To the Jews natural, and to the Jews spiritual with a few words ro [sic] England my native country, &c. : some sensible, weighty queries, concerning some things very sweet and necessary to be experienced in the truly-Christian state : whereunto is added a postscript, containing some queries on Isa. 50, 10, 11 ... / by Isaac Penington.

Somewhat in the Love of God to the Jews Natural, or ſeed of Abraham after the Fleſh.

O the Glory of your ſtate outward, who were the people whom God once choſe and loved, and manifeſted his Power and Preſence among, above all People! Whoſe Land was the Glory of all Lands, to which God brought you out of Egypt by an out-ſtretched Arm, through a dreadful VVilderneſs, wherein ye were tempted, tried and exerciſed, and the ſucceeding Generation fitted to enter into. O what Laws and ſtatutes, and righteous Judgments did God give you, ſuch as no Nation beſides had! VVhat a Temple had ye to appear before God in, and the Ark of the Covenant, and holy Prieſts, Kings and Prophets! And how nigh was God to you, to be enquired of by you; and how ready to hear your Prayers, in all that you called upon him for! The eternal God was thy Refuge, and underneath were the everlaſting Arms (the Lord was thy Rock, and thou waſt built upon him) and he did thruſt out the Enemy before thee, and did ſay. Deſtroy. And when the Arm of the Lord did deſtroy them before thee, thou didſt dwell in ſafety alone, and the Lord was a Fountain of living waters to thee, and his Heavens did drop down Fatneſs upon thee. Happy waſt thou O Iſrael, who was like unto thee, O People ſaved by the Lord, the Shield of thy help, and who was the Sword of thy Excellency! And thine Enemies were ſound Lyars unto thee, and thou didſt tread upon their high places: And it might have been ſtill ſo with thee, hadſt thou not been unmindful of the Rock that begat thee, and forgotten God that formed thee: For thy Glory ſhould not have been taken from thee, but ſwallowed up in a higher Glory, wherein thou mighteſt have had the firſt and chiefeſt ſhare, hadſt thou not, by thy almoſt conſtant Rebellion and Unbelief, provoked the Lord againſt thee; not only often to afflict, but at laſt utterly to caſt thee off from being a People, and choſe a people in thy ſtead, who ſhould bring forth better Fruits to the Lord of the Vine-yard, then thou in thy Day hadſt done.

Yet when thy ſtate was thus glorious, it was not a ſtate of the truly-ſubſtantial, laſting glory, but a ſhadowy ſtate or repreſentative thereof. Thy day of glory was not the day of the Meſſiah, the day of everlaſting Light inwardly, wherein the Lord alone is exalted, inwardly in the Hearts of all, in whom he b • eaks down all that is contrary to the Light of his Day. Thy Day was but the day of the outward ſhadows of the heavenly ſubſtance; but when that day (the day of the inward ſubſtance and glory) ſhined, thy ſhadows or ſhadowy ſtate was to fly away, and to be ſwallowed up in the pure ſubſtance and ſpiritual Kingdom of the Meſſiah.

Thy birth from Abraham after the Fleſh; was not the birth which was to inherit the Promiſe in the Kingdom of the Meſſiah: but there is a birth inwatdly born of the Spirit, born after Abraham in his Faith, who travels inwardly, as Abraham did outwardly, and ſeek an inward Country & City, whoſe builder and maker is God: To theſe the ſpiritual Kingdom and Promiſes belong.

Thy circumciſion was but the circumciſion outward, the circumciſion of the Fleſh; it was not the circumciſion of the Heart. That i • the circumciſion of the inward Jew, which indeed the Scripture call'd for from you, becauſe there was ſomewhat near you, which wold have ſo circumciſed you, had ye hearkned and given up to it: but ye, as a people, were not ſo circumciſed, but were a ſtiffnecked people (as Moſes and the Prophets were ſtill complaining of you) uncircumciſed in Heart and Ears, reſiſting God's Spirit, both in your own Hearts and in the Prophets, until the Lord was provoked to take away both Viſion and Prophet from you.

The Aegypt, in which your Fathers were in bondage, and Pharaoh who oppreſſed them, was but the Aegypt outward, and Pharaoh outward. There is an inward Aegypt, wherein the ſpiritual ſeed, the inward man, the ſoul is in Bondage; and there is a ſpiritual Pharaoh, that oppreſſeth the ſpiritual ſeed, in ſpiritual Aegypt. And there is a ſtretching out the Arm of the Almighty inwardly, to break the ſtrength of the inward Pharaoh, to pierce Leviathan the crooked Serpent, and to deliver the ſoul from under his captivity.

The Wilderneſs alſo your Fathers were led through, was but the outward Wilderneſs; where they were tempted & tried by the Lord many wayes, that he might do them good in the latter end. But the inward Iſrael, after they are led out of the inward Egypt, are tried in the inward wilderneſs; where they are judged after the fleſh, and that waſted in them▪ which is not to enter into & inherit the good land, where they are tried in the furnace of affliction, & their filth purged away by the ſpirit of judgment & burning, that the righteous nation, which hath received the holy inward law, & keeps the Truth, may enter into the good land, city and kingdom of the Meſſiah, and inherit the bleſſed promiſes of life and ſalvaton there.

Moſes, your great Prophet, was a Type of the great, laſting, ſtanding Prophet, whom God would raiſe up like unto Moſes, who was to give his inward law; as Moſes did the outward; and to lead all the ſpiritual Iſrael, as Moſes did the outward Iſrael, and his Word was to be heard & ſtand in all things whatſoever he ſhall ſay unto his People: and whoſoever will not hear and obey this Prophet, ſhall be cut off from among the holy, ſpiritual, and inwardly living People.

Joſhuah, who ſucceeded Moſes, led but into he figurative Reſt; he was but a Figure of him, that inwardly leads into the inwad and ſpiritual Reſt; which the true Jews, which are inwardly created and formed by God, and made a willing People in the day of his Power enter into.

The Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire in the Wilderneſs, were but Figures of the ſpiritual Pillar of Cloud and Fire, by which the ſpiritual Iſrael are led and defended in the glorious goſpel-day of God's ſpirit and power, read Iſa. ch. 4 which ſpeaketh of the goſpel-day, and the Pillar of Cloud and Fire to be created therein, and of the defence which is to be on all the inward and ſpiritual glory.

The Land of Canaan, the outward good Land an • Kingdom of Iſrael, was but a Figure of the inward Land and Kingdom of the inward Iſrael, in the dayes of the Meſſiah. This is the Land of Judah, in which the Song is ſung, becauſe of the inward ſtrong City, where God appoints ſalvation for walls and bulwarks, which the righteous nation which keepeth the Truth enter into, Iſa. 26.

Their outward Kings in that Land, and particularly David, were but Types of the ſpiritual King, the ſpiritual David, whom God would raiſe up to the ſpiritual People, who ſhould ſeek the Lord their God and David their King, who ſhall be their ſpiritual ſhepherd and ruler, whom God hath appointed to fed them in the Integrity of his Heart, and to guide them by the skilfulneſs of his hands, who is King of Righteouſneſs tnd Peace inwardly, and who miniſters Righteouſneſs and Peace to the ſheep and lambs of his paſtures.

Their outward Prieſts (even their High-Prieſts) were but a repreſentation of the great High-Prieſt of God, who was to be a Prieſt for ever, after the order of Melchizedeck, Pſalm 110.

Their outward Covenant (made with them from the outward mount Sinai, upon the giving of the Law, and holy Statutes and Ordinances, by which they were to live and enjoy God in their outward ſtate) was but a ſhadow of the inward and ſpiritual Covenant, the new and everlaſting Covenant, which God makes with his inward and ſpiritual people in the latter dayes.

Their outward Law, as 〈◊〉 written & engrav'n in tables of ſtones, was but a ſhadow of the inward Law, which God puts into the Children of the new Covenant, inſomuch that they need not go outwardly to learn the Knowledge of God, or his will or law; but the inward Iſrael find it inwardly written within. There the Iſles, who wait for the law of the ſpirit of Life, for the Law of the Meſſiah; receive the Miniſtration of the Law (in the ſpirit and Power of the Meſſiah) which they wait for.

