DAVID saith, The foole hath said in his heart, there is no God; They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doth good; and the Lord looked down from Hea­ven upon the Children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, Psal. 14. and 53. and seek God; and they were all g ne aside, they are altogether become fil­thy, there is none that doth good, no not one. Here you may see and read your selves where you are, who are out of the way of peace, and the way of truth, and the life.

Now this is unto you all, who are out of the light, from the seed which hath obtained the promise, that ye may come to partake of the same, and be brought to the fold where there is one Shepheard, and one sheepfold, where the promise of the Lord is fulfilled, who hath said; It is a light thing that thou mightest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel, I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the Earth. Thus saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel, and his holy one, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the Nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and [Page 2]arise, Princes also shall worship, because the Lord is faithfull, and the holy one of Israel. In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee, and I will preserve thee, Isa. 39. and give thee for a Covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages, that thou mayest say to the prisoner, goe forth, and to them that are in darknesse, shew your selves, they shall feed in the wayes, and their pastures shall be in the high places: So here is your mercy offered freely unto you, and the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, and there is no God besides him, neither shall ye find salvation in any other; By the hand of the mighty God is Iacob and Ioseph made strong, from thence is the Shepheard, the stone of Israel, and the precious things springs from him, who is Davids root. Therefore come, Oye house of Iacob, and let us walke in the light of the Lord. This is the day of your visitation, Therefore seeke the Lord while he may be found, call upon him, while he is neare; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and sleight not the mercies of the Lord, and his gracious visi­tation unto you; for he hath brought salvation neare, and his Covenant is he performing with you; If you doe turne to that measure of light which you have received from him, who is the light of Israel; The Covenant of the Lord is given for a light to open blind eyes, which brings salvation to the ends of the earth; which light lets you see the thoughts of your hearts, that they are vaine, which light lets you see when you doe a­misse, when you beare false witnesse, when you tell a lye, when ye doe wrong to any man: which light will lead you unto Justice and equity, which light will teach you to fulfill the law of Moses, and to doe to all men as ye would they should doe to you, which light will lead you unto righteousnesse, by which ye may fulfill, and answer to the righteousnesse of the Law, and statutes, and commandements of God, which ye can never doe, your mindes being from the light.

Therefore in the feare of the Lord God, turne your minds to within, where the light shines in the heart, where the Lord teacheth all his people; who are taught of him, are taught by the light; and guided by the light, for God is the light of his [Page 3] Israel; All the Children of the Lord are taught of the Lord, and they are established in righteousnesse, and they are farre from oppression, and great is their peace, and the Lords chil­dren are taught by the light.

And so as ye desire to be the children of the Lord, and taught of the Lord. Turne your mindes to the light that shewes you sin and evill, and checks you when you doe transgresse. This will guide your mindes to God, and bring you out of the trans­gression, and out of the sin, into the new Covenant, which the Lord doth make with his people, which is not according to the old Covenant, which Covenant you broke, but this is an ever­lasting Covenant, which never can be broken, to those who lives in it, and walkes in it, and obeyes the leading and guiding of the light, which is the Covenant.

This answers and fulfills the righteousnesse of the Law of God, and brings you through, to fulfill the whole Law, and Co­venant of God, which you could never doe, your minds being from the light, which light is the substance of the Covenant of the Law, of the commandements, of the statutes and judge­ments; which light answers, and fulfills the righteousnesse of them all, and takes them away outwardly: and those who dwells in the light, and stands in it, dwells in the substance, out of the shadow, forme, and likenesse; So here is your way, in the light, which ye feele and see in you, not a thing without you, but in that which is in you, which you know of, which you can beare testimony of, this is a substance and not a shadow: and by no other way nor means under Heaven, shall you ever come to know the salvation of Israel; but as your minds are turned, and joyned to the light which is in you, which brings salvation to the ends of the earth. And the prophecy is fulfilling, which cryeth. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters freely, without money; buy wine and milk: hearken diligent­ly, and eat ye that which is good, and let your souls delight it selfe in fatnesse; Incline your eare, and come unto me, hear, and your souls shall live: and I will make an everlasting Co­venant with you even the sure mercies of David. Isa. 55. Behold I have given him for a witnesse to the people, a leader and com­mander to the people.

And this is he which all Nations must follow, who is given a witnesse, and a leader, and a Commander to all the people of God, who is the desire of all Nations, which is come a witnesse to all people, and a leader of all unto God: who are like sheep gone astray, who hath turned, every one to his own way. But now is the Lord gathering them that will be gathered, all that doe turne unto this witnesse of God in them, the Lord will heale them. Behold I will bring health, and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveale unto them the abundance of peace and truth: and I will cause the Captivity of Judah, and the Captivity of Israel to returne, and will build them as at first, and I will cleanse them from all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned against mee: and I will pardon all their ini­quities whereby they have sinned against me; and whereby they have transgressed. So if ye will be cleansed from your iniquity, turne to the light within you, which makes manifest the deceit of your hearts, if ye will have health and cure, turn to the light that lets you see your sin, and transgression, and your iniquity which seperates you from God; And if ye de­sire your iniquity pardoned, and if ye desire to returne from your captivity, and to be built as ye were at first, turne to the light that seperates from iniquity, and depart from evill, and hearken there in the pure light in your consciences diligently, and there you will hear as you abide in the light, and dwell in it, and walke in it; so you will come to heare the voice of joy, and the voice of gladnesse, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, Jer. [...]3. [...]. the voice of them that shall say, praise the Lord of Hosts, for the Lord is good, for his mercy endu­reth for ever: for I will cause their Captivity to returne as at first, saith the Lord.

So here is the Lords love freely tendered to you, if ye come into the light, by which the Lord God teacheth his people; that in the pure obedience of the leading and teaching, and guiding of the light turne your mindes to within, into the light, which convinceth of sin and evill: here you will come to have your hearts circumcised, and the foreskin of your heart taken away: here ye will come to have your hearts rent, and not your garments, here ye will turne to the Lord, and receive his [Page 5]Covenant and promise, who hath said, I will make an everlast­ing Covenant with you, that I will not turne away from them, to doe them good: but I will put my feare in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me: yea I will rejoyce over them to doe them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly, with my whole heart, and with my whole soule. See here the faithfulnesse of the Lord, and his loving kindnesse holden forth unto you: in giving to you his light and testimony, whereby you may be guided up unto him, which makes manifest his will and likewise shews unto you that which is contrary to his will in turning of your minds to the light you will come to know the one teacher, by which the Lord teaches his people Jew and Gentile, Barbarian, Scythian, bond and free.

