MAny are the Devices of Satan, and great is the Subtilty which he furnisheth his Children and Servants with­al; by which he seeks to uphold his kingdom; pleading now a Right to that which he got by Subtilty; and has taught his whole Family, That it is impossible for any to be freed from under his Service; even as if all men, that are created of God, were created to the service of the Devil: and although he can make no man, yet that he is able, after they are made, to keep them in his service; yea, although their Maker does call for them to serve him: And so by this suppos'd Necessity (which is a Doctrine well-pleasing to the flesh) he keeps Nations, Kindreds, Tongues, and People in Bondage to his will; and not only so, but he has so bewitched, and besotted his whole Synagogue, and every sort in it, that they cannot endure to hear that [Page 8] they should be made free; and all that comes to declare Li­berty to these Captives, and an opening of the Door of this Prison-house (the darkness) unto those that are shut up within it; they cry out against such, Away with them from the Earth; let them be Crucified, Stoned, Hanged, Burned, Imprisoned and Banished; or at least, derided and mocked at, and all man­ner of evil be spoken of them: And what have they done? They have preached against Sin, that it must come to an end; and have preached that that which is Perfect is to be found in this life, by which men might come to the acceptable Year of the Lord, unto whom there is nothing acceptable which is im­perfect.

Certainly there is no manner of Slaves, so well contented with their Bondage, as the Devil's are; and therefore it is worth the considering, what right he has to Raign over Man­kind, and what Work it is, he gives his Servants to do, that is so well pleasing unto them, that they cannot endure to hear of being set at liberty, as long as they have a day to live: As for my part I have considered; what right the Devil can claim to the Government, which he has among the Children of Men, raigning over Kings and Princes, Priests and Peo­ple, from one Sect to another, setting them all to work in blind Zeal one against another, yet all agreeing in this one Question (to wit) Is there any Man or Woman upon the Earth, that is freed from under the reign of the Devil, that he can live without Sin? or is it possible for any to be so? the general Answer is, No; we are all, and must be all his Ser­vants all the dayes of our lives. But some might say, Seeing you are all Fellow-Servants; and that both you, and your Work do belong to one Master, why then are you disagreeing with one an­other about the work: But Oh, my soul longeth that some might be awakened, once to consider, and to bethink themselves, how they came to this state and condition, and by what right and authority, their Master keeps them in this Bondage; and whe­ther it i [...] not both lawfull and possible, to come from under it.

And in the first place it is to be considered, that this spi­rit, which is called the Devil and Satan, had no dominion over Man in the beginning; for God gave Man power over all [Page 9] Beasts, Fishes, Fowls, and over every creeping thing, that he should Rule over them; and in that time, the Devil that old creeping Serpent was kept under, and could not speak, nor command as with authority, and he being but a subject himself, he sought to have dominion; having lost the glory of the everlasting Kingdom, and so he came to the Woman, which was made and brought forth in a time of sleep and perswaded her, (Mark, not commanded) and his perswasion was; that she should break the Command of God; under pretence that she should be profited thereby: So here was but a sneeking un­derly spirit, coming to the Woman in a deceitful feigned manner, with a Lye in his mouth, to see if he could deceive her, and lead her to be disobedient to her God and Maker; Who could then have thought, that this spirit, that was subject to all sorts of misery, should have reigned and ruled over so many Millions of thousands of Men, both high and low, young and old? Well, the Woman hearkned after a Lye, and broke the Command of God, and went to try whether this Serpent had found out a way, to make her better or not; and not only so, but went to the Man, and gave him also, and he did eat: Mark, this Devil; the old Serpent, he did not go to the Man; that was a work too high for him; but there comes his Companion, (which was given of God) which was of his Flesh and Bones, to tempt him; he did not hearken to the Devil, but to his deceived Wife, and he did eat, and their Eyes were opened, and they were asham'd, and hid themselves: Here were the two first subjects which the Devil had in his Kingdom, he having before this time no Do­minion among the Creatures which God had made.

Now it is to be observed, that there are but four wayes to come into Dominion; to wit, by Descent, by Election, by Con­quest, and by Treason.

Now which of these it is, by which the Devil got his entrance, is easie to be concluded: All that are wise will say, That it was by Treason and Falshood, and that Man thereby came to be deprived of that Dominion and Rule, which he had before, and his boldness, was taken from him, and he was ashamed: So now see for whom you are pleading, all you that are so zaelously pleading for the Devils Kingdom (viz) for an old Traytor, that came into [Page 10] his Government by a Lye, and spoyl'd our Predecessors, of their Dominion, Glory and Power at once, by Sin, for which you are now pleading: Oh, Blush and be ashamed every one of you, and let your mouthes be stopped for ever.

But now, seeing that it fell out so; What was the determination of the Lord in this matter? hearken to his Sentence: And to the Serpent he said, because thou hast done so, thou shalt creep upon thy Belly, and art cursed above all Cattel; and above all the Beasts of the Feild; see he must creep upon his Belly, and not stand upon his tip-toes, lifting up his head above the Nations; he must eat Dust, and the other Beasts must eat the Grass of the Field; but he Dust, all the dayes of his life, and not the Fat of the Land, and to have the tenth part of the Fruits of the Earth bestowed on his meanest Servants, having also the other nine parts of it bestowed and ordered to his will, and so shall it be with thee as long as thou livest; that is not to say, that he shall live for ever, and to have Dust to eat, and a Belly to creep upon; But at last God has determined that his head should be bruised, there is his end. Oh! All ye Pleaders for Sin, behold your Prince, and hear his Sentence and be asham'd, and stop your Monthes forever.

And now when he had gotten a little Dominion, let Us ex­amine a little, how this Trayter us'd his Rule in the beginning? his first Lesson was, to Teach his new subjects, to hide them­selves from the presence of God, that which before was their chiefest joy and crown, was now their greatest fear and dread; and so they run under the Trees, hiding themselves, as their Posterity now does at this day; but the Lord found them out, and spoke to them, and caused them to hear that dreadfull Sen­tence; and not only so, but drove them out from where Life was to be found, into the Earth, where there was nothing to be gotten without pain and labour; and whereas they were be­fore in Dominion, and had nothing to do but to dress the Gar­den in which the Life was; they must now Till the Ground, which brought forth unto them Bryers and Thorns; and in that state Man's misery was great, and his sorrow unspeakable; and his darkness not to be expressed; and had lost his discern­ing of things that differ, and having an expectation of a Seed, [Page 11] which should destroy the Serpent, and bruise his head; he was apt to think every Birth, to be that Seed (as his Children in the fall do at this day) so that when Cain was born, his mother said, she had gotten a Man from the Lord; but poor Woman, she knew not the feed, and how that that seed which is born of the flesh, is a Persecutor, and that the Enmity is great in the first birth; and so that although he grew up to be an Offerer, yet he did not grow up in dominion over the Serpent, nor over the quality of the Destroyer in himself, and that sort of Offer­ing was more acceptable to the Devil then to God. And now mark; that man was a Sinner, and yet religious, his Sin and Religion were consistant, and could have place together at one and the same time in one man, as it is now with the Pro­fessors of this Age; who say, they are Sinners, and that their best Works are polluted and defiled with Sin, and that they must remain so whilst they live; and yet they will seek acceptance with God in these poluted Offerings; notwithstanding they do profess him to be pure to whom they Offer: Thus was this first Sacrificer blind and darkned, and so are many Thou­sands after him, and the dominion of the Devil was over him.

First, Deceiving him, by Leading him, to Expect an Acceptance, because he Offered, though with an Evil Heart.

Secondly, to lead him into the evil which had kept him from acceptance.

Thirdly, by making him so Wrath and Angry (because he was not accepted) against his Brother that did well, and was partaker of the one sure Faith of the Elect Seed of God: And the Serpent having thus darkned his mind, then he durst come before him with a Lye (though he was a Man, of whom Eve thought, that she had gotten him from the Lord) per­swading him, that if that Faithfull Abel was out of the Way, that then it would be better with him: So he hearkned to the Counsel of this evil spirit, and shed Innocent Blood about Re­ligion; here Persecution got his entrance into the World, by one that was an Offerer, and an evil Doer together; a fit Instrument for such a Work. But behold, what became of this [Page 12] Man; the Blood which he had shed, and the Earth which had drunk it up, cry'd for Vengance against this bloody Offerer, and he fear'd exceedingly, and said, He could not bear his Punishment; and said, Every one that finds me will slay me; and to prevent that, he went and Built a City in the Land of Nod; hear was the beginning of Fortifications, which was to defend the Transgressor; for the Righteous have a Tower, namely, the Name of God, and there they are safe without such Gates or Walls.