Their outward Mount Zion, on which the outward Temple was built, by Solomon that wiſe King, that righteous King, that peaceable King, was a figure of the inward Mountain, whereupon the inward Houſe is built in the dayes of the Goſpel, in the dayes of the Meſſiah. And to this Mountain are the ſpiritual people to come up and worſhip. And this is the Zion and Jeruſalem (even inward and ſpiritual) from which the Law and Word of the Lord go forth in the dayes of the Meſſiah. And the ſpiritual houſe of Jacob combind or agree together, to walk in the Light of the Lord, who ſends forth his Light and Truth, and leads them to his holy Hill, and to his Tabernacles.

Their outward Tabernacle and Temple, ſanctified by God for him to dwell and appear in, was a ſhadow of God's inward dwelling-place in man, I will tabernacle in them. God dwelleth not in Houſes or Temples made with hands, that is not the place of his reſt, as ſaith the Prophet Iſaiah; but the high and lofty One, that inhabits Eternity, whoſe Throne is in Heaven, and the Earth his Footſtool, he dwelleth alſo with him that is of an humble and contrite ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the ſpirit of the contrite ones.

Their outward Sabbaths were not the laſting Sabbath or Reſt of the Goſpel, but given them for a ſign; but the day of Redemption from ſin, the day of reſting from ſin, the day of ceaſing from the Works of the fleſh, the day wherein God is all, & doth all by his ſpirit & power inwardly, and wherein he alone is exalted; this is the day of reſt, which the Lord hath made for the ſpiritual Iſrael, and which they are glad of and rejoice in.

So their Incenſe and Sacrifices were not the laſting Incenſe and Sacrifices, but ſhadows thereof. The prayers of the Saints, when God pours out the ſpirit of prayer and ſupplication upon them, and they pray to him therein, that is the Incenſe. Let my prayer be directed before thee as Incenſe, and the lifting up of my Hands as the evening Sacrifice. And this was the Incenſe and a pure Offering, whic • in every place was to be offered up to God's Name among the Gentiles, when his Name ſhould be great among them, as Malachy foretels. And what ſaid David of old when God's ſpirit and the holy viſion was upon him? Sacrifice and Offering thou didſt not deſire, mine Ears haſt thou opened: Burnt Offering and Sin-Offering haſt thou not required. Then ſaid I, lo I come, in the volmn of the book it is written of me: I delight to do thy Will, O my God: yea, thy Law is in the midſt of my Bowels. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit (rent your hearts nd not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God) A broken and a contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe. The offering Praiſe to God from a ſincere Heart, and the ordering of the Converſation aright, theſe are the Sacrifices well-pleaſing to God; for ſacrifices were not the thing which God mainly required of outward Iſrael: but this OBEY MY VOICE: And Obedienc is more acceptable then all other ſacrifices, and to hearken then the Fat of the choiceſt Rams.

Beſides, thoſe outward ſacrifices could not remove or take away ſin from the Conſcience, but he that came to do the will, and to put and end to thoſe ſacrifices and oblations, which were but outward & imperfect, he doth both waſh and take away ſins from within, and alſo bring in Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, where his Light ſhines, and his pure Life ſprings inwardly in the Heart.

And this is the ſubſtance of all the ſhadows, even the Light eternal, the Word eternal, the Son of the living God (who is Light, as the Father is Light) the Word nigh in the Mouth and Heart, the Word of the New Covenant, the which Moſes directed your Fathers to, Deut. 30. And by which the Lord ſpeaketh, and hath ſpoken throughout the world (Pſalm 50.1.) and teacheth every man that hearkeneth to his voice, to do juſtly, love Mercy and walk humbly with his God, as it is expreſſed by the Prophet Micah.

Now to you Jews of the outward line of Abraham, whoſe return to the Lord my ſoul moſt earneſtly deſireth after, and for which I have moſt vehemently and wreſtlingly prayed to the Lord, are ſome few weighty Queries upon my heart.

Query 1. How came David to pant ſo after the living God, like the Hart or Hind after the water-brooks? Was it not from the quickning Virtue of this inward word, which Moſes the man of God had directed the mind to? Read Pſalm 119. and ſee how he breathed for Quicknings from this word, on which all depends. And if ye come to experience this word, and the quickning virtue of it, and follow the Lord on therein, ye will ſoon come to know the day of the Meſſiah, and the glory of his Kingdom, which is not outward, tranſitory and of a periſhing nature; but inward, ſpiritual and eerlaſting (as David well knew, and ſpake ſenſibly of, Pſalm 145. and elſewhere.

Qu. 2. What are the waters, which every thirſty ſoul is invited to? Are they not the waters of the Meſſiah? Are they not waters that flow out of the wells of ſalvation? Iſa. 12. Do not the Spiritual Iſrael draw ſpiritual water out of the wells of the Saviour, in the Dayes of the Meſſiah? What is it to come to theſe waters? O that ye experimentally knew! But this I will tell you, from true and certain Experience, that if ye come to take notice of this word of Life, which God hath placed nigh in your Mouths and Hearts, to ſeparate between the Evil words and evil thoughts of the Enemie's begetting and bringing forth, and the good words and good thoughts of God's begetting and bringing forth, and incline your Ear to it, and come from that which it reproves in you, and draws you from to it ſelf; your ſouls ſhall ſoon come to live, and he that gives you Life, will make an Everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure Mercies of David: But ye muſt ſtill mind him as a witneſs, and leader, and commander inwardly in your Hearts, that ye may be preſerved in the Covenant, and enjoy the Bleſſings of it. ſee Iſa. 55.

Qu. 3. Did not the Meſſiah come at the ſet time, at the time ſet by the holy Spirit of prophecy? Did he not come in the prepared Body to do the will? And did he not do the will? And after his Obedience to his Father, was he not cut off, though not for himſelf? And after his cutting off, were not you made deſolate? Why were ye made deſolate? Why did ſuch a ſtroke come upon you, as never before? O conſider it. Read Dan. 9.24. to the end of the chapter, and let him that readeth underſtand.

Qu. 4. What was that Curſe, and on whom did it light, Let their Table become a Snare to them, &c. Pſalm 69. was it not on thoſe that gave gall and vinegar to the Meſſiah to drink, whom David was a figure of, and ſpake in ſpirit concerning? Whoſe Eyes are alwayes darkned? Doth not the vail lie ſtill on your whole Nation? Do ye know the inward mountain, where the vail or face of the covering is deſtroyed? In the inward day and light of the Meſſiah it is deſtroyed. There, that which vails the noble eye of the m • nd is known, and alſo that which deſtroyes and re • oveth it. To what purpoſe is it for you to read Moſes and the Prophets, when the vail is ſo upon you, that ye cannot ſee what is to be aboliſhed, and is aboliſhed, by the dawning of the glorious day of the Meſſiah, and what is to remain and never to be aboliſhed? There is a Jewſhip, there is a Circumciſion, there is a Sabbath, there is a Reſt, &c. for the inward and ſpiritual people, which is to remain, and never to be aboliſhed.

Qu. 5. VVho were thoſe that God would hide his Face from, and ſee what their end ſhould be; becauſe they were a froward Generation, children in whom was no faith? VVho were they that moved God to Jealouſie, and provoked him to Anger? And what was the people and fooliſh nation he would provoke them to Jealouſie and Anger with? Deut. 32. Was it not the ſpiritual, the holy nation inwardly, the true Jews, whom God took from among the Gentiles, whom he appeared among, and was a God and a Father to, when he caſt off and forſook the Jews outward, and left them to be a Deſolation?

Qu. 6. Who are thoſe that ſhall be hungry, when God's Servants ſhall eat? And thirſty, when God's Servants ſhall drink? And aſhamed, when his Servants ſhall rejoyce? Are not your ſouls hungry and parched for want of the ſpiritual ſuſtenance, which the living God ſatisfieth his ſervants with, making 〈◊〉 feaſt of fat things to them on his inward holy mountain? And are not ye aſhamed of your expectations of the Meſſiah, while the ſervants of the Lord, rejoyce in him their Prince and Saviour, and witneſs him daily a Leader and Commander to them? What is the People whom the Lord hath ſlain and made deſolate (are not ye a ſlain people to God, alienated from his Life, Spirit and Power, dead in your litteral Notions and Obſervations?) And what are the ſervants of the Lord, whom the Lord hath called by another Name, even a Name that ye never knew? ſee Iſa 66. And conſider, how all your day God ſpread out his Hand to you and ye were rebellious and would not hear; and now night is come upon you, and your viſitation, as ſuch a people, is and hath been long ended.

Qu. 7. Did not God ſignifie by the Prophet Malachy, that he had no Pleaſure in you, nor would accept an Offering at your Hand? And did not he alſo ſignifie the chooſing of the Gentiles in your ſtead, that the called among the Gentiles ſhould be his people, and his Name, which ye had profaned, ſhould be great among them, and their Incenſe and pure Offering in every place be accepted, even from the riſing of the Sun, to the going down of the ſame? Read Mal. chap. 1.

Qu. 8. Now the inward people, and the inward Covenant, the New Covenant are brought forth; ſhall ye ever be owned or regarded as an outward People, according to your outward Covenant any more? Will not all ſuch expectations fail you for ever? Ye have looked, from generation to generation, for the coming and appearing of the Meſſiah outwardly, after an outward manner: But his coming and appearance is inward; and he ſetteth up his Kingdom, his everlaſting Kingdom in his Saints, and in their Hearts he ruleth inwardly, and the Meſſiah, the ſeed of the VVoman bruiſeth the Head of the ſerpent there. O that ye knew the ſubſtatce! O that ye knew the VVord of Life in the Heart, and were turned to it, and daily faithful and obedient! That ye might feel it cruſhing and daſhing the power of ſin and corruption in your Hearts. This is the Conſolation, Hope and Joy of the inward and ſpiritual Iſrael! O that ye might be made partakers thereof; and that your long outward captivity and deſolation might at length end in inward Freedom and Redemption! Amen.

Somewhat of Concern to the Jews ſpiritual, who are of the Seed of Abraham ſpiritually, or according to the Faith, and gathered, in this day of God's Power, to the true and everlaſting Shiloh.

THE Scepter ſhall not depart from Judah, nor a Law-giver from between his Feet untill Shiloh come, and unto him ſhall the Gathering of the People be, Gen. 49.10.

Old Jacob, in the Spirit of Prophecy, ſaw that Judah was to have the Scepter, the kingly Power; and it was not to depart from him, it was to be his Right, and the Law-giver was to be between his Feet; till Shiloh came; then the Right was Shiloh's, to reign and to give Laws to his People, whom he ſhould gather out of the Kingdom of Darkneſs, and from Satan's Power into his own inward, ſpiritual and everlaſting Kingdom. This was the true King, God's King, whom he would ſet up on the holy Hill of ſpiritual Zion; and all the holy, inward, ſpiritual gatherings of all People, ſcattered from the holy, living Power, muſt be to him.

I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it ſhall be no more, until he come whoſe Right it is, and I will give it him. And his Dominion ſhall not paſs away, or the Scepter and law-giving Power ſhall not paſs away from him, as it did from Judah, nor ſhall his Kingdom ever be deſtroyed, Dan. 7.14. but God will give to him the Throre of his Father David, and he ſhall reign over the Houſe of Jacob forever; and of his Kingdom there ſhall be no end.

Qu. But who are the People that ſhall be gathered to him?

Anſw. The People that ſhall he • r his voice, and come at his call, that ſhall receive the inſtruction of Wiſdom, and feel the drawing Power and Virtue of the Father, in the Day of his Power. It is written in the Prophets, All thy Children ſhall be taught of the Lord. And every one that is taught and learneth of the Father, cometh to the Son, cometh to the Meſſiah, cometh to the Shiloh, to the word eternal, to the word of Life in the Heart.

Qu. Was not the Meſſiah promiſed to the Jews, to come of them, and to be appropriated to them?

Anſw. He was promiſed to them, and to come of them, but not to be appropriated to them: But he was to be the Univerſal Saviour to all that ſhould come under his Enſign and Banner. He ſhall ſet up an Enſign for the Nations, and he ſhall ſprinkle many Nations, &c. And God promiſed, that he would give his Son (his elect choice Servant) for a Light to the Gentiles.

Qu. Were the Jews then excluded?

Anſw. No: They were to be gathered to Shiloh, as well as others; Nay, the Lord had a ſpecial regard to them. The Goſpel was firſt preached to them. They had the firſt Offer, or the firſt Call to the ſpiritual Glory. They were the Children of the Prophets, and of the Covenant God made with their Fathers; unto whom God having raiſed up his Son Jeſus, ſent him to bleſs them, in turning away every one of them from their Iniquities. And the whole Nation, turning from their Iniquities, ſhould have been gathered by him, and ſhould have enjoyed the Bleſſing of his Day and Kingdom: Yea, the firſt gathering was from among them, and the firſt glorious Goſpel-church was at Jeruſalem where the Spirit and Power of the Lord Jeſus did moſt eminently and wonderfully break forth; and great Grace was upon them all. But the Nation was not gathered to Shiloh, nor did come under his Scepter and Government; but only a remnant of the Nation. So theſe being gathered, the reſt were caſt off; and the Enſign was carried among the Gentiles, and the great gathering was there among them.

Qu. How is it manifeſt, that the great Gathering to Shiloh, was to be from among the Gentiles?

Anſw. By many expeſs Prophecies of Scripture, and Promiſes to the Meſſiah, that he ſhould have the Gentiles for his Inheritance and Poſſeſſion. VVhen God eſtabliſheth his King, the Meſſiah, upon the holy Hill of ſpiritual Zion, notwithſtanding all the Heathens rage againſt him, and the People of the Jews imagining a vain thing (thinking to keep the Body of him in the grave, who was the Reſurrection and the Life) what ſaith the Lord to him? Ask of me, and I will give thee the Heathen thine Inheritance, and the uttermoſt Parts of the Earth thy Poſſeſſion, Pſalm 2. The Lord ſaid in another place, It is a light thing, that thou ſhouldſt 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, Iſa. 49.6. Again the Lord ſaith further, From the riſing of the Sun, even unto the going down of the ſame, my Name ſhall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place Incenſe ſhall be offered unto my Name, and a pure Offering: For my Name ſhall be great among the Heathen? ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, Mal. 1.11. Sing O barren, thou that didſt not bear; break forth into ſinging and cry aloud, thou that didſt not travel with Child; for more are the Children of the Deſolate th • n the Children of the married Wife, ſaith the Lord, Iſa. 54.1. Who was the married Wife, who was the Mother in the Dayes of the firſt Covenant? was it not the Jeruſalem below; Who was then Deſolate and Barren? was it not another Jeruſalem, which is free, and the Mother of all the ſpiritual Children? Why was ſhe now to rejoyce and ſing? But becauſe ſhe was to break forth on the right hand and on the left, and her Seed was to inherit the Gentiles, and make the deſolate Cities to be inhabited, ver. 3. The Covenant on Mount Sinai did bring forth a great People, whereof Jeruſulem that was below was the Mother. The Covenant afterwards made, beſides that in Horeb, whereof the Word nigh in the heart and mouth is the Foundation (by which Word God circumcifeth) was, as yet Barren, and did not bring forth a People to the Lord. But this Covenant was to have a time, the Jeruſalem above was to have a time, wherein her Seed ſhould inherit the Gentiles; and the Maker the Husband ſhould be called the God of the whole Earth, ver. 5. Read Gal. 4. and ſee how the Apoſtle of the Gentiles expounds this Myſtery, ſhewing which is the free woman and her free Children; and which is the bond woman, and which the bond Children, who are caſt out in the Day of God, and in the ſhining of his Heavenly Light inwardly, and cannot inherit the glorious Kingdom of the Goſpel, with the Children of the free woman. And conſider, who were the People in the time of the firſt Covenant? VVho obtained Mercy then? VVere they not the Jews? And who were not a People, and who did not ob • ain mercy, but were left out of the love and mercy of the firſt Covenant? VVere they not the Gentiles? And did not the Lord promiſe, that he would have mercy on them that had not obtained mercy; and that he would ſay to them that were not his People, THOƲ ART MY PEOPLE, and they ſhall ſay, MY GOD, Hoſ. 2.23. compared vvith Rom. 9.26. VVas not this once gloriouſly fulfilled in the firſt Viſitation of the Gentiles? And is it not again gloriouſly fulfilled in his novv viſiting them again vvith the freſh Sound of the everlaſting Goſpel, as vvas promiſed, Rev. 14.7.

