The axe laid to the root of the old corrupt-tree, and the spirit of deceit struck at in its nature from whence all the error from the life, among both papists and Protestants hath arisen, and by which it is nourished and fed at this day, in a distinction between the faith which is of man, and the faith which is of God ... / by ... Isaac Penington the younger.
         Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A54024 of text R228095 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Wing P1152). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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             The axe laid to the root of the old corrupt-tree, and the spirit of deceit struck at in its nature from whence all the error from the life, among both papists and Protestants hath arisen, and by which it is nourished and fed at this day, in a distinction between the faith which is of man, and the faith which is of God ... / by ... Isaac Penington the younger.
             Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.
          
           [8], 42 p.
           
             Printed and are to be sold by Lodowick Lloyd ...,
             London :
             1659.
          
           
             Imperfect: creased, with slight loss of text.
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Society of Friends -- Doctrines.
        
      
    
       A54024  R228095  (Wing P1152).  civilwar no The axe laid to the root of the old corrupt-tree. And the spirit of deceit struck at in its nature, from whence all the error from the life, Penington, Isaac 1659    24882 58 0 0 0 0 0 23 C  The  rate of 23 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           THE
           AXE
           LAID
           TO
           THE
           ROOT
           OF
           THE
           
             OLD
             CORRVPT-TREE
          
           ▪
           AND
           The
           Spirit
           of
           deceit
           struck
           at
           in
           its
           nature
           ,
           from
           whence
           all
           the
           error
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           among
           both
           Papists
           and
           Protestants
           hath
           arisen
           ,
           and
           by
           which
           it
           is
           nourished
           and
           fed
           at
           this
           Day
           .
        
         
           In
           a
           Distinction
           between
           the
           Faith
           which
           is
           of
           man
           ,
           and
           the
           Faith
           which
           is
           of
           GOD
           .
        
         
           And
           in
           some
           
             Assertions
          
           concerning
           true
           Faith
           ,
           its
           nature
           ,
           rise
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
           It
           s
           receiving
           of
           Christ
           ,
           its
           abiding
           and
           growing
           in
           his
           living
           Vertue
           .
        
         
           With
           a
           warning
           concerning
           adding
           and
           diminishing
           from
           the
           Scripture
           in
           generall
           ,
           (
           and
           the
           Prophesies
           of
           the
           
             Revelation
          
           in
           particular
           .
           )
           Discovering
           what
           it
           is
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           danger
           of
           it
           ,
           with
           the
           only
           way
           of
           preservation
           from
           it
           ,
           where
           is
           added
           a
           Short
           touch
           about
           the
           Use
           of
           Means
           .
        
         
           As
           also
           a
           brief
           History
           concerning
           the
           state
           of
           the
           
             Church
          
           since
           the
           dayes
           of
           the
           Apostles
           .
        
         
           With
           an
           Exhortation
           to
           the
           present
           
             Age
             .
          
        
         
           By
           the
           movings
           of
           the
           Life
           ,
           in
           a
           friend
           to
           the
           Living
           truth
           of
           the
           most
           High
           God
           ,
           but
           an
           utter
           enemy
           to
           the
           spirit
           of
           error
           and
           blasphemy
           ,
           where
           ever
           it
           is
           found
           ,
           as
           well
           in
           the
           strictest
           of
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           as
           among
           the
           grossest
           of
           the
           Papists
           .
        
         
           Isaac
           Penington
           
             the
             younger
             .
          
        
         
           
             LONDON
             :
          
           Printed
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           by
           
             Lodowick
             Lloyd
             ,
          
           at
           his
           shop
           next
           the
           Castle
           in
           
             Cornhill
             ,
          
           1659.
           
        
      
       
       
       
         
           THE
           PREFACE
        
         
           THere
           was
           a
           glorious
           day
           ,
           and
           bright
           appearance
           of
           truth
           in
           the
           times
           of
           the
           Apostles
           .
           They
           had
           the
           true
           Comforter
           ,
           who
           led
           them
           into
           all
           truth
           ,
           and
           kept
           them
           alive
           in
           truly
           ,
           and
           truth
           alive
           in
           them
           .
           By
           this
           Spirit
           they
           ,
           as
           living
           stones
           ,
           were
           built
           up
           a
           spirituall
           house
           ,
           founded
           upon
           
             Sion
          
           the
           holy
           mount
           ,
           into
           
             Jerusalem
          
           the
           holy
           City
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           church
           of
           the
           living
           God
           ,
           the
           pillar
           and
           g●ound
           of
           truth
           .
           And
           here
           they
           had
           their
           conversation
           in
           heaven
           ,
           with
           God
           the
           Judge
           of
           all
           ,
           with
           Christ
           the
           Mediatour
           ,
           and
           with
           the
           Spirits
           of
           ●ust
           men
           and
           the
           holy
           Angels
           ,
           which
           alwayes
           behold
           the
           face
           of
           God
           .
           They
           lived
           in
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           they
           walked
           in
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           they
           prayed
           in
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           they
           sung
           in
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           they
           worshipped
           in
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           understanding
           which
           the
           truth
           had
           made
           free
           ,
           and
           had
           God
           dwelling
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           Christ
           walking
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           by
           the
           presence
           and
           power
           of
           his
           life
           in
           them
           ;
           were
           truly
           dead
           unto
           sin
           ,
           and
           alive
           unto
           God
           ,
           they
           being
           not
           strivers
           against
           sin
           with
           mans
           legall
           spirit
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           power
           of
           grace
           ,
           which
           made
           them
           more
           then
           conquerours
           through
           him
           that
           loved
           them
           .
           This
           was
           part
           of
           the
           glory
           of
           that
           state
           ,
           in
           that
           day
           of
           the
           Sunshine
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
        
         
           But
           behold
           ,
           a
           thick
           night
           of
           darknesse
           overspread
           the
           beauty
           of
           this
           ?
           Some
           false
           brethren
           went
           out
           from
           the
           true
           Church
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           getting
           the
           Sheeps
           cloathing
           ,
           making
           a
           great
           outward
           appearance
           ,
           and
           drew
           the
           world
           after
           them
           ,
           yea
           and
           some
           from
           the
           very
           Churches
           themselves
           :
           (
           how
           hard
           was
           the
           Apostle
           
             Paul
          
           fain
           to
           plead
           with
           the
           
             Corinthians
          
           about
           his
           own
           Apostleship
           and
           Doctrine
           that
           he
           might
           preserve
           that
           Church
           from
           the
           false
           Apostles
           !
           )
           And
           when
           they
           had
           gathered
           a
           sufficient
           party
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           they
           made
           head
           against
           the
           true
           sheep
           &
           lambs
           of
           Christ
           ,
           fought
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           overcame
           ,
           them
           .
           And
           when
           they
           had
           overcome
           them
           that
           had
           the
           living
           testimony
           of
           Jesus
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           power
           and
           presence
           of
           the
           Spirit
           among
           them
           ,
           they
           set
           up
           their
           own
           dead
           form
           making
           a
           cry
           all
           over
           the
           nations
           of
           the
           earth
           ,
           
             Revelation
             is
             ceased
             ,
          
           there
           is
           no
           looking
           now
           for
           such
           an
           infallible
           spirit
           ,
           and
           such
           immediate
           teachings
           as
           the
           christians
           had
           in
           the
           Apostles
           dayes
           ,
           who
           had
           the
           anointing
           to
           teach
           them
           all
           things
           :
           but
           they
           point
           men
           to
           traditions
           ,
           to
           the
           church
           ,
           as
           they
           call
           it
           (
           which
           title
           the
           whore
           hath
           engrossed
           since
           the
           dayes
           of
           the
           Apostles
           )
           or
           to
           searchings
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           reading
           expositions
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           bodies
           of
           divinity
           ,
           formed
           by
           the
           understanding
           part
           in
           man
           to
           instruct
           the
           understading
           part
           .
           Thus
           the
           whole
           course
           of
           religion
           and
           of
           the
           knowledge
           of
           God
           ,
           came
           
           to
           be
           out
           of
           that
           Spirit
           and
           life
           wherein
           it
           first
           came
           forth
           (
           and
           wherein
           it
           first
           stood
           )
           and
           consisted
           in
           doctrines
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           a
           form
           of
           worship
           and
           knowledge
           which
           the
           wisdome
           of
           man
           had
           framed
           ,
           in
           an
           imitation
           of
           that
           which
           formerly
           stood
           in
           the
           life
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           men
           being
           gone
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           from
           the
           Spirit
           and
           his
           immediate
           teachings
           ,
           into
           an
           outward
           form
           of
           knowledge
           and
           worship
           of
           God
           in
           the
           wrong
           nature
           ;
           now
           Antichrist
           is
           got
           up
           ,
           and
           the
           Dragon
           sits
           in
           the
           Temple
           ,
           appearing
           there
           as
           if
           he
           were
           God
           ,
           giving
           out
           laws
           and
           ordinances
           of
           worship
           in
           publique
           ,
           and
           putting
           men
           upon
           duties
           and
           exercises
           of
           devotion
           in
           private
           ,
           and
           he
           is
           obeyed
           and
           bowed
           down
           to
           in
           the
           observation
           of
           these
           ;
           but
           the
           true
           living
           God
           is
           not
           known
           ;
           nor
           his
           secret
           still
           voyce
           (
           which
           calls
           out
           of
           these
           )
           heard
           ,
           because
           of
           the
           great
           noise
           which
           the
           Dragon
           makes
           in
           his
           Temple
           (
           for
           so
           it
           is
           now
           ,
           he
           having
           gained
           it
           ,
           though
           it
           was
           once
           Gods
           )
           about
           his
           laws
           and
           ordinances
           of
           worship
           ,
           which
           he
           would
           have
           all
           compelled
           to
           ,
           and
           none
           suffered
           to
           testifie
           against
           them
           that
           they
           are
           his
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           Lords
           .
        
         
           Yet
           it
           pleased
           the
           Lord
           ,
           all
           the
           night
           of
           this
           darknesse
           ,
           to
           raise
           up
           some
           ▪
           witnesses
           against
           the
           Dragon
           ,
           and
           all
           his
           invented
           forms
           of
           worship
           ,
           though
           they
           were
           still
           hunted
           ,
           persecuted
           ,
           knocked
           down
           ,
           and
           their
           testimony
           cryed
           out
           against
           as
           error
           ,
           heresie
           ,
           schism
           and
           blasphemy
           ,
           and
           the
           wayes
           ,
           worships
           and
           ordinances
           of
           the
           whore
           the
           beast
           and
           the
           dragon
           still
           cryed
           up
           as
           the
           truth
           .
           Thus
           the
           Papists
           ,
           they
           cryed
           out
           against
           the
           Protestanus
           as
           heretiques
           and
           schismatiques
           ,
           who
           were
           witnesses
           against
           them
           ;
           and
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           they
           cryed
           out
           against
           the
           non-conformists
           ,
           seperatists
           and
           brownists
           ,
           who
           were
           witnesses
           against
           them
           ;
           and
           every
           sect
           cries
           out
           most
           against
           them
           ,
           who
           are
           led
           further
           from
           the
           apostacy
           ,
           and
           raised
           up
           by
           the
           Lord
           as
           witnesses
           against
           them
           ,
           against
           their
           setting
           down
           in
           their
           forme
           ,
           and
           not
           pursuing
           the
           guidance
           of
           that
           spirit
           ,
           which
           would
           lead
           them
           quite
           out
           of
           the
           darknesse
           ,
           and
           not
           have
           them
           sit
           down
           by
           the
           way
           .
        
         
           Now
           the
           Lord
           God
           in
           these
           latter
           dayes
           ,
           hath
           not
           only
           raised
           up
           witnesses
           against
           the
           Whore
           ,
           the
           Dragon
           ,
           the
           Beast
           ,
           the
           false
           Prophets
           ,
           with
           all
           their
           inventions
           which
           they
           have
           set
           up
           instead
           of
           the
           truth
           :
           but
           hath
           assayed
           ,
           and
           begun
           to
           deliver
           his
           people
           out
           of
           this
           Egyptian
           darknesse
           ;
           and
           to
           bring
           them
           back
           to
           the
           light
           of
           the
           land
           of
           
             Canaan
             .
          
           And
           now
           great
           enemies
           have
           appeared
           ,
           the
           sons
           of
           the
           night
           exceedingly
           strengthening
           themselves
           to
           keep
           out
           the
           day
           light
           ,
           every
           one
           crying
           up
           his
           own
           form
           ,
           and
           all
           joyning
           hand
           in
           hand
           against
           the
           power
           :
           yea
           &
           that
           spirit
           ,
           which
           first
           tempted
           from
           God
           ,
           is
           exceeding
           busie
           to
           cause
           those
           whom
           the
           Spirit
           the
           Lord
           hath
           been
           drawing
           out
           of
           the
           
           land
           of
           darknesse
           ,
           to
           make
           a
           Captain
           to
           return
           to
           
             Egypt
             ,
          
           or
           at
           least
           to
           sit
           down
           in
           some
           form
           ,
           or
           some
           pleasant
           notion
           of
           things
           by
           the
           way
           &
           not
           to
           follow
           the
           Lord
           ,
           through
           all
           his
           intricate
           leadings
           in
           the
           vast
           howling
           Wildernes
           ,
           til
           he
           bring
           them
           into
           the
           possession
           of
           the
           true
           rest
           .
           What
           a
           work
           there
           was
           to
           quench
           that
           spirit
           wch
           stired
           in
           the
           Protestants
           against
           Popery
           ,
           &
           to
           fix
           the
           in
           Episcopacy
           ,
           &
           in
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Common
           prayer
           book
           ?
           When
           that
           was
           detected
           &
           turned
           from
           ,
           then
           Presbittery
           endeavoured
           to
           take
           its
           place
           ,
           &
           to
           bring
           it
           its
           directory
           :
           but
           the
           pursuit
           of
           the
           Lord
           was
           so
           hot
           against
           that
           ,
           that
           it
           stunk
           presently
           ,
           &
           his
           mighty
           hand
           would
           not
           suffer
           that
           so
           much
           as
           to
           arise
           Much
           about
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           Independency
           and
           Anabaptism
           appeared
           and
           contended
           ;
           and
           there
           was
           a
           more
           simple
           and
           honest
           thing
           stirring
           there
           ,
           then
           in
           the
           other
           :
           and
           accordingly
           the
           blessing
           of
           the
           Lord
           (
           which
           was
           not
           to
           the
           form
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           life
           that
           was
           stirring
           within
           )
           did
           appear
           more
           among
           them
           But
           they
           ,
           fixing
           there
           ,
           lost
           the
           life
           and
           simplicity
           to
           which
           the
           blessing
           was
           ,
           and
           met
           with
           the
           death
           and
           the
           curse
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           proper
           reward
           of
           the
           form
           :
           for
           any
           form
           out
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           kils
           the
           life
           ;
           and
           its
           reward
           is
           death
           to
           it selfe
           .
           The
           form
           kils
           the
           life
           ,
           which
           stirred
           underneath
           ,
           and
           made
           it
           appear
           with
           some
           freshness
           ;
           and
           when
           the
           life
           ,
           from
           which
           it
           had
           its
           seeming
           beauty
           and
           lustre
           dyes
           ,
           then
           it
           soon
           withers
           and
           dyes
           also
           :
           so
           that
           the
           living
           principle
           being
           once
           slain
           ,
           there
           remains
           nothing
           but
           the
           dead
           spirit
           feeding
           on
           the
           dead
           form
           .
           There
           was
           one
           more
           pure
           appearance
           ,
           and
           neerer
           to
           the
           Kingdom
           then
           all
           these
           ,
           which
           was
           of
           seeking
           and
           waiting
           :
           but
           death
           overcame
           this
           also
           ,
           making
           a
           form
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           stealing
           in
           some
           observations
           from
           the
           letter
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           concerning
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           whereby
           their
           eyes
           were
           with
           held
           from
           beholdingthe
           inward
           principle
           and
           seed
           of
           life
           within
           ,
           to
           look
           for
           some
           great
           appearance
           of
           power
           without
           (
           such
           as
           was
           among
           the
           Apostles
           )
           to
           set
           things
           to
           rights
           ;
           and
           so
           they
           were
           held
           captive
           by
           the
           same
           spirit
           in
           their
           seeking
           and
           waiting
           ,
           whereby
           the
           others
           are
           held
           in
           their
           forms
           .
           Thus
           have
           persons
           generally
           missed
           the
           following
           of
           that
           good
           Spirit
           ,
           which
           began
           to
           lead
           them
           out
           
             Aegypt
             ,
          
           the
           dark
           Land
           ;
           and
           loosing
           their
           guid
           ,
           have
           fixed
           somewhere
           or
           other
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           resting
           in
           some
           form
           ,
           or
           in
           some
           notion
           or
           expectation
           of
           things
           (
           according
           as
           in
           their
           wisdome
           they
           have
           imagined
           from
           their
           skill
           in
           the
           letter
           )
           short
           of
           the
           life
           it selfe
           .
           Thus
           have
           their
           carkasses
           fallen
           in
           the
           Wildernesse
           .
        
         
           Now
           this
           I
           have
           to
           say
           to
           you
           all
           .
           All
           you
           who
           rest
           in
           any
           form
           whatsoever
           ,
           or
           rest
           in
           any
           notion
           or
           apprehension
           of
           things
           short
           of
           the
           life
           it selfe
           ,
           ye
           had
           een
           as
           good
           have
           stayed
           in
           
             Egypt
             ,
          
           as
           to
           fix
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           up
           a
           rest
           in
           the
           Wildernesse
           ,
           short
           of
           
             Canaan
             .
          
           In
           plain
           terms
           ,
           
           ye
           had
           as
           good
           have
           abided
           in
           Popery
           or
           in
           Episcopacy
           ,
           ye
           had
           been
           as
           acceptable
           to
           God
           there
           ,
           as
           here
           .
           Not
           that
           I
           say
           your
           forms
           of
           Indepedency
           ,
           Anabaptism
           ,
           or
           seeking
           ,
           are
           as
           bad
           as
           Popery
           ,
           Episcopacy
           ,
           or
           Presbittery
           ;
           nay
           they
           are
           all
           somewhat
           neerer
           ,
           and
           the
           last
           of
           them
           very
           much
           neerer
           :
           but
           your
           fixing
           there
           ,
           and
           the
           dead
           spirit
           feeding
           there
           on
           the
           dead
           thing
           ,
           is
           as
           remote
           from
           life
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           had
           gone
           quite
           backe
           again
           .
           And
           this
           dead
           spirit
           is
           as
           hatefull
           to
           God
           here
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           among
           the
           Papists
           ,
           yes
           and
           in
           one
           sence
           more
           ,
           because
           it
           makes
           a
           pretence
           beyond
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           the
           truth
           is
           ,
           ye
           have
           gone
           back
           againe
           ,
           though
           not
           in
           the
           direct
           ,
           form
           ,
           yet
           into
           that
           very
           spirit
           ,
           wherein
           Poperey's
           strength
           and
           kingdom
           lies
           ,
           &
           so
           are
           becom
           one
           of
           the
           beasts
           names
           ,
           &
           your
           strength
           &
           defence
           lies
           in
           the
           beasts
           horns
           ,
           either
           in
           the
           outward
           powers
           of
           the
           earth
           ,
           or
           in
           that
           inward
           knowledge
           of
           things
           and
           wisdome
           from
           the
           letter
           ,
           which
           is
           out
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           so
           are
           not
           yet
           come
           out
           of
           the
           City
           
             Babilon
             .
          
           For
           mark
           ,
           The
           spi●it
           that
           fixeth
           in
           a
           form
           short
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           that
           whored
           from
           the
           life
           :
           and
           the
           same
           spirit
           is
           the
           whore
           still
           ,
           in
           what
           form
           soever
           she
           be
           .
           The
           spirit
           that
           rose
           up
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           against
           the
           death
           and
           corruption
           whereof
           Popery
           wholly
           corsisted
           ,
           was
           a
           good
           spirit
           ,
           and
           this
           spirit
           would
           passe
           through
           all
           forms
           ,
           till
           it
           meet
           with
           the
           life
           :
           it
           is
           the
           other
           spirit
           that
           sayes
           to
           thee
           ,
           thou
           host
           gone
           far
           enough
           ,
           and
           so
           tempts
           to
           stay
           by
           the
           way
           .
           And
           he
           who
           hearkens
           to
           this
           spirit
           ,
           and
           staies
           anywhere
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           he
           is
           caught
           with
           the
           old
           whore
           in
           a
           new
           dresse
           ,
           and
           is
           drinking
           the
           cup
           of
           fornication
           afresh
           .
           And
           then
           like
           the
           Papists
           ,
           he
           runs
           to
           the
           powers
           of
           the
           earth
           ,
           to
           defend
           his
           form
           ,
           against
           the
           witnesses
           of
           God
           (
           and
           that
           's
           his
           cover
           under
           which
           he
           persecutes
           ,
           and
           there
           he
           lyes
           hid
           )
           or
           at
           least
           to
           his
           own
           wisdom
           and
           reason
           ,
           to
           strengthen
           himself
           with
           arguments
           for
           fixing
           here
           ,
           and
           against
           going
           any
           further
           .
           And
           then
           he
           grows
           wise
           in
           the
           flesh
           ,
           and
           cryes
           out
           against
           them
           ,
           who
           are
           stil
           led
           by
           the
           same
           spirit
           to
           presse
           on
           further
           ,
           as
           weak
           ,
           silly
           ,
           giddy
           ,
           Unsetled
           ,
           seduced
           people
           ,
           that
           can
           never
           know
           when
           they
           are
           well
           .
           Thus
           the
           wise
           Episcopalians
           revlied
           the
           simple-he-arted
           non-conformists
           ,
           who
           pursued
           further
           then
           they
           :
           and
           the
           non
           conformists
           ,
           when
           they
           lost
           their
           simplicity
           and
           begun
           to
           stick
           ,
           reviled
           those
           that
           pursued
           beyond
           them
           ▪
           and
           thus
           at
           this
           day
           ,
           those
           who
           are
           pressing
           on
           in
           the
           spirit
           ,
           are
           disdained
           by
           those
           who
           have
           took
           up
           their
           station
           in
           the
           flesh
           ,
           and
           with
           their
           two
           great
           horns
           ,
           of
           earthly
           power
           and
           earthly
           wisdome
           ,
           are
           they
           pushing
           at
           them
           .
        
         
           Look
           about
           you
           ,
           look
           about
           you
           ,
           all
           sorts
           of
           devout
           professors
           ,
           see
           where
           ye
           are
           :
           are
           you
           not
           dead
           in
           your
           forms
           ?
           is
           not
           the
           good
           old
           
           puritan
           principle
           (
           wherein
           once
           was
           true
           life
           in
           its
           measure
           )
           dead
           and
           buried
           there
           ?
           Consider
           with
           your selves
           ,
           hath
           that
           grown
           in
           your
           forms
           ,
           or
           hath
           it
           been
           slain
           there
           ?
           Speak
           the
           truth
           in
           your
           own
           hearts
           ,
           Can
           ye
           truly
           say
           ,
           from
           a
           sercible
           feeling
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           that
           that
           principle
           is
           still
           alive
           in
           you
           ?
           If
           it
           were
           so
           ,
           ye
           could
           never
           be
           drawn
           to
           persecute
           ,
           no
           nor
           to
           suffer
           persecution
           ,
           ye
           that
           have
           power
           to
           hinder
           it
           :
           but
           if
           that
           seed
           be
           choked
           ,
           then
           ye
           may
           well
           connive
           at
           ,
           if
           not
           further
           the
           enemy
           ,
           and
           plead
           for
           him
           ,
           and
           joyn
           i●terests
           with
           him
           .
           While
           
             Abel
          
           lived
           in
           you
           
             Cain
          
           could
           not
           rise
           up
           in
           his
           dominion
           ,
           but
           now
           the
           righteous
           seed
           is
           '
           slain
           ,
           the
           murthering
           nature
           appears
           .
           O
           hasten
           out
           of
           this
           spirit
           ,
           hasten
           out
           of
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           cast
           off
           the
           spirit
           of
           popery
           ,
           return
           to
           the
           old
           puritan
           ▪
           principle
           :
           Do
           not
           cry
           it
           up
           in
           deceit
           ,
           to
           oppose
           the
           present
           appearance
           of
           truth
           ,
           which
           is
           grown
           up
           further
           in
           it
           ;
           but
           subject
           that
           dead
           formall
           earthly
           spirit
           to
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           fallen
           beneath
           it
           :
           and
           when
           ye
           are
           come
           to
           a
           true
           touch
           f
           life
           there
           ,
           ye
           may
           be
           able
           to
           own
           the
           same
           truth
           in
           its
           growth
           to
           a
           further
           measure
           .
           But
           while
           thou
           art
           in
           the
           dead
           unde●standing
           and
           from
           the
           power
           and
           life
           of
           truth
           in
           thine
           own
           particular
           ,
           dost
           thou
           think
           to
           be
           able
           to
           measure
           truth
           aright
           in
           others
           .
           Nay
           ,
           thou
           measurest
           by
           a
           false
           appearance
           of
           things
           in
           the
           fallen
           understanding
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           wisdome
           which
           thou
           hast
           gathered
           there
           ,
           since
           thou
           thy selfe
           fellest
           from
           the
           living
           principle
           :
           and
           this
           must
           needs
           commend
           that
           most
           ,
           which
           is
           neerest
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           not
           that
           which
           is
           neerest
           to
           truth
           .
           And
           this
           is
           the
           great
           error
           of
           this
           age
           ,
           men
           with
           a
           gathered
           knowledge
           from
           Scripture-words
           ,
           without
           the
           true
           faith
           and
           life
           ,
           go
           about
           to
           measure
           that
           life
           and
           knowledge
           which
           comes
           from
           the
           faith
           :
           and
           because
           it
           suites
           not
           with
           the
           apprehensions
           which
           they
           have
           taken
           into
           their
           minds
           ,
           they
           condemn
           it
           .
           And
           thus
           being
           in
           the
           stumbling
           wi●dome
           and
           way
           of
           observation
           ,
           to
           which
           truth
           was
           never
           revealed
           ,
           but
           was
           ever
           an
           offence
           ,
           they
           stumb'e
           at
           it
           :
           and
           thus
           men
           generally
           dish
           ,
           and
           split
           themselves
           against
           the
           same
           rock
           now
           ,
           as
           the
           
             Pharisees
          
           did
           of
           old
           .
           Now
           this
           understanding
           must
           perish
           ,
           and
           this
           wisdome
           in
           men
           be
           brought
           to
           nought
           ;
           before
           that
           can
           be
           raised
           up
           which
           can
           judge
           aright
           .
        