Now let every one consider, how little right this spirit had in all these things; but he entred by a Lye, and Reigned by a Lye, and Darkness and deceit was his defence for his Govern­ment; and how little reason there is to plead for such a spirit, let the wise in heart judge.

It would go beyond my present aime and purpose, to trace this spirit, who is called the Devil and Satan, the Dragon and old Serpent, through all Ages, since the beginning; to see with how little Truth, Right or Equity he came up, to Reign a­mong Men. The understanding Reader of the Scriptures of Truth, can see it clear enough; and it is a great wonder (and one of the greatest) that is in that part of the World, called Christendom, that there are so many men (being men of knowledge in other matters, and such as set up the Scriptures, so much as they seem to do, calling it the Word of God, the Rule of Christi­ans, the Light of the World, the Guide of Life, &c.) that they should go with such a Book in their hands, pleading for the Devil's Kingdom; and for a necessity that it must continue, as long as there is a man upon Earth: Whereas the Scrip­ture in substance, is nothing else but as a Declaration against him, and his Government, and sheweth, how he ought to be forsaken, opposed, resisted, and cast out; and withall, how that Primitive, pure and holy, and Righteous Law of that Spi­rit, which is called God, and is holy, pure, and Blessed for ever, how that ought to be imbraced, received and exalted in the whole Creation; I say, this is a very great wonder, of which and of the consequences thereof, the Christians so called have cause to be ashamed; yea, are a Reproach to the whole [Page 13] World; and it is high time that some do arise for God; and the call is gone forth, Who is on the Lord's part, Exod. 32.26. The Devil has an innumerable Host, to plead for Sin, some with Arguments, and some with cruel Weapons; but who is on the Lord's part, that can say, the Lord Reigns in Righte­ousness, and in Truth he Judges the Earth? Oh! All ye car­nal Professors of God and Christ, in words, but in works deny him, and sayes, that Sin must stand, and remain as long as you live. Be it known unto you, in the Name of the God of Heaven, that where Sin remains, there the Devil is Prince and Ruler: And if that must remain as long as you live, the Devil desires it no longer; for he that will be his Servant in this life, must be his Companion in the World to come. But hear ye the Word of the Lord, thou great Host, and mighty Army of the Devil, Beast, Serpent, and the old Deceiver, who plead that his Government shall stand as long as there is a man to live upon Earth: The Controversie of the Lord God Almighty is Proclaimed, and begun against you all, and your Prince; yea, the Arm of the everlasting God is stretched out against you, and henceforth ye shall not be prosperous; but the Dominion of your Prince shall be lessened, and both his and your Power shall be weakned, and your Weapons, both of Deceit and Cru­elty shall be broken and come to nought: The Inheritance of of the Wicked shall be laid waste, and the design which hath been carried on so long shall be frustrated; Deceit and Falshood shall fall before the Truth, and Darkness shall flee before the Light, and your fortified City shall fail you, and the Land of Nod will not be a hiding place for you: For the Arm of the mighty God of Jacob shall scatter you as a reproach, and make y [...]u ashamed of your Work, and of your Prince.

Now to touch a tittle at your Arguments, which the Servants of this spirit make use of, for to hold [...]p his Kingd [...]m; of whi [...]h they say, It is impossible tha [...] it should be brought down; even as if God had given up all Man kind? which is the best of his Creation) unto t [...]e Devil; and that he should keep none of them for himself to serve him, till they have fulf [...]lled the Devi [...]'s work to the [...]ll; and can serve him no longer: Certainly t e Heathens, M [...]ors, and Indians, have a better D [...]ctrine then these [Page 14] in the ground, though Darkness is over their understandings, as concerning God and Heaven, and such things, yet many of them, do not judge that there is such a necessity to do evil as long as they live; but abstain from that which they know to be evil, and they that do so, are esteemed to have their plea­sures and delight in the Elizium-Feilds, after they are dead. Lucillius said; know ye not what grevious Punishments and Torments the wicked and evil men are to suffer after this life; or in what great happiness the good men shall live? The Hea­then Epicarmus, said, If thou art godly in thy mind, thou shalt (being dead) not suffer evil; and many such sayings are among them: But these fallen Christians who plead a necessity to serve this spirit, whom they call the Devil, whose place they will confess is in Hell, and in the everlasting Fire; yet they notwithstanding without doing good expect to injoy their Elizium; to wit, a Hea­ven where God and the holy Angels dwell forever.

Now let us examine a little what reason there is for this great mistake.

First, They say, that Sin is rooted and planted in the Nature of Man; yea, so that a Man must cease to be a Man, before he can come to cease from being a Sinner.

Answer, That Man in his Natural state, is so united with Sin as that he thereby is seperated from God, I do not deny; and also that there is a natural inclination in man, to commit Sin, is also true; to wit, as long as they remain in their natural state and condition: And if these Champions for the Devil's Kingdom had blotted out (out of that which they call their Rule) all those Pretious sayings, that make mention of a state of Grace, of being under Grace, of being Changed or Translated, of being Redeemed and made Free, of being Washed, Clensed, Sancti­fied, perfectly in Soul Body and Spirit; and many more such places; then they had had a Plea for their Prince: But seeing there is such a large Testimony of the Mercy and goodness of God, and of his Power and Al-sufficiency to Redeem and Save; there­fore it is worthy to be pleaded, before we allow the Devil such an unlimitted Power in and among, yea, over all the Sons and [Page 15] Daughers of Men. And therefore, as concerning the first part of this Objection, to wit; That Sin is rooted in the Nature of Man; How came it to be rooted there? Whose Work was it to make it so? was it the Work of God? or hath he ordered it, that it should be so? If so, Why is any Man or Woman punished or condemned for its being so, seeing it could not be otherwise? But none else but such as are wholly blind from a true sence of God will dare to say so: For then the mani­fold calling of Sinners unto Repentance, to Wash them, to Cleanse them, to put away the Evil from them, to Cease to do Evil, &c. must all be against his will and ordering; and so consequently but a mockery: But God forbid that any Man should say or think so. Well, if it was not by the ordering or appointment of God, but that God has made Man Righteous in his Nature, Will and Affections; yea in the Image of God he Created him: Then it must needs be another that has wrought this great Work, to plant Sin in his Nature; and when it is examined, it will appear, that it is the work of a cursed Out-cast, an Unclean, Lying, Treacherous Spirit, who was rejected of God, and had no place in the whole Creation, but by framing a lye he brought a poor Woman from her Integrity and Obedience; and so from that came a great alteration to be in her, and a Ground or Foundation was laid for the Devil to build upon; and from that time he has alwayes had a Rule in the hearts of the Chil­dren of Disobedience: But now that this Rule and Govern­ment should not onely be Universal, but also Irresistable and un­alterable; yea, though God Almighty stretch forth his Power, to Redeem any out of this Kingdom, to bring them into the Kingdom of his dear Son; yet they say, it is impossible for him, till he dies. It is as much, as to say, If God will have any Man to serve him perfectly, he must first kill him, and then he shall have him to his service in another World: Oh Hor­rible Ignorance of the Power of God, and of the end for which Christ came into the World! namely, to destroy the Divel and his Works. Now when his Work is destroyed, which has a tendancy to corrupt man's nature; then the nature, of Men and Women come to be ag [...]in holy, clean and pure, and Man comes to be Restored to his first Image, and the Glory of the [Page 16] first Body is again known, of which all the Bond-slaves of the Devil are Ignorant; and this Power to restore the nature of Man again, is the Lord's alone, it was the Devil that corrupted it, and it is God that sanctifies it again, and delivers it by the Spirit of Judgment and of Burning, which the Hypocrites can­not bear.

Now the manner how, the nature of Man came to be cor­rupted, you have heard that it was by Man's joyning with that spirit, that was fallen and cast out from God, and had onely a power in the Darkness, and could not Reign over any thing, but over that which he could draw from the Glory of God into the Darkness: And God who dwells in the Light, being moved with infinite compassion, sent his Eternal Son, that was with him before the World was, that he should be made partaker of the same nature in which Man was Created; that by the Ver­tue of the Eternal Power he might restore him unto God; and might minister unto the spirits of all such, to whom this Dark­ness and corrupted state was as a Prison-house; And this Jesus received not the nature of Angels, that was not his Work, but he received the Seed of Abraham, which was in Captivity, that he might Redeem it from Captivity through Death, suffering under the weight of that which oppressed the Creature, and caused it to groan after Redemption; so that although it could not deliver it self, yet it might come to be Delivered through Faith in him who is mighty to save; And this Jesus which was of the Seed of Abraham after the flesh, purifieth the nature of all those that joyn with him; for the Work of the Devil is to bring in corruption, and the Work of Christ is to destroy it, and instead thereof to bring in Everlasting Righteousness: Now where Sin is remaining in the nature; there the Covenant with Hell and Death is not broken, neither are such in Covenant with God, but are yet under the Power of the Prince of the Air, whatever they may profess, And the death of Christ is yet of no value unto them, because they are yet in their Sin, and corrupted nature, unchanged, Untranslated; So that those that hold this Plea for the Devil, that because he once got a Place in the nature of Man, and has corrupted it; that therefore Sin must remain so long as the Life or nature remains, such are strangers to the [Page 17] Work of God, and to his Power by which he worketh, and also to Christ Jesus, through whom he works; and they have more Faith in the Power of the Devil, then in the Power of Christ, believing that the Devil is more able to keep the Crea­ture, and to hold fast that, which by Deceit, and Treachery he has gotten in it; then God (who made the Creature good in his nature) is [...]ble, to restore it to his first purity, that the Creature might come to serve him in Righteousness and Holiness; And such as so believe, are no true Christians, nor true Believers: But are standing in the corrupt nature, that has unity with the Devil and plead his Cause, who is willing, that his corrupt birth should live in Man, as long as he lives in the World; For he knows that so long no acceptable Sacrifice can be offered up to God; for you cannot bring forth a clean Sacrifice out of an unclean Vessel; and as long as nature is defiled; the works will be unclean, that are wrought in that nature.

Secondly, The second pleading is; That never any Man was freed from Sin, ever since Sin first entred into the World; and that therefore it is Presumption, to expect such a thing in this Life.

Answ. If this Position were true; That there was never any Man freed from Sin; yet it would be presumption to say, that God should not be able to do that, which he never did: and it is also presumption to conclude, that never any Man was freed; but if this Position be false, then not only the conse­quence is false, to wit, that none can be freed, but also the Ar­gument it self is proved to be a Lye, and so is swept away, and a Door is opened unto all, that has more love to Righteous­ness, then to Sin, both to hope and to expect, that the same work should again be wrought in and for them, without presumption. Now, that all men are Sinners by nature, is evident; and that some were changed out of that natural State, is as evident; so that the Question is only; whether those, that are translated out of that sinfull nature, remain sinfull, yea or nay? which if it be so, what advantage have they beyond others, if they, after they are translated; must remain unfreed? But I answer, [Page 18] with the words of the Apostle, 1 Pet. 4.1. He that hath suffered in the flesh; hath ceased from Sin. And here he spoke of such that were yet in the Body; but had suffered with, and were made partakers of the Sufferings and Death of Christ, which was to Sin; through which every one must pass, before they can come to the Resurrection, that is in Christ, by which (said Peter) They obtained the answer of a good Conscience in the Sight of God; which he calls the Baptism that Saves: now, some having been Par­takers of that Death, Baptism, and Resurrection of Christ, by which they came to cease from Sin, and to have an answer of a good Conscience, without offence both to God and Man, (which none that sins, can have) then may there some lawfully expect to come to the enjoyment of the same state of freedom and clearness, as well now, as formerly without presump­tion.

Secondly, I answer with the words of the Apostle John, 1 Joh. 3.9. He that is born of God sinneth not; because his seed abideth in him; and he cannot sin, for he is born of God. Now whereas there have been some, that were born of God, and have been his Chil­dren; and that they that were so, had overcome the Wicked one, so that he could not touch them; but they had kept their Gar­ments white and unspotted; and that some have been freed from the Law of Sin and Death; and that some have Walked un­bl [...]mable, and without spot, and had put off the old Man with his Deeds, and had known the new Birth, and could by the Holy Spirit call God, Father; which things are all manifest in the Scriptures of Truth, which none can deny, but those, that will deny the Scripture; Why then should any man question, that the same Works of Redemption should not now again be brought to pass? And therefore it is lawfull to expect it with­out presumption. This Argument being confuted by the experi­ence of the Saints.

Thirdly, The Faith of Gods Elect is but one in all Ages; and that Faith has purified the Hearts of many in former Ages, and has taught them to Walk with God; as for Instance, Enoch Walked with God several hundreds of years: Gen. 5.21. and it would be a horrible thing to say, that he Walk­ed with God, when he Walked in Sin; as if God Walk­ed [Page 19] in a Sinfull Way: for the Prophet said; the Bloody-man, nor the Worker of Iniquity Dwells nor walks not with the Lord: But Enoch Dwelled and Walked with the Lord, and did not Iniquity; for if he had, he should not have obtained a Testi­mony, that he pleased the Lord: for Sinners and Evil-doers do not please him. By Faith Noah Walked with God, and was a Preacher of Righteousness in the old World; 2 Pet. 2.5. also Lot in Sodom: which they could not have been, if they had been Sinners, except they had been such Preach­ers, as the Preachers at this day; but they were owned of God, though they were mocked of men; and it is said of them, that they did Inherit Righteousness which they preached: And of Lot it is said, that his Soul as well as his Doctrine was Righ­teous: And by the same Faith Job was kept in the fear of God in the Land of Ʋz; for that taught him to eschew evil, by which he obtained a Testimony of God, that he was perfect and upright; which no Sinner is: 1 Job 1.22. and if he had not been free from Sin, it would have been false to say of him; that he eschewed the evil, and was perfect: and though his Tryals were many; yet he sinned not with his Lips, neither did he charge God foolishly, and in the end of all his Tryals God cleared him of having sinned, witnessing, that he had found him faithfull, and received a Sacrifice from his Hand for those zealous Professors, that had charged him with Sin, whom God had cleared: And the same Faith caused Abraham and Sarah to be partakers of the Promise; and Abraham was a Friend of God, of which Christ said, That none could be, but by fulfilling his Will; and those that do so, are no Sin­ners: And by this Faith Moses chused rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God, Heb. 11.25. then to enjoy the pleasures of Sin: So mark, he left Sin and the plea­sures of it, and then he must be without Sin; by which he obtained a Testimony, that he was a Servant of God, which Sinners are not. By Faith David's Heart was made after the Mind of God, and that is not sinfull, but free from it, for in him is no Darkness at all. By the same Faith the Prophets were chosen Vessels of God, and were upheld in their Testimony for God, till they came to obtain that Testimony, [Page 20] that they were the Men and Servants of God, which they could not have been, and withall Servants unto Sin; And the Scripture beareth Record of Zachariah and Elizabeth his Wife, Luke 1.2. that they were both Righteous before God, not by an Imagined Righteousness; but in regard to their Couversation, walking in all the Commands and Statutes of the Lord unblamable; but if they had been under the Power of Sin, and not freed from it; they had been neither unblamable, nor Righteous, but must at least have Transgressed some of the commands of the Lord, or else they could not be Sinners. Also Nathaniel, in whom there was no Guile, which could not have been, John 1.48. if he had been under the Power of Sin; And much more might I write upon this Subject, to shew, how that many by this one Faith in all Ages have been delivered from Sin, and become the Children and Servants of God; and therefore those, that are Partakers of this Faith in this Age, may hope and expect, that the same Work may be wrought in them; and this is no presumption: And if these Sin-pleaders should say, that there is none Partaker of this Faith now at this day, and therefore cannot be made free from Sin, they will exclude themselves, which they will hardly do, because they would fain have a Name of being Belie­vers, though they deny the Work of the True Faith in them­selves.