O vvhat a Promiſe is that, concerning the Day of God, that In that day there ſhall be a Root of Jeſſe, which ſhall ſtand for an Enſign of the People, to it ſhall the Gentiles ſeek, and his Reſt ſhall be glorious, Iſa. 11.10. Is not This the Day wherein the holy Mountain is known and that nothing can hurt or deſtroy there? And doth not the Knowledge of the Lord cover his Land, his Earth, as the VVaters do the Sea? And doth not the Root of Jeſſe the Rock of Life and Salvation, ſtand for an Enſign, placed ſo by God, and who can diſplace it, or ſhake them that are built on the inward Mount Zion? Yea, is not the Reſt of the weary Soul, when 〈◊〉 comes hither, found to be very glorious? And when this Enſign is more fully lifted up, ſhall not the Gentiles more abundantly come unto God, from the Ends of the Earth, and bewail their dead and eſtranged Eſtate from God (ſaying, Surely our Fathers inherited Vanity, and things wherein is no Profit, Jer. 16·19.) And ſhall they not turn from all their Idols, to ſerve the living God? Theſ. 1.9. And concerning the Meſſiah it vvas promiſed, that in his Name ſhould the Gentiles truſt, and the Iſles ſhould vvait for his lavv, and he ſhould bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles, Iſa. 42.11. vvith Mat. 12.21.

But vvhat ſhould I mention any more Scriptures unto you concerning this thing, vvhenas ye have ſo large, full, certain and daily Experience of it, in that vvhich is pure and living of God, which never deceived nor can deceive any; for ye are begotten, by his Spirit, into his own Image and Nature, and have received the Spirit of Adoption, where • n ye cry Abba, Father, to the Father of Spirits. He found you, indeed, in a ſtrange land, under great Captivity and Alienation ftom him. Ye have been in Egypt, in Sodom, in Babylon ſpiritually: But the mercy of the Lord hath followed you thither, and the Arm of the Lord hath reached to you there, and hath cut Rahab, and wounded the Dragon: Yea, he whom the Lord hath given for a Light to the Gentiles, hath ſhined to you there, in the midſt of your Darkneſs. So that God ſent among you the Prophet like unto Moſes (though far above Moſes) and hearing him, he led you out of Egypt, and by the Rod of his Power did Signs and Wonders and valiant Acts there, breaking that Power, which with a ſtrong Hand held you captive there, and oppreſſed you. And ye have known the Travel, Trials and Temptations in the ſpiritual Wilderneſs, and the falling of the carcaſes which were to fall there, and the holy leading by the Pillar of Cloud and Fire through all the Entanglements and Dangers therein. Yea, and the faithful among you, the tried and prepared among you, have paſſed over Jordan (the River of pure Judgment into the good Land, and come to witneſs David and Solomon (who are one in Spirit) your King, who rules in Righteouſnes, and miniſters to you Peace everlaſting. And ye have an High-Prieſt there, not after the Order of Aaron, but after the Order of Melchizedeck, who is made the Everlaſting High-Prieſt of God, not after the Law of a Carnal Commandment, but after the Power of an Endleſs Life, whoſe lips preſerve the knowledge of the law for you, in that endleſs power of Life; who miniſters for you & to you in that endleſs Power, and intercedes with Power and Efficacy, and ſprinkles the Blood of the Covenant upon you, vvhich takes avvay ſin from your Hearts & Conſciences. So that ye knovv the invvard Jew's ſtate, the invvard Holy Land and Kingdom, the inward Circumciſion, before ye enter into that Land; and the inward Lamb, the inward Paſſeover, the inward Mount Zion and Jeruſalem; the inward Sacrifices and Incenſe, the inward Tabernacle, Temple and Ark of the Covenant, the inward Table of Shew-Bread, the inward Manna, the inward Rod that buddeth, the inward Candleſtick, and the Lamps, which are never to go out in God's Temple. And what ſhould I ſay more? All that that people were to be outwardly, in an outvvard VVay and State, hath God made you invvardly in the Subſtance: And what God would have been to them outvvardly, had they obeyed his Voice, and kept his Statutes and Judgments; that he is to you invvardly, vvho are the called, and choſen, and faithful Followers of the Lamb: And ye are the enjoyers of their B • eſſings and Promiſes inwardly. O the glory of your State, to the Eye that is opened to ſee it!

Now ſomewhat doth remain on my Heart unto you.

O be daily ſenſible of the tender Goodneſs and Mercy of the Lord, which is broke forth among you. What Mercy, what Love hath the Father ſhewn unto you, that ye ſhould be thus accounted the Children of God! that they which were once nigh, ſhould be removed ſo far off; and ye whi • h were ſo far off, ſhould be brought ſo nigh, and ſhould forever inherit the ſure mercies of David! For, of a Truth, the Lord will never forſake you; but his mercy endures forever towards you, and your Stakes ſhall never be removed: but this inward Building ſhall ſtand forever. This Zion is the Place of God's Reſt, where he will dwell forever, whereof the outward Zion was but a Figure.

2dly, Remember what the Lord promiſed himſelf concerning you. When he vvas vveary of that people, and continually complaining of them; O vvhat did he promiſe himſelf concerning the People he vvould bring forth, by the Spirit and Povver of the Meſſiah, in the latter Dayes! Did he not promiſe himſelf, that they ſhould be an holy People, an invvardly circumciſed people, a People that ſhould pleaſe him; Sheep that ſhould hear the Shepherd's Voice, and be healed by him, gathered home to him, and ſo follovv and learn of him the Shepherd; that they ſhould all know him, from the leaſt to the greateſt; and that he would forgive their Sins, and heal their Backſlidings, and they ſhould not return to Folly or backſlide any more; as the Children after the Fleſh alwayes did? Is not this the People, whom indeed God hath formed for himſelf, who ſhall ſhew forth his praiſe?

3dly, Remember what a Covenant God hath prepared to make with you, as ye incline your Ears to him, and are led by him, into the holy agreement with him; even a Cevenant which is not weak, as the old Covenant vvas, but is full of Virtue and Vigour, to enable you to do whatever God requires of you. Mark what it contains, Putting God's Fear into you: Not the Fear which is taught by man's precepts, vvhich man may get into hi • carnal mind; but vvhich God places as the Traſury of Life in the Heart, as it is vvritten, The Fear of the Lord is his Treaſure, Iſa. 33.6. And, O vvho knovvs the preciouſneſs of this Treaſure! Hovv it cleanſeth the Heart and keepeth it clean, and will not ſuffer the mind that is ſeaſoned with it and kept to it, to depart from the living God! It fenceth from Unbelief, it fenceth from Diſobedience, it will not ſuffer the Soul ſo much as to meddle with any Appearance of Evil. O precious, glorious, bleſſed Treaſure! Happy is the man • that feareth alwayes with this Fear! Another precious thing this Covenant contains, is. The Law written in the Heart, that it ſhall be as near yea, nearer then ſin is, in the Heart that is made tender, and hath the Law of the Spirit of Life written in it. Who knows what it is to have the Law of Love the Law of Life, the Law of the Spirit, the Law of Faith the Law of new Obedience livingly written by God in his Heart! Surely none can, but they in whom God writes it! And ſuch cannot but deſire to have it written in their Hearts, by his bleſſed Finger, daily more and more. But this Covenant contains yet more, even the putting of his own Spirit within them, to be a Fountain of Life there, a Fountain of Strength and Wiſdom there, to make them more and more willing in the day of his Power, and to cauſe them to walk in his wayes, and keep his Statutes and Judgments and do them, that the Lord their God may bleſs them and delight in them.

O who would not long after, and take up the Croſs and Shame, to enjoy the Glory of this State! O what hath God done for a poor deſpiſed Remnant among the Gentiles! O who would not deſire to keep this bleſſed Covenant with the Lord, that he might fully enjoy the Lord that the Marriage with the Maker might be witneſſed, in his Loving-kindneſs & Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, and all Unrigteouſneſs and Uncleanneſs might be put away, removed and ſeparated from the Heart forever. Ah the Virgin-Spirit, which the Lamb loves, and delights to marry with! He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit, and he muſt part with all that is old, evil, unclean and corrupt in him, that would be joyned to the Lord, and become one Spirit with him. O who would loſe the precious Fear of the Covenant, which is clean and endureth forever, and keepeth clean and chaſt to the Lord forever! And who vvould miſs of one Lavv, which God hath to write in the Hearts of his Children, when every Law is a Law of Life, and changeth the Mind into the Nature of the Law-giver! And who would grieve God's Spirit, which is our Comforter? Or quench that which kindles the pure Flame of Love and Life in our Hearts? Much leſs can any of his dear and tender Children be willing to vex him, by manifeſt Careleſneſs and Diſobedience, who giveth us to drink of the River of his Pleaſures!

O my dear Friends, ye do not know the great Travail of my Heart, that all the Children of the Lord might walk before him in all well-pleaſing, that we might come all into Covenant, into the full Covenant, and walk fully with him in the Covenant, that his Anger might be forever turned away from us all, and he might never be wroth with nor rebuke any of us any more. It is written on my Heart, the breaking forth of this Glory would reach the Jews. And though they be caſt off, as to their outward State, and not ſo to be owned, or come into that Glory any more, yet there is a Day of mercy and Love for them, as to that inward State of Life and Redemption, which their outward State typified: And the breaking forth of the full Glory of the Gentiles, and the manifeſtation of God's mighty Power and Preſence with them (they being made by God a People to him, and ſo walking with God, as none poſſibly can, but thoſe, who are created anew and ſo made by him) this might provoke the Jews (the poor ſcattered forſaken Jews) to ſeek after the Lord their God, and David their King, inwardly to be revealed in them, and rule among them.

The Lord God of our Life and tender Mercies, carry on to Perfection this bleſſed Work of his, which he hath ſo mightily begun, and ſo mightily hitherto carried on; and keep us in the Senſe of his good Spirit, and in tender and holy ſubjection thereto, and in Unity together in the Life, wherein we have been gathered and preſerved, and in pure Judgment over all the Workings of the Enemy every where, and in the Goſpel-love one to another, and to all men, even our greateſt Enemies, that we may ſeek the good of all men, even the reſcuing and preſerving all out of Sin and Wrath, as much as in us is poſſible, that the pure Light, wherewith our God and Heavenly Father hath enlightned us, may ſhine in us, and the Life wherewith he hath • uickned us, may live in us, and we may feed on nothing but Life, and grow in nothing but Life and Truth, to the great Glory of our Heavenly Father, and to the great Joy of our Hearts, Amen.

A few words to England my Native Country. O Land of my Nativity, O my dear Country-men,

THE pure Power of the Lord is upon me, and the Springs of Life open in me; and among many other things, I am melted in Love and Deſires after your Welfare: and this is in my Heart to ſay to you. If I now teſtifie to you in Truth, of a Pearl, a heavenly Pearl, an everlaſting Pearl; will ye not hear me? If I tell you, your Heart is the Field, or Earth, wherein it is hid; will ye not conſider of it? If the everlaſting Goſpel be preached again, which contains true Tidings of Redemption from ſin; will ye not liſten after it? If the Kingdom of God, and Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, be to be revealed within; would ye not willingly learn to wait for it there, and beg of God that the Eye may be opened in you, which alone can ſee it, when it doth appear. Indeed God's Viſitation is upon this Nation, in an eſpecial manner; his Light and Power is breaking forth in it, againſt the Darkneſs and Power of the Spirit of Satan, which hath captivated and ſtill captivateth many. Ye deſire outward liberty, and the enjoyment of your outward rights; would ye not be free inwardly? Free from the baſe, earthly, ſelfiſh nature and ſpirit, which man fallen from God, and the Glory wherein he created him, is degenerated into? Oh, is not the Power of God, and life of Chriſt able to reſtore man to this? He that created man at firſt ſo glorious, in his own Image; is he not able to create him anew? Oh hear, my dear Countrymen; the Power is revealed, which createth anew; and they that receive it, and are as Clay in the Hands of the great Potter, given up to be formed by it, are daily created (by the Operation of it) anew, into an holy, heavenly, innocent, living, tender, righteous Frame Day by Day; and are made willing, daily more and more to be the Lord's, in this Day of his Power; and do receive Power to become Sons, and ſtrength againſt their Souls Enemies: And the glorious work of Redemption, which God hath begun in them, the Arm of his ſtrength mightily carrieth on in them, to their Comfort, and his everlaſting Praiſe. There is a ſpiritual Egypt and Sodom, as well as there was an outward; and there is a ſpiritual Wilderneſs, and Canaan alſo And the Arm of God's Power inwardly and ſpiritually hath been revealed in this ſpiritual Egypt, Wilderneſs and Canaan, as really as ever it was in the outward. Do ye not read of a Jew-inward, and a Circumciſion-inward, and the leaven-inward, and keeping the Feaſt of Unleavened Bread, even of Bread that is not leavened with ſin? And he that eats of this unleavened Bread, it unleavens him of ſin, and leavens him with Life and Holineſs: For it is an holy Bread, and a living Bread. This is the Bread which comes down from Heaven, which they that feed upon live, and they that live feed upon. And though they be many, yet feeding upon this Bread, they become come one Bread one living Body. conſiſting of a living Head, and living Members; for the ſame life and pure heavenly nature, which is in the head, is communicated by him to the members.

But how ſhall we find this, may ſome ſay?

I will tell you how we found it, and here none can miſs of it, that ſweep the Houſe and make a diligent and faithful ſearch after it. That in the heart of man, which turns againſt ſin, diſcovers ſin, draws from ſin, wherein God miniſters help againſt ſin, that is it. That is the Pearl hid, that is the Kingdom hid, in that is the Righteouſneſs of God revealed from Faith to Faith, in all that receive and give up to this holy leaven. This is of the Nature of God and Chriſt, this is a meaſure of his Light, of his pure life, this is the law and commandment everlaſting, which God writes in the hearts of the ſpiritual Iſrael, For the inward Jew hath inward tables, where the inward law is w • it, for the inward eye to read. O how nigh is God inwardly, to the inward people, in this our day! O the pure glory is broke forth! But, alas, men are in their ſeveral ſorts of Dreams, and take no notice of it. What ſhall the Lord do to awaken this Nation? In what way ſhall his Power appear, to bring down Unrighteouſneſs, and to bring up Righteouſneſs in the Spirits of People? Do ye not think the Lord hath been at work, and is ſtill at work? How could Deceit be ſo waſted inwardly, and Truth ſo grown inwardly, and overſpread more and more, and gain ground in the Nation, if the hand and Power of the Lord were not with it, bleſſing it. O take notice of the handywork of the Lord, ye children of men, and wait to feel Truth near, and to partake of the living Virtue and Power of it; that ye may feel your Hearts creating anew, and the old Heavens and Earth may inwardly paſs away, wherein dwells Unrighteouſneſs and the new Heavens and the new Earth may be inwardly witneſſed, wherein dwells Righteouſneſs. O that this Nation might become a Paradiſe of God! O that every one might be ſenſible of his Preſence, and Power, and Kingdom, and righteous Government inwardly in the Heart, from the King that ſits on the Throne, to the Begger on the Dunghil. Surely man was not made for himſelf! ſurely he was not made ſuch a Creature as now he is! but in the holy Image of God, with love in his heart to God above all, and to his Neighbour as to himſelf. O what are the Religions and Profeſſions of ſeveral ſorts, where this love is not found! The Lord is reſtoring his Image, and bringing forth the true, pure Religion again. The Pearl, the Truth contains & comprehends it. O buy the Pearl, O buy the precious Truth: ſel all that is contrary to it for it; take up the Croſs to all that is evil in thee, as the Light in thee maketh it manifeſt, and thou ſhalt have the free Poſſeſſion of it in thy heart, and feel it a root of Life, a treaſure of Life, a well of Life, out of which the living water will be daily ſpringing up in thee, unto Life everlaſting, Amen.

The 22d of the 7th Mon. 1676.

Three Queries upon three verſes of the 46th Pſalm. Verſe 4.

THere is a River, the Streams whereof ſhall make glad the City of God; the holy Place of the Tabernacles of the moſt High.

Query 1. Which is the River, and what are the Streams thereof, which make glad the City of God? And which is the City of God which they make glad? Which are the Tabernacles of the moſt high, and which is the holy Place of thoſe Tabernacles? O my dear Country-men, that every one in this Nation did underſtand and enjoy theſe thing! For the Lord is ready to beget a Will, to beget a Thirſt in the hearts of the Children of Men: And whoſoever thirſteth, whoſoever will, is called to the Waters, and may come to the Waters, and take of the Water of Life freely, (Iſa. 55.1. Rev. 22.17.) yea, to the full ſatisfaction of their Souls. For indeed this is the Day of God's Power, wherein he doth make his people willing to come to him, and to abide with him the Fountain of living Waters: And thoſe that do come to him, and abide with him, he abundantly ſatisfieth with the Fatneſs of his Houſe, and giveth them to drink of the River of his Pleaſures, Pſal. 36.8, 9. Mark, God is the Fountain of living Waters, with him is the Fountain of life, a River of Pleaſures, a River whoſe Streams make glad the whole City, even the holy Place of all the Tabernacles of the moſt high: And he giveth his Citizens to drink of it; and whoever drinketh of it, it maketh them glad, it refreſheth their life. O that more knew what this means.

Ver. 5.

God is in the midſt of her; ſhe ſhall not be moved: God ſhall help her, and that right early, or when the Morning appeareth, or from the Morning appearing.

Qu. 2. How is God in the midſt of this City? (Is it not more gloriouſly, in an inward way, then ever he was in the Temple in the outward Jeruſalem, in an outward way?) How is ſhe built? How is ſhe founded and ſcituated? How comes it about, that ſhe ſhall not be moved? How is God her Refuge and Strength, and preſent help in time of Trouble? After what manner doth God ariſe inwardly and ſcatter his Enemies? How doth the Morning Light help her! after what manner, when the Enemy cometh in like a Flood, doth the Spirit of the Lord lift up a ſtandard againſt him? Ah, bleſſed are they that know, and experience, and live in the Enjoyment of theſe things. O that this 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 whole Nation did ſo. Were it not worth the ſuffering of much, the denying of much, and the bearing of much Judgment to come to this?

Ver. 10.

Be ſtill, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among (or in) the Heathen: I will be exalted in the Earth.

Qu. 3. What is that Stilneſs, wherein God is known to be God; not outwardly in notion, but inwardly in the heart? VVhat is that Silence of Mind, wherein God teacheth his Iſrael in the new Covenant to know him as he is; even all of them, from the greateſt to the leaſt? How will God come to be exalted in the Heathen, and in the Earth? Is it not by the Light of his Day breaking forth and ſhining in them? VVhere this Day breaks forth in any heart, doth it not bteak down and deſtroy the Kingdom of Darkneſs inwardly? And doth not the King of glory conſume the man of ſin, the wicked one that was exalted in the Temple before (which Temple belonged of right to God) with the ſpirit of his mouth, and deſtroy him with the Brightneſs of his coming, or appearing, Iſa. 11.4. 2 Theſ. 2.8. Then is the Day known, vvherein the Lord alone is exalted. O that this Day vvere more knovvn, and the Lord, vvho is indeed vvorthy, vvere more exalted, and all Fleſh become his Foot-ſtool forever!

Concerning the true Church and Miniſtry under the Goſpel, and the Maintenance thereof, ſome few Queſtions anſwered in Truth and Plainneſs of Heart, and left to the Witneſs and Teſtimony of God in other mens Conſciences.

Queſtion 1. WHich is the true Church, or the Goſpel-Church, or he Church, according to the new Covenant? For • here was an old Covenant, and a Church according to that under the Law: And there • s a new Covenant, and a Church according to that under the Goſpel.

Anſw. For the clearing of this, to the hearts and Conſciences of People, let us enquire and conſider what the new Covenant is, and then it will more eaſily appear, which is the Church according to the new Covenant.

The new Covenant according to plain ſcripture, and according to manifeſt experience, • n this bleſſed Day of the ſhining of the Goſpel-Light in mens heatts, is a Covenant o • God's putting his Law in the inward parts o • People, and writing it in their hearts; and of his becoming their God, & making • hem hi • People, and of teaching th • m all to know him (inwardly and experimentally) from the leaſt to the greateſt, and of being merciful to their unrighteouſneſs, and remembring thei • ſins and iniquities no more, Jer. 31.33, 34▪ Heb. 8.10, 11, 12.

Now if this be the new Covenant, the Covenant of the Goſpel-Church, then they are the Goſpel-Church, who are the People o • God according to this Covenant; who have the law put by God into their inward parts and writ in their hearts; and ſo according to this law and covenant, have God to b • their God, and are his People, and are taugh • by him to know him (as it is written, All th • Children ſhall be taught of the Lord, Iſa. 54.13 & John 6 45.) and whoſe unrighteouſneſ • God hath been merciful to, and whoſe ſins and iniquities he remembereth no more, being waſhed away from their Conſciences by the Blood of the everlaſting Covenant, which th • Blood of Bulls and Goats could never do. S • that this is the new Teſtament-Church (o • Goſpel-Church) a Church of Jews inward a • the Law-Church was a Church of Jews outward: A Church of inward Worſhippers, o • Worſhippers in Spirit and in Truth, John 4.23. as the Law-Church was a Church of Worſhippers outward: A Church of inward circumciſed ones, as the Law-Church was a Church of outwardly circumciſed ones, Rom. 2.29. A Church of ſuch as are inwardly holy, as the Law-Church was to be a Church of ſuch as were outwardly holy: A Church of ſuch as offer inward Incenſe and Sacrifices, as the Law-Church was a Church of ſuch as offered outward Incenſe and Sacrifices: A Church of inwardly redeemed ones, from the inward, Egypt, from the inward Darkneſs and Power of Satan, as the Law-Church was a Church of ſuch as were redeemed from the outward Egypt, and the Povver of Pharaoh outvvard: A Church that hath the invvard Ark, (Rev. 11.19.) the invvard Preſence, the invvard Manna, &c. as the outvvard Church of the Jews had the outvvard.

Qu. 2. Which is the true Goſpel-Miniſtry, and who are the true Goſpel-Miniſters?

Anſw. Thoſe vvhom Chriſt ſends forth, in the Spirit and Povver of his Father, to gather and build up this Church. Chriſt had all Power in Heaven and Earth given him, even to ths very End, to gather, defend and build up his Church. And he bid his Apoſtles vvait for the ſame Povver, and ſends forth his Miniſters in the ſame Povver; that they may be able Miniſters of the Goſpel, vvhich is not VVords but Povver, even the Povver of God unto Salvation, Rom. 1.16. The nevv Covenant ſtands is not in Letter, but in Spirit and Povver and they that are the Miniſters of it, muſt receive Life, Spirit and Povver from Chriſt (the Head) and miniſter in that Spirit, Life and Povver to the Members; or they cannot nouriſh and build them up: Yea, they muſt preach and miniſter to the VVorld in it, or they are not able to gather out of the VVorld into it. Chriſt the Lord o • his Church, the Foundation of Life in his Church, the everlaſting Rock, is a living Stone, and his Church is built of lively Stones: And hovv can any miniſter Life unto them, or build them up in the Life, Spirit and Power; but who a • e in the Life, Spirit and Power, and who receive Life, Spirit and Power from the Head, to furthe, quicken and build up the living Members with? The Milk, which nouriſheth the living Babe, is living, which muſt come pure from the Breaſt of Life, and not be mixed with man's VViſdom or Brain-inv • ntions, or it cannot yield pure Nouriſhment. VVhat then muſt the Bread and VVine, and VVater of the Kingdom be, whereon the Children and Heirs of the Kingdom muſt feed, or they cannot be ſatisfied? And the Miniſters of the Goſpel are Stewards of this heavenly Life, this heavenly Spirit, this heavenly Power, this heavenly Treaſure, which they have in the earthen Veſſels, and which God enables them to bring forth, for the feeding of his Lambs and Sheep. Chriſt ſaid unto Peter, Loveſt thou me more then theſe? Peter anſwered him, Yea Lord, thou knoweſt that I love thee. If it be ſo, Feed my Lambs, feed my Sheep ſaid Chriſt to him. But how ſhould he feed them? In what ſhould he feed them? VVith what ſhould he feed them? All Power, ſaith Chriſt, is given me in Heaven and in Earth, and I am to aſcend to my Father, and to receive the Fulneſs of his Spirit; and do ye wait, and ye ſhall receive abundantly of the ſame ſpirit and power, and then in that ſpirit and power ye ſhall be able to feed my Lambs and Sheep, that are begotten and gathered to me in it: But out of it none is able to feed and build them up; for that is the very thing they are to be fed with, and built up in· Indeed a man may be a Miniſter of the letter, a Miniſter of the law, without the ſpirit and power, but of he Goſpel he cannot poſſibly; for that conſiſts not in letter, but in ſpirit, 2 Cor. 3. And the Faith that is to be begotten there, is not to ſtand in the VViſdom of man, but in the Power of God. The Goſpel-ſtate, the Goſpel-church, the Goſpel-building begins in the Power, and is carried on in the Power, and finiſhed or perfected in the Power, and the whole Miniſtry of the Goſpel is to partake of this Power, and miniſter in it, or they can do nothing in this work. Chriſt Jeſus our Lord begun it in this Power, and none can carry it on without this Power. The Lord God of Glory laid the foundation; Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation, &c. Iſa. 28.16. 1 Pet. 2.4, 5, 6. And the quickning ſpirit alone is able to make living ſtones, and ſpiritual ſtones; and the Lord alone is able to build them up, by the operation of this ſpirit and power; and they that are the true Miniſters of the Goſpel, miniſter in this: and are to wait for it daily from God, that they may miniſter in it.

Qu. 3. What is the Maintenance of the Miniſters of Chriſt, or what is to be the Maintenance of the true Miniſters under the Goſpel?

Anſw. Chriſt, who hath ſent them forth to miniſter in his Name, hath provided for them; & they that are his true Miniſters, are ſatisfied with what he hath provided for them, Mat. 10.10. being careful not to make the Goſpel, which is to be an inward Bleſſing, outwardly chargeable to any. The Mind of the true Miniſters is about the Service of Chriſt, how they may be faithful to him, gather ſouls to him, feed them with the Bread of life from him; not what they ſhall have from men, for ſo doing; for ſuch covet no man's Gold or Silver, &c.

Some Queſtion anſwered concerning the Lambs War.

Queſtion 1 WHO is the Lamb?

Anſw. H • that takes away the ſins of the world. The Word which was in the Beginning Behold the Lamb of God, ſaid John, John 1.1. & ver. 29. He • hat was born of the Virgin Mary after the Fleſh; and was alſo the Man-child, born of • he travelling-church, after the Spirit. Rev. 12.5.

Qu. 2. Who makes War with the Lamb?

Anſw All that are in Wickedneſs, in Darkneſs, in Sin and Corruption, and under the Power thereof, who ſtrive to defend and maintain this Kingdom againſt the appearance of his light, ſpirit and power in them.

Qu. 3. What ſtrength have they on their ſide, that make War againſt the Lamb?

Anſw. The ſtrength of the great red Dragon, who hath ſeven Heads and ten Horns: and in every one of his Heads is Wiſdom, and in every one of his Horns there is Power. So that dreadful is the Battel that is fought between them, either inwardly in the Heart, or outwardly in the VVorld, when Chriſt appears in his light, ſpirit and power to aſſault and break down the Kingdom of Darkneſs, and to ſet up his own Kingdom, which muſt be ſet up, even in the VVorld, Dan. 7.14.27. Rev. 11, 15.

Qu. 4 Did the great red Dragon and his Army, never (in no reſpect) prevail in this Battel?

Anſw. Yes; for even while the Lamb, and his pure life and holy Teſtimony have prevailed, ſo that the Dragon and his Army could get no ground over them inwardly; but ſalvation (the wall and bulwark of God's Heritage) and ſtrength, and the Kindom of God, and the Power of his Chriſt did prevail inwardly; yet the Dragon, even then hath prevailed over their goods, liberties and lives outwardly: and he drove the VVoman, the true Church out of her Place, as I may ſay, that ſhe was forced to fly into the VVilderneſs, he ſo ſorely aſſaulting her: Yea, after that alſo, he made VVar with the Remnant of her ſeed, and caſt ſome of them into Priſon, and drunk the Blood of thoſe that would not drink his falſe Church's Cup, but keep the Commandments of God, and have the Teſtimony of Jeſus, Rev. 12. & chap. 2.10. yea the Beaſt, to which he gave his Power (which had ſeven Heads and ten Horns like him, chap. 13.1.) made VVar with the ſaints, and over came them outwardly, though he could not overcome them inwardly; for he could not make them to worſhip him, ver. 7, 8. Nay, nor the ſecond Beaſt neither, though he had Horns like a Lamb, and ſpake like a Dragon, and exerciſed all the power of the firſt Beaſt, and did great wonders, and had power to give Life unto the Image of the former Beaſt, and would kill all that would not worſhip the Image of the Beaſt; and would ſuffer none to buy or ſell, but ſuch as had the Mark or Name of the Beaſt: Yet neither could this Beaſt overcome the Followers of the Lamb, as to their inward Life and Teſtimony, though it had power to kill and ſuppreſs them outwardly, ver. 11. to the end, & chap. 14.9. to ver. 13. which plainly ſhews the ſaints had patience, and kept the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jeſus, and would not worſhip the Beaſt and his Image, nor receive his Mark, either in Forehead or Hand.

Qu. 5. What was the Cry up and down Nations, when the Dragon and the Beaſt thus prevailed, and when the falſe Church carried her Cup of Fornications up and down through Kingdoms and Nations, and made the Kings and Inhabitants of the Earth drink thereof; and who would not drink thereof ſhe would not let them buy nor ſel, but impoveriſh, impriſon them, and drink their Blood? Rev. 17.2. & 6.

Anſw. The Cry every where was, Who is like unto the Beaſt? Who is able to make War with the Beaſt? Indeed, there appeared no Power any where, able to withſtand or reſiſt this power, which the Dragon had, who gave it both to the Beaſt which aroſe out of the Sea, and to the Beaſt which aroſe out of the Earth; both which joyned together, to perſecute all that would not drink of the falſe Church its Cup, which was Golden without, but full of Abomination, and Filthineſs of Fornication (fornicating from the holy Life, Spirit and Power of the Lamb inwardly who is the Head of the true Church, and true Worſhippers, Rev. 13.4. & chap. 17.4 5.

Qu. 6. What is the time of the Dragon's, the Beaſt's and falſe Church thus Prevailing againſt the true Church, in reference to the outward, though they cannot prevail againſt its inward Life and Teſtimony; but that (through Patience and Suffering • ) prevails over and reigns inwardly, in the midſt of all their Cruelty and oppreſſing of the outward Man?

Anſw. It is the time of Antichriſt's reign, and ſitting in the Temple as if he were God, and exalting himſelf over all that is called God, and which ought to be worſhipped. It is the time of the true Church its being in the VVilderneſs, and of the Man-child's (which the true Church brought forth) being caught up to God, which things were to laſt, according to Scripture account, 1260. dayes, or a Time, Times and half a Time, 2 Theſ. 2.3.4. Rev. 12.6.14.

Qu. 7. What will the Lamb do, when this time is out?

Anſw. He will come and make VVar again, he will come with his heavenly Armies, armed with ſpiritual Armour, and fight an heavenly Battel; yea, he will judge and make VVar in Righteouſneſs, againſt the Unrighteouſneſs of the Dragon, and the Beaſt, and the falſe prophet; and his heavenly Armies ſhall follow him their Captain and Leader, on white Horſes, clothed in fine linnen, white and clean; who ſhall fight in his ſpirit and power, againſt all that he fighteth againſt: And out of his Mouth goeth a ſharp ſword, that with it he ſhould ſmite the Nations; and he ſhall rule them with a Rod of Iron, and make the ſpirits of all his Oppoſers bow under him, and fly to ſhelter themſelves from that VVrath which they cannot eſcape▪ O who would not kiſs the Son, that he might not provoke the Lamb to VVrath againſt him, whoſe VVrath is dreadful! Rev. 19.11. to the end, Pſalm 2.11.

Qu· 8. What ſhall the Cry be, when God's Spirit and Power prevaileth over the Dragon's Spirit and • nd Power, when the Lamb gets the Victory, when he ſmites the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth, and with the Breath of his Lips ſhall ſlay the Wicked; when he brings down the Dragon, Beaſt and falſe Prophet, and the falſe Church Mother of Harlots (which hath drunk the Blood of his Saints) with his Vials, Plagues, Woes, Thunders, &c? When Babylon the great City falls, which made all Nations drunk with her ſpiritual Wine of Fornication?

Anſw. Then the Power, which doth this, ſhall be magnified. Then it ſhall be ſaid no more, who can make War with the Beaſt? but who can withſtand this Power? Who can make War with the Innocent, Righteous Lamb (who hath his ſword in his Mouth) and with his tender-hearted, faithful Followers, and proſper? Who ſhall not fear thee O Lord, and glorifie thy Name: For all Nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee; for thy Judgments are made manifeſt. Great and Marvelous are thy Works, Lord God Almighty, Juſt and True are thy Wayes, thou King of Saints, Rev. 15.3, 4. Yea, a great Voice of much People in Heaven ſhall ſay, Allelujah, Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and Power unto the Lord our God: for True and Righteous are his Judgments▪ for he hath judged the great Whore, which did corrupt the Earth with her Fornication, and hath avenged the Blood of his Servants at her, Hand, chap. 19. ver. 1.2.

