye is ſingle, mind ſtayed on God, forſakes all, takes up the daily Croſs, denyes Self, followes the Lamb whereſoever he goeth; loves him that had been ſlain more then all, more then Father, Mother, Wife, Husband, Children, Houſe or Lands, Yea, of his own Life; theſe only knows him born, though once like Mary, ſaid How can this be, ſeeing I know not a man? (ſeeing I have no ſtrength, wiſdom, parts, or abilities of my own,) but the anſwer is, as it was (be thou but the Virgin) the Power of the moſt High ſhall over-ſhaddow thee, and that. Holy thing which ſhall be born of thee, ſhall be called the Son of God; this was Chriſts Name in the Womb, a Holy thing (read within,) and then had other names, as Jeſus, and Emanuel, and many more before theſe, and many more ſince, and yet he is but one, and was before them all; This is the I am which was before Abraham, whoſe name in the beginning was the Word, all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made in him was Life and the light was the Light of men &c: John 1.1, 2, 3, 4, &c.

Awake therefore now ye ſhepherds, who have been keeping your flock by night: And look upwards ye earthly minded, and behold his Star in the Eaſt, the wiſe men (whoſe eyes are in their head) have ſeen it, and been led by it, till the Babe was found lying in a Manger, for in the Inn there was no room for him: He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear, and he that hath an eye, let him ſee, for the day is come, that what we have ſeen in ſecret muſt be preached upon the Houſe-tops. Behold a wonder, a woman doth compaſs a man, and yet ſhe is clothed with the Sun, was there ever ſuch a thing heard? but this is in Heaven, and none knowes it, or ever ſhall (as I ſaid) but the Virgin who is over ſhaddowed with the Power of the moſt High, And this is the word of the Lord God unto all People upon Earth; Therefore if thine eye be ſingle, thy whole body ſhall be full of Light, (and God is Light,) but the double minded man is unſtable in all his wayes, and the Carnal mind is enmity againſt God, and is not ſubject to him, but the Virgin is ſubject to the Power of the moſt High, where Chriſt is known to be firſt a holy thing, then a Child given, and a Son born, which is Emanuel, God with us, a Saviour, a wonderfull Counſeller, the mighty God the Prince of Peace; with many other names, which (as I ſaid before) is given to this one incomprehenſible being which the whole world cannot contain. But that which may be known of God, (or Chriſt, which is one is manifeſt in people, there he is, and is onely to be found, and he that have ſeen him (who is the Son,) hath ſeen the Father alſo, but it is onely the pure ſingle inviſible eye that can ſee him, for he is a Spirit, and is known and worſhipped onely in the Spirit, and in the Truth, &c.

This is that God (which Paull preached to the Athenians) that made the World and all men of one blood that dwells upon the face of the earth, and hath appointed them bounds of their habitations, times & ſeaſons that they all ſhould ſeek the Lord, if happily they might feel after him, and find him, who is come near to judgment, and is the ſwift witneſs againſt all unrighteouſneſs and ungodlineſs of men, for he ſearches the heart, and tries the 〈◊〉 , and ſhews unto man what is his thought: this is he that formed the Mountains, and created the Winds, whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain; and yet dwells with him that is of an humble and contrite Spirit, and trembleth at his word, and he 〈◊〉 in his people, whoſe God he onely is, who know him dwell in them: And ſaith David to the people, Let God ariſe, and his Enemies will be ſcattered as ſmoke before the Wind, and this is he by whom all things was made, as it is written, John, 1 1.

Concerning the Word, and the Scriptures.

IN the beginning was the Word and the Word, was with God, and the word was God; all things were made by him, and vvithout him vvas not any thing made that vvas made; in him vvas life, and the liſe is the Light of men, and the Light ſhineth in the darkneſs, but the Darkneſs comprehendeth it not, &c: Read this now vvith underſtanding, and thou wilt ſee that Chriſts name is called the Word of God, as it is vvritten in Revel. 19.13. And then if thou comeſt to ſee him the ſeed of the woman vvhich bruiſeth the Serpents head, thou mightſt knovv the parable of the ſovver, vvhich ſowed good ſeed in the field, in all the ſorts of ground there mentioned, (but the enemy ſovved the tares in the field) and the field is the vvorld (vvhen the parable is opened) and the ſeed is the vvord of God Luke 8:11: And ſaith David, I have hid thy word in my heart, that I might not ſin againſt thee, which vvas a Light to his feet, and as a lamp to his path; and ſaid the Apoſtle, We have a more ſure vvord of propheſie, (then the outvvard voice though it came from the excellent glory) vvhich ye do vvell to take heed unto as unto a Light in a dark place &c.