Further, let us consider, what these strong Pleaders for Sin have to fortifie themselves withall; They say, they have the Scrip­ture to plead withall for Sin; which certainly was never the inten­tion of the holly Spirit, by which it was given forth: But (say They) It is written in 1 Kings 8.46. For here is no Man that sinneth not. Answ. This is very true, neither do I plead, that any man is free from Sin all the dayes of his life (except Christ) but have confessed, they are all Sinners by nature, untill they be changed: and besides, there it is but spoken of a People, that were under the Law, of which the Apostle sayes, that it made nothing perfect; but, said he, the bringing in of a better Hope did; but the Law did not purifie the Comers thereunto, according to the Conscience: but, when the Offerers had offered, there remained an Evidence of Sin in the Conscience; but what is that to the [Page 21] Christians, who are come to know a better Hope, and the Blood that purifieth the Conscience; for that same Apostle that said, the Law made no man perfect (under which Law Solomon was, as also that People, concerning whom it was said; there is none that lives and sinneth not) notwithstanding the same Apostle said, that it was the bringing in of a better Hope, that did it: And what are these Fighters for Sin, and Sin-pleaders become so Zealous, that they will rather deny the better Hope then to cease from Sin? if not, then there is a possibillity to be made perfect by the Blood of Christ, which the Blood of Bulls and Goats could not do.

An other Objection is brought forth; that is, That the Apostle Paul said, that Sin lived in him, and that the good that He would do, He did not; and the evil that He would not do, that He did.

Answ. That Paul knew the passing through such a State, is without question, and is not denied; but this does not prove at all, that he never knew no better State; or that he never came to perfection; for in that place he makes mention of three States. First, How it was with him, when he lived without the Law of God in his liberty to fight against the Truth; and he thought, he might do many things against the Name of Jesus. Secondly, He declares of his Convincement, and how it was with him then, when he knew, he should not do no more against the Truth, and yet, not being wholly changed he did things which he knew he ought not, by reason of Sin living and dwelling in him; and that State he did not call Happy or Blessed (as these blind Profes­sors do at this day, that takes up a Rest in this State, and say, they can never be Redeemed out of it (for he speaking of such a Condi­tion, cryes out for Deliverance, calling it a miserable Condition, which plainly sheweth, that his eye was upon a further and better State, unto which he also beareth Witness; saying, he was made free by the Law of the Spirit of Life both of the Law of Sin and of Death; in which time he was yet in the Body.

Now, what [...]eason have these Pleaders for Sin to believe, that Paul was in all these three States at once? and if not; Why not [Page 22] in the last? being the other two are but fore-going States, leading to the third; especially considering the many other Testi­monies, which he gives of his being perfect; and of those, that by his Ministry were brought to perfection; saying, concerning himself, Timothy, and Silvanus: We can do nothing against the Truth: and in an other place he testifies, That he has fought a good Fight, kept the Faith, and finished his Course. Now if it was finished, then there was no more to run: and if the Fight was Fought; then the Enemies were no more alive, as they were, when Sin lived and dwelled in him. Again he sayes in an other place; We preach Wisdom among them that are Perfect: That is after the explication and Sence of these Sin-pleaders; We preach Wisdom among none, except among those, that are already departed out of this World, and gone to Heaven. And again, As many of you as are Perfect, be so minded: That is to say, after their explica­tion; let none be thus minded, before they be dead. Again at last, Dear Brethren be perfect; And of one mind, &c. But this, they say, cannot be in this Life. And again he sayes to the Hebrews; You are come to the spirits of just Men made perfect, and to God the Righteous Judge of all, &c. But where were these Hebrews? were they yet alive, or were they dead? if dead; How came his Epistle to meet them? But a wilfull Blindness is come over ma­ny of these Servants and Ministers of Darkness, and they have rebellious Hearts against the Light, that discovers their Sin, and would lead them out of it.

But because they have more love to Sin, then to the Light; therefore they seek to cover themselves so much: But the Day is come, that has discovered them, and their deceitfull Coverings will not longer cover them.

An other pleading is of that which is spoken by the Apostle, John 1 Joh. 1.8. If we say we have no Sin, we deceive our selves, and the Truth is not in us.

Out of which words every miserable, and pitifull Souldier of this great Prince of Darkness thinks, he may Arm himself suffi­ciently to fight against that, which would deliver them and make them free: But if this Scripture were seen and read with that Spirit [Page 23] by which, and in which it was written; then it would appear, that this John was not such a great Friend to Sin, and the Devil (who is a Father of Lyes) as they would have him to be; For in the same Chapter he had shewed before, into what State they must come, before they can come to have Fellowship with God, viz. To walk in the Light, as Christ was in the Light: and those that said, They had Fellowship with God and Christ, (as the Priests and Professors do at this day) and did not come to attain unto that State to walk in the Light, but instead thereof walked in Darkness; such said he, were Lyars, and did not the Truth.

Now he said; his Fellowship was with the Father and with the Son; which could not be, if he had walked in Darkness, or was a Sinner, or that he had not walked in the Light, as Christ was in the Light, for then he would have made himself a Lyar, if he had been a Sinner, when he said; that he had Fellowship with God and Christ.

And therefore it ought to be well observed, that John speakes there of a sort of Men, that were not yet brought to confess their Sins; and if such came to that Conceit and Pride, as to say, they had no Sins to confess; and so exalted themselves above the Witness of God that reproved them; then such deceived themselves: But if these that are so sinfull, come to own that which brings them to a Confession of their Sins; then God is Faithfull to forgive such their Sins, and to Cleanse them from all Iniquity. Now, when this is done, to wit; when the Crea­ture has confessed his Sin, and God has forgiven it, and Cleansed him; What must then that Man say? Must he then say; that he has his Sin still, when he has it not? Must he say, that he is Fil­thy and Defiled, when he is Cleansed from all that? This would be a Lye; and If he should be Cleansed from all Sin; he must cer­tainly be Cleansed from Lyes: And if it was his Duty to con­fess the Work of the Devil, when it was standing in him, which were his Sins; May not he now being Cleansed, confess God's Work that has Cleansed him; he being Cleansed by him free­ly? Must he therefore be cryed out of for a Deceiver and Heretick? Who is so blind, that cannot see, that it is as serviceable as need­full, and as lawfull for a man, that has known the Power of God to clense him, to confess that, and to bear a testimony to that [Page 24] work; as it is needfull and lawfull, when the Devil's work is ma­nifested in him; to confess that, and to bear a Testimony against that.

Yet saith John to those that were thus washed: If we say, that we have not sinned, we make God a Lyar; It is as much, as if he would say, That even those that are saved, must confess to the Power of God, by which they have been judged for sin; and not to exalt themselves above it, as if they had never sinned; see­ing that the Witness of God testifieth in all, that they have sin­ned, and come short of the Glory of God; So that now the understanding Reader may see, that John hath not written here of an impossibility of being Delivered from Sin, but absolutely the contrary; Namely, that those that cannot say that they are without sin, may come by confessing their sins to be Cleansed and made free from it; yea, from all that which is Unrighteous: Yet some will say, that the Apostle in that place useth the word We, as if he included himself; as if he would say at that time; if I should say, that I had no sin, &c.

Answ. This is no proof at all, because the contrary is prov'd before; to wit, that he had Fellowship with God and Christ, which no Man could have that walked not in the Light, as he is in the Light, and such may as well, by the same manner of speaking, prove James to be a Curser; whereas he said, with the Tongue we Bless God, and with it we Curse Men that are made after the Image of God; and many more such Instances might be brought forth, of the Lamentations and Complaints of the Prophets concerning the House of Israel, which is Translated so in that manner of speaking, which does not prove at all, that the Prophets were Guilty of such Sin and Rebellion, of which they complained, Neh. 9.37. &c. But how zealous are these Pleaders for sin to find out words, which, they think, do serve for the upholding of the Kingdom of their Master, when there is not one word, that properly belongs, or was written to their purpose, except that Part of it, which the Devil and his Servants, their Predecessors has Spoken or Written, and that indeed may serve them; as I once heard a Priest, that was exhort­ing of the People to imploy their Time, and Ability to ga­ther knowledge, confirming his Exhortation with the Scrip­ture, [Page 25] (viz.) Gen. 5. You shall be as Gods, knowing Good and Evil.

And an other, a Mennist Preacher in North-Holland, whilst he was warning the People to take heed of being Deceived, he exhorteth them to Immitate the deaf Adders, Psal. 58.4. And so to stop their Bars against the voice of the Charmers, that charm never so wisely: So, the one hath his Proof from the Adders, and the other from the Devil. Such Scripture Places as these, I do confess, that these Pleaders for Sin may find to strengthen their Argu­ments; but that which was written by the Motion of the Holy Spirit of God, is a perfect Testimony against them all; against their Work, and against their Prince.

So, having answer'd their chiefest Objections, which they draw out of the Scripture; by which they endeavour to prove, That none can be free from sin in this life, contrary to Rom. 6.22. I make haste to the third great Argument of these Captives, which they lay down against their own Freedom:

Thirdly, That is, That it is the Will of God, to let some Sins remain in the Best of his People, to keep them Humble thereby.

Answ. If it be the Will of God, that his best Servants should sin; then his Will is done, when they sin. And what reason have any men to be humbled and cast-down, because they have done the Will of God? but rather to rejoyce, and be glad, that the Will of God is done, and that their Will is conformable to the Will of God, that the Will of both can be done together: This is a very easie way to the Joy of the Lord, if this brings to tha [...] sentence, Well done Good and Faithful Servant, &c. But Wo unto those, that are given up to believe this Lye.

Again, Let the understanding Reader (I mean those, that are weary with their sins, and are willing to be freed) consider, (for, as concerning the other, they are my Opposers) How can God properly be call'd Almighty? and how can the Work of the Conversion of Souls properly be call'd His, if he is neces­sitated to borrow something from the Devil to keep his Children Humble withal? Certainly we must conclude, That if God had a better way to do it, that he would do it in the best, and [Page 26] not in the worst way, viz. By Sin; which is so very contrary to his nature.

But, Let but these Sin-Pleaders suppose, That if God should stretch forth his Power so far in man, that it should destroy all the Works of the Devil, and cast out Sin; and cause his Soul to take as great Delight and Joy in Well-doing, as ever it had in Sin; and should plant Humility as naturally in the Soul, as the Devil has planted Pride in it.

Now the Question is, Whether this Power, that works this change, be not as able to keep the Creature in this Condition, as to bring him to it, without any help of the Devil or his Work? But they will say, To suppose a thing that is Impossible, is either against Reason, or Presump­tion.

I Answer, All things are Possible with God, except to Lye; and as concerning this, It is not only possible, but the contrary is impossible, because God hath so often promis'd it, to make a perfect Work, and to finish his Work in all them that trust in him: And for this End is Christ Jesus come, That he might de­stroy the Devil, and his Works: And in the Parable he saith, When he comes, that is stronger, he shall bind the strong Man, and spoil his Goods, and cast him out. This seems as if Christ, who is the stronger, had no need of the Devil, or his Goods either, to keep his People Humble thereby: But the Apostle said, That they were kept by Faith through the Power of God, unto Salvation: Except you will say, as the Priests in Scotland say, Cursed is he that sayes, Faith it without Sin; and let all the People say, Amen. Then the words of the Apostle must be read thus, You are kept by a Faith, which is mixed with sin, in the Power of God unto Sal­vation: But if you will have it so, speak it out, as they have done; but, being you profess, That Faith is the Gift of God; we may well say, It is able to clense the Heart, and to give Victory over the World, and also over the Devil, and Sin; and then there is no need of sin, to keep us Humble: For if Humility was a Fruit of sin, it would not be so acceptable unto God, as it is; for the Prophet says, He giveth his Grace to the Humble, and dwelleth with such that are of a Contrite and Broken Heart.

Again, if a few sins, yea, though they be but a Remnant, can keep men Humble; then a great deal of sin must needs make a man more Humble: so, then let us plentifully sin, that we may plentifully be Humble. But, God forbid that such doctrine or such Teachers should go unreprov'd; for, they have exalted the work of the Devil beyond the Work of God: And it is, be­cause such Teachers have been countenanc'd, that the People have been led into so much Blindness, Ignorance, and Hardness of Heart; and that People have wholly lost the Hope and Expecta­tion of a Day of Deliverance; and have taken up a Rest in a sinful and slavish state.

And now, If any come to Preach the Gospel, which brings Deliverance and Freedom to the Soul, their Souls being in a Rest already (though a False Polluted Rest) such are look'd up­on as Disturbers of their Rest, and Breakers of their Peace, and such like; even as it was with the Prophet Micah, when he cry­ed out ( Mic. 2.10.) Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your Rest, because it is polluted: it shall destroy you, even with a sore De­struction.

But Blessed be the Lord God of Heaven and Earth for­ever, for he hath brought forth his Day of Salvation, which many have long'd after, and are longing, and are in travel that they might come to know it; to whom a sinful state is no Resting-place, but is unto them as a strange Land, in which they cannot sing the Songs of Sion; but still have Jerusalem in their re­membrance which is Free-born from above; longing after the Day of Gathering, that the Lamb (and not the changeable Priests and Teachers) may be their Light and Leader: Unto such I say, and testifie in the Name of the God of Heaven, Lift up your Heads, for the Day of your Redemption draweth nigh, and Deliverance shall come out of Sion, the City of our Solem­nity: Isa. 33.20. And a Mighty Voice shall be sounded forth from the holy Mountain, from the Lord of Hosts, and those that hear it, shall live; and the dead Bones in the Valleys shall be enliven'd: and the Joy of that Day shall be greater then the Joy of the Harvest.

Now, How, and in what manner, these things will be brought to pass, is a great Dispute among many, that are yet seeking in the carnal Wisdom to conceive and comprehend spiritual things, [Page 28] and so they come to be scatter'd & divided in their imaginations: And therefore in the mean time, those that are become willing to sit down in Quietness, in the Light of Christ Jesus, that shew­eth every running-out of the Mind, they come to feel the Pure Fear of God to be planted in their Hearts: so that they dare not think their own Thoughts, nor speak their own Words: And here is the beginning of the true Wisdom, by which Wisdom it is given unto them to understand those things which they could not find out in all the time of their Travel and Pains in the faln Wisdom.

And whil'st they were hearkening after the different Voices of men, they never could have a Certainty: But now hearing him, by whom God speaketh, who is manifest within them, whom their Ear is inclin'd unto within; they come to know certainly that which they know, through the Testimony of the Holy Spirit, who alone is able to reveal (unto those that Fear Him) the Mysteries of God's Kingdom; and he shuts them up from the Wise and Prudent of this World.

And therefore you that desire to have an understanding of these things, come down from your high Builded Towers of Know­ledge and Comprehension; and sit down in that Pure Light, that brings a Death upon the Earthly Wisdom, and become as Fools, that you may be wise; and that Wisdom that is so recei­ved, shall lead to know the Number of the Beast, which the whole World with all their Accademical Wisdom, and all the Sects with their Inventions are strangers unto at this day, and are carrying about with them his Name, and the number of it, or his Mark, by which they are accepted among Men, and yet do not know what it is: But when they come to a wise enough to know it, and honest enough to forsake it; then they will see, that the Friend-ship of this World comes to be broken, and the Enmity to work against the Holy Seed: and the Seed comes to arise and bruise the Head of the Enmity, and to nail it fast to a Cross, till it Dye; and then comes Freedom, then there is War no more, then there is peace on Earth, and nothing but good will towards all Men; yea to Enemies: Then Anguish and Sorrow flyeth away, and the perfect Love of God casts out fear, and there is Death no more; but that which is overcome [Page 29] by Immortality: Blessed and Happy are all they that come to know that state, and Blessed are they, that Believe and waits to enjoy it; and Blessed is that Hope, which leads there­unto.

Now, as concerning the chiefest matter of this Treatise (to wit) Concerning the Reign of the Devil among Men; there is yet one thing worthy to be considered, of which there is made mention in the Scriptures of Truth, in which it appears, that in the be­ginning and setting up of the Reign of Christ, and that the Everlasting Gospel was Preached, and that many Thousands had Believed and Obeyed it, so that they came to be Witnesses of the Kingdom of Christ; and that the Devil was cast out, Dis-throned and put under their Feet; and some were made Priests and Kings to God: I say, after all these things aforesaid there came an Apostacy from the Faith by which all these things a­fore mentioned were brought forth; and of that Apostacy Paul Prophesied to the Thessalonians; and John by the Spirit saw, how that the Devil should get a great Dominion over Men by many changable Means and Wayes executing his Power, as a Dragon; then as a strange Beast with seven Heads, and ten Horns; at an­other time, as a little Beast with two Horns; then with an Image; and then with a Whore &c. And that the Almighty God has set and appointed a Time, a certain Time; to this Dreadfull, Dark, changable Government; And has given John to know, that it should last and continue but One Thousand Two Hundred and Threescore Days, or Years: And this is a set Time, and hath its beginning, and its ending; but the Kingdom of Christ, and also his Priest-hood, are both after the power of an endless Life.

Now, seeing, that this last Power, which the Devil has gotten, is but to continue his appointed time: Why should any be his Friend so far, as to say, that it must continue always, and that it must never come to an end; and that People no ways can get freedom from under his Tyrannical Power? Certainly these Men, that plead so strongly for his continual Reign, and Power, have more Reason and Understanding, then they use: As for instance, suppose that one had hired a House, or Farm of [Page 30] another for several Years, and the Years being come to an end, that Man to whom that House or farm belongeth, has a desire to live in it himself: And the In-dweller not being will­ing, and they both should come to one of these Sin-pleaders, to hear his judgment, and determination: I believe they would soon say to the In-dweller, thou must depart; the other is the Land-lord, and thou hast had thy full Time, and he now desiring to have his House, he must have it; and especially if the In-dweller was come into the House as a Thief in a dark Night, and had kept it by Violence, and had brought no profit to the Land-lord at all. And this is properly the Cause between God, and this Prince of Darkness; for he has posessed the Inheritance of God, and Ruled over it; not to the advantage of the Lord; But to his disadvantage and dishonour: And yet these Men will not do so much right to God, as they will do to their Neigbour. But on the contrary they say; that this Usurper, or Thief, that has stolen away the Hearts of Men from their Creator, must sit there as long, as there is a Man upon the Earth, and not any Man Redeemed. Oh! Blush for shame, ye Hypocrites; can you make a difference between Good, and Evil among Men; and will you not judge for God? Come, take your Books into your Hands, and read the number of the Years, it is called 1260. Days; reckon after the reckoning of the Ancients 30. days to a Moneth; and see whether that does not make out 42. Moneths, and see whether 42. Moneths does not make a Time, Times, and half a Time; and see what things are ordered to be in those different Times; and see, whether you can find out the beginning of those Times, that so you may find the end of them; for all those, that had their confidence in the Number of the Year, 1666. are now Confounded, Ashamed, and their Hope is frustrated: And now it is high time to wait upon the Lord, to get an Understanding, and Knowledge which makes not ashamed.

Now, the first thing to be considered, to the opening of this thing is: That the first appearance of this Man Child, that was Born in Heaven by a Woman, that was cloathed with the Son; and had her Feet upon the Moon, and was Crowned [Page 31] with the Stars. The first I say, that appeared against this Child, was a great red Dragon: Mark, this was no Substitute under the Devil; but was the Devil himself; though he appeared in Heaven, as you may see Revel. 12.13. and he it is, that has given Power to all those, that have Persecuted this Woman, or her Seed; but as long as he was in Heaven, he was no perfect Persecutor; there he had no Power, but only to be an Accuser of the Brethren, and therein he busied himself Night and Day: But by this it is evident, that there was a Power over him, to which he accused them, and so long they could not sing: but when he was cast out with his Angels, then they sung: Now is Salvation come, and Power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the Power of his Christ; for the Accuser of our Brethren, that accused them Day and Night before our God, is cast down, &c.

But then wo unto them that dwell on Earth, where the Devil got his Power, that is in the Earthly Ground; there he Rules with great Wrath, Anger and Fury, and Indignation, Perse­cuting the Woman, and the least appearance of her Seed; and because he cannot do harm enough of himself, he goes and makes him a Substitute, to wit; a Beast with Seven Heads, and Ten Horns: Mark, just the Number of his own Heads and Horns; only he came out of the Pit, and this out of the Sea or Waters, of which Waters you may read in Revel. 15.17. That they are Peoples, Tongues, Languages, and Nations; and out of them came this strange Beast, which the Devil counted worthy to have his per­fect Power, because he knew that he would do his Work for him to purpose; and he received his Power for the space of 42. Moneths: And his first Work was, to Persecute the Saints: Secondly, to set up the Worship of the Devil: Thirdly, to bring the dread of this seven Headed Beast over the whole Earth: Fourthly, To blaspheme the Name of God, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwell therein: And fifthly to make People believe, that there is no overcoming of his Power: And these Works are spread, and carried on by three unclean Spirits, which came forth out of the mouth of the Dragon, Beast, and False Prophet, over all Kindreds, Nations, Tongues and People, and there was none able to resist them, except those, whose Names were writ­ten in the Book of the Life of the Lamb. And as concerning them, [Page 32] because they would not receive the Mark of the Beast in their Fore-head, or Right-hand, They must be Banished, and must not have Liberty to Buy or Sell; and those that would Worship nothing but a Living Substance, and not an Image, though it was alive; those must be killed, and when that Sort was all Killed and Banished; and the whole World being brought, some­times to Worship the Dragon, sometimes to Worship the Beast, that had so many Heads and Horns as the Dragon himself; and then to Worship a little Beast with two Horns, that came out of the Earth; and then to Worship the Image of the old seven Headed Beast: When I say, that all things upon the whole Earth were thus disposed, then was it as the Devil would have it; for now had every one subjected himself unto his Power, and received that Name or Mark or the Number of the Substitute, and admired his great Power; and set him up as the chiefest among Men, whom none could overcome, except some few, that had the Word of God it self (for the other had the Scripture) and durst seal their Testimony against the Dragon and False-Pro­phet with their Blood; and because these were but a few, and were soon killed; they being dead, there was a Joyfull and Mer­ry World; the Devil was well-pleased, and they did send their Gifts to one another abundantly; and those that had been most busie, and serviceable to kill the Witnesses (that dared to speak of another Kingdom or Dominion, besides that of the Dragon and Beast) they had the greatest Gifts. And in those days there was no Prophesying, but in Sack-cloath, and that did not con­tinue long neither; but the Prophets were killed, and being Dead, their Dead Bodies were kept above the Earth, and were more esteemed of, then their living Testimony was; for that plagued all the Worshippers of the Beast.

So, in such a time have the Nations been so long, that they are so us'd to the Power and Raign of the Devil, that they plead for it; as if he had an undoubted Right thereunto: And if the Devil might speak himself, he would not desire of the World to rule any longer, then the World alloweth him: and they have forgot, that it is but to continue Forty two Moneths; whil'st the Man-Child was caught up unto God, and whil'st his Mother was in the Wilderness; and also, that it was to be expected, [Page 33] that both should appear again in their appointed time.

But whil'st it was thus with the World (viz.) That the true Church was not to be found upon Earth; but was fled away, as upon Eagle's Wings; and that he, that ought to rule over all, was caught up into Heaven; and that the Devil was in his place, the old Serpent ru­ling, and giving his power to whom he pleased, to a Great Beast, or Little Beast, or to a Whore, or to any thing like him: And whil'st Great and Small, High and Low, Bond and Free, did wonder at his power, and were ready to worship any one that had his power, let those, whose Eyes are open, but consider in what a Lamentable State the miserable World then was; and whether that Abomination, that made the World desolate of God and all good Order, was not then set up in the Holy Place, where it ought not: And was the World without a Religion, or without a Profession of God and Christ in those dayes? No: they bore a Profession of Christ, that is Unchangeable, in all their Change­able wayes; and this was a time of Gladness to many: and they had many sorts of Religions; and when they came to be weary with one, the Devil furnished them with another. And when they had been exercised a long time in the aforesaid Wor­ships of the Dragon, the Seven-headed Beast, the Little Beast, and of the Living Image; then there came forth yet a deeper Mystery of Iniquity then before, the Mother of all these Abo­mination; she shew'd her self not as a despis'd Whore, but as a Queen decked with Scarlet, Purple, and Precious-Stones: and that very Beast, which none could over-come, but the whole World had wondred after it, he himself must be under her com­mand, and must carry her up and down upon the Waters; which are, Peoples, Lands, Tongues, and Languages. And this Whore hath another Design upon the poor blind World [Mark] She comes with a preparation to make all drunk, that they might not make use of their Sences, to bethink themselves where they were; and that they might not have any suspition against any thing, the furnishes her self with a Golden Cup, which there was none that had any thing against it, but every one could well re­ceive it; and this was but to deceive them; for, any Potsherd of the Dunghil had been good enough (yea, a Hog's Trough [Page 34] had been too good) to drink that out of, which she had to give them. But she must give her drink to Kings, and Princes, and Nobles, and Captains, and Merchants, and to all sorts of men; so she proffer'd them her Cup, and they have all drunk: But what have they drunk? Her Whoredoms, Fornications, and all Abominations of the Earth: How much? Till they were drunk: What did they then? They committed Fornication with her; they were drunk of Abominations; and the Whore was drunk of the Blood of the Saints and Witnesses of Jesus: and yet, the Name of Jesus was still professed upon Earth; that was not persecuted; but those were persecuted, that witnessed Jesus him­self, that takes away sin, such were persecuted: For, she be­ing the Mother of Whores, and having nothing to proffer to her Customers but Abominations, she could not endure to hear, That Sin, which is an Abomination to the Lord, should be taken away; and that men should live without sin, and be perfect: For, if so, then she must be Childless, and as a Widdow, and must lose her High-place on the top of the Beast; and then they would not be so drunk of her Cup, and that would not tend to her Advantage; therefore if any came to be Witnesses of Je­sus himself, she drunk the Blood of such; but if they would be content to drink her Cup, and so would please themselves with good and precious words, and in the mean time drink in her A­bominations, then they might live and flourish, as long as she flou­rished.

But Alas! What do you think, that read with Understanding was the state of the World in those dayes? Was it not high time that Plagues, Indignation and Vengeance should be pour'd out upon this Bloody Whore, and upon the Seat of the Beast, upon which she did ride, and upon the whole Earth, which had committed Fornication with her? Is it not high time that the Carpenters should come, Zach. 1.20. to cut off these Horns? For at that time the power of Darkness was spread over all, and the will of the Devil was done, and his One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Years were prosperous to his Kingdom; and he did what he pleased; and if any spoke against him, and against his kingdom, he would have them kill'd; and then his [Page 35] Whore would drink the Blood of such; and there were none left, neither Great nor Small, neither Bond nor Free, High or Low, neither Young nor Old, but they had submitted them­selves all of them; and said, Who is like him? None are able to overcome him: It is impossible to be made free from under his power: He must raign as long as we live: it is possible for us (cry they) to overcome Princes, Kingdoms, and Armies; and therefore we go out, and fight valiantly, and many times we get Victory, and become Con­querors; but to overcome sin, which the Devil has set up in us, that is impossible; and therefore it is in vain to trouble our selves about it; and we will not do any thing concerning it, seeing we have drunk in a Faith, That it is impossible to perform or accomplish it.

And thus has the whole World been bewitched, in the time when the Devil Raign'd: And will he and his Servants make us believe, That it must continue so alwayes? Though never any other time was given him, but such as was limitted; and in the end of that time we understand there is a great Alteration to come to pass, to wit, That the Church, the True Woman, must come out of the Wilderness again; the Man-Child must come down again, and appear upon Earth, and Rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron; and the Whore must be judged; that Sorrow, Death, and Famine must come upon her in one day; and that Ten Kings should agree together, to burn her Flesh with Fire; and that the Smoak of her Torments should ascend to Heaven; and then must the Dragon, the Beast, and false Prophet, that had still preach'd Peace, though it was so, as above said, they must all be taken, whil'st they are yet alive in this Work and in their Power, and be cast into the Lake of the Wrath of God, which burneth forever; and these Princes, and Captains, and Merchants, and In­habitants of the Earth must Howl and Lament because of this great Alteration.

And therefore, seeing that such a time is Lawfully to be ex­pected, in which the Devil, the Old Serpent may be thrust out of his dominion; and that then the time of Joy and Rejoycing will be for the Upright, it is worth the spending of our Labour and Time, to find out that Time; that so it may not come over us, and we see it not, nor know it not, and so let it pass by, as the Jews did; and so doting and waiting for it, as a thing which is yet to come, as they do at this day; when almost [Page 36] Two Thousand Years are past, since the thing is come to pass.

Now you know the Jews had a Prophet, which told them the time, when the Messiah should come; aforehand, to wit, Daniel, as you may see, Dan. 9.24. &c. where he told them, That it was Seventy Weeks that were determin'd upon the People and upon the City, and that the Holy one should be Anointed: Now this was not such a great Mystery to them; they knew it was common to reckon a day for a Year among the Prophets; so that that time was but four hundred fourscore and ten years, that the Visions should be seal'd, and the daily Sacrifice taken away, the City be made desolate and the Anointing of the Holy One, and the Messiah be slain for the sins of the People: And since the time that the Command was gone forth to build Jerusa­lem again, in which time the Seventy Weeks had their begin­ning; it is above Two Thousand years ago, the City is since builded again, and also made again desolate, and the daily Sa­crifice taken away; and the Prince of the People, that then came (viz.) Titus Vespasianus the Roman, has destroy'd the Sanctuary, and the Destruction of it was with an overflowing to the end of the War; and yet all these things cannot convince them, nor make them believe, that the Messiah is come, or that it was he, whom their Fore-fathers have killed as a Blas­phemer.

Now, That We, after such clear Prophesies of the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ, and dis-throning of the Devil, Sin, and Antichrist, should not come to be surpriz'd with the same Blindness and Hardness of Heart; Let us have a strict Observation of the Times, that we may not fight against the Appearance of Truth, and put it far away from us, and say, The Dayes are not come yet, in which the pouring out of the Spirit can be witnessed; and that the Knowledge of God must cover the Earth, as the Waters cover the Sea; and that the Gos­pel must be preached again unto those that dwell upon the Earth; and that the Lamb and his Saints must have the Victory over the Dragon and his Angels: For, such as put the Day so far from them, are in one and the same Error with the Jews, and do not understand the Times better then they do; and so are persecute­ing [Page 37] the true appearance of that, which they seem to expect, and to pray for (as the Jewes did) because it does not appear in their Way, to answer their Carnal expectations, that despise the day of small things: But from such are the Mysteries of the Kingdom shut up; and are revealed unto those that fear the Lord.

Now to understand these things, let every one come to read the Prophesies in a measure of that Spirit, by which they were given forth, and that same opens the Prophesies, and without it every one understands only according to his own Fancy, or private Judgment: The Apostle said, There should come an Apostacy from the Faith; that is, from the true Christian Faith: Now, when was that? And who are they that are thus Apostatized, or fallen away? Ask the Pope, and the whole Roman Catholick Church, and they will tell you, that the Prophesie points at Martin Lu­ther, Zuinglius, Aecolampadius, Calvinus, Menno Simoni [...], and other Hereticks, that have rent many Nations from the true Apost [...] ­lick Faith, and the Ancient Christian Church, the infallible Foundation and Pillar of Truth, &c.

Ask the Bishops of England, and the Presbyters in Scotland, the Pfarrherren or Pastors in Denmark and Sweed-Land, and Predicants in the Low-Countries, and they will tell you, that this Prophesie signifieth the general Apostacy from the Aposto­lick Faith and Order in the Church of Christ, to the Pope and Popish Exercises, and Institutions over all Christendom. Again, ask them; Which among themselves continue as yet in the true Apostolical Faith and Religion? Then the Lutheran Pastors will say, that are we, and therefore cry they, Joyn with us. No, say the Bishops in England, we will prove that the Apostolical Church had Bishops, and that the Apostle said; He that desires the Office of a Bishop, he desires a good Work; and therefore We are they, that are the true Chu [...]ch according to the first Institution. Then sayes the Presbyterians and Dutch Predicants; The Bishops in the Primitive Churches were not such as you are, but such as we are, whose ca [...]e was over the Flock, and did Teach, and Rule in Ecclesiastical Matters, but not in Councels and Parliaments, as you do; therefore you are fallen from the Primitive state. And now at last what sayes Truth of these, and all others, who deny that Faith, which Purifies [Page 38] the Heart, and can Cleanse the Conscience from Sin, and can give Victory over the World? This was the Faith which Paul Preached, that was nigh, in the Heart; and therefore all those that say, that the Heart of a true Believer cannot be made clean; nor that he can come to live without Sin; nor to have a Purified Conscience; And all those that denyes the Word of Faith in the Heart, and Christ to be the Rule, and set up another Rule, and another Faith, and another Foundation for it, then the Apostle set up; all such are fallen from the Faith, and are not Apostolick, but Antichristian; and when the Man of Sin comes to be revealed, they will come to be revealed with him, and fall with him, and with Babylon the Mother of them all; and great will be their fall in that day.

There is yet another Prophesie of Christ, when he said, When you see the Abomination of Desolation standing in the Holy Place, where it ought not; then let not him that is in Judea flee upon the Mountaines; Nor he that is in the Field, go back to fetch his Cloathes: And he that is on the House top, come down to take any thing out of his House, &c. Mat. 24.15 and said he further, vers. 23, 24. Then if any Man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ, or there, believe him not, &c. signifying plainly, that when the Abomination of Desolation should be set up, that the People would notwithstanding not want divers sorts of Teachers of the Name of Christ. What were they made desolate of by the setting up of this Abomination, seeing they were not desolate of a profession of Christ in divers manners? They were deso­late of the Power and Presence of God in all their Holy Places, (as they called them) where this Abomination was set up; even as Christ said to the Jewes, when they had made the House of prayer to be a Den of Thieves; then said he, your House is left unto you desolate. Mark, it was not then desolate of People, of Congregations, of Religions and Worships; but it was deso­late of the Presence of God; for that was not to be found there. So that Abomination, which makes People desolate of the Power of God, by which they should have power over their Sin and Lusts; and which make the Ministers and Teach­ers desolate of the Spirit of God, by which they should have been led to Preach the Gospel; this Abomination has been set [Page 39] up a long time, and made the People and Nations as a Wilder­ness; and this has been since that time, that the Christian Reli­gion has been carried on and maintained by the Traditions of Men; Then came the Poyson to be poured out into the Church, and thereby it is come to be so swell'd and bigg, that it can com­prehend in it the Tyrannical and persecuting Princes, Proud and Rebellious Bishops, wicked Man-slayers and Murderers, Unclean, Wanton and Drunken People; they have all room enough in it: and since that time it is counted Heresie, that any should make a profession of being Purified and Cleansed; and from that time it may be reckoned, that the Abomination of Desolation has been set up: And therefore let us consider how long it is yet to stand, before the Devil come to be cast out, and the Temple of God be Cleansed, and the filth of Abo­mination be burn'd up, that the God of Heaven may again de­light in his Sanctuary, and that the Earth may not for ever be empty of his presence, but that he may be found of those that seek him, and be heard of them that are Mourning after him.

Now John saith, that this time of Desolation was to continue a Time, Times, and half a Time, that is, three years and a half, or three times twelve Moneths and six Moneths, that is 42. Moneths, or 1260 Dayes; which times are agreeing together in one, and do perfectly fulfill the time of the restoration of the Church, and of the coming down of the Righteous Judge, whose right it is to Rule over Men; for to him are the Gentiles given for an Inheritance, and the ends of the Earth for a possessi­on: And that time doth also perfectly fulfill the time of the Power of the Beast; for these times do all agree together, and as they had their beginning about one and the same time, they must also have their end shortly after one another, because they are like one another.

Now to find out the end of those times, the beginning must be first known; now the daily Sacrifice was taken away long before the Abomination, that made the Earth desolate, was set up; but from that time, that both should be fulfilled, said the Angel to Daniel, should there be 1290 Dayes, that is 30. more then John writes of: Now the Abomination of Desolation was [Page 40] not set up in the time of Christ; for said he, When you shall see it set up, &c. speaking as of a thing that was not yet come to pass; and the Apostle said, There shall come an Apostacy from the Faith; that shews, that it was not yet come, neither did it come till s [...]veral hundreds of years after; for the true Christians suffered many cruel and grievous deaths for the Christian Faith; so that they did not fall away, but endured to the end, and were saved, and so long the Earth was not Desolate: But when that Faith was lost, which did support in Sufferings, and that the Christian Religion (which was the holy Place) came to be cor­rupted by Pride, Covetousness, Persecution and Worldly Plea­sures, Ease, and the Delights and Honours of this World; then the Abomination was set up, that made the Earth Desolate: And reckon from that time 1260 Years, and add to it these 30. Years, of which the Angel spoke to Daniel, Dan. 12.11. and see whether we be not about the Forty Five Years, of which there is made mention in the 12th verse, where the Angel having spoken of the 1290. years, adds, Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Five Dayes: Signifying plainly, that there must be a time of Patience and Waiting for the Blessed Restauration, which was promi­sed; and that that time of Waiting should continue from the 1290. till 1335. which are 45. dayes or years; and then they are Blessed that come thereunto. So he that hath Wisdom let him reckon: But this Reckoning is not comprehended in Arith­metick, or the Art of Reckoning; neither can it be conceiv'd by the Wisdom of this World; But such as have the Wisdom, which cometh from God, they shall understand; and it is to such I write; for, I have learn'd to cover the Pearls before the Swine, and to with-hold the Children's Bread from the Dogs.

And by what is here said, it sufficiently appears, First, That this Intruder or Usurper, call'd the Devil, Satan, Dragon, or Antichrist, has no Right to Rule and to Rain over Mankind all the dayes of their Life. Secondly, That his Kingdom is a limited Kingdom, and was not to continue forever. Thirdly- That the limits of it has been reveal'd to several of the Ser­vants of God. Fourthly, That the appointed time of his Go­vernment is nigh come to an End. Fifthly, That there is a Blessed [Page 40] Day and Time to be expected after the end of his Raign. And Sixthly, That none can come to enjoy that Blessed Time and Blessedness, nor sing the Song of Joy and Deliverance, but those that patiently wait upon the Lord in the dayes of Tribulation; and have that Hope to see the Salvation, which cometh out of Sion.

And therefore, for a Conclusion, I shall say this, That all those that feel themselves in Bondage under this Prince of Darkness, in what manner soever it be, and are not willing to remain so alwayes; Believe but in him, that sheweth you your Bondage, and wait in his pure Light in your own Consciences, which discovers Darkness, and the Prince of it; and then you will feel a Hope to spring up in you, that you may be de­liver'd, as I my self have felt: 1 Joh. 3.3. And this Hope will lead to a daily Washing and Purifying, and to a daily Cruci­fying and Mortifying of thy earthly Members: And as this Hope comes to work in thee, it will bring thee to an Ex­perience of being deliver'd in some particular things, and that will strengthen thy Hope of being deliver'd from more; and so, at last a Faith will arise in thee, Perfectly and Thorowly to be made free from sin: And when thou art made Partaker of this Faith, then the greatest and strongest Bond of the Devil is bro­ken; for, through the Unbelief of it he keeps his Kingdom in Man and Woman: And when this Evil Root of Unbelief is taken away, then his Kingdom comes soon to an end, and the Go­vernment of Truth comes to be set up in thee; and so there comes a Change to he wrought in thee, both inwardly and outward­ly; and so comes his Kingdom, who is the Intruder or Usur­per, to be lessen'd, first, in thy self, and then thou comest to see that Change in another; and so it goeth forward, from one to ten, and from ten to a thousand, and so forth, more and more, until the Inheritance of the Wicked comes to be wholy laid waste; till Truth and Righteousness, and the Raign and Government of Christ Jesus our Lord comes to be set up in the Earth, which my Soul longs and travels for; and so, I know, it is with many more, for whose sake this is written; and as a Testi­mony [Page 42] against that proud and presumptious Generation of Hy­pocrites, of what Sort or Name, or in what Nation or King­dom soever they may be, who not only have subjected them­selves unto this Prince of Darkness, and unto the Power of him who is call'd the Devil, and Satan; but also pretend, That all Mankind must do so, and continue so all their dayes, and that there is no Remedy nor Help against it; and so deny the Power of God, and lead the people to trust in a Lye: But the Day of the Power of God is come, and the Refuge of Lyes is swept away; and the Deliverance and Victory of the Lamb is known unto many; to whom, and to the Everlasting God, by the Operation of the Holy Spirit in the Hearts of the Redeemed be sung Everlasting Praises, Thanks-giving, Renown, Honour and Glory, and Dominion forever