By this eternall light of the Lord doth the Lord gather all his people into one; and fulfills his promise, who saith. Be­hold, I will gather them out of all Countries, whither I have driven them in my anger, and in my fury, and in my wrath, and I will bring them againe into this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, and I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may feare me for ever. See here the infinite goodnesse of God, who hath manifested his one way, and there is no other to the father, his eternall light, which makes manifest and discovers all sin and uncleanesse, and leads up into purity and righteous­nesse, which purifies the heart, and places the pure feare, and brings into the one heart, and into the one way, where the feare of the Lord is for ever, and the truth in the inward parts, which only is accepted with the Lord. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord, that I will performe that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel, and to the house of Ju­dah, In those dayes, and at that time, will I cause the branch of righteousnesse to grow unto David, and he shall execute judgement and righteousnesse in the land: In those dayes shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely, and this is his name wherewith he shall be called, the Lord our righteous­nesse. David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of Israel. So to the light of the God of Israel turne your minds, and here ye will see him performe the good thing that he hath [Page 6]promised: And this pure light of God will lead you into righ­teousnesse, and will bring forth the branch of righteousnesse, where you may dwell safely, where ye may have the Lord for your teacher, and leader, and guider: Thus saith the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel, in returning and rest shall ye be saved, and in quietnesse, and in confidence shall be your strength. Therefore doth the Lord waite, that he may be graci­ous unto you, therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy upon you, for the Lord is a God of judgment, blessed are all they that wait for him: he will be very gracious unto thee, at the voice of thy cry, when he shall heare it; he will answer thee: and though the Lord give you the bread of ad­versity, and the water of affliction; yet shall not thy teacher be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teacher, and thy eares shall heare a voice behind thee, saying, this is the way walke in it; when ye turne to the right hand, or to the left. So this is the word which thou must hear, which teacher will never more be removed into a corner, which shews thee when thou turnes to the right hand or to the left, which shewes thee the intents of thy heart, and is a discerner of thy secret thoughts: by this eternall light doth the Lord God teach his people, which reveals all secrets, which rips up, and layes open the hidden things of Esau: And so waiting here in the light, the minde being subjected to the leading and guiding of the light, then the power of the Lord will be manifested, which brings the seed out of bondage, out of the house of darknesse: so the seed being raised by the power of the Lord God out of Aegypt and darknesse, the first borne will come to be slaine, when the Lord calls his Sonne out of Aegypt, Israel his first borne, and then the law will be given, and written in the heart, and the Covenant of the Lord will be performed, with his own seed, as he calls Israel out of the house of bon­dage; the darknesse of Aegypt: where the dead bodies lyes in the street of the great City, Sodom and Egypt, which is all the world spiritually: but the free Covenant of everlasting love and life is set open, and the voice cryes freely. Ho, every one that thirsteth come to the water of life, and he that hath no mo­ney, come, and buy wine and milke, you that have sold your [Page 7]selves for naught; shall be redeemed without money: If you turne your minds to the light within you, which is freely given you of the Lord, which shews you sin and evill, by which the Lord teaches his people, Jewes and Gentiles.

This is the promise of the father, the light, which is his Co­venant, Behold my servant which I uphold, Isa. 42. mine Elect in whom my soule delighteth, I have put my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles: I the Lord have called thee in righteousnesse, I will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light to the Gentiles. Marke, here is the Covenant, and here is the light, and this is for the opening of the blind eyes, to bring forth the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darknesse out of the prison house. There is the prison, in dark­nesse: there is the Aegypt and the bondage, in the darknesse, who are not in the light. But whose minds are turned into the light, there will be a rising out of the darknesse; and here the blind eyes will be opened, and deafe eares will heare, and the prisoner will come forth of the prison, and here the promise of the Lord will be fulfilled. Zach. 9.11. As for thee also by the blood of thy Covenant, I have sent forth the prisoners out of the pit where­in there is no water.

Turne ye to the strong hold ye prisoners of hope, I am the Lord, that is my name, my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven Images: Behold the former things are come to passe, and new things doe I declare, before they spring forth I tell you of them: sing unto the Lord a new long, and his praise to the ends of the earth, ye that goe down to the Sea, and all that is therein, the Isles, and the Inhabitants thereof, let the Wildernesse, and the Cities thereof lift up their voices, let the Inhabitants of the rocks sing; let them shout from the top of the mountains, let them give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise in the Islands, for whose minds are turned into the light, and free Covenant of the living God, there to abide, and dwell, and live, shall have cause to praise the Lord for ever, and shall receive his everlasting free promise unto them for ever, which is freely tendered unto all, and all have received a light from him, that shewes the secrets of their [Page 8]hearts, and testifies against sin and evill, and that mind that is led and guided by this pure light, will be guided up unto God, and will receive his everlasting promise, which is as sure as the Covenant is with the day and with the night; Thus saith the L [...]rd, If you can breake my Covenant with the day, and with the night, that there should not be day and night in their season, then may also my Covenant be broken with Da­vid my servant, that he should not have a son to reigne upon his Throne, for the Mountaines shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. O thou afflicted and tossed with tem­pest, and not comforted, Behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and thy foundation with Saphires, and I will make thy windowes of Agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. So if you will lay your foundation with Saphires, come into the light wherein dwells purity, if ye will lay your stones with faire colours, come into the light which teacheth righteousnesse, uprightnesse, and purity: and if you will have all the borders of pleasant stones, come into the light, dwell in the light, live in the light, by which the Lord God doth teach his people: here is the border of the sanctua­ry, God is light, and in him is no darknesse at all: and the Lord hath said, all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children; Isa. 54. In righteousnesse shalt thou be established, thou shalt be far from oppression: no weapon formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that riseth up against thee in judgement thou shalt con­demne.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord; So if ye desire this in­heritance, turn your mindes into the light which is of God, where righteousnesse dwells, which teaches righteousnesse, which leads into righteousnesse, and establishes in righteous­nesse, which light is of God, which God hath given, which light shines in the conscience, which light keeps the conscience tender; which light was, before man was, which is of God, and comes from God; and as it is minded, and dwelt in, the [Page 9]feare of the Lord is placed, which is to depart from evill, which feare of the Lord is the beginning of pure wisdome, Mal. 4. and unto those that feare my name, saith the Lord, shall the Son of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings, and ye shall goe forth, and grow up, as Calves of the stall; and the secrets of the Lord are with those that feare him: And Solomon saith, The feare of the Lord is a fountaine of life. So as ye mind the light, that shines in your consciences, the feare of the Lord will be kept, and so ye will be kept low, and tender, and humble. What man is he that feareth the Lord, Psal. 25. him shall he teach in the way that he shall chuse; The secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him, and he will shew them his Covenant: The meek shall he guide in judgement, and the meek will he teach his way; all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Covenant and testimony.