         
           Hearken
           therefore
           to
           my
           exhortation
           ,
           as
           ye
           love
           your
           souls
           ,
           Come
           out
           of
           popery
           indeed
           and
           in
           truth
           ,
           come
           out
           of
           the
           spirit
           of
           popery
           ;
           burn
           the
           whore
           in
           her
           new
           forms
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           her
           old
           :
           Cast
           off
           all
           these
           new
           names
           of
           the
           Beast
           ,
           under
           which
           the
           old
           spirit
           has
           made
           a
           prey
           of
           the
           life
           in
           your
           own
           particulars
           ,
           and
           lies
           lurking
           to
           make
           a
           prey
           of
           the
           life
           in
           others
           ,
           and
           to
           force
           it
           into
           its
           own
           deceitfull
           forms
           of
           death
           ,
           and
           slay
           it
           .
           Leave
           defending
           your
           faith
           and
           church
           by
           the
           Beasts
           horns
           ,
           and
           come
           to
           that
           faith
           and
           church
           which
           is
           received
           ,
           gathered
           ,
           and
           defended
           
           by
           Christ
           the
           one
           horn
           of
           salvation
           .
           Leave
           your
           reasonings
           and
           disputings
           in
           that
           wisdome
           which
           has
           slain
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           come
           to
           that
           wisdome
           which
           comes
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           springs
           up
           in
           the
           life
           ;
           and
           ye
           will
           find
           more
           certainty
           and
           satisfaction
           in
           one
           touch
           of
           true
           life
           ,
           then
           in
           all
           the
           reasonings
           and
           disputes
           of
           wise
           men
           to
           the
           worlds
           end
           .
           The
           ground
           wherein
           mens
           religion
           grows
           (
           even
           of
           the
           most
           zealous
           )
           is
           bad
           ,
           even
           the
           same
           ground
           wherein
           the
           
             Pharisees
          
           religion
           stood
           and
           grew
           ;
           and
           it
           hath
           brought
           forth
           such
           kind
           of
           fruit
           ,
           namely
           ,
           such
           a
           kind
           of
           conformity
           to
           the
           letter
           ,
           as
           theirs
           was
           ,
           which
           stands
           in
           the
           understanding
           and
           will
           of
           man
           ,
           rearing
           up
           a
           pleasant
           building
           there
           ,
           but
           keeps
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           from
           building
           in
           it
           .
           But
           the
           true
           religion
           stands
           in
           receiving
           a
           principle
           of
           life
           ,
           which
           by
           its
           growth
           forms
           a
           vessell
           for
           it selfe
           s
           and
           all
           the
           former
           part
           ,
           wherein
           sin
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           ,
           or
           selfe
           righteousnesse
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           stood
           and
           grew
           ,
           passeth
           away
           .
        
         
           These
           things
           following
           strike
           at
           the
           King
           of
           
             Babilon
          
           himselfe
           ,
           yea
           even
           at
           the
           very
           root
           of
           the
           Antichristian
           spirit
           in
           every
           man
           ,
           which
           he
           that
           can
           mild
           y
           receive
           the
           stroake
           of
           ,
           may
           feel
           the
           true
           Spirit
           of
           life
           (
           which
           lies
           slain
           underneath
           )
           spring
           up
           in
           him
           ,
           and
           give
           life
           to
           his
           soul
           ;
           which
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           delivered
           ,
           will
           be
           able
           truly
           to
           know
           and
           rejoyce
           in
           the
           Lord
           its
           Saviour
           .
           And
           when
           the
           root
           of
           that
           spirit
           is
           cut
           downe
           (
           which
           never
           brought
           forth
           sweet
           pleasant
           fruit
           unto
           life
           ,
           but
           only
           sowre
           fruit
           ,
           finely
           p●inted
           and
           dressed
           for
           the
           eye
           and
           palate
           of
           death
           )
           its
           body
           ,
           branches
           ,
           leaves
           and
           fruit
           will
           wither
           and
           dye
           dayly
           ,
           and
           truth
           come
           to
           grow
           safely
           .
        
      
    
     
       
       
         
           A
           Distinction
           between
           the
           faith
           which
           is
           of
           man
           ,
           and
           the
           faith
           which
           is
           of
           GOD
           :
           One
           whereof
           is
           the
           Faith
           of
           Sion
           ,
           the
           other
           the
           Faith
           of
           Babilon
           ;
           the
           one
           laying
           hold
           on
           Christ
           ,
           as
           he
           is
           revealed
           the
           King
           of
           life
           in
           Sion
           ,
           the
           other
           layes
           hold
           on
           an
           Historicall
           relation
           of
           Christ
           ,
           the
           fame
           whereof
           hath
           sounded
           in
           Babilon
           .
        
         
           THere
           is
           a
           faith
           which
           is
           of
           a
           mans
           selfe
           ,
           and
           a
           faith
           which
           is
           the
           gift
           of
           God
           ;
           or
           a
           power
           of
           beleeving
           which
           is
           found
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           fallen
           man
           ,
           and
           a
           power
           of
           believing
           which
           is
           given
           from
           above
           .
           As
           there
           are
           two
           births
           ,
           the
           first
           and
           the
           second
           ;
           so
           they
           have
           each
           their
           faith
           ,
           and
           each
           beleeve
           with
           their
           faith
           ,
           and
           seem
           to
           lay
           h●ld
           on
           the
           same
           thing
           for
           life
           ;
           and
           the
           contention
           about
           the
           inheritance
           will
           not
           be
           ended
           ,
           till
           God
           determine
           it
           .
           
             Cain
          
           will
           sacrifice
           with
           his
           faith
           ,
           and
           he
           beleeves
           he
           shall
           be
           accepted
           :
           if
           he
           had
           not
           beleeved
           so
           ,
           he
           would
           not
           have
           been
           so
           angry
           when
           he
           found
           it
           otherwise
           .
           And
           the
           
             Cainish
          
           spirit
           in
           man
           ,
           the
           vagabond
           from
           the
           life
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           hath
           not
           an
           habitation
           in
           God
           ,
           nor
           the
           eternall
           life
           of
           God
           abiding
           in
           him
           ,
           he
           is
           busie
           with
           the
           same
           faith
           at
           this
           day
           ,
           and
           hath
           the
           same
           expectation
           from
           it
           ,
           as
           
             Cain
          
           had
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           root
           of
           the
           false
           religion
           ,
           of
           the
           false
           hope
           ,
           of
           the
           false
           peace
           ,
           of
           the
           false
           joy
           ,
           of
           the
           false
           rest
           ,
           of
           the
           false
           comfort
           ,
           of
           the
           false
           assurance
           ,
           as
           the
           other
           is
           the
           root
           of
           the
           true
           .
           In
           this
           faith
           which
           is
           of
           man
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           improvement
           of
           it
           stands
           all
           the
           knowledge
           ,
           zeal
           ,
           devotion
           ,
           and
           worship
           of
           the
           world
           in
           generall
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           worldly
           part
           in
           every
           man
           in
           particular
           :
           but
           the
           true
           knowledge
           ,
           the
           true
           zeale
           ,
           the
           true
           devotion
           ,
           the
           true
           worship
           
           stands
           in
           the
           faith
           which
           is
           given
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           them
           which
           are
           born
           of
           the
           immortall
           seed
           ,
           which
           li●es
           in
           God
           ,
           and
           in
           which
           God
           lives
           for
           ever
           .
        
         
           Now
           it
           deeply
           concerns
           every
           man
           to
           consider
           ,
           from
           which
           of
           these
           his
           knowledg
           ,
           religion
           ,
           and
           worship
           proceed
           ,
           and
           in
           which
           of
           them
           they
           stand
           :
           for
           if
           they
           proceed
           from
           ,
           and
           stand
           in
           the
           faith
           which
           is
           of
           man
           ,
           they
           cannot
           please
           God
           ,
           nor
           conduce
           to
           the
           salvation
           of
           the
           soule
           ;
           but
           though
           they
           may
           tast
           very
           pleasantly
           to
           mans
           pallate
           now
           ,
           and
           administer
           much
           hope
           ,
           and
           satisfaction
           to
           him
           at
           present
           ,
           yet
           they
           will
           faile
           at
           the
           time
           of
           need
           :
           For
           as
           Christ
           said
           concerning
           the
           righteousnesse
           of
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Pharisees
           ,
           so
           may
           I
           say
           concerning
           this
           faith
           :
           
             Except
             your
             faith
             ,
             with
             the
             works
             of
             it
             ,
             exceed
             that
             faith
             and
             all
             the
             works
             of
             it
          
           (
           even
           to
           the
           utmost
           improvement
           thereof
           )
           
             which
             is
             to
             be
             found
             in
             mans
             nature
             ,
             it
             will
             never
             lead
             you
             to
             the
             kingdom
             of
             God
             ,
             nor
             be
             able
             to
             give
             you
             any
             right
             to
             the
             inheritance
             of
             life
             ;
          
           For
           he
           that
           will
           inherit
           ,
           must
           be
           the
           right
           heir
           ,
           must
           have
           the
           faith
           of
           
             Abraham
             ,
          
           the
           faith
           of
           
             Isaac●
          
           which
           springs
           up
           from
           the
           root
           of
           life
           in
           the
           seed
           ▪
           and
           this
           leads
           the
           seed
           into
           that
           spring
           of
           life
           (
           out
           of
           which
           it
           shot
           forth
           as
           a
           branch
           )
           which
           is
           the
           inheritance
           promised
           to
           the
           seed
           .
           And
           here
           is
           Christ
           ,
           
             Alpha
          
           and
           
             Omega
             ,
          
           in
           every
           particular
           soul
           ,
           where
           life
           is
           begun
           and
           perfected
           ,
           ●unning
           its
           course
           through
           time
           ,
           back
           to
           that
           which
           was
           before
           the
           beginning
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           observe
           and
           consider
           well
           ,
           what
           this
           faith
           which
           is
           of
           a
           mans
           selfe
           can
           doe
           ,
           and
           how
           far
           it
           may
           goe
           in
           the
           changing
           of
           man
           ,
           and
           in
           producing
           a
           conformity
           of
           him
           to
           the
           letter
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           And
           then
           consider
           where
           it
           is
           shut
           out
           ,
           what
           it
           cannot
           do
           ,
           what
           change
           it
           cannot
           make
           ,
           what
           it
           cannot
           conform
           to
           ,
           that
           so
           the
           true
           distinction
           may
           be
           let
           into
           the
           mind
           ,
           and
           not
           a
           foundation
           layed
           of
           so
           great
           a
           mistake
           in
           a
           matter
           of
           so
           great
           concernment
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           A
           man
           may
           beleeve
           the
           history
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           yea
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           doctrines
           of
           them
           (
           so
           far
           as
           he
           can
           reach
           them
           with
           his
           understanding
           )
           with
           this
           faith
           which
           is
           of
           man
           .
           As
           by
           this
           faith
           a
           man
           can
           believe
           an
           history
           probably
           related
           to
           him
           ;
           so
           by
           this
           faith
           may
           he
           beleeve
           the
           historyes
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           which
           are
           more
           then
           probably
           related
           .
           As
           by
           this
           faith
           a
           man
           can
           receive
           doctrines
           of
           instruction
           out
           of
           Philosophers
           books
           ,
           so
           by
           the
           same
           faith
           he
           may
           receive
           doctrins
           of
           instruction
           out
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           
           Reading
           a
           relation
           of
           the
           fall
           of
           man
           ,
           of
           the
           recovery
           by
           Christ
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           other
           way
           to
           life
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
           This
           faith
           can
           beleeve
           the
           relation
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           it
           can
           beleeve
           the
           relation
           of
           other
           things
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           This
           being
           believed
           from
           the
           relation
           of
           the
           history
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           this
           naturally
           sets
           all
           the
           powers
           of
           man
           on
           work
           (
           kindling
           the
           understanding
           will
           and
           affections
           )
           towards
           the
           avoiding
           of
           misery
           ,
           and
           the
           attaining
           of
           happinesse
           .
           What
           would
           not
           a
           man
           doe
           ,
           to
           avoid
           perpetuall
           extremity
           of
           misery
           on
           soul
           and
           body
           for
           ever
           ,
           and
           to
           obtain
           a
           crowne
           of
           everlasting
           blessednesse
           ?
           This
           boils
           the
           affections
           to
           an
           height
           ,
           and
           sets
           the
           understanding
           on
           work
           to
           the
           utmost
           ,
           to
           gather
           all
           the
           rules
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           to
           practise
           all
           the
           duties
           and
           ordinances
           therein
           mentioned
           ?
           What
           can
           the
           Scripture
           propose
           to
           be
           believed
           ,
           that
           he
           will
           not
           believe
           ?
           What
           can
           it
           propose
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           that
           he
           will
           not
           do
           ?
           Must
           he
           pray
           ?
           he
           will
           pray
           .
           Must
           be
           heat
           ?
           he
           will
           hear
           .
           Must
           he
           read
           ?
           he
           will
           read
           .
           Must
           he
           meditate
           ?
           he
           will
           meditate
           .
           Must
           he
           deny
           himselfe
           and
           all
           his
           own
           righteousnesse
           ,
           and
           duties
           ,
           and
           hope
           only
           for
           salvation
           in
           the
           merits
           of
           Christ
           ?
           he
           will
           seeme
           to
           do
           that
           to
           ,
           and
           say
           ,
           when
           he
           has
           done
           all
           he
           can
           ,
           he
           is
           but
           an
           unprofitable
           servant
           .
           Does
           the
           Scripture
           say
           he
           can
           doe
           nothing
           without
           the
           Spirit
           ?
           he
           will
           acknowledge
           that
           too
           ,
           and
           he
           hopes
           he
           has
           the
           Spirit
           ;
           God
           hath
           promised
           the
           Spirit
           to
           them
           that
           aske
           it
           :
           and
           he
           has
           asked
           long
           ,
           and
           asks
           still
           ,
           and
           therefore
           he
           hopes
           he
           has
           it
           .
           Thus
           man
           by
           a
           naturall
           faith
           grows
           up
           ,
           and
           spreads
           into
           a
           great
           tree
           ,
           and
           is
           very
           confident
           ,
           and
           much
           pleased
           ,
           not
           perceiving
           the
           defect
           in
           his
           root
           ,
           and
           what
           all
           his
           growth
           here
           will
           come
           to
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           This
           being
           done
           with
           much
           seriousnes
           and
           industry
           ,
           there
           must
           needs
           follow
           a
           great
           change
           in
           man
           :
           his
           understanding
           will
           be
           more
           and
           more
           enlightened
           ,
           his
           will
           more
           and
           more
           conformed
           to
           that
           ,
           to
           which
           he
           thus
           gives
           himselfe
           up
           ,
           and
           to
           which
           he
           thus
           bends
           himselfe
           with
           all
           his
           strength
           ▪
           his
           affections
           more
           and
           more
           warmed
           ,
           he
           will
           find
           a
           kind
           of
           life
           ,
           and
           growth
           in
           this
           according
           to
           its
           kind
           .
           Let
           a
           mans
           heart
           be
           in
           any
           kind
           of
           study
           or
           knowledg
           ,
           applying
           himselfe
           strictly
           to
           it
           ,
           he
           gathers
           understanding
           in
           his
           mind
           ,
           and
           warmth
           in
           his
           affections
           :
           so
           it
           is
           also
           here
           .
           Yea
           this
           being
           more
           excellent
           in
           it selfe
           ,
           must
           needs
           produce
           a
           more
           excellent
           understanding
           ,
           and
           a
           more
           excellent
           warmth
           ,
           and
           have
           a
           
           greater
           power
           and
           influence
           upon
           the
           will
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Now
           how
           easie
           is
           it
           for
           a
           man
           to
           mistake
           here
           ,
           and
           call
           this
           the
           truth
           ?
           First
           ,
           he
           mistakes
           this
           for
           the
           true
           faith
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           mistakes
           in
           applying
           to
           this
           all
           that
           which
           belongs
           to
           the
           true
           faith
           :
           and
           thus
           entring
           into
           the
           spirit
           of
           error
           at
           first
           ,
           he
           errs
           in
           the
           whole
           course
           of
           his
           religion
           ,
           from
           the
           beginning
           to
           the
           end
           .
           He
           sees
           a
           change
           made
           by
           this
           in
           him
           ,
           and
           this
           he
           accounts
           the
           true
           conversion
           and
           regeneration
           .
           This
           leads
           him
           to
           ask
           and
           seek
           and
           pray
           ,
           and
           this
           he
           counts
           the
           true
           praying
           ,
           the
           true
           seeking
           ,
           the
           true
           asking
           .
           This
           cleanseth
           (
           after
           its
           kind
           )
           his
           understanding
           ,
           will
           ,
           and
           affections
           ,
           and
           this
           he
           takes
           for
           the
           true
           sanctification
           .
           The
           justification
           which
           is
           to
           the
           true
           beleever
           ,
           he
           also
           aplyes
           to
           this
           faith
           :
           &
           so
           he
           has
           a
           peace
           ,
           ●
           satisfaction
           ,
           a
           rest
           here
           ,
           and
           an
           hope
           of
           happinesse
           hereafter
           .
           Thus
           he
           receives
           what
           is
           already
           revealed
           ,
           &
           he
           waits
           for
           what
           may
           be
           further
           revealed
           ,
           which
           he
           can
           embrace
           and
           conform
           to
           ,
           turning
           still
           upon
           this
           center
           ,
           and
           growing
           up
           from
           this
           root
           .
           And
           he
           that
           does
           not
           come
           hither
           in
           religion
           ,
           falls
           short
           of
           the
           improvement
           of
           mans
           nature
           and
           of
           the
           faith
           that
           grows
           there
           ,
           (
           which
           naturally
           leads
           all
           the
           powers
           of
           nature
           hither
           ,
           and
           fixes
           them
           here
           )
           which
           is
           but
           dead
           .
           And
           now
           this
           man
           is
           safe
           ,
           he
           is
           a
           beleever
           ,
           he
           is
           a
           worshipper
           of
           God
           ,
           he
           is
           a
           Christian
           ,
           he
           is
           an
           observer
           of
           the
           commands
           of
           Christ
           :
           when
           the
           overflowing
           scourge
           comes
           ,
           it
           shall
           not
           touch
           him
           :
           all
           the
           judgements
           ,
           plagues
           ,
           threatnings
           in
           the
           Scripture
           belong
           not
           to
           him
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           unbelievers
           ,
           to
           them
           that
           know
           not
           God
           ,
           to
           them
           that
           worship
           not
           God
           ,
           to
           them
           that
           observe
           not
           the
           commands
           of
           Christ
           :
           thus
           by
           his
           untempered
           morter
           ,
           from
           his
           false
           faith
           ;
           he
           has
           built
           up
           a
           wall
           against
           the
           deluge
           of
           wrath
           ,
           which
           wall
           will
           tumble
           down
           upon
           him
           when
           the
           wrath
           comes
           .
           The
           growth
           of
           this
           faith
           ,
           and
           great
           spreading
           of
           it
           into
           all
           this
           knowledg
           ,
           zeal
           ,
           and
           devotion
           ,
           hath
           not
           changed
           the
           nature
           of
           it
           all
           this
           while
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           the
           same
           that
           it
           was
           at
           the
           beginning
           ,
           even
           a
           power
           of
           nature
           in
           the
           first
           birth
           ,
           and
           all
           these
           fruits
           are
           but
           the
           fruits
           of
           the
           first
           nature
           ,
           which
           is
           still
           alive
           under
           all
           this
           .
           All
           this
           can
           never
           kill
           the
           principle
           out
           of
           which
           it
           grows
           ,
           but
           feeds
           it
           more
           and
           fattens
           it
           for
           the
           slaughter
           .
        
         
           Thus
           far
           this
           faith
           can
           go
           :
           But
           then
           there
           is
           somewhat
           it
           is
           shut
           out
           of
           at
           the
           very
           first
           .
           There
           is
           somewhat
           this
           faith
           cannot
           receive
           ,
           beleeve
           ,
           or
           enter
           into
           .
           What
           is
           that
           ?
           It
           is
           the
           life
           ,
           the
           
           power
           ,
           the
           inward
           part
           of
           this
           .
           Though
           it
           may
           seem
           to
           have
           unity
           with
           all
           the
           Scriptures
           in
           the
           letter
           ,
           yet
           it
           cannot
           have
           unity
           with
           one
           Scripture
           in
           the
           life
           :
           for
           its
           nature
           is
           shut
           out
           of
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           things
           there
           witnessed
           .
           As
           for
           instance
           ,
           it
           may
           have
           a
           litterall
           knowledge
           of
           Christ
           ,
           according
           as
           the
           Scripture
           relates
           :
           of
           his
           birth
           ,
           preaching
           ,
           miracles
           ,
           death
           ,
           resurrection
           ,
           ascention
           ,
           intercession
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
           Yea
           ,
           but
           the
           thing
           spoken
           of
           ,
           it
           knoweth
           not
           .
           The
           nature
           of
           Christ
           (
           which
           is
           the
           Christ
           )
           is
           hid
           from
           that
           eye
           .
           So
           it
           may
           have
           a
           litterall
           knowledg
           of
           the
           blood
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           of
           justification
           ,
           but
           the
           life
           of
           the
           blood
           which
           livingly
           justifieth
           ,
           that
           birth
           cannot
           feele
           ;
           but
           can
           only
           talk
           of
           it
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           relation
           it
           reads
           in
           the
           Scripture
           .
           So
           it
           may
           have
           a
           litterall
           knowledge
           of
           sanctification
           ,
           but
           the
           thing
           that
           sanctifieth
           ,
           it
           cannot
           receive
           into
           it selfe
           .
           So
           for
           redemption
           ,
           peace
           ,
           joy
           ,
           hope
           ,
           love
           ,
           
             &c.
          
           it
           may
           get
           into
           the
           outward
           part
           of
           all
           these
           ,
           but
           the
           inward
           part
           ,
           the
           life
           ,
           the
           spirit
           of
           them
           ,
           it
           is
           shut
           out
           of
           ,
           and
           cannot
           touch
           or
           come
           neer
           ,
           nor
           can
           it
           witnesse
           that
           change
           ,
           which
           is
           felt
           and
           knowne
           here
           .
           And
           here
           is
           the
           great
           contention
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           between
           these
           two
           births
           ,
           the
           one
           contending
           for
           their
           knowledge
           in
           the
           letter
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           contending
           for
           their
           knowledge
           in
           the
           life
           ▪
           the
           one
           setting
           up
           their
           faith
           from
           the
           naturall
           part
           ,
           calling
           it
           spirituall
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           who
           have
           felt
           the
           stroake
           of
           God
           upon
           this
           (
           and
           thereby
           come
           to
           know
           the
           difference
           )
           setting
           up
           the
           faith
           of
           the
           true
           heir
           ,
           which
           faith
           hath
           a
           different
           beginning
           ,
           and
           a
           different
           growth
           from
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           will
           be
           welcomed
           into
           the
           Land
           and
           Kingdom
           of
           life
           ,
           when
           the
           other
           will
           be
           manifested
           to
           be
           but
           the
           birth
           of
           the
           bondwoman
           ,
           and
           be
           thrust
           forth
           with
           its
           mother
           to
           seek
           their
           bread
           abroad
           :
           for
           the
           seed
           of
           the
           bondwoman
           is
           not
           to
           inherit
           with
           
             Isaac
             ,
          
           the
           seed
           of
           promise
           .
        
         
           
             Quest
             .
          
           What
           then
           is
           that
           faith
           which
           is
           the
           gift
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           which
           is
           distinct
           from
           this
           ?
        
         
           
             Answ.
          
           It
           is
           that
           power
           of
           beleeving
           which
           springs
           out
           of
           the
           seed
           of
           eternall
           life
           ,
           and
           leavens
           the
           heart
           ,
           not
           with
           notions
           of
           knowledge
           ,
           but
           with
           the
           powers
           of
           life
           .
           The
           other
           faith
           is
           drawn
           out
           of
           mans
           nature
           ,
           by
           considerations
           which
           affect
           the
           naturall
           part
           ,
           and
           is
           kept
           alive
           by
           naturall
           exercises
           of
           reading
           ,
           hearing
           ,
           praying
           ,
           studying
           ,
           meditating
           in
           that
           part
           ;
           but
           this
           springs
           out
           of
           a
           seed
           of
           life
           given
           ,
           and
           grows
           up
           in
           the
           life
           of
           that
           seed
           ,
           and
           feeds
           on
           nothing
           but
           the
           flesh
           and
           blood
           of
           Christ
           ,
           in
           which
           is
           the
           
           living
           vertue
           ,
           and
           immortall
           nourishment
           of
           that
           which
           is
           immortall
           .
           This
           faith
           at
           its
           first
           entrance
           ,
           strikes
           that
           part
           dead
           in
           which
           the
           other
           faith
           did
           grow
           :
           and
           by
           its
           growth
           perfects
           that
           death
           ,
           and
           raiseth
           up
           a
           life
           which
           is
           of
           another
           nature
           ,
           then
           ever
           entred
           into
           the
           heart
           of
           man
           to
           conceive
           .
           And
           by
           the
           death
           of
           this
           part
           in
           us
           ,
           we
           come
           to
           know
           and
           enjoy
           life
           :
           and
           by
           the
           life
           we
           have
           received
           ,
           know
           ,
           and
           enjoy
           ,
           we
           come
           to
           see
           that
           which
           other
           men
           call
           life
           (
           and
           which
           we
           our selves
           were
           apt
           to
           call
           life
           formerly
           )
           to
           be
           but
           death
           .
           And
           from
           this
           true
           knowledg
           ,
           we
           give
           a
           true
           testimony
           to
           the
           world
           of
           what
           we
           have
           seen
           and
           felt
           ,
           but
           no
           man
           receiveth
           our
           testimony
           .
           It
           grieves
           us
           to
           the
           heart
           ,
           to
           see
           men
           set
           up
           a
           perishing
           thing
           as
           the
           way
           to
           life
           ,
           and
           our
           bowells
           are
           exceedingly
           kindled
           ,
           when
           we
           behold
           an
           honest
           zeal
           and
           simplicity
           betrayed
           ,
           and
           in
           tender
           love
           do
           we
           warn
           men
           of
           the
           pi●
           ,
           into
           which
           they
           are
           generally
           running
           so
           fast
           ,
           though
           men
           reward
           us
           with
           hatred
           for
           our
           good
           will
           ,
           and
           become
           ou●
           bitter
           enemies
           because
           we
           tell
           them
           the
           truth
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           necessary
           truth
           for
           them
           to
           know
           ;
           which
           they
           can
           bear
           neither
           in
           plain
           words
           ,
           nor
           yet
           in
           parables
           .
           Yet
           be
           not
           rough
           and
           angry
           ,
           but
           meekly
           wait
           to
           read
           this
           following
           parable
           aright
           ,
           and
           it
           will
           open
           into
           life
           .
           The
           parable
           is
           briefly
           this
           .
        