Now doth it not concern all people to conſider, which is Zion God's holy Mountain, and which is the Jeruſalem of his building, the holy City of God, the holy Church of God, the Mother of all the truly living Children; for the Jeruſalem which is above and which is free, is the Mother of them all, Gal. 4.26. And alſo which is Babylon, the City built by man, and the Spirit of Antichriſt, in a kind of likeneſs, but not in the real nature of the true Church, that they may wait for and follow God's Call to come out of her, and may not partake of her ſins, of her ſorceries (Rev. 18.22.) of her Fornication from the pure Life, Spirit and Power, and ſeting up Worſhips, and compelling people to worſhip in her forms (which are out of the Life, and out of the Power) that they partake not of her plagues; which will indeed be very dreadful, ſuch as ſhall affright any from coming near her, or medling with her ſpiritual ſorceries and fornications any more, Rev. 18.4. & ver. 9, 10. O therefore let every one conſider what the Beaſt is, what his Image, what the Mark in the Forehead what in the right Hand; and take heed he be not found worſhipping the Beaſt and his Image, or receiving his Mark, either in his Forehead or right hand; leſt God make him to drink of the Wine of his Wrath, which is poured out without Mixture, into the Cup of his Indignation, and he be tormented with Fire and Brimſtone in the Preſence of the holy Angels, and in the Preſence of the Lamb, and have no reſt Day nor Night, Rev. 14.9, 10, 11. I had rather run great hazards outwardly, and ſuffer much Affliction and Perſecution from Men, to keep my Soul true to God; in the ſpiritual Worſhip and Teſtimony, which he hath given me, againſt all falſe Wayes and invented Worſhips, then expoſe my Soul to the hazard of drinking of this dreadful Cup of God's Indignation, which the Lord God of tender Mercies, teach men and give them true VViſdom to avoid and eſcape, Amen.

THE CONCLUSION.

BEhold my Servant ſhall deal prudently he ſhall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were aſtonied at thee; (his Viſage was ſo marred more then any man, and his Form more then the Sons of Men) ſo ſhall he ſprinkle many Nations; the Kings ſhall ſhut their mouthes at him: For that which had not been told them, ſhall they ſee; and that which they had not heard, ſhall they conſider, Iſa. 52.13, 14, 15▪

Thou art fairer then the Children of Men: Grace is poured into thy Lips; therefore God hath bleſsed thee forever. Gird thy Sword upon thy Thigh, O moſt mighty; with thy Glory and thy Majeſty. And in thy Majeſty ride proſperouſly becauſe of Truth, and Meekneſs, and Righteouſneſs, and thy Right Hand ſhall teach thee terrible things. Thine Arrows are ſharp in the Hearts of the King's Enemies, whereby the People ſhall fall under thee. Thy Throne O God is forever and ever: The Scepter of thy Kingdom is a right Scepter. Thou loveſt Righteouſneſs and hateſt Wickedneſs, therefore God, thy God hoth anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladneſs above thy Fellows, Pſalm 45. ver. 2. to 8.

Strengthen ye the weak Hands, and confirm the feeble Knees: Say to them that are of a fearful Heart, be ſtrong, fear not; Behold, your God will come with Vengeance, even God with a Recompence, he will come and ſave you. Then the Eyes of the blind ſhall be opened, and the Ears of the deaf ſhall be unſtopped. Then ſhall the lame man leap as an Hart, and the Tongue of the dumb ſing; For in the Wilderneſs ſhall Waters break out, and ſtreams in the Deſert. And the parched Ground ſhall become a Pool, and the thirſty Land Springs of Water: In the Habitation of Dragons, where each lay, ſhall be Graſs with Reeds and Ruſhes. And an high-way ſhall be there, and a way, and it ſhall be called the way of Holineſs, the unclean ſhall not paſs over it, but it ſhall be for thoſe: the wayfaring men though Fools, ſhall not err therein. No Lyon ſhall be there, nor any ravenous Beaſt shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there: But the redeemed shall walk there. And the ranſomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs, and everlaſting Joy upon their Heads: They shall obtain Joy and Gladneſs, and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away, Iſa. 35. ver. 3. to the end.

Bleſſed be the Lord God of Life forever, • heſe Scriptures and many more, are ſweet • y and preciouſly fulfilled in the hearts of a Remnant, in this our Day. They were once ▪in a degree) fulfilled, in the Day of the Ap • earance of the word of Life, in the prepa • ed Body of Fleſh. They were again mo • e ge • erally fulfilled, in the Day of the pouring • ut of his Spirit, and gathering a people to • im, both from among the Jews and Gentiles. • hom he did ſprinkle with his holy Life, Spi • it and Power. And they are again fulfilled • n the hearts of many, after the long Night of Darkneſs, and great and large Apoſtacy from • he Spirit and Power of the Apoſtles. Bleſſed, O bleſſed be the Lord, the Sun of Righ • eouſneſs hath again ſhone forth, and appeared inwardly in a glorious, living, powerful manner, to them that have feared his Name; and he hath been a God of Vengeance to the Man of Sin, yea, to all that was dark, fleſhly and corrupt in them; and a God of Mercy and tender Bowels, to thoſe which pan ••• after and waited for his Salvation: And the healing Virtue, from under the VVings of the Saviour, and the holy Anointing hath dropped upon the Eyes of the blind the pu • e Eye-ſalve, and they have been opened; and the Ears of the deaf, by the Voice of the Son of God, have been unſtopped; and the inwardly and ſpiriually lame have leaped as an Hart; and the Tongue, which could not name God in Truth and Righteouſneſs, but hath been dumb before him, and before men alſo, could not but ſing, becauſe of the breaking forth of the VVaters and Streams of Life upon the thirſty land and parched ground, making them a pool and ſprings of water: VVhich land, which thus is changed from its wilderneſs and parched ſtate, into an holy, freſh and living ſtate, the Dragons do not lodge in, nor is it any more an Habitation or Cage for unclean & noiſom Birds (as great profeſſing-Babylon the Mother of Harlots, with all her fleſhly, profeſſing-Daughters is) but Life dwells there; the holy one is in the midſt of this land, & it brings forth the fruits of Life and Righteouſneſs, to the righteous & holy one. And here the King of Glory's Highway, even the way of Holineſs is known; which none, but thoſe whom he makes holy can walk in. Let men profeſs what they will, yet being unclean in Heart and Coverſation, they cannot paſs over to come into this Way; but the holy, they which are made holy by God, and keep to, live in, and follow that which is holy, though way faring men, and though otherwiſe Fools; yet they ſhall not err here, but be preſerved by the holy Power, in the holy way, which is prepared and caſt up for theſe. And as for that which would tear and deſtroy, it ſhall not be found on all that holy Mountain, where theſe live and feed. Yea, here is the Houſe of God, and Throne of God, and God the Judge of all, and Jeſus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and the Blood of ſprinkling, where the ranſomed of the Lord enjoy the Preſence of the Bridegroom, whom God hath ſet King, and who reigns on his holy Hill of inward and ſpiritual Zion, and cauſeth them to ſing, who feel him reign (even the everlaſting Seed of Life to reign inwardly in the Heart) Oh, everlaſting Joy is upon their Heads; they have obtained Joy and Gladneſs, and Sorrow and Sighing flees away, when the Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory is felt ſpringing in the Heart, from the Senſe of the Preſence and Enjoyment of the Bridegroom; for of a Truth, the Lord hath comforted Zion, yea, he hath comforted many of her waſte places (he was angry with her Daughters, before their filth was purged away by the Spirit • udgment and Burning, ſince that time his Anger hath been turned away, and he hath comforted them, Iſa. 12.1. &c.) and he hath made her Wilderneſs, in many hear • s, like Eden, and her Deſert like the Garden of the Lord (even like the Garden that he waters) and how can Joy and Gladneſs but be found here, with Thankſgiving and the Voice of Melody? Iſa. 58.11. & chap. 51.3. Thus it is with ſuch of the gathered People and Nation of the Lord, that hearken and give ear to him, and have known the Law of Life to proceed out of his Mouth, and his Judgment to reſt for a Light, ver. 4.

THE END.