Here is the path of the Lord in the mercy, and in the truth, and in keeping his Covenant, and his testimony, and his feare, and this is in the inward parts, who dwells and abides here, will have the new heart given, which the Lord hath promised; a new heart also will I give you, Ezek. 36.26. and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh, and I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walke in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements and doe them. And againe, Ezek. 11. I will give them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you, and take the stony heart out of their flesh and I will give them a heart of flesh, that they may walke in my statutes, and keep my Ordinances, and doe them, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

So here now you may see, the Lords work is in the inward parts, there doth he look for the truth within, and there doth he make his Covenant, and write his law in this his day, for the dayes are past and gone; wherein the Covenant was written in Tables of stone; and the dayes are come, which the Lord promised, who said, Behold the dayes come saith the Lord, that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel, and Judah, not according to the Covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring [Page 10]them out of the land of Aegypt, which my Covenant they broke, but this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, Jer. 3. after those dayes, saith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people, and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest, saith the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquities, and will remember their sin no more.

So this is the Covenant, which the Lord is making in these his dayes, with the house of Israel, and with the house of Ju­dah, and with all that doe flow to the Mountaine of the Lords house, which is established in the top of the Mountaines, where all Nations shall flow unto it, for out of Zion goes forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, which he writeth in the heart, and putteth in the inward parts: so here must ye look for your law, and for your testimony, which hath been bound and sealed up among the Disciples, which Isaiah saw, who said, I will waite upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him; Isaiah knew that he would hide his face, and that the Law and Testimony should be bound and sealed, yet he did looke for him, who is now come in these his dayes, whose law and Testimony is ma­nifested and written in the inward parts; Joel 2. and the dayes are come which Joel prophecyed, who said it shall come to passe afterward, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and also upon the servants and on the handmaids in those dayes will I poure out of my Spirit, for behold in the dayes, and at that time, when I shall bring againe the Captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will al­so gather all Nations, Joel 3. and will bring them downe into the valley of Jehosophat, and will plead with them there. And a­gaine, feare not, I am with thee, I will bring thy seed from the East, and gather thee from the West, and I will say to the North give up and to the South keep not back, bring my sons from farre, and my daughters from the ends of the Earth; bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deafe that have eares, let all Nations be gathered together, and let the [Page 11]people be assembled, for I will poure water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground, I will poure my spi­rit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine off spring. Isa. 43.

Here you may read the large love and mercy of the Lord to all that will turne to the measure of his Spirit, which is light, which he hath given to every one. If you looke for the pro­mise of the Lord to be fulfilled, you must look for the Spirit, for the promise of God is the Spirit; untill the Spirit be pou­red upon us from on high, Isa. 32. and the Wildernesse be a fruitfull field, and the fruitfull field be counted for a Forrest: Mark, here your fruitfull field must be counted for a Forrest, when the Spirit is poured from on high, and that which hath been the Wildernesse must be the fruitfull field, then shall judgement dwell in the Wildernesse, and righteousnesse remaine in that fruitfull field, the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace, and the effect of righteousnesse, quietnesse and assurance for ever, and my people shall dwell in a peacable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

See now if ye can come to this, and own this Spirit to teach you, and guide you, and lead you, this promise you will re­ceive and enjoy, when the Lord speaks comfortably unto Jeru­salem, and bids the Prophet cry that her warfare is accompli­shed, he saith, The voice of him that cryeth in the Wildernesse, prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make straight in the desert a high way for our God, now God is a Spirit, and his promise is the Spirit: The Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and tooke off the Spirit that was upon him, Numb. 11. and gave it unto the seventy elders, and it came to passe that when the Spirit rested upon them that they prophesied, and did not cease: Turne ye at my reproofe, behold, I will poure out my Spirit upon you, and I will make known my words unto you, Porv. 1. The Lord hath said, the parched ground shall become a poole, the thirsty land springs of Water, and an high way shall be there; and a way that shall be called the way of holinesse, the uncleane shall not passe over it, but it shall be for those, the wayfairing men, though fooles, shall not erre therein; No Lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast goe thereon, which shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walke there; [Page 12]and the ransomed of the Lord shall returne, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads, and they shall obtaine joy and gladnesse, and sorrow, and sigh­ing shall fly away.

So here is your way which you must passe, even in the puri­ty of the Spirit, which is the way of holinesse, where the un­cleane cannot passe, and when ye are come into this way, and passing on in this way, then ye may look for your outward pri­viledges, for he to whom the promise is, the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, and the Spirit of wisdome and understand­ing; the Spirit of councell and of might, the Spirit of know­ledge and of the feare of the Lord, and with righteousnesse doth he judge, and reproves with equity; and he is set for an ensigne for the Nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Is­rael, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth, then shall the Lord utterly destroy the tongue of the Aegyptian Sea, and all the power of dark­nesse, and with his mighty winde, which is the Spirit, shall he shake his hand over the River, and shall smite it in the seven streames thereof, which is the power of Aegypts darknesse, and so make men goe over dry shod, in the Spirit: there is the high way for the remnant of his people, who heares the voice which doth cry, unto every one that thirsteth, which saith en­cline your eare and come unto me, heare and your soul: shall live, and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David: Behold I have given him for a witnesse, unto the people, a leader and Commander to the people, this leader, and this witnesse is in the Spirit: seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him, while he is near. Behold thou shalt call a Nation that thou knowest not, and Nations that know not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and the holy one of Israel, for he hath glorified thee, this promise is unto David, and unto his seed for ever, in the Spirit: for of the increase of his government and peace, Isa. 9. there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon his Kingdome to order it, and to establish it with judgement, and with justice from henceforth even for ever.

The Lord sent a word unto Jacob, and it hath lighted upon [Page 13] Israel. Now if ye will minde the word, which the Lord hath sent unto Jacob, this will lighten and open your blind eyes, Isa. 42. and the Lords promise will be fulfilled unto you, who hath said, I will bring the blind by a way that they know not, and I will lead them in paths that they have not known, I will make dark­nesse light before them, and crooked wayes straight: In those days and at that time will I cause the branch of righteousnesse to grow up unto David, and he shall execute judgement and righteousnesse in the land. In those dayes shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is his name where­with he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousnesse: For thus saith the Lord, David shall never want a man to sit upon the Throne of the house of Israel.