         
           That
           which
           sold
           the
           birth-right
           ,
           seeks
           the
           birth
           right
           ,
           with
           tears
           and
           great
           pains
           ,
           but
           shall
           never
           recover
           it
           :
           but
           there
           is
           one
           which
           lies
           dead
           (
           which
           hath
           the
           promise
           )
           which
           stirs
           not
           ,
           which
           seeks
           not
           ,
           till
           he
           is
           raised
           by
           the
           power
           of
           the
           fathers
           life
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           wrestles
           with
           the
           father
           ,
           prevails
           ,
           and
           gets
           the
           blessing
           from
           him
           .
           Therefore
           know
           that
           part
           which
           is
           up
           first
           ,
           and
           is
           so
           busie
           in
           the
           willing
           and
           in
           the
           running
           ,
           and
           makes
           such
           a
           noise
           about
           duties
           ,
           and
           ordinances
           ,
           and
           graces
           ,
           to
           keep
           down
           the
           life
           which
           it
           hath
           slain
           :
           and
           know
           that
           seed
           of
           life
           which
           is
           the
           heir
           ,
           which
           lyes
           underneath
           all
           this
           ,
           and
           must
           remain
           slain
           ,
           while
           this
           lives
           ;
           but
           if
           ever
           ye
           hear
           the
           voice
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           this
           will
           live
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           dye
           .
           And
           happy
           for
           ever
           will
           he
           be
           ,
           who
           knows
           this
           !
           but
           misery
           will
           be
           his
           portion
           ,
           who
           cannot
           witnesse
           a
           thorow
           change
           by
           the
           Almighty
           power
           of
           the
           living
           God
           ,
           but
           hath
           only
           painted
           the
           old
           nature
           and
           Sepulcher
           ,
           but
           never
           knew
           the
           old
           bottle
           broken
           ,
           and
           a
           new
           one
           formed
           ,
           which
           alone
           is
           able
           to
           receive
           and
           retain
           the
           new
           wine
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           whereas
           the
           other
           (
           Pharisee
           like
           )
           can
           only
           receive
           a
           relation
           of
           the
           letter
           concerning
           the
           Kingdom
           .
        
      
       
       
         
           SOME
           Assertions
           concerning
           faith
           ,
           its
           nature
           ,
           rise
           ,
           &c.
           with
           its
           receiving
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           what
           follows
           thereupon
           ,
           namely
           ,
           a
           growing
           in
           his
           living
           vertue
           ,
           with
           a
           knowledge
           of
           the
           true
           ,
           living
           ,
           unerring
           rule
           ,
           and
           an
           obedience
           to
           it
           in
           the
           life
           .
        
         
           
             Assertion
             I.
             
          
           
             
               THat
               the
               true
               faith
               ,
            
             the
             faith
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             the
             faith
             of
             the
             Elect
             ,
             the
             faith
             which
             saves
             the
             sinner
             from
             sin
             ,
             and
             makes
             him
             more
             then
             a
             conquerour
             over
             sin
             and
             the
             powers
             of
             darknes
             ,
             
               is
               a
               beliefe
               in
               the
               nature
               of
               God
               ;
            
             which
             belief
             giveth
             entrance
             into
             ,
             fixeth
             in
             ,
             and
             causeth
             an
             abiding
             in
             that
             nature
             .
             U●belief
             entreth
             into
             death
             ,
             and
             fixeth
             in
             the
             death
             :
             faith
             giveth
             entrance
             into
             ,
             and
             fixeth
             in
             the
             life
             .
             Faith
             is
             an
             ingrafting
             into
             the
             Vine
             ,
             a
             partaking
             of
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             Vine
             ,
             a
             sucking
             of
             the
             juice
             of
             life
             from
             the
             vine
             ,
             which
             nothing
             is
             able
             to
             do
             but
             the
             faith
             ,
             but
             the
             beliefe
             in
             the
             nature
             .
             (
             And
             nothing
             can
             beleeve
             in
             the
             nature
             ,
             but
             what
             is
             one
             with
             the
             nature
             .
             )
             So
             then
             ,
             faith
             is
             not
             a
             beleeving
             the
             history
             of
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             or
             a
             beleeving
             and
             applying
             the
             promises
             ,
             or
             a
             beleeving
             that
             Christ
             dyed
             for
             sinners
             in
             generall
             ,
             or
             for
             me
             in
             particular
             ;
             for
             all
             this
             may
             be
             done
             by
             the
             unbelieving
             nature
             (
             like
             the
             
               Jew
            
             )
             but
             an
             uniting
             to
             the
             nature
             of
             God
             in
             Christ
             ,
             which
             the
             unbeliever
             starts
             from
             ,
             in
             the
             midst
             of
             his
             believing
             of
             these
             .
             Yet
             I
             do
             not
             deny
             that
             all
             these
             things
             are
             to
             be
             believed
             ,
             and
             are
             believed
             with
             the
             true
             faith
             :
             But
             this
             I
             affirm
             ,
             that
             they
             also
             may
             be
             believed
             without
             the
             true
             faith
             ,
             and
             that
             such
             a
             belief
             of
             these
             doth
             not
             determin
             a
             man
             to
             be
             a
             believer
             in
             the
             sight
             of
             God
             ,
             but
             onely
             the
             union
             with
             the
             nature
             of
             that
             life
             from
             whence
             all
             these
             sprang
             ,
             and
             in
             which
             alone
             they
             have
             their
             true
             value
             .
          
        
         
           
             II.
             
          
           
             
               That
               the
               true
               faith
               springs
               from
               the
               true
               knowledge
               ,
            
             or
             comes
             with
             the
             true
             knowledge
             of
             the
             true
             nature
             of
             God
             in
             Christ
             ,
             which
             it
             believes
             in
             .
             He
             can
             never
             believe
             in
             the
             nature
             of
             God
             ,
             who
             hath
             not
             first
             the
             nature
             of
             God
             revealed
             to
             him
             .
             If
             a
             man
             search
             the
             Scriptures
             all
             his
             dayes
             ,
             hear
             all
             that
             can
             be
             said
             by
             men
             
             concerning
             God
             ,
             Christ
             ,
             faith
             ,
             justification
             ,
             
               &c.
            
             be
             able
             to
             dispute
             about
             them
             ,
             and
             think
             he
             can
             make
             his
             tenets
             good
             against
             all
             the
             world
             ;
             yet
             if
             he
             hath
             not
             received
             the
             true
             knowledge
             of
             the
             nature
             of
             these
             things
             ,
             all
             his
             professed
             faith
             in
             them
             cannot
             be
             true
             .
          
        
         
           
             III.
             
          
           
             
               That
               the
               true
               knowledge
               ,
               is
               only
               to
               be
               had
               by
               the
               immediate
               revelation
               of
               Christ
               on
               the
               soul
               .
               No
               man
               knows
               the
               Father
               ,
               but
               the
               Son
               ,
               and
               he
               to
               whom
               the
               Son
               reveals
               him
               .
               The
               dead
               shall
               hear
               the
               voyce
               of
               the
               Son
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               they
               that
               hear
               ,
               shall
               live
               .
            
             There
             is
             no
             raising
             of
             a
             dead
             soule
             to
             life
             ,
             but
             by
             the
             immediate
             voyce
             of
             Christ
             .
             Outward
             preaching
             ,
             reading
             the
             Scriptures
             
               &c
            
             may
             direct
             ,
             and
             incourage
             men
             to
             hearken
             after
             and
             waite
             for
             the
             voyce
             ,
             but
             it
             is
             the
             immediate
             voyce
             of
             Christ
             in
             the
             soul
             ,
             which
             alone
             can
             quicken
             the
             soule
             to
             God
             :
             and
             till
             the
             light
             of
             life
             shine
             immediatly
             from
             Christ
             in
             the
             heart
             ,
             the
             true
             knowledge
             is
             never
             given
             ,
             2
             
               Cor.
            
             4.
             6.
             
             Therefore
             they
             that
             never
             yet
             heard
             the
             immediate
             voice
             of
             Christ
             ,
             are
             still
             dead
             in
             their
             sins
             ,
             and
             have
             not
             yet
             received
             the
             true
             living
             knowledge
             ,
             but
             a
             dead
             litterall
             knowledge
             ,
             which
             gives
             a
             false
             shining
             of
             things
             in
             the
             dead
             part
             ,
             but
             kills
             the
             life
             .
             Indeed
             the
             proper
             use
             of
             all
             means
             ,
             is
             to
             bring
             to
             the
             immediate
             voice
             ,
             life
             ,
             and
             power
             ;
             and
             till
             this
             be
             done
             ,
             till
             the
             soule
             come
             to
             that
             ,
             to
             hear
             that
             ,
             to
             feele
             that
             ,
             to
             be
             rooted
             there
             ,
             there
             is
             nothing
             done
             that
             will
             stand
             ,
             but
             men
             stick
             by
             the
             way
             ,
             crying
             up
             the
             means
             the
             means
             ,
             and
             never
             knowing
             ,
             tasting
             ,
             or
             enjoying
             the
             thing
             which
             the
             means
             point
             to
             ▪
             But
             he
             that
             knows
             God
             ,
             comes
             into
             the
             immediate
             presence
             ;
             and
             he
             that
             dayly
             lives
             in
             God
             ,
             lives
             in
             the
             immediate
             life
             ;
             and
             the
             true
             faith
             leads
             to
             this
             ,
             giving
             the
             soul
             such
             a
             touch
             and
             tast
             of
             it
             at
             first
             ,
             as
             makes
             it
             unsatisfiable
             without
             it
             .
             By
             this
             Christ
             cuts
             off
             the
             
               Jewes
            
             with
             all
             their
             zeale
             and
             knowledge
             ,
             
               Joh.
            
             5.
             37
             ,
             38.
             
             
               Ye
               have
               not
               heard
               his
               voyce
               at
               any
               time
               ,
               nor
               seen
               his
               shape
               ▪
               and
               ye
               have
               not
               his
               word
               abiding
               in
               you
               .
            
             There
             's
             the
             hearing
             of
             the
             voyce
             ,
             the
             sight
             of
             the
             shape
             ,
             and
             the
             having
             of
             the
             word
             of
             God
             abiding
             in
             the
             heart
             ,
             which
             gives
             both
             the
             hearing
             of
             the
             voyce
             ,
             and
             the
             sight
             of
             the
             shape
             ,
             and
             keeps
             the
             soule
             quick
             and
             living
             in
             the
             life
             .
             The
             voyce
             gives
             life
             ,
             the
             sight
             of
             the
             shape
             daily
             conforms
             into
             the
             image
             ,
             which
             is
             beheld
             by
             the
             eye
             of
             life
             ,
             and
             the
             word
             abiding
             in
             the
             heart
             nourishes
             ,
             and
             feeds
             
             the
             living
             soul
             with
             the
             pure
             bread
             of
             life
             .
             But
             the
             
               Jews
            
             knew
             not
             this
             ,
             but
             were
             crying
             up
             their
             Sabbaths
             ,
             the
             Law
             of
             
               Moses
               ,
            
             the
             ordinances
             of
             
               Moses
               ,
            
             the
             Temple
             of
             God
             ,
             the
             instituted
             worship
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             so
             were
             shut
             out
             of
             the
             thing
             it selfe
             ,
             (
             which
             those
             things
             ended
             in
             )
             and
             out
             of
             a
             capacity
             of
             receiving
             it
             .
             And
             thus
             many
             zealous
             ones
             at
             this
             day
             ,
             not
             having
             come
             to
             this
             ,
             no
             more
             then
             the
             
               Jews
            
             did
             ,
             but
             sticking
             in
             the
             letter
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             as
             the
             
               Jews
            
             did
             in
             the
             letter
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             stumble
             at
             the
             present
             dispensation
             of
             life
             ,
             and
             cannot
             do
             otherwise
             .
          
        
         
           
             IV.
             
          
           
             
               That
               Christs
               immediate
               revelation
               of
               the
               nature
               of
               his
               Father
               ,
               is
               to
               his
               babes
               .
            
             Not
             to
             the
             wise
             ,
             not
             to
             the
             zealous
             ,
             not
             to
             the
             studious
             ,
             not
             to
             the
             devout
             ,
             not
             to
             the
             rich
             in
             the
             knowledge
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             without
             :
             but
             to
             the
             weak
             ,
             the
             foolish
             ,
             the
             poor
             ,
             the
             lowly
             in
             the
             heart
             .
             And
             man
             receives
             not
             these
             revelations
             by
             study
             ,
             by
             reading
             ,
             by
             willing
             ,
             by
             running
             ,
             
               &c.
            
             but
             by
             being
             formed
             in
             the
             will
             of
             life
             ,
             by
             being
             begotten
             of
             the
             will
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
             &
             by
             coming
             forth
             in
             the
             will
             ,
             and
             lying
             still
             in
             the
             will
             ,
             and
             growing
             up
             in
             the
             will
             ,
             here
             the
             childe
             receives
             the
             wisdome
             which
             is
             from
             above
             ,
             and
             daily
             learns
             that
             crosse
             which
             crucifies
             the
             other
             wisdome
             ,
             which
             joyns
             with
             and
             pleases
             the
             other
             will
             ,
             which
             loves
             to
             be
             feeding
             on
             the
             shadowy
             and
             husky
             part
             of
             knowledge
             without
             life
             .
             Therefore
             if
             ever
             thou
             desire
             to
             receive
             this
             knowledge
             from
             Christ
             ,
             know
             that
             eye
             in
             thy self
             that
             is
             to
             be
             blinded
             ,
             which
             Christ
             will
             never
             reveal
             the
             Father
             to
             :
             read
             at
             home
             ,
             know
             the
             wise
             and
             prudent
             there
             ,
             whom
             Christ
             excludes
             from
             the
             living
             knowledge
             .
             And
             if
             thou
             canst
             bear
             it
             ,
             that
             eye
             that
             can
             read
             the
             Scriptures
             with
             the
             light
             of
             its
             own
             understanding
             ,
             that
             can
             consider
             ,
             and
             debate
             ,
             and
             take
             up
             sences
             and
             meanings
             of
             it
             ,
             without
             the
             immediate
             life
             and
             power
             :
             that
             's
             the
             eye
             ,
             that
             may
             gather
             what
             it
             can
             from
             the
             letter
             ,
             but
             shall
             never
             see
             into
             the
             life
             ,
             nor
             ●ast
             of
             the
             true
             knowledge
             :
             for
             Christ
             ▪
             who
             alone
             opens
             and
             gives
             the
             knowledge
             ,
             hides
             the
             pearl
             from
             that
             eye
             .
          
           
             The
             true
             knowledge
             is
             only
             powred
             into
             the
             new
             vessell
             .
             It
             is
             the
             living
             soul
             alone
             ,
             that
             receives
             the
             living
             knowledge
             of
             the
             living
             God
             from
             Christ
             the
             life
             .
             The
             old
             nature
             ,
             the
             old
             understanding
             is
             for
             death
             and
             destruction
             .
             The
             wisdom
             of
             flesh
             (
             though
             painted
             never
             so
             like
             to
             the
             spirituall
             wisdome
             )
             is
             not
             to
             be
             spared
             
             anywhere
             ,
             but
             that
             wisdome
             with
             all
             its
             zeal
             ,
             and
             growth
             ,
             and
             progresse
             in
             religion
             must
             perish
             .
             All
             mens
             knowledge
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             which
             they
             have
             gathered
             into
             that
             part
             ,
             will
             profit
             them
             nothing
             ,
             but
             hinder
             them
             .
             Every
             building
             which
             the
             leprosie
             of
             sin
             hath
             overspread
             ,
             is
             to
             be
             pulled
             down
             :
             therefore
             he
             that
             hath
             had
             only
             the
             old
             house
             swept
             and
             garnished
             ,
             never
             received
             the
             true
             knowledge
             (
             from
             whence
             the
             true
             faith
             spring
             ▪
             )
             but
             his
             life
             lies
             in
             the
             oldnesse
             of
             the
             letter
             (
             in
             the
             conformity
             of
             the
             dead
             part
             to
             that
             )
             and
             he
             knows
             not
             the
             vertue
             of
             the
             knowledge
             of
             God
             in
             the
             newnes
             of
             the
             spirit
             (
             the
             vailt
             being
             over
             his
             heart
             )
             which
             is
             only
             given
             to
             the
             new
             understanding
             .
          
        
         
           
             V.
             
          
           
             
               That
               this
               faith
               ,
            
             which
             springs
             from
             the
             true
             knowledge
             ,
             
               is
               Gods
               gift
               ,
            
             and
             is
             not
             that
             power
             of
             beleeving
             which
             is
             to
             be
             found
             in
             mans
             nature
             ,
             but
             of
             another
             nature
             ,
             even
             of
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             giver
             .
             And
             when
             man
             is
             called
             to
             beleeve
             ,
             he
             is
             not
             called
             to
             put
             forth
             that
             faith
             wherewith
             he
             beleeveth
             other
             things
             ,
             but
             to
             receive
             and
             exercise
             the
             gift
             of
             faith
             which
             is
             from
             above
             .
             That
             which
             is
             to
             be
             believed
             in
             ,
             is
             spirituall
             :
             and
             that
             must
             be
             spirituall
             which
             believes
             in
             it
             .
             Man
             ,
             with
             all
             the
             powers
             of
             his
             nature
             ,
             is
             shut
             out
             :
             it
             is
             another
             thing
             ,
             distinct
             from
             man
             ,
             which
             is
             let
             into
             life
             ,
             and
             which
             lets
             man
             in
             .
             For
             man
             receiving
             the
             faith
             ,
             entering
             into
             the
             faith
             ,
             and
             becoming
             new-formed
             in
             the
             faith
             ,
             then
             he
             also
             may
             enter
             :
             but
             till
             then
             he
             is
             shut
             out
             ,
             and
             knoweth
             not
             the
             life
             ,
             let
             him
             beleeve
             ,
             and
             read
             ,
             and
             pray
             ,
             and
             hear
             ,
             and
             exercise
             himself
             in
             that
             which
             he
             cals
             duties
             and
             ordinances
             never
             so
             much
             :
             for
             all
             these
             ,
             set
             up
             in
             the
             wrong
             part
             in
             man
             ,
             they
             onely
             feed
             the
             wrong
             part
             ;
             and
             that
             withall
             its
             food
             and
             nourishment
             ,
             falls
             short
             of
             the
             life
             .
             Therefore
             the
             true
             entrance
             into
             religion
             ,
             is
             to
             feele
             that
             power
             ,
             which
             slayes
             mans
             naturall
             ability
             and
             propensity
             to
             beleeve
             ,
             that
             so
             the
             gift
             of
             the
             true
             faith
             may
             be
             received
             :
             for
             there
             is
             no
             rising
             up
             and
             living
             of
             the
             second
             ,
             without
             the
             death
             of
             the
             first
             ,
             with
             all
             his
             naturall
             faculties
             and
             powers
             .
          
        
         
           
             VI
             .
          
           
             
               That
               by
               this
               faith
               alone
               which
               is
               the
               gift
               ,
               which
               is
               from
               above
               ,
            
             (
             and
             not
             that
             faith
             which
             grows
             either
             in
             the
             wilderness
             or
             garden
             of
             the
             old
             nature
             ,
             and
             is
             fed
             by
             the
             oldness
             of
             the
             letter
             ,
             and
             
             not
             by
             the
             newnesse
             of
             the
             Spirit
             )
             
               is
               Christ
               received
               .
            
             For
             Christ
             can
             be
             received
             ,
             by
             the
             faith
             alone
             that
             comes
             from
             him
             :
             and
             that
             faith
             which
             comes
             from
             him
             ,
             cannot
             but
             receive
             him
             .
             Mans
             faith
             refuseth
             him
             :
             it
             receiveth
             a
             litterall
             knowledge
             of
             him
             from
             what
             it
             heareth
             from
             men
             ,
             or
             from
             what
             it
             readeth
             related
             in
             the
             Scripture
             concerning
             him
             ,
             but
             refuseth
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             thing
             :
             and
             it
             cannot
             be
             otherwise
             ;
             for
             mans
             faith
             not
             being
             of
             the
             nature
             of
             it
             ,
             cannot
             but
             refuse
             it
             .
             But
             this
             faith
             ,
             which
             is
             given
             of
             God
             ,
             which
             is
             from
             above
             ,
             being
             of
             the
             same
             life
             and
             nature
             with
             Christ
             ,
             cannot
             refuse
             the
             spring
             of
             its
             own
             life
             ,
             but
             receiveth
             him
             immediately
             .
             There
             is
             no
             distance
             of
             time
             ,
             but
             so
             soon
             as
             faith
             is
             received
             ,
             Christ
             is
             received
             ,
             and
             the
             soul
             united
             to
             him
             in
             the
             faith
             .
             As
             unbeliefe
             immediately
             shuts
             him
             out
             ,
             so
             faith
             lets
             him
             in
             immediately
             ,
             and
             centers
             the
             soul
             in
             him
             :
             and
             the
             immortall
             soule
             feeles
             the
             immortall
             vertue
             ,
             and
             rejoyces
             in
             the
             proper
             spring
             of
             its
             own
             immortall
             nature
             .
             But
             the
             faith
             of
             man
             never
             reaches
             this
             ,
             never
             receives
             Christ
             ,
             but
             only
             a
             relation
             of
             things
             concerning
             him
             :
             and
             with
             that
             faith
             which
             stands
             in
             the
             letter
             ,
             opposes
             that
             faith
             which
             stands
             in
             the
             life
             .
             And
             here
             's
             the
             spirit
             of
             Antichrist
             ,
             here
             's
             the
             mistery
             of
             iniquity
             working
             out
             of
             one
             forme
             into
             another
             :
             for
             Antichrist
             does
             not
             directly
             deny
             Christ
             ,
             or
             deny
             the
             letter
             ,
             but
             cryes
             up
             Christ
             ,
             cryes
             up
             the
             letter
             ,
             cryes
             up
             ordinances
             ,
             but
             so
             as
             they
             may
             feed
             the
             faith
             of
             his
             own
             nature
             ,
             and
             maintain
             an
             hope
             there
             .
             And
             thus
             the
             spirit
             of
             man
             is
             at
             unity
             with
             what
             will
             feed
             his
             own
             ,
             with
             what
             interpretations
             his
             own
             understanding
             can
             gather
             out
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             .
             And
             thus
             can
             he
             cry
             up
             Christ
             ,
             and
             say
             he
             hopes
             to
             be
             saved
             by
             him
             ,
             while
             the
             spirit
             of
             enmity
             against
             the
             nature
             of
             Christ
             lodgeth
             in
             his
             heart
             .
             This
             is
             Antichrist
             ,
             where
             ever
             he
             is
             found
             ,
             and
             this
             is
             his
             faith
             ,
             and
             great
             is
             his
             knowledg
             ,
             and
             many
             are
             his
             coverings
             ;
             but
             the
             Lord
             is
             searching
             him
             out
             ,
             who
             will
             strip
             him
             ,
             and
             make
             his
             nakednesse
             appear
             .
          
        
         
           
             VII
             .
          
           
             
               That
               Christ
               is
               received
               as
               a
               grain
               of
               mustard
               seed
               .
            
             Christ
             is
             such
             a
             thing
             ,
             as
             every
             eye
             ,
             but
             the
             eye
             of
             this
             faith
             despiseth
             .
             He
             is
             the
             stone
             ,
             which
             the
             wisdome
             of
             the
             builders
             in
             all
             ages
             hath
             rejected
             .
             They
             look
             for
             a
             glorious
             Messiah
             ,
             but
             they
             know
             him
             not
             in
             his
             humiliation
             in
             the
             little
             seed
             ,
             out
             of
             which
             he
             is
             to
             grow
             up
             into
             his
             glory
             :
             and
             so
             they
             missing
             of
             the
             thing
             ,
             build
             up
             only
             with
             high
             
             imaginations
             in
             the
             airy
             mind
             concerning
             the
             thing
             .
             As
             when
             God
             sent
             Christ
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
             there
             was
             no
             form
             nor
             beauty
             in
             him
             ;
             The
             
               Jews
               ,
            
             whose
             hope
             and
             expectation
             lay
             there
             ,
             yet
             saw
             no
             manner
             of
             comelinesse
             ,
             no
             desireablenesse
             in
             him
             :
             Even
             so
             is
             it
             now
             ;
             When
             God
             comes
             to
             offer
             him
             to
             those
             ,
             that
             think
             they
             place
             all
             their
             hopes
             in
             him
             ,
             they
             see
             no
             lovelinesse
             in
             him
             ,
             but
             refuse
             him
             daily
             .
             What
             this
             little
             thing
             ,
             small
             like
             a
             grain
             of
             mustard-seed
             ,
             can
             this
             be
             the
             glorious
             Christ
             ,
             which
             the
             Scriptures
             have
             spoke
             so
             much
             of
             ?
             why
             we
             know
             the
             descent
             of
             this
             (
             its
             father
             mother
             and
             kindred
             are
             with
             us
             )
             we
             find
             this
             in
             our
             own
             nature
             .
             Thus
             ,
             like
             the
             
               Jews
            
             of
             old
             ,
             they
             make
             a
             great
             noise
             about
             Christ
             ,
             but
             refuse
             the
             thing
             it selfe
             .
             And
             this
             is
             for
             want
             of
             the
             true
             eye
             of
             faith
             ,
             for
             if
             they
             had
             that
             eye
             ,
             they
             would
             see
             the
             vertue
             in
             the
             little
             seed
             ,
             and
             receive
             him
             in
             his
             humiliation
             in
             their
             hearts
             ,
             where
             he
             knocks
             daily
             for
             entrance
             ,
             and
             be
             content
             to
             wait
             till
             this
             grain
             of
             mustard-seed
             grow
             up
             into
             a
             great
             and
             glorious
             tree
             .
             But
             for
             want
             of
             this
             eye
             ,
             they
             keep
             him
             out
             ,
             and
             let
             in
             the
             painted
             murtherer
             ,
             who
             dwells
             in
             them
             ,
             and
             covers
             himselfe
             ,
             with
             a
             knowledg
             ,
             a
             zeal
             ,
             a
             faith
             ,
             an
             hope
             ,
             
               &c.
            
             in
             the
             old
             nature
             ,
             in
             the
             old
             vessel
             ,
             in
             the
             old
             understanding
             :
             &
             thus
             they
             give
             God
             and
             Christ
             good
             words
             ,
             while
             the
             evill
             spirit
             has
             their
             hearts
             ,
             and
             dwells
             there
             ,
             bringing
             forth
             his
             own
             old
             evill
             fruit
             under
             an
             appearance
             of
             devotion
             and
             holinesse
             .
             Hear
             now
             ,
             ye
             wise
             in
             the
             letter
             ,
             but
             strangers
             to
             the
             life
             ;
             There
             is
             a
             twofold
             appearance
             of
             Christ
             in
             the
             heart
             .
             There
             is
             an
             appearance
             of
             him
             as
             a
             servant
             to
             obey
             the
             law
             ,
             to
             fulfill
             the
             will
             of
             the
             Father
             in
             that
             body
             ,
             which
             the
             father
             prepares
             there
             for
             him
             :
             and
             there
             is
             an
             appearance
             of
             him
             in
             glory
             ,
             to
             reign
             in
             the
             life
             and
             power
             of
             the
             Father
             .
             And
             he
             that
             knows
             not
             the
             first
             of
             these
             in
             his
             heart
             ,
             shall
             never
             know
             the
             second
             there
             .
             And
             he
             that
             knows
             not
             these
             inwardly
             ,
             shall
             never
             know
             any
             outward
             visible
             coming
             to
             their
             comfort
             .
             For
             if
             Christ
             should
             come
             outwardly
             to
             reign
             (
             as
             many
             expect
             )
             yet
             to
             be
             sure
             he
             would
             not
             reign
             in
             thee
             ,
             whose
             heart
             he
             hath
             not
             first
             entred
             into
             and
             subdued
             to
             himself
             ,
             which
             is
             only
             to
             be
             done
             by
             his
             appearance
             there
             first
             as
             a
             servant
             ,
             and
             then
             as
             a
             King
             .
             But
             what
             estate
             are
             Christians
             (
             so
             called
             )
             now
             in
             ,
             who
             know
             not
             him
             in
             them
             who
             is
             able
             to
             serve
             the
             Lord
             ,
             but
             are
             striving
             and
             fighting
             in
             that
             nature
             where
             sin
             hath
             the
             power
             ,
             and
             which
             can
             never
             overcome
             ,
             being
             not
             in
             union
             with
             ,
             but
             strangers
             to
             that
             life
             and
             power
             which
             is
             the
             conquerour
             ?
             
             Therefore
             let
             all
             consider
             in
             the
             depth
             of
             their
             heart
             ,
             for
             this
             is
             infallibly
             true
             :
             They
             that
             never
             received
             the
             seed
             of
             life
             in
             their
             hearts
             ,
             never
             received
             Christ
             ;
             and
             such
             shall
             never
             and
             such
             shall
             never
             be
             free
             from
             sin
             while
             they
             live
             (
             for
             having
             not
             received
             the
             son
             ,
             who
             makes
             free
             ,
             how
             can
             they
             be
             free
             indeed
             ?
             nor
             be
             free
             from
             wrath
             when
             they
             are
             dead
             :
             For
             that
             faith
             concerning
             Christ
             will
             not
             save
             them
             hereafter
             ,
             which
             did
             not
             bring
             them
             to
             receive
             Christ
             here
             .
          
        
         
           
             VIII
             .
          
           
             
               That
               this
               seed
               being
               received
               ,
               groweth
               up
               into
               its
               own
               form
               ,
            
             or
             is
             formed
             in
             that
             creature
             ,
             into
             which
             it
             is
             received
             .
             It
             there
             groweth
             up
             into
             the
             body
             ,
             in
             which
             it
             is
             to
             serve
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             which
             body
             is
             to
             be
             glorified
             ,
             when
             it
             hath
             finished
             its
             service
             .
             As
             a
             seed
             cast
             into
             fitted
             earth
             ,
             or
             the
             seed
             of
             man
             or
             beast
             sowed
             in
             a
             fitting
             womb
             ,
             receiveth
             form
             and
             growth
             into
             a
             plant
             or
             living
             creature
             :
             so
             is
             it
             with
             this
             seed
             in
             its
             earth
             .
             Open
             the
             true
             eye
             ,
             O
             ye
             Christians
             ,
             and
             begin
             to
             read
             the
             mistery
             of
             godlinesse
             !
          
        
         
           
             IX
             .
          
           
             
               That
               this
               creature
               ,
               or
               the
               spirit
               of
               life
               this
               creature
            
             (
             which
             it
             is
             in
             union
             with
             ,
             and
             which
             is
             never
             seperated
             from
             it
             )
             
               is
               the
               Christians
               rule
               ,
            
             Gal.
             6.
             15
             ,
             16.
             1
             
             John
             2.
             27.
             
             Heb.
             8.
             10
             ,
             11.
             
             The
             Son
             is
             never
             without
             the
             Spirit
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
             no
             not
             in
             the
             seed
             :
             and
             the
             Spirit
             of
             the
             Father
             is
             the
             sons
             rule
             .
             Outward
             rules
             were
             given
             to
             a
             state
             without
             ,
             to
             men
             who
             were
             not
             brought
             to
             the
             life
             ,
             but
             were
             exercised
             under
             shadows
             and
             representations
             of
             the
             life
             :
             but
             the
             Son
             who
             is
             within
             ,
             who
             is
             the
             substance
             of
             all
             ,
             who
             is
             the
             life
             ,
             who
             is
             one
             with
             the
             Father
             ,
             whose
             proper
             right
             the
             Spirit
             is
             ,
             he
             is
             not
             tyed
             to
             any
             outward
             rule
             ,
             but
             is
             to
             live
             and
             walk
             in
             the
             immediate
             light
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             his
             own
             life
             .
             And
             he
             that
             hath
             the
             Son
             ,
             hath
             this
             rule
             :
             and
             he
             that
             hath
             not
             this
             rule
             ,
             hath
             not
             the
             Son
             .
             And
             he
             that
             hath
             not
             the
             Son
             ,
             hath
             not
             the
             true
             faith
             (
             which
             immediately
             receives
             him
             )
             and
             so
             is
             no
             Christian
             ,
             but
             hath
             stoln
             the
             name
             from
             the
             letter
             ,
             having
             never
             received
             the
             nature
             from
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             to
             which
             alone
             the
             name
             belongs
             .
          
        
         
           
             X.
             
          
           
             
               He
               that
               hath
               Christ
            
             (
             or
             the
             seed
             of
             eternall
             life
             ,
             which
             is
             Christ
             )
             
             
               formed
               in
               him
               ,
               which
               seed
               the
               Spirit
               alwayes
               dwels
               in
               ,
               and
               utaer
               is
               absent
               from
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               same
               Spirit
               which
               gave
               forth
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               he
               is
               a
               capacity
               of
               understanding
               those
               Scriptures
               which
               that
               Spirit
               gave
               forth
               ,
               as
               that
               spirit
               leads
               him
               into
               the
               understanding
               of
               them
               .
            
             But
             he
             that
             hath
             not
             received
             that
             which
             is
             like
             the
             grain
             of
             mustard
             seed
             ,
             and
             so
             hath
             not
             Christ
             ,
             nor
             his
             Spirit
             (
             what
             ever
             he
             may
             pretend
             to
             )
             he
             by
             all
             his
             studies
             ,
             arts
             ,
             languages
             ,
             reading
             of
             expositors
             ,
             conferences
             ,
             nay
             experiences
             ,
             can
             never
             come
             to
             the
             true
             knowledge
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             :
             for
             he
             wants
             the
             true
             key
             ,
             which
             alone
             can
             open
             .
             He
             may
             have
             got
             a
             great
             many
             wrong
             keys
             ,
             none
             of
             which
             can
             open
             ,
             but
             wants
             the
             true
             key
             of
             the
             true
             knowledge
             ,
             and
             so
             is
             shut
             out
             of
             that
             ,
             and
             only
             let
             into
             such
             a
             kind
             of
             knowledge
             ,
             as
             the
             wrong
             key
             can
             open
             into
             .
             And
             with
             this
             kind
             of
             knowledg
             the
             marchants
             of
             
               Babilon
            
             have
             long
             traded
             ,
             but
             their
             day
             is
             expiring
             apace
             ,
             and
             their
             night
             of
             lamentation
             and
             howling
             hasteneth
             .
          
        
         
           
             XI
             .
          
           
             
               Though
               he
               can
               understand
               the
               Scriptures
               ,
               as
               the
               Spirit
               leads
               him
               into
               the
               knowledge
               of
               them
               ,
               and
               can
               set
               his
               zeal
               to
               the
               truth
               of
               them
               ,
               yet
               he
               cannot
               call
               them
               his
               rule
               :
            
             for
             having
             received
             the
             life
             for
             his
             rule
             ,
             and
             knowing
             it
             to
             be
             so
             ,
             he
             cannot
             call
             another
             thing
             it
             .
             He
             that
             hath
             received
             the
             new
             covenant
             into
             his
             heart
             ,
             with
             the
             laws
             of
             the
             life
             thereof
             written
             there
             by
             the
             Spirit
             of
             life
             ,
             who
             doth
             write
             them
             there
             even
             in
             the
             least
             of
             all
             that
             beleeve
             ,
             as
             wel
             as
             in
             the
             greatest
             ,
             he
             knoweth
             that
             this
             living
             writing
             is
             his
             rule
             .
             The
             Scriptures
             give
             relation
             where
             the
             covenant
             and
             law
             of
             life
             is
             writ
             ,
             and
             if
             I
             will
             read
             it
             ,
             thither
             must
             I
             go
             whither
             the
             Scriptures
             point
             me
             .
             I
             must
             go
             to
             Christ
             the
             book
             of
             life
             ,
             and
             read
             there
             with
             that
             eye
             which
             Christ
             gives
             ,
             if
             I
             read
             the
             things
             of
             life
             .
             And
             the
             Scriptures
             are
             willing
             to
             surrender
             up
             their
             glory
             to
             Christ
             ,
             who
             was
             before
             them
             ,
             and
             is
             above
             them
             ,
             and
             shall
             be
             after
             them
             :
             but
             there
             is
             a
             false
             spirit
             ,
             which
             hath
             seated
             it selfe
             in
             a
             litterall
             knowledge
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             and
             hath
             formed
             images
             and
             likenesses
             of
             truth
             from
             it
             (
             every
             one
             after
             the
             imaginations
             of
             his
             own
             heart
             )
             and
             all
             these
             fall
             ,
             if
             Christ
             the
             life
             appear
             :
             and
             so
             this
             Spirit
             cryes
             up
             the
             Scriptures
             now
             in
             a
             way
             of
             deceit
             ,
             just
             as
             the
             
               Jews
            
             cryed
             up
             
               Moses
               .
            
             It
             was
             a
             good
             remove
             to
             withdraw
             the
             ear
             from
             the
             false
             Church
             ,
             and
             to
             listen
             to
             the
             true
             
             testimony
             which
             the
             Scriptures
             give
             of
             Christ
             :
             but
             it
             is
             the
             seducing
             spirit
             which
             tempts
             to
             stick
             by
             the
             way
             ,
             and
             to
             rear
             up
             buildings
             and
             forms
             of
             knowledge
             from
             the
             letter
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             come
             to
             feel
             after
             ,
             unity
             with
             ,
             and
             live
             in
             Christ
             the
             life
             .
             And
             unlesse
             ye
             come
             to
             this
             ,
             your
             reading
             of
             the
             Scripture
             is
             vain
             ,
             and
             all
             your
             gathering
             rules
             of
             practise
             ,
             and
             comforts
             from
             promises
             ,
             will
             end
             in
             vanity
             :
             for
             untill
             ye
             know
             ,
             and
             have
             received
             the
             thing
             it selfe
             ,
             ye
             are
             at
             a
             distance
             from
             that
             to
             which
             all
             belongs
             .
             A
             lively
             and
             glorious
             testimony
             of
             truth
             hath
             God
             held
             forth
             in
             this
             age
             ,
             at
             which
             all
             that
             stick
             in
             the
             letter
             cannot
             but
             stumble
             ;
             and
             there
             is
             no
             possibillity
             of
             knowing
             or
             receiving
             it
             ,
             but
             by
             feeling
             the
             true
             touch
             of
             the
             inward
             life
             of
             it
             .
             Wisdome
             is
             justified
             of
             her
             children
             :
             but
             they
             that
             are
             not
             born
             of
             her
             ,
             cannot
             justifie
             her
             womb
             or
             birth
             .
          
           
             To
             the
             
               Jews
            
             who
             were
             an
             outward
             people
             ,
             there
             was
             an
             outward
             rule
             given
             ,
             a
             law
             of
             commandements
             ,
             statutes
             ,
             judgements
             ,
             and
             ordinances
             ,
             proper
             to
             that
             state
             wherein
             they
             were
             ,
             and
             to
             that
             thing
             to
             which
             the
             ministry
             was
             :
             But
             all
             this
             was
             to
             be
             done
             away
             ,
             and
             to
             end
             in
             that
             which
             all
             this
             represented
             .
             So
             that
             to
             Christians
             ,
             Christ
             the
             substance
             being
             come
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             end
             of
             all
             these
             shadows
             ,
             the
             true
             
               Jew
            
             being
             raised
             in
             the
             immediate
             life
             ,
             now
             there
             is
             a
             necessity
             of
             the
             immediate
             life
             for
             the
             rule
             .
             To
             them
             under
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             to
             them
             who
             are
             come
             to
             the
             substance
             ,
             to
             them
             who
             are
             begotten
             and
             born
             in
             the
             life
             ,
             there
             can
             be
             norule
             proportionable
             to
             their
             state
             ,
             but
             Christ
             the
             substance
             ,
             Christ
             the
             life
             ,
             here
             he
             alone
             is
             the
             light
             ,
             the
             way
             ,
             the
             truth
             ,
             the
             rule
             ,
             the
             Spirit
             is
             here
             the
             rule
             ,
             the
             new
             creature
             the
             rule
             ,
             the
             new
             covenant
             the
             rule
             ,
             all
             which
             are
             in
             unity
             together
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             hath
             one
             of
             them
             ,
             hath
             them
             all
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             hath
             not
             them
             all
             ,
             hath
             none
             of
             them
             .
             So
             that
             directions
             taken
             out
             of
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             cannot
             be
             the
             rule
             to
             him
             who
             is
             the
             true
             Christian
             ,
             but
             the
             measure
             of
             grace
             ,
             the
             measure
             of
             light
             ,
             the
             measure
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             the
             measure
             of
             the
             gift
             received
             into
             the
             living
             soule
             from
             the
             spring
             of
             life
             ,
             this
             is
             the
             alone
             rule
             of
             life
             .
             But
             Christians
             in
             the
             degeneration
             have
             lost
             this
             ,
             and
             so
             have
             taken
             up
             words
             for
             a
             rule
             ,
             (
             which
             were
             not
             given
             to
             that
             end
             )
             and
             so
             with
             deductions
             by
             the
             earthly
             part
             ,
             they
             feed
             the
             earthly
             part
             .
             What
             is
             fed
             by
             mens
             Scripture
             knowledge
             ,
             but
             the
             earthly
             understanding
             ?
             the
             earthly
             will
             heated
             ,
             the
             earthly
             affections
             warmed
             ;
             and
             of
             the
             fruits
             of
             this
             earth
             they
             bring
             sacrifices
             
             to
             God
             :
             and
             they
             are
             angry
             that
             God
             hath
             raised
             up
             
               Abel
               ,
            
             their
             younger
             brother
             ,
             who
             offers
             up
             the
             Lamb
             of
             God
             to
             God
             ,
             and
             serves
             the
             living
             God
             in
             his
             own
             living
             spirit
             ,
             and
             with
             the
             faith
             that
             comes
             from
             him
             .
             
               Abels
            
             religion
             stands
             not
             in
             that
             part
             wherein
             all
             other
             mens
             religion
             stands
             ,
             but
             in
             the
             death
             of
             that
             part
             ;
             and
             in
             the
             raising
             up
             of
             another
             part
             ,
             wherein
             life
             springs
             .
             Can
             ye
             mildly
             receive
             these
             gentle
             leadings
             ?
             do
             not
             provoke
             the
             the
             tender
             heart
             of
             the
             Lamb
             against
             you
             ,
             who
             also
             hath
             the
             voice
             of
             a
             Lyon
             ,
             and
             can
             roar
             terribly
             out
             of
             his
             holy
             mountain
             against
             the
             enemies
             of
             his
             life
             and
             Spirit
             .
          
        
      
       
         
           A
           Necessary
           warning
           ,
           and
           of
           very
           great
           importance
           to
           all
           that
           call
           themselves
           Christians
           ,
           and
           hope
           for
           a
           share
           in
           the
           book
           of
           life
           ,
           and
           the
           escaping
           the
           damnation
           of
           hell
           ,
           which
           is
           their
           portion
           whose
           names
           are
           written
           in
           the
           booke
           of
           death
           ,
           and
           blotted
           by
           God
           out
           of
           the
           book
           of
           life
           ,
           though
           they
           hope
           to
           find
           them
           written
           there
           .
           Here
           and
           consider
           .
        
         
           IT
           is
           recorded
           ,
           
             
               Rev.
               22.
               18
               ,
               19.
               
            
             If
             any
             man
             shall
             adde
             unto
             these
             things
             ,
             God
             shall
             adde
             unto
             him
             the
             plagues
             ,
             that
             are
             written
             in
             this
             book
             .
             And
             if
             any
             man
             shall
             take
             away
             from
             the
             words
             of
             the
             book
             of
             this
             prophecy
             ,
             God
             shall
             take
             away
             his
             part
             out
             of
             the
             book
             of
             life
             ,
             and
             out
             of
             the
             holy
             City
             ,
             and
             from
             the
             things
             which
             are
             written
             in
             this
             book
             .
          
        
         
           Great
           are
           the
           plagues
           that
           are
           written
           in
           this
           book
           ,
           even
           
             the
             powring
             out
             of
             eternall
             wrath
             without
             mixture
             ,
             torment
             day
             and
             night
             in
             the
             presence
             of
             the
             Lamb
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           As
           the
           growth
           ,
           and
           fulness
           of
           the
           mistery
           of
           iniquity
           is
           spoken
           of
           in
           this
           book
           :
           so
           the
           measuring
           out
           of
           the
           fulnesse
           of
           wrath
           to
           it
           ,
           is
           spoken
           of
           also
           .
           And
           great
           is
           the
           life
           and
           blessedness
           ,
           that
           is
           here
           promised
           to
           those
           that
           fight
           with
           ,
           and
           overcome
           the
           mistery
           of
           iniquity
           ,
           and
           receive
           not
           any
           
           of
           the
           marks
           or
           names
           of
           the
           beast
           ,
           nor
           are
           subject
           to
           any
           of
           his
           hornes
           ,
           though
           ●e
           push
           never
           so
           hard
           with
           them
           .
           Now
           to
           meet
           with
           all
           the
           plagues
           here
           threatned
           ,
           and
           to
           miss
           of
           all
           the
           blessednesse
           here
           promised
           ,
           is
           it
           not
           a
           sad
           state
           ?
           Why
           ,
           he
           that
           addeth
           to
           these
           things
           here
           spoken
           ,
           or
           diminisheth
           from
           the
           words
           of
           this
           prophecy
           ,
           the
           Lord
           hath
           said
           this
           shall
           befall
           him
           .
           Therefore
           in
           the
           fear
           of
           that
           God
           who
           hath
           spoken
           this
           ,
           and
           will
           make
           it
           good
           ,
           let
           every
           one
           search
           who
           is
           the
           adder
           ,
           who
           is
           the
           diminisher
           ?
        
         
           Now
           mark
           ,
           see
           if
           this
           be
           not
           a
           clear
           thing
           .
           He
           that
           giveth
           any
           other
           meaning
           of
           any
           Scripture
           ,
           then
           what
           is
           the
           true
           proper
           meaning
           thereof
           ,
           he
           both
           addeth
           and
           diminisheth
           ▪
           he
           taketh
           away
           the
           true
           sence
           ,
           he
           addeth
           a
           sence
           that
           is
           not
           true
           .
           The
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           is
           the
           true
           Expositor
           of
           Scriptures
           ,
           he
           never
           addeth
           nor
           diminisheth
           :
           but
           man
           (
           being
           without
           that
           Spirit
           )
           doth
           but
           guess
           ,
           doth
           but
           imagine
           ,
           doth
           but
           study
           or
           invent
           a
           meaning
           ,
           and
           so
           he
           is
           ever
           adding
           or
           diminishing
           .
           This
           is
           the
           sence
           saith
           one
           ,
           this
           is
           the
           sence
           saith
           another
           ,
           this
           is
           the
           sence
           saith
           a
           third
           ,
           this
           saith
           ,
           a
           fourth
           :
           another
           that
           is
           witty
           ,
           and
           large
           in
           his
           comprehension
           ,
           he
           sayes
           they
           will
           all
           stand
           :
           another
           ,
           perhaps
           more
           witty
           then
           he
           ,
           sayes
           none
           of
           them
           will
           stand
           ,
           and
           he
           invents
           a
           meaning
           different
           from
           thē
           all
           .
           And
           then
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           thus
           expounding
           them
           they
           will
           say
           ,
           take
           the
           sence
           thus
           ,
           it
           will
           yeeld
           this
           observation
           ,
           or
           take
           it
           thus
           ,
           and
           it
           will
           afford
           this
           observation
           .
           Doth
           not
           this
           plainly
           shew
           ,
           that
           he
           who
           thus
           saith
           ,
           hath
           not
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           to
           open
           the
           Scripture
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           manifest
           which
           is
           the
           true
           sence
           ,
           but
           is
           working
           in
           the
           misery
           of
           darknesse
           ?
           And
           yet
           this
           very
           person
           ,
           who
           is
           thus
           working
           with
           his
           own
           dark
           spirit
           in
           the
           dark
           ,
           will
           in
           words
           confesse
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           true
           understanding
           or
           opening
           of
           Scripture
           but
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           .
           If
           it
           be
           so
           ,
           how
           darest
           thou
           set
           thy
           imagination
           ,
           thy
           fancy
           ,
           thy
           reason
           ,
           thy
           understanding
           on
           work
           ,
           and
           so
           be
           guessing
           at
           that
           which
           the
           Spirit
           doth
           not
           open
           to
           thee
           ,
           and
           so
           art
           found
           adding
           and
           diminishing
           ?
        
         
           Now
           he
           that
           is
           adder
           ,
           he
           that
           is
           the
           diminisher
           ,
           he
           cryeth
           out
           against
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           chargeth
           him
           with
           adding
           and
           diminishing
           :
           for
           man
           being
           judge
           ,
           he
           will
           judge
           his
           own
           way
           to
           be
           true
           ,
           and
           Gods
           to
           be
           false
           .
           That
           which
           is
           the
           adding
           and
           diminishing
           ,
           he
           calls
           the
           true
           expounding
           of
           the
           place
           :
           but
           
           if
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           immediately
           open
           any
           thing
           to
           any
           son
           or
           daughter
           ,
           he
           cries
           this
           is
           an
           adding
           to
           the
           word
           :
           The
           Scripture
           is
           written
           ,
           there
           are
           no
           more
           revelations
           to
           be
           expected
           now
           ,
           the
           curse
           saith
           he
           ,
           is
           to
           them
           that
           adde
           .
           Thus
           he
           removes
           the
           curse
           from
           his
           own
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           way
           of
           study
           and
           invention
           to
           which
           it
           appertains
           ,
           and
           casts
           it
           upon
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           .
           And
           man
           cannot
           possibly
           avoid
           this
           in
           the
           way
           that
           he
           is
           in
           :
           for
           having
           first
           judged
           his
           own
           darknesse
           to
           be
           light
           ,
           then
           in
           the
           next
           place
           he
           must
           needs
           judge
           the
           true
           light
           to
           be
           darknesse
           .
           He
           that
           hath
           aforehand
           set
           up
           his
           own
           invented
           meaning
           of
           any
           Scripture
           to
           be
           the
           true
           meaning
           he
           must
           needs
           oppose
           the
           true
           meaning
           ,
           and
           call
           it
           false
           ,
           and
           so
           apply
           himselfe
           to
           forme
           all
           the
           arguments
           he
           can
           out
           of
           other
           Scriptures
           ,
           to
           make
           it
           appear
           false
           .
           Thus
           man
           ,
           having
           begun
           wrong
           in
           his
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           stands
           engaged
           to
           make
           use
           of
           them
           against
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           against
           his
           own
           soul
           ;
           and
           yet
           really
           in
           himself
           thinks
           that
           he
           makes
           a
           right
           use
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           serves
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           is
           not
           opposing
           his
           truth
           ,
           but
           opposing
           error
           and
           heresie
           ;
           while
           he
           himselfe
           is
           in
           the
           error
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           heresie
           ,
           and
           against
           the
           truth
           ,
           being
           a
           stranger
           to
           that
           Spirit
           ,
           in
           whose
           immediate
           life
           and
           presence
           the
           truth
           grows
           .
        