Novv this was not the Scriptures, but of this the Scripture declares, even of the vvord which vvas in the beginning, before the Scriptures vvere vvritten, vvhich cannot be properly (in no ſence) called the vvord, or vvord of God, becauſe it is many words, & declares of vvhat God did and ſaid, of his Creating the World by the vvord, vvhich vvas not created by the Scriptures, but holy men of God ſpake and vvrit them, as they vvere moved by the Holy Spirit (vvhich is the Word) And ſaid Moſes, God ſpake all theſe vvords, Exod.: 20: 1 • vvhich God vvas the Word in the beginning that ſpake the words. and the vvord of the Lord came to the Prophets, at ſeveral times, and upon ſeverall occaſions, ſaying, Thus ſaith the Lord, &c: So then, they ſpake and writ vvhat they were commanded by the Word of the Lord: ſo that it is plain to them that have a right underſtanding, that the words vvere given forth from the word, vvhich word was hid in their hearts (as David ſaith) vvhich vvas there before the words vvere given forth; & Holy men of God vvere moved firſt, (by that vvhich is Holy) to ſpeak and vvrite, before they did ſpeak or vvrite forth the Scriptures, vvhich are a true declaration of thoſe things vvhich were done and ſpoken by the word which was in the beginning; and Iet none ſay, that the report is the arm of the Lord, ſeeing Iſaiah (a true Prophet of God) did make a true diſtinction between the report and the thing reported of; for ſaith Chriſt, the Scriptures are they that teſtify of me &c: but in him was the life and Salvation, and not in the Scriptures, though they are an outward teſtimony, and true declaration; And yet how ignorant have people been ſince the Apoſtles dayes (in the Apoſtacy) of theſe things, calling the Scripture the Word of God, when the Scriptures themſelves ſaith, Chriſt is the Word, and in the beginning was the Word, and the World was made by the Word; but the Scriptures were not in the beginning, neither was the World made by them; for they are many words ſpoken at ſundry times ſince the beginning, and ſo are many words which declares of the Word, and of thoſe things which are certainly believed among us, Luk. 1.1.

Concerning the Goſpel.

AND ſo in the time of ignorance and darkneſs (which hath been for ages) both teachers and people who have been and yet are in the Apoſtacy from the Apoſtles Life and Spirit, have frequently called the writings (of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) the Goſpel, and ſo have called the Scriptures the Goſpell, when as the Scriptures (the true declaration) ſaith, the Gopſel is the power of God, and the Goſpel is everlaſting, and the Goſpel was preached to Abraham long before Marthew, Mark, Luke, & John were born, which Goſpel is the power of God, and Chriſt is called the power of God, and the wiſdom of God, who ſayd, Abraham rejoyced to ſee my day, and he ſaw it and was glad; ſo Abraham knew the [glad tidings] who was before Moſes; for God ſaith to Moſes, I am the God of thy Fathers, Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob; this was before the Scriptures, this was the power of God and the wiſdom of God, by which the ſoul immortal comes to be redeemed, the captive delivered, the chaines of darkneſs death, and hel broken, and all its enemies ſcattered; this is glad tidings indeed, and this is rightly called the Goſpel of ſalvation, of which Paul, nor we, are not aſhamed; for it is the power of God, and many have the Scriptures, and yet have not ſalvation or redemption by them, but are in the errour, ignorance and darkneſs, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God, of which the Scriptures declares.

And in this ſtate people have been in great contentions, and debates; ſtriving in their dark imaginations about theſe things, and can never be ſatisfied, nor never ſhall, till they come to the Light in themſelves, which only can give them the knowledge thereof; for that is the Key of David, that opens to [them] who do not exerciſe themſelves in things too high for them, but are become as weaned children; for ſaith Solomon, wiſdom is to high for a fool, and ſhe dwelleth not with conſuming envy, neither wil ſhe enter into a froward heart; for wiſdom is a loving Spirit, ſhe is the beginning of all the works of God; and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wiſdom; unto which if a man comes not, he ſhal never know Gods ſecrets, nor the myſteries of his kingdom, which are hid to that part, nature, or Spirit in man, that would always be knowing and climing up into the tree of knowledg, and would know the myſteries (but not obey his call, and come down as Zachens did) but the Croſs is to obey according to what is already known, though it be never ſo little of ſtature; and without this daily Croſs (which croſſeth the haſty mind, the wil and wiſdome of man) there can be no true knowledg of the Myſteries and will of God, and without it, thou can never know true peace and ſatisfaction, though thou compaſs ſea and Land in thy comprehenſion, the Lord hath ſpoken it.