So this you must look for in the Spirit, this branch of righte­ousnesse is in the Spirit, and he executes judgement in the Spi­rit; and this promise of the Lord unto David is in the Spirit: And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and I will bring them againe to their foldes, and they shall be fruitfull and increase, and I will set up shepheards over them, which shall feed them, and they shall feare no more, nor be afraid, neither shall be lacking, saith the Lord: And the righteous branch that the Lord doth raise unto David, the King that reigns and prospers is called, The Lord our Righteousnesse, he is the righteousnesse of all, and he executes justice and judgement in the earth in righte­ousnesse, and David in Spirit called him Lord, Psal. 110. who is our righ­teousnesse, and the righteousnesse of all who are guided by him, and taught of him; and here ye must look for your King, and your Messiah, in the Spirit. So kisse the Son least he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but little, blessed are they that trust in him; who is light and a Spirit, that guides and leads his people in pathes they have not known, and this Michael the great Prince ye must looke for within first, and they that are wise, and lookes for him where he is to be found, shall shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament, and they that turne many to righteousnesse, as the Stars for ever and ever, Dan. 12, many shall be purified and made white, and tryed, but the wicked shall doe wickedly, and none [Page 14]of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. Doth not wisdome cry, Prov. 8. and understanding put forth her voice, unto you O men I call, and my voice is unto the sons of men: O ye simple understand wisdome, and ye fooles be of an un­derstanding heart; councell is mine, and sound wisdome, I am understanding, I have strength, by me Kings reigne, and Prin­decree justice, by me Princes rule, and nobles even all the Jud­ges of the Earth.

Here you may see the universall leading and guiding and go­verning of the Lord, Zach. 4. is by his own wisdome and counsell in the Spirit, not by my might, nor power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hoasts: Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his Counsellour hath taught him, with whom tooke he counsell, and who instructed him in the path of Judgement, and taught him knowledge, Isa. 40. and shewed him the way of un­derstanding? Behold, the Nations are as the drop of a bucket, and all flesh is as grasse, and the grasse withereth, and the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it, but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

This is the word which Moses taught Israel, when he said, thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandements, and his statutes, and if thou turne to the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, for this Commandment, which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off but the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, in thy heart, that thou mayest doe it.

Mark, here the voice was in their heart, whereby they might keepe the Law and the statutes; Deut. 30. if they did turne to the Lord with all their heart, and with all their soule, then they could keepe and doe it. Moses saith further, See I have set be­fore thee this day, life and death, good and evill in that I com­mand thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walke in his wayes, to keep his commandements, and his statutes, and his judgements, that thou mayest live, and the Lord thy God will blesse thee; If they walked in this, and kept this, it was life; But if thy heart turne away, so that thou wilt not heare, but shalt draw away, and worship other Gods, I denounce [Page 15]unto thee this day that thou shalt surely perish. So here comes the destruction, by the heart turning away from the word, which is nigh in the heart, which teacheth to love the Lord with all the heart, which word teaches to keep the Law, the statutes, and the judgements, and to walke in them; And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, Isa. 30. and the wa­ter of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers, and thine eares shall heare a word behinde thee, saying, this is the way walke in it, when ye turne to the right hand, or to the left.

This is the word of the Lord that endures for ever; and by this doth the Lord teach his people: Isa 40. I cloath the heavens with blacknesse, and I make sackcloth their covering. The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary; he that hath an eare, let him heare: Is not my word like a fire, Jer. 23. and like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces. And David saith; Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee: Thy word is a lampe, unto my feet, and a light unto my paths. The word in Davids heart was a light unto him, and so it is unto all, whose heart is upright, who is guided by the light, which is the word, which is the Spirit, which is the Law, which is written in the heart: David saith, behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part shalt thou make me to know wisdome. David learned wis­dome in the hidden part; Wash me throughly from mine ini­quity, and cleanse me from my sin, purge me with Hysop, and I shall be cleane, wash me and I shall be whiter then the snow.

This is in the inward part, where the Lord desireth truth: Create in me a cleane heart O God, and renew a right Spirit within me; cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me: restore me unto the joy of thy sal­vation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.

Here was Davids strength in the free Spirit; whose desire was to be renewed in the inward parts, who knew the sacrifice that God acepted, for thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I [Page 16]give it thee, but thou delightest not in burnt offerings: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, Psal 51. a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise.

This is the sacrifice God only accepts, truth in the inward parts, where the righteousnesse of his law is known, and seen; The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit. Here the Lord writeth his law, and here he placeth his feare. Psal. 37. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdome, and his tongue talketh of judgement, the law of God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide. The Law of God is perfect, converting the soule, the Testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple, the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoycing the heart, the commandement of the Lord is pure, enlightning the eyes, the feare of the Lord is cleane, Psal. 19. enduring for ever, the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous, altogether more to be desired are they then Gold, yea then much fine Gold, sweeter also then honey, and the honey combe, by them is thy servant forewarned, and in keeping of them there is great reward.

See how David reads them in his pure heart, and ranks them up together, who knows the worth and value of them, who lives in uprightnesse and purity, in keeping the righteous judgements, Psal. 119. and statutes of the Lord, who saith, I will run the way of thy commandements, when thou shalt enlarge my heart: Teach me, O Lord the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it to the end, give me understanding, and I shall know thy Law.

Here is Davids way in the commandements, in the statutes, in keeping of the Law, in the Testimony, in the word, in the feare of the Lord, in the precepts, and in the righteousnesse; and this is the way of all the righteous who are pure in heart; who only sees God, and unto this spirit of David, which leads unto purity and holinesse, is the promise of the Lord establi­shed for ever. Thus saith the Lord, if ye can breake my Cove­nant of the day and of the night, Jer. 32. that there should not be day and night in their season, then may also my Covenant be bro­ken with David my servant, that he should not have a Son to reigne upon his Throne; as the Hoast of Heaven cannot be [Page 17]numbred, neither the sand of the Sea measured, so will I mul­tiply the seed of David my servant.

This is the day of the fulfilling of this promise to all Da­vids seed, and Davids spirit, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walke in the Law of the Lord: O how doe I love thy Law, it is my meditation all the day, Psal. 119. unlesse thy Law had been my delight; I should have perished in mine affliction: my soule is continually in mine hand, yet doe I not forget thy Law. Take not the word of thy truth out of my mouth, for I have hoped in thy judgements, so that I keep thy Law conti­nually for ever, and ever. Here David kept the Law through the word for ever: O Lord thy word is setled in Heaven. The word of the Lord is right, Psal. 33. and all his works are one in truth. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word; The proud hath forged lies against me, their heart is fat as grease, but I have kept thy Law: The Law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of Gold and silver. The entrance of thy word giveth light. And Solomon saith, The commandement is a lampe, and the Law is light, Prov. 6 and the reproofes of instruction are the way of life: This is the wa [...] of life, the light, which is the Law, where reproofes are, where the instruction is leading and guiding in the pure path. Hearken unto me ye that know righteousnesse, Isa. 51. the people in whose heart is my Law: Hearken unto me, O my people, give eare unto me, O my Nation, for a Law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgement to rest for a light: My righteous­nesse is neare, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arme shall judge the people, and the Isles shall waite upon me, and on my arme shall they trust.