         
           Did
           the
           Lord
           in
           these
           words
           ,
           of
           forbidding
           to
           adde
           or
           diminish
           upon
           so
           great
           a
           penalty
           ,
           lay
           a
           restraint
           and
           limit
           upon
           his
           owne
           spirit
           ,
           that
           it
           should
           no
           more
           hereafter
           speak
           in
           his
           sons
           &
           daughters
           ,
           or
           did
           he
           intend
           to
           lay
           bounds
           upon
           the
           unruly
           spirit
           of
           man
           ?
           Did
           God
           leave
           mans
           spirit
           at
           liberty
           to
           invent
           and
           form
           meanings
           of
           his
           words
           ,
           and
           bind
           up
           his
           owne
           spirit
           from
           speaking
           further
           words
           afterwards
           ?
           When
           
             Moses
          
           said
           ,
           thou
           shalt
           not
           adde
           nor
           diminish
           ,
           was
           this
           to
           be
           any
           stop
           to
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           in
           whom
           God
           should
           speake
           afterwards
           ?
           Is
           not
           this
           one
           of
           the
           subtle
           Serpents
           inventions
           ,
           to
           keep
           up
           the
           esteem
           of
           mans
           invented
           meanings
           as
           the
           true
           sence
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           a
           fortification
           against
           the
           entrance
           of
           that
           spirit
           ,
           which
           can
           discover
           all
           his
           false
           interpretations
           of
           the
           true
           words
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           him
           see
           that
           he
           is
           the
           adder
           and
           the
           diminisher
           ,
           and
           that
           his
           name
           will
           not
           be
           found
           in
           the
           book
           of
           life
           ,
           when
           the
           true
           light
           is
           held
           forth
           to
           read
           by
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           is
           generall
           ,
           extending
           to
           all
           Scriptures
           ,
           my
           drift
           is
           more
           particular
           concerning
           adding
           to
           the
           things
           ,
           or
           diminishing
           from
           the
           words
           of
           the
           book
           of
           this
           prophecy
           .
        
         
           There
           are
           two
           things
           chiefely
           spoken
           of
           in
           this
           book
           ,
           Mistery-Sion
           
             ,
          
           
           Mistery-Babilon
           
             :
          
           the
           true
           Church
           ,
           the
           false
           Church
           :
           the
           Lambs
           wise
           ,
           the
           whore
           :
           the
           hiding
           of
           Mistery-Sion
           
             ,
          
           the
           appearing
           of
           Mistery-Babilon
           in
           her
           place
           :
           the
           flying
           of
           the
           Church
           out
           of
           her
           heaven
           into
           the
           wilderness
           ,
           leaving
           all
           behind
           her
           which
           she
           could
           not
           carry
           along
           with
           her
           ,
           even
           all
           the
           ordinances
           and
           institutions
           of
           Christ
           ,
           wherein
           once
           she
           appeared
           worshipping
           and
           serving
           God
           ;
           and
           the
           starting
           of
           the
           false
           Church
           into
           her
           place
           ;
           taking
           up
           all
           that
           she
           had
           left
           ,
           even
           all
           the
           ordinances
           and
           institutions
           of
           Christ
           in
           the
           letter
           ,
           thus
           covering
           her selfe
           with
           the
           form
           of
           godlinesse
           ,
           with
           the
           sheeps
           cloathing
           ,
           that
           she
           might
           passe
           the
           better
           for
           the
           true
           Church
           :
           And
           the
           Dragon
           ,
           who
           mannaged
           the
           war
           against
           the
           woman
           and
           her
           seed
           ,
           raiseth
           up
           first
           one
           beast
           ,
           and
           then
           another
           ,
           and
           sets
           this
           whore
           on
           the
           top
           of
           them
           ,
           who
           with
           the
           cup
           of
           fornication
           makes
           all
           the
           earth
           drunk
           ,
           all
           nations
           ,
           peoples
           ,
           kindreds
           ,
           tongues
           ,
           languages
           .
           And
           the
           beast
           he
           has
           his
           horns
           every where
           ,
           his
           marks
           every where
           ,
           his
           names
           every where
           ,
           and
           also
           his
           image
           in
           every
           part
           of
           
             Babilon
             .
          
           And
           who
           will
           not
           worship
           him
           ,
           he
           fights
           with
           ;
           yea
           such
           as
           are
           led
           by
           God
           to
           rent
           from
           the
           whore
           ,
           he
           calls
           schismaticks
           ,
           hereticks
           ,
           blasphemers
           ,
           and
           persecutes
           them
           as
           persons
           not
           worthy
           to
           live
           .
           Thus
           the
           state
           of
           things
           is
           quite
           changed
           ,
           the
           power
           of
           truth
           lost
           ,
           the
           form
           set
           up
           without
           it
           ;
           those
           that
           seek
           after
           the
           power
           hated
           ,
           persecuted
           and
           blasphemed
           ,
           those
           that
           lye
           still
           under
           any
           of
           the
           beasts
           forms
           ,
           they
           go
           for
           good
           Christians
           ;
           for
           members
           of
           the
           visible
           Church
           ,
           ●o
           called
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           Now
           mark
           :
           He
           that
           calls
           any
           thing
           the
           Church
           ,
           but
           what
           this
           book
           calls
           the
           Church
           ,
           he
           adds
           :
           he
           that
           doth
           not
           know
           the
           wildernesse
           ,
           and
           own
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           wildernesse
           ,
           he
           diminishes
           :
           The
           Church
           of
           
             Rome
          
           is
           not
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           wildernesse
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Scotland
          
           is
           not
           the
           Church
           is
           the
           wildernesse
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           
             England
          
           is
           not
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           wildernesse
           ,
           the
           severall
           gathered
           Churches
           are
           none
           of
           them
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           wilderness
           :
           all
           these
           have
           sprung
           up
           since
           the
           Churches
           flight
           ,
           and
           have
           appeared
           in
           her
           ab●ence
           ▪
           usurping
           her
           name
           ,
           appropriating
           it
           to
           themselves
           ,
           but
           God
           (
           who
           gave
           it
           to
           the
           Church
           )
           hath
           not
           given
           it
           them
           ;
           and
           so
           they
           must
           loose
           it
           again
           ,
           when
           God
           brings
           back
           the
           Church
           out
           of
           the
           wildernesse
           .
           So
           he
           that
           calls
           those
           ,
           which
           formerly
           w●re
           the
           institutions
           and
           ordinances
           of
           Christ
           ,
           which
           the
           woman
           left
           behinde
           her
           ,
           and
           which
           the
           harlot
           hath
           
           got
           and
           attired
           her self
           with
           ,
           which
           she
           now
           appears
           in
           ,
           and
           wherewith
           the
           Dragon
           is
           now
           worshipped
           ,
           he
           adds
           to
           this
           book
           ,
           which
           sayes
           the
           outward
           court
           was
           given
           to
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           Church
           had
           nothing
           left
           her
           but
           the
           inward
           temple
           ,
           wherein
           alone
           the
           true
           worshippers
           worshipped
           :
           and
           they
           that
           worship
           elsewhere
           ,
           are
           the
           fals
           worshippers
           worshipping
           in
           false
           Temples
           ,
           in
           Temples
           of
           the
           whorish
           spirits
           building
           take
           it
           either
           outwardly
           or
           inwardly
           ,
           for
           it
           holds
           true
           in
           both
           :
           He
           that
           makes
           the
           beasts
           names
           fewer
           then
           they
           are
           ,
           or
           his
           marks
           fewer
           then
           they
           are
           ,
           or
           his
           hornes
           fewer
           then
           they
           are
           ,
           or
           his
           image
           lesse
           then
           it
           is
           ,
           be
           diminishes
           .
           And
           the
           danger
           hereof
           is
           not
           small
           .
           
             For
             if
             any
             man
             worship
             the
             beast
             and
             his
             image
             ,
             and
             receive
             his
             mark
             in
             his
             forehead
             ,
             or
             in
             his
             hand
             ,
             the
             same
             shall
             drinke
             of
             the
             wine
             of
             the
             wrath
             of
             God
             ,
             which
             is
             powred
             out
             without
             mixture
             into
             the
             cup
             of
             his
             indignation
             ,
             and
             he
             shall
             be
             tormented
             with
             fire
             and
             brimstone
             in
             the
             presence
             of
             the
             holy
             Angels
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             presence
             of
             the
             Lamb
             :
             and
             the
             smoak
             of
             their
             torment
             ascendeth
             up
             for
             ever
             and
             ever
             .
             And
             they
             have
             no
             rest
             day
             nor
             night
             ,
             who
             worship
             the
             beast
             and
             his
             image
             ,
             and
             whosoever
             receiveth
             the
             mark
             of
             his
             name
             ,
          
           Rev.
           14.
           9.
           
             c.
             
          
        
         
           Now
           this
           I
           affirm
           ,
           whosoever
           has
           not
           the
           name
           of
           
             Sion
             ,
          
           the
           mark
           of
           
             Sion
             ,
          
           which
           he
           received
           of
           her
           in
           the
           wildernesse
           ,
           where
           the
           living
           God
           is
           with
           her
           ,
           and
           where
           he
           is
           taught
           by
           God
           the
           laws
           of
           the
           wildernesse-worship
           ,
           and
           in
           some
           measure
           to
           testifie
           against
           all
           the
           corrupted
           ordinances
           ,
           and
           institutions
           which
           have
           the
           beasts
           marks
           ,
           and
           go
           now
           abroad
           in
           the
           world
           under
           the
           beasts
           name
           :
           I
           say
           ,
           whoever
           has
           not
           the
           true
           mark
           of
           
             Sion
             ,
          
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           him
           to
           avoid
           the
           mark
           of
           
             Babilon
             :
          
           and
           he
           who
           avoids
           not
           the
           mark
           ,
           cannot
           escape
           the
           plagues
           .
           But
           he
           that
           hath
           the
           mark
           of
           
             Sion
             ,
          
           he
           by
           a
           secret
           inward
           instinct
           of
           true
           life
           ,
           is
           led
           from
           the
           marks
           of
           
             Babilon
             :
          
           and
           if
           he
           faithfully
           follow
           the
           guidance
           ,
           from
           out
           of
           all
           the
           names
           ,
           and
           from
           under
           all
           the
           horns
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           nor
           enough
           to
           rent
           from
           Popery
           ,
           and
           sit
           down
           under
           the
           power
           and
           government
           of
           the
           same
           spirit
           in
           another
           form
           ,
           or
           to
           rent
           from
           Episcopacy
           ,
           and
           the
           same
           spirit
           sit
           down
           in
           Presbitery
           ;
           or
           to
           rent
           from
           Presbitery
           ,
           and
           the
           same
           spirit
           sit
           down
           in
           a
           form
           of
           Independency
           ,
           or
           Anabaptisme
           ;
           or
           to
           rent
           from
           these
           ,
           and
           the
           same
           spirit
           sit
           down
           in
           a
           way
           of
           seeking
           and
           waiting
           ,
           and
           reading
           of
           words
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           gathering
           things
           from
           thence
           without
           the
           life
           :
           but
           the
           true
           religion
           consists
           in
           knowing
           ,
           and
           
           following
           a
           true
           guide
           to
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           wildernesse
           ,
           and
           there
           to
           receive
           the
           marke
           ,
           the
           living
           marke
           ,
           which
           will
           preserve
           out
           of
           all
           inventions
           ,
           and
           further
           progresse
           of
           the
           dead
           spirit
           .
        
         
           Now
           therefore
           look
           about
           you
           ,
           know
           the
           spirit
           of
           whoredom
           ,
           and
           see
           how
           ye
           have
           been
           begotten
           in
           the
           adultery
           ,
           and
           born
           of
           the
           whore
           ,
           and
           have
           served
           the
           Dragon
           ,
           and
           worshipped
           his
           dead
           idols
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           living
           God
           .
           And
           be
           not
           satisfied
           with
           changing
           of
           forms
           &
           dresses
           )
           which
           are
           but
           the
           several
           deceitful
           appearances
           of
           the
           whore
           (
           but
           put
           off
           that
           spirit
           ;
           least
           when
           ye
           have
           hated
           the
           whore
           ,
           and
           burnt
           her
           flesh
           as
           she
           appeared
           in
           one
           form
           ,
           ye
           give
           your selves
           up
           to
           her
           again
           ,
           when
           she
           appears
           in
           another
           forme
           :
           for
           the
           plagues
           are
           not
           so
           much
           to
           the
           form
           wherein
           the
           whore
           appears
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           whorish
           spirit
           :
           and
           whosoever
           is
           found
           under
           her
           dominion
           ,
           in
           any
           of
           her
           territories
           ,
           under
           any
           of
           her
           formes
           ,
           with
           that
           mark
           of
           hers
           upon
           them
           which
           belongs
           to
           that
           particular
           form
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           curiously
           painted
           ,
           he
           shall
           drink
           of
           the
           unmixt
           cup
           of
           wrath
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           tremble
           all
           sorts
           of
           people
           ,
           pluck
           off
           your
           false
           coverings
           ,
           see
           the
           shame
           of
           your
           nakednesse
           ,
           while
           it
           may
           be
           for
           your
           advantage
           so
           to
           doe
           .
           The
           Angel
           is
           gone
           forth
           ,
           the
           corn
           is
           reaping
           and
           gathering
           into
           the
           garner
           ,
           many
           Lambs
           are
           brought
           into
           the
           fold
           of
           everlasting
           rest
           ,
           
             Sion
          
           is
           redeeming
           ,
           the
           true
           life
           is
           rising
           ,
           the
           whorish
           spirit
           is
           judging
           ,
           the
           dore
           of
           life
           is
           yet
           open
           :
           doe
           not
           lye
           secure
           in
           the
           whores
           wisdome
           !
           Do
           not
           lye
           slumbering
           ,
           and
           reasoning
           ,
           and
           disputing
           from
           the
           letter
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           till
           the
           gathering
           be
           finished
           ,
           till
           the
           doore
           be
           shut
           ,
           till
           the
           eternall
           flames
           seize
           upon
           you
           ,
           and
           ye
           find
           your selves
           in
           the
           bosome
           of
           hell
           unawares
           ,
           and
           see
           the
           children
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           in
           
             Abrahams
          
           bosom
           ,
           but
           your selves
           shut
           out
           ,
           and
           left
           to
           weep
           and
           waile
           and
           gnash
           your
           teeth
           .
        
         
           
             Quest
             .
          
           But
           how
           may
           I
           avoid
           adding
           to
           the
           things
           ,
           and
           dimishing
           from
           the
           words
           of
           this
           prophecy
           ,
           and
           of
           other
           Scriptures
           ,
           that
           I
           may
           not
           meet
           with
           the
           weight
           of
           this
           curse
           ,
           or
           misse
           of
           the
           blessing
           ?
        
         
           
             Answ.
          
           Dost
           thou
           ask
           this
           question
           from
           thy
           heart
           ,
           in
           the
           simplicity
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           fleshly
           wisdome
           ?
           then
           hearken
           with
           that
           ear
           ,
           and
           thou
           shalt
           set
           thy
           seal
           to
           mine
           answer
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Wait
           for
           the
           key
           of
           knowledge
           ,
           which
           is
           Gods
           free
           gift
           .
           
           Do
           not
           go
           with
           a
           false
           key
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           truth
           ,
           for
           it
           will
           not
           open
           them
           .
           Man
           is
           too
           hasty
           to
           know
           the
           meaning
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           to
           enter
           into
           the
           things
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           so
           he
           climbs
           up
           over
           the
           doore
           with
           his
           own
           understanding
           ,
           but
           he
           has
           not
           patience
           to
           wait
           to
           know
           the
           door
           ,
           and
           to
           receive
           the
           key
           which
           opens
           and
           shuts
           the
           doore
           :
           and
           by
           this
           means
           he
           gathers
           death
           ,
           out
           of
           words
           which
           came
           from
           life
           .
           And
           this
           I
           dare
           positively
           affirme
           ,
           that
           all
           that
           have
           gone
           this
           way
           to
           work
           ,
           have
           but
           a
           dead
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           death
           in
           them
           that
           feeds
           upon
           this
           knowledg
           ,
           and
           the
           life
           is
           not
           raised
           .
           Consider
           now
           the
           weight
           of
           this
           councill
           in
           the
           true
           ballance
           !
           There
           is
           no
           opening
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           true
           key
           :
           nor
           is
           there
           any
           coming
           at
           the
           key
           ,
           till
           the
           Lord
           please
           to
           give
           it
           .
           What
           then
           is
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           but
           only
           to
           wait
           (
           in
           the
           silence
           of
           that
           part
           which
           would
           be
           forward
           ,
           and
           running
           before
           hand
           )
           till
           the
           key
           be
           given
           ,
           and
           to
           know
           how
           to
           receive
           it
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           offered
           in
           the
           light
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           wait
           in
           the
           will
           ,
           or
           expect
           to
           receive
           it
           according
           to
           observations
           in
           the
           fleshly
           wisdome
           from
           the
           letter
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           Let
           not
           thy
           understanding
           have
           the
           mannaging
           of
           this
           key
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           given
           ,
           but
           know
           the
           true
           opener
           ,
           the
           skilfull
           user
           of
           the
           key
           ,
           the
           hand
           which
           can
           only
           turn
           the
           key
           aright
           :
           and
           let
           him
           have
           the
           mannaging
           both
           of
           his
           own
           key
           ,
           and
           of
           thine
           understanding
           .
           Do
           not
           run
           in
           thine
           own
           understanding
           ,
           or
           in
           thine
           owne
           will
           to
           search
           out
           the
           meaning
           of
           Scripture
           :
           for
           then
           thou
           feedest
           with
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           which
           it
           is
           the
           intent
           all
           words
           of
           life
           to
           destroy
           :
           but
           as
           thou
           waitest
           for
           the
           key
           at
           first
           ,
           so
           continually
           wait
           for
           the
           appearances
           and
           movings
           of
           the
           user
           of
           the
           key
           ,
           and
           he
           wil
           shut
           out
           thy
           understanding
           and
           will
           continually
           ,
           which
           would
           stil
           be
           running
           after
           the
           litterall
           part
           of
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           let
           thee
           into
           the
           life
           both
           of
           the
           prophecies
           and
           doctrines
           thereof
           .
           Man
           when
           he
           hath
           received
           a
           true
           gift
           from
           God
           ,
           he
           would
           be
           mannaging
           of
           it
           himselfe
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           sure
           he
           will
           mannage
           it
           for
           himselfe
           (
           for
           the
           gratifying
           and
           pleasing
           of
           himself
           ,
           and
           not
           for
           God
           )
           and
           then
           God
           ,
           being
           provoked
           ,
           takes
           away
           the
           substance
           ,
           and
           leaves
           him
           the
           shell
           .
           Therefore
           he
           that
           hath
           received
           a
           gift
           ,
           must
           be
           very
           watchfull
           against
           that
           which
           would
           betray
           ,
           or
           he
           may
           easily
           loose
           it
           :
           for
           though
           the
           gifts
           and
           caling
           of
           God
           are
           without
           repentance
           ,
           yet
           if
           that
           lay
           hold
           of
           the
           gift
           which
           was
           not
           called
           ,
           and
           to
           which
           it
           was
           not
           given
           ,
           the
           Lord
           will
           thrust
           that
           by
           ,
           and
           take
           away
           his
           gift
           from
           it
           .
        
         
         
           3.
           
           Do
           not
           grast
           any
           of
           the
           fruit
           of
           the
           tree
           of
           life
           upon
           the
           tree
           of
           knowledge
           ,
           for
           it
           will
           not
           grow
           there
           :
           an
           appearance
           ,
           a
           likenesse
           of
           the
           true
           fruit
           may
           grow
           there
           ,
           but
           the
           true
           fruit
           it selfe
           will
           not
           .
           My
           meaning
           is
           ,
           doe
           not
           make
           a
           treasury
           of
           knowledge
           in
           the
           understanding
           part
           which
           is
           to
           perish
           ,
           but
           know
           the
           true
           treasury
           of
           all
           the
           things
           of
           life
           ,
           which
           is
           in
           the
           life
           it selfe
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           understanding
           which
           is
           formed
           ,
           kept
           ,
           and
           lives
           in
           the
           life
           .
           Lay
           no
           manna
           by
           to
           feed
           upon
           in
           the
           old
           store
           house
           (
           lest
           the
           fleshly
           part
           should
           be
           running
           thither
           ,
           when
           its
           fleshly
           appetite
           is
           kindled
           after
           food
           )
           but
           daily
           receive
           the
           continuall
           bread
           from
           the
           hand
           of
           life
           .
           The
           wisdom
           of
           the
           life
           strikes
           at
           ●hy
           wisdom
           and
           understanding
           ,
           and
           if
           ever
           thou
           wilt
           grow
           wise
           any
           more
           there
           ,
           thou
           loosest
           this
           ,
           and
           canst
           not
           possibly
           retaine
           it
           :
           for
           that
           part
           is
           then
           getting
           up
           in
           thee
           ,
           in
           which
           it
           cannot
           be
           held
           ,
           but
           only
           a
           shadow
           ,
           an
           image
           ,
           a
           resemblance
           and
           likenesse
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           feeds
           and
           pleases
           that
           part
           ,
           which
           fain
           would
           have
           life
           ,
           but
           cannot
           know
           it
           ,
           and
           therefore
           is
           necessitated
           to
           make
           images
           and
           likenesses
           ,
           of
           things
           in
           Heaven
           or
           things
           in
           earth
           ,
           that
           it
           might
           have
           somewhat
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Take
           not
           up
           a
           rest
           in
           openings
           of
           things
           ,
           though
           by
           the
           true
           key
           .
           Take
           heed
           of
           over-valluing
           that
           kind
           of
           knowledge
           :
           for
           that
           part
           which
           over-vallues
           that
           knowledge
           ,
           will
           presently
           be
           post
           up
           with
           it
           :
           but
           there
           is
           a
           more
           excellent
           ,
           and
           safer
           kind
           of
           knowledge
           to
           be
           pressed
           after
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           knowledge
           of
           things
           by
           receiving
           of
           them
           .
           There
           is
           a
           knowledge
           of
           things
           ,
           by
           the
           Spirits
           opening
           the
           words
           which
           speake
           of
           them
           (
           or
           by
           inward
           immediate
           prophecies
           from
           the
           word
           of
           life
           in
           the
           heart
           :
           )
           this
           is
           an
           excellent
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           be
           found
           in
           the
           earthly
           part
           of
           man
           ;
           yet
           the
           earthly
           part
           (
           when
           this
           knowledge
           is
           given
           )
           is
           very
           apt
           to
           be
           swelled
           and
           exalted
           with
           it
           :
           but
           then
           there
           is
           also
           a
           knowledge
           ,
           which
           ariseth
           from
           the
           gift
           of
           the
           thing
           it selfe
           .
           This
           knowledge
           is
           very
           precious
           ,
           and
           much
           more
           full
           and
           certain
           then
           the
           other
           ,
           having
           the
           nature
           and
           immediate
           power
           of
           life
           in
           it self
           ,
           and
           so
           is
           perfectly
           able
           to
           preserve
           .
           As
           for
           instance
           ,
           to
           make
           it
           more
           plaine
           :
           There
           may
           be
           a
           knowledge
           of
           Justification
           ,
           by
           the
           Spirits
           opening
           the
           words
           written
           in
           Scripture
           concerning
           justification
           ,
           and
           the
           blood
           of
           sprinkling
           ,
           (
           and
           this
           is
           a
           good
           knowledge
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           a
           true
           opening
           of
           it
           from
           the
           Spirit
           :
           )
           but
           then
           there
           is
           a
           knowledg
           by
           feeling
           of
           the
           blood
           of
           sprinkling
           in
           the
           heart
           ,
           and
           by
           seeing
           with
           the
           new
           eye
           the
           way
           of
           its
           justification
           ;
           
           and
           in
           this
           knowledge
           is
           the
           power
           and
           the
           cleansing
           of
           the
           life
           received
           ,
           which
           in
           the
           other
           was
           but
           spoken
           of
           .
           Therefore
           rest
           not
           in
           openings
           ,
           or
           prophecies
           ,
           or
           true
           meanings
           of
           these
           things
           (
           though
           this
           kind
           of
           knowledge
           is
           very
           excellent
           ,
           and
           hath
           been
           very
           rare
           )
           but
           wait
           to
           feele
           the
           thing
           it selfe
           ,
           which
           the
           words
           speak
           of
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           united
           by
           the
           living
           Spirit
           to
           that
           ,
           and
           then
           thou
           hast
           a
           knowledge
           from
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           it selfe
           :
           and
           this
           is
           more
           deep
           and
           inward
           ,
           then
           all
           the
           knowledge
           that
           can
           be
           had
           from
           words
           concerning
           the
           thing
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           When
           thou
           feelest
           things
           ,
           then
           seek
           their
           preservation
           in
           the
           proper
           spring
           of
           their
           own
           life
           .
           Let
           the
           root
           bear
           thee
           ,
           and
           all
           thy
           knowledge
           ,
           with
           all
           that
           's
           freely
           given
           thee
           of
           God
           .
           When
           thou
           feelest
           thy selfe
           leavened
           with
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           become
           a
           branch
           shot
           out
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           then
           learn
           how
           to
           abide
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           to
           keep
           all
           that
           's
           given
           thee
           there
           ,
           and
           have
           nothing
           which
           thou
           maist
           call
           thine
           own
           any
           more
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           lost
           in
           thy selfe
           ,
           and
           found
           in
           him
           .
           Know
           the
           land
           of
           the
           living
           ,
           wherein
           all
           the
           things
           of
           life
           live
           ,
           and
           can
           live
           no where
           else
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           all
           this
           ,
           in
           this
           whole
           course
           ,
           from
           the
           very
           first
           step
           of
           it
           ,
           there
           's
           certainty
           ,
           there
           's
           stability
           ,
           there
           's
           infallibility
           .
           From
           the
           very
           first
           opening
           of
           the
           true
           key
           ,
           I
           begin
           to
           learne
           somwhat
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           learn
           certainly
           ,
           and
           feel
           an
           assurance
           and
           establishment
           in
           it
           :
           and
           growing
           up
           here
           ,
           I
           grow
           up
           in
           the
           true
           learning
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           true
           settlement
           ,
           and
           so
           I
           am
           not
           unlearned
           and
           unstable
           ,
           wresting
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           my
           own
           destruction
           :
           for
           I
           take
           none
           of
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           from
           my selfe
           ,
           from
           my
           own
           understanding
           ,
           from
           my
           own
           study
           and
           invention
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           studies
           of
           other
           expositors
           ,
           but
           from
           a
           certain
           hand
           .
           And
           how
           can
           he
           rest
           Scripture
           ,
           who
           is
           kept
           single
           ,
           and
           has
           no
           desire
           to
           have
           any
           thing
           to
           be
           the
           meaning
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           the
           meaning
           ,
           nor
           no
           will
           to
           know
           the
           meaning
           ,
           further
           then
           the
           good
           wil
           of
           him
           whose
           Spirit
           penned
           it
           ,
           thinks
           good
           to
           give
           forth
           the
           meaning
           to
           him
           ;
           and
           who
           waits
           to
           receive
           this
           ,
           not
           to
           feed
           the
           lustfull
           knowing
           pare
           in
           himselfe
           ,
           but
           to
           feed
           the
           life
           with
           it
           ?
           and
           when
           the
           life
           hath
           no
           use
           for
           it
           ,
           he
           is
           content
           to
           have
           it
           shut
           up
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           without
           it
           :
           I
           say
           ,
           how
           is
           it
           possible
           for
           this
           man
           to
           wrest
           Scriptures
           ?
           But
           now
           ,
           a
           man
           that
           hath
           taken
           in
           a
           body
           of
           knowledge
           already
           ,
           he
           goes
           to
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           bends
           it
           to
           make
           it
           speak
           answerable
           to
           that
           :
           and
           where
           it
           speaks
           contrary
           ,
           he
           invents
           a
           way
           to
           make
           it
           comply
           ,
           
           and
           so
           wrests
           Scriptures
           forward
           &
           backward
           ,
           to
           make
           them
           speak
           agreable
           to
           what
           he
           has
           already
           received
           and
           beleeved
           .
           Thus
           every
           sort
           of
           persons
           ,
           papists
           and
           protestants
           ,
           bend
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           to
           make
           them
           speak
           conformable
           to
           their
           opinions
           and
           practises
           ,
           not
           having
           
             the
             true
             ,
             learning
             ,
          
           which
           gives
           to
           read
           them
           in
           the
           true
           Originall
           ,
           where
           the
           knowledge
           of
           what
           they
           speak
           and
           meane
           is
           certaine
           :
           and
           so
           they
           are
           also
           
             unstable
             ,
          
           and
           subject
           to
           be
           shaken
           by
           a
           wind
           of
           reason
           which
           is
           stronger
           then
           their
           own
           .
           And
           this
           wresting
           of
           Scripture
           is
           
             to
             their
             own
             destruction
             ;
          
           for
           that
           part
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           much
           as
           desirous
           to
           bend
           a
           Scripture
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           destroyed
           ;
           and
           that
           part
           cannot
           receive
           the
           true
           knowledge
           ,
           but
           stumbles
           in
           its
           own
           wisdome
           and
           way
           of
           seeking
           ,
           at
           the
           wisdome
           of
           Cod
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           true
           way
           of
           finding
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           foregoing
           councill
           ,
           faithfully
           hearkened
           unto
           ,
           will
           preserve
           out
           of
           this
           ,
           and
           also
           bring
           to
           the
           true
           means
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           true
           use
           of
           the
           means
           ,
           which
           all
           nations
           ,
           who
           have
           drunk
           of
           the
           whores
           cup
           ,
           have
           erred
           concerning
           ,
           and
           taken
           the
           false
           for
           the
           true
           .
           The
           strength
           of
           this
           wine
           hath
           made
           all
           nations
           ,
           peoples
           ,
           tongues
           and
           languages
           to
           mistake
           ,
           who
           in
           the
           heat
           of
           their
           drinke
           have
           cryed
           up
           the
           means
           ,
           the
           means
           ,
           the
           ordinances
           ,
           the
           ordinances
           
             &c.
          
           not
           perceiving
           how
           this
           heat
           came
           from
           the
           spirits
           of
           the
           whores
           wine
           ,
           and
           not
           from
           the
           sober
           ,
           meek
           ,
           calm
           ,
           gentle
           leadings
           of
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           so
           in
           a
           fleshly
           zeale
           have
           set
           up
           the
           whores
           means
           instead
           of
           the
           lambs
           means
           ,
           and
           contend
           for
           them
           with
           the
           whores
           spirit
           and
           weapons
           .
           Now
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           any
           man
           so
           ,
           much
           as
           to
           know
           the
           true
           means
           ,
           till
           the
           whores
           wine
           be
           purged
           out
           of
           him
           :
           for
           that
           will
           make
           him
           erre
           in
           judgment
           ,
           and
           take
           the
           false
           for
           the
           true
           .
           And
           which
           way
           shall
           he
           ever
           come
           to
           the
           Kingdome
           ,
           which
           has
           lighted
           upon
           the
           wrong
           means
           ?
           or
           how
           shall
           he
           ever
           come
           to
           the
           true
           means
           ,
           who
           never
           yet
           saw
           the
           witchery
           of
           the
           whorish
           spirit
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           how
           he
           himselfe
           has
           been
           bewitcht
           ,
           and
           cosened
           with
           the
           false
           instead
           of
           the
           true
           ?
           as
           for
           instance
           .
        
         
           
             Prayer
             ,
             that
             is
             generally
             taken
             for
             a
             means
             ,
          
           Aske
           ,
           and
           it
           shall
           be
           given
           you
           ;
           seek
           and
           ye
           shall
           find
           :
           knock
           and
           it
           shall
           be
           opened
           to
           you
           .
           If
           Parents
           ,
           which
           are
           evill
           ,
           know
           how
           to
           give
           good
           gifts
           to
           their
           children
           :
           how
           much
           more
           shall
           the
           heavenly
           Father
           give
           the
           holy
           Spirit
           to
           them
           that
           aske
           him
           .
           
             This
             therefore
             is
             an
             undoubted
             thing
             ,
             that
             prayer
             is
             a
             means
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             Answ.
          
           True
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           prayer
           which
           is
           a
           means
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           a
           prayer
           which
           is
           not
           a
           means
           .
           There
           is
           a
           prayer
           which
           is
           an
           ordinance
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           a
           prayer
           which
           is
           an
           invention
           .
           There
           is
           a
           prayer
           which
           is
           the
           breath
           of
           the
           true
           child
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           a
           prayer
           which
           is
           the
           breath
           of
           the
           fleshly
           part
           ,
           a
           breath
           of
           the
           whorish
           spirit
           .
           There
           is
           a
           prayer
           of
           the
           first
           birth
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           a
           prayer
           of
           the
           second
           birth
           ,
           both
           which
           cry
           and
           weep
           to
           God
           for
           the
           same-thing
           .
           Now
           the
           one
           of
           these
           is
           the
           true
           means
           ,
           the
           other
           not
           :
           one
           of
           them
           is
           Christs
           ordinance
           ,
           the
           other
           is
           antichrists
           ordinance
           .
           Now
           the
           question
           is
           ,
           which
           of
           these
           thy
           prayer
           is
           ?
           whether
           it
           be
           thine
           own
           breath
           ,
           or
           Gods
           breath
           ?
           whether
           it
           come
           from
           the
           renewings
           of
           the
           Spirit
           of
           life
           ,
           or
           from
           thine
           own
           naturall
           part
           painted
           ?
           for
           accordingly
           ,
           it
           is
           either
           the
           true
           means
           ,
           or
           the
           false
           means
           .
           If
           it
           be
           the
           true
           means
           ,
           it
           shall
           have
           the
           thing
           ,
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           the
           life
           ,
           the
           kingdome
           it
           prayes
           for
           :
           if
           it
           be
           the
           false
           means
           ,
           it
           can
           never
           obtain
           it
           .
           Papists
           ,
           they
           pray
           ;
           Protestants
           ,
           they
           pray
           ;
           some
           in
           forms
           ,
           some
           without
           forms
           ;
           some
           meditating
           before
           hand
           ,
           some
           not
           meditating
           :
           are
           all
           these
           the
           true
           means
           ,
           or
           are
           any
           of
           them
           the
           true
           means
           ?
           The
           breath
           of
           the
           true
           child
           is
           the
           only
           true
           prayer
           ;
           and
           he
           prayes
           only
           in
           the
           moving
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           leading
           of
           that
           Spirit
           that
           begat
           him
           :
           and
           this
           is
           a
           prayer
           according
           to
           the
           will
           ,
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           power
           .
           But
           all
           mens
           prayers
           ,
           according
           to
           times
           they
           set
           the
           themselves
           .
           or
           according
           to
           formings
           of
           desires
           in
           their
           own
           minds
           ,
           which
           they
           offer
           up
           to
           God
           with
           the
           nature
           and
           heart
           that
           sinneth
           against
           him
           ,
           these
           are
           false
           means
           ,
           and
           may
           satisfie
           the
           drunken
           spirit
           erred
           from
           the
           li●e
           ,
           but
           are
           no
           means
           to
           the
           truth
           .
        
         
           Canst
           thou
           pray
           ?
           how
           camest
           thou
           to
           learn
           to
           pray
           ?
           wast
           thou
           taught
           from
           above
           ?
           or
           didst
           thou
           gain
           the
           skill
           and
           abillity
           ,
           by
           the
           exercise
           and
           improvement
           of
           thine
           ,
           own
           naturall
           part
           ?
           Didst
           thou
           begin
           with
           sighs
           and
           groans
           ,
           staying
           there
           ,
           till
           the
           same
           spirit
           that
           taught
           thee
           to
           groan
           ,
           taught
           thee
           also
           to
           speak
           ?
           Wast
           thou
           ever
           able
           to
           distinguish
           the
           sighs
           and
           groans
           of
           the
           Spirits
           begetting
           ,
           from
           the
           sighs
           and
           groans
           of
           thy
           own
           naturall
           and
           affectionate
           part
           ?
           and
           hath
           that
           part
           ,
           with
           all
           its
           sighing●
           ,
           groaning
           ,
           desires
           ,
           endeavours
           ,
           &c
           been
           thrust
           aside
           ,
           and
           the
           seed
           immortall
           raised
           ,
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           eternall
           life
           ,
           which
           teacheth
           to
           cry
           and
           mourn
           ,
           and
           at
           length
           to
           speak
           to
           the
           Father
           for
           the
           preservation
           and
           nourishment
           of
           its
           life
           ?
           If
           it
           hath
           been
           thus
           with
           
           thee
           ,
           then
           thou
           hast
           known
           that
           prayer
           which
           is
           the
           true
           means
           .
           But
           if
           otherwise
           ,
           though
           thou
           pray
           never
           so
           long
           ,
           and
           with
           never
           so
           great
           affections
           and
           strong
           desires
           ,
           this
           is
           all
           but
           the
           fals
           means
           ,
           with
           its
           fals
           warmth
           from
           the
           fall
           fire
           ,
           this
           is
           but
           the
           means
           which
           the
           whorish
           Spirit
           (
           which
           is
           not
           in
           union
           with
           the
           life
           and
           power
           ,
           but
           keeps
           the
           seed
           in
           bandage
           )
           has
           set
           up
           instead
           of
           the
           true
           means
           .
           And
           this
           can
           never
           lead
           to
           truth
           ,
           but
           keeps
           alive
           Gods
           enemy
           under
           this
           pleasant
           covering
           :
           neither
           is
           this
           the
           worship
           of
           the
           living
           God
           ,
           but
           as
           it
           is
           from
           another
           spirit
           ,
           so
           it
           is
           to
           another
           spirit
           .
        
         
           O
           learn
           to
           be
           sober
           !
           come
           out
           of
           this
           drunken
           fury
           ,
           and
           consider
           things
           mildly
           and
           seriously
           .
           Do
           not
           make
           a
           great
           outcry
           of
           ordinances
           ,
           ordinances
           ;
           the
           means
           ,
           the
           means
           .
           This
           is
           the
           voyce
           of
           the
           clamorous
           woman
           ,
           who
           with
           her
           loud
           noise
           ,
           would
           fain
           keep
           you
           from
           listning
           after
           the
           still
           voyce
           of
           true
           wisdome
           ,
           which
           cannot
           be
           heard
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           this
           great
           noise
           and
           hurry
           in
           your
           spirits
           ;
           but
           consider
           which
           are
           the
           true
           ordinances
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           true
           means
           ;
           which
           are
           the
           likenesses
           man
           has
           framed
           ,
           and
           which
           is
           the
           true
           thing
           it self
           .
           And
           if
           ye
           could
           once
           be
           mild
           ,
           gentle
           and
           calm
           ,
           &
           turn
           from
           your
           own
           wisdome
           and
           fleshly
           knowledge
           of
           things
           it
           might
           please
           God
           to
           remove
           your
           stumbling
           blocks
           ,
           and
           to
           open
           that
           eye
           in
           you
           which
           can
           see
           the
           antichristian
           nature
           ,
           and
           discern
           between
           the
           coverings
           ,
           which
           it
           hath
           formed
           to
           hide
           its
           deceitfull
           spirit
           under
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           garment
           and
           cloathing
           of
           life
           .
           But
           the
           seed
           of
           the
           Kingdome
           is
           little
           ,
           and
           ye
           are
           great
           ,
           how
           can
           ye
           enter
           into
           it
           ?
           the
           pearl
           lies
           hid
           in
           the
           field
           ,
           and
           ye
           are
           gazing
           up
           to
           Heaven
           how
           can
           ye
           see
           it
           ?
           Christ
           is
           descended
           into
           the
           lower
           parts
           of
           the
           earth
           ,
           and
           ye
           are
           using
           means
           to
           ascend
           upwards
           in
           the
           wrong
           nature
           ,
           how
           can
           ye
           meet
           with
           him
           ?
           the
           Gospel
           hath
           been
           hid
           ,
           the
           Sun
           hath
           not
           shined
           ,
           it
           hath
           been
           night
           ,
           and
           ye
           have
           got
           many
           fals
           candles
           ;
           which
           way
           can
           ye
           acknowledge
           the
           little
           glimmering
           of
           the
           day
           star
           ,
           who
           have
           such
           satisfaction
           in
           the
           warmth
           of
           your
           false
           fires
           ?
           ye
           are
           far
           from
           the
           true
           light
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           yet
           received
           so
           much
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           to
           discover
           the
           darknesse
           of
           the
           night
           !
           Ye
           are
           too
           high
           ,
           too
           wise
           ,
           too
           knowing
           for
           Christ
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           sight
           and
           acknowledgment
           of
           the
           true
           means
           which
           lead
           to
           life
           .
           And
           if
           ye
           could
           once
           come
           to
           see
           this
           ,
           there
           might
           be
           some
           hope
           but
           in
           that
           wisdome
           wherein
           your
           life
           and
           knowledge
           stands
           ,
           ye
           are
           shut
           out
           :
           and
           ye
           are
           reasoning
           and
           stumbling
           at
           the
           stone
           ,
           while
           others
           (
           who
           are
           broken
           in
           spirit
           ,
           and
           in
           meeknesse
           and
           humility
           led
           to
           try
           )
           find
           
           it
           a
           sure
           foundation
           ,
           even
           a
           foundation
           of
           eternall
           life
           for
           the
           true
           seed
           of
           life
           ,
           and
           are
           built
           into
           the
           living
           City
           ,
           which
           is
           made
           without
           hands
           ,
           and
           without
           any
           of
           the
           tools
           of
           mans
           wisdome
           .
        
      
       
         
           A
           Brief
           History
           of
           the
           state
           of
           the
           Church
           since
           the
           dayes
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           with
           the
           living
           seal
           to
           it
           ,
           which
           he
           that
           hath
           eternall
           life
           abiding
           ,
           in
           him
           ,
           can
           read
           and
           witnes
           ;
           but
           that
           wisdom
           zeal
           and
           devotion
           which
           is
           in
           the
           death
           ,
           cannot
           .
        
         
           AFter
           the
           universal
           degeneration
           and
           corruption
           of
           the
           
             Jewish
          
           state
           ,
           and
           the
           putting
           an
           end
           to
           the
           shadows
           thereof
           ,
           by
           the
           appearance
           and
           succession
           of
           the
           substance
           ,
           it
           pleased
           God
           to
           dissolve
           that
           people
           ,
           state
           and
           pollicy
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           power
           of
           his
           life
           (
           without
           either
           the
           wisdome
           or
           strength
           of
           man
           )
           to
           set
           upon
           the
           heathenish
           world
           ,
           which
           he
           subdued
           and
           brought
           under
           the
           power
           of
           his
           life
           .
           By
           his
           Apostles
           and
           messengers
           ,
           who
           preached
           the
           everlasting
           Gospel
           ,
           the
           word
           of
           eternall
           life
           ,
           he
           gathered
           assemblies
           up
           and
           down
           the
           nations
           ,
           whom
           the
           nations
           by
           all
           their
           persecutions
           could
           not
           subject
           ;
           but
           they
           reigned
           over
           them
           in
           the
           power
           ,
           authority
           ,
           and
           dominion
           of
           God
           :
           For
           they
           were
           Kings
           and
           Priests
           to
           God
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           all
           the
           Nations
           ,
           and
           they
           did
           reign
           upon
           the
           earth
           ;
           in
           somuch
           as
           the
           heathenish
           spirit
           of
           man
           ,
           observing
           their
           order
           in
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           the
           wisdom
           and
           power
           of
           the
           Spirit
           among
           them
           ,
           who
           by
           his
           living
           light
           was
           able
           to
           search
           the
           hearts
           of
           those
           that
           came
           to
           observe
           them
           ,
           could
           not
           but
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           God
           was
           in
           them
           of
           a
           truth
           .
        
         
           Now
           the
           next
           thing
           to
           be
           expected
           ,
           is
           Satans
           opposition
           against
           this
           power
           of
           life
           ,
           &
           his
           stratagems
           to
           undermine
           it
           .
           He
           withstood
           the
           growth
           and
           settlement
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           all
           that
           he
           could
           by
           open
           force
           ,
           making
           use
           both
           of
           the
           heathenish
           devout
           worshippers
           ,
           who
           fought
           for
           their
           
             Jupiter
             ,
          
           their
           
             Diana
             ,
          
           and
           other
           gods
           and
           goddesses
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           
             Jewish
          
           devout
           worshippers
           ,
           who
           fought
           for
           their
           Temple-worship
           ,
           with
           the
           Laws
           and
           ordinances
           of
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           which
           were
           now
           expired
           .
           But
           neither
           of
           these
           would
           doe
           ,
           but
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           power
           of
           life
           gained
           ground
           upon
           him
           ,
           and
           did
           rather
           thrive
           and
           increase
           ,
           then
           diminish
           by
           this
           opposition
           .
           Therefore
           
           now
           he
           falls
           to
           this
           stratagems
           ,
           he
           gets
           some
           false
           brethren
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           (
           
             they
             went
             out
             from
             us
          
           )
           these
           he
           cloaths
           as
           Angels
           of
           light
           ,
           puts
           the
           sheeps
           cloathing
           on
           their
           wolvish
           nature
           ,
           makes
           them
           appear
           as
           like
           the
           Apostles
           as
           may
           be
           ,
           endues
           them
           with
           an
           excellent
           taking
           knowledge
           of
           life
           and
           spirituallity
           in
           appearance
           ,
           forms
           in
           them
           an
           image
           of
           the
           truth
           ,
           and
           inspires
           this
           image
           with
           the
           spirit
           of
           his
           own
           life
           ,
           and
           with
           these
           he
           goes
           forth
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           gathers
           the
           world
           about
           him
           .
           Now
           the
           world
           was
           presently
           taken
           with
           this
           
             (
             the
             world
             went
             after
             him
             )
          
           for
           this
           is
           that
           the
           world
           would
           have
           ,
           an
           appearance
           of
           religion
           ,
           an
           image
           of
           truth
           ,
           but
           their
           own
           spirit
           in
           it
           .
           The
           worldly
           spirit
           ,
           that
           flies
           off
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           from
           the
           power
           ,
           can
           readily
           close
           with
           this
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           its
           own
           .
           Bring
           forth
           never
           so
           high
           notions
           of
           religion
           and
           spirituall
           wisdome
           ,
           the
           world
           will
           hug
           them
           ,
           the
           world
           will
           feed
           on
           them
           ,
           the
           world
           will
           cloath
           it selfe
           with
           them
           .
           The
           world
           can
           swallow
           ,
           and
           digest
           any
           thing
           but
           life
           .
           Any
           pleasant
           picture
           of
           things
           in
           heaven
           will
           down
           with
           the
           world
           :
           but
           the
           nature
           ,
           the
           life
           ,
           the
           truth
           ,
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           Christ
           in
           his
           true
           arid
           living
           crosse
           ,
           this
           will
           not
           down
           with
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           Now
           the
           Devil
           having
           thus
           set
           up
           his
           false
           image
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           gathered
           a
           party
           after
           him
           ,
           then
           he
           sets
           upon
           the
           Church
           :
           and
           the
           battel
           goeth
           very
           hard
           ,
           life
           striving
           to
           defend
           ,
           and
           death
           to
           overcome
           ,
           How
           hard
           did
           the
           Apostles
           strive
           in
           their
           day
           ,
           to
           keep
           their
           converts
           to
           the
           simplicity
           of
           truth
           ,
           &
           to
           the
           way
           therof
           (
           which
           even
           then
           began
           to
           be
           evill
           spoken
           of
           )
           writing
           Epistles
           to
           the
           Churches
           ,
           warning
           them
           of
           the
           false
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           wishing
           them
           to
           stand
           their
           ground
           !
           yea
           Christ
           himselfe
           writes
           severall
           Epistles
           from
           heaven
           to
           some
           of
           them
           ,
           cheking
           their
           backslidings
           and
           encouraging
           them
           to
           renew
           their
           zeal
           and
           strength
           ,
           putting
           them
           in
           mind
           of
           the
           Crown
           which
           attended
           the
           victory
           .
           But
           at
           length
           the
           Divill
           with
           his
           stratagems
           prevails
           ,
           gets
           the
           possession
           of
           the
           Churches
           territories
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           is
           faine
           to
           fly
           for
           her
           preservation
           :
           and
           such
           of
           her
           seed
           as
           are
           left
           behind
           her
           ,
           the
           enemy
           makes
           war
           against
           ,
           slayes
           ,
           drinks
           their
           bloud
           .
        
         
           Now
           here
           's
           an
           end
           of
           all
           the
           glory
           of
           that
           state
           :
           now
           the
           Divil
           hath
           gained
           the
           world
           again
           :
           The
           same
           spirit
           ,
           that
           lost
           it
           under
           the
           heathenish
           power
           (
           for
           there
           he
           was
           conquered
           )
           recovers
           it
           under
           an
           Antichristian
           appearance
           ;
           setting
           up
           the
           same
           wickednes
           ,
           and
           the
           same
           course
           and
           current
           of
           death
           under
           forms
           of
           Antichristian
           
           religion
           ,
           as
           he
           had
           done
           before
           under
           forms
           of
           Heathenish
           devotion
           .
        
         
           Thus
           the
           Devil
           being
           conquerour
           ,
           having
           gained
           the
           field
           ,
           he
           divides
           the
           spoils
           among
           his
           army
           :
           he
           tak●s
           whatever
           was
           the
           Churches
           ,
           and
           make
           ,
           his
           own
           ,
           and
           ranks
           them
           in
           his
           way
           of
           Antichristian
           religion
           and
           devotion
           :
           so
           that
           now
           hence
           forward
           ,
           those
           things
           which
           were
           once
           Christs
           and
           the
           Churches
           ,
           they
           are
           no●
           all
           his
           ,
           and
           distributed
           by
           him
           among
           his
           followers
           .
           He
           gives
           the
           name
           Church
           to
           the
           whore
           which
           he
           sets
           up
           ,
           he
           gives
           the
           name
           Christian
           to
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           he
           prescribes
           baptisme
           ,
           and
           the
           Supper
           (
           which
           he
           calls
           Sacraments
           )
           and
           praying
           ,
           and
           preaching
           ,
           and
           singing
           ,
           which
           he
           calls
           publique
           ordinances
           ,
           and
           be
           prescribes
           private
           duties
           and
           exercises
           of
           devotion
           ;
           and
           he
           gets
           the
           letter
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           forms
           multitudes
           of
           meanings
           and
           expositions
           ,
           and
           has
           lying
           signs
           and
           wonders
           for
           such
           as
           need
           them
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           keep
           all
           the
           severall
           Brigades
           of
           his
           army
           quiet
           under
           his
           pay
           ,
           and
           might
           have
           some
           pleasing
           wares
           of
           traffick
           for
           every
           sort
           of
           his
           Merchants
           in
           his
           
             Babilon
             .
          
           For
           this
           is
           the
           City
           of
           that
           King
           which
           he
           built
           after
           his
           conquest
           over
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           which
           he
           hath
           enriched
           with
           the
           spoils
           from
           the
           life
           .
           And
           here
           all
           his
           subjects
           shall
           have
           content
           ,
           they
           shall
           have
           what
           they
           will
           ,
           if
           they
           will
           but
           be
           faithsull
           to
           him
           in
           the
           main
           .
           Call
           for
           what
           likenesse
           ,
           what
           invention
           ,
           what
           appearance
           of
           truth
           they
           will
           ,
           they
           shall
           have
           it
           ,
           so
           they
           will
           but
           be
           content
           without
           life
           .
           No
           notion
           about
           the
           Spirit
           wil
           be
           deny
           them
           ,
           so
           they
           will
           be
           content
           with
           the
           notion
           without
           the
           presence
           of
           the
           living
           Spirit
           .
           They
           shall
           have
           light
           in
           their
           understandings
           ,
           warmth
           in
           their
           affections
           ,
           joy
           ,
           peace
           ,
           hope
           ,
           comfort
           out
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           They
           shall
           apply
           as
           many
           promises
           to
           themselves
           as
           they
           will
           ,
           have
           what
           they
           will
           ,
           do
           what
           they
           will
           ,
           so
           they
           keep
           out
           of
           the
           feeling
           of
           the
           living
           principle
           :
           but
           if
           once
           that
           stir
           ,
           and
           there
           be
           any
           hearkning
           after
           that
           ,
           then
           he
           begins
           to
           shew
           his
           tyranny
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           to
           force
           them
           back
           ,
           and
           his
           stratagems
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           to
           tempt
           them
           aside
           from
           it
           .
        