Concerning the body of Chriſt.

AND now having mentioned ſomthing concerning Chriſt, and concerning the Word, and the Scriptures, and the Goſpel, &c. There is ſomwhat in my heart remaining concerning the body of Chriſt; about which great contentions, opinions and debates have been amongſt them, whoſe eyes are not in their head, but at the ends of the earth. Firſt, I beleive (and we beleive) that Chriſt had a body, and came and preached, and ſuffered, and dyed, and roſe, and aſcended, and ſitteth at Gods right hand, &c. According to the Scriptures; but yet ſome are ſaying to us (with a lying Spirit) You deny the Reſurrection, and the body of Chriſt, &c. To which (for the ſimple-ſake according to the Scriptures of truth) I ſhall anſwer:

As for Chriſt, I do beleive in my heart infallibly, that he had a body prepared him to do the will of God, and that he ſuffered the contradictions of ſinners in the days of his fleſh, and was crucified by wicked men, great profeſſors, chief prieſts, rulers, Souldiers, and elders; and was laid in the grave, and roſe again according to the Scriptures, and did aſcend over all the principalities and powers of the darkneſs of this world, and now ſitteth at the right hand of God, &c. And I do alſo beleive, that he hath yet a body which was prepared, and is yet preparing to do Gods will, in earth as it is in heaven, &c. But me thinks I hear ſome ſay (in their reaſonings and imaginations) What body hath he? and where is it? ſeeing it is ſayd, he is at the right hand of God; this I ſhall anſwer with his own words, which he ſpake here on earth, viz. No man aſcended up into heaven but he that came down from heaven, the Son of man which is in heaven; he that hath an ear to hear, let him hear, and take notice, what body that was which come down from heaven, when Mary ſayd unto the Angell; How can this be, ſeeing I know not a man? when he told her the Saviour ſhould be born, and that holy thing that ſhould be born of her, ſhould be called the Son of God; &c. Now mark the anſwer, The [power] of the moſt high ſhall overſhadow thee, by which [power] the body was prepared here on earth, and ſaith Chriſt (the Saviour, the wiſdom of God, and the power of God) a [body] haſt [thou] prepared [me] mark the diſtinction, [thou] [me] and [a body] this [me] that ſpake in the [body] was the [Chriſt] which had a [body] prepared to do [his] will that prepared it: Now was it the [body] or an inviſible power, Spirit or Soul, that ſayd, A [body] haſt [thou] prepared [me] He that hath an ear, and underſtanding, let him hear, and judge.

But yet here this queſtion may riſe concerning the body of Chriſt; is it not written, The heavens muſt contain him untill the reſtitution of all things? And was he not taken up into heaven, when the cloud received him out of the ſight of the Gallileans that guned outwardly after him! To this alſo I may anſwer (unto thee who lookeſt dayly for his perſonall appearance and coming?) if the heavens muſt contain him until the reſtitution of all things; why doeſt thou thus ſo much expect his coming before that time of the reſtitution of all things? or canſt thou ſay, that that time is come; if not, let it come firſt, before thou ſo earneſtly expect his coming; but indeed it is but a cloud that hath received him out of the fight of the gazers; but ſaith the Lord (to his children) I have blotted out your iniquities like a thick cloud, and to the people, your ſins have ſeparated between me and you, and have with held good things from you. And indeed this hath hid both his body and face from you; for the kingdom of heaven, and the Lord from he aven comes not with outward obſervation, but the kingdom is within, and the Lord from heaven is that quickning ſpirit which quickens them that have been dead in the ſins, & the treſpaſſes (the clouds of ſeparation,) that they might live unto God, and behold the beauty of the Lord in his temple; which temple they are in whom he dwells, and in whom he walks, and he is their God, and they are his people; and the day being come, and the Sun riſen, the clouds and the ſhadows are fled away; but they who live in iniquity are dead unto God, whoſe God he is not, the cloud is ſtil between, that they can neither ſee darkly as in a glaſs, nor face to face, but are in darkneſs, clouds & blindneſs even until now.

But if the inquiſitive mind be not yet anſwered, but art ſtill ſaying as they did in the Apoſtles days concerning the Reſurrection How doth the dead riſe? and with what body do they come? I muſt anſwer unto thee as he did, Thou fool, that which thou ſoweſt it not that body that ſhall be, &c. But the Lord giveth every ſeed it's own body as it pleaſed him; It is ſown A naturall body, but it is raiſed a Spirituall body; It is ſown in weakneſs, but it is raiſed in power, a Spirituall body, raiſed in power; now canſt thou tell what body this is; But if thou underſtand it not, thou haſt little or no knowledge of the myſteries of God, I ſpeak to the ſhame of that inquiſitive mind, that would know theſe things which are hid in Gods treaſury; and yet will not come to the door, nor the keys that gives the underſtanding of them; without which no man can enter this Kingdom (which is prepared for that birth to which only it be longs) for no man knoweth the things of God, but by the Spirit of God, which ſearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God, which are ſpiritually diſcerned: So that unleſs you come to the Light and Spirit of God (the door) that reproves the World for ſin, and lets you ſee the evil of your wayes, and obey it, enduring the croſs, and bear the condemnation and in dignation, becauſe you have ſinned againſt the Lord, and turn at his reproofs, that he might powr forth his Spirit upon you, and make his words and ſecreta known unto you; I ſay, unleſs you enter in this way at Gods Light and Spirit that ſhines in your hearts, you ſhal never rightly know, underſtand, or enjoy any of theſe things (of Gods Kingdom) before mentioned, it's, an infallible word of Truth from God unto you all. For they are hid perpetually from the out-birth of the wiſdom of this World, and revealed onely to the Babes in the inward ſpiritual ground in Chriſt Jeſus, who is ſtill a myſtery hid to the profeſſors, Scribes and Phariſees, rulers, elders, and hypocrites, as wel in this age, as in the ages paſt, who then were ſaying among themſelves (notwithſtanding his mighty works which were done among them) Is not this the Carpenters Son, whoſe Father and Mother we knew, and are not his brethren and ſiſters among us; &c. Undervaluing and contemning his low and mean appearance (who was in the forme of a ſervant) and theſe did love to be called of men Maſter, and greetings in the market, and upermoſt Rooms at Feaſts, and to go in long robes and ſtand praying in the chief or higheſt places in the Synagogues, and were the blind Phariſces to whom the woe belonged, as at this day it doth to them who in the ſame ſpirit are contemning the low appearance and manifeſtation of the Son of God, ſaying, Is not this (you preach or declare of) which people muſt believe in natural Light, even this which checks and reproves us for ſin? Have we not had this alwayes with us from our child-hood? and do not we know its father and moher? Is it not ſome of the remainder that was left in Adam after he fell; to reſtrain him and his children from groſs evil &c. And is it at beſt any other then reſtraining grace, and not ſaving? or but natural conſcience, and the like? this hath been the reaſonings amongſt many, though mighty works hath been done, and are yet a doing, and muſt yet be done by him (who is the Light, the Power, the Grace, the Truth, and the Wiſdom of God) in theſe laſt days thorowout the earth.

But O ye Children of men, and high in the tree of Knowledg (which is forbidden as to ſeed upon) let me anſwer theſe your reaſonings with a few queſtions in Gods Wiſdom, which is hid from the eyes of the prudent of this World, &c.

1. What was that ſeed, and where was it, after man fell (which was promiſed) that it ſhould bruiſe the Serpents head? And what is that Serpent, and where is he, whoſe head muſt be bruiſed?

2. What was that which let Adam ſee his Nakedneſs when he had tranſgreſſed?

What are the Eyes of the Lord that are in every place, beholding the evil, and good; and where are they if not in every conſcience, ſeeing the Lord ſaith to his faithful, I will guide thee with mine eye?

3. And what is the true Light that Lighteth every man that commeth into the World; and what is that Light of men that ſhineth in the darkneſs (which the darkneſs comprehendeth not) and where is it, if not in the conſcience of every man?

4. What grace is that, and where is it, which hath appeared unto all men, which bringeth ſalvation, which is the Saints teacher; is it onely reſtraining, and not ſaving? ſeeing the Scripture ſaith it bringeth Salvation.

5. What Light is that of which the body ſhall be full, if the eye be ſingle? and what is that ſingle eye, or the one eye with which it is better to go to Heaven, then with two into Hell-fire? and what is that eye which is the Light of the body, ſeeing the eye of the Lord is the guide?

6. And what makes the difference between the wiſe Virgins and the fooliſh? and whether the Lamp without oyl, and the light burning, be not the form or profeſſion without the power and life which ſaves from ſin, and gives an entrance into the everlaſting Kingdom of God?

7. What wiſe man is that (which Solomon ſpeaks of) whoſe eyes are in his head? and what is that fool vvhoſe eyes are at the ends of the earth?

8. And vvhat is that prudent man, which foreſees the evil, and hides himſelf? and what did he hide from? and in what is the ſure hiding place, and what gives the fore-ſight of evil? what is that fool vvhich paſſeth on and is puniſhed? and vvhat is the head of every man?

9. Whether the fear of the Lord be not the beginning of Wiſdom, and to depart from evil be not underſtanding? and vvhether they vvho are not yet come unto the fear of the Lord (vvhich is to depart from evil) be yet come to the beginning of true vviſdom; and if not yet come to the beginning, it is poſſible they may be the fools vvhich may dye for vvant of wiſdom, if they do not ſpeedily repent and turn to him that ſmites them for their folly, &c. So take this for an anſvver till thou knovv further, of vvhich much might be ſaid, and of this kind, but a few vvords to the vviſe may be enough.

Concerning Chriſt ſecond coming, and Kingdom, and Raign; and of the Kingdoms of this World becoming his Kingdoms.

I Never read in all the Scriptures (as I can remember) of a third comming of Chriſt perſonally, in his ovvn fingle perſon, or of a perſonal reign beſides vvhat ſhall be in his Saints. But I have read of his coming the ſecond time without ſin unto ſalvation &c. which the Apoſtles in their days did witneſs; yea, even his comming and Kingdom as may be mentioned hereafter. I believe moſt people (in that called Chriſt endom, who have read the Scriptures) will confeſs Chriſt is come once already, even when he had the body prepared which he laid down and took up without the gates of Jeruſalem; this I grant was a perſonal comming, or the God head dwelt in that perſon bodily, this we conclude was his firſt comming to be manifeſt in theſe days; and we beleive all the things that are written of him to be really true; and that whatſoever he did or ſaid muſt be fulfilled, &c.

But now this being his firſt comming, he tels his diſciples while he was yet with them, that he muſt go away, and that it was expedient that he ſhould go away, or elſe (ſaid he) the Comforter will not come, the vvhich if I go avvay I ſhall ſend unto you, even the Spirit of truth, vvhich ſhall abide vvith you for ever, &c. Yet notvvithſtanding ſorrovv had filled their hearts, though he tell them he vvould come again unto them, and their heart ſhould rejoyce, and their joy no man ſhould take from them; This vvas his promiſe to his diſciples, vvhile he vvas yet perſonally vvith them; and to comfort and ſtrengthen yet more, he told them, that he that vvas vvith them ſhould be in them, &c.

For they loved his perſon for the ſake of the frame & quality of the ſpirit that dvvelt in him; or elſe vvhat vvas his perſon (being mean and contemtible) to them, more then another perſon, but for that vvhich dvvells in him they loved him; let none miſtake, I do not ſlight it, nor the perſon of any of his brethren, or children, as they are prepared to do the vvill of their Father; but I do knovv in Gods Counſel that it was even ſo, as it hath been alſo in theſe days among vvhom God the Father of mercies hath as it were deprived ſome of his diſciples of the perſonal preſence of ſome of his dear ſons & ſervants, which may be to this end, that the ſame Spirit and Life might be felt, poſſeſſed, lived in, & enjoyed in themſelvs, in their own particulars, in which onely their eternal well being conſiſteth,

And ſo he taught them to pray, Our Father &c. Not to look at his perſon, and pray to him as a perſon without them, but bid them pray to their Father which ſeeth in ſecret, who would reward them openly; and he that ſeeth in ſecret, ſearcheth the heart, & trieth the reins: & he bid them pray, thy Kingdom come, & the Kingdom of Heaven is within, and the heart and reins and the ſearcher of them is within; And he bid them wait at Jeruſalem till they were endued with power from on high; & the Kingdom of God conſiſteth in power, &c. So they waited for his comming and Kingdom in their days after his bodily departure from them, and alſo came to enjoy what they waited for, and to receive the promiſe of the Father, which was fulfilled unto them, and in them, For ſaith the Apoſtle, we wait for his Son from heaven; this was after he had ſuffered and was departed from them, and at length ſayd, the Son of God is come, and hath given us an underſtanding that we know him that is true, and are in him that is true, this is the true God and eternall Life, and this Life is in his Son; And then again ſpake on this wiſe, Wee have received a Kingdom which cannot be moved; letus have grace in our hearts whereby we may ſerve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a conſuming ſire, &c. So here they received the Kingdom, and the Son of God was come, & they vvere in him, vvho came unto them in his Kingdom: Here vvas Chriſts prayer ſulfilled, vvho ſaid, That they might be one, as vve are one; thou in me, and I in them, and they in me, that vve all might be perfect in one; and here is their prayer alſo fulfilled, or anſvvered, vvho ſaid the, thy Kingdom come, &c. When they receive the Kingdom vvhich could not be moved; vvhich Kingdom Chriſt tels them was vvithin, ſo this they received & vvitneſſed, which was the ſecond time unto ſalvation from ſin, who never mentioned (as ever I need) of a perſonal coming and reign the third time, or of a third coming in a ſingle perſonal appearance, as hath been imagined by many, who know not the waiting to be endued with power from on high, but a running in their ovvn vvils and times, and vvill-vvorſhips, and feigned humilicies, vvhich is not at all accepted vvith God, vvhile that birth is not being, nor that body prepared, vvhich only can do his vvill acceptably. But this we have read, of the pourings forth of the Spirit in the Laſt days upon all fleſh (then none is excepted) and Sons and danghters ſhould propheſſe, (which is come to paſs) and that the Lord will come in ten thouſands of his Saints to convince all the ungodly of their ungodly deeds and hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him, and to execute his judgements, (this is comming to paſs) and that he will conſume Antichriſt by the Spirit of his mouth, and deſtroy him with the brightneſs of his comming (then not with carnal weapons, but withſpiritual he will deſtroy Antichriſt) & when this is done, then muſt the Kingdoms of this world needs become his, and he ſhall Reign for ever, and ever. Bleſſed is the eye that ſees, and the heart that feels and underſtands theſe things, for the time is born, and the day is dawned in which they ſhall be fulfilled; And this is the Word of the Lord of Heaven and Earth, who is come to Reign, and reigneth, and vvill reign till all his enemies are become his footſtool; and the Kingdoms of this world become his Kingdoms and dominions even for ever & for evermore. Therefore let the earth tremble, and them that fear and obey him rejoyce; Amen, Hallelujah: Amen,

O Thou profeſſor, who are yet a tranſgreſſor, Would'ſt thou know the Myſteries of God, thou muſt firſt feel his Red, Which will thy back ſunce till thou leave works of night And walk in the Light, this is the way to know the firſt day, And alſo the reſt, which is Holy and for ever bleſt. For Zacheus climbing was too high the Saviour to embrace, But down below he was received in whom Salvation was; The voyce, that from the tree did call, (though below him) he obeyed, The little ſtature is not deſpis'd, therefore be not afraid. But come then down into the houſe, with joy the Light receive, For he's the Saviour of all men that in his name believe. The tree of Knowledge hath beguil'd and fed the birth muſt dye, The tree of Life hath not been known while in the wiſdom High. Men have aſpired, and not deſired with poverty and thirſt, To walk i'th Light, with hearts upright the plain path of the juſt; Therefore the Pearl from them is hid who dig not in the deep. But with the ſluggard and the fool in rags and folly ſleep. But now the awakning day is come the trump aloud doth ſound. The Life's reveal'd as in days paſt mans wiſdom to confound. Therefore all people ſtand up and ſee the ſtate in which you are, For either Heaven, or hells your Lot the hour is not far, For I have heard from throne of God a dreadful voyce and cry, O England, England, thou art viſited and now thy end draws nigh.

Even ſo haſten thy Work O Lord God Almighty, as thou haſt ſhewed thy Servant, and cut it ſhort in Righteouſneſs for thine Elect ſake that cries unto thee night and day thotowout the whole Earth. Even ſo come Lord Ieſus, come quickly, ſaith my Soul. Amen.

Written by a Servant of the living God, who is a trembler with joy at the VVord of his Power, for whoſe ſake I am in outward bonds, at Hartford; but my peace can no man take from me, bleſſed be the Lord (the God of Jacob) whoſe compaſsion fails not, but his Mercies endures for ever and ever, Amen.

W.B. The Second Month, 1663. THE END.