Here is the righteousnesse of the Law brought neare to them whose mindes are turned to the light, which leads into righte­ousnesse, and teacheth righteousnesse, all them that waites upon the arme of the Lord. For the Lord God is gathering his sheep, where they have been scattered, for thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out, as a shepheard seeketh out his flock, in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places, where they [Page 18]have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day, and I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own Land, and feed them upon the Mountaines of Israel, by the Rivers, in all the inhabitable places of the Country: I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high Mountaines of Israel, there shall their fold be, Mark, there is the Lords house established, in the top of the mountaines unto which the Nations flowes, there shall they lye down in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed, and I will cause them to lye down saith the Lord God, and I will seek that which is lost, and bring againe that which is driven away, and I will binde up that which is broken, and will strengthen that which is sicke, but I will destroy the fat, and the strong, I will feed them with judgement: There­fore will I save my flock, and they shall be no more a prey, and I will judge between cattell, Ezek. 34. and cattell, and I will set up one shepheard, even my servant David, he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepheard, and I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a Prince among them, I the Lord have spo­ken it.

This prophecy is the Lord bringing to passe, and gathering his flock, and raising up the plant of his renowne, which shall never be consumed, but shall grow up to the praise, and glory of his name, for the stone cut out of the Mountaine without hands is smiting the image upon his feet, which is iron and clay, and the brasse, and the silver, and the gold is he breaking to pieces, and it is becoming as the chaffe of the threshing floore, that withereth away; and the stone that smites the i­mage is becoming a great Mountaine, and it shall fill the whole earth, and the Thrones are casting down, and the ancient of dayes doth sit, whose garment is white as snow, and the haire of his head as pure wooll, his Throne is like the fiery flame, a fiery flame issueth and cometh out before him, thousand thou­sands gives praises to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand gives glory and honour before him, and judgement is set, and the bookes are opening, and the beast is coming to be slaine, and his body to be given to the burning flame; who beares his image and have his marke, who have fallen down and wor­shiped [Page 19]him; his power is fall ng, and the Dragon that gives him his power is chaining, and the measuring reed is gone forth that measures the Temple, and leaves out the court, and the just ballance is weighing, and the tryed stone is judging, the precious corner stone, which layes judgement to the line, and righteousnesse to the plummer, so all that desires to know the living God, who desires to have the light of his countenance to shine upon them, turne to the light within you, this is the way, the truth and the life, and there is no other way, nor name under Heaven by which any shall be saved, or come to the knowledge of the true God, for God is light, and God is a Spirit, and God is the word; and this is the blessing where­with Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel, and he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them, and he shined forth from mount Paran; from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

This is the law which the Saints receive from the Lords right hand, which burnes up all the chaffe, and cuts downe all that is contrary to it. The flaming sword that keeps the Tree of life, he that can receive it let him.

So now, if ye will come out of the old Covenant, which Co­venant ye have broken, and so are Covenant breakers with God, and cannot be accepted in that condition, but lyes deso­late and forsaken; So if ye will be accepted of God, or recei­ved unto him, ye must come into the new Covenant, for there is God engaged to you, and there is God known, in the Spi­rit, and there is God worshiped in the Spirit, where the Law is written in the heart, and the Spirit put in the inward parts, which teacheth righteousnesse, and leads and guides into puri­ty, which Spirit circumciseth the heart, which is the seale of the new Covenant, circumcision which is of the heart, in the Spirit.

So be not faithlesse and unbelieving, still going on in hard­nesse of heart, and in the provocation, as your fathers did, which grieved the Lord, that he swore in his wrath, they should not enter into his rest, they tempted him, and proved him, and would not believe in his works, and so entered not because of unbeliefe. And the Prophet Isaiah complained, and [Page 20]said, Jer. 28. who hath believed our report, hardnesse of heart, and unbeliefe hath been your ruine, ye would not believe your go­ing to Babylon, which the Lord spoke by Jeremiah, but would rather hearken to Hananiah the false Prophet. And the Lord commanded you, saying let not your prophets and diviners be in the middest of you, which deceives you, for they prophecy falsly in my name; and I have not sent them saith the Lord, and the Prophet Isaiah cryed, Jer. 29. woe to the rebellious house, saith the Lord, that taketh councell, but not of me, that cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit.

Now goe ye write it before them in a Table, and note it in a booke, that it may be for the time to come, for ever and e­ver, that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not heare the Law of the Lord, Isa. 30. which say to the seers, see not, and to the Prophets prophecy not unto us right things, speake unto us smooth things, prophecy deceits. And you would not heare the roule that the Lord by Jeremiah made to be written, Jer, 36. but when it came to passe, when Jehudi had read three or four lines, he cut it with the pen-knife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, so caused Jeremiah and Baruch to be cast into the dungeon, and thus you requited the Lord evill for good, who had alwayes thoughts of good towards you, and thoughts of peace; Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Aegypt, unto this day saith the Lord, I have sent my servants the Prophets, Jer. 7. saith the Lord, dayly ri­sing up early, and sending them, yet they hearkened not unto me, nor enclined their care, but hardened their necks, they did worse then their Fathers.

This hath been your sin all along, you would not believe the Lord when he spoke to you, neither by Moses, nor by his true prophets, but ye did set up and establish false prophets among you; your fathers received the Law by the dispensation of An­gells, and have not kept it; but have broken it, for Moses said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soule, and with all thy minde, thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God: And Moses said, The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet like unto me, unto him shalt thou hearken, according to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy [Page 21]God in Horeb, in the day of thy assembly; saying, let me not heare againe the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see the great fire any more, that I dy not.

This was terrible to you, thundrings, and lightenings, and the noise of the Trumpet, and the Mountaine smoking; and the thick darknesse, which was where God was; This ye desi­red to see no more, and God was pleased to answer your de­sire, and said unto Moses, They have well spoken that which they have spoken, I will raise them up a prophet, from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, he shall speake unto them, all that I command him: and it shall come to passe, that whosoever will not hearken un­to my words, which he shall speake in my name, I will require it of him.

And unto this prophet ye have not hearkened, yet, unto this day; nor obeyed his voice: And now is the prophet speaking unto you in the Spirit, which is light, which is in the midst of thee.