         
           The
           devil
           having
           thus
           gained
           the
           form
           ,
           and
           enriched
           himself
           with
           the
           Churches
           spoils
           ,
           and
           slain
           them
           which
           had
           the
           living
           testimony
           ,
           then
           he
           falls
           to
           corrupting
           the
           form
           :
           For
           that
           filthy
           spirit
           ,
           though
           he
           can
           cloath
           himself
           with
           the
           form
           to
           deceive
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           &
           abid
           there
           ,
           to
           keep
           down
           the
           life
           ;
           yet
           he
           does
           not
           much
           love
           it
           ,
           he
           loves
           his
           own
           form
           better
           :
           and
           when
           he
           is
           out
           of
           feare
           of
           
           assaults
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           then
           he
           returns
           to
           his
           own
           form
           againe
           ,
           or
           patches
           up
           a
           garment
           more
           suitable
           to
           his
           own
           nature
           ,
           taking
           i●
           somewhat
           of
           the
           other
           with
           it
           ,
           to
           make
           his
           own
           passe
           the
           better
           (
           for
           if
           he
           should
           have
           returned
           to
           the
           direct
           heathenish
           forms
           of
           idolatry
           and
           false
           worship
           he
           could
           not
           so
           well
           have
           ●ayn
           hid
           :
           therefore
           he
           makes
           a
           mix
           u●e
           of
           somewhat
           which
           was
           prescribed
           the
           
             Jews
             ,
          
           with
           some
           things
           sound
           practised
           among
           the
           Christians
           .
           )
           Thus
           he
           brought
           in
           inventions
           of
           crosses
           ,
           and
           images
           ,
           and
           beads
           ,
           and
           pictures
           ,
           and
           reliques
           ,
           and
           ceremonies
           beyond
           number
           ,
           insomuch
           as
           not
           only
           the
           life
           and
           power
           was
           lost
           ,
           but
           the
           true
           likeness
           also
           ,
           even
           so
           lost
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           all
           the
           wisdome
           of
           man
           ,
           to
           recover
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           likenesse
           againe
           .
           Men
           have
           striven
           much
           ,
           but
           they
           never
           could
           form
           a
           true
           likenesse
           of
           the
           Primitive
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           way
           thereof
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           though
           it
           is
           the
           desire
           of
           the
           Devill
           to
           keep
           men
           in
           the
           grossnesse
           of
           darkness
           ,
           yet
           rather
           then
           loose
           them
           ,
           he
           will
           let
           them
           have
           some
           part
           of
           the
           form
           again
           :
           nay
           he
           will
           tempt
           them
           with
           a
           gaudy
           appearance
           of
           the
           form
           ,
           to
           keep
           them
           from
           meeting
           with
           the
           power
           and
           life
           ,
           when
           he
           perceives
           true
           secret
           inward
           stirrings
           in
           them
           ,
           which
           will
           not
           be
           quieted
           without
           somwhat
           .
           Thus
           ,
           when
           there
           was
           a
           stirring
           against
           Popery
           ,
           he
           tempted
           a●i●e
           into
           Episcopacy
           :
           when
           that
           would
           hold
           no
           longer
           ,
           then
           to
           Presbitery
           :
           when
           that
           will
           not
           serve
           ,
           into
           Independancy
           :
           when
           that
           will
           not
           keep
           quiet
           ,
           but
           still
           there
           are
           searchings
           further
           ,
           into
           Anabaptism
           :
           if
           that
           will
           not
           doe
           ,
           into
           a
           way
           of
           seeking
           and
           waiting
           :
           if
           this
           will
           not
           satisfie
           ,
           they
           shall
           have
           high
           notions
           ,
           yea
           most
           pleasant
           notions
           concerning
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           concerning
           the
           life
           ,
           if
           they
           will
           be
           but
           satisfied
           without
           the
           life
           :
           yea
           they
           shall
           have
           all
           the
           liberty
           in
           the
           creatures
           they
           can
           desire
           (
           the
           best
           painted
           liberty
           )
           if
           they
           will
           but
           be
           satisfied
           without
           that
           liberty
           ,
           which
           stands
           not
           in
           the
           creatures
           out
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           but
           over
           the
           creatures
           in
           the
           life
           .
           And
           he
           that
           turns
           aside
           to
           any
           of
           these
           ,
           he
           is
           still
           under
           the
           dominion
           of
           that
           spirit
           ,
           and
           there
           he
           holds
           his
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           there
           he
           performes
           his
           worship
           ,
           and
           there
           he
           has
           his
           unity
           ,
           his
           liberty
           ,
           his
           life
           ,
           his
           rest
           ,
           his
           peace
           ,
           his
           joy
           ,
           his
           hope
           .
           Now
           no
           man
           can
           worship
           God
           ,
           till
           he
           comes
           out
           of
           every
           part
           of
           this
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           and
           his
           feet
           touch
           
             Sion
             ,
          
           though
           there
           may
           be
           a
           secret
           panting
           ,
           and
           an
           unknown
           safety
           ,
           and
           an
           acceptation
           of
           the
           poor
           mourning
           soul
           in
           the
           passage
           Yea
           ,
           all
           sorts
           of
           people
           ,
           here
           ye
           were
           accepted
           ,
           in
           your
           stirrings
           after
           life
           ,
           
           in
           hearkning
           to
           the
           leadings
           of
           life
           from
           out
           of
           the
           Babilonish
           Spirit
           :
           but
           your
           turning
           aside
           to
           the
           Babilonish
           wisdome
           in
           a
           new
           dresse
           ,
           and
           sitting
           down
           in
           a
           new
           form
           of
           her
           inventing
           ,
           hath
           brought
           you
           to
           a
           losse
           of
           life
           ,
           and
           hath
           made
           you
           hatefull
           to
           the
           living
           God
           ,
           who
           hath
           drawn
           his
           sword
           against
           you
           ,
           and
           hath
           prepared
           his
           vialls
           ,
           his
           thunders
           ,
           his
           plagues
           ,
           his
           woes
           :
           and
           ye
           must
           drink
           of
           his
           cup
           with
           sorrow
           ,
           as
           ye
           have
           drunk
           of
           the
           whores
           cup
           with
           pleasure
           .
           Ye
           that
           have
           found
           a
           bed
           of
           pleasure
           in
           any
           of
           your
           forms
           ,
           or
           in
           any
           of
           your
           notions
           ,
           and
           so
           have
           found
           ease
           in
           the
           
             Sion
          
           of
           the
           whores
           painting
           ;
           ye
           must
           be
           cast
           into
           the
           bed
           of
           sorrow
           ,
           and
           know
           the
           fire
           the
           Gods
           
             Sion
             ,
          
           and
           the
           furnace
           in
           his
           
             Jerusalem
             ,
          
           if
           ever
           ye
           become
           an
           habitation
           for
           God
           ,
           or
           expect
           to
           feed
           on
           his
           holy
           mountaine
           .
        
         
           The
           condition
           of
           the
           Church
           all
           this
           while
           (
           all
           this
           time
           of
           Satans
           reigne
           in
           forms
           of
           knowledg
           and
           worship
           )
           hath
           been
           very
           lamentable
           ,
           and
           is
           expressed
           in
           Scripture
           by
           parables
           and
           resemblances
           of
           a
           sad
           state
           .
           She
           hath
           been
           as
           a
           City
           pulled
           down
           ,
           like
           a
           ruined
           City
           ,
           which
           needs
           rebuilding
           ,
           before
           she
           can
           come
           to
           be
           a
           City
           again
           ,
           (
           
             when
             the
             Lord
             shall
             build
             up
             Sion
             .
          
           )
           She
           hath
           been
           like
           a
           wildernesse
           ,
           barren
           ,
           undressed
           ,
           unregarded
           .
           She
           hath
           been
           like
           a
           mournfull
           widow
           ,
           whose
           husband
           hath
           been
           rent
           from
           her
           ,
           and
           her
           children
           slain
           .
           She
           hath
           lost
           all
           her
           ornaments
           ,
           all
           her
           garments
           ,
           all
           her
           ordinances
           ,
           all
           her
           appearances
           and
           wayes
           of
           life
           ,
           in
           somuch
           as
           
             the
             wayes
             of
             Sion
             mourn
             .
          
           But
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           the
           mother
           of
           harlots
           ,
           she
           has
           got
           all
           the
           beauty
           ,
           all
           the
           glory
           ,
           all
           the
           Churches
           attire
           ,
           all
           the
           Churches
           ordinances
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           trade
           and
           traffiqe
           runs
           thither
           ,
           and
           she
           is
           cryed
           up
           for
           the
           true
           Church
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           dare
           speak
           a
           word
           against
           her
           ,
           &
           for
           the
           true
           Church
           indeed
           ,
           they
           are
           exclaimed
           against
           for
           schismaticks
           ,
           and
           hereticks
           ,
           and
           war
           prepared
           against
           them
           ,
           and
           some
           or
           other
           of
           the
           beasts
           horns
           presently
           pushing
           at
           them
           .
           Thus
           it
           has
           gone
           all
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Apostacy
           ,
           the
           whore
           has
           flourished
           with
           the
           name
           of
           the
           Church
           making
           great
           merchandize
           of
           souls
           ,
           selling
           their
           formall
           stuff
           for
           mony
           ;
           and
           abundance
           of
           children
           hath
           the
           whore
           brought
           forth
           ,
           and
           nourished
           with
           her
           milk
           of
           deceit
           :
           but
           the
           true
           woman
           ,
           the
           Lambs
           wife
           with
           her
           seed
           ,
           and
           the
           living
           food
           from
           her
           living
           breasts
           ,
           have
           had
           no
           place
           on
           the
           earth
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           state
           of
           things
           is
           ended
           in
           part
           ,
           and
           ending
           apace
           .
           The
           Lord
           God
           of
           life
           is
           arisen
           out
           of
           his
           holy
           habitation
           to
           assault
           the
           
           Dragon
           ,
           to
           discover
           and
           strip
           the
           whore
           ,
           to
           recover
           a
           possession
           for
           his
           life
           in
           the
           earth
           ,
           to
           make
           roome
           in
           the
           world
           for
           his
           Church
           ,
           which
           he
           is
           bringing
           out
           of
           the
           wildernesse
           .
           The
           battel
           is
           begun
           ,
           the
           territories
           of
           Antichrist
           are
           assaulted
           ,
           the
           Lamb
           hath
           appeared
           on
           his
           white
           horse
           ,
           and
           hath
           gathered
           many
           of
           his
           called
           ,
           faithfull
           and
           chosen
           about
           him
           ,
           the
           Ensign
           is
           li●ted
           up
           :
           the
           light
           (
           which
           searcheth
           the
           inwards
           of
           the
           enemies
           dominions
           )
           hath
           appeared
           ,
           and
           his
           inmost
           power
           and
           wisdome
           is
           not
           feared
           ,
           but
           the
           Lord
           God
           is
           feared
           ,
           and
           the
           Dragons
           arm
           withers
           ,
           and
           the
           head
           of
           his
           pollicy
           (
           whereby
           he
           ensnared
           &
           intangled
           from
           the
           life
           )
           is
           crushing
           ,
           glory
           to
           the
           endlesse
           power
           of
           life
           for
           ever
           and
           for
           ever
           .
        
         
           Be
           wise
           now
           therefore
           ,
           &
           loose
           not
           your
           share
           in
           the
           immortal
           Crown
           .
           Take
           heed
           how
           ye
           be
           found
           fighters
           against
           the
           Lamb
           ,
           in
           the
           wisdom
           &
           power
           of
           
             Babilon
          
           which
           is
           to
           fall
           ,
           Painting
           will
           not
           passe
           now
           :
           That
           bloud
           of
           the
           Lamb
           is
           felt
           ,
           which
           washes
           off
           the
           whores
           paint
           ,
           even
           all
           her
           painted
           notions
           of
           the
           blood
           of
           christ
           ,
           &
           of
           sanctification
           and
           redemption
           ,
           
             &c.
          
           the
           whorish
           nature
           being
           discovered
           underneath
           all
           these
           .
           Ye
           have
           got
           the
           name
           of
           Church
           ,
           the
           name
           of
           Christians
           ,
           the
           name
           of
           ordinances
           ,
           
             &c.
          
           by
           the
           whores
           help
           ,
           but
           the
           nature
           of
           life
           ye
           want
           :
           and
           the
           living
           power
           is
           come
           to
           recover
           the
           name
           from
           you
           ,
           and
           we
           ,
           his
           living
           witnesses
           ,
           testifie
           to
           your
           faces
           ,
           that
           ye
           shall
           not
           enjoy
           it
           ,
           but
           the
           name
           and
           the
           thing
           shall
           go
           together
           ;
           and
           he
           that
           hath
           not
           the
           thing
           ,
           shall
           also
           loose
           the
           name
           .
           Yea
           ,
           your
           eyes
           shall
           see
           that
           ye
           have
           been
           the
           sacrilegious
           ones
           ,
           who
           have
           stoln
           holy
           names
           and
           tirles
           ,
           which
           ye
           never
           received
           from
           the
           hand
           of
           God
           ;
           but
           the
           whorish
           spirit
           (
           which
           out
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           an
           enemy
           to
           the
           life
           )
           hath
           handed
           them
           to
           you
           .
           And
           this
           is
           told
           you
           in
           dear
           and
           tender
           love
           ,
           that
           ye
           might
           not
           perish
           ,
           but
           have
           eternall
           life
           abiding
           in
           your
           hearts
           ,
           and
           the
           new
           name
           written
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           life
           on
           your
           foreheads
           ,
           which
           all
           that
           know
           the
           writing
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           may
           be
           able
           to
           read
           and
           acknowledge
           .
        
         
           There
           are
           severall
           touches
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           in
           diverse
           of
           of
           the
           Epistles
           of
           the
           Apostles
           :
           but
           the
           full
           relation
           is
           given
           forth
           in
           that
           book
           of
           the
           
             Revelation
             ,
          
           which
           was
           penned
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           be
           read
           in
           the
           light
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           be
           a
           preservative
           against
           the
           overspreading
           contagion
           of
           Antichristianism
           .
           Adn
           it
           is
           said
           ,
           at
           the
           entrance
           into
           it
           ,
           
             Blessed
             is
             he
             that
             readeth
             ,
             &
             they
             that
             
             hear
             the
             words
             of
             this
             prophests
             ,
             &
             ke●p
             those
             things
             wch
             
             are
             written
             therein
             .
          
           But
           men
           having
           lost
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           have
           not
           been
           able
           to
           read
           it
           ,
           and
           having
           lost
           the
           right
           ear
           ,
           they
           have
           not
           been
           able
           to
           heare
           the
           words
           it
           speaks
           :
           and
           how
           then
           could
           they
           keepe
           the
           things
           written
           therein
           ?
           He
           that
           doth
           ●ot
           understand
           what
           he
           is
           warned
           against
           ,
           how
           is
           it
           likely
           he
           should
           be
           preserved
           by
           the
           warning
           ?
           The
           Spirit
           of
           God
           judged
           this
           warning
           necessary
           but
           the
           spirit
           of
           deceit
           cryes
           it
           is
           a
           deep
           thing
           ,
           not
           to
           be
           medled
           with
           .
           Now
           this
           is
           a
           plain
           demonstration
           ,
           that
           men
           generally
           are
           overtaken
           with
           the
           whoredom
           ,
           and
           drink
           of
           the
           whores
           cup
           ,
           &
           submit
           themselves
           to
           the
           beast
           ,
           and
           exalt
           his
           horns
           ,
           and
           receive
           his
           mark
           ,
           and
           some
           or
           other
           of
           his
           names
           ;
           because
           they
           have
           not
           the
           knowledge
           of
           that
           which
           discovers
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           was
           given
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           to
           forewarn
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           preserve
           out
           of
           them
           .
           He
           that
           knoweth
           not
           the
           mistery
           of
           iniquity
           working
           under
           a
           form
           of
           godlines
           ,
           may
           not
           he
           easily
           be
           deceived
           with
           the
           mistery
           of
           iniquity
           ?
           He
           that
           knoweth
           not
           what
           is
           become
           of
           the
           true
           Church
           &
           ministry
           ,
           and
           where
           to
           look
           for
           them
           ,
           may
           not
           he
           easily
           own
           a
           fall
           Church
           and
           ministry
           ?
           He
           that
           knoweth
           not
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           which
           the
           Church
           carried
           with
           her
           ,
           when
           she
           left
           the
           letter
           behind
           her
           ,
           may
           not
           he
           easily
           set
           up
           the
           letter
           for
           his
           rule
           ?
           He
           that
           knoweth
           not
           the
           living
           mark
           and
           name
           of
           a
           Christian
           ,
           with
           which
           the
           Spirit
           of
           life
           seals
           all
           the
           Lambs
           ,
           of
           Christ
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           may
           not
           he
           easily
           give
           this
           name
           to
           himself
           ,
           and
           to
           others
           who
           have
           not
           this
           mark
           ,
           but
           the
           beasts
           mark
           ?
           He
           that
           knoweth
           not
           the
           true
           faith
           ,
           the
           true
           love
           ,
           the
           true
           hope
           ,
           the
           true
           joy
           ,
           the
           true
           peace
           ,
           the
           true
           rest
           ,
           the
           true
           consolation
           in
           Christ
           the
           life
           (
           the
           true
           meeknes
           and
           patience
           of
           the
           S●ints
           ,
           
             &c.
          
           )
           may
           not
           he
           easily
           set
           up
           shadows
           ,
           or
           liknesses
           of
           these
           (
           which
           he
           gathers
           from
           the
           letter
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           the
           promises
           thereof
           ,
           receiving
           the
           knowledge
           of
           them
           into
           the
           wrong
           part
           ,
           &
           applying
           them
           to
           the
           wrong
           thing
           )
           instead
           of
           these
           ?
           Ah
           poor
           hearts
           !
           The
           book
           of
           the
           Revelation
           is
           easie
           to
           that
           Spirit
           that
           wrote
           it
           :
           and
           it
           was
           not
           given
           forth
           to
           be
           laid
           by
           as
           uselesse
           ;
           but
           to
           be
           serviceable
           in
           the
           hand
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           for
           the
           ages
           after
           the
           dayes
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           true
           light
           it
           is
           easily
           read
           :
           and
           they
           that
           can
           read
           it
           ,
           can
           see
           that
           in
           it
           ,
           which
           they
           that
           cannot
           read
           it
           ,
           cannot
           beleeve
           .
           And
           this
           is
           plainly
           seen
           ,
           That
           the●e
           is
           but
           the
           Spirit
           of
           truth
           ,
           and
           the
           Spirit
           of
           deceit
           :
           but
           the
           Lambs
           wife
           ,
           and
           the
           whore
           (
           which
           hath
           whored
           from
           the
           
           Spirit
           ,
           which
           hath
           made
           use
           of
           the
           lotter
           ,
           to
           run
           a whoring
           from
           that
           Spirit
           that
           wrote
           it
           :
           )
           that
           there
           is
           but
           the
           true
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           false
           Church
           :
           but
           life
           ,
           and
           death
           :
           but
           form
           ,
           and
           power
           :
           but
           Christ
           the
           mistery
           of
           godlinesse
           ,
           and
           Antichrist
           the
           mistary
           of
           iniquity
           :
           but
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           dragon
           :
           God
           in
           the
           Church
           or
           Temple
           in
           the
           Wildernesse
           ,
           and
           the
           dragon
           in
           the
           worlds
           ,
           churches
           and
           temples
           ,
           appearing
           there
           as
           if
           he
           were
           God
           ,
           giving
           sorth
           lawes
           and
           ordinances
           like
           God
           :
           and
           all
           the
           world
           falls
           down
           before
           him
           ,
           and
           worships
           him
           as
           if
           he
           were
           God
           ;
           and
           hopes
           by
           this
           worship
           which
           they
           perform
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           by
           their
           faith
           and
           hope
           which
           they
           receive
           from
           him
           ,
           to
           be
           saved
           at
           last
           .
           I
           say
           there
           are
           but
           these
           two
           :
           and
           he
           that
           is
           joyned
           to
           the
           one
           of
           these
           ,
           is
           not
           joyned
           to
           the
           other
           .
           Let
           him
           that
           readeth
           ,
           understand
           :
           which
           he
           may
           easily
           doe
           by
           the
           wisdome
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           but
           never
           can
           by
           the
           wisdome
           of
           the
           letter
           .
           For
           though
           we
           know
           how
           to
           join
           these
           two
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           yet
           there
           is
           a
           necessity
           of
           seperating
           them
           at
           present
           ,
           till
           the
           letter
           be
           gained
           out
           of
           the
           hands
           of
           the
           whorish
           spirit
           ,
           which
           hath
           built
           up
           severall
           forms
           of
           knowledge
           ,
           religion
           ,
           and
           worship
           in
           mistery-Babilon
           
             ,
          
           by
           the
           letter
           without
           the
           life
           ,
           all
           which
           must
           fall
           with
           
             Babilon
             .
          
        
      
       
         
           AN
           Exhortation
           ,
           relating
           to
           the
           workings
           of
           the
           mistery
           of
           Iniquity
           ;
           and
           the
           mistery
           of
           godlinesse
           in
           this
           present
           age
           .
        
         
           ALL
           people
           upon
           earth
           ,
           who
           love
           your
           souls
           ,
           and
           have
           any
           true
           secret
           pantings
           after
           God
           ,
           look
           to
           the
           nature
           of
           your
           Spirits
           ,
           and
           look
           to
           the
           nature
           of
           those
           things
           ye
           let
           into
           your
           minds
           ;
           least
           ye
           take
           in
           death
           for
           life
           ,
           error
           for
           truth
           ,
           and
           so
           sow
           to
           your selves
           corruption
           ,
           and
           rear
           up
           a
           fabricke
           in
           mistery
           .
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           which
           will
           be
           turned
           into
           desolation
           and
           utter
           ruins
           ,
           by
           the
           power
           of
           life
           from
           
             Sion
             .
          
        
         
           Strong
           is
           the
           Spirit
           of
           deceit
           that
           is
           entred
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           glorious
           and
           very
           taking
           are
           his
           images
           and
           likenesses
           of
           truth
           ,
           which
           will
           deceive
           all
           but
           the
           very
           elect
           ,
           who
           were
           chosen
           from
           
           the
           foundation
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           whose
           eyes
           are
           opened
           to
           see
           the
           foundation
           of
           life
           ,
           which
           was
           before
           the
           foundation
           of
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           It
           hath
           been
           an
           heavy
           dull
           time
           for
           many
           ages
           :
           There
           have
           only
           been
           witnesses
           hitherto
           raised
           against
           Antichrist
           ,
           and
           he
           hath
           sound
           it
           an
           easie
           matter
           to
           knock
           them
           down
           ,
           and
           keepe
           up
           his
           wayes
           of
           prophanenesse
           ,
           and
           of
           formall
           superstitious
           kinds
           of
           devotion
           ,
           up
           and
           down
           all
           the
           nations
           .
           But
           now
           it
           is
           a
           quick
           time
           ,
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Lord
           God
           hath
           arisen
           ,
           the
           searching
           eye
           is
           opened
           ,
           the
           pursuit
           after
           the
           very
           Spirit
           of
           Antichrist
           is
           begun
           ,
           yea
           very
           quick
           and
           fresh
           is
           the
           scent
           of
           that
           Spirit
           which
           hunteth
           the
           whore
           ;
           and
           now
           she
           goes
           forward
           and
           backward
           ,
           traverses
           her
           ground
           ,
           changes
           her
           paint
           and
           colours
           often
           ,
           shifts
           her
           garments
           continually
           ,
           and
           uses
           all
           the
           art
           she
           can
           to
           save
           her
           life
           .
           Now
           the
           king
           of
           
             Babilon
          
           opens
           his
           treasury
           ,
           brings
           forth
           all
           his
           likenesses
           ,
           all
           his
           images
           ,
           all
           his
           appearances
           ;
           with
           some
           or
           other
           of
           them
           (
           if
           it
           be
           possible
           )
           to
           tempt
           the
           simple
           soul
           ,
           and
           keep
           it
           satisfied
           therewith
           ,
           in
           some
           of
           his
           chambers
           of
           darknesse
           and
           imagery
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           life
           and
           power
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           now
           be
           warned
           and
           look
           about
           you
           ,
           and
           be
           not
           cosened
           with
           any
           of
           the
           wares
           of
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           where
           the
           marchandize
           and
           traffique
           is
           for
           souls
           ,
           and
           where
           all
           the
           wares
           of
           deceit
           are
           ,
           which
           are
           proper
           to
           cosen
           souls
           :
           but
           seeke
           for
           the
           nature
           of
           that
           thing
           ,
           which
           the
           inward
           pantings
           of
           your
           heart
           at
           any
           time
           have
           been
           after
           ;
           and
           waif
           for
           the
           opening
           of
           that
           eye
           ,
           which
           can
           see
           ,
           through
           all
           manner
           of
           paint
           ,
           to
           that
           nature
           :
           and
           keep
           low
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           simple
           and
           honest-hearted
           ,
           and
           then
           gawdy
           appearances
           will
           not
           take
           with
           you
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           only
           temptations
           to
           the
           aspiring
           part
           ,
           which
           is
           lifted
           up
           above
           the
           pure
           ,
           low
           ,
           humble
           principle
           :
           and
           if
           that
           part
           were
           brought
           down
           ,
           ye
           would
           be
           safe
           :
           but
           while
           that
           stands
           ,
           ye
           will
           not
           be
           out
           of
           the
           danger
           of
           temptations
           .
           Now
           this
           know
           :
        
         
           There
           is
           nothing
           whereof
           
             Sion
          
           is
           built
           ,
           but
           the
           likenesse
           of
           it
           is
           in
           
             Babilon
             :
          
           and
           the
           likenesse
           is
           very
           taking
           ,
           even
           more
           taking
           to
           that
           eye
           which
           is
           open
           in
           men
           ,
           then
           the
           truth
           it selfe
           .
           The
           truth
           is
           a
           plain
           simple
           thing
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           gawdy
           in
           appearance
           ,
           its
           excellency
           lies
           in
           its
           nature
           ▪
           but
           the
           appearances
           of
           truth
           which
           Satan
           paints
           ,
           are
           very
           gawdy
           ,
           very
           glorious
           ,
           seemingly
           very
           spirituall
           ,
           very
           pure
           ,
           very
           precious
           ,
           very
           sweet
           ;
           they
           ,
           many
           times
           ,
           even
           ravish
           
           that
           understainding
           and
           those
           affections
           ,
           that
           are
           out
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           Oh
           what
           shall
           I
           say
           !
           shall
           I
           speake
           a
           little
           of
           the
           wares
           of
           
             Babilon
             ?
          
           where
           is
           there
           an
           ear
           which
           can
           hear
           me
           ?
           yet
           he
           that
           opens
           my
           mouth
           ,
           can
           open
           thine
           ear
           .
           Therefore
           set
           me
           speak
           a
           little
           plainly
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           There
           are
           many
           glorious
           fals
           births
           in
           
             Babilon
             .
          
           There
           is
           no
           inheriting
           the
           Kingdome
           ,
           but
           by
           being
           born
           againe
           .
           This
           doctrine
           the
           king
           of
           
             Babilon
          
           preacheth
           :
           he
           is
           fain
           to
           do
           so
           ,
           else
           the
           letter
           of
           the
           Scripture
           would
           overthrow
           his
           kingdome
           .
           Now
           therefore
           to
           keep
           from
           the
           true
           new
           birth
           ,
           he
           hath
           his
           images
           of
           the
           new
           birth
           ,
           his
           severall
           false
           births
           .
           A
           great
           while
           outward
           baptisme
           ,
           and
           a
           formall
           knowledge
           was
           enough
           to
           make
           a
           man
           a
           christian
           :
           but
           now
           since
           that
           is
           discovered
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           do
           ,
           he
           brings
           forth
           better
           births
           ;
           he
           hath
           inward
           changes
           of
           the
           minde
           (
           multitudes
           of
           them
           )
           fit
           for
           every
           one
           who
           is
           seeking
           after
           the
           life
           ,
           to
           be
           tempted
           from
           the
           life
           with
           :
           and
           he
           tempts
           every
           one
           with
           a
           proper
           bait
           ,
           with
           that
           which
           is
           taking
           to
           him
           in
           his
           present
           estate
           .
           What
           changes
           any
           kind
           of
           knowledge
           by
           vertue
           of
           the
           notion
           (
           with
           the
           devills
           quickning
           power
           added
           to
           it
           )
           can
           produce
           in
           any
           man
           ,
           the
           Devill
           can
           transform
           man
           into
           .
           Yea
           many
           are
           these
           changes
           :
           and
           he
           that
           doth
           not
           know
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           true
           birth
           ,
           may
           easily
           be
           deceived
           with
           that
           which
           is
           just
           like
           the
           thing
           he
           looks
           for
           .
           A
           man
           looks
           for
           a
           new
           birth
           ,
           for
           an
           inward
           change
           :
           he
           looks
           for
           a
           knowledge
           to
           change
           him
           :
           he
           shall
           have
           just
           the
           very
           likenesse
           of
           that
           which
           his
           heart
           desires
           ,
           the
           lively
           likenese
           ,
           the
           devill
           is
           ready
           at
           hand
           to
           furnish
           him
           with
           it
           :
           which
           way
           can
           the
           man
           ,
           who
           never
           saw
           the
           true
           thing
           ,
           espy
           the
           cheat
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           There
           are
           many
           glorious
           desires
           in
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           many
           pantings
           ,
           many
           breathings
           after
           that
           which
           this
           birth
           of
           
             Babilon
          
           takes
           to
           be
           life
           .
           The
           devil
           hath
           these
           wares
           ,
           these
           images
           in
           his
           shop
           too
           .
           As
           he
           hath
           a
           false
           birth
           in
           imitation
           of
           the
           true
           ,
           so
           he
           hath
           false
           breathings
           for
           his
           false
           birth
           .
           If
           his
           child
           could
           not
           seemingly
           breath
           towards
           God
           (
           as
           if
           he
           were
           a
           naturall
           child
           of
           God
           )
           he
           would
           soon
           be
           detected
           :
           therefore
           he
           inflames
           him
           with
           desires
           of
           growth
           ,
           with
           desires
           of
           enjoyment
           of
           that
           which
           he
           calls
           life
           ,
           with
           seeming
           desires
           of
           serving
           and
           glorifying
           God
           :
           and
           here
           come
           in
           the
           prayers
           of
           the
           fleshly
           birth
           ,
           which
           are
           many
           times
           carryed
           on
           with
           exceeding
           great
           earnestnesse
           of
           the
           fl●shly
           
           part
           to
           which
           also
           the
           father
           of
           this
           birth
           given
           answers
           .
           And
           now
           which
           way
           can
           deceit
           be
           so
           much
           as
           suspected
           here
           ?
           And
           yet
           here
           also
           the
           deceiver
           lodgeth
           ,
           and
           herein
           he
           worketh
           ,
           raising
           strong
           desires
           in
           that
           part
           wherein
           he
           dwels
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           alla●
           those
           pure
           desires
           ,
           which
           otherwise
           would
           be
           arising
           from
           the
           life
           underneath
           ,
           and
           which
           (
           notwithstanding
           all
           this
           )
           sometimes
           doe
           arise
           ,
           especially
           when
           the
           soul
           is
           in
           anguish
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           There
           's
           false
           food
           in
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           false
           knowledge
           to
           feed
           this
           wrong
           nature
           with
           .
           There
           's
           
             knowledge
             falsely
             so
             called
             .
          
           There
           's
           severall
           appearances
           of
           all
           the
           truths
           in
           
             Sion
             .
          
           There
           's
           outward
           knowledge
           of
           the
           letter
           ,
           and
           there
           's
           inward
           misticall
           knowledges
           and
           each
           of
           these
           have
           their
           warmth
           ,
           and
           their
           freshnesse
           ,
           and
           do
           nourish
           up
           this
           child
           ,
           and
           cause
           it
           to
           grow
           .
           Yea
           what
           knowledge
           and
           experience
           ;
           (
           which
           at
           first
           sprang
           from
           the
           true
           life
           )
           this
           spirit
           makes
           a
           prey
           of
           ,
           and
           daily
           brings
           into
           his
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           therewith
           to
           feed
           and
           fatten
           that
           which
           is
           born
           of
           him
           ,
           and
           to
           cover
           the
           old
           deceitfull
           nature
           under
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           slain
           thereby
           ,
           but
           daily
           lives
           and
           moves
           and
           puts
           forth
           it selfe
           :
           this
           is
           certainly
           felt
           by
           that
           ,
           which
           is
           made
           sensible
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           but
           hard
           to
           be
           spoken
           ,
           because
           the
           deceived
           heart
           is
           so
           grosse
           ▪
           and
           the
           ear
           so
           heavy
           Now
           here
           the
           painted
           whore
           ,
           which
           hath
           dealt
           treacherously
           with
           the
           life
           ,
           fits
           as
           a
           Queen
           ,
           and
           saves
           ,
           she
           shall
           see
           no
           sorrow
           :
           This
           knowledge
           is
           certain
           to
           her
           ,
           these
           experiences
           ,
           she
           hath
           had
           the
           feeling
           of
           ,
           and
           knows
           they
           can
           never
           be
           shaken
           .
           But
           O
           thou
           Princesse
           of
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           the
           Lord
           will
           strip
           the
           ,
           the
           Lord
           will
           unbare
           thy
           inwards
           ,
           &
           thine
           own
           eyes
           shall
           see
           they
           nakednesse
           ,
           which
           shall
           be
           for
           a
           perpetuall
           reproach
           among
           all
           the
           inhabitants
           of
           
             Sion
             :
          
           and
           then
           thy
           dark
           deceitfull
           spirit
           ,
           shall
           have
           no
           more
           to
           say
           against
           those
           ,
           who
           now
           see
           through
           thy
           covering
           to
           thy
           nature
           ,
           in
           the
           light
           ;
           and
           judge
           thee
           (
           not
           of
           themselves
           ,
           nor
           in
           their
           own
           wills
           and
           understandings
           )
           but
           from
           the
           true
           power
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           true
           guidance
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           whose
           work
           it
           is
           to
           pursue
           ,
           overtake
           and
           judge
           dea●h
           even
           to
           death
           .
           For
           all
           this
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           all
           these
           experiences
           in
           thee
           (
           though
           thou
           seest
           it
           not
           ,
           nor
           canst
           see
           it
           with
           that
           eye
           wherewith
           thou
           lookest
           to
           see
           )
           are
           held
           captive
           by
           that
           which
           transgressed
           and
           hath
           erred
           from
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           are
           made
           use
           of
           to
           keep
           thy
           soul
           in
           bands
           :
           and
           as
           they
           are
           thus
           held
           ,
           death
           and
           the
           curse
           must
           overtake
           them
           ,
           or
           that
           life
           in
           thee
           ,
           from
           which
           they
           first
           sprang
           ,
           can
           possibly
           arise
           .
           Grasp
           not
           after
           the
           knowledge
           of
           this
           
           in
           the
           understanding
           part
           ,
           but
           wait
           for
           the
           sence
           of
           it
           from
           that
           life
           ,
           which
           lyes
           slain
           underneath
           these
           ,
           and
           by
           that
           part
           which
           exalt●
           these
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           There
           are
           false
           keys
           to
           open
           the
           several
           chambers
           of
           imagery
           in
           
             Babilon
             .
          
           This
           food
           man
           cannot
           gather
           of
           himselfe
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           given
           to
           him
           :
           this
           knowledge
           man
           cannot
           get
           into
           by
           himself
           ,
           but
           as
           this
           spirit
           leads
           him
           ,
           and
           opens
           to
           him
           :
           for
           he
           hath
           the
           keys
           of
           death
           ,
           and
           opens
           into
           the
           treasures
           of
           death
           .
           Now
           this
           hugely
           confirms
           a
           man
           in
           the
           deceit
           ,
           without
           the
           least
           suspition
           of
           it
           .
           Why
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           I
           had
           not
           this
           knowledge
           from
           my selfe
           ,
           I
           came
           not
           to
           it
           by
           mine
           own
           skill
           or
           understanding
           ,
           but
           it
           was
           given
           me
           ,
           it
           was
           opened
           to
           me
           :
           and
           it
           came
           in
           fresh
           ,
           and
           warmed
           my
           heart
           ,
           begetting
           sweet
           and
           pure
           disires
           in
           me
           ,
           and
           hath
           made
           me
           eye
           the
           glory
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           not
           my selfe
           .
           Ye●
           ,
           it
           might
           come
           thus
           in
           the
           likenesse
           ,
           and
           work
           the
           likenesse
           of
           this
           in
           thee
           ;
           and
           yet
           it self
           not
           be
           truth
           ,
           nor
           be
           able
           to
           work
           the
           truth
           of
           this
           to
           thee
           and
           this
           is
           proper
           to
           deceive
           thy
           very
           heart
           ,
           and
           make
           thee
           a
           pleasant
           inhabitant
           of
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           and
           a
           joyfull
           worshiper
           of
           the
           Kingt
           thereof
           ,
           whom
           through
           this
           deep
           deceit
           ,
           and
           most
           subtle
           false
           appearances
           in
           thy
           heart
           ,
           thou
           mistakest
           for
           the
           King
           of
           
             Sion
             .
          
        
         
           5.
           
           This
           false
           spirit
           hath
           his
           false
           crosses
           ,
           his
           selfe
           combats
           and
           fightings
           .
           The
           very
           Papists
           have
           not
           only
           their
           wooden
           and
           stone
           crosses
           ,
           but
           they
           have
           also
           then
           wayes
           of
           self-deniall
           ,
           their
           wayes
           of
           crossing
           the
           naturall
           part
           ,
           of
           resignation
           to
           the
           divine
           will
           (
           as
           they
           call
           it
           )
           of
           fighting
           against
           corruption
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
           It
           is
           manifest
           ,
           that
           a
           man
           must
           deny
           himselfe
           ,
           or
           else
           he
           cannot
           be
           a
           Christi●n
           (
           his
           own
           will
           must
           not
           ,
           cannot
           live
           ,
           if
           he
           truly
           give
           himselfe
           up
           to
           Christ
           :
           )
           therefore
           that
           spirit
           ,
           which
           lyeth
           lurking
           to
           deceive
           ,
           both
           severall
           wayes
           of
           self
           denyall
           to
           teach
           (
           all
           which
           must
           have
           some
           hardnesse
           in
           them
           to
           the
           naturall
           part
           ,
           or
           else
           they
           would
           not
           passe
           :
           )
           and
           these
           may
           produce
           great
           ,
           and
           constant
           conflicting
           in
           the
           flesh
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           fleshly
           nature
           be
           still
           kept
           alive
           under
           all
           these
           conflicts
           and
           exercises
           of
           selfe
           deniall
           .
           He
           hath
           a
           circumcising
           knife
           ,
           which
           cuts
           off
           a
           great
           deale
           ,
           but
           alwayes
           spares
           the
           nature
           :
           and
           as
           long
           as
           the
           nature
           is
           speard
           ,
           the
           Devil
           still
           hath
           that
           wherein
           he
           can
           dwell
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           He
           hath
           his
           false
           love
           to
           God
           and
           man
           ,
           and
           his
           false
           zeale
           for
           God
           Love
           and
           zeale
           are
           two
           distinguishing
           things
           .
           All
           men
           
           conclude
           ,
           that
           love
           determines
           a
           man
           to
           be
           a
           Christian
           ,
           and
           so
           they
           take
           up
           some
           appearance
           or
           other
           of
           love
           ,
           somewhat
           that
           satisfies
           themselves
           that
           their
           love
           is
           right
           ,
           both
           to
           God
           and
           man
           .
           The
           very
           Papists
           ,
           who
           are
           full
           of
           blood
           and
           cruelty
           ,
           yet
           pretend
           to
           love
           :
           they
           have
           an
           image
           of
           love
           which
           contents
           them
           .
           But
           there
           are
           far
           higher
           images
           ,
           even
           images
           of
           universall
           love
           and
           sweetnesse
           ,
           which
           no
           eye
           can
           perceive
           ,
           but
           that
           which
           knows
           the
           truth
           .
           And
           take
           one
           word
           from
           me
           ,
           ye
           to
           whom
           it
           belongs
           :
           all
           ye
           that
           cry
           up
           universall
           love
           ,
           from
           the
           sweet
           sense
           of
           its
           image
           ,
           ye
           shall
           one
           day
           know
           ,
           that
           one
           act
           of
           particular
           love
           from
           the
           true
           nature
           ,
           exceeds
           this
           in
           its
           utmost
           extent
           .
        
         
           7.
           
           He
           hath
           his
           false
           life
           .
           The
           devil
           hath
           not
           only
           a
           dead
           formall
           religion
           ,
           but
           he
           hath
           a
           resemblance
           ,
           and
           imitation
           of
           the
           quicknings
           of
           the
           Spirit
           .
           The
           devill
           puts
           his
           life
           into
           this
           image
           ,
           where
           need
           requires
           .
           He
           hath
           not
           only
           a
           dead
           litterall
           knowledge
           ,
           but
           he
           hath
           paintings
           of
           the
           life
           :
           he
           draws
           a
           thing
           to
           the
           life
           :
           he
           makes
           his
           dead
           image
           of
           truth
           ,
           as
           like
           the
           living
           substance
           of
           truth
           ,
           as
           possibly
           he
           can
           ;
           insomuch
           as
           his
           images
           of
           life
           ,
           at
           a
           distance
           ,
           without
           being
           beheld
           in
           the
           true
           life
           ,
           cannot
           but
           be
           taken
           for
           living
           .
           Now
           here
           is
           the
           depth
           of
           deceit
           ,
           when
           the
           devils
           images
           of
           life
           in
           the
           heart
           ,
           are
           taken
           for
           the
           living
           thin
           ,
           for
           the
           life
           it selfe
           .
        
         
           8.
           
           He
           hath
           his
           false
           liberty
           .
           There
           is
           a
           glorious
           liberty
           in
           the
           Gospell
           :
           there
           is
           perfect
           freedome
           in
           the
           service
           of
           the
           life
           :
           there
           is
           liberty
           in
           the
           power
           of
           the
           life
           over
           all
           the
           creatures
           .
           God
           made
           all
           things
           for
           man
           ,
           and
           he
           denies
           him
           nothing
           ,
           he
           being
           in
           subjection
           to
           him
           in
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           using
           all
           in
           the
           dominion
           of
           the
           life
           .
           Now
           the
           devil
           paints
           a
           liberty
           like
           this
           ,
           yea
           a
           liberty
           that
           seems
           greater
           then
           this
           ,
           even
           a
           liberty
           wherein
           the
           fleshly
           part
           (
           whose
           very
           nature
           is
           eternally
           shut
           out
           of
           the
           nature
           of
           true
           liberty
           )
           hath
           scope
           ;
           which
           liberty
           is
           not
           surrounded
           ,
           nor
           cannot
           be
           surrounded
           by
           the
           power
           of
           life
           ,
           as
           this
           is
           :
           and
           in
           this
           painted
           liberty
           ,
           that
           spirit
           which
           painted
           it
           lives
           ,
           which
           :
           paint
           the
           true
           liberty
           takes
           off
           ,
           slaying
           that
           which
           calls
           it
           liberty
           ,
           and
           gathering
           in
           the
           name
           of
           liberty
           from
           this
           false
           appearance
           ,
           to
           that
           which
           is
           liberty
           indeed
           .
           And
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           he
           that
           can
           read
           this
           ,
           let
           him
           :
           The
           perfection
           of
           the
           true
           liberty
           lies
           in
           the
           perfection
           of
           bonds
           ,
           in
           the
           perfect
           binding
           down
           of
           that
           which
           is
           
           out
           of
           the
           life
           :
           for
           the
           true
           liberty
           ,
           is
           the
           liberty
           of
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           of
           nothing
           else
           :
           and
           when
           all
           that
           is
           contrary
           to
           the
           life
           ,
           is
           perfectly
           bound
           down
           ,
           then
           the
           life
           hath
           its
           ful
           scope
           ,
           without
           the
           least
           controul
           of
           the
           fleshly
           pa●t
           :
           and
           when
           the
           life
           lives
           ,
           then
           that
           which
           is
           joyned
           to
           the
           life
           lives
           also
           .
        
         
           Now
           here
           's
           the
           mistery
           of
           iniquity
           ,
           here
           's
           the
           inward
           Kingdom
           of
           darknesse
           ,
           here
           's
           the
           glory
           of
           
             Babilon
             !
          
           Here
           's
           he
           that
           contends
           for
           the
           Kingdome
           ,
           for
           the
           inheritance
           !
           Here
           the
           son
           of
           the
           bond-woman
           (
           thus
           dressed
           ,
           thus
           furnished
           ,
           thus
           filled
           within
           and
           without
           )
           will
           have
           it
           go
           for
           granted
           that
           he
           is
           the
           right
           heir
           :
           and
           yet
           all
           this
           while
           wants
           the
           nature
           of
           that
           which
           is
           to
           inherit
           ,
           and
           cannot
           possibly
           receive
           that
           nature
           into
           himselfe
           ,
           but
           only
           such
           images
           afore
           mentioned
           .
           And
           if
           in
           tender
           love
           to
           his
           soule
           ,
           from
           a
           clear
           sight
           of
           this
           thing
           ,
           we
           warn
           him
           ,
           and
           bid
           him
           look
           about
           ,
           he
           cries
           doe
           not
           judge
           .
           He
           really
           thinks
           he
           is
           right
           in
           the
           main
           ,
           and
           he
           seemes
           willing
           to
           refer
           it
           to
           the
           day
           of
           tryal
           .
           Ah
           poor
           hearts
           !
           the
           eye
           is
           opened
           which
           can
           see
           .
           That
           which
           hath
           judged
           the
           deceit
           in
           us
           ,
           can
           also
           judge
           the
           deceit
           in
           thee
           .
           Cannot
           the
           spirituall
           eye
           see
           things
           in
           its
           kind
           ?
           to
           what
           end
           hath
           God
           given
           it
           ?
           Canst
           〈◊〉
           see
           and
           judge
           naturall
           things
           in
           the
           naturall
           part
           ?
           So
           can
           they
           see
           and
           judge
           spirituall
           things
           who
           are
           in
           the
           light
           ,
           and
           who
           live
           in
           the
           life
           :
           yea
           we
           shall
           continue
           judging
           thee
           in
           the
           ●e●●
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           humility
           ,
           till
           God
           open
           that
           in
           thee
           which
           can
           s●●l
           to
           our
           judgement
           .
        
         
           
             Object
             .
          
           How
           difficult
           doe
           you
           make
           the
           way
           to
           life
           ,
           if
           not
           utterly
           impossible
           ?
           If
           all
           this
           be
           true
           ,
           who
           can
           be
           saved
           ?
        
         
           
             Answ.
          
           The
           way
           to
           life
           is
           very
           difficult
           ,
           yea
           and
           impossible
           to
           that
           part
           in
           man
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           busie
           in
           willing
           and
           running
           towards
           life
           :
           but
           it
           is
           as
           easie
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           to
           that
           which
           the
           father
           begetteth
           ,
           raiseth
           up
           ,
           &
           leadeth
           .
           
             The
             wayfairing
             man
             though
             a
             fool
             shall
             not
             erre
             .
          
           The
           wisest
           and
           richest
           Merchant
           in
           
             Babilon
             ,
          
           connot
           set
           one
           step
           in
           it
           :
           the
           least
           child
           in
           
             Sion
          
           cannot
           erre
           there
           .
           Therefore
           know
           that
           in
           thy selfe
           ,
           to
           which
           it
           is
           so
           hard
           ;
           and
           know
           that
           which
           God
           hath
           given
           to
           thee
           ,
           which
           will
           make
           it
           easie
           .
        
         
           Thou
           hast
           a
           living
           talent
           given
           thee
           by
           God
           ,
           let
           not
           thine
           eye
           be
           drawn
           from
           that
           ;
           but
           joyn
           to
           that
           :
           keep
           there
           ,
           and
           thou
           art
           safe
           :
           and
           that
           will
           open
           thine
           eye
           to
           see
           all
           deceits
           ,
           just
           in
           the
           very
           season
           and
           hour
           of
           temptation
           .
           For
           thou
           must
           expect
           to
           meet
           
           with
           all
           these
           temptations
           ,
           as
           thy
           growth
           makes
           thee
           capable
           of
           receiving
           them
           .
           And
           as
           they
           come
           ,
           the
           true
           eye
           being
           kept
           open
           ,
           they
           will
           be
           seen
           :
           and
           being
           seen
           ,
           they
           will
           easily
           be
           avoided
           in
           the
           power
           of
           life
           ,
           for
           in
           vain
           the
           net
           is
           spread
           in
           sight
           of
           the
           bird
           .
           Therefore
           that
           thou
           mayst
           be
           safe
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Know
           the
           light
           ,
           the
           eternall
           light
           of
           life
           ,
           the
           little
           glimmerings
           and
           shinings
           of
           it
           in
           thy
           soul
           .
           This
           comes
           from
           the
           rock
           ,
           to
           lead
           thee
           to
           the
           rock
           :
           and
           if
           thou
           follow
           it
           ,
           it
           will
           fix
           thee
           upon
           the
           rock
           where
           thou
           canst
           not
           be
           shaken
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Keep
           in
           the
           light
           ,
           keep
           within
           the
           the
           hedge
           ,
           step
           not
           out
           of
           thine
           own
           ,
           keep
           out
           of
           the
           circumference
           of
           the
           spirit
           of
           deceit
           ,
           the
           power
           of
           whose
           witchery
           and
           sorcery
           extends
           all
           over
           the
           regions
           of
           darknesse
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Love
           simplicity
           ,
           love
           the
           nakednesse
           of
           life
           ,
           stand
           single
           in
           the
           honesty
           of
           the
           heart
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           intricate
           subtle
           reasonings
           ,
           and
           wise
           consultings
           about
           things
           :
           for
           by
           these
           means
           the
           serpent
           comes
           to
           twine
           about
           and
           deceive
           thy
           soul
           :
           but
           in
           the
           simplicity
           of
           the
           movings
           of
           life
           ,
           in
           the
           light
           ,
           lies
           the
           power
           ,
           the
           strength
           ,
           the
           safety
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Lye
           very
           low
           continually
           ,
           even
           at
           the
           foot
           of
           the
           lowest
           breathing
           and
           appearances
           of
           the
           light
           .
           Take
           heed
           of
           being
           above
           that
           wherein
           thy
           life
           lyes
           :
           for
           the
           wisdome
           ,
           the
           power
           the
           strength
           ,
           yea
           the
           great
           glory
           lyes
           in
           the
           humility
           :
           and
           thou
           must
           never
           be
           exalted
           ,
           thou
           must
           never
           come
           out
           of
           the
           humility
           ,
           but
           find
           and
           enjoy
           the
           honour
           and
           glory
           of
           the
           life
           in
           the
           humility
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           Mind
           the
           reproofs
           of
           the
           light
           ,
           for
           that
           will
           still
           be
           setting
           thee
           to
           rights
           .
           That
           will
           still
           be
           bringing
           down
           that
           which
           would
           get
           up
           above
           ,
           and
           there
           lyes
           the
           preservation
           .
           Oh
           the
           chastnings
           of
           the
           light
           ,
           the
           sweet
           chastenings
           of
           the
           love
           by
           the
           light
           !
           These
           are
           healing
           stripes
           .
           This
           brings
           down
           the
           exalter
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           thee
           which
           loves
           to
           be
           exalted
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           seeking
           the
           honour
           of
           the
           spirituall
           riches
           ,
           before
           the
           humility
           is
           perfected
           .
        
         
           Thus
           in
           love
           to
           souls
           ,
           have
           I
           powred
           out
           my
           soul
           before
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           held
           forth
           gentle
           leadings
           ,
           even
           to
           the
           most
           stubborn
           and
           stiffe-necked
           .
        
         
           THE
           END
           .