And now if ye will heare, and believe in this Prophet, this is the word which Moses said was nigh in the heart, which the Lord hath raised in this his day, that all men through him might believe: the light is risen in the hearts and consciences of men, by which the Lord teaches all Nations, and gathers all Nations into one, which is like unto Moses, who saith, this commandement which I command thee this day, is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off, it is not in Heaven, that thou shouldest say, who shall goe up for us to Heaven, to bring it unto us, that we may heare it, and doe it, neither is it beyond the Sea, that thou shouldest say who shall goe over the Sea for it, to bring it to us, that we may heare it, and doe it, but the word, (and the Prophet) is very nigh in thy heart, that thou mayest heare it, and doe it. Here thou must finde the Pro­phet that the Lord promised unto Moses, that he would raise up, if ever thou finde him. I have not spoken in secret, saith the Lord, in a darke place of the earth, I say not unto the house of Jacob, seek ye my face in vaine; Isa. 45. I the Lord speake righteousnesse, I desire things that are right, assemble your selves, and come near together, who hath declared this from [Page 22]ancient times, who hath told it from that time, have not I the Lord, and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour, and there is none besides me, look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth.

And to this word and Prophet must all the ends of the earth looke, that are saved. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Sion for a foundation a stone, Isa. 28. a tryed stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation, he that believes shall not make hast, judgment also shall he lay to the line, and righteousnesse to the plummet.

This is he that is laid in Zion, a sure foundation, who ever believes in him layes judgement to the line, for Zion is re­deemed through judgment, and her converts with righteous­nesse; ye are my witnesses saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that ye may know, and believe me, and understand, that I am he, before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be any after me; I have declared, and I have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange God in you; Therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Remember ye not former things, neither con­sider the things of old, Behold I will doe a new thing, shall ye not know it, Isa. 43. I will even make a way in the Wildernesse, and ri­vers in the desart.

Now see if you can believe in the Lord, which is doing a new thing, and is bringing forth his mighty workes, even a­mong the Heathen; The Lord is working a work in these dayes, which ye will not believe though it be told you.

Now if ye love your soules, and your eternall good, be no more stiffe necked, and unbelieving, but come down into the feare of the Lord, and let the light of the Lord, which checks you for sin and evill, search you, and try you, and see your foundation where you stand, who alwayes was a rebellious people against the Lord, so that he complains my people would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would have none of me; Oh that my people would have hearkened unto me, Psal. 81. and Israel would have hearkened to my wayes, how soon would I have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adver­saries, and Moses said of the rock that begat thee thou art un­mindfull, [Page 23]and hast forgotten God that formed thee; And when the Lord saw it; he abhorred thee, and he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be; for they are a very froward generation, children in whom there is no faith.

And again, the Lord saith unto Moses, how long will this people provoke me, and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signes that I have shewed amongst them. So here you stand yet in the unbeliefe and hardnesse of heart, and stiffneckednesse, and now it is time for you to returne unto the Lord who calls you, and to believe on him, and hearken to his voice within you, his witnesse and testimony which he hath given you, which testifies against all sin, and all unrighteous­nesse, and all unbeliefe, and hard-heartednesse, and unclean­nesse, and this testifies against all oppression and wrong, there is that in your hearts which tells you, that you should doe unto all men, as ye would they should doe unto you; this is just, this is righteous, this is equall, there is that in you which testifies against lying and false swearing, and bearing false wit­nesse against your neighbour, there is that in your consciences which tells you, you should have no other God but the living God, and that ye should not make any graven Image.

Now if you doe not minde that of God in you, to guide you and leade you, you serve not the living God, but makes an I­mage in your mindes of him, which the light of God in you lets you see is not the truth. If ye will come downe to the light of God in you, it will shew you your hardnesse of heart, and your hypocrisie, and your rebellion against the living God, and if you mind the light of God in you, which will rip you up, and lay open all the secrets of your hearts; It lets you see that you have taken the name of the Lord in vaine, and that you are guilty before the Lord of sin, and transgression; and the light of the living God will let you see, that you have not kept the sabboth and fast to the Lord, which is, to loose the bonds of wickednesse, and to undoe the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed goe free, and to breake every yoake, this is the fast which the Lord hath chosen, and this ye have not done yet, the light will let you see the bonds of wickednesse, [Page 24]are yet unbroken, and the just of God suffers in oppression in you, for if you had kept this fast, then should the light breake forth as the morning, and your health should spring forth spee­dily, and righteousnesse should goe before thee, and the glory of the Lord should be thy reward, here would be a sabboth and rest to the just of God, which is in bonds in you, and in op­pression, which the true fast of the Lord would breake; The pure light of God in you doth let you see, that you ought not to steale, nor to kill, which saith thou shalt doe no murther, thou shalt not beare false witnesse, thou shalt not covet; If you would bring your minds to the pure eternall light of God in you, you would heare the same voice of God, as ever was, who is manifested in this his day, in his Spirit. And this light and Spirit of the living God will let you see your selves to be commandement-breakers, to be sabboth-breakers, and Cove­nant-breakers; this will let you see that you are out of the way, and that you are become filthy and corrupt.

And in this condition there is no peace for you, nor recon­ciliation with God; if ever ye know peace and atonement with God, ye must come to the light, to be proved by the light, and tryed by the light, and led by the light, and guided by the light,

And this will lead you into all truth, and righteousnesse and peace; and here you will be washed, and purged, and purifi­ed, and the vaile will be taken off and rent, which is over your heart, and the true circumcision will be known, which is of the heart, in the Spirit, and the offering of a broken and con­trite heart, which the Lord only accepteth will be known, and the sabboth of the Lord will be known, where there is true rest and peace, and true worshiping in the Spirit, and the holy day will be known, but all this is known by the washing of the blood of the everlasting Covenant, which cleanses from all sin.

And so if you would abide here in this pure light and Spirit, ye would know life eternall, and then ye would know what the Lord said, when he said, I would have fed them with the finest wheat, and with honey out of the stony rock would I have satisfied thee.

And so as you come to waite in the light, and abide in the light, you will come to know this, and so the just will come to live, for the just lives by his faith. Hab. 2.

So wait in the light of the Lord, who is sending forth the light of his truth in this his day; They that waite in the Lord shall renew their strength, blessed are all they that waite for him; David saith, Let integrity and uprightnesse preserve me, for I waite on thee, and againe; waite on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart; waite I say on the Lord, those that waite on the Lord shall inherit the earth, I waite for the Lord, my soule doth waite, in his word doe I hope; My soule waiteth for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning; Let Israel hope in the Lord, Psal. 130. for with the Lord there is mercy, he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquity.

Now if ye can believe David, you will come to waite upon the Lord, your soule will waite upon the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning, And David saith, The Lord is my light and salvation, in thy light I shall see light; And a­gain, he shall bring forth thy righteousnesse as light; And a­gain, God is the Lord who hath shewed us his light. Prov. 20. Here did David waite upon the Lord in his light, And Solomon saith, waite on the Lord and he shall save thee. Isa. He shall not faile nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the earth, and the Isles shall waite for his law, and they that waite upon the Lord shall mount up as with Eagles wings, they shall walke and not be weary, run, and not faint.

So here is your way, and no salvation shall ye find in any other, but as you come into the feare of the Lord, to waite upon him in his light in you, to guide your mindes, when you turne to the right hand, or to the left; being guided by the light, this will strengthen your heart, and this will lead you to uprightnesse and singlenesse of heart.

And here ye must know your King he is just and righteous, having salvation, and he rules and reigns in justice and righte­ousnesse, and so waiting here in the Spirit, you will come to re­ceive the promises of the Lord unto you, who is now holding forth his hand of love unto you, and if ever ye come to know [Page 26]him, or to know the Kingdome restored unto Israel, ye must prepare to meet him in the Spirit, eternally ye shall witnesse this to be truth: and as ye are subject and obedient to the teaching and leading, and guiding of the Lord in the Spirit, so will he save you from all your uncleannesse, and you will receive his promise, and so the dry bones will come to live, and the wind will breath from the four windes, that they may live; and you will receive this promise. Thus saith the Lord, I will open your graves, and I will cause you to come up out of your graves, and you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, and brought you up out of your graves, and I will put my Spirit within you, and ye shall live; Moreover I will make a Covenant of peace with them, it shall be an everlasting Covenant with them, and I will place them, and multiply them, and I will set my sanctu­ary in the midst of them for evermore. My Tabernacle also shall be with them, Ezek. 37. yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people, and the Heathen shall know that I the Lord doe sanctifie Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

So as you waite in the pure eternall Spirit of light, this you will come to see fulfilled, according to your faithfulnesse, and according to your obedience, for obedience is required, and the new Covenant which is light, leads into obedience which is better than sacrifice.

This Moses prophesied of, when he spoke of your trouble and afflictions, which were to come upon you, he saith; Even in the latter dayes if thou turn to the Lord thy God, Deut 4. and shalt be obedient unto his voice, the Lord thy God is a merci­full God, he would not forsake thee.

And againe; It shall come to passe when all these things are come upon thee, the blessings and the curses, which I have set before thee, and shalt call them to minde among all the nations whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, and shalt returne unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, Deut. 30. with all thy heart, and with all thy soule; That the Lord thy God shall turne away thy captivity, and will have [Page 27]compassion upon thee, and will returne and gather thee from all Nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.

See now whether ye will believe Moses, and whether ye will be obedient to the Prophet, that the Lord is raising, like unto Moses, (which is light) to which if ye will be obe­dient, it will gather you from all nations whither you are scatte­red, and bring you into the good land, where there is one heart, and one Spirit, where the Lord is one, and his name one, and this is the land of promise, and the Covenant of God unto you, and all Nations, who come to know him in the Spi­rit, they that are willing and obedient eates the good of this land, and they that are far off, shall come and build in the tem­ple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me unto you; And this shall come to passe, If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.

So here is the condition and promise and Covenant of the Lord; according to your obedience to the voice of the Lord in his Spirit, so will it be unto you. And now the prophesie of Hosea is fulfilled upon you, you have been many dayes without a King, without a Prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an Ephod.

Now if you would returne unto the Lord in obedience to his light in you, and seek the Lord, and David your King, and feare the Lord and his goodnesse in these latter dayes, it would goe well with you, for the Lord desireth mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of the Lord more than burnt offerings.

And if ye desire to know the Lord, you must turne your mindes unto his light, there will you come to know him and feele him, and find him neare; then will you know the trum­pet of the Lord that is blown in Sion, and the alarme sounded in his holy mountaine, which makes all the Inhabitants of the earth to tremble, when the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand. J [...] . 2. And it is come to passe which the Prophet pro­phesied of Zeph. At that time it shall come to passe that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are setled on their lees, the day of the Lord discovers them, [Page 28]and will be sorrow and distresse unto them, the great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hastes greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord; that day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble, and distresse, a day of darknesse and gloomines, a day of the Trumpet and Allarm.

So waite in the pure light that shineth in you; and there you will see this day of the Lord, and heare the voice of this day near, Therefore waite upon me saith the Lord untill the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the Kingdomes, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce an­ger, for all the earth shall be devoured, with the fire of my indignation.

Who waites upon the Lord in his pure light and Spi­rit shall see this fulfilled, and shall be preserved in the Lords light, for then will I turne to the people a pure lan­guage, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

Here is the one light that gathers into one, here is the one Spirit, and the one heart; and here is the pure language learned, here the envy of Ephraim shall depart; and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off, Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim, when the gathe­ring of the Nations is unto this ensigne, when the Lord thy God is in the midst of thee, who is mighty to save, he will rejoyce over thee; Isa. 11. Then sing, and rejoyce O daughter of Zion, for lo I come, and will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord; And many nations shall be joyned to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee; and the Lord shall inherit Judah his por­tion in the holy land, and shall chuse Jerusalem againe, but let all flesh be silent before the Lord, Zach. 2. for he is risen up, out of his holy habitation; where no flesh can come, nor the service of no flesh is accepted, but all flesh is to be silent before the Lord, for the pure worship of God is in the Spirit, which is one in all, which is the ensigne that is set, for the gathering of all Nations together in the one Spirit, and one heart, where the Lord is in the midst, and the glory of this latter house is [Page 29]greater than the former, saith the Lord of hoasts; In this place will I give peace, and in that day will the Lord defend the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, and he that is feeble among them, at that day shall be as David, and the house of David shall be as God, as the Angell of the Lord before them, and it shall come to passe in that day, that I will seek to destroy all nations that come against Jerusalem.

This you may look for, when there is pure obedience, and waiting in the light upon the Lord, to be guided, and his mighty power, and arme to carry on, then will the Lord ful­fill his promise, who saith, I will make thee a sharpe threshing instrument, having teeth, thou shalt thresh the Moun­taines and beat them small, and make the hills as chaffe, and then the promise of the Lord will be fulfilled, I will poure upon the house of David, and upon the Inhabitants of Jeru­salem the Spirit of grace, and of supplication, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only Sonne, and be in bitternes for him, as one that is in bitternesse for his first born.

Waiting in the light, in the pure feare, and subjection, there will ye come to see him whom ye have pierced, and when ye see him, ye will mourne over him, as one that mour­neth for his first borne; and then the Spirit of grace and sup­plication you will know, and then the fountaine ye will see opened, which is to the house of David, Zach. 14. and to the Inhabi­tants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanesse; And in that day the living waters shall goe out from Jerusalem, and the Lord shall be King over all the earth; In that day there shall be one Lord, and his name one.

And so here is your head, and your rest, and your Kingdome, and your land of promise; and to this you must passe in the Spirit; There is no other way but the light, the way of holi­nesse, which is through the wildernesse, and through the de­sart.

And as ye passe in this way, ye will know the shaking down of the power of darknesse; Thus saith the Lord of hoasts, yet once, and it is a little while, and I will shake the Heavens, Hag. 2. and the earth, and the Sea, and the dry land, and I will shake [Page 30]all nations, and the desire of all Nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hoasts, glory and honour be to the Lord for evermore.

Now as ye waite in the eternall light, and your minds are kept to it, this you will read near, for these Scriptures were spoken forth, from an eternall Spirit within, and no other Spi­rit can read them, but the same that spoke them forth, which Spirit is light, which all the servants and messengers of God spoke from, which the naturall man knoweth not, where the power of darknesse reignes. Behold I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple, even the messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in; Behold he shall come saith the Lord of hoasts, but who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeares, for he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers sope, and he shall sit as a refiner, and purifier of silver, and he shall purifie the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousnesse, then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the dayes of old, and as in former yeares; As the pure obedience to the pure light is given, Isa. 25. so there will be purging and puri­fying, and the refiner shall sit, and purely purge away thy drosse, and take away thy sin, who saith I will come near to you to judgement, and I will be a swift witnesse against the sorcerer, and the adulterer, and the false swearer, for I am the Lord I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob be not con­sumed.

So as ye love your soules and your eternall peace turne to the Lord, that calls you, whose spirit will not alwayes strive with man, whose hand of love is continued and holden forth to you.

Doe not alwayes hate to be reformed, least he breake in upon you, and destroy you, for he hath put on righte­ousnesse as a breast-plate, and a helmet of salvation up­on his head, and he hath put on the garments of ven­geance for cloathing, and is clad with zeale as with a cloake, according to your deeds, accordingly he will repay fury to his [Page 31]adversaries, recompence to his enemies.

So when his righteousnesse is revealed, in executing ven­geance on his enemies, then shall they feare the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the Sun, when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him; And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turne from transgres­sion in Jacob, saith the Lord; as for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord, my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed, from hence forth and for ever.

This promise is eternall, and this remaines upon the seed of the promise for ever, and the promise to the seed is the Spirit; and the redeemer comes unto Zion in the Spirit, and he comes to those that turnes from their transgression, and the ministry of the Spirit is to turne from the darknesse to the light, and from the power of Satan unto God: And here comes the resurrection, and the hope of Israel, and here the valley of Achor is the door of hope. Thus saith the Lord, as the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: So will I doe for my servants sake that I may not destroy them all; And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah, mine elect shall inherit it, Isa. 65. and my servants shall dwell there: and Sharon shall be a folde of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the heards to ly down in, for my people that have sought me.

This is to all the servants of the Lord that have sought him, Jewes and Gentiles, where the new wine is found in the cluster, which the blessing is to, Sbaron is a folde for all those flocks that seekes unto the Lord and serves him, not of the Jewes on­ly, but also of the Gentiles.

And so the promise is fulfilled, where it is said, God shall enlarge Japhet, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and where the Lord saith by the Prophet, I will sow her unto me in the earth, and will have mercy on her that had not obtained [Page 32]mercy, Hos. [...].23. and I will say unto them that were not my peo­ple, thou art my people, and they shall say thou art my God.

Here is the large infinite love of God manifested, who saith, It is a light thing that thou shouldest raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the preserved of Israel, I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Here is the Covenant that reacheth unto all, the light; and all that come into the light to be guided, led, and governed, comes into the Covenant.

So think it not strange, to receive this Testimony from the Gentiles, who have obtained mercy, and received the promise of the Lord, according to Isaiahs prophesie: I am found of them that sought me not, Isa. 65. I said unto a people, behold me un­to a nation that was not called by my name, I have spred out my hand all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.

Here is your state and condition: Therefore be not high­minded but feare, for this is no new thing to you, for the Lord said by Moses, Deut. 32.21. they have moved me to jealousie with that which is not good, they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: And I will move them to jealousie with those who are not a people, I will provoke them to anger with a foolish Nation.

This ye have caused the Lord to doe through your provoca­tions, who alwayes rebelled against him, and caused him to turne to the Gentiles with salvation, but though ye be provo­ked to anger and jealousie by a people that were not, and by a foolish Nation: yet be not angry but turn to him that smi­teth, whose hand of dear love is holden forth unto you, who waites to be gracious unto you, who is God over all, and rich unto all; that so in your stumbling ye may not utterly fall, but that rather through your fall, salvation is come to the Gentiles, to provoke you to jealousie.

And now that your stumbling hath been the riches of the world, and your diminishing the riches of the Gentiles, how much more will your gathering be joy, and life, and rejoycing [Page 33]to the Gentiles, which writes this unto you, which ye shall eternally witnesse to be an everlasting testimony of the love of God to you.

Therefore start not aside, nor cast not this behinde you, as ye have done all the gracious tenders of the Lords love for­merly: But come to this light that is in you, which will lead you into the paths of peace, and into the Covenant where the gathering is, that so you may receive the promise of the Lord to you, who hath said; The sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their Kings shall minister unto thee; and thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breasts of Kings, and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Savi­our, and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob. Isa 66.

Now if ye will know your Redeemer, and your Saviour, the mighty one of Jacob, turne to the light, joyne your mindes in­to the light, which is within you, and there will you see your Saviour and Redeemer, and there shall ye suck the milk of the Gentiles, and there shall you receive your King. Thus saith the Lord God, behold I will lift up my hand unto the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people, and they shall bring thy sons in their armes, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders, and Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their Queens thy nursing mothers, they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet.

See here now if this be not fulfilled: Is there not even a bowing down unto thee in this loving invitation, and even a licking of the dust of thy feet with their faces towards the earth, who have the standard of the Lord set amongst us, which is for the gathering of all nations together, that we might bring thy sons in our armes, and thy daughters upon our shoulders, our soules desire is that you might all be gathered, and come into the Covenant of light, and love, and partake with us of the everlasting riches and inheritance that never fades away.

Therefore arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the Gentiles are come to thy light, and Kings to the brightnesse of thy rising, thy sons shall come from farre, and thy daugh­ters [Page 34]shall be nursed at thy side, then shalt thou see, and flow together, and thy heart shall feare, and be enlarged, because of the abundance of the Sea, that shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come to thee.

This we desire to see fulfilled, and this we waite for, that e­ven the fulnesse might come in, for Shiloh is come, unto whom the gathering is, though blindnesse is happened unto Israel: But the Redeemer is come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob.

So as you turne from your transgression, this ye will see, and witnesse. And so whether you hear or forbeare, this shall be an eternall testimony for the Lord, for ever: