Skip to main content

Full text of "Sparkles of glory; or, Some beams of the morning star ..."

See other formats 


jii*jite#iiA#ttf 


(/d 


i£ting's  rf)ristiart  <2Dlassics. 


\arkles  of  Glory  ^ 

fome  Beams  of  the 
Morning  Star. 


By  John  Saltmarsh. 


Ur 


•C' 


?s       ^ 


J" 


^ 


e    s 


I 


00  XI 

^  o 

CO 
CO      V 

w 

O    fO 


E   ^ 

O   ro 

CO  +j 

W 

>^   tJ) 

O   C 

•H 

o  e 
x: 


oq  CO 


Q4X1 

CO 


o 

6 

0) 


SPARKLES 
OF  GLORY. 


if: 


SPARKLES 

OF 

GLORY, 

OK 

Some  Beams  of  the 
MORNING  STAR. 

Wherein  are  many  discoveries 
as  to  Truth  and  Peace. 

To  the  establishment  and  pure  enlarge- 
ment of  a  Christian  in  Spirit 
and  Truth. 


By  JOHN    SALTMARSH, 

Preacher  of  the  Gospel. 


HosEA  3. 
His  coming  is  prepared  as  the  morning. 

LONDON: 

Printed  in  the  year  1647. 

Reprinted  for  WiUiam  Pickering, 

1847. 


^ 

=»«= 

=» 


=5^ 


OF 


T^^:^^^CKTOH 


THE  TABL. 


&Mm^;, 


THE  two    Creations,   or   two 

Natures  of  Flesh  and  Spirit  1 

The  true  Church 11 

The  true  Personal  Reign  of  Christ 

as  it  is  Spiritual 14 

Antichrist  within  us        .      .     .     .  17 

The  Doctrine  of  Baptisms       .     .  18 

The  Baptists 18 

The  Baptism  of  Suflferings       .     .  22 

Tiie  Baptism  of  Water,  or  of  John  23 
The  Baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 

or  Gifts 26 

The  Baptism  of  Christ  .  ...  28 
The   Divers  Ministery,  with  the 

Ministery  of  Christ  in  his  Saints  31 
The  Passage  from  lower  Minis- 
trations to  higher 40 

The  Spirit  and  Life  of  outward 

Ordinances 55 

The  Christian  under  Episcopacy, 
Prelacy,  Presbytery,  Baptism, 

Independency,  &c 61 

The  Christian  in  Truth  ....  66 
The  Witnesses  in  Sackcloth  .  .68 
Magistracy  a  Power  ordained  of 

God 88 

The  discerning  of  Spirits     ...  91 

Principles  of  War  and  Peace  .    .  96 

b 


The  Table, 


In  order  to  Peace,  and  Suffering, 
and  Love : 

i.  The  Will  of  God      .      .       99 

2.  God  ciianging  Dispensa- 
tions       101 

3.  Tlie  Law  of  Nature  and 
Grace 102 

4.  The  Gospel  Method  of 
Victory 103 

5.  How  Resistings  in  some 
are  of  Flesh,  and  of  the 
Law  of  Nature  in  others     104 

6.  The  Advantage  Chris- 
tians have  of  Bondage    .     105 

7.  Upon  what  Account  the 
purest  and  freest  outward 
Liberty  is 106 

8.  A  Word  concerning 
Heresy  and  Schism  .     .     109 

Heresy Ill 

Schism 112 

9.  Truth 113 

The    Mystery  of  true  Christian 

Liberty  from  God,  not  from 
Man,  or  the  Power  of  Man    .     116 

A  Discovery  of  the  highest  At- 
tainment of  the  Protestants 
generally  in  the  Mystery  of 
Salvation 118 

Of  Faith 121 

A  further  Discovery  as  to  Free- 
Grace  121 

A  Discovery  as  to  the  general 
Point,  or  Christ  dying  for  all  .     125 

The  last  Discovery,  and  as  some 


The  Tahle. 


say,  the  highest  and  most  glo- 
rious, concerning  the  whole 
Mystery  of  God  to  Men,  and 

this  Creation  , 127 

An  additional  concerning  An- 
tichrist  and    the   Mystery   of 

Iniquity 133 

The  several  Attainments  of  the 

Common  Protestant      .     .     .     140 
The  general  Redemptionist   .     .     140 

The  Free-Gracian 141 

Conclusion 142 

A  Discovery  of  Prayer     .     .     .     143 
A  Discovery  of  the  Law  .     .     .     150 
ADiscoveryof  Duties  and  Works     154 
A  Discovery  of  outward  Ordi- 
nances   156 

A  Discovery  of  the  Jews,  and 

their  Conversion 158 

All  false  Worships  and  Ways 
practised  in  Conscience,  or  in 
Liberty,  will  be  destroyed  in 

Christ's  Day 1 60 

A  Discovery  of  Christ  in  us  .     .     162 

The  Fiery  Trial 163 

God  in  Heaven,  or  in  a  Place  of 

Distance,  as  to  our  Infirmity  .     167 
The  Spiritual  Sabbath  .    .     .     .     169 
The  Gospel  as  in  its  own  Glory, 
and  as  in  the  Scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament   .     .171 
Assurance  of  Salvation     .     .     .     175 
The  Knowledge  of  God  according 
to  the  various  Dispensations  of 
Himself 179 


2'he  Table. 


A  further  Discovery  of  the  Mys- 
tery of  Salvation  in  the  Gospel 
Administration,   and   its  own 

Glory 182 

The  Seekers'  Attainment,  with  a 
Discovery  of  a  more  Spiritual 

Way 185 

The  Grounds  botli  against  Li- 
berty of  Conscience,  and  for 
it,  clearly  slated,  for  all  to 
judge : 

Against  Liberty  of  Conscience, 
the  strongest  Grounds,  and 
all   the   Grounds  generally 

known 191 

The  Grounds  for  Liberty  of 
Conscience  which  are  strong- 
est, and  are  all  commonly 

known        193 

A  Mystery,  or  the  Christian  fol- 
lowing tiie  Appearances  of  God 
through  all  created  Things      .     200 
A  Postscript  to  Mr.  Gataker      .     202 
A  pretended  Heresy     ....     206 
A  short  Epistle  to  Master  KnollSj 
the  Author  of  a  Book,  called 
The  shining  of  a  flaming  Fire, 
&c.  written  against  me,  as  to 
the  Point  of  Baptism    .     .     .     208 


To  the  High  and  Honourable 
Court  of  Parliament. 


WHAT  others  have  done  by 
the  Law  of  your  authority. 
Presented  before  ye  their  advice 
in  matters  of  Religion;  I  shall, 
from  the  law  of  love  to  your  Just 
authority,  present  ye,  not  my  ad- 
vice (the  Lord  himself  advise  and 
counsel  ye)  but  some  things  which 
concern  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
the  peace  and  prosperity  of  your 
Kingdom;  and  that  I  may  not  be  '7^'^'fi''"^ 
disobedient  to  the  lieaventy  vision,  a?aviV  a^ia 
or  light  of  God  revealed  in  me. 

There  are  two  Principles  in  the 
world  which  have  these  sad,  and 
dark  conclusions  attending  them, 
the  two  Principles  are  these  : 

1 .  That  such  as  conform  not  to 
the  Doctrine  and  discipline  estab- 
lished; and  yet  as  to  the  State  are 
good  Subjects,  and  peaceably  af- 


Acts  26. 19. 


The  Epistle  Dedicatory. 


fected,  shall  be  proceeded  against 
hy  fines ^  imprisonment,  S^e. 

2.  That  such  as  shall  speak  upon 
the  Scriptures,  or  open  them,  Pub- 
licly, or  in  Private^  and  are  not 
ordained  by  the  laying  on  of  the 
hands  of  that  present  established 
ministery  of  a  kingdom,  shall  be 
proceeded  against  by  fines,  impri- 
sonment, ^c. 

The  sad  and  dark  conclusions 
Mhich  follow,  are  these  : 

1.  All  the  glorious  discoveries 
of  God,  above,  or  beyond  that 
System,  or  form  of  Doctrine,  Sfc. 
shall  he  judr/ed,  and  sentenced,  as 
Heresy  and  Schism ;  and  so  God 
himself  shall  be  judged  by  man, 
which  must  needs  be  a  sin,  bring- 
ing much  desolation;  unless  they 
that  enact  such  Laws,  were  that 
very  infallible  Apostleship  for  In- 
terjjretation  of  all  Scriptures  ;  as 
the  first  Apostleshij)  was  for  wri- 
ting all  Scriptures.     And  is  God, 

f«i;Mc'voy;  a  God/ of  the  GcntUcs  also?  that 
is,  is  Goc?  limited  to  one  sort  of 
we;i  ?  Thou  thoughtest  (saith  God) 

i'sai.  51.  that  I  was  altogether,  such  an  one 
as  thyself;  that  is,  a  GocZ  merely 


The  Epistle  Dedicatojy. 


of  one  Image  or  figure  :  behold, 
the  Heaven  of  Heavens  cannot  con-  Psai. 
tain  him,  he  dwelleth  not  in  Tem- 
ples made  with  hands,  and  where 
is  his  habitation,  and  who  hath 
known  the  place  of  his  rest  ?  That 
is,  what  is  man  that  he  should  con- 
ceive that  God  is  only  in  a  place, 
or  Temple,  or  form  of  Woi^ship, 
or  System  of  Doctrine  of  hi&form 
or  making,  since  the  ^me  is  come, 
that  we  do  no  longer  worshij)  in  this 
Temple,  nor  at  Jerusalem  ;  but  John  4. 
they  that  worship,  must  worship 
in  5j9zVi^  and  truth;  which  truth,  joim  i4. 
is  he  only  who  is  the  truth. 

2.  Many  thousands  oi  precious 
Christians  shall  be  under  Delin- 
quency, as  to  fines,  imprisonmejit, 
SfC.  and  under  the  scandal  of  He- 
retics and  Schismatics ;  because 
not  seeing  by  that  one  light,  nor 
believing  in  that  one  Proportion  of 
faith,  nor  receiving  such  interpre- 
tations and  Consequences  of  Scrip- 
tures, for  the  very  Scriptures  them- 
selves ;  and  by  such  persecution, 
the  civil  power  w'hich  is  received 
from  God,  shall  be  turned  against 
God,  or  against  the  more  spiritual 
administration  of    God;    and    so 


i  V  The  Ep is t h  Dedicatory . 

God's  Administrations  dashed  one 
against  another. 

Acts  9.  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutcst  thou 

me?  touch  not  viine  anointed,  and 

Psai.  do  my  Prophets  no  harm  :  not  as 

having  dominion  over  the  heritage^ 
or  Lordship  over  faith. 

3.  That  were  to  set  up  the  Church 
Polity  of  the  Jews  amongst  Chris- 
tians ;  and  not  according  to  God's 
divine  appointment,  but  mans ;  for 
God  in  that  first  Polity  of  the  Jews' 
Church  under  the  Old  Testament ^ 
joined  to  the  Kings  and  Magistracy 
then,  a  Priesthood  with  Urim  and 
Thummim  ;  and  Prophets  anoint- 
ed of  God  as  a  certain,  true,  in- 
fallible, directive  power  for  order- 
ing that  way  of  administration ;  but 
this  way  of  Christians  now,  with- 
out any  such  warrant,  or  appoint- 
ment of  God  brings  back  again  the 
same  Church  Polity,  under  the 
New  Testament,  wliich  was  typical 
as  to  Christ  the  King  and  Priest, 
and  Prophet,  and  joins  to  Kings 
and  Magistracy  now,  a  ministery 
less  of  God,  less  certain,  less  true, 
not  infallible ;  so  as  all  texts,  in- 
staiices,  and  examples  brought  from 
the  Old  Testament  of  the  Kings, 


The  Epistle  Dedicatory. 


Princes^  and  Magistrates  oi Israel ^ 
compelling  to  the  worship  of  God, 
without  proving-  the  continuance  of 
the  same  Church  Polity  under  the 
New  Testament,  and  the  like 
Priesthood,  and  Prophets  accord- 
ingly sent  of  God  to  direct  them, 
is  all  invalid,  and  of  no  effect  as  to 
such  proceedings. 

4.  The  infinitely  abounding*  spi- 
rit of  God,  which  blows  when  and 
where  it  listeth,  and  ministers  in 
Christians  according  to  the  gift, 
and  prophesies  according  to  the  will 
of  the  Almighty  God ;  pouring  it- 
self out  upon  all  flesh,  giving  out 

the  word,  and  making  the  company  john  3.  s. 
great    who  publish  it,    even  this  ^^™-  ^^• 
Ahnighty,  all  glorious,  infinitely  Acts 2.  is. 
abounding,  dispensing,  and  reveal-     i\\  ^^' 
ing  Spirit,  is  made  subject  to  the  Jo  -rvsZi^a 
Laws  and  Ordinances  01  men,  to  i^,  s^xaf  ^^5, 
the  pleasures  and  wills,  to  the  mea-  *^'^^^^ 
Bures  and  forms  of  men,  to  outward  r'SmeCiMXTo^ 
ceremonies,    as    Ordination,    &c.  *^''' 
God  must  not  speak  till  man  give 
him  leave;  not  teach,  nor  Preach, 
but  whom  man  allowSj   and  ap- 
proves, and  ordains. 

5.  This  making  laws  for  punish- 
ing all  that  conform  not  to   the 


vi  The  Epistle  Dedicatory . 

doctrine  and  discipline  established, 
destroys  the  true  interests  of  all 
states  and  kimjdoms,  excluding  all 
societies  of  men,  but  of  one  sort 
and  ybr;«,  though  never  so  peace- 
ably affected,  or  obedient  as  men 
and  Subjects,  respectively  to  the 
State,  and  civil  government  there- 
of, and  was  never  found  in  any 
State,  or  Church  Polity  by  divine 
appointment,  but  in  that  one  na- 
tion of  the  Jews,  whose  Polity,  as 
to  such  a  form,  God  himself  pecu- 
liarly made,  owned  and  preserved, 
and  the  Lord  Jesus  himself  ful- 
Jilled  and  dissolved. 

For  Heresy  and  Schism,  I  know 
ye  ought  not  to  tolerate  any,  but 
to  let  them  bear  their  oiun  judg- 
ment, which  is  spiritual  admoni- 
tion, Church- censure,  rejectio?i, 
excommunication  ;  which  if  effec- 
tual, as  all  true,  right,  spiritual 
Tit.  3.  10.   censures  have  been  and  are,  is  that 

1  Cor.  5. 5.    .  •  7  7       .      7 

•iThes.  3.  just  proportionublc  judgment  for 
7r4a55va.  ^"*^^  Gospel-sins;  \^  not  effectual, 
Tov tcSt-oi/^  then  the  insufficiency,  weakness, 
ccl^criKw  ay  Unprofitableness  or  such  as  assume 
r^^wmv  rra-  such  Church-poivcr ,  and  censures, 
TfTre.  Will  appear  before  ye. 

And  as  to  that  point  of  the  pre- 


The  Epistle  DecUcatorif.  vii 

sent  Ordination,  which  some  have 
so  pressed  upon  ye,  disting-uishing- 
to  ye,  that  their  Ordination  was 
from  the  Bishops,  as  Ministers, 
not  as  Bishops.  Right  Honour- 
able, consider,  that  distinction  can- 
not be,  for  there  was  no  such  thing- 
as  Ministers  in  the  Church  of 
Rome,  or  of  England  as  to  this 
successively  pretended  Ordination ; 
but  Priests,  and  Bishops,  or  Epis- 
copacy, and  Priesthood:  and  sure- 
ly if  Episcopacy  doth  not,  yet 
Priesthood  doth  altogether  evacu-  SeeMamn. 
ate  the  essence  of  Ministery  now  otMa^yrs. 
under  the  New  Testament  as  by  ^^^"• 
such  Ordination :  and  how  much 
more  rational  are  their  Arguments, 
who  hold  their  Ministery  lawful, 
from  the  lawfulness  oi Episcopacy  ; 
than  those,  who  deny  Episcopacy , 
8fc.  and  yet  have  no  Ordination  but 
from  them. 

For  this  Christian-liberty ,  it  is 
such  as  preserves  not  only  the  out- 
ward peace  of  Christians  who  en- 
joy it,  but  the  peace  and  prosperity 
oi  Kingdoms,  and  Magistrates,  who 
establish  it;  and  the  life,  glory, 
and  happiness,  destruction,  and 
death  of  Kingdoms  is  wrapped  in 


The  Epistle  Dedicatory. 


Eph.s.  30.  the  Christian  s  life  or  death  :  they 

t\l\ri*'    ^''e    the  jmrts   and    Members    of 

Psai.  105     Christ,  the  ajiple  of  liis  eye,   his 

Jewels,  his  anointed,\n8  Prophets, 

his  Children. 

As  therefore  ye  look  to  he  pros- 
pered by  this  Spirit  of  God ;  as  ye 
look  for  wisdom  from  this  Spirit  of 
Go<^  to  g-overn  this  State ;  as  ye 
look  for  comfort  fi-om  this  Spirit  of 
God  in  all  your  distresses ;  as  ye 
look  for  [/ifts  from    this  Spirit  of 
God  in  all  the  administrations  :  as 
ye   look    for    the   sweet   spiritual 
breathings  and  refreshments  from 
this  Spirit  of  Goo?  in  all  the  several 
changes  of  this  creation  :  love,  pre- 
serve, hidulge  this  Spirit ;  quench 
not,  oppose  not,  oppress  not  this 
Spirit:  confine  it  not  to  one  out- 
ward form  or  fellowship  of  men, 
1  Thes.  1.    which      are     not     that     Catholic 
Acts'?  51    Church,  that  Apostleship  of  infal- 
t:ph.4. 10.  libility ;  and  they  that  are  ^pinVwa/, 
live  in  that  spirit  and  truth,  which 
j->hn  8.32,  makes  them  free  indeed,  and  it  is 
,  ^^^3^,^     below  that  Spirit  of  God,  to  Peti- 
i>.n/3e«u-o-«<     tioji  liberty  of  conscience  in  spiri- 
'"^'^'  tuals,  fiom  any  men  or  Magistrates 

in  the  World ;  because  God  will 
make  Jerusalem  a  cup  of  trem- 


The  Epistle  Dedicatory .  ix 

bling  to  all  Nations,  and  a  stone 
of  astonishment ;  and  the  spiritual 
Christians  will  rather  hold  forth 
such  things,  to  bear  witness  to  the 
truth,  and  to  desire  all  to  forbear 
persecution,  as  much  for  their  own 
sakes  who  persecute,  as  for  theirs 
who  ^ve  persecuted. 

And  for  that  just  power  of  Ma- 
gistracy, I  acknowledge  it  a  Power 
Ordained  of  God,  for  administra- 
tioji  of  Justice  and  righteousness  <i^>,  ^3  5^3 
in  the  societies  of  men,  and  nations ;  ^f^^'M^^^ 
a  Minister  of  GocZ  for  ^ooc?,  a  ^e?--  Rom.  13. 
ror  to  evil  works  ;  and  that  we  are      ''  ^'  "^" 
to  be  subject  to  every  Ordinance  of 
man,  for  the  Lord's  sake  ;  and  for 
this  cause  we  pay  tribute  to  whom 
tribute ;  honour  to  whom  honour: 
and  all  societies  of  Christians  by  no  Ry„,.  13. 
pretence  of  religion,  or  liberty  for    ^-^'^s. 
the  worship  of  God,  are  to  resist  or  jTexo;,  tm 
disturb  the  c^^;^7  administration  of  ^''e"""? 
this/?02f  e?' :  but  as  to  that  consider- 
ation ;  all  Christians  are  to  suffer 
according'  to  the  wilt  of  God,  (all 
lawful   ways    for  preservation    of 
States  and  Kingdoms  still  excepted) 
and  all  such  Magistracy  are  to  pre- 
serve their  respective  States,  by  all 
wholesome,     lawful,     cautionary 
A  2 


The  Epistle  Dedicatory. 


Laws2Lii^  Ordinances,  m Peace ;  so 
as  while  liberty  or  iJidulgcncy ,  as 
to  the  tender  consciences  in  Religion 
is  spoken  on,  yet  no  less  security 
of  the  State,  no  diminution  to  the 
just  power  of  Magistracy  ;  no  less 
preservation  of  the  Peace  of  the 
Kingdom  is  desired  by  those  that 
are  truly  spiritual.     And  though 
many  suffer  under  the  name  of  He- 
retics and  Schismatics  before  ye, 
for  not  conforming-  to  the  present 
doctrine TinA discipline  established ; 
Right  Honourable,  consider,  whe- 
ther this  doth  not  call  in  question 
all  the  very  present  doctrine  and 
discipline  so  established ;  for  by  this 
very  thing  of  judging  all  Incon- 
formity  to  the  present  worship  and 
form  of  things  to  be  Heresy  ;  by 
the  same,  all  this  present  form  of 
worship  and  confession  of  faith  is 
judged  Heresy  and  Schism,  to  the 
late  former  government,  and  doc- 
trine  established  in  the  Church  of 
England:  i\\\s present Synodoimen 
being  no  more  that  visible  Catho- 
lic Church,  and  infallible  Apostle- 
ship,  than  the  former  were,  so  as 
the  changing  the  former  Articles  of 
the  Church  of  England  into  a  new 


The  Epistle  Dedicatory .  xi 

confession  o^ faith,  the  Episcopacy 
into  Presbytery  ;  and  so  altering 
both  the  fundamentals  in  religion 
and  the  discipline,  is  equally  new 
%/t^  and  Heresy,  as  to  the  former 
doctrine  and  discipline  :  (and  if  it 
be  objected) but  this  present  Synod, 
are  men  of  more  Zz^^^  and  Piety 
than  the  forr)ier,  and  so  they  esta- 
bhsh  more  truth,  and  bring  in  more 
Reformation  ;  if  so,  why  is  there 
not  more  love,  more  peaceableness, 
more  self-deyiial,  more  power  of 
^Of?Ziwess,than  there  was  in  the  suf- 
fering Bishops,  and  the  Preaching 
Lay- Martyrs  then;  who  loved 
Christ  in  himself,  and  in  one  an- 
other. 

And  now  (Noble  Senators)  since 
very  worthy  things  have  been  for- 
merly done  by  ye  unto  this  Nation ; 
let  not  your  Sun  set  in  a  cloud,  nor 
your  light  shine  upon  those  that 
have  loved  you,  as  the  Moon  once 
upon  the  Water,  making  it  of  the 
colour  of  Blood ;  are  ye  not  come 
to  the  Kingdom  in  Peace  ?  Are  not 
the  gleanings  of  Ephraim  in  the 
Vintage?  Did  not  David sz.y,  shall  2  Sam.  19. 
any  man  be  put  to  death  this  day  *"** 
in  Israeli 


xii  The  Epistle  Dedicatory. 

The  Lord  enlighten  ye  (if  it  be 
his  will)  more  and  more,  in  the 
knoivledge  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of 
the  love  of  God,  and  of  all  who 
have  any  thintj  of  God  in  them,  and 
let  you  see  those  thing's  which  con- 
cern your  peace  in  this  your  day. 

Your  Honours'  humble 

Servant, 

John  Saltmarsii. 


To  all  true  Christians. 

Friends, 

n|^HE  only  scope  of  this  Book, 
X  is  to  mind  ye  of  an  higher 
excellency ,  than  mere  created 
things  can  afford  ye,  of  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus,  or  in  Spirit. 

And  of  that  unity  of  Spirit  which 
Christians  should  live  in,  under 
their  several  forms  and  attain- 
ments, and  I  have  not  held  forth 
any  discovery  of  truth,  or  of  any 
higher  dispensation,  so  as  to  darken- 
too  much  other  dispensations  in 
which  Christians  live,  or  to  lessen 
and  undervalue  their  attainments, 
but  only  to  he  faithful  in  the  power 
of  God  to  his  discoveries  in  my  own 
spirit. 

I  desire  we  may  all  bear  one  an- 
other's burdens,  and  consider,  that 
God  is  in  all  his  several  Dispensa- 
tions, and  measures,  2i.iid  Christians 
are  not  to  hasten  out  of  any  till  the 


The  Epistle 


Lord  himself  say,  Come  up  hither; 
and  the  stronger  are  to  bear  the  in- 
Jirmities  of  the  lueak. 

I  am  not  against  the  LaWj  nor 
repentance,  nor  duties^  nor  ordi- 
najices,  as  some  would  say :  So  as 
all  these  flow  from  their  rig'ht  prin- 
cijjle,  to  their  right  eiid. 

I  am  not  against  the  settling  of 
Church- Government  Prudential- 
ly,  as  now,  so  as  all  of  another  luay 
be  not  persecuted.  Because  I  know 
God  hath  his  people  under  several 
attainments  and  measures,  and  is 
to  his  people  in  all  these,  in  his 
mere  grace  and  love,  as  formerly 
to  the  Bishojjs  and  thousands  of 
weak  Christians  in  Queen  Eliza- 
beth's, and  Queen  Mary's  days  of 
Martyrdom,  in  their  forms. 

I  am  only  against  any  form,  as 
it  becomes  an  engine  of  persecution 
to  all  Christians  differing  from  it. 

I  am  not  against  the  sitting  of 
?Lii  Assembly  or  Syjiodat  Westmin- 
ster, that  are  so  persuaded,  be- 
cause, that  is  but  to  allow  such  li- 
berty to  others'  consciences,  as  we 
desire  ourselves ;  and  surely  if  they 
would  propound  such  things  only 


to  the  Reader.  xv 

as  they  have  received,  or  they  are 
in  conscience  persuaded  of  to  all 
the  Kingdom;  and  so  leave  it  to 
the  Spirit  of  God  and  their  mi- 
nistery  to  persuade  and  convince 
all  others,  and  not  desire  power  from 
others  to  compel;  this  were  but  to 
minister  as  they  had  received. 

I  have  stated  some  things,  and 
truths,  as  they  are  held  in  those 
very  grounds  ;  the  Spirit  of  God  in 
the  Reader  may  judge  truth  with- 
out any  determination  of  man. 

I  have  spoken  concerning  the  li- 
berty of  some  that  are  spiritual  in 
outward  things  of  worship  and  dis- 
cipline without  sin,  yet  of  no  other, 
but  as  the  wisdom  of  God  shall  di- 
rect to  edification,  and  with  care 
of  offence,  and  Scriptures  allow  : 
To  the  weak  I  became  as  weak;  to  i  Coi .  9. 
them  that  were  under  the  Law,  as 
under  the  Law;  to  them  that  were 
without  Law,  as  without  Law, 
though  not  without  Law  to  God. 
Now  in  this  Scripture,  liberty  to 
things  of  former  institution  by 
God,  and  of  no  such  institution,  is 
discovered  ;  those  words,  under  the 
Law,  contain  liberty  to  things  once 


xvi  The  Epistle 

instituted,  and  those  words,  with- 
out Laiv,  to  things  not  instituted, 

1  Cor.  8.  and  therefore  the  Apostle  saith,  We 
know,  an  Idol  is  nothing,  Howheit, 
there  is  not  in  every  man  that  know- 

Mat.  ledge;  and  again,  To  the  pure  all 

things  are  pure,  and  that  that  goes 
into  the  man,  defiles  not  the  man. 
And  yet  1  know  this  very  truth, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  grace  of  God, 
and  all  other  truths  may  be  turned 
m^owantonness,z.nAlicentiousness, 
and  not  pure  Christian  liberty. 

1  am  for  the  knowledge  of  God 
in  the  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit, 
and  for  true  Christianity,  as  it  is  in 
life,  and  Spirit,  and  power  of  god- 
liness, and  for  love  to  all ;  but  to 

Phil.  3.  3.  the  sins  of  all,  We  are  circumci- 
sio7i,  which  ivorshij)  God  in  the 
Spirit,  and  rejoice  in  Christ  Jesus, 
and  have  no  confidence  in  the 
Flesh. 

I  have  spoken  of  the  true  Chris- 
tian under  that  more  gross  form 
of  Episcojjacy ,  not  approving  that 
form,  but  in  order  to  higher  and 
more  spiritual  discoveries ;  and 
this  I  do,  because  I  find  God  in 
loiuer  as  well  as  higher,  in  purer 


to  the  Reader.  xvii 

as  well  as  more  corrupt  adminis- 
trations ;  and  in  tenderness  and  re- 
spect to  many  thousands  in  this 
Kingdom,  and  many  other  King- 
doms, who  are  not  yet  out  of  this 
form,  and  yet  Goc?  may  be  in  them, 
as  in  Germany,  Sweeden,  Den- 
mark^ in  England  formerly  and  of 
late,  God  having  his  more  spiritual 
times  for  them,  as  well  as  others. 

I  have  spoken  of  things  here 
sometimes  very  briefly,  because  I 
find  less  of  man  in  writing-  the  sub- 
stance and  truth  of  things,  so  far 
as  revealed  in  us,  than  in  tedious 
discourses  and  Paraphrases,  which 
are  many  times  rather  the  works  of 
reason,  and  wit,  and  art,  than  of 
the  Spirit  of  God;  and  I  have  writ 
not  in  that  common  method  of  men, 
because  I  received  it  not  accord- 
ingly. 

I  find  two  things  which  make 
some  outward  Ordinances  so  ex- 
ceedingly, and  in  divine  right  stood 
for :  the  one  is,  an  opinion,  that 
there  is  a  very  model  in  the  Letter 
of  Scriptures  to  be  discovered ; 
which  is  to  reduce  Christians  to 
bondage  again,  and  to  ^form  with- 


xviii  The  Epistle 

out  those  very  (j'ifts,  which  is  not 
to  be  found  in  the  word. 

The  other  opinion  is,  that  the 
setting  up  such  ?iform,  is  an  im- 
mediate way  ofjixiuf/  God,  nnd  his 
Spirit  upon  it,  which  indeed  is  a 
finer  kind  of  Idolatry ,  to  conceive 
that  God  enters  into  outward 
things,  and  conveys  his  all  glori- 
ous, Rud  A I  might  y  Spirit  by  them, 
whenas  they  are  only  signs,  JigureSy 
and  Images  of  more  spiritual  things 
enjoyed,  or  to  be  enjoyed  ;  and  that 
of  God's  appearance  and  convey- 
ance of  himself  in  outward  things, 
according  to  this  opinion,  is  such 
as  the  Papists  hold,  as  to  Images , 
and  to  things  conferring  grace 
Ex  opere  operato,  and  all  Idolaters 
accordingly,  conceiving  that  God 
immediately  informs,  and  glorifies, 
and  spiritualizes  those  forms,  and 
figures  to  the  beholders;  as  the  /5- 
raelites  when  the  Calf  was  made, 
cried,  these  are  thy  Gods  0  Israel. 

I  know  Ordinances  used  in  their 
true  nature,  and  as  things  that  are 
the  Parables,  figures,  and  types  of 
spiritual  things,  are  not  to  be  re- 
jected,   but  many    Christians   do 


to  the  Reader.  xix 

sweetly  partake  of  them  in  this  their 
state  of  weakness  and  bondage, 
wherein  God  makes  heavenly 
thing's  appear  by  eai^thly,  that  men, 
as  Thomas,  m.ay  see  and  believe, 
though  blessed  are  they  that  have 
not  seen,  and  yet  do  believe. 

All  I  have  now  to  say  to  ye  is 
this: 

Something  of  a  mystery  of  God, 
and  something'  of  a  mystery  of  Sa- 
tan. 

That  of  God  is  this,  that  the  Lord 
doth  in  much  wisdom  suffer  the 
weakness  of  some  spiritual  men  to 
come  forth  :  and  by  this,  he  carries 
spiritual  thing's  in  more  mystery, 
and  manages  the  glory  of  his  spirit 
through  ways  and  things  which  are 
an  offence,  and  scandal  before  the 
World ;  by  which  some  stumble 
and  fall,  and  are  broken,  Christ 
was  set  up  for  the  falling  as  well 
as  rising  of  many  in  Israel. 

That  of  Satan  is  this,  to  observe 
how  he  fortifies  corrupt  nature 
against  the  spirit  of  God;  which 
spirit  he  knows  can  only  destroy 
his  Kingdom,  and  reveal  the  King- 
dom of  God;  and  therefore  coun- 


X X  The  Episth  to  the  Reader. 

terfeits  the  spirit  by  false  Revela- 
tio7is  and  appearances ;  transform- 
ing himself  into  an  Angel  of  light, 
and  then  casting  all  this  as  a  scan- 
dal, upon  the  pure  Spirit  of  God 
by  reproaches,  viz.  of  praying  by 
the  spirit,  and  preaching  by  the 
spirit,  and  new  Revelations,  and 
new  Light,  thus  making  the  world 
blaspheme,  and  the  weaker  Saints 
afraid  of  the  glory  of  the  spirit, 
lest  it  prove  a  delusion. 


^    ^    ^ 


SPARKLES  OF  GLORY. 


The  Two  Citations 

or  Two  Natures  of  Flesh 

and  Spirit. 

THESE  two  Creations  are  two 
distinct  Natures,  from  whence 
all  things  of  Flesh  and  Spirit  come 
forth  ;  the  two  Adams  are  the  two  ^fSrojavV- 
seeds,  roots,  or  principles  of  these  '^°^' 
two    Natures   or    Creations,    the  StCie^c;  u,- 
Old  and  New  ;  so  as  in  the  know-  t^uX^i,. 
ledge  of  these  two  there  opens  a     '■^^■ 
Prospect  both  of  heaven  and  earth, 
of  the  first  man   and  the  second,  i  cor.  js. 
ivho  are  the  sean  or  womb  of  all     22. 
things  carnal  and  spiritual,  and  vlrT  "'" 
into  whom  are  gathered  up  all  the  ;^^''''  "''^^'' ' 
Mystery  of  C/iWs^  and  Antichrist,  ""''' 
and  from  whence  the  Mystery  of 


Some  Beams  of  that 


both  are  brought  forth  before  those 
that  are  spiritual ;  the  spiritual 
man  judgeth  all  things. 

The  first  Adam  is  the  root  of  all 
fleshly  Creation  and  Excellency  ; 
the  glory  of  the  first  Creation  is 
gathered  up  into  him,  as  the  light 
into  the  body  of  the  Sun  ;  the  life 
of  Angels  or  Spirits,  of  sense  or 
beasts,  of  nature  or  vegetation,  is 
all  in  him  :  So  as  man  is  all  created 
excellency  in  the  map  or  abridg- 
Uev.  21.  3.  ment ;  and  God,  making*  his  Ta- 
bernacle with  man,  dwells  at  the 
same  time  with  all  his  Creation ; 
Man,  being  the  glorious  and  bright 
sum  or  whole  of  the  Creation,  was 
1.5.14.  ^figure  and  type  of  the  Son  of 
Gof/,  Jesus  Christ :  And  therefore 
he  was  said  to  be  made  after  his 
(icii.  1.  26.  own  Image,  which  Image  was  Je- 
a-KaiywryM.  sus  C/trist,  callcd  by  the  Apostle 
the  Image  of  the  invisible  God, 
the  brightness  of  his  glory,  and 
express  Image  of  his  Person. 

And  while  man  was  thus  in  the 
Image  of  God,  and  stood  and  lived 
in  Communion  with  God,  walking 
in  that  Paradise,  or  that  Glory  of 
his  first  Creation,  in  obedience  to 
God,  and  participation  of  God,  he 


Roiij 

£"'  TU'TTOf. 


T^f  Jofjl,' 


Hob.  1.  3. 


Bright  and  Moiming  Star.  3 

was  the  Image  of  all  or  any  created 
excellency^  as  it  was,  or  is,  or 
shall  be  in  order  to  a  more  excel- 
lent life,  to  a  life  out  of  itself,  in 
him  who  is  the  fountain  of  life.     Psai.  36.  9. 

And  while  man  was  in  this  com- 
munion  and  dependency  to    God, 
as  he  was  made  in  his  Image,  or 
as  he  was  the  likeness  and  simili-  Gen.  1. 26. 
tude  of  God,  he  was  the  figure 
and  image  of  Jesus  Christ  in  his 
New  Creation,  or  whole  body,  or  Eph.4.  23. 
Saints,  who   know  no  other   life  '"^"J^"." 
than  in   God,  whose  springs  are 
all  in  him  ;   the  Lord  God  being 
their  everlasting  light,  and  their 
God  their  glory. 

While  they,  like  the  golden  Can-  Zee.  4.  12. 
dlestick  in  Zechariah,  are  fed  with 
the  golden  oil  that  is  continually 
f  owing  and  issuing  through   the 
golden  pipes. 

The  excellency  of  this  first  Crea- 
<20W  is  but  earthly  or  fleshly  in 
the  Spirit's  account,  and  as  it  stands 
in  distinction  to  the  second  Crea-  1  Cor.  15. 
tion,  or  new  man,  or  Lord  from  ^^^J;, ^^,5^^. 
heaven ;  so  as  the  circuit  or  fur-  -^o;  i^yn?.  ^^ 
thest  attainment  of  man   in   this  "^f'"^*  ''f*""' 
Creation  is  but  to  things  of  this 
Creation;  from  things  of  ra^to/ia/ 


Some  Beams  of  that 


and  Aufjelical  glory  to  things  of 
lowest  and  most  earthly  life  or 
excellency,  of  which  Sokmwn  was 
an  Image  :  as  his  heart  was  large 
like  the  sand  on  the  sea  shores 
and  as  he  was  ivise  from  the  Cedar 
in  Lebanon  to  the  wormwood  in 
the  wall ;  from  the  highest  to  the 
lowest  part  of  this  Creation,  com- 
prehending all  from  the  top  of  this 
Creation  to  the  bottom ;  and  see- 
ing the  face  of  God  in  this  more 
darkly,  as  in  a  glass,  the  invisible 
things  of  him  being  clearly  seen 

rk  s^onu.     and  understood  by  the  things  that 

Rom.  1.20.  are  made,  even  his  eternal  power 

tZT^    and  Godhead. 

Sftorrvf-  Now    all   this    excellency    and 

glory  of  the  frst  man  did  leave 
Gen.  3.  God,  being  tempted  of  the  woman 
and  the  serpent,  which  were  a 
figure  of  Jleshly  wisdom  without 
God,  and  of  the  lueakness  of  this 
Creation  in  its  own  nature,  as  it 
was  drawn  away  and  enticed  from 
its  life  in  God  and  communion 
with  God,  to  live  in  itself,  or  own 
life,  and  to  be  to  itself  what  God 
should  have  been,  wisdom,  and 
life,  and  righteousness,  power,  and 
strength,  and  preservation,  and  all 
things. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  5 

And   as  it  left   God,  life,   and 
communion  in  him,  was  a  figure 
or  image  of  this  Creation  departing 
from  God,  and  living'  out  of  God  ; 
and  now,  according  to  this  Indepen- 
dent subsistence  or  life  from  God, 
it  apostates  and  degenerates  into 
that  nature  which  is  called  the  seed 
of  the  serpent,  the  old  man,  the 
m?/5^er?/ of  in{^w2^//, which  appeared  2  Thes. 
all  along  in  the  cursed /^wres  or  ^Z^^.^^,,, 
types  of  Cain,  of  Esau,  of  /sA-  rniavofMoa 
mael,  of  the  children  of  the  bond-  ce'li!  4!"! 
woman,  of  Judas,  of  Antichrist,  ^f"^^""^ 
of  the  whore  of  Babylon  ;  so  as  all  oai.  4.  v3. 
the  knowledge  of  sin,  of  all  fleshly  ^^y  Tro^w  ^^ 
abominations,  whether  more  5j9z-  j^^^  ,g 
ritual  or  carnal,  are  discovered  in 
the  knowledge  of  this  j^r5^  wan, 
thus  discovered  as  he  lives  not  in 
God,  nor  in  communion  with  God, 
and  lives  a  Zzyi?  distinct  from  the 
life  in  God,  and  all  his  actings  and 
workings  are  from  his  own  /z/e,  his 
/i/e  of  this  Creation,  and  to  Am- 
self,  not  from  Goc/,  nor  to  God. 

The  second  Adam,  or  Jesus 
Christ,  is  that  quickening  Spirit, 
or  Zo7'<f  yVom  heaven,  and  is  the 
root  of  all  the  second  or  new  Crea- 
tion, which  is  created  according  to 


Some  Beams  of  that 


God,   in   ri(jhteousness  and    true 
F:ph.4. 24.  holiness,    which    rif/hteousness    is 
•^  i'/'^r-'"!' called    the  rif/hteousness  of  God 
<ixn5«a;.       and  true  holiness,  which  is  an  ho- 
liness more  g-lorious  than  the  holi- 
ness of  the  first  Creation,  an  holi- 
ness which  is  of  God,  not  of  man, 
and  therefore  true  holiness,  or  ho- 
liness in  truth. 

This  Jesus,  or  second  Adam,  as 
i.xiv  Ta  6ta.  he  is  Spirit,  is  called  the  Image  of 
the  invisible  God,  the  brightness 
of  his  glory ,  and  express  Image  of 
his  Person ;  is  the  life  manifested, 
the  Word  of  God,  he  that  is  alive 
for  evermore,  the  Alpha  and  Ome- 
ga, the  beginning  and  the  ending ; 
this  is  he  who  is  the  wisdom,  mijid, 
or  understanding  of  God,  and  was 
in  God,  and  is  the  Immanuel,  or 
God  with  us,  or  God  making*  his 
Rer.  21.  3.  Tabemacle  with  men. 

This  Jesus  Christ  is  that  glory 
of  God  in  which  the  Father  is  re- 
vealed,   and  so    none   knows    the 
Luke  10.      Father    but   the   Son,  and  he    to 
^^'^'  whom  the  Son  will  reveal  him. 

This   is    he  who,  being  in   the 
John  1. 18.  bosom  of  God,  declares  him  to  the 
sons  of  men,  and  so  rejoices  in  the 
Prov.8.31.  habitable  parts  of  the  earth. 


1  John  1.2. 

l^m  i<pa.Tt- 
John  1.  1. 

Rev.  1.  8. 

Prov.  8. 

Mat.  1.23. 

Bright  and  Morning  Star.  7 

This  Jesus  Christ  is  the  revela- 
tion of  God,  even  the  Father;  this 
is  the  glass  or  crystal  of  God,  in 
whom  we  with  open  face  behold^  2Cor.3.  is. 
as  in  a  glass,  the  glory  of  the  ^^.TciriuiLtxt- 
Lord,  and  are  changed  from  glory 
to  glory. 

The  Sons  of  men  taken  into  this 
glory  of  the  Son  of  God,  are  that 
new  or  second  Creation,  that  7iew  Rev.  21.2. 
Jerusalem,  which  came  down  from 
God,  the  city  of  the  living  God,  ^'^oXif  ssi  ^Sv- 
the  Spirits  of  just  men  made  per-  Heb.  12.23. 
feet,  the  new  creature,  the  hea- 
venly men ;  as  is  the  Lord  from  1  Cor.  15. 
heaven,  so  are  they  that  are  hea-     '*^'  '*^' 
venly  ;  the  spiritual  men  of  him 
who  is  the  quickening  Spirit ;   so  i  for.  15. 
as  Jesus  Christ  is  made  unto  us  i  coi.  1. 30. 
the  wisdom,  power,  righteousness, 
sanctification,    and  redemption  of 
God. 

This  Jesus  Christ  is  the  root, 
seed,  principle^  or  original  of  all 
this  new  and  heavenly  life,  glory, 
and  spirit  to  the  Sons  of  men, 
wherein  they  enter  within  the  veil 
or  flesh,  which  is  the  first  Crea- 
don, beyond  which  is  this  glory 
and  light ;  the  veil  of  this  first 
Temple  or  Creation  being  rent  by 


8 


Some  Beams  of  that 


T»iy  liiav 

at.''; 


him  who  crucified  ?i\\  flesh  through 
Hrb.9. 14.  the  eternal  Spirit^  and  entered 
Luke  24.  into  his  glory,  and  is  now  passed 
into  the  holiest,  through  whom  we 
have  access  to  God  even  the  Fa- 
ther, throug-h  the  blood  of  the 
everlasting  Covenant ;  which  blood 

«j;r'^£L!ir  ^'^^  ^^^  ^^^^  Creation  and  Excel- 
lency crucified  to  the  very  life  and 
blood  of  it;  this  was  the  seal  or 
mark  of  the  New  Testament  in 
his  blood. 

This  Son  of  God  is  he  who  came 
to  restore  the  first  Creation  from 
its  enmity  to  God,  and  so  in  that 
Ministery  of  his  flesh  became  the 
word  of  reconciliation,  by  which 
the  world  was  reconciled  unto 
him  ;  and  in  this  Creation  wherein 
vian  had  sinned  and  departed  from 


Cor.  5. 
18. 

T>iv  5«axon'av 
T>){  xaTa»>a- 


God,  living-  in  his  own  life,  the 
Son  of  God  was  manifested  in  this 

Rom.  R.  3.  Creation  to  condemn  sin  in  the 
flesh,  and  to  take  away  sin,  and  to 
fulfil  the  righteousness  of  the  Law 
in  the  flesh  of  this  first  Creation, 

R.  m.  s.  3.  the  law  being  weak  through  the 
flesh ;  and  thus  he  was  made  sin 
for  us,  who  knew  no  sin,  that  we 
might  be  made  the  righteousness 
of  God  in  him  ;  not  only  righte- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  9 

ousness    according    to    the    law, 

Christ  being  the  end  of  the  law 

{for  righteousness)   to  every  one 

that  believeth  ;  but  the  righteous-  Rom.  3.  21, 

ness  of  God,  a  righteousness  of  j.,^f,;^,^  ,3 

more  glory  and  excellency .  fi»a- 

The   Son  of  God  did  not  only 
fulfil  this,  bringing  home  this  first 
Creation  or  man  to  God,  accord- 
ing to  his  first  excellency  and  com- 
munion with  God ;  but  in  this  ap- 
pearance  in  the  flesh  he   was   a 
figure  of  God,  whose  design  is  to 
make  his  Saints  his  Temple,  his 
Tabernacle,    his    Body,   his  new  1  Cor. 6.  19. 
Creation,  his  new  creatures,  his  fcorfi2.^' 
habitation    or   house.      And   God     12. 
thus   manifested   in  flesh   was  a  Eph.  2.  22. 
figure  of  that  mystery  oi godliness  f«f  e^afsfiifln 
in   us,  or  God  becoming  an  Im-  'iTu^.'^ag. 
manuel,  or  God  with  us.  ^^'^^-  '•  '^•^• 

And  in  his  crucifying  all  this 
first  glory  in  which  he  appeared, 
revealed  that  old  design  of  God, 
that  mystery  hid  from  ages,  and  Coi.  1.20. 
now  made  manifest  to  the  Saints;  tTfrt 
nailing  all  the  flesh  of  his  Saints  vova7roT*v 
to  the  same  Cross,  and  being  lifted  '*'"""^" 
up  draws  all  men  unto  him,  which 
is  the  Mystery  of  the  Gospel,  or 
Christ  crucifled ;    all  the  life  or 
B  2 


10  Some  Beams  of  that 

excellency   of  this   first  Creation 

beinf^  crucified  in  tlie  Saints  as  in 

Christ,  whereby  they  enter  into 

their  fjlory  as  he  did  into  his,  and 

John  17.      are  in  the  same  glory  of  God  made 

onCj    as   he    and  the   Father  are 

one. 

This  is  th^t  fellowship  of  Christ's 

Phil.  3. 10.  death,  sufferings  and  resurrection, 

X1°«W-  spoken  of  by  Paul,  into  which  the 

T"-*--  Christian  is  received. 

And  now  all  things  of  this  new 

or  second   Creation,   as  they  are 

spiritual  and  heavenly,  are  only 

in  and  through  the  same  Spirit,  and 

discerned  in  the  same  Spirit. 

And  the  whole  Christ,  or  Son 

1  Cor.  12.    of  God,  is  head  and  body,  he  and 

his,  who  shall  enjoy  and  live  with 

God  in  one  Spirit,  when  God  shall 

hei-t^<rZu.a   bc  oll  iu  all,  and  the  fulness  of 

Sra-fixfTOf.  ^J^^  stature  of  Christ  grown  up  to 

Epb.  1.23.  be  the  body  of  him  whojilleth  all 

in  all. 
Tov\r^oixct         ^^^  Jesus  Christ  in  this  consi- 
.ravraiv    dcratlou  of  the  ivhole  man,  nature, 
^V8.  or  body  in  which  (jod  is  revealed, 

liev.  3.  14.  is  the  beginning  of  the  Creation 
c!>1.  \'.  ir.    of  God,  the  first-born  of  every 
creature,  in  whom  all  things  sub- 
sist. 


ruiuoc 


Bright  and  Mornhtg  Star.        1 


The  true  Church. 

THAT  is  the  Church  or  body 
of  Christ  which  is  baptized  fi;  'iv<Tu. 
by    one    Spirit    into    oneness    and  •i^"'^^*^*'^^^''- 
unity  of  Spirit,  a  unity  or  incor- 
poration with  Christ,  being  wade  John  17. 
perfect  in  one  ;  even  one,  as  thou,     ^^" 
Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in  thee. 

This   body   is  that  wherein  all 
the  members  live,  and  are  quick-  1  Coi.  12. 
ened  in  owe  and  the  same  Spirit     ^^' 
with  Christ,  and  in  this  unity  if 
one  member  suffer,  all  the  mem-  1  Cor.  12, 
bers  suffer  with  it.  ^^' 

All  the   members  of  this  body 
have  the  same  care  one  of  another.  1  Cor.  12. 
This  body  is  spiritual,  and  all  the     ^^' 
members  of  it  spiritual ;   because 
Christ  is  the  head  of  it,  and  he  is  1  Cor.  11.  3. 
a  quickening  Spirit,  and  the  Lord  2Cor.3.  u. 
that  Spirit.  °  "'-^'^f-  ■"' 

That  is  the  true  Church  which 
is  the  Temple  of  God,  where  God 
dwells :  ye  are  the  Temples  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  chief  corner  stone  of  this  Tem- 
ple, elect  and  precious  ;  this  is  the  Eph.  2.  20. 
Temple  which  the  Angel  measures  Rfv.*ii."f,' 
with  a  golden  reed,  and  the  Altar     '^- 


12  So?/ie  Beams  of  that 

thereof,  or  the  eternal  Spirit,  upon 
which  all  tlie  first  Creation  is  of- 
fered in  the  Saints  as  it  was  of- 
fered in  Christ,  who  throiig-h  the 
Heb.  9. 14.  eternal  Spirit  offered  himself, 
leaving  out  the  outiuard  court,  or 
the  Jiesh  and  first  Creation,  and 
all  outward  administrations,  which 
are  given  to  the  Gentiles  to  tread 
down. 

The  Tabernacle  and  Temple 
were  figures  of  this  wherein  God 
and  the  glory  of  God  appeared ; 
and  all  gatherings.  Communions, 
or  Fellowships  called  Churches  in 
the  Gospel,  were  clearer  types  of 
this. 

This  is  the  Church  which  is  the 
pillar  and  ground  of  truth,  the 
general  Assembly  and  Church  of 
the  first  born,  w-hich  are  written 
in  heaven. 

This  is  the  Church  to  which 
Jesus  Christ  is  all,  and  in  all, 
u. filling  all,  the  Apostle  to  this 
Church,  the  Prophet,  Pastor,  and 
Teacher,  preaching  to  it,  prophe- 
sying init,  feeding  it,  and  watching 
over  it,  and  teaching  it,  so  as  all 
are  taught  of  God. 

This  is  the  Church  against  which 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         13 

the  gates  of  hell  cannot  prevail^  Max.ig^  is. 
having  Jesus  Christ  its  rock  and  '^rJa'^Lso- 
foundation.  iJ.i)<Tuif^H  7iv 

This  is  the  Church  to  which  all 
the  promises  of  Spirit,  life,  and 
glory  are  made  to  the  believers  and 
members  that  are  in  this  Fellowship 
and  of  this  Church. 

And  into  this  Church  all  are  ad- 
mitted through  the  Sjnrit  of  Christ,  i  Cor.  12. 10. 
and  all  are  discerned  members  in  Joi^^j^J  ll 
the  same  Spirit y  and  tried  by  the  -^t^iMXTu. 
Spirit. 

And  this  Church  of  Christ  being 
thus  baptized  by  Spirit  into  one 
body,  is  not  to  be  divided  by  any 
outward  things  which  are  of  this 
Creation,  which  are  visible,  out-  Cui.  2. 20, 
ward,  and  perishing ;  or  by  any 
fellowship  and  ordinances  below 
the  glory  of  the  Spirit,  which  are 
part  of  the  first  Tabernacle ;  nor 
are  the  members  of  this  spiritual 
Church  to  be  divided  by  any  schism 
or  division,  procured  or  effected  by 
2LX\y  principle  less,  or  less  excellent 
than  the  Spirit  of  God. 

And  therefore  whatsoever  fel- 
lowship in  pretence  of  Church- 
no  tion,  or  Baptism-notion,  or  PreS' 
byterial-notion,    shall    cast   itself 


14  Some  Beams  of  that 

into  any  model  of  the  letter,  which 
allows  not  communion  with  other 
believers  in  Spirit,  in  whom  the 
power  of  the  Spirit,  and  of  Christ 
cannot  be  denied,  but  to  be  visible 
and  apparent,  tliough  not  in  the 
practice  of  some  particular  ordi- 
nance,  such  felloiv ship  will  in  the 
day  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  or  clearer 
revelation  of  Christ,  see  how  they 
have  offended  many  little  ones, 
whom  in  these  outward  things  they 
ought  to  have  pleased  to  edijica- 
Rom.  13.  Hon,  the  knu  of  love^  and  spirit  or 
Rom.  8.  2.  ^\f^  being  more  royal  and  excellent, 
Col.  2. 20.  than  any  worldly  rudiment  whatso- 
ever. 

The  true  Personal  Reign  of 
Christ  as  it  is  Spiritual. 

The  Lord  Jesus  is  entered  into  his 
glory,  having  crucified  flesh,  and 

Luke  24.  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  or 
in  the  choicest  glory  of  the  Father, 

2  Coi .  3.  where  he  is  the  Lord  that  Spirit, 
and  the  Lord  of  glory. 

I  Cor.  5.25.  The  Lord  Jesus  must  reign  till 
he  hath  put  all  his  enemies  under 
his  feet:  he  fills  all  administrations 
of  Dominion^  Judgment,  Power, 
and  Magistracy ,  in  the  world, which 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        15 

is  part  of  his   King-dom  here,  all 
judgment  and  power  in  heaven  and  John  5. 22, 
earth  being  committed  unto  him  ;  Mat'^-is.  is. 
yet  this  is  not  his  spiritual  reign, 
thoug-h  administered  by  him  who  is 
in  Spirit. 

The  Lord  Jesus  hath  a  kingdom 
inward  3,nd  spiritual,  the  kingdom  Luke  17.  ii. 
of  God  is  within  you,  the  kingdom 
of  God  is   righteousness,  peace, 
and  joy,  the  kingdom  of  God  is  icoi.  4. 21. 
in  power. 

The  Lord  Jesus  denied  his  king- 
dom to  be  of  this  world,  or  to  come 
with  observation,  as  lo  here,  or  lo  Luke  u. -21. 
there,  as  the  glory  of  the  world,  ^^*'  '^^' 
and  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  is 
in  its  appearance. 

The  Lord  Jesus  his  coming  is  as 
lightning  from  East  to  West,  filling  Mat.  24. -27. 
heaven  ;  lightning  is  a  glory  with- 
out figure,  so  shall  Christ's  coming 
and  revelation  in  Spirit  be  ;  for  as 
the  lightning  lighteth  from  one 
end  of  heaven  to  the  other,  so  shall 
the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be. 

The  Lord  Jesus  his  coming  is  in 
Spirit  and  glory,  in  revelation  in 
his  Saints ;    he  shall  come  to  be  2  Thes.  1 . 
glorified  in  his  Saints,  and  admired     ^°' 
in  all  them  that  believe. 

The  Lord  Jesus  reigns  already, 


16  Some  Beams  of  t  It  at 

all  things  are  put  in  siihjection 
under  hhn,  death,  and  hell,  and 
sin,     and    Antichrist,     and    the 

Hcb.  2. 8.  wicked;  only  lue  see  not  all  yet 
put  under  hivi.  Jesus  Christ 
reigns  in  Spirit,  only  his  reign 
appears  not  yet ;  now  are  we  the 

I  John  3. 1.  Sons  of  God,  but  it  doth  not  appear 
what  we  shall  be  ;  but  when  he 
shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him. 
All  the  prophecies,  and  promises 
of  glory,  and  a  kingdom  of  Anti- 
christ to  be  destroyed,  of  the  great 
Battles,  of  the  Thrones,  of  the 
new  Jerusalem,  of  him  on  i\\ewhite 
horse,  the  Lord  of  Lords,  and  King 
oi  Kings  are  most  glorious  in  Spirit, 
and  most  suitable  to  Christ  in  the 
glory  of  his  Father,  and  for  any 
other  figure  of  Christ's  reign  or 
kingdom,  in  any  fleshly  glory, 
political  or  monarchical  kingdom, 
according  to  any  pattern  upon 
earth ;  these  conceptions  or  notions 
are  occasioned  by  the  Allegories, 
and  Allusions,  and  Parables  the 
Spirit  speaks  ;  which  they  that  are 
weak  and  carnal,  as  some  Disciples 
and  Pharisees  were,  take  more  in 
the  Letter  than  in  the  Spirit. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         17 


Antichrist  within  us. 

THAT  Antichristian  mystery 
which  seems  to  be  working* 
in  so  mhnjjigures  and  shapes  with- 
out in  the  world,  and  makes  up  the 
truth  of  those  Scriptures  of  the 
beast,  and  the  whore,  and  the  false 
prophet,  &c.  flows  only  from  the 
Antichrist  within  us,  or  the  mys- 
tery of  iniquity  which  lies  in  the 
flesh,  or  old  7nan,  or  man  of  sin,  'iTiits.2  3. 
the  So7i  of  perdition,  as  in  the  root, 
seed,  or  principle ;  and  in  us  you 
may  find  all  the  delusions  and  de- 
ceivableness  of  unrighteousness, 
with  all  the  several  fig-ures  it  ap- 
pears in,  in  the  Revelation,  and 
Epistle  to  the  Thessalonians,  and 
the  Spirit  of  that  Natural  man  in  2Tijes.  2. 
us  acts  all  that  wickedness  in  us, 
which  in  the  World  comes  forth 
only  in  Images  more  Visible,  and 
fleshly  :  and  to  the  destruction  of 
this  Antichrist  we  should  look,  and 
lay  the  Axe  to  the  root  of  the  tree, 
carnal  wisdom,  self-righteousness, 
high  imaginations,  fleshly  appre- 
hensions of  God  and  Christ,  chang- 
ing the  truth  of  God  into  a  lie,  with 


Some  Beams  of  that 


all  the  false  testimonies  of  our  own 
spirits  for  the  Spirit  of  God,  the 
counterfeit  sea linr/s  and  assurances 
of  our  carnal  hearts,  the  deceivable- 
ness  of  carnal  reason,  with  all  other 
actings  of  the  flesh. 


The  Doctinne  of  Baptisms, 

Ba^T'\t<^^lwv     f  I  ^HE  Doctrinc  of  BaptUm^  is 

J<5ax,i-  J^    g^^l^  ^  doctrine  as  clearly  and 

spiritually  understood,  and  opened, 

will  establish  the  Spirits  of  many 

Christians,  who  are  much  in  the 

dark  in  these,  not  distinguishing 

p:ph.4. 21.  nor   discerning   the    Baptisms   as 

Itfiltilr.  they  are  in  their  own  Nature,  and 

ii-ra        '  in   Spirit,   or  as   the  truth  is   in 

Jesus. 

The  Baptists. 

BAPTISM  of  Water  being  a 
Legal  Ordinance,  though  a 
more  clear  administration  of  Christ, 
was  administered  always  by  per- 
sons of  more  than  ordinary  gift  and 
spirit;  for  in  all  Legal  adminis- 
trations which  pointed  at  and  sha- 
dowed Christ,  still  they  were  per- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,         19 

formed  by  some  properly,  and  spe- 
cially, and  extraordinarily  enabled 
for  that  OJi.ce  or  Ministration^  and 
therefore  the  tribe  of  Levi  was  for 
administration  of  Ordinances  then 
under  the  Law,  and  Abraham  for  Gfin.  u.  23. 
circumcision,  Moses,  and  Aaron, 
^c.  John  Baptist,  the  Apostles, 
and  the  more  than  ordinary  gifted 
Disciples,  and  Philip,  and  Ana- 
nias :  nor  is  there  any  extant  in 
all  the  New  Testament  who  did 
administer  Baptism,  but  they  were 
such  as  by  a  poiver  and  gift  more 
than  ordinary  could  make  demon- 
stration of  their  calling  to  the  ad- 
ministration of  water,  which  was 
fii'st  in  that  way  of  doctrine  per- 
formed by  him,  than  whom  a 
greater  Prophet  hath  not  risen, 
even  by  John  who  Baptized ;  and 
so  Philip  and  Ananias,  the  one 
working  glorious  miracles  at  Sa-  Acis  8. 
maria,  the  other  having  a  vision 
from  God  to  w^arrant  and  glorify 
his  call  to  that  administration  upon 
Paul,  and  so  all  the  Apostles 
and  seventy  Disciples,  were  such 
who  went  about  doing  miracles  as 
men  excellently  gifted  for  admi- 
nistration;  and  whereas  the  Scrip- 


20  Some  Beams  of  that 

tures  make  mention  of  some  Dis- 
Act»  10.48.  ciples,  as  those  with  Peter,  who 
did  not  appear  to  do  any  thing" 
more  than  others  ;  nor  Philip,  nor 
Ananias  at  the  time  of  their  admi- 
nistration of  water  ;  it  oug-ht  to  be 
sufficient  to  us,  that  the  Scriptures 
doth  set  forth  Jolm  Baptist  and 
the  Apostles  and  Disciples  that 
were  more  than  ordinarily  g-ifted, 
and  Philip  and  Ananias  who  had 
sufficient  warrant  to  themselves  by 
such  glory  upon  them  for  that 
Office  and  administration  of  water 
upon  any,  and  for  those  other  Dis- 
ciples,  surely  we  see  and  read 
enough  to  tell  us,  in  those  that 
were  so  gifted  ;  and  in  them  and 
their  gifts,  there  is  light  enough  to 
shew  us  the  glory  of  those  Bap- 
tists that  did  undertake  to  admi- 
nister, which  in  the  Scripture  me- 
thod is  sufficient  for  all  others  of 
whom  the  Scripture  is  silent. 

And  for  that  of  Christ^s  Dis- 
ciples, both  in  Johns  time  and 
Christ's,  and  after  his  Resurrec- 
tion, in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 
baptizing  by  water,  we  find  this ; 
That  the  Lord  Jesus  himself  bap' 
Mat.  10.      tized  none,  but  his  Disciples,  nor 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        21 

did  he;  in  his  first  sending  them 
forth,  g'ive  them  any  power  to  bap- 
tize as  in  his  Ministery ,  but  they 
Baptized  upon  Johns  account,  that 
of  water  being  his  ministration  who 
Baptized  unto  Christ  as  well  as 
they,  though  not  in  that  clearness 
of  ministration  and  Doctrine^  as 
they  did ;  and  therefore  Paul  did 
tell  the  Corinthians  he  was  not  iCor.  1. 17. 
sent  to  Baptize^  and  did  it  accord- 
ing to  his  spiritual  liberty,  he  was 
a  Jeiv  to  the  Jew,  Sfc,  and  Peter 
and  the  rest  did  it  upon  the  like 
account :  though  I  believe  they 
were  under  more  bondage  to  these 
outward  things,  as  washing,  for 
Peter  was  an  Apostle  to  the  Cir-  Gai.-2.  s. 
cumcision,  and  Arianias  who  bap- 
tized Paul  was  a  Jewish  Disciple. 
And  further,  I  believe,  that  as 
the  Lord  did  suffer  the  Law  of 
Ceremonies  to  die  out  by  degrees, 
and  to  be  worn  out  by  the  minis- 
tration of  the  Gospel,  so  he  did 
that  part  of  Johns  Ministery,  of 
washing,  by  the  Baptism  of  Christ, 
of  his  Spirit,  I  must  decrease,  but  John  3  30. 
he  must  increase,  which  surely  was 
spoken  not  according  to  the  per- 
sons of  John  and  Christ,  but  ac- 


22  Some  Beams  of  that 

cording- to  their  ministration,  \\h\c\\ 
is  the  great  thing  the  Scripture 
takes  notice  on. 

The  Baptism  of  Sufferings. 

THE  Baptism  of  Sufferings  is 
that  Passion,  Crucifying,  and 
death,  which  the  Body  or  flesh  of 
Christ  was  to  be  Baptized  or  washed 
TO  paTrV/Lia.  in  ;    Can  ye  be  Baptized  with  the 
<!I^.£wei  Baptism    that    I    am     Baptized 
"^^  with  ? 

The  Baptism  of  Suffering's  is  that 

in  which  the  Lord  Jesus  was  to  be 

Heb.  2.  JO.  perfected  according  to  the  flesh  ;  it 

t^^iaJ^^   behoved  him  to  make  the  Captain 

of  our  Salvation  perfect  through 

sufferings. 

The  Baptism  of  Sifferings  is 
that  Joidan  ;  that  stream  or  flood 
of  Passions  which  all  the  Spiritual 
Israelites  were  to  pass  through ; 
this  was  that  River  of  Brimstone, 
which  is  kindled  from  the  breath  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  himself,  through 
the  flowings  of  which  he  was  able 
to  conduct  all  his,  and  Land  them 
safely  upon  the  shore  or  land  of 
Promise,  or  on  the  other  side  Jor- 
dan ;  /  have  a  Baptism  to  be  bap- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        23 

tized  with,  and  how  am  I  strait-  Lnke  12. 
ened  till  it  be  accomplished  !  b/ttW^xo. 

This  Baptism  of  sufferings  is  that  (Ja7r7»o-s;iv«». 
in  which    all    the    whole   flesh   of 
Christ  is  to  be  Baptized,  all  which 
flesh  is  not  that  only  which  Christ 
appeared  in,  but  that  of  his  body 
or  members,  With  the  baptism  that  tyU  ^airrit^o- 
I  am  baptized  with,  shall  ye  be  s^'^f'*'^^*'* 
baptized.  That  I  may  Jill  up  that  Mark  10. 
which  is  behind  of  the  afflictions  Coi.'i.24. 
of  Christ   in   my  flesh,  for   his  ^~^^|^fY^'* 
body's  sake,  which  is  the  Church,  h  tt,  o-o^k/. 

The  Baptism  of  Water  or 
of  John. 

THE  Baptism  of  water  is  John's 
Ministery  unto  Christ :    I  in-  Mat.  3. 11. 
deed  Baptize  ye  with  water  unto  *"  ^"' 
Repentance  :  the  Baptism  of  water 
was  a  Legal  washing,  and  therefore 
reckoned  amongst  things  that  are 
Legal;  Thefrst  Tabernacle  stood 
in  meats  and  drinks,  and  divers  Heb.  9.  10. 
washings  and  carnal  Ordinances, 
which  divers  washings  are  called  3ia<t)ofo.f 
Baptisms  in  the  Greek.  ^a^i.v,xo.i. 

The  Baptism  of  Water  was  there- 
fore in  its  Ministery  administered 
by  Johnj  who  was  a  Prophet  nearer 


24  Some  Beams  of  that 


the  more  clear  Revelation  of  Jesus 
Christ  than  the  rest,  for  a  greater 
Prophet  than  John  hath  not  risen, 
and  therefore  this  Ministration  was 
administered  by  him  who  was  a 
Prophet,  or  one  rather  upon  the 
account  of  the  Law  than  the  Gos- 

'^i«y"'  P^^'  ^^^'  ^^^  ^^^"^  ^'^^  ^^"^^  ^^  ^^^ 

S^'^''"  Kingdom  of  God  is  greater  than 
he. 

The  Baptism  of  Water  was  not 
given  in  Christ's  Ministery  to  his 
Disciples  or  Apostles,  who,  when 
he  sent  them  out  to  preach  first  to 
the  Jews,  gave  them  not  one  word 

Mat.  10.  5.  to  Baptize ;  the  Lord  Jesus  was 
Baptized  by  John,  the  Minister  of 
^yate^,  to  fulfill  righteousness  for 
his,  the  Righteousness  of  washing 
which  was  Legal  as  Circumcision, 

Col.  2.  II,  therefore  we  are  said  to  be  Circum- 
cised with  him  in  Circumcision, 
buried  with  him  in  Baptism ;  the 
Baptism  of  Water  was  performed 
by  the  Disciples  and  Apostles  of 
Christ  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus, as  all  other  Legal  Ordinances 
were,  for  Circumcision  and  all  was 
to  Christ,  who  was  the  end  of  the 
Law;  but  Jesus  Christ  himself 
neyer  Baptized  any,  never  was  an 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        25 

administrator  of  it  in  his  own  per- 
son, he  Baptized  none,  but  his  Dis-  John  4.  i, 
ciples,  so  as  his  Disciples  Baptized  ^' 
none,  as  his  only  Ministration,  but 
as  from  John,  and  as  in  his  Minis- 
tration unto  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  as 
a  Ministration  which  was  begun  by 
one  who  was  so  eminent  a  Prophet, 
and  so  acceptable  to  Disciples  that 
were  weak  and  Legal. 

The  Baptism  of  Water  was  more 
used  by  those  Apostles  or  Disciples 
which  were  Jewish,  and  to  the  Jews, 
as  Peter,  who  had  the  Apostleship 
of  Circumcision,  and    so  did    Ju-  Gal.  2. 8. 
daize  more  ;    than  by  the  Apostle  %%J,fX. 
who  was  less  a  Jew,  and  had  not 
seen  Christ  in  the  flesh  but  in  the 
Spirit,  and  was  an  Apostle  to  the 
Uncircumcision,  and  professed  he  1  Cor.  1. 
was  not  sent  to   Baptize,  but  to  '» yitl  kirig-u- 
Preach  the  Gospel.  Xfi^Xfrc? 

Ihis  Baptism  01  Water  was  called 
a  Baptism  of  Repentance,  and  of  Acts  19.  4. 
Manifestation  to  Israel,  because 
that  coming  of  Christ  in  the  flesh 
was  the  first  opening  of  the  Mys- 
tery of  Christ  in  flesh  to  those  who 
were  under  sin  and  bondage,  as 
the  Jews  and  the  Gentiles  were. 


John  1.  31. 


ev  trve'^tJMTi 


'26  Some  Beams  of  that 

The  Baptism  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ^  or  Gifts. 

THE    Baptism    of    the    Holy 
Ghost  or  Gifts,  is  that  Bap- 
tism which  is  said  to  be  more  pro- 
perly   Christ's    ministration,    He 
"'>'r''*'       shall  baptize  ye  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  with  fire. 

The  Baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
or  Gifts  was  that  Baptism  which 
the  Lord  Jesus  promised  his  Dis- 
ciples to  fulfil  upon  them,  and  upon 
Mat.  28.  their  Ministration,  Go,  teach  and 
Baptize  all  Nations,  in  the  Name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  lo,  I 
am  with  you,  Sfc.  or,  I  Disciple 
those  Nations,  and  Baptize  them 
with  the  Holy  Ghost  in  your  mi- 
nistration ;  for  we  all  know  that 
Apostles  and  Disciples  could  not 
disciple  or  baptize  any :  who  is 
Paul  or  who  is  Apollos  ?  and  this 
Ministration  of  the  Holy  Ghost  or 
Gifts  was  to  last  that  Age,  for  so 


19. 


■JTuTOCi  ra; 


T^^li^Ja  is   the  Greek,  not  for  ever  and 
riduZvo;.      Bvcr,  OY  to  the  end  of  the  world, 
as  is  commonly  read,  but  to  the 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  27 

Age,  or  during  the  time,  or  for  the 
fulfilling  of  that  ministration. 

The  Baptism  of  Gifts  or  the 
Holy  Ghost  was  administered  from 
Christ  in  the  Disciples'  ministra- 
tion, Be  Baptized,  and  ye  shall 
receive  the  gifts  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  for  the  promise  is  to  you 
and  to  your  children,  Sfc.  which 
promise  is  that  of  gifts  or  the  Holy 
Ghost,  which  was  that  thing  pro- 
mised by  John  upon  Christ's  Mi- 
nistery,  He  shall  Baptize  with  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  and  was  promised 
by  Jesus  Christ  himself,  Ye  shall  Acts  i.  5. 
be  Baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
8fc. ;  and  Paul  laid  his  hands  on  Acts  19.  6. 
them,  and  they  received  the  Holy 
Ghost;  and  the  Holy  Ghost  fell 
on  them,  this  was  a  promise  in  the  Joel  2.  28. 
Prophets  too. 

The  Baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
or  Gifts  and  fire  was  in  figure  : 
Gifts  held  forth  the  flowing  of  a 
more  spiritual  Nature  or  of  the 
Spirit  upon  those  who  were  true 
spiritual  Disciples,  and  fire  was  a 
sign  or  figure  of  the  power  of  the 
Spirit  in  the  spiritual  Disciples, 
burning  up  and  destroying  flesh 
and  the  body  of  sin  in  them,  even 


20  Some  Beams  of  that 

this  first  Creation,  upon  which  it 
fell,  for  it  sate  upon  each  of  them 
in  fire,  signifying-,  by  its  resting 
upon  their  flesh,  what  part  was  de- 
signed   to    loss    and    purification ; 

1  Cor.  3.      The  Jire  shall   try  every   mans 
.^h  ,       work  of  what  sort  it  is;   if  any 

TO  TTVf    Sow-  «/  1  1         II  /• 

tMxcrit  i;  s,u  man's  work  be  burnt,  he  shall  suf- 

'"'^"^  fer  loss,  but  he  himself  shall  he 

saved,  yet  so  as  by  fire. 

The  Baptism  of  Christ. 

THE  Baptism  of  Christ,  which 
is  his  own  proper  and  Spiritual 
and  only  ministration,  is  that  by 
which  all  true  Christians  are  Bap- 
tized into  fellowship  with  him,  and 
oneness  with  him  ;  and  so  becomes 
wholly  washed  in  the  New  creature, 
or  New  man,  or  Baptized  into  the 
very  Name  of  the  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost,  of  which  that 
Baptism  administered  in  gifts,  or 
the  Holy  Ghost  by  the  Apostles, 
more  visibly  was  a  sign. 
WfToSyoMot       The  Baptism  of  Christ,  who  is 

ft(  [tntO]  TU  r  cy     •     •  ^  T 

"B-oTfof,  4c.  the  Lord  that  i^pirit,  the  Image 

2  Cor.  3.     ^y  ^^^  invisible  God,  the  quicken- 
Coi.  1. 15.   ing    Spirit,    is    that  one    Baptism 

spoken  on  in  Ephes.  4,  One  Lord, 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        29 

one  faith,  one  Baptism,  for  Jesus  Eph.4.  5. 
Christ   administering   in   himself,  ^^f^^^/J'^"' 
and  his  own  Spiritual  Nature,  can 
only  make  us  thus  one  with  him- 
self, and  with  his  own  body. 

The    Baptism    of   Christ    thus 
Administered  in  his  own  Spiritual 
Nature  upon  his,  is  that  very  Bap- 
tism by  which  we  are  in  the  fellow- 
ship of  his  sufferings  and   of  his  Phil.  3. 10. 
death  :    as  many  as  are  baptized  ^°™'  ^'  ^' 
into  Christ,  are  Baptized  into  his 
death,  and  as  many  as  are  bap- 
tized  into    Christ    have   put   on  skyj^Krrw. 
Christ;    so  as  this    Baptism,   by 
which    we    are    all    Baptized   into 
Christ,  and  put  on  Christ  and  his 
death,  is  spiritual ;  for  Christ  can-  Rom-  6. 

'  f  .  .         Gal.  3.  -27. 

not  be  truly  put  on,  nor  any  thing 
of  his,   his  sufferings,   death,   or 
resurrection,    but    in    Spirit    and  f^^^lj^'' 
Truth,  whereby  we  are  truly  cru-  chH^toin- 
cifled  and  dead  with  him,  to  our-  '^""' 
selves  and  the  world,  and  alive  with  Gal.  5. 
him  in  one  spirit ;   the  same  Spirit  Rom.  s. 
that  raised  up  Jesus  Christ  shall  ^irS  ttwJ- 
also  quicken  our  mortal  bodies.      ^^'^°^' 

The  Baptism  of  Jesus  Christ  is 
that  whereby  we  are  baptized  into 
his  body  ;  now  his  body  is  a  Spiri- 
tual one,  and  fashioning  like  his 


30  Some  Beams  of  that 

i.Cor.  12.   glorious  one,  by  one  Spirit  we  are 

,  l^-  ~       all  baptized  iyito  one  body. 

[into.]  The  Baptism  of  Christ  is   that 

whereby  we  are  complete  in  him ; 

Ci.i.  2.  10.    now  we  are  complete  in  him  only 
by  being  one   with   him  in  Spirit 

Tri^y.rfitM-    and  Nature:  He  being  made  unto 

"'•■  us  Righteousness  and  Sanctijica- 

tion,  Sfc.  and  thus  we  are  said  to 

Col.  2.  11,   be  circumcised  with  the  circumci- 
sion   made    without    hands,    and 

u-^t^yrriA-     buriedwith  him  in  baptism,  where- 

'^'"'  271   also    we   are  risen    with    him 

through  faith,  or  Spirit;  so  as  we 
are  Baptized  in  him  as  we  are  Cir- 
cumcised in  him,  that  is,  we  are 
all  in  him ;  and  as  the  Circumci- 
sion is  without  hands,  so  is  the 
Baptism,  it  being-  the  Apostle's 
whole  business  in  this  Chapter  to 
take    us    and    the    Colossians    up 

Col.  2,  20,  higher  than  rudiments,  which  perish 
^^'  with  using. 

The  Baptism  of  Christ  is  that 
true  spiritual  ivashing  and  cleans- 
ing wherein  all  his  are  baptized, 

1.  Pet.  3,    not  the  putting  away  the  filth  of 

^^'  the  flesh,   but   the   answer  of  a 

good  Conscience  towards  God  by 

the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ, 

and  this  is  the  Baptism  which  is 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,        3i 

said  in  this  place   to  save  us,  as 
Noah's  Ark  did  those  eight  persons  ht^ct;  <rw>:u. 
infigure,  therefore  saith  the  Apostle,  ^  20!"^" 
the  likejigure  whereunto  Baptism  Bifio-p^a 
doth  now  save  us.  ^j.  j^^i. 

Tunov. 
Exemplar. 

The  Divers  Ministery,  with 

the  Minister y  of  Christ 

in  his  Saints, 

UNDER  the  Law  there  was  a 
Priesthood,  the  administra- 
tion of  the  Law  and  Sacrifices  being 
gathered  up  into  one  Tribe,  that  of 
Levi;  none  was  to  take  this  office 
but  he  that  was  called  of  God,  as  Hcb. 
was  Aaron. 

Under  the  Law  there  were  Pro- 
phets, as  Moses,  Samuel,  Elijah, 
Isaiah,  Ezekiel,  ^c.  the  Interpre- 
tation of  the  Law,  and  the  more 
spiritual  Revelation  of  the  Will  of 
God,  were  administered  by  the  Pro- 
phets, or  some  few  to  whom  the 
Word  of  the  Lord  came. 

Both  Priests  and  Prophets  were 
Types  and  Figures  of  Jesus  Christ 
to  come,  the  great  high  Priest  and  Heb. 
Prophet  of  his  people  as  well  as  in 
ministery  to  the  people. 


32  Some  Beams  of  tit  at 

In  the  more  clear  Revelation  of 
the  Gospel,  the  administration  of 
Christ  was  committed  to  a  few,  or 
certain  Disciples  in  distinction  of 
Gifts  and  Office  ;   twelve  of  whom 

Mat.  10.  were  called  Apostles,  and  seventy 
Disciples. 

When  Jesus  Christ  went  out  of 
Jlesh  into  spirit,  or  ascended,  he 
confirmed  and  settled  this  miniS" 
trution  by  pouring  out  gifts  of 
Spirit  for  the  more  g-lorious  and 
visible  quickening- and  spiritualizing- 
this  Ministration  ;  he  ascended  up 
on  high  a7id  gave  gifts  unto  nieUy 
he  gave  some  Apostles,  some  Evan- 
gelists, some  Prophets,  some  Pas- 

Epii.  4   tors,  some  Teachers  for  the  work  of 
the  Ministery,  &c. 

During  the  Ministration  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  the  Church  in  this  dis- 
tinction and  diversity  of  gifts,  there 
were  such  as  were  spiritually  and 
visibly  gifted  accordingly,  so  as  the 
Apostles  and  Evangelists,  and  Pro- 
phets and  Pastors  were  known  to 
be  such,  both  by  the  Saints  or  peo- 
ple of  God,  to  whom  they  did  ac- 
1.  Coy.  12,  cording  to  their  gifts   administer, 

'"■  and  to  themselves,  they  adminis- 

tering in   the  knowledge  of  such 

1  Cor.  9.  gifts  of  Spirit  as  were  in  them. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        33 

During  this  Ministration  of  Jesus 
Christ  by  Apostles,  Evangelists, 
Prophets,  Pastors,  &c.  the  Dis- 
ciples that  were  not  in  the  distinc-  Acts  s.  4. 
tion  or  number  of  such,  but  were 
only  called  Disciples,  yet  did  Preach  Rom.  12,(5. 
and  administer  as  they  had  received. 

Antichrist,  or  the  Mystery  of  In- 
iquity, came  in  upon  this  Ministra- 
tion by  gifts  and  Ordinances,  and 
the  glory  of  the  Spirit  and  power 
of  gifts  went  off  from  the  visible 
Church,  as  the  glory  of  God  from 
the  Temple  to  the  threshold,  till  it 
was  v.'holly  departed  ;  this  was  the 
falling  away  prophesied  on  by 
Paul,  and  by  John  in  his  Epistles,  2Thes.2,3. 
and  in  the  Revelation,  in  the  vision  3"  °  '  ' 
of  the   Churches  of  Asia,  and  of  l|^*^^'- ^- ^• 

,       --  1    ^  1        T*         1  chapters. 

the  Beast,  and  talse  Prophet.  Rev.  13. 

All  things  in  the  visible  Churches 
of  the  Nations  were,  and  are,  in 
the  absence  of  the  Spirit  and  of 
gifts,  administered  by  Arts  and 
Sciences,  and  Grammatical  know- 
ledge of  tongues  and  languages, 
and  according  to  some  spiritual 
measure  received  in  some,  to  whom 
these  things  are  in  some  degree 
sanctified  and  spiritualized. 

All  knowledge  and  understanding 
c2 


Some  Beams  of  that 


of  the  Orif^inal,  all  Interpretation 
of  Scriptures  is  according-  to  the 
outward  and  inward  administration 
of  both,  through  Arts,  Sciences, 
and  tongues  acquired,  and  through 
such  a  measure  of  spiritual  under- 
standing as  each  have  received. 

There  is  no  restoration  of  these 
gifts  of  Spirit,  which  were  in  the 
first  ministration  of  the  Church,  as 
of  Apostles,  Evangelists,  Prophets, 
Pastors,  Teachers,  according  to  the 
first  institution,  that  is,  so  as  the 
gifts  of  all  these  Offices  are  clearly 
to  be  seen  and  discerned  in  Spirit, 
to  be  the  very  unction  and  gift 
either  of  Prophet,  or  Pastor,  or 
Teacher,  as  in  the  first  Ministra- 
tion, which  will  more  clearly  appear 
in  singling  that  pure  gift  of  Spirit 
that  is  in  each  from  the  habits  of 
Arts  and  Sciences,  and  Languages 
acquired ;  and  from  that  Spiritual 
understanding  which  is  in  all  the 
Saints,  according  to  that  work  of 
the  Spirit,  or  regenerate  part  in 
them,  which  is  one  and  the  same 
for  nature  and  substance  of  regene- 
ration with  all ;  so  as  no  super- 
added, or  proper,  or  distinguishing 
gifts  appear  upon  any  other  ac- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        35 

count,  but  either  a  natural^  or  arti- 
Jicial,  or  purely  Spiritual  account ; 
not  upon  any  account  of  distinction 
oi gifts  and  Office  as  at  first,  when 
the  Spirit  was  poured  out,  and  this 
will  appear  yet  more  in  comparing- 
times,  diXiA  persons,  and  gifts  ;  our 
times  with  the  first,  our  Pastors 
even  of  all  Churches  with  the  first, 
and  the  gifts  of  all  now  with  the 
gifts  then  :  then  the  Spirit  of  God 
was  poured  out  in  gifts,  and  the 
Disciples  were  taught  of  God,  and 
Prophesied  and  Preached  from 
the  mere  gift  and  spirit  received  ; 
but  now  Prophets  and  Pastors 
are  taught  from  another  account, 
viz.  upon  a  more  Artificial  and  i?i~ 
dustrious,  and  humane  account, 
and  iheiY regenerate  Nature  ;  then 
they  ministered  and  spake  as  the 
Oracles  of  God,  then  they  spake 
as  the  Spirit  only  gave  them  ut- 
terance. 

The  Ministery  that  is  raised  up  Acts  2. 
to  destroy  Antichrist,  or  the  man 
of  sin,  which  prevailed  against  the 
first  ministery  and  gifts,  is  to  be 
more  glorious,  and  powerful,  and 
mighty,  as  the  Ministery  of  gifts 
was  more  excellent  than  that  of 


30  Some  Beams  of  that 

the  Laic ;  and  so  destroyed  that 
power  of  Apostacy  that  had  pre- 
vailed upon  the  Priesthood  and 
Law  then  ;  so  the  Ministery  that 
is  to  destroy  that  mystery  of  ini- 
quity^ which  prevailed  upon  the 
Gospel  Ministery  of  fjifts^  must 
be  more  excellent,  and  g'lorious, 
and  powerful  than  that,  and  this  is 
Jesus  Christ  himself,  called  the 
Acts  3.  Prophet  whom  we  are  to  hear ; 
Heb.  8.  and  that  God,  of  whom  we  shall 
all  be  taught;  Ye  shall  be  all 
taught  of  God ;  and  he  that  shall 
destroy  Antichrist  by  the  bright- 
ness of  his  coming,  and  that  An- 

Kiv.  14.  fi.  gel  ^vith   the  everlasting  Gospel, 
"prophesied   on  by  John,  preach- 
ing   and  enlightening    the    earth 
with  his  glory  ;   this  is  the  day  of 
Jesus    Christ,    whose     coming    is 

Hos.  fi.  3.  prepared  as  the  morning. 

The  Ministery  of  Jesus  Christ, 

Rev.  18. 1.  this  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  is 
through  his  people,  who  are  his 
Angel,  or  the  Angel  and  Messen- 
ger to  him,  as  he  is  the  Angel  to 
God  or  Messenger,  or  he  that  was 
sent  of  God;  and  this  Ministery 
is  a  Ministery  of  Jesus  Christ  in 
all  his  Saints  or  people,  according 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  37 

to  his  administration  of  light,  and 
glory,  and  truth  in  them,  shining 
in  them  to  the  revelation  of  truth 
and  the  Gospel :  This  Ministery 
exceeds  the  Priesthood  of  the  law, 
which  was  but  in  one  tribe,  and 
one  sort  of  men,  and  was  but  a 
Ministery  of  Christ  to  come  in  the 
flesh ;  this  Ministery  is  of  Jesus 
Christ  the  Prophet  in  the  whole 
body  of  his  Saints,  come  in  the 
fiesh,  and  perfected  in  spirit,  and  Luke  24. 
entered  into  glory. 

The  Ministery  of  Jesus  Christ 
the  great  Prophet  in  all  his  saints, 
or  people,  or  body,  is  a  Ministery 
exceeding  the  Ministery  of  the 
Gospel  in  gifts  of  miracles  and 
other  gifts  ;  for  that  was  in  some, 
this  in  all,  that  of  men  more  im- 
mediately, this  of  Jesus  Christ 
more  immediately ;  that  of  some 
gifts,  which,  though  excellent  in 
their  nature  and  operatio7is  of  the 
same  Spirit,  yet  these  might  be 
such  as  were  not  spiritual,  but 
carnal ;  but  the  puie  Ministery  of 
Jesus  Christ  in  his  Saints,  in  him- 
self, as  he  is  the  quickening  Spirit 
and  Lord  from  heaven,  is  in  none 
but  such  as  are  of  his  body  and  in 
one  Spirit  with  him. 


38  Sotne  Beams  of  that 

The  present  Minister}/  of  men 
among-st  all  the  Cliurches  at  this 
day  according-  to  any  appearance 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  them, 
though  running;  through  the  chan- 
nel of  ArtSy  Sciences,  and  Lan- 
guacjes  acquired  by  natural  power 
and  industry y  is  such  a  Ministery 
as  we  may  hear  and  receive  or  par- 
take of  anything-  of  God  or  Christ 
there,  that  we  find  in  their  admi- 
nistration, though  this  he  not  that 
pure  Ministery  of  Christ  in  Spirit, 
as  we  find  the  Apostles  and  Dis- 
ciples of  Christ  in  the  Jewish  wor- 
ship in  the  Synagogues  and  Tem- 
ple under  the  Apostacy  and  Cor- 
ruption. 

Ztph.  2.  And  this  Principle  of  bodily 
and  local  separation  I  find  is  both 
Legal,  and   Jewish,  and  literal; 

Cor.  8. 4,  and  is  sucked  in  by  the  Saints 
'  '  from  the  first  Gospel  discoveries, 
and  from  the  law,  and  Mosaical 
principles  of  sejmration,  and  when 
the  Spirit  of  God  is  more  in  them, 
they  shall  see  it,  and  hath  been,  as 
I  clearly  find,  no  little  hinderance, 
and  is  at  this  day,  to  the  power  of 
the  Gospel,  and  Jesus  Christ  in 
Spirit,  and  the  body  of  Christ  in 


5,6. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,  39 

the  unity  of  the  Spirit ;  and  since 
our  controversies  in  these  outward 
things  and  Churchways,  S^c.  have 
increased,  the  law  of  love  and 
Spirit,  and  power  oi godliness  hath 
much  abated  ;  whWe  form  and  mere 
letter,  and  something  of  outward 
order,  have  taken  up  the  place. 

And  though  this  may  be  an  of- 
fence to  such,  as  Paul  saith,  who 
make  conscience  of  the  Idol ;  yet 
we  know,  saith  he,  an  Idol  is  no-  i  Cor.  8.4, 
thing,  nor  an  Idol  Temple ;  but 
when  they  shall  see  the  Christian 
as  he  is  in  Spirit,  and  the  new 
Creation,  and  no  other  thing  part 
of  him  but  what  is  glory,  spirit, 
and  life,  and  that  all  the  law  of 
outward  order  and  form  is  only  a 
supplement  to  the  absence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  and  to  order  their 
outward  man  amongst  men  to  their 
fellow  saints  and  the  world,  while 
the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  is  not 
in  them  shining,  and  conforming 
them  in  Spirit  and  love  to  the  Image 
of  Christ.  And  for  my  part  I  am 
far  from  denying  any  Gospel  ybr;w, 
or  way  which  appears  to  be  the 
practice  of  the  Saints  then,  be- 
cause I  conceive  that  saints  see 


40  Sortie  Beams  of  that 


gathering  and  practisiiig  are  yet 
under  such  a  mbiistratimi,  and  are 
to  walk  in  it  while  they  are  in 
bondage  and  iveakness. 

But,  on  the  contrary,  I  am  far 
from  thinking-  these  administra- 
tions to  be  our  glory  and  hig-h  point 
of  Reformation,  which  our  Breth- 
reyi  of  the  Indepeiident,  and  Bap- 
tisjn,  and  Presbyterian  way  do, 
but  in  all  tenderness,  love,  and  yet 
faithfulness  to  them,  rather  a  mi- 
nistration of  bondage  and  weak- 
ness to  the  SaiJitSf  because  the 
Scriptures  make  it  clear,  calling- 
such  ministrations  our  seeing  dark- 
ly as  in  a  glass,  and  seeing  in  party 
and  that  when  the  more  perfect  is 
1  Cor.  13.    come,  then  that  which  is  in  part 

8  9  10   11 

12'.    '    '  shall  be  done  away. 

The  Passage  f 7^0771  lower 

Mbiisti^atmis  to 

highe7\ 

THE  administrations  in  which 
God  hath  appeared,  and  doth 
appear  yet  in  some  proportion,  are 
these : 
1-       The  law  or  righteousness  of  the 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  41 

first  Creation,  in  which  God  had  Gen.  1.  26. 
communion  with    man,   and  mmi     |^'  '  ' 
with   God,   yet   rather  as   with  a 
Creator  than  with  a  Father  or  an 
Immanuel,    and   in    the    outward  Gen.  2.  15, 
Court,  or  first  Creation,  not  in  the     '    ' 
inward  or  holiest ;  Paradise  itself 
being-  but  an  Image  of  the  excel- 
lency of  this  Creation. 

Man  having  fallen  through  the  2. 
temptationoi the  serpent,  orjleshly  Gen.  3. 
wisdom,  and  the  espousals  of  the 
woman,  or  the   weakness  of  that  Exod.  20. 
Creation   wherein   he  was  made, 
hath  the  first  law  oi  righteousness 
presented  to  him  in  a  new  minis- 
tration of  letter  by  Moses  in  Tables  2  Cor.  3. 7. 
of  stone  from  GoJ,  in  which  the 
first  glory  and  excellency  was  mi- 
nistered to  man  in  his  fallen  and 
apostated  condition. 

And  because  the  law  or  first 
righteousness  was  lueak  through 
the  Jiesh,  there  was  the  lowest  mi- 
nistration of  Angels,  viz.  by  vision,  Heb.  1.  1. 
dreams,  Sfc.  added,  and  likewise  a 
ministration  of  Priests,  Sacrifices, 
Ceremonies,  Tabernacle,  Temple, 
Prophets, hy  wh'xchman  might  have 
access  unto  God  and  speak  with 
him,  yet  but  in  the  outward  Court, 


42  Some  Beams  of  that 

or  Jlcsh,  or  thhuja  of  this  Creation, 
thougli  he  filled  these  with  another 
glory,  a  richer  and  a  more  excel- 
lent discoveiy  of  his  love,  in  the 
promised  seed. 

There  was  another  ministration 
Exod.  added,  o£war  and  peace  of  the  Na- 
tions, enemies  in  the  Jiesh,  and  of 
Josh,  a  promised  land,  or  blessing  in  the 
flesh,  and  the  Israelites  or  Jews 
were  to  pass  under  this  ministra- 
tion, through  all  the  enmity,  op- 
positions, and  battles  of  the  Na- 
tions to  this  Canaan,  all  which 
■was  accomplished  to  them  in  letter, 
and  in  that  in  figure  of  a  more  spi- 
ritual enmity,  and  kingdom,  and 
glory,  which  is  fulfilled  in  the  more 
Gospel-revelation,  when  the  ful- 
ness of  time  came. 

The  next  ministration  is  some- 
thing clearer  than  all  these,  and 
something  brighter  than  the  law, 
yet  not  so  clear  nor  full  as  that  of 
the  fulness  of  time  which  followed 
it,  or  of  Christ  in  the  flesh,  and 
this  ministration  was  that  of  Jo/aw, 
Mat.  than  whom  a  greater  Prophet  did 
not  rise,  yet  he  that  was  least  in 
the  kingdom  of  God  was  greater 
than  he  ;  he  was  a  burning  and  a 


Bright  and  Mo?ming  Star.  43 

shining  light.     The  law  and  the  John. 
prophets  were   till  John,  he  was  ^""^  ^' 
the   Prophet  of  the   Highest,  and 
was  sent  to  prepare  his  way,  and 
to  make  Christ  manifest  to  Israel  Juhn  i.  31. 
by  word  and  water,  and  this  was 
only  a  ministration  in  order  to  one 
more  spiritual,  was  to  decrease,  as  Joiin  3.  30. 
the  other  did  increase  :  the  Bap- 
tism of  the  Spirit  or  fire  was  to  lick 
up  this  of  water,  as  in  that  figure 
of  the  sacrifice  performed  hy  Elijah  1  Kings  is. 
the  Prophet,  when  the  fire  came  ^"^  ^^  "*** 
down  and  sucked  up  all  the  four 
barrels  of  water. 

The  other  Ministration  was  the 
Gospel  in  the  fiesh  of  Christ,  or 
in  gifts  and  ordinances  something 
more  clear  and  in  more  discovery , 
and  revelation;  for  the  fiesh  oi  MzxA.cap. 
Christ  in  which  he  taught,  and  did  ^'  *''•  ^^ 
miracles,  and  was  circumcised  and 
baptized,  was  a  copy  or  draught  of 
that  ministration  of  gifts  and  or- 
dinances, which  was  as  perfect  as 
the  first  Creation  in  its  glory  and 
purity,  and  yet  higher  and  nearer 
to  God,  coming  forth  in  more  re- 
velation of  an  Immanuel,  or  God 
with  us. 

A  further  Ministration  was  more 


44  Sotne  Beams  of  that 

nearness  and  participation  of  God 
manifested  in  flesh,  or  of  Christ ; 
and  that  was  in  r/races  or  opera- 
tions  and  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  as 
Gal.  5.  22.  of  faith,  rcpeiitance,  love,  self- 
denial,  humiliation,  meekness,  all 
which  are  a  sweet  spiritual  admi- 
nistration, even  the  light  of  the 
1  Cor.  4.  c.  glorious  Gospel  of  God  shining  in 
the  face  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Another  Ministration  respec- 
tively to  a  more  excellent  glory  to 
come,  is  that  by  Angels  in  their 
highest  administration,  which  is  the 
only  Angelical  and  Seraphical  re- 
velation,  being  something  below 
the  Spirit,  yet  higher  than  reason, 
or  man's  highest  principle  ;  and  this 
John  received  all  those  more  ex- 
Rev,  chap,  cellent  discoveries  to  be  fulfilled  in 

)  and  2.  ,i      • 

their  seasons. 

There  is  another  Ministration  of 
more  Spirit,  of  love,  meekness, 
self-denial,  suffering,  overcoming 
evil  with  good,  and  conquering  by 
receiving  in  the  wrath  and  enmity 
of  the  world  ;  and  this  I  take  one 
of  the  last  and  glorious  truths,  re- 
spectively to  the  fesh  and  the  world, 
into  which  God  will  gather  up  his 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  45 

people  by  times  and  degrees,  from 
all  worldly  and  fleshly  interests 
and  engagements,  wherein  they 
shall  be  carried  up  into  a  more  full 
enjoyment  of  God,  and  conformity 
to  Christ  in  his  sufferings,  death,  Phii.  3. 
and  resurrection. 

The  Lord  Jesus  walked  first  in 
this  truth,  he  was  led  as  a  sheep  to 
the  slaughter,   when   he  was   re-  1  Pet-  2. 
viled,  reviled  not  again,  luhen  he 
suffered  he  threatened  not. 

The  Lord  Jesus  revealed  this 
Gospel-truth,  and  distinguished  it 
from  the  law,  which  lavj  was, 
an  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for 
a  tooth. 

But  he  saith,  resist  not  evil,  but 
whosoever  shall  smite  thee  on  the  Mat.  5. 39. 
one  cheek  turn  to  him  the  other 
also. 

Ye  have  heard  it  hath  been  said 
thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour,  but 
I  say  unto  ye,  love  your  enemies, 
bless  them  that  curse  you,  do  good  Mat.  5.  44. 
to  them  that  despitefully  use  you 
and loersecute  you,  that  ye  may  be 
the  children  of  your  heavenly 
Father. 

The  Apostle  to  the  Romans  re- 


4n  Some  Beams  of  that 

veals  this;  dearly  beloved,  avenge 
not  yourselves,  vengeance  is  mine, 

Rom.  If  thine  enemy  hunger  feed  him, 
if  he  thirst  give  him  drink  ;  for  in 
so  doing  thou  shalt  heaj)  coals  of 
fre  upon  his  head. 

Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but 
overcome  evil  with  good. 

The  Lord  Jesus  prophesied  of 
Mat.  6.  this,  blessed  are  the  meek,  for  they 
shall  inherit  the  earth  ;  through 
their  meekness  they  shall  inherit, 
through  their  meekness  only  shall 
the  jealousy  and  enmity  of  the  Na- 
tions be  allayed  concerning  them. 

John  in  his  vision  of  the  latter 
times  saw  an  appearance  of  this. 
Rev.  14.  Here  is  the  patience  and  faith 
of  the  Saints,  of  them  that  have 
the  commandments  and  the  faith 
of  Jesus  ;  to  which  that  of  the 
Apostle  to  the  Hebreics  answers, 
there  reynaineth  therefore  a  rest 
to  the  people  of  God,  and  he  that 
is  entered  into  his  rest  hath  ceased 
Heb.  4.  from  his  works  as  God  did  from 
his. 

The  last,  and  more  full,  and 
rich  Ministration,  and  most  naked, 
is  that  of  God  by  himself  in  Spirit 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        47 

to  the  sons   of    God,    into  which 
Jesus   Christ    the  forerunner   is  Heb. 
entered,   and   /  saw    no    Temple 
therein,   for    the    Lord   God  Al-  Rev.  21. 
mighty    and   the    Lamb   are    the  *^'  ^^* 
Temple  of  it. 

And  this  Ministration  is  ful- 
filled then,  when  Christ  shall  have 
delivered  up  the  kingdom  unto 
God;  and  this  is  not  only  done 
upon  the  whole  body  of  Christ  at 
the  last,  but  is  fulfilled  in  its  par- 
ticular accomplishments,  and  mys- 
tery of  Spirit  here,  there  being 
found  these  transitions,  passages, 
and  resignations,  and  exchanges 
of  glory  in  the  Saint. 

He  that  can  receive  it  let  him 
receive  it. 

The  more  full  and  naked  Minis- 
tration of  God  by  himself  in  Spirit, 
and  /  saw  no  Temple  therein,  for  Rev.  21. 
the  Lord  God  Almighty  and  the  '^'^^'^^■ 
Lamb  are  the  Temple  of  it. 

And  as  God  hath  appeared  in 
all  these  former,  saving  the  last, 
into  which  Jesus  Christ  hath  en- 
tered, so  they  remain  still  as  fgures 
and  as  so  many  several  Signs  or 
Planets  in  this  Creation  and  the 
other,  for  believers  to  be  born  in, 


48  Some  Beams  of  that 

and  to  pass  throiip;h  in  some  pro- 
portion   and    measure   till    Christ 
:or.  15.    hath    delivered   up    the    kingdom 
unto  God. 

God  hath  appeared  in  all  these 
former  administrations  to  his  peo- 
ple,  and  they  have  enjoyed  him  in 
these  degrees,  and  distances,  and 
approaches  ;  and  they  remain  still 
as  figures,  and  as  so  many  sig'ns 
and  planets  in  the  first  Creation 
and  the  second  for  Christians,  in 
some  jneasure  and  proportion  to 
pass  through  ;  so  as  he  that  is  of 
any  spiritual  discerning  in  these, 
may  be  able  to  comprehend  with 
all  saints  what  is  the  height,  and 
depth,  and  breadth,  of  God's  mi- 
nistration to  his  People,  and  to 
know  Saints  according-  to  the  mea- 
sures they  receive,  and  the  minis- 
tration they  live  in  with  God. 

I  have  drawn  out  these  minis- 
trations in  their  particular  orbs, 
and  spheres,  and  circles,  which  I 
could  have  folded  up  in  three  only, 
of  Law,  Gospel,  and  Spirit,  or  of 
letter,  graces,  and  God,  or  of  the 
first,  second,  and  third  heavens ; 
but  I  saw  God  something  abound- 
ing and  variously  dispensing,  and 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  49 


I  followed  him  in  ih?ii  fulness  and 
variety  so  far,  as  he  hath  lighted 
my  candle. 

1  shall  now  discourse  a  little 
more  generally  of  all  these,  and  of 
the  passage  from  these,  and  of  God 
appearing  in  these,  and  his  going 
out  from  these,  till  he  hath  scat- 
tered all  these  veils  before  him, 
that  he  and  his  may  see  and  enjoy 
each  other  with  open  face,  where 
we  shall  see  as  we  are  seen,  and 
know  as  we  are  known. 

The  Christian  passes  through 
several  ages  and  dispensations ; 
as  Christ  was  in  the  world,  so  is 
every  Christian;  he  was  made 
under  the  Law,  under  Circumci- 
sion, under  Baptism,  and  the  Sup- 
per of  bread  and  wine,  and  then 
he  crucified  all  ih^t  flesh  he  walk- 
ed in  under  those  dispensations, 
and  entered  into  glory,  for  thus  it 
behoved  Christ  to  suffer  and  enter  Luke  24. 
into  his  glory. 

The  Jewish  Church,  or  dispensa- 
tion which  was  according  to  Moses, 
and  the  letter  in  which  they  were 
led  out  in  carnal  and  more  fleshly 
courses,  as  in  the  proceeding  against 
the  Nations  by  war  and  fighting ^ 

D 


50  Some  Beams  of  that 


with  all  their  other  lej^al  rites  and 
rudiments,  were  a  clear  figure  of 
the  Christian  under  age,  or  under 
tutors  and  (jovernors,  and  worldly 
rudiments. 

The  Disciples  of  Christ,  accord- 
ing to  Johns  ministery  and  Christ's 
in  the  jiesh,  were  another  type  or 
figure  for  all  Disciples  of  their  age 
and  ministery,  and  the  Spirit  of 
Christ  works  in  all  the  Disciples 
according  to  such  w'ay,  and  pro- 
portion, and  measure,  and  dispen- 
G.i.  I.  1.  sation,  the  heir  as  loncj  as  he  is  a 
child  differing  nothing  from  a  ser- 
vant, though  he  be  Lord  of  all , 
until  the  time  appointed  of  the 
Father. 

And  I  could  not  speak  unto 
you  as  unto  sjnritual,  but  as  unto 
carnal,  even  as  unto  babes  in 
Christ,  I  have  fod you  with  milk, 
and  not  with  meat. 

And  the  great  and  excellent  de- 
sign or  mind  of  God  in  all  these 
things,  is  only  to  lead  out  his  pea- 
Rom.  1.  pl^i  Church,  or  Disciples  from 
age  to  age,  from  faith  to  faith, 
from  glory  to  glory,  from  letter 
to  letter,  from  ordinance  to  ordi- 


Cor.  3. 
I,  2. 


1  Cor. 
18 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  51 

nance,  from  flesh  to  flesh,  and  so 
to  Spirit,  and  so  to  7nore  Spirit, 
and  at  length  into  all  Spirit,  when 
the  Son  sliall  deliver  up  the  king- 
dom unto  the  Father,  and  God 
shall  be  all  in  all,  which  last 
transition,  or  resignation,  or  reso- 
lution of  all  into  tlie  kingdom  of 
God  is  not,  as  some  think,  only 
when  the  fulness  of  times  or  ages 
is  come,  but  is  transacting  and 
finishing  in  parts  and  members  of 
the  body  of  Christ,  and  is  not  one 
single  act,  point,  or  effusion  of 
glory,  but  a  perfecting  and  ful- 
fulling  it  in  the  several  members 
of  Jesus  Christ,  till  the  fulness  of 
the  stature  of  Christ  be  made  up, 
and  the  Church  become  the  ful- 
ness of  him  that  filleth  rdl  in  all. 

For   the   day  dawns,  and  the  ^  p^^  ^ 
day-star  arises  in  the  heart,  shin-     j9. 
ing  more  and  more  unto  a  perfect 
day ;    and  he  who   is   the    bright  Rev.  22. 
and  morning  Star,  is  still  shining 
into  the  glory  of  the  Sun  of  righ- 
teousness,   and    the    light  of  the 
Moon  shall  become  as  the  light  of  ^^^ 
the  sun,  and  the  light  of  the  Sun 
as   the  light  of  seven  days,    till 


52  *•    Some  Beams  of  that 

the  Lord  God  himself  be  the  ever- 
lasting lujht,  and  our  God  our 
Glory. 

Thus  is  the  Christian,  or  Dis- 
ciple of  Christ,  passing-  on  upon 
the  several  degrees  and  measures 
into  the  glory  of  Christ,  and  cru- 
cifying each  condition  as  he  passes 
through  it,  as  all  the  Disciples  have 
done  before :  the  Jews  passed  out 
of  that  of  the  Tabernacle  into  the 
Temple,  and  from  thence  into  the 
Jiesh  of  Christ,  that  Temple  de- 
stroyed and  raised  up  in  three 
days,  a  greater  than  Solomonheing 
there,  and  from  thence  into  Christ 
Crucified,  and  so  into  a  ministery 
of  spirit  and  life. 

And  the  Disciples  all  of  them 
had  a  measure  of  time  and  season 
in  each  Ministration,  and  God  had 
his  when  he  filled  the  Tabernacle 
with  a  cloud,  and  the  Temple  with 
Glory,  and  the  flesh  of  Christ 
with  unction  or  spirit  above  his  fel- 
lows ;  and  while  God  lived  in  each 
ministration,  quickening,  and  glo- 
rifying, and  acting  it  for  himself, 
that  presence  of  God  and  of  Spirit 
\vas  to  the  Disciples  like  the  Sun 
in  Summer  shining-  upon  them,  the 


Bright  and  Monihig  Star.  53 

candle  of  the  Lord  shining  upon  Job  29.  3, 
their  heads,  and  his  secret  upon 
their  Tabernacles.  But  when  the 
line  of  God's  season  was  run  out  to 
its  poiyit  and  extremity,  that  he 
would  no  longer  stay  there,  nor 
have  his  glory  inhabit  in  such  or 
such  a  ministration,  then  that  mi- 
nistration became  but  a  place  of 
desolation,  a  solitary /j/ace/br  the 
Satyrs  to  dwell  in,  and  the  screech 
Owl  to  sing  in,  that  is,  for  the 
Spirit  of  Apostacy  and  of  Anti- 
christ or  iniquity  to  possess  and 
act  in. 

And  for  Disciples  to  stay  longer 
in  any  ministration  than  the  Lord 
or  the  life  and  Spirit  of  Christ  is 
in  it,  is  as  if  Lot  should  tarry  in 
Sodom,  Israel  with  the  Ark  when 
God  was  departed,  the  Jews  in  the 
Temple  when  the  Veil  was  rent, 
and  the  glory  gone  off  to  the  thresh- 
old, and  from  thence  too  ;  their 
house  being  left  unto  them  deso- 
late, even  that  house  or  ministra- 
tion where  the  light  of  God  did 
formerly  dwell. 

As  if  the  Disciples  of  Christ  that 
went  into  the  Grave  should  step  in 
and  sojourn  there  where  his  body 


54  Some  Beams  of  that 

had  lain,  and  was  risen  and  gone, 
seeking  the  dead  amongst  tlie  Hv- 
ing.  The  disciples  of  Christ  were 
a  true  figure  of  such  who,  when 
Christ  was  dead,  were  embalming 
the  bofly,  and  would  preserve  it 
with  spices  and  ointments  when  the 
spirit  and  life  was  out  of  it. 

The  Jews  were  a  figure  of  such 
who  would  preserve  the'w  Law,  and 
the  shadows  of  all  their  worship, 
when  Chiist  had  left  them,  who 
was  the  life  and  substance  of  all 
Mat.26.51,  that  ministration.  Peter  Tind  the 
^^'  rest  were  a  Due  image  of  such,  who 

in  that  sword  he  woi-e  was  a  true 
figure  of  all  such  as  Christ  suffers 
in  a  icarlike  and  defensive  posture 
about  his  tlesh,  or  whom  he  suffers 
to  be  so  far  conformed  to  the 
fashion  of  the  world,  as  to  guard 
and  preserve  those  fleshly  privi- 
leges of  his  presence  and  power 
amongst  them,  and  in  that  activity 
of  his  to  rescue  and  preserve  that 
flesh  and  body  in  which  so  much 
glory  and  excellency  had  appeared, 
and  so  many  miracles  were  done, 
beyond  that  point  or  end  of  minis- 
tration, which  God  even  the  Fa- 
ther and  the  Son  himself  had  set, 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  55 

was  a  fig-ure  of  all  such  as  should 
stretch  out  any  dispensation  or  mi- 
nistration of  God  farther  than  the 
line  or  spiritual  sinew  of  it  will 
bear. 


The  Spirit  and  Life  of  Out- 
ward Ordinances, 

THE  second  Man  or  Adam,  in 
whom  we  all  live,  is  a  quick- 
ening Sjnrit,  and  the  Lord  from 
heaven,  and  is  at  the  right  hand 
of  God,  viz.  in  the  choicest  glory 
of  the  Father. 

That  by  which  the  people  of  God, 
or  all  true  Christians  are  born,  is 
the  seed  of  God,  or  Word  of  God^ 
OTih^divine  nature  of  Jesus  Christ, 
or  the  Spirit  of  God,  which  is 
called  snnctifcation,  regeneration. 

That  the  true  spiritual  Christian 
is  that  new  creature,  that  sanc- 
tified one,  or  regenerate  one,  who 
is  thus  born,  and  hathChrist/brwec? 
on  him,  and  this  new  creature  is 
fed  by  the  Spiritual  life  of  Christ. 

That  the  nevj  creature,  or  spi- 
ritual man,  is  one  who  receives  all 
his  growth  and  increasings  in  the 


ijii  Some  lieams  of  tluU 

power,  seed,  and  Principle  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  or  Jesus  Christ. 

That  the  Ministery  or  Ministra- 
tion by  which  he  grows  up  to  that 
fulness  of  stature  in  Jesus  Christ, 
is  a  Ministery  or  ministration  of 
glory  and  spirit. 

That  the  true  and  spiritual  Bap- 
tism, by  which  every  Christian  is 
baptized  into  Christ's  death,  is  the 
Baptism  of  Blood,  which  is  the 
righteousness,  spirit,  or  /?ye  of 
Christ. 

That  the  due  and  spiritual  .Sa- 
crament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is 
the  very  Z>oJ?/  and  blood  of  Christ 
in  the  Sjnrit,  or  that  pure  spiritual 
nature  oi  Jesus  Christ,  quickening 
and  feeding  up  the  Christian  into 
a  spiritual  life  and  wwzom  with 
God. 

That  the  true  spiritual  Miii'ister 
is  /esw5  Christ,  who  is  called  a 
Minister  of  the  Sanctuary  which 
the  Lord  pitched  and  not  men. 

That  /e5M5  Christ  is  the  true 
Spiritual  Apostle,  sent  out  from 
God  to  reveal  the  Father,  and  is 
so  called  by  the  Spirit  of  God  in 
Scriptures,  the  Apostle  and  i/i^A 
Priest  of  our  profession. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star. 

That  Jesus  Christ  is  the  true 
spiritual  Prophet  that  teaches  his 
people,  so  as  they  are  all  taught  of 
God,  and  is  so  called  in  Scriptures 
a  Prophety  which  the  Lord  God 
raised  up  instead  of  Moses. 

That  the  true  Spiritual  Pastor 
is  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  that  one 
Shepherd  prophesied  on,  who  can 
lead  his  people  only  into  green 
Pastures,  or  places  of  life. 

That  the  Spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect,  or  the  true  Christian 
in  spirit,  are  those  true  spiritual 
Elders  in  the  New  Testament. 

That  the  true  Church  of  Christ 
is  that  spiritual  company  whom 
Christ  hath  washed  in  his  blood, 
clothed  in  his  righteousness,  sanc- 
tified in  his  spirit,  espoused  to  him- 
self; this  is  the  City  of  the  living 
God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  the 
general  Assembly  and  Church  of 
the  first-horn,  the  House,  and 
Temple,  and  Kingdom  of  God. 

That  the  true  spiritual  keys  of 
the  Kingdom  of  God  is  the  very 
Spirit  of  God,  the  very  Spiritual 
power  of  Jesus  Christ  upon  be- 
lievers and  unbelievers,  who  hath 
the  keys  of  David,  and  opens,  arid 
d2 


CiQ  ISome  Beams  of  that 

no  man  shuts,  and  slnits,  and  no 
man  opens. 

Tliiit  true  spiritual  excomimt- 
nication  is  Jesus  Christ,  who  is 
mii^hty  in  Spirit  and  Poiver  in  all 
his,  pronouncing'  an  anatheina  ma~ 
ranatha  or  curse  upon  all  flesh, 
and  delivering-  the  body  or  sinful 
flesh  over  to  Satan,  or  the  power 
of  darkness,  whereby  flesh  and 
every  fleshly  member  is  cast  out 
from  all  communion  with  God  and 
Jesus  Christ,  and  from  those  who 
are  indeed  horn  of  God,  and  are 
the  true  Sjnritual  Church  of  God, 
which  is  no  more  than  that  true 
difference  and  distinction  which 
Jesus  Christ  puts  betwixt  the  pre- 
cious and  the  vile. 

The  true  Spiritual  Gospel-Or- 
der, which  the  Apostle  rejoiced  to 
behold,  is  that  spiritual  distinction 
and  variety  in  the  body  of  Christ, 
wherein  one  Member  differs  from 
another  in  measure  of  Sjnrit,  and 
Glory,  and  Power,  and  yet  all 
complete,  and  make  perfect  that 
body  of  Christ  in  the  Spiiit ;  for 
he  being-  a  spiritual  head,  must 
have  a  spiritual  body. 

The  true  Spiritual  government 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  59 

is  Christ  reigning  in  the  Saints  in 
Spirit,  ordering  them  in  thought, 
word,  and  deed,  holding  forth  his 
power,  and  sceptre,  which  is  a 
sceptre  of  righteousness  against 
flesh  and  blood,  Principalities  and 
Powers,  spiritual  wickedness  in 
high  places. 

The  true  Spiritual  Covenant  is 
the  New  Covenant,  which  God 
makes  with  us  in  Christ,  and  where- 
in he  is  manifested  to  be  their  God, 
and  they  his  people,  to  teach  them, 
and  write  his  law  in  their  hearts.  Htb.  s. 

The  true  Spiritual  Ordination 
is  the  hand  of  J  esus  Christ,  stretched 
out  or  laid  on  upon  the  Spirits  of 
such  Christians  as  preach  or  Pro- 
phesy of  the  Ministery  of  the  Gos- 
pel, that  is,  such  are  rightly  and 
purely  ordained  and  sent  out,  who 
are  sent  out  from  the  power  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  to  whom  all  power  in 
heaven  and  earth  is  given,  and 
are  anointed  of  him  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  and  sent  of  him,  who  as- 
cended to  give  gifts  unto  men, 
some  Apostles,  some  Evangelists, 
some  Prophets,  some  Pastors,  some 
teachers. 

The  true  spiritual  trial  or  exa- 


60  Some  Beams  of  that 

raination  of  the  f/ifts  of  ?Lny  is  then, 
when  the  Sjnrit  of  the  Prophets  is 
only  suhject  to  the  Prophets^  that 
is,  when  the  gift  by  which  any  one 
speaks  of  Jesus  Christ  is  mani- 
fested in  the  hearts  and  spirits  of 
the  Saints  when  they  see  the  truths 
they  minister  as  they  are  in  Jesus, 
and  in  themselves,  and  in  them  that 
are  spiritual,  and  truly  anointedhy 
the  same  Spirit ;  and  so  are  all 
Prophets  according  to  the  measure 
given,  or  as  they  are  all  baptized 
into  one  spirit  and  body,  and  have 
all  received  of  his  fulness,  who  is 
that  great  Prophet  raised  up  of  our 
brethren  like  unto  Moses,  and  are 
redeemed  to  be  Kings,  and  Priests, 
and  Prophets,  even  partakers  of 
all  his  offices  in  Spirit,  he  being 
the  spiritual  head  of  all  his,  who 
are  the  spiritual  body,  his  Church. 


Bright,  and  Morning  Star.  61 

The  Christian  under  Epis- 
copacy, Prelacy,  Presby- 
tery, Baptism,  Indepen- 
dency, S^c. 

THE  whole  world  was  divided 
into  Jew  and  Gentile ;  the 
Jew  was  that  only  visible  Church 
of  God,  to  whom  pertained  the 
glory  f  and  the  adoption,  and  the 
Covenants :  and  yet  this  Jewish 
Church  was  exceedingly  fallen  from 
its  glory  and  purity  both  oi  Priest- 
hood, and  Worship,  and  Adminis- 
trations, when  Christ  came  :  So 
as  now  the  Prophecy  seemed  to  be 
fulfilled,  they  were  now  loithout 
a  King,  and  without  a  Priest,  and  Hosea. 
without  a  Sacrifice,  and.  an  Ephod, 
and  a  Seraphim ;  and  were  cor- 
rupted with  many  traditions  and 
doctrines  of  men,  teaching  for  doc- 
trines the  tradiiions  of  men  :  Thus 
was  the  Jew,  and  their  Church. 

The   Gentile    had  changed  the 
truth  of  God  into  a  lie,  and  had 
worshipped  the  creature  more  than  Rom.  i. 
the  Creator ;  and  had  changed  the 
glory  of  the  incorruptible  God,  and 


62  Some  Beams  of  that 

were  i^iven  up  to  a  reprobate  mind, 
and  were  therefore  called  sinners  of 
the  Gentiles  alienated  from  the  life 
of  God,  stramjers  to  the  Covenants 
of  Promise ;  thus  were  the  Gen- 
tiles full  of  Idols  and  Idol  temples, 
sacrificing'  to  devils,  and  that  way 
of  the  knoiu ledge  of  God,  which 
was  both  in  the  law  written  in  their 
hearts  accusiyig  or  excusing,  and 
in  the  whole  Creation,  where  the 
eternal  Power  and  Godhead  was 
clearly  seen,  even  in  the  things 
that  did  appear,  even  that  way  of 
the  knowledge  of  God  in  them  was 
dai'kened,  and  they  became  vain  in 
their  imagination, din&  their  foolish 
hearts  luere  darkened. 

Nowwhen/ew  and  Gentile  were 
both  thus,  yet  God  had  his  people 
amongst  both,  amongst  the  Jew, 
where  Zacharias  the  Priest,  Eliza- 
beth, and  Mary,  and  Joseph,  and 
Simeon,  and  Nicodemus,  a  Ruler 
of  the  Pharisees,  and  Joseph  of 
Arimathea,  with  many  such,  were 
like  so  many  Stars  in  a  dark  night. 

Among  the  Gentile  there  was  a 
Job,  a  Queen  of  Sheba,  a  woman 
of  Canaan,  the  loise  men  that  came 
to  Jerusalem^  the  Greeks  that  came 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         p8 

to  see  Jesus,   Cornelius  the  Cen- 
turion, so  as  in  every  Nation  he 
that  serveth    God,   a?id   worketh 
righteousness,  is  accepted  of  him,  Acts  10,34. 
and  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons. 

When  John  came,  who  was  a 
burning  and  a  shining  light,  he 
preached  to,  and  baptized  ?L\\Judea, 
who  went  out  to  the  Baptism  of 
John,  and  taught  his  Disciples  by 
forms  of  Prayer,  and  such  rudi- 
ments, to  their  weakness,  and  God 
had  his  people  here  that  were  under 
no  more  knowledge  of  Christ,  nor 
higher  revelation,  than  this  washing 
to  Repentance,  and  to  him  that 
should  come  after  him,  and  this 
low  way  of  communion  luith  God 
in  forms  or  rules  of  Prayer  given 
out  by  John,  for  so  John  taught 
his  Disciples. 

When  Christ  came  preaching 
the  Gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and 
teaching  in  Parables  and  Mysteries, 
he  had  a  People  and  Disciples  who 
knew  little  of  his  sufferings,  that 
he  should  die  and  rise  again,  as 
Peter,  and  the  rest,  and  knew  little 
of  that  glorious  doctrine  and  truth 
which  he  spake  and  preached  to 
them,  till  he  took  them  alone  and 


f,4  Some  Beams  of  that 

expounded  to  them  those  Myste- 
ries ;  and  his  Disciples  were  under 
a  form  and  rule  of  Prayer  as 
Johns  were ;  Lord,  teach  us  to 
pray  as  John  taiKjht  his  Disciples : 
They  saw  little  more  of  him  than 
his  Jieshly  presence  and  miracles^ 
they  loved  him,  and  clave  to  him, 
and  followed  him,  but  had  very  few 
discoveries  of  him  in  Spirit,  except 
some  few  of  them,  James ,  and 
Peter,  and  John,  befoie  whom  he 
was  transfigured  in  the  Mount, 
which  was  but  figurative  and  typical 
of  a  more  spiritual  revelation ; 
And  when  the  Spirit  of  Christ  was 
come,  and  the  Apostles  were  sent 
forth  in  clearer  evidences  and  de- 
monstrations of  Truth,  then  some 
were  under  John's  Baptism,  and 
knew  not    of   any    Holy    Ghost ; 

Rom.  2.  some  were  under  the  law,  and  zea- 

^^"       lous  of  the  Law  and  Circumcision ; 

some   reg-arded   a  day,  some  eat 

herbs,    some    were    eating    such 

1  Cor.  8.  things  as  were  sacrificed  to  Idols. 
So  as  here  God's  people  were 
found,  some  in  a  corrupted  Church, 
as  that  of  the  Jews,  some  under 
false  worship  and  traditions,  some 
under  Legal  rites,  nndev  forms  or 


Bright  arid  Morning  Star.         fis 

rules  ofprayer,  some  under  Johns 
Baptism,  under  bondage  of  days 
and  times  and  other  outivard 
things,  under  the  ignorance  of 
Christ's  death  and  resurrection, 
and  of  the  holy  Ghost. 

So  as  all  these  things  considered, 
there  will  spring  these  Conclusions. 

That  the  Nations  commonly 
called  Christians,  who  are  under 
the  account  of  others  as  false  in 
i\\e\YC\\m'Q\\'Constitution,worship, 
forms,  and  order,  yet  these  things 
are  not  exclusive  to  the  true  Chris- 
tian in  Spirit,  or  one  born  of  God, 
but  in  these  commonly  called  Chris- 
tians, though  under  Episcopacy , 
or  Prelacy,  or  Presbytery,  yet 
there  may  be  such  as  have  the  true 
seed  of  God  in  them,  partakers  of 
Jesus  Christ,  true  Discijjles  of 
Jesus  Christ,  respectively  to  rege- 
neration or  the  7ieiv  birth,  if  they 
wait  in  the  i7icreasings  of  Christ,  Rom.  i. 
and  revelation  of  righteousness  ^^' 
from,  faith  to  faith. 

That  there  are  true  and  spiritual 
Disciples  of  Jesus  Christ,  under 
forms  of  Prayer,  who  have  little 
more  communion  with  God  than 
in  those  forms,  as    of  Common- 


f)C               Some  Beams  of  that 
±± 

Prayer,  Book-prayers,  outward 
rules  of  worsliip  ;  so  as  they  wait 
in  these  to  come  up  into  hig'her 
revelations  of  Spirit  when  dis- 
covered to  them. 

That  there  are  such  who  are 
Christians  anointed  by  the  Spirit 
of  God,  under  observations  of  days, 
times,  meats,  drinks,  several  opi- 
nions of  Christ,  of  the  Hohj  Ghost, 
of  the  resurrection,  of  Church 
order,  of  Baptism  of  Water,  which 
is  Johns  Baptism,  called  Anabap- 
tists ;  so  as  they  all  in  these  several 
j^y,„  1,7,  measures  pass  onfromyai^^  to 
■1  Cor.  3.    faith,  and  (jlory  to  glory. 


18. 


The  Christian  in  Truth. 

rT"^H  AT  which  forms,  essentia  tes, 
X  01'  constitutes  the  true  Chris- 
tian, is  the  Spirit  q/ Jesus  Christ, 
that  lohich  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is 
spirit,  so  as  a  man  is  a  Christian 
from  birth,  as  he  is  born  a  man, 
so  he  is  born  a  Christian,  both  are 
from  birth,  and  seed,  the  one  of 
flesh,  the  other  of  Spirit. 

The  Christian  is  one  who  is  of 


Blight  and  Morning  Star,         67 

the  second  Adam,  as  all  men  are 
of  the  Jirsf,  and  the  second  man  is 
the  quickening  spirit,  the  Lord 
from  heaven,  and  so  are  they  that 
are  heavenly. 

The  Christian  is  one  in  whom 
Christ  is  formed  or  figured,  (as 
the  Greek  word  implies)  one  that 
bears  the  image  of  the  heavenly 
man ;  who  is  the  Image  of  Jesus 
Christ,  as  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Image 
of  the  invisible  God. 

The  Christian  is  one  who  hath 
the  incorruptible  seed  in  him,  or 
the  word  ichich  liveih  and  abideth 
for  ever,  which  word  is  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  who  quickens  the 
Saint,  and  is  the  life  of  the  Saint, 
you  hath  he  quickened  who  were  Eph.  2. 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins. 

The  Christian  is  one  who  is  in 
fellowship  and  conformity  with 
Jesus  Christ  in  his  crucifyings, 
death,  and  resurrection,  in  whom 
the  flesh,  and  life  of  the  fesh  must 
die,  as  it  did  in  him,  and  the  Chris- 
tian, as  Christ  did,  must  live  in 
Spirit  to  God. 

The  Christian  is  one  who  is  the 
new  creature,  or  7iew  man,  for  he 


fis  Some  Beams  of  that 

that  sits  upon  the  Throne  in  his 
Spirit  saith,  behold  I  make  all 
2  Cor.  5.  thing's,  all  new,  old  things  in  him, 
as  corruptions  and  lusts,  do  pass 
away. 


J7. 


The  Ministery  that  hath  been 
since  Antichrist  or  the  Clys- 
ter i/  of  Ldquiti/  reignedwith- 
out,  or  in  the  Worship  of  God 
in  all  Societies  of  Christians 
called  Churches,  whether  in 
Presbytery,  Independency ,  or 
Baptism,  is  not  the  same  with 
that  first  Ministerij  of  the 
Gospel  in  pure  gifts,  and  is 
no  other  than  the  Witnesses 
in  Sackcloth. 

p]pii.  4.  s.  r  I  ^HE  Lord  Jesus  ascended  up 
titX^  1  on  high,  out  of  flesh  into 
vt^^^^l  »S/>m^,  and  gave  gifts  unto  men, 
he  g-ave  some  Apostles,  some  Evan- 
gelists, some  Prophets,  some  Pas- 
tors, some  Teachers. 

In  this  administration  of  gifts, 
the  mijstery  of  Jesus  Christ,  or  the 
Gospel,  was  revealed  and  carried  on 
till  the  time  Prophesied  on  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  wherein  the  inystery 


Eph.  4. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         69 

of  iniquity  should  prevail,  and  the 
falling  away  should  be,  and  the 
man  of  sin  should  be  revealed,  and  2  Thes.  2. 
perilous  times  should  come  :  and  fx^"^"i^^. 
this  mystery  of  iniquity  did  so  Tccc-iuvfrrov 
darken  and  overcast  all  this  ad-  ^f'^*"^ 
ministration  of  the  Gospel  in  gifts, 
and  ordinances,  or  outward  ad- 
ministrations, as  there  was  a  visible 
Apostacy  respectively  to  those  very- 
pure  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  and  pure 
administrations  respectively  to  the 
first  institution,  and  this  is  no  more 
than  the  experience  of  our  own 
age,  and  the  times  before,  so  far 
as  any  History  can  make  apparent, 
doth  clearly  demonstrate ;  so  as  that 
administration  of  Spirit  or  Ordi- 
nances, which  hath  been  in  several 
times  since  the  first  pure  Gospel- 
day,  or  time  (wherein  the  Spirit 
did  minister  in  truth  and  demon- 
stration) hath  been  but  in  some 
faint  and  small  discoveries  of  the 
Spirit  and  Letter,  as  in  those  of 
Huss,  Luther,  Wicklijf,  Calvin, 
Peter  Martyr,  and  Bede,  with  all 
the  rest  of  our  many  Martyrs  in 
the  kingdom,  who  were  glorious 
lights  respectively  to  the  darkness 
of  that  generation,  yet  if  compared 


70  Some  Beams  of  that 


with  the  pure  glory  of  the  first 
Gospel-administration  in  (jifts  and 
ordinanceSy  wore  far  below,  and  in 
darkness  ;ind  lueakness  to  that ;  so 
as  I  look  upon  all  God's  ways  of 
the  administration  of  his  Gospel 
to  hold  some  proportion  one  with 
another;  the  Tabernacte, Tind  Tem- 
ple, and  Laws  of  outward  adminis- 
tration wei-e  in  such  ways  and 
means  God  did  appear  in  ;  and  so 
in  the  Priests  and  Prophets,  God 
Hebr.  1. 1.  at  suiulrij  tinics  and  in  divers 
x'ai^ox^o-  '^<^^^^^-'>%  speaking"  to  onr  fathers j 
7ru»  and  afterward  God  took  up  our  vei-y 

flesh  to  administer  in,  and  so  came, 
and  spoke  to  us  by  his  Son,  and 
after  all  these,  the  Lord  went  out 
from  these  after  his  usage  of  them, 
and  appearance  in  them,  and  then 
they  were  no  more  an  ordinance 
or  way  to  God,  as  they  formerly 
w^ere  ;  nor  did  ever  the  Lord  enjoin 
the  restitution  or  reassuming  of 
them  again,  when  the  Temple  was 
once  rent,  the  veil  of  it,  the  Lord 
was  no  more  in  it,  nor  in  their 
Priesthood  and  Sacrifices,  ^'C.  nor 
when  once  the  Lord  Jesus  had 
ended  his  administration  in  the 
flesh  upon  the  Cross,  did  he  ever 


Bright  and  Morning  Star, 

restore  it  in  that  very  way  again, 
or  intend  it  according"  to  that  first 
appearance,  but  in  a  more  glorijied 
state. 

And  so  in  all  reformations  res- 
pectively to  these  former  adminis- 
trations, they  never  returned  back, 
or  reassumed  the  same  again,  after 
once  God  had  refused  it,  and  laid 
it  by.  When  Christ  came  in  the 
flesh,  he  did  not  make  it  his  work 
to  settle  the  Priesthood  again,  but 
to  lead  them  into  the  spiritual 
glory  and  fulfilling  of  all  those 
/e^ttZ  dispensations,  and  carry  them 
on  into  more  GospeZ-administra- 
tions,  and  that  which  was  more  ex- 
cellent and  perfect. 

So  it  is  in  that  first  Gospel-a.d- 
ministration  of  gifts  and  ordinances 
after  Christ  ascended,  there  were 
such  pure  operations  of  Spirit,  as 
in  gifts,  and  some  outward  insti- 
tutions, and  Church-adtninistra- 
tions,  but  these  were  only  the 
Ministration  for  that  age,  as  the 
Tabernacle  was  for  its  age,  and 
the  Temple,  Priesthood,  ?im[  Sacri- 
fices for  their  age,  and  the  flesh 
of  Christ  for  its  age  or  time ;  so 
as  the  falling  away  is  no  more, 


72  Some  Beams  of  tliat 

but    the    Lord  gathering    up,    or 
taking  in  tlie  out-goin*^s,  opera- 
tions, or  gifts  of  his  Spirit  in  such 
a  way  oi  ministration,  and  till  this 
was  done,  there  was  a  luithholding 
of  the  mystery  of  iniquity    from 
bein<^    revealed;     therefore    saith 
2  Tiies.  2.    the  Apostle  to  the  Saints,  Ye  know 
ToiriYov.    what  ivithholdeth  that  he   might 
V-  7.  6e  revealed  in  his  time,   and   he 

--^--  ^^0  Ze^^eM  ^i;^7/.  let,  till  he  be 
taken  out  of  the  way  ;  and  truly 
that  mystery  did  not  work  freely, 
nor  powerfully,  till  the  Lord  had 
removed  the  glory  of  his  Spirit 
from  the  Churches,  the  presence 
of  which  did  exceedingly  prevent, 
and  withhold,  and  put  an  hin- 
drance to  the  revelation  and  domi- 
nion of  that  man  of  sin. 

And  the  Spirit  of  God  foreseeing 
God  about  to  leave  this  ministra- 
tion of  Gospel-^Zory  to  the  world, 
and  bring  a  night  upon  all  that  day 
and  brightness  of  his  Son,  prophe- 
sied of  the  times  to  come,  and  to 
succeed  that  ^Zory,  viz.  in  the  last 
days  jjeriloiis  times  shall  come, 
men  shall  be  lovers  of  themselves, 
covetous,  proud,  boasters,  ^c.  des- 
pisers   of  those    that   are  good, 


2  Tim.  3 
2—5. 


Bright  and  Morning  Si 


ar. 


high-minded,  lovers  of  pleasures 
more  than  lovers  of  God,  having 
a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying- 
the  Power  thereof. 

But  there  were  false  Prophets 
among'  the  People,  even  as  there 
shall  be  false  Teachers  amongst 
you  ;  who  privily  shall  bring  in 
damnable  Heresies,  8^c.  and  many  2  Pet.  2.  i 
shall  follow  their  ^tevmcmn^iu  ays,  ^'^' 
by  reason  of  whom  the  way  of 
truth  shall  be  evil  spoken  of,  and 
through  covetousness  shall  they 
make  merchandize  of  you. 

Beloved,  remember  ye  the  words 
which  were  spoken  before  of  the 
Apostles  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
how  that  they  told  you  there  hu\e  lo. 
should  be  mockers  in  the  last 
times,  these  be  they.  Separating 
themselves,  having  not  the  Spirit. 

Little  children,  it  is  the  last  1  ^oim  2. 
time,  and  us  ye  have  heard  that 
Antichrist  should  come,  everi  now 
are  there  many  Antichrists,  where- 
by we  know  that  it  is  the  last 
time. 

So  as  from  all  these  places  of 
the  Apostles,  we  may  see  their 
Prophesies  of  the  Antichristian 
times,  which  are  the  times  of  the 

E 


74  Some  Beams  of  that 

flesh,  and  of  the  Spirit  of  in- 
iquity, reigning-  amongst  the 
Saints,  or  in  the  Christian  world, 
the  Lord  of  Glory,  Jesus  Christ 
in  Spirit,  being  all  this  time  cru- 
cified in  Spiritual  Sodom,  Egypt, 
or  Babylon,  which  is  the  Kingdom 
of  the  Flesh  and  the  Powers  of 
Darkness,  and  this  is  the  State 
and  condition  of  the  Church  of 
Christ,  or  those  who  are  the  Spi- 
ritual vessels,  or  Golden  cups  of 
the  Lord's  Temple  and  carried 
away  captive,  and  live  under  the 
Power  oi  Flesh,  and  of  Spiritual 
wickednesses.  So  as  all  the  time 
of  the  reign  and  Prevailing  of  this 
mystery,  (which  mystery  is  in  a 
threefold  Principality  or  emi- 
nency,  viz.  of  the  beast,  the  false 
Prophet,  and  the  devil,  all  which 
ra  T^a  '■>  three  work  as  well  without,  unto 
''^r^iliic-  the  world,  as  within,  in  the  flesh 
of  every  Saint,)  all  the  time  of  this 
reign  or  prevailing  is  not  a  time  of 
any  restitution  or  restoration  of 
the  first  ministery,  or  gifts,  or  or- 
dinances, as  was  in  the  Apostles^ 
times,  but  is  the  state  and  perse- 
cution of  the  Lord  Jesus  in  Spirit j 
and  the  time  of  the  woman  s  being 


IIlv.  H), 
•20. 

TO  3>1^»CV   ME 


(?aXcr. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  75 

in  the  wilderness,  all  things  in  this  Rev.  12.  e. 
time  seeming  as  a  waste  and  barren  ^  '^  f^' 
dispensation  about  her,  not  inha-  f^^y. 
bited  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  she 
in  a  retirement  of  Spirit  dwelling* 
with  God,  out  of  the  power  of  the 
Dragon,  who  casts  only  his  fiood 
after  her,  but  not  upon  her. 

So  as  here  is  no  more  in  this 
time  of  Antichrist' s  reign  in  the 
Flesh  and  the  World,  but  only  the 
Church" s  oppression  in  Spirit,  and 
the  crucifying  the  Lord  in  Spirit. 

And  all  these  appearances  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  in  many  glorious  Saints 
who  in  particular  ages  appeared 
were  but  appearances  of  him  who 
is  that  Faithful  and  true  witness, 
against  this  power  of  the  ma?i  of 
sin,  and  were  but  drops  of  the 
vials,  Soundings  of  the  Trumpets, 
openings  of  the  Seals,  before  the 
Battle  of  the  great  Day,  when  fire 
shall  come  down  from  God  out  of  Rev.  20.  9. 
heaven  and  devour  them,  the  Lord 
Jesus  being  revealed  in  flames  of 
Spirit,  ^nd  glory,  against  all  Flesh. 

So  as  there  is  not  any  luord  ap- 
pearing in  all  the  Scripture,  that 
the  first  minis tery  by  gifts  and 
ordinances  shall  in  any  measure  be 


70  Some  Beams  of  that 


continued,  thoug'h  in  part,  or  in 
reservation  to  be  restored,  as  if 
this  were  the  p:reat  work  the  Lord 
intended  to  bring-  to  pass,  viz.  the 
setting  up  a  purer  7ninistery  of 
gifts  to  teach  his  people,  or  re- 
storing some  legal  ordinances,  as 
Baptism  of  water,  the  church  way, 
or  Presbytery  of  Elders,  and  all 
the  glory  of  the  last  times  or  ages 
should  be  only  the  bringing  in  these, 
and  taking  them  out  of  the  hands 
of  Antichrist,  all  which  arise  from 
a  mistake  of  the  type  of  the  Jeivish 
Apostacy  and  captivity  which 
figured  out  the  Spiritual  Church 
or  new  Jerusalem,  in  Babylon,  or 
Captivity  to  the  flesh,  or  man  of 
sin  in  all  his  deceivableness  and 
Power,  and  the  restoring  of  all 
shall  be  only  the  appearance  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  who  shall  destroy  tIw- 
tichrist  with  the  brightness  of  his 
'i  The?.  2.  coming,  and  the  two  edged  Sword 
of  his  mouth,  his  Spirit. 

And  there  is  not  a  word  spoken 
in  all  the  Scriptures  of  these  things 
to  be  restored,  as  gifts  and  ordi- 
nances, but  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
in  Spirit,  and  therefore  the  Refor- 
mation or  Restoration  that  the  Lord 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  77 

Jesus  bring-s  with  him,  (for  Moses, 

Joshua,    and    all    the    reforming- 

Kings  of  Judah,  were  but  types  of 

him,  the  last  and  most  excellent 

and  glorious   Reformer,   Ki7ig  of 

Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords,)  that 

Reformation,  I  say,  that  he  brings 

with  him,  is  the  revelation  of  him-  Rtv.  n. 

self  in  Spirit,  he  and  his  Father  i^a.  eo.  19. 

beins:  the  light  and  Temple  of  his  ^'^"^''f'^ 

7^1  1111  1       «''  °^''  =  ^*=^ 

people,  for  there  shall  be  no  other  5  TravToxea- 

there.  "'^• 

This  shall  be  a  glory  without 
Sun,  or  Moon,  or  Stars,  or  any 
such  low  or  faint  appearance  as 
gift  or  ordinance,  but  the  Zorc? 
God  shall  be  the  everlasting  light, 
and  Goc?  ^/ie  glory ;  and  light 
sAaZZ  corer  ^/ie  earth  as  the  waters 
cover  the  sea :  light  shall  not 
Sparkle  or  be  in  bright  beams  as 
in  a  gift  or  an  ordinance,  but  it 
shall  tiow  out  from  the  Lord  him- 
self, even  cover  the  earth,  swallow- 
ing up  or  overflowing  all  earthly 
administrations.  And  it  shall  be 
as  much  Apostacy  in  the  Saints 
to  go  back  to  that  first  ministery 
of  the  Gospel-times,  which  was  the 
ministery  to  the  first  discovery  of 
that  mystery  hid  from  ages,  as  it 


78  Some  Beams  of  that 

would  have  been  in  them  to  have 
g'one  back  to  Jewish  Temple  and 
Priesthood,  &:c.  And  have  taken 
the  setting-  up  of  those  to  have 
been  the  <^reat  and  only  Reforma- 
tion of  Christ  come  in  the  fleshy 
and  as  the  Lord  Jesus  himself  did 
in  his  coming  in  the  flesh  fulfill  all 
these,  and  destroy  nothing,  save 
only  as  to  the  outward  and  perish- 
ing nature  of  those  ordinances  and 
Rudiments  of  the  law  :  So  in  this 
his  last  glory  to  be  revealed  in  the 
saints  here,  he  shall  not  destroy 
any  of  the  first  ministery  of  the 
Gospel  by  gifts  and  ordinances, 
but  shall  fulfill  it ;  it  being"  but  a 
type  of  his  glory  to  be  revealed  in 
the  Saints,  and  the  former  minis- 
tery is  only  destroyed  as  to  that 
outward  Perishing  part  of  it. 

And  this  destruction  of  Anti- 
christ, and  i\\Q glory  to  be  revealed, 
is  the  Prophecy  of  the  Prophets, 
and  John  in  the  Revelation,  and 
is  the  sum  and  substance  of  all 
types  and  ministrations  which  were 
before. 

So  as  all  the  pretended  Refor- 
mations by  gifts  and  Ordinances, 
"which  tend  to  a  reducing*  us  to  that 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  79 

first  minister  1/  of  the  Apostles' 
times,  which  that  of  Presbytery, 
of  Independency ,  and  Baptism- 
way  endeavours,  is  but  a  building 
up  such  things  as  the  Lord  would 
have  destroyed ;  it  being  an  admi- 
nistration which  he  would  use  no 
longer,  and  therefore  suffered  An- 
tichrist to  prevail  upon  it,  and  the 
man  of  sin  to  overcome  it,  and  as 
God  to  sit  in  the  Temple,  or  in  all 
that  outward  form  and  worship, 
figured  out  in  that  word  the  Tem- 
ple  as  God,  or  as  God  himself  used 
to  do,  when  he  was  pleased  to  ap- 
pear there. 

And  therefore  all  thdit  minis tejy 
and  Pastorship  and  teaching  is  not 
at  all  upon  the  account  of  the  first 
Gospel  ministration,  according  to 
that  very  glory  of  the  gifts,  and 
pure  anointing,  by  which  they  did 
minister  as  the  oracles  of  God  and 
very  truths  of  God,  as  they  did 
then,  so  far  as  they  Spake  or  did 
any  thing  in  the  Holy  Ghost :  but 
they  now,  I  mean  the  Pastors  and 
ministers,  do  Speak  and  minister 
doubtfully,  darkly,  uncertainly, 
more  in  the  fesh  than  the  Spirit, 
not  at  all  in  any  thing  of  unction 


CO  Some  Beams  of  that 

or  anointinr)  exceeding  any  private 
Christian,  or  distinct  according^  to 
any  (jift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  but 
so  far  only  as  they  exceed  others 
in  parts,  wit,  or  learninj^,  which 
are  upon  a  lower  account  of  the 
Spirit  than  the  first  f/ifts  upon  that 
of  Arts  and  sciences. 

And  therefore  if  Pastors,  mi- 
nisters, and  Christians,  who  can- 
not now  minister  as  the  oracles  of 
God,  nor  according  to  the  very 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  then,  will 
be  content  to  Prophesy,  as  Christ 

I'-'w  11.  will  only  allow  his  Witnesses  to 
do,  even  all  that  bear  Witness  of 
him,  in  Sackcloth,  according  to 
that  poor,  loiv,  and  legal  account 
and  humble  condition  they  are  in, 
it  being  yet  the  time  of  An  tic  his  fs 
reign,  not  of  Chrisfs,  and  not  as- 
sume to  themselves  the  names.  Of- 
fices, Pre-eminence,  glory,  obedi- 
ence, very  administrations,  which 
were  then  in  power  and  in  the  Holy 
Ghost, hoih  inPastorsmdChurches, 

Rev.  3.  and  not  walk  as  full,  and  rich,  and 
wanting  nothing,  when  as  they  are 
poor,  miserable,  and  naked.     The 

iilv.  a.  Church  of  Laodicea  being  a  figure 
of  all  such,  for  my  part,  I  then  shall 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  8i 

look  on  all  such  as  in  the  Spirit, 
and  walking  humbly  with  God,  and 
prophesying  in  sackcloth,  and  wait- 
ing for  the  coming'  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus; nor  do  deny  but  Christians  in 
these  ways  a?id  administrations 
have  enjoyed  God  sweetly,  though 
they  be  not  such  ways  as  God  ap- 
proves on,  though  he  suffer:  as 
many  of  the  Godly  Bishops  and 
Martyrs  did  enjoy  Jesus  Christ 
in  their  times  of  CeremoJiies  and 
Forms  of  Prayer,  God  still  ap- 
pearing to  his,  as  they  are  in  Christ, 
not  in  such  or  such  an  outward  way 
or  form. 

There  remaineth  two  or  three 
choice  Scriptures  to  open  concern- 
ing this,  and  they  are  these  : 

And  he  gave  some  Apostles,  and  Eph.  4.  ii, 
some  Prophets,  and  some  Evan-  ^"^'  ''*' 
gelists,  and  some  Pastors,  and 
some  Teachers,  for  the  perfecting 
of  the  Saints,  for  the  ivork  of  the 
Minis t ery ,  for  the  edifying  of  the 
body  of  Christ,  till  we  all  come 
in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  8^c. 

And  God  hath  set  some  in  the  1  Cor.  12. 
Church,  first  Apostles,  seconda- 
rily Prophets,  thirdly  Teachers; 
after  that,  miracles,  then  gifts  of 
E  2 


28. 


82  Some  Beams  of  that 

healhifj,  helps ^  fjovernmcnts,  di- 
versities of  tonrjues. 
Mat.  28  Go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all 
Nations,  Baptizing  them  in  the 
Name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  have  com- 
manded you,  and  lo  I  am  with 
you  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

From  all  these  Scriptures  these 
Conclusions  are  made : 

1.  That  there  is  a  Ministery  of 
gifts,  of  teaching,  and  ordinances. 

2.  That  this  is  for  the  perfecting 
of  the  Saints. 

3.  That  this  is  to  last  to  the  end 
of  the  world. 

Now  these  Scriptures  are  much 
mistaken  according  to  such  results 
and  conclusions. 

The  Scripture  to  the  Ephesians, 
Eph.  4,  shews  only  that  there  was 
such  a  Ministery  of  gifts  and  of- 
fices, but  not  any  such  continuance 
of  them  to  the  end  of  the  ivorld. 
For  where  it  is  said,  for  the  per- 
irfif  Tcv  Ka-  fecting  of  the  Saints,  Sfc.  till  we 
ITI^tl.  ^11  come,  ^c.  that  hath  relation  to 
the  tenth  verse,  or  to  Christ  as- 
cended,   that    he    might  fill   all 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  83 

things;  and  this  of  the  perfecting  /u^xftaT^v- 
of  the  Saints,  Sfc.  is  only  an  ex-  3^^,!" " 
position  or  clearer  interpr-etation  of 
that  tenth  verse,  how  he  ^lls  alt 
things, viz.  hy perfecting  his  Saints  ^■<«  Tr^.r^-icm 
in  the  work  of  the  Ministery,  or 
that  glorious   and  spiritual  admi- 
nistration of  himself  upon  his,  to 
bring-  them  all  into  the  unity  of  the  «'« e-'^^^nra 
faith,  so  as  he  may  be  one  in  them 
and  they  in  him,   the  Lord  one, 
and  his  name  one,  which  is  that 
unity  of  the  faith. 

Nor  can  this  Scripture  intend 
any  other  thing-  than  this,  viz.  to 
shew  first  how  the  Lord  fits  all 
things,  as  in  verse  the  tenth,  and 
how  he  set  up  a  ministration  of 
gifts  in  the  first  discovery  of  Gos- 
pel glory,  he  gave  some  Apostles; 
and  how  he  himself  perfects  the 
saints  by  being  their  fulness,  and 
so  edifies  or  builds  up  his  body, 
and  brings  forth  that  unity  of  the 
faith,  or  one  glorious  evidence  and 
revelation  of  himself  in  the  whole 
body. 

Nor  can  any  other  thing  bear 
the  weight  of  such  expressions  but 
Christ  himself.  Who  can  perfect 
the  Saints  but  Christ?     AVho  can 


5  4  Some  Beams  of  that 


edify  the  body  or  build  it  up  but 
Christ  ?  Who  can  brinp:  forth 
unity  of  faith  but  Christ  ?  For 
no  gifts  either  of  Apostle  or  Pro- 
phet, or  SfC.  can  perfect  the  saints. 
Cor.  13.    Though   I  have   the  erift  of  Pro- 


•i.  ;j. 


Q..        ^        ..l»,v.  l...y^        j_,, 


phecy,  and  understand  all  myste- 
ries, and  all  knowledye,  and  though 
I  have  aliyhi/^,  and  have  not  love, 
or  Christ,  who  is  the  love  of  the 
Father,  it  profiteth  me  nothing. 

But  suppose  it  were  so,  that  the 
Ministration  of  gifts  and  offices, 
there  spoken  on,  were  for  the  per- 
fecting of  the  saints  till  the  unity 
of  the  faith  be,  what  doth  this 
prove  to  the  present  Ministration 
of  gifts  and  offices  now,  or  since 
the  falling  away  amongst  us,  for 
we  have  none  of  them  in  the  pure 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  or  tfnc- 
tion,  and  we  must  either  have  all 
or  none ;  there  is  no  taking-  these 
gifts  and  offices  in  pieces  and  parts, 
as  they  do  generally,  distinguish- 
ing them  into  extraordinary  and 
ordinary  ;  the  extraordinary ,  they 
say,  are  Apostles,  Evangelists, 
Prophets,  and  these,  they  say,  are 
ceased ;  but  Pastors  and  Teachers, 
they  say,   are   ordinary,  and  re- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  85 

main.  But  where  is  this  distinc- 
tion to  be  found  in  tlie  Word  ?  are 
not  all  gifts  of  the  same  Spirit? 
Doth  not  the  Scripture  reckon 
them  all  equally  necessary  in  the 
Church  ?  Doth  it  any  where  speak 
of  Apostles,  Evangelists,  Pro- 
phets, only  for  the  first  Ag-e,  and 
Pastors  and  Teachers  for  the  Ages 
after  ?  Doth  not  the  Scripture  say 
expressly,  he  hath  set  some  in  his  ^^"Z  =  ^«=f 
Church?  1  Cor.  12.  28,  and  so^rr""^" 
reckons  according  to  some  order  in 
the  excellency  of  gifts  and  office, 
not  according  to  the  expiration  of 
some,  and  the  life  and  continuance 
of  the  rest,  saying,  Apostles,  Evan- 
gelists, Prophets  are  to  cease,  only 
Pastors  ?ini\.  Teachers  remain;  but 
he  saith  plainly  he  hath  set  all  these 
in  his  Church,  not  excepting  one 
sort  more  than  another ;  nay,  a 
Pastor  or  Teacher,  in  the  true 
and  proper  gift  and  office  was  as 
spiritual  as  the  other,  viz.  of  the 
pure  anointing  or  the  Holy  Ghost ; 
but  Pastor  and  Teacher  hath  been 
considered  in  a  lower  capacity,  and 
industry,  art,  natural  jmrts,  and 
learning  have  been  taken  in  in 
after  times  to  the  composition  of  a 


Some  Beams  of'  that 


Pastor  and  Teacher,  and  upon 
this  account  those  offices  have  been 
thought  ordinary ,  which  were  upon 
the  mere  and  pure  account  of  the 
Holi/  Ghost :  so  as  if  they  will  have 
Pastors  and  Teachers  only  remain, 
where  is  the  Scripture  for  excepting 
the  rest,  and  where  are  the  very 
same  gifts  ?  And  pure  anointing 
of  Spirit  for  watching,  feeding, 
and  teaching? 

And  if  they  will  have  these 
Scriptures  to  hold  forth  such  a 
continued  Ministery  of  necessity 
to  the  perfecting  of  the  Saints, 
where  are  all  the  rest,  viz.  Apos- 
tles, Evangelists,  S^c.  for  all  are 
reckoned  both  in  Ej^h.  4,  1  Cor. 
12.  28,  and  where  are  those  very 
gifts  of  pure  anointing  ?  And  why 
so  many  hundred  years  without 
these?  What  hath  become  of  the 
Saints  since  the  first  gvQ2l  falling 
away  ?  How  have  they  been  per- 
fected?  If  all  these  were  for  that 
very  work,  and  yet  not  visibly  ex- 
tant for  so  many  years  ?  Nay,  the 
pure  gifts  of  the  anointing  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  not  appearing  in  any 
of  the  most  glorious  Reformers,  as 
Luther,  who  had  much  darkness, 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         87 

as  in  that  of  Consubstantiation, 
and  in  his  passions  to  King  Henry, 
and  in  many  other  particulars  of  his, 
&c.  and  so  of  the  rest,  save  only 
they  shone  forth  in  the  more  glory 
because  of  the  darkness  of  that 
Ge7ieration. 

For  that  other  Scripture  in  3fat- 
thew  28  :  Go,  teach  and  baptize, 
and  lo  I  am  with  you,  it  is  only 
(as  I  take  it)  and  merely  in  appli- 
cation to  the  Apostles  and  Disciples 
of  that  Age  ^n^  Ministration  whom 
the   Lord  bid  go   and  teach  what 
he  had  commanded  them,  and  bap- 
tize into  the  name  or  mystery  of 
God,  which  word  baptize  is  ?i  figure 
Christ  uses  to  express  the  depth  of 
a  spiritual  mystery,  as  in  that,  can 
ye  be  ba2')tized  with  the  Baptism  varct;  t^,- 
that  lam  baptized  with?  And  he  ^f^^"'- 
shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy  >.««<t3«»w- 
Ghost,  ^c.      And  that  phrase,  to  '"^' 
the  end  of  the  ivorld,  is  (if  more 
clearly  translated)  to  \\iQ  finishing 
of  the  Age,  or  that  Age  of  Minis- 
tration. 

Some  of  these  things  are  scatter- 
ingly  spoken  on  in  other  places  of 
my  Book,  but  here  rtiore  perfectly 
and  clearly. 


88  Some  Beams  of  that 


Magistraci)  a  Power  or- 
dained of  God. 

THE  Magistrate  is  a  power  or- 
dained of  God,  an  Image  of 
tiie  Power  and  Judyment  com- 
mitted to  Christ;  Scripture  and 
the  gift  of  wisdom,  justice,  and 
Rom.  13  righteousness  are  his  unction  now, 
as  the  oil  or  anointing  was  his 
unction  under  the  Old  Testament. 
Magistracy  for  form  is  not  one 
and  the  same,  but  divers,  according 
to  the  several  polity  of  Nations 
and  Kingdoms,  by  Kings  singly, 
or  Kings  and  States  jointly  ;  as  in 
this  Kingdom,  or  States  singly,  as 
in  the  old  notions  of  Monarchy, 
Aristocracy,  Democracy,  and  that 
each  Nation  is  subject  accord- 
ing to  its  polity  and  form  to  the 
respective  government,  and  that 
Sci'iptures  clothe  and  invest  that 
form  in  its  very  first  being  and  con- 
stitution, and  that  form  receives 
an  Image  of  God  upon  it,  as  the 
first  man,  who  as  soon  as  he  became 
such  a  model  of  earth  or  clay  be- 
came a  man,  and  had  the  glory  of 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  S9 

God  upon  him,  and  dominion  over 
the  creatures. 

These  Powers  and  Magistrates 
upon  earth  are  set  up  for  the  pun- 
ishment of  evil  doers,  and  for  the 
praise  of  them  that  do  well,  jus-  Rom.  is. 
tice  and  righteousness  being*  that 
very  line  or  golden  reed  by  which 
they  are  measured,  the  very  Scales 
by  which  God  lueighs  them,  where 
if  they  be  found  too  light,  he  Dan.  5. 
gives  their  Kingdoms  to  another. 

All  lawful  subjection  is  to  be 
rendered,  honour  to  whom  honour,  Rom.  is. 
tribute  to  whom  tribute,  and  sub- 
jection to  every  ordinance  of  man 
for  the  Lord's  sake  ;  Prayers  and 
Supjplications  are  to  be  made  for 
them,  that  we  may  lead  a  peace- 
able and  a  quiet  life  in  all  godli- 
ness and  honesty. 

Magistracy  is  set  up,  not  only 
to  be  an  Image  of  Christ  to  the 
world,  but  to  administer  Peace  and 
Judg-ment  to  the  world  and  Socie- 
ties of  men,  and  more  principally 
to  his  people  in  the  flesh,  who  while 
they  are  nursing  fathers  to  them 
do  administer  truly,  and  to  Christ 
in.  his  jJeople  ;  when  Persecutors, 
Christ  still  turns  their  administra- 


90  Some  Beams  of  that 

tion,  thouicH  evil  in  itself,  intog-ood 
Roiii.s.  28.  for  his,  all  things  working  toge- 
ther for  good  to  those  that  love 
God. 

The  high  and  g-lorioiis  design  of 
Christ  in  Magistracy  is  to  open  a 
way  in  all  their  kingdoms  and  do- 
minions for  the  Spirit  of  God  to 
breathe  in,  Kings  shall  be  thy  fa- 
thers, Sfc.  and  walk  in,  in  such  out- 
ward administrations  as  it  pleaseth 
the  Spirit  of  God  to  appear  in  to 
the  Saints,  who  are  in  flesh  and 
weakness,  and  so  far  as  concerns 
any  outward  administration  of 
Christ,  Jesus  Christ  becomes  a 
subject  in  his  Saints  to  the  power 
he  hath  committed  to  Magistracy, 
they  having  power  to  hinder  and 
further  his  spiritual  design  so  far 
as  it  comes  forth  in  the  outward 
man ;  therefore  all  power  of  Magis- 
tracy turned  against  the  Spirit  of 
God  in  this  appearance  shall,  and 
all  such  Kingdoms  and  Nations  as 
proceed  accordingly,  viz.  to  oppose 
that  Kingdom,  Power,  and  Do- 
minion they  receive  from  Christ 
against  him  in  his  spiritual  King- 
dom, shall  be  dashed  to  pieces  like 
a  potter's   vessel.    Be   wise   now 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         91 

therefore,  O  ye  Kings,  and  he  in-  Psalm  2. 
structed,  ye  Judges  of  the  earth. 

But  all  such  Nations,  States,  and 
Kingdoms  as  shall  administer  not 
only  judgment  and  righteousness 
in  the  world,  but  shall  bring  their 
glory  and  honour  to  Christ  and  his  Rev.  21. 
Spirit  in  his  People,  Peace  shall  '^' 
be  within  their  walls,  and  prosperity 
within  their  Palaces,  Judgment 
shall  fiow  there  like  a  river,  and 
righteousness  likeamighty  stream. 


The  discei^ning  of  Spirits. 

THERE  was  such  a  Manifes- 
tation of  Sjnrit  given  to  the 
people  of  God  in  the  first  Gosjwl- 
times  as  they  could  in  the  very 
unction  or  anoiriting  of  God  discern 
Spirits  and  try  Spirits,  Ye  have  i  Joim.  4. 
an  unction  and  ye  know  all  things, 
the  same  anointiiig  teacheth  ye,  1  Cor.  12. 
to  another  the  gift  of  discerning 
Spirits. 

In  this  Manifestation  of  Spirit 
were  2A\  False-teachers,  Deceivers,  1  John  4, 
Antichrists,  and  Hypocrites  ]udged  2  John  7. 
and  discerned  ;  I  will  come  to  you,  1  Cor.  4. 
saith  the  Apostle,  and  will  know, 


Some  Beams  of  that 


not  the  words  of  them,   that  are 
puffed  2tp,  but  the  poiver. 

This  Manifestation  of  Spirit  is 
that  in  which  Spiritual  men  are 
known  and  revealed  to  each  other, 
and  have  as  full  assurance  of  each 
other  in  Spirit  and  in  Truth  as  men 
know  7nen  by  the  voice,  features, 
complexions,  statures  of  the  out- 
ward man. 

The  Manifestation  of  Spirit  may 
be  darkened  and  clouded  in  Chris- 
tians sometimes,  and  hath  been  in 
the  purest  times,  when  the  Disci- 
Acis  8.  pies  did  not  know  Simon  Magus, 
Dor  Demas,  nor  Hymenceus,  and 
Philetus,  nor  those  that  went  out 
1  John,u.    from  them,  nor  Judas. 

The  Manifestation  of  Spirit  hath 
been  much  lost  and  darkened  in 
the  Churches  for  many  hundred 
years,  since  the  Antichristian  dark- 
ness was  upon  them  ;  and  therefore 
they  have  judged  Spiritual  things 
in  a  mist,  and  in  much  dimness  and 
doubtfulness,  it  hath  been  neither 
nif/ht  nor  day. 

For  supplement  of  this  Manifes- 
tation of  Spirit,  Christians  walked 
by  Candle-light  and  Star-light, 
and  set  up  marks  and  signs  of  trial 


19. 


Briglit  and  Morning  Star.  93 

and  demonstration  in  the  letter  and 
outward  man,  so  as  any  hypocrite 
might  appear  for  a  true  Christian; 
and  therefore  most  of  their  way  of 
Manifestation  hath  been  from  for- 
mal relations  and  confessions  of 
faith,  and  experiences  according  to 
the  Law  or  standard  of  their  own 
Spirits,  trying  and  judging  all  other 
measures  of  grace  by  their  own. 

The  experience  of  Christians, 
who  have  the  Spirit  oiGo^  in  them, 
is  very  clear  concerning  the  work- 
ings and  manifestations  of  the  same 
Spirit  in  others,  as  in  Prayer, 
Preaching,  Prophesying,  Confe- 
rence, Conformity  to  Christ,  Spi- 
ritual conversation,  so  as  Chris- 
tians can  in  a  manner  say,  the 
Spirit  of  God  is  here  and  here,  or 
here  I  taste  and  see  sornething  of 
God;  here  is  a  sjnritual  savour, 
there  is  none  ;  as  in  natural  things 
there  is  such  a  proportion  betwixt 
the  sense  and  object,  that  the  sense 
knows  and  discerns  its  own  object, 
as  in  smelling,  tasting,  seeing, 
hearing,  so  in  Spirituals;  and  as 
there  is  an  outward,  a  letter,  or 
Scriptur e -Chvisti'QXiity ,  by  which 
men  are  distinsruished  as  Jew  and 


94  Sume  Beams  of  that 

Gentile,  as  Professors  and  Pro- 
fane, as  of  the  visible  Church  and 
of  the  world,  so  there  is  in  the  true 
spiritual  Church,  or  Kinr/dom  of 
God  in  Truth,  a  more  pure  spiri- 
tual and  g'lorious  way  of  knowing- 
each  other  according  to  that  true 
spiritual  glory,  nature,  and  light 

Epii.  5.  8.  that  each  walks  in,  being  all  chil- 
dren of  the  day  and  of  the  light. 
And  this  is  no  more  than  the  ful- 

Mai.  3.  18.  filling  of  that  promise,  then  shall 
ye  return  and  discern  between  the 
righteous  and  the  wicked,  between 
him  that  serveth  God  and  him 
that  serveth  him  not ;  but  it  is  in 
that  day  when  the  Lord  makes  up 
his  j excels,  which  is  the  more  glo- 
rious revelation  of  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  Saints,  gathering  his  people 
into  more  unity  and  glory  of  Spi- 
rit. 

All  works  2ind  fruits  of  men,  as 
the)'-  are  Christians  and  spiritual, 
must  either  he  judged  and  discerned 
in  the  same  Spirit  and  measure  of 
light  and  glory  in  which  they  are 
wrought,  and  from  whence  they 
flow,  or  else  it  is  but  a  mere  ,for- 
??ial,  outward,  pretended,  false, 
and  fleshly  way  of  judging  in  those 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  9;" 

that  so  judge ;  and  thus  the  tree 
is  truly  and  purely  known  by  its 
fruits,  and  faith  by  works  :  The 
same  Faith  and  Spirit  shining  and 
discerning,  in  those  that  judge  the 
works  of  their  faith,  who  are  judged.- 
And  thus  we  may  see  how  Sy- 
nods, and  Councils  of  men,  and 
visible  Churches  have  erred  in  their 
judgments  and  discernings  of  all 
others,  judging  all  higher  attain- 
ments of  light  and  glory,  heresy 
and  schism ;  and  by  this  sentencing 
the  Lord  himself,  and  confining 
him  only  to  their  own  measures 
and  degrees,  which  is  that  very  spi- 
rit oi  Antichrist  sitting  in  the  Tem- 
ple of  God,  and  judging  as  God, 
nay,  judging  God  himself  accord- 
ing to  his  other  manifestations 
which  they  see  not,  nor  receive, 
unless  they  pretend  to  be  that  only 
select  Apostleship  for  interpreta- 
tion and  revelation  of  Scripture,  as 
the  Apostles,  who  were  the  first 
Preachers  of  Scripture ;  and  this 
they  must  do  upon  their  ways  and 
grounds  of  disceriiing  ;  but  what 
shall  be  done  to  these  that  judge 
before  the  time,  and  the  day,  or 
more  full  revelation  oHqbxxb  Christ, 


OG  Some  Beams  of  that 

tl)e  false  Prophet  shall  he  taken 
and  cast  into  the  lake  that  hums 
with  fire ;  and  these  that  judg-e 
God  in  their  brethren  according;  to 
such  manifestations  as  are  not  in 
themselves,  shall  be  jndg^ed  of  Goc? 
their  Jiidrje^  even  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus, the  Judge  oi quirk  and  dead: 
Cain  was  an  image  of  all  such, 
judging  his  brotliers  sacrifice,  and 
for  that  was  sentenced  of  God. 


Principles  of  War  and 
Peace, 


BacriXft'a  ETri  I,  TTTAR  is  the  more  natural 
'etZ^^"'  VV      work  of  the  Nations  of 

l«.of.,rcxi-    the  World,  who  shall,  accordinG:  to 

IJJi;  axoaf 


Christ's  Prophecy,  be  dashing-  one 
another  in  pieces  till  the  last  ap- 
pearance   of  Jesus    Christ,    there 
Mat.  24. 6,  shall    be    Wars    and    rumours    of 
^'  Wars,  Nation  shall  rise  against 

Nation,     and    Kingdom    against 
Kingdom. 

2.  War  is  from  the  Law  and 
Principles  of  nature,  according  to 
which  the  Nations  of  the  world 
live  and  are  acted,  having  no  higher 
a   law   to   raise  them,  and  carry 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  97 

them  up  into  more  glorious  dis- 
pensations ;  For  the  Law  or  Prin- 
ciples of  nature  dictate  thus,  pre- 
serve thyself,  thy  life,  thy  lands, 
thy  rights,  an  eye  for  an  eye,  and  E'cod.  21. 
a  tooth  for  a  tooth.  '"^^' 

3.  The  true  Christian,  so  far  as 
he  is  in  nature,  and  under  this  laiv, 
he  is  acted  according  to  the  icorld, 
and  to  the  mere  Principles  of  na- 
ture and  law ;  and  therefore  it  is 
that  the  Christians  to  this  day  are 
found  at  the  same  work  with  the 
world,  and  two  are  grinding  at  one  Mat. 24. 40, 
mill,  two  are  in  one  field,  two  in  ..'^l"  ~ 
07ie  bed;   that  is,  the  true  Chris-  uy^^^Coh 
tian  and  the  mere  natural  man  are  ''"'  '^'^^'' 
together  in  one  work,  ^.tone plough, 

in  one  bed  or  way  of  Peace  and 
worldly  res^,  till  the  Lord  Jesus  /u/a  Tr^a- 
be  more  manifested  in  Spirit,  or  in  ^'/a^'^S^'. 
his  coming  and  revelation,  and  the 
owe,  or  ^rwe  Christian,  be  taken, 
and  the  other  Ze/if,  the  one  taken 
up  higher  into  more  Spirit,  and 
more  of  Christ,  the  other  left  in 
their  mere  nature,  and  legal  prin- 
ciples, and  worldly  doings. 

4.  The  Jews  were  not  only  a 
type  of  the  true  spiritual  Church, 
but  of  the   Christians   under  the 


us 


Some  Beams  of  that 


jtaioixovoMCf- 


lowest  disjiensation ;    and  ia   the 
model  of  their  armed  Tribes  and 
Exod.  13.  Generals,  as  of  Moses  and  Joshua^ 
were  a  figure  of  the  Christian  un- 
(iai.  4. 2.  (ier  jyujnlage  and  bondage  to  na- 
ture y  and  the  Z«z^5  of  nature ;  and 
so  they  were  led  out  against  the 
vTTOEffjT^offBf  Nations,    who   were    a   fiqure   of 
worldly  Tyranny  and  oppression^ 
to   recover  their  /awe?  of  re^^,   or 
such  worldly  privileges  as  they  had 
in  j)romise  and  donation  from  God. 
5.   Under   the  Gospel  the  Lord 
Mat.26.52.  Suffered  the  same  figure  in  Peter ^ 
who  walked  ahout  with  Christ  in 
his  fieshly    appearance,   with  his 
sword  girt  about  him,  and  attended 
inirji^'ov  his  Person  till  Christ  bid  him  put 
XM^ccv  ti;  it  Up  again  into  his  sheath,  because 
iJrJ;^"*^    he  was  now  going  out  of  that  dis- 
pensation oi flesh  into  more  glory, 
into  the  same  glory   that  he  had 
with   God  before  the  world    was, 
and  was   accordingly  providing  a 
more    spiritual   dispensation    for 
them,  even  the  Comforter  or  Spi- 
Joiui  17. 5.  rit  of  truth,  all  which  were  a  figure 
^2(5?         of  all  the  Disciples  of  Peter  s  fel- 
i);  T*iv  ioiotv   lowship  and  weakness,  whom  the 
Lord  would  suffer  in  an  armed  and 
defensive  Posture,  till  he  provided 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  99 

a  more  spiritual  Ministration  for 
them,  and  a  way  of  more  spirit, 
light  and  glory. 

In  order  to  Peace,  and  Suf- 
fering, and  Love. 


The  Will  of  God. 

A  CHRISTIAN  is  most  per- 
fected in  the  Will  of  God, 
in  laying  himself  down  to  rest  in 
the  bosom  of  such  providence  as 
the  Lord  opens  to  him  ;  for  nothing* 
creates  perplexity  and  disquietness 
of  Spirit,  but  when  the  will  of  man 
is  in  complying  and  in  a  motion 
distinct  from  the  will  of  God,  when 
the  Spirit  of  man  moves  in  its  own 
fleshly  course  and  circuit,  and  so 
runs  out  into  a  dispensation  further 
than  the  law  of  present  providence 
will  fairly  allow  it :  and  in  this 
way  men  study,  i^^ot,  desire,  lust, 
are  passionate,  inordinate,  un- 
quiet, unstable,  and  like  the  trou- 
bled sea,  foam  out  themselves ; 
upon  this  account,  men  lust  and 


100  Some  Beams  of  that 

Jame«4. 2.  have  not,  they  kill  and  desire  to 
TkI-x^".^    have,  and  cannot  obtain,  they  Jig  ht 
and  war,  yet  they  have  not ;    are 
Isa.  2G.  17.  with  child,  and  bring  forth  wind, 
and  work  no  deliverance  ;  they  say 
the  bricks  are  fallen  down,  but  we 
will  build  with  heiun  stones;  the 
Sycamores  are  cut  down,  but  we 
will  change  them  into  Cedars.  The 
Lord  Jesus  held  forth  another  pat- 
Heb.  10. 7.  tern  and  figure,  Lo,  I  come  to  do 
T^six,^     ^/iy  w?7/,  O  God ;    not  my  will, 
John  4.  34.  but  thi7ie  be  done;   it  is  my  meat 
and  drink  to  c?o   Me  will  of  my 
Father ;  the  Apostle  answers  this, 
pi.il.  4. 11,  as  in  water  face  answers  face,  / 
.  ''f  have  learyied  in  whatsoever  state 

i]vou.  I  am,  therewith  to  be  content;   I 

can  be  abased,  and  I  can  abound : 
1  John  4.  tj^g  reason  of  all  is,  from  the  spi- 
ritual anointing  they  receive,  by 
Eph.  1.  18.  which  their  understandings  are  en- 
m  o<j)3aA-  lightened  to  see  all  the  various 
'^"f'  workings  and  contrary  contextures 

of  providence  meeting  in  one  point 
Rom. 8. 28.  qt  line,  the  luill  of  God;  so  as  all 
ytrT;  I^^-  things  work  together  for  good  to 
^''-  those  that  love  God. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         loi 


2. 

God  changing  Dispen- 
sations. 

THE  Christian  is  most  2it peace  2. 
when  he  is  willing  to  be  ga- 
thered up  by  God  from  such  ways  , 
and  ministrations  below  as  he  hath 
lived  in  formerly,  if  he  see  God 
clearly  in  it,  for  God  hath  his  times 
•of  letting  out,  and  winding  up,  of 
using  such  or  such  a  ministration, 
and  then  breaking  it,  and  laying  it 
by,  and  appearing  in  other,  and  we 
must  not  limit  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel,  nor  fix  him  always  upon 
the  same  point  of  dispensation,  he 
went  out  from  his  Tabernacle  into 
his  Temple,  from  thence  into  the 
flesh  of  Christy  and  so  into  ordi- 
nances, and  gifts,  and  graces,  and 
Spirit ;  with  the  Jews  he  was  in 
war,  in  peace,  in  captivity,  in  de- 
liverance, or  return ;  and  in  this 
exchange  of  dispensation,  God  re- 
veals and  shines  forth  his  wisdom,, 
glory,  and  power  upon  his  and 
upon   the  world,    which   wisdom, 


-fova. 


102  Some  Beams  of  that 

power,  and  i^Iory  being  in  that  ful- 
ness and  infiniteness  in  himself,  can- 
not appear  in  one  globe  and  ball  of 
glory  below,  upon  this  Creation, 
but  as  in  parts,  and  scattered 
beams,  and  divers  workings ;  and 
therefore  John  saw  the  Lord  in  a 
vision  like  a  Jasper  upon  a  Throne, 
and  a  rainbow  round  about  the 
^  4.  3.  Throne  ;  which  rainbow  is  a  glory 
rfyov?'^^'^  of  many  colours,  or  2l  figure  of  the 
glory  of  Jesus  Christ  in  many  ap- 
pearances of  things  below. 


3- 

The  Law  of  Nature  ami 

Grace. 

THE  Christian  is  one  who 
should  live  in  an  higher  region 
than  fiesh  or  nature,  and  when 
God  saith  come  up  hither,  he  shall 
live  there,  even  in  Spirit  with  him; 
so  as  though  grace  destroys  not 
nature,  yet  it  perfects  and  glori- 
fies nature,  and  leads  it  out  into 
higher  and  more  excellent  attain- 
ments, than  it  can  find  in  itself; 
nature  lives  by  this  law.   Preserve 


Cor.  4.12. 
Pet.2,-23. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,         io3 

thyself,  thy  life,   thy  lands,  thy 

rights  and  privileges,  avenge  thy-  Mat.  5.  as. 

self,  an  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  i^^^-^^-^^- 

tooth  for  a  tooth,   and  love  only 

thy  neighbour  :  Grace  lives  by  this 

law.  Deny  thyself  forsake  lands, 

life,   houses,   take  up   the   Cross, 

if  he  take  thy  cloak  let  him  have  >iat.  5.  40, 

thy  coat  also,  love    thy  enemies,     '*"'' 

bless  them  that  curse  thee  ;  when 

thou  art  reviled  revile  not  again,  1 

when  thou  sufferest  threaten  not. 

4- 

The  Gospel  Method  of 
Victory, 

SUFFERINGS  are  ways  of  vec- 
tory  in  another  method  and 
form;  he  that  conquers  under  per- 
secution, receives  in  the  enmity, 
wrath,  and  opposition  of  his  ene- 
mies into  himself,  and  there 
quenches  it  and  destroys  it  in  Spi- 
rit ;  for  the  Christian  being'  one 
with  the  Lord  Jesus,  flesh  of  his 
flesh,  and  bone  of  his  bone,  is  par-  Eph. 
taker  of  thatpoz^er  and  glory  which 
was  in  CAnsf; 'and  through  him 


104  Some  Beams  of  that 

(who  hath  overcome  the  world)  we 
Rniii.  8.  are  more  than  conquerors,  and  this 
I  John  5. 4.  is  our  victovy ,  even  our  faith  ;  and 
the  strength  and  life  of  Christ  is 
shed  abroad  through  all  his  People^ 
so  as  death  hath  no  sting  for  them, 
and  the  grave  no  victory  over  them, 
I  CoV.is.  the  violence  of  fire  is  quenched, 
mouths  of  lions  stopped,  kingdoms 
subdued. 

5- 

Hoio  Resist'uigs  in  some  are 
of  Flesh,  and  of  the  Law 
of  Nature  in  others. 


Heb.  11. 


R' 


ESISTINGS  are  ever  from 
want  of  conformity  to  the 
will  of  God;  and  though  God  or- 
der and  dispose  all  the  ways  of  7nQn, 
Roin.8. 28.  and  act  them  to  his  own  purpose 
and  glory,  yet  the  weakness  and 
selfish  courses  of  man  are  no  way 
excusable  because  of  that,  for  man 
acts  from  a  principle  of  his  own, 
and  of  fesh  contrary  to  that  re- 
vealed and  manifested  providence 
that  God  held  forth  to  him,  and  in 
that  he  originally  and  naturally 


Bright  and  Mornhig  Star.       los 

departs  from  God,  and  becomes  a 
god  unto  himself,  judging- ^oocZ  and 
evil  for  himself,  which  is  the  tast- 
ing of  t\\Q  forbidden  tree,  and  seeks 
out  many  inventions. 

Thus  it  is  in  some,  yet  in  others 
it  is  from  that  very  law  of  nature 
and  self-preservation  under  which 
they  live  and  are  acted. 


6. 

The  Advantage  Christians 
have  of  Bondage. 

THERE  are  times  of  bondage 
which  God  hath  for  his,  and 
through  which  they  must  pass  into 
more  spiritual  liberty  and  enjoy- 
ments of  Jesus  Christ ;  for  God 
hath  this  design,  to  increase  his  Acts  s.  i, 
Gospel  by  scattering-  such  as  pro- 
fess it  amongst  other  people,  that 
the  earth  may  hQ  filled  with  know- 
ledge, and  to  make  his  own  fulness 
the  portion  of  his  people,  and  to 
carry  them  through  some  confor- 
mity to  the  flesh  of  Jesus  Christ, 
even  the  fellowship  of  his  suffer- 
ings and  death,  which  is  most  spi- 

F  2 


lOG  Some  Beams  of  that 

ritual,  as  it  is  most  inward^  and 
in  Spirit  or  sinful  Jiesh,  but  as  it 
is  more  outward  and  carnal,  as  in 
persecution  ;  so  it  is  a  figure  or 
image  of  the  more  spiritual :  and 
further,  the  bondage  of  God's  peo- 
ple, according  to  this  account  I 
speak  on,  is  in  the  type  of  the  Jew's 
bondage,  when  the  Chaldeans  were 
to  take  Jerusalem,  Jeremiah  told 
them,  he  that  goeth  forth  to  the 
■■  34.  -2.  Chaldeans  shall  live,  and  shall  have 
his  life  for  a  prey  ;  and  go  forth, 
says  he,  to  the  King  of  Babylon's 
Princes  and  live ;  but  if  ye  stay 
in  the  City,  ye  shall  be  consumed, 
which  is  a  figure  or  shadow  of 
abiding  longer  in  any  dispensation, 
or  way,  than  God  is  clearly  in  it, 
and  his  presence  appears  upon  it. 


7- 
Upo7i    what    Account    the 
furest  and  freest  outward 
Liberty  is, 

THE  People  of  God  shall  re- 
ceive their  best  and  purest 
outward  liberty  upon  another  ac- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         i07 

count  than  their  own  strength,  de- 
sign, and  activity,  and  that  is  by 
these  ways. 

The  glory  of  Christ  and  the  light 
of  God  shining'  more  in  their  ^aces 
and  outward  yuan,  the  nations  shall 
bring  their  glory  unto  them,  and 
shall  take  hold  of  the  Skirt  of  him  Ztcii.s.23. 
that  is  a  Jew,  and  say,  we  hear 
that  God  is  in  you. 

The  meekness,  peace,  love,  and 
righteousness  that  shall  appear  from 
them,  as  beams  from  the  Sun,  shall 
much  prevail  upon  the  world,  which 
are  those  on\j  graces  that  the  world 
can  love  and  be  enamoured  on  in 
God's  people,  for  they  are  graces 
that  g'o  out  to  the  blessing,  and 
prosperity ,  ?inA  preservation  of  the 
world,  and  in  such  a  dispensation 
as  this,  it  is,  that  all  men  love  God, 
because  he  appears  to  them  in 
things  of  their  own  nature,  his  Sun 
shining  upon  the  unjust,  and  his  Mat.  5.  45. 
rain  upon  the  wicked,  and  in  such 
a  dispensation  it  is  that  men  shall 
love  the  people  of  God,  while  they 
shine  upon  them  in  such  things  as 
they  can  bear  and  love ;  though 
still  according  to  another  Revela- 
tion of  them^  or  manifestation  of 


108  Some  Beams  of  that 


God  in  them,  they  shall  be  hated, 
as  they  do  God  himself. 

And  the  other  way  for  liberty  is 
the  power  of  God  upon  the  hearts 
of  Princes  and  nations,  of  which 
Cyrus  and  Darius  were  figures : 
Jci.  52.  and  the  King-  of  Babylon  lifting  up 
the  head  of  Jehoiakin. 

And  that  other  way  is  the  Spi- 
rituality of  God's  people,  raising 
them  from  the  love  of  worldly  In- 
terests and  Engagements,  save  only 
for  righteousness  sake,  and  thegood 
of  nations  in  administration  of 
judgment  and  peace,  and  when 
Christians  appear  to  the  worldmore 
disengaged  from  the  love  oi power. 
Dominion,  Riches,  earthly  glory, 
and  the  nations  find  them  not  in 
their  own  ways,  nor  desiring  to  live 
with  them  in  their  borders  and 
fruitful  plains,  nor  seeking  their 
vineyards,  nor  plucking  apples 
from  their  trees ;  their  jealousy, 
revenge,  enmity,  in  part  and  per- 
secution shall  cease  towards  them  ; 
the  other  way  is,  God  shall  make 
Jerusalem  a  burthensome  stone, 
and  a  cup  of  trembling  to  all  na- 
tions, they  shall  be  weary  of  afflict- 
ing them,  because  of  the  affliction 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        luo 

that  shall  come  upon  them  where 
they  are  carried  away  captive  ;  and 
the  Philistines  were  a  type  of  this, 
when  they  found  the  Ark  of  God 
plaguing-  them  with  Emrods,  and 
they  were  to  send  it  away  with  an 
offering. 

8. 

A  Word  concerning  Heresy 
and  Schism. 

SOME  books  have  been  writ 
against  me  and  I  have  been 
silent,  and  was  rather  willing  to  sit 
under  the  shadow  of  another's  con- 
tradiction and  reproach,  than  to 
reply,  till  God  by  his  Spirit^  in 
the  hearts  of  such  as  did  oppose, 
might  bring  forth  my  righteousness 
as  the  noon  day  ;  and  then  we, 
who  had  been  enemies  through  the 
several  measures  of  light  we  see  by, 
and  judging  each  other  rather  in 
Jiesh  than  Spirit,  might  rejoice  and 
embrace  as  brethren  in  the  unity 
of  the  same  faith  ;  and  I  saw  fur- 
ther, that  in  books  of  controversy  I 
left  my  adversary  still  upon  some 
account  with  me  for  passion  and 


110  Some  Beams  of  that 

recrimination,  as  all  others  do  on 
all  sides,  whom  I  see  write  ;  there- 
fore I  rather  made  it  my  choice  to 
isa.  26.20.  enter  into  the  chamber  (or  retire- 
ment of  Spirit)  and  shut  the  door 
upon  me  till  the  indignation  be 
over-past ;  for  we  can  set  but  letter 
to  letter,  and  Scripture  to  Scrip- 
ture, and  argument  to  argument, 
and  interpretation  to  interpreta- 
tion, and  nothing  can  be  judged 
till  the  day  or  time  of  more  reve- 
lation oi truth,  till  the  Holy  Ghost 
dindjire  sit  upon  each  of  us,  trying 
every  man's  work  of  what  sort  it 
is,  and  burning  up  that  in  us  which 
is  hay  and  stubble;  for  writing 
hook  after  book  in  such  a  line  of  Re- 
plies and  Rejoinders,  hath  usually 
more  of  man  than  God  in  it,  and 
we  seem  to  say  with  our  lips  we 
will  prevail,  our  tongues  are  our 
own,  who  is  Lord  over  us  ?  I  am 
not  against  contending  for  truth 
earnestly,  but  that  is  in  Spirit,  not 
in  flesh,  nor  passions  ;  and  I  know 
well  that  the  Spirit  of  God  is  flow- 
ing in,  and  is  aflre  in  the  bosom, 
but  still  as  a  refiner  s  fire  trying 
and  purifying ,  not  scorching  nor 
burning  up  that  which  is  pure  and 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         ill 

spiritual  in  one  another;  and  I 
know  some  allowance  there  must 
be  on  all  sides  to  infirmities  and 
darkness,  and  several  conceptions 
of  truth  in  all,  which  yet  hath  not 
been ;  and  I  know  not  any  of  us 
that  eitherpreac^  or  write  on  Scrip- 
tures in  such  a  light  of  Spirit  as 
the  Apostles  writ  the  Scriptures. 


Her^esi/. 

HERESY  is  a  choice,  in  the  a/^fo-.f. 
signification  of  the  word, 
and  in  the  ap)plication  of  it  in  Scrip- 
ture, it  is  a  choice  of  some  other 
thing  for  truth  than  is  truth,  by 
those  who  seemingly  received  truth, 
though  after  they  make  another 
choice  of  that  which  is  contrary  to 
truth. 

Heresy,  which  was  judged  by 
the  Apostles  accordingly,  was  a 
choice  of  some  thing  contrary  to 
the  faith  and  sound  doctrine  of 
Scriptures  delivered  by  inspiration, 
or  in  Spirit  and  Truth ;  so  as  He- 
resy is  something  against  the  very 
Doctrine  of  Faith  in  the  Word  or  jfaik  7.  9. 
Scriptures,  not  against  any  inter- 


112  Some  Beams  of  that 

pretationSj  doctrines,  conclusions^ 
glosses,  Comynents,  or  Preachings 
of  men,  who  speak  not  Scripture, 
nor  the  word  of  trxith  originally 
nor  infallibly,  as  the  Apostles  did; 
but  so  far  as  that  is  the  very  Scrip- 
ture they  speak,  and  so  far  as  they 
speak  the  truth  in  Jesus ;  and  in 
the  Spirit  of  God,  else  they  teach 
for   Doctrines  the    Traditions  of 


Schism, 

SCHISM  is  a  breaking  off,  a 
renting  or  dividing  from  Chris- 
tians who  are  in  an  outward  pro- 
fession of  truth,  and  in  an  outward 
fellowship  of  truth. 

Now  there  may  be  Schism  in 
visible  Churches  or  fellowships  of 
Saints  upon  this  account,  but  there 
can  be  none  in  the  true  body  of 
Christ,  or  the  spiritual  Church, 
which  is  baptized  by  one  spirit  into 
one  body,  for  they  that  arc  joined 
to  the  Lord  are  one  Sinrit,  and 
they  are  made  perfect  in  one  ;  and 
so  far  as  they  are  in  that  one  Spirit 
cannot  be  divided,  nor  can  suffer 
any  Schism;    so   as  the  dividing 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         lis 

from  men  merely,  or  the  fellow  - 
shijjs  of  men  merely,  or  the  errors 
of  men,  or  departing  into  higher 
attainments  of  truth ;  while  the 
rest  of  the  visible  fellowships  sit 
still,  is  no  Schism,  for  if  so,  the 
Protestants  were  a  Schism  toRome, 
and  Presbyterians  to  Bishojys,  and 
all  that  go  on  from  faith  to  faith, 
from  glory  to  glory,  to  the  rest 
whom  they  leave  behind. 

9- 

Truth. 

THERE  is  but  one  Truth,  and 
that  is  Jesus  Christ;  I  am  John  14.6. 
the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  he  is 
Truth  III  the  original  or  pattern  ; 
and  we  see  nor  know  no  more  Truth 
than  we  see  and  knoiu  in  him,  this 
is  called  the  truth  us  it  is  in  Jesus : 
For  Jesus  Christ  is  the  A  Ipha  and 
Omega  of  all  things,  and  compre- 
hends all  essence,  and  form,  and 
life,  and  Spirit  of  things  in  him- 
self; and  all  things  of  this  Creation 
are  but  Shadows  and  Images  of  this 
Truth,  and  the  outward  forms  of 
th^it  glory;  this  Truth  makes  free, 


114  Some  Beams  of  that 

that  is  the  operatio/i  of  it ;  and 
tlierefore  so  much  of  Truth  or  of 
Christ  any  one  knows  or  receives, 
so  much  freedom  or  liberty  they 
receive,  and  so  much  they  are  de- 
livered into  the  f/lorious  liberty  of 
the  Sons  of  God;  and  where  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  li- 
berty :  And  therefore  as  Truth  is 
in  any,  so  is  spiritual  liberty,  and 
the  Spirit  of  bondage  in  them  passes 
away,  and  such  are  disburdened  of 
the  legal  terrors,  fears,  of  the  lies, 
delusions,  false  conceptions,  tra- 
ditions under  which  they  have  lived 
as  they  g-row  up  into  Truth;  the 
Spirit  of  Truth  only  teaches  and 
reveals  this  Truth;  and  opens  those 
treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge 
which  are  in  Christ.  Truth,  though. 
it  be  but  one,  yet  it  shines  forth  in 
many  streams  of  glory,  and  opens 
like  day ;  in  Jesus  Christ  this  variety 
of  truth7i])'^e?iYsth?ittruth,0Y  glory , 
or  true  brightness  of  God,  and  all 
that  truth  of  this  Creation  ot  forms 
of  the  world;  z.ni\?i\\  truth  of  Letter, 
ovScripture,  oroutward  Ordinance 
is  in  its  pure  Essence  and  Spirit  in 
Jesus  Christ;  Truth  gathers  up 
men  more  into  Christ  from  the  Jiesh 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,         ii5 

and  loose  vanity  of  the  world  ;  and 
therefore  we  are  said  to  have  our 
loins  girt  with  truth ;  the  girdle  of  Eph.  6. 14. 
truth,  as  it  were,  binding-  us  up, 
and  keeping'  close  in  Spirit  to  the 
Lord ;  there  is  a  fulness,  settle- 
ment, and  establishment  in  truth, 
as  in  things  of  this  world  ;  there  is 
a  far  more  solid  and  real  enjoyment 
in  the  substance  of  things  here  than 
in  their  shadows,  counterfeits,  or 
pictures,  because  there  is  a  nature, 
or  Spirit  and  life  in  that  thing  to 
be  enjoyed,  and  answers  the  Spirit 
and  life  of  him  that  enjoys,  by  com- 
municating something  substantial, 
solid,  and  proportionable  than 
images  and  shadows  are.  So  it  is 
in  the  truth,  Jesus  Christ,  in  whom 
is  life,  andmoYeexcelle7it, glorious, 
and  spiritual  form,  or  life,  exceed- 
ing the  nature  of  things  here,  and 
communicatino-  more  true  and  solid 
glory ,  than  all  things  here,  which 
are  but  as  shadows  to  that,  as  other 
things  are  shadows  to  them  ;  there- 
fore, says  David,  I  shall  behold 
thy  face  in  righteousness  ;  I  shall 
be  satisfied  when  I  awake  ivith  thy 
likeness,  as  if  the  face  or  likeness 
of  God,  which  is  Jesus  Christ  the 


lie  Some  Beams  of  that 


image  of  the  invisible  God,  could 
only  satisfy ;  and  the  soul  in  such 
a  prospect  of /?^/i^  nnd  f/lory  is  truly 
awakened,  till  when,  it  is  but  asleep 
and  in  dreams  and  visions  of  its  own 
spirit,  all  the  life  and  discoveries  of 
se7ise  and  reason  being  but  dreams 
rather  than  true  awakenings  ;  and 
therefore  the  more  any  one  hath 
seen  of  truth  in  Jesus,  the  more 
spiritually  and  highly  theyjudg-e 
of  all  outward  things,  being  not 
satisfied  in  the  mere  letter  ov  form 
of  them,  but  in  the  spirituality  of 
them,  and  true  life  of  them,  which 
is  Jesus  Christ. 


The  Mysteri/  of  true  Chris- 
tiaji  Liberty  from  God, 
not  from  J\Ian,  or  the 
Power  of  ]\Ien, 

WE  have  hitherto  filled  much 
paper  with  Scriptures,  Rea- 
sons, and  Arguments  for  Liberty 
of  conscience,  and  thus  far  it  hath 
been  well  in  order  to  the  peace  of 
those  whose  consciences  in  outward 
things  run  cross,  contrary,  and 
destructive  to  others,  both  in  rule 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        117 

and  practice,  so  as  when  Chris- 
tians are  under  several  forms  and 
administrations,  and  these  diame- 
trical, or  opposite  to  each  other, 
and  mutually  contradicting  and 
expelling  each  other,  here  can  be 
no  Peace  nor  Preservation  of  all, 
but  from  an  indulgeyicy  or  liberty 
in  all ;  and  this  is  such  a  liberty  as 
7nen  may  give  to  men ;  this  is  the 
liberty  of  the  outward  man,  and  is 
upon  the  old  legal,  a.ndjirst  Gos- 
pel or  New  Testament  account,  as 
in  the  mere  letter,  as  in  those 
Scriptures ;  but  this  is  yet  below 
the  true  Christian  Liberty,  and  a 
mystery  unwritten,  which  is  ori- 
ginally from  the  Spirit  of  God, 
and  is  merely  spiritual,  and  works 
from  a  pure  enlargement  of  Spirit, 
and  a  true  spiritual  Prospect  of 
all  outward  things,  which  is  an 
image  of  that  liberty  which  is  in 
God,  who  appears  under  his  seve- 
ral forms  of  Creation  pure  and 
holy  in  himself  or  his  own  nature. 
But  this  is  a  mystery  yet,  and  a 
land  of  peace  and  purify,  not  yet 
clearly  discovered ;  nor  the  right 
inhabitants  of  it,  but  to  some  ;  and 
this  liberty  will  further  appear  as 


118  Some  Beams  of  that 

the  Lord  Jesus  is  more  and  more 
revealed  in  the  Saints,  judginr/  the 
world  in  Spirit,  and  reigning-  over 
the  tyranny  and  j)Owcr  of  men  in 
z glory  of  Spirit,  which  ^\\?i\\  judge 
and  torment  their  adversaries, 
while  they  shall  triumph  over  all 
the  practices  in  the  flesh  against 
them. 

A  Discovery  of  the  highest 
Attainment  of  the  Pi^o- 
test  ants  generally  i?i  the 
Mystery  of  Salvation. 

Gen.  1.      A  -D^Mwas  the  first  man,  cre- 

-^^    ated  after  God's  own  image. 

Gen.  2.  he  was  a  public  person,   and  'he 

*  Js*'  ^^*  sinning,  sin  entered  upon  all,  and 

Rom.  5.  death  by  sin  ;  the  Zaz6'  was  after- 

d%o   ^^'^'"^^^  revealed  by  God  to  Moses, 

wherein  was  a  copy   of  that  first 

image  or  righteousness  from  whence 

Rom.  5.  w«w  fell,  and  under  the  condem- 

^2       nation  of  which  all  mankind  were 

by  nature,  or  as  born  of  their  first 

The  way    of  life    or   salvation, 

which  w^as  revealed  to  be  a  w^ay 

^[*y"^-  ^-  out  of  this  condeinnation  and  death, 


Bright  and  Morni?ig  Star.  ii9 

was  by  Jesus   Christ,  the  Son  of 
God,  born  of  a  Virgin  in  the  ful- 
ness of  time  made  under  the  Law,  Rom.  8.  3. 
and  fulfilling"  the  Law,  bearing  our    \q^  '>^q\ 
sins,  crucified,  dead,  buried,  and 
risen,  ascended,  and  entered  into  Heb.  9. 
glory,    and    sitting    at   the    right     ''^^'  ^^' 
hand  of  God,  making  intercession 
for  us ;    and  by  the  Preaching  of 
this  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Ministery  Eph.  4.  8, 
of  the  Word  which  he  hath  set  in     ^'  '*''  ^'■ 
his  Church,  a  true  and  lively  faith 
is  begotten  in  the  hearts  of  men, 
such    as   are    elect   or   chosen   in  Rom.  10. 
Christ  before   the  fouridation   of  g  ^J"  j  ^ 
the  world  was  laid,  not  from  any 
works  foreseen,  but  of  God's  mere 
grace ;  and  by  this  faith  so  begot-  Eph.  2.  8. 
ten,  they  apply  Jestis  Christ  and 
all  his  merits  to  righteousness  and  ^gs^ls^^ 
justification ;    and    through   this, 
and  the  sanctified  use  of  all  other 
ordinances  of  God,  as  Preaching,  1  cor.  1. 
Prayer,  Sacraments,  the  regene-     ^^' 
rate  are  more  and  more  sanctified, 
and  so  built  up  in  graces  oi  faith,  2  pet.  1. 
repentance,  love,  new  obedience,     5>c,  r. 
and  made  to  persevere  through  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation  :  Nor 
is  the  Ministery  of  the  Law  use-  cai.  3.  24. 
less  in  this,  the  Law  being  a  part 


120  Some  Beams  of  that 

of  this  Ministery  to  bring-  men  to 
Christ,  or  to  make  tliem  seek  out 
for  mercy,  they  discerning^  their 
misery  by  the  preaching  of  the 
Law,  it  being  God's  usual  method 
in  Scriptures  not  to  offer  the  Gos- 

Mat.  n.  pel   without    this  preparatory  of 

*^'       humiliation   and   contrition  ;    and 

men  so  humbled  and  wounded  by 

the  Law  are  only  fit  for  the  mercy 

of  the  Gospel  or  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Act.  1.11.  This  Jesus  Christ  they  believe 
to  be  one  ascended  according  to 
that  body  he  appeared  in,  and 
sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
and  in  the  figure  o^  glorified  flesh, 
according  to  which  all  the  Saints 

1  Cor.  15.  shall  be  glorified  in  their  souls  and 
bodies;  and  in  Jesus  Christ  thus 
glorified  m  flesh,  and  entered  thus 
into  his  Father  s  glory,  they  be- 
lieve ;  and  to  the  Lord  Jesus  in 
this^^wre  and /brm  of  glory  with- 
out them  they  are  carried  out  in 
faith;  and  through  Jesus  Christ 
thus  they  believe  that  they  are^w*- 
tified,  and  through  the  Spirit  of 
God  in  this  Jesus  Christ  they  are 
sanctified. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        121 


Of  Faith, 

FAITH,  they  say,  is  a  grace 
wrought  by  the  Spirit  of  God^ 
whereby  a  believer  rests  upon  Jesus 
Christ  for  justification,  and  this 
they  call  faith  of  adherence  ;  and 
when  t\ns  faith  works  through  love, 
obedience,  self-denial,  and  other 
fruits,  they  call  it  faith  of  assur- 
ance ;  for,  they  say,  assurance  is 
obtained  through  the  Spirit  of  God 
bearing  witness  in  promises  and 
good  works,  as  well  as  by  itself; 
and  faith,  working  thus,  is  sancti- 
fication  too,  or  holiness  wrought  by 
graces. 

A  further  Discovery  as  to 
Free-Grace. 

THEY  believe  Jesus  Christ  as- 
cended in  the  body  accord- 
ingly, and  glorified  in  fiesh;  and 
through  Jesus  Christ  thus  ascend- 
ed, and  sitting  on  the  right  hand 
of  God  in  this  figure  and  bodily 
form,  they  accoidingly  conceive 
all  graces  of  Spirit  to  flow  forth 


122  Some  Beams  of  that 

into  the  Saints  in  faith,  love,  obe- 
dience, ^c. 

But  they  look  not  on  justif  cation 
as  flowing-  from  Christ  acted  upon 
by  the  faith  of  a  believer  first,  and 
so  a  consequent  of  believing  or  of 
faith,  but  an  antecedent  or  going 
before  faith ;  they  hold  Jesus  Christ 
to  be  righteousness  and  justif  ca- 
tion to  a  sinner,  and  that  all  are 
Justif  ed  before  they  believe  or  re- 
pent;  faith  and  repentance  are 
fruits  of  righteousness  or  justif  ca- 
tion,  Christ  being  given  to  open  the 
Luke  4. 10.  eyes  of  the  bli?id,  and  to  briyig  the 
prisoners  out  of  prison,  ^c.  and 
that  all  such  righteousness  and 
justif  cation  clothes  the  sinner  so 
completely  through  God's  ijnputa- 
tion,  that  all  sin  is  done  away  like 
Ezck.  a  thick  cloud,  and  none  imputed  to 
believers;  Christ  hath  taken  away 
1  Pet. 2. 24.  all  sin  by  his  offering  up  one  sacri- 
26.^"  "^^'fce  once  for  all ;  and  that  faith  in 
the  believer  doth  nothing,  no  not 
instrumentally  as  to  justif  cation^ 
but  as  by  way  of  revelation  and 
manifestation  of  th2it justif  cation  : 
Hence  it  is  that  they  affirm  no  be- 
liever ought  to  pray  for  pardon  of 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         123 

sin,  being-  a  righteous  pe7'son,  at 
once  in  Christ,  and  wholly  par- 
doned;  but  all  this  righteoiisiiess 
and  justification  they  take  upon 
the  account  merely  of  God's  im- 
putation, of  Christ  without  us,  or 
in  heaven,  who  calleth  things  that 
are  not  as  if  they  were  ;  and  they 
look  upon  all  works  and  duties,  S^c. 
as  works  flowing  from  love,  and 
from  justification  or  righteousness, 
not  directed  to  justification  or  in 
any  order  to  it;  we  believe,  repent, 
love,  and  obey  (say  they)  not  that 
we  may  be  saved,  but  because  we 
are  saved ;  and  any  other  way  of 
believing,  obeying,  S^c.  they  look 
upon  as  legal,  and  not  so  purely 
Evangelical ;  and  they  hold  forth 
all  the  work  of  justification  and 
righteousness  to  be  of  mere  grace, 
and  that  all  Gospel  promises  are 
free ;  and  Christ  is  freely  offered 
to  sinners  as  sinners,  in  the  Minis- 
tery  of  the  Word. 

So  as  their  highest  attainment 
is  this,  that  God  doth  all  to  sinners  Ezek.  lo. 
in  mere  grace ;  that  no  sin  is  im-  Epii.^2.^«. 
puted  to  sinners,  but  they  are  pure     8.  9- 

II,-  4,\-  A  J  Cor.  1. 

only   by  imputation ;    and    so  no     30 


124  Some  Beams  of  that 


1  Pet.  2.  believers  are  punished  for  sin,  but 
Isa^i3  G.  ^roDi  ^^'*  •   ^"^  ^1^  works  of  ^race 

L„j.^.  1.  in  a  believer  is  because  they  are 

7-1,  '5.  saved,  or  pardoned,  not  that  they 

may  be  saved  or  pardoned  ;    and 

2  Cor.  5.  all  they  are  to  do  is  from  love,  not 
'^        from  bondacje,  or  from  a  mere  out- 
ward    Commandment;     and     the 

Matt.  9.  Gospel  or  cjrace  of  God  in  Christ 

1  lim*  1   is/ree,  and  in  free  promises  ;  and 

13.        so  to  be  preached  to  sinners,  as 

seeConfes-  '^  ^ey,  commonlv  called  Presby- 
sion  of  terians,  Independents,  Anabaptists, 
'^in'thisAs-  &c.  hold  all  points  of  doctrine,  as 
sembiy.  jq  justification,  sanctification, 
cmfes-  faith,  ^c.  the  ministery  of  the 
sion  of       word  and  Sacraments,  which  they 

the  sex>en  c        i         •  n     i 

Churches,  call  means  oi  salvation ;  all  these 
hold  alike  with  the  common  Pro- 
testant;  this  being  the  sum  of  the 
Artu-ies  of  Articlcs  of  the  Church  of  England 
ofEn"-'^^  made  by  the  Bishops  and  con- 
lund.  firmed  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  King 

James,  and  King  Charles :  and 
there  hath  been  no  Reformation 
further,  nor  any  higher  attain- 
ment in  these  things,  than  the  Bi- 
shops made,  and  the  Synod m  Eng- 
land formerly. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        121 

And  all  the  Reformation  that 
hath  been  endeavoured,  hath  been 
only  in  some  outward  things,  as 
Discipline  or  Church-government , 
and  some  outward  ordinances  of 
Baptism,  and  the  Supper,  not  any- 
purer  or  more  glorious  discoveries 
of  God,  or  the  Spirit,  or  Jesus 
Christ,  or  our  union  with  the 
Sjnrit,  or  glory,  as  to  spiritual 
things,  or  Christ  risen,  but  as  to 
Christ  in  the  fiesh,  or  under  the 
law,  of  which  these  ordinances 
were  a  sign. 


A  Discovery  as  to  the  ge- 
neral Point,  or  Christ 
dying  for  all. 

^'^HEY  say  the  Scriptures  hold  Rom.  5. 
forth  all  sinning,  and  Christ  ^  coV^5* 
dying  for  all,  and  the  promises  of     is. 
Christ  generally  to  all,  upon  con-  *^''''"  ^'  ^^'' 
dition,  and  exhortations  to  all  to  2Pet.  3.  9. 
repent,  believe  and  come  to  Christ ; 
and   therefore  conclude   the    Lord 
Jesus  or  second  man  was  given 
from  the  Father  to  give  a  price  of 


Juhnl.  11. 


126  Some  Beams  of  that 

redemption  for  all  those  who  fell 
in  the^/\«f^  man;  and  those,  they 
say,  were  all  mankind,  and  with 
Christ  a  Ministery  of  reconcilia- 
tion and  graces  to  all  that  will  not 
wilfully  reject,  or  refuse,  or  put 
iMat.  23.  by  the  offers  of  grace  and  salva- 
'i  Pet  3.  9.  ^^^^  ^®  tendered,  but  remain  pas- 
sive, and  so  far  as  in  them  lies,  not 
oppose  the  Spirit  and  means  of 
grace,  though  they  acknowledge 
they  can  do  nothing  of  themselves 
to  obtain  faith  or  any  other  work 
of  salvation,  but  all  that  is  merely 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  working  in 
those  who  are  called;  and  upon 
these  general  terms  of  grace  they 
affirm  also  the  election  of  some 
which  they  conclude  from  that 
work  of  God  in  them  who  are 
called  of  God  through  the  means 
of  grace,  they  not  resisting  that 
calif  or  present  offer  of  grace. 

And  this  they  say  is  the  Gospel 
of  salvation  preached  to  all,  which 
all  may  receive  if  they  resist  not. 


•2  Ptt.  3.  9. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.       127 


77? e  last  Discovery,  and  as 
some  say,  the  highest  and 
most  glorious,  concerning 
the  whole  Mystery  of  God 
to  Men,  and  this  Crea- 
tion. 

GOD  being*  infinitely  one,  yet 
in  a  three-fold  manifestation 
to  us,  of  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit, 
would  make  out  himself  in  an  image 
in  this   Creation,  or  nature,   and 
therefore  he  takes  to  himself  one 
part  of  it  into  union  to  himself, 
according  to  one  way  of  manifes-  Ps^ii.sfjo. 
tation,  called  in  Scripture    light,  \Y^^i^^ 
love,    grace,     salvation,    father,  T\t.  2.11. 
bridegroom,  glory,   and  that  part  jj'hlf  3.^2';! 
of  nature  which  enjoys  God  in  this  i  P'^t-  ii'^- 
manifestation  of  grace  or  salvation,  Eph.  1*1.4, 
is  called  the  Angels,  the   Saints,  ^  J-^^'-  ^'^■ 
the  Elect,  the  Son,  the  Tabernacle  Rev!  21.2, 
of  God;  the  neiu  Jerusalem,  the     ^' 
Temple,  the  Spouse. 

He  takes  to  himself  the  other 
part  of  the  Creation,  and  there  he 
is  present,  but  not  in  this  way  of 
gi^ace  and   light,   but   of  another 


128  Some  Beams  of  that 

majdfestaiion  called  law,  justice, 
wrath y  everlasting  burnings;   and 
Psa.  139.S.  these  are  called  devils,  wicked  men, 
iu,l!  l^/u,  Jlcsh,  which  live  in  God,  and  sub- 
sist in  hiin  as  creatures  in  their 
being,   but   not   in  his  grace  and 
glory ,  not  in  that  manifestation  of 
Joim  1.  5.    his,  the  light  shining  in  darkness^ 
but   the  darkness   comprehending 
it  not. 

This  is  the  mystery  God  is  in, 
as  to  this  Creation  and  the  biig-hter 
part  of  it,  as  to  Angels,  Saints; 
and  to  the  darker  part  of  it,  as  to 
devils  and  wicked  7nen ;  and  all 
that  God  doth  here  below,  under 
the  Sun,  is  to  preach  this  in  several 
tcays  or  ministrations,  as  in  the 
appearances  of  this  Creation,  in 
light,  and  darkness,  and  in  the 
Scriptures. 
J.  )in  5.  39.  The  Scriptures  are  no  other  than 
a  way  or  ministration  by  letter  of 
this  mystery,  and  all  the  passages 
there,  from  the  first  man  to  the 
second,  from  the  Old  Testament 
to  the  New,  with  those  two  very 
appearances  of  the  two  men  or 
r.cH.  1.  Adams,  were  but  a  miyiistery  or 
^  47T'48.^*  wcLy  of  God  to  signify  or  Jigrire 
this  mystery  ;  and  so  all  the  rest 


Bright  and  Mortiing  Star.  129 

we  read  of,  as  of  Cain  and  Abel,  Gen.  4. 
Isaac  and  Ishmael,Jacob?ind  Esau,  Gen. 
Israel  and  Judah,  Saul  and  David,  1  Sam. 
Judas  and  the  Eleven,  Christ  and  Acts  1.25. 
Antichrist ;  and  thus  these  set  forth 
diXid  figure  this  mystery. 

They  say  Adam  was  a  way  by 
which  God  preached  first  to  man, 
and  was  not  the  first  man  in  whom 
all  stood  and  fell,  but  a  way  by  which 
this  mystery  of  God  was  made  to 
appear  first  to  the  Creation,  and 
Adam  held  forth  nature  or  a  part 
of  this  Creation  in  communion  with 
God  as  to  grace  and  /oz;e,  while  he 
stood,  and  another  part  of  the  Cre- 
ation or  nature  out  of  communion 
with  God,  as  to  /ot;e  and  grace, 
but  in  communion  or  union  to  God, 
as  to  law  and  justice,  or  wrath  ; 
and  thus  they  interpret  those  Scrip- 
tures oi  man's  first  glory  and  fall 
less  in  the  very  letter,  and  more 
in  the  mystery,  and  according  to 
Adam,  in  this  two-fold  state,  were 
all  the  rest,  Cain  and  Abel,  Sfc. 

They  say  that  Goc?  in  the  Old 
Testament  preached  this  mystery, 
though  more  darkly,  and  in  sha- 
dows, as  in  the  law,  and  sacrifices,  Gai.  4.  21, 
and  in  the  children  of  the  bond-  2^'2*'^^- 

G2 


130  Some  Beams  of  that 


luoman,  and  o^th^  free,  of  IsraeVs 
walking  with  God,  and  apostating. 
And  that  the  Gospel  or  fulness 
of  ti7ne  of  the  clearer  discovery  of 
this  mystery  was  the  Lord  Jesus 
Idmself,  or  God  manifest  in  the 
flesh,  or  as  in  one  man,  ii  figure  of 
the  ivhole  inystery  as  to  grace  and 
Zo7;e,  or  God  in  flesh,  or  in  his  ;  or 
of  God  in  that  other  par^  of  liis 
Creation,  his  Church  or  Saints : 
And  all  that  Go<^  did  in  this  single 
and  particular  manifestation  in 
flesh,  as  in  one  TWft??,  was  only  a 
more  full,  clearer,  excellent,  and 
spiritual  Ministery  of  the  mystery 
of  salvation;  therefore  Christ  is 
called  a  Minister,  one  sent,  an 
A/,ostle.  And  all  that  Christ  did 
Luke 4.  IS.  from  his  childhood  to  his  crucify- 
Heb.  3. 1.  ^-^^^  death,  and  cross,  was  a  dis- 
covery of  Goc?  by  this^^wre  in  the 
whole  mystery,  how  God  is  in  all 
/a*5,  and  how  he  works,  and  hath 
his  times  of  law,  of  graces,  and 
Gospel,  of  crucifying  and  offering* 
up  all  to  death  through  the  eter- 
nal Spirit,  which  is  the  blood  of 
Heb.  9. 14.  the  everlasting  Covenant,  or  Seal, 
whereby  God  witnesses  to  his  peo- 
ple that  he  is  their  God,  and  they 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        131 

hispeople ,hy]ii\Vmg  all  the  strength 
and  life,  and  power  of  the  first  Cre- 
ation, and  carrying  it  up  into  a  more 
excellent  and  glorious  life,  his  own 
Spirit. 

And  so  all  Christ's  birth,  growing, 
submitting  to  ordinances,  cruci- 
fying, death,  burial,  resurrection, 
ascension,  were  so  many  discoveries 
as  to  us  in  the  fesh,  of  the  whole 
mystery  of  God  in  the  Saints,  made 
out  in  these  parts  and  degrees,  and 
several  ages a.nd  conditions,  to  shew 
how  God  weakens  and  brings  to 
nothing  the  life  of  nature,  or  of 
this  Creation  in  which  he  will  dwell 
and  make  his  Tabernacle,  ?ind  carry 
it  up  into  a  higher  and  more  ex- 
cellent life,  even  himself  and  his  John  it. 
own  glory.  22,23. 

So,  as  they  say,  all  that  is  spoken 
of  Christ,  as  in  that  person  that 
was  born  of  a  Virgin,  who  was  cir- 
cumcised, baptized,  crucified,  dead, 
and  buried,  risen,  and  ascended,  is 
spoken  m  figure  of  the  whole  nature 
into  which  God  enters,  or  is  born 
into  the  ivorld,  and  so  takes  our 
nature  along  wdth  him  through 
several  administrations  into  glory. 

So  as  the  sum  of  all  is  this,  that 


132  Some  Beams  of  that 

the  Lord  takes  our  nature  or  this 
whole  Creation  into  union  with  him- 
self, and  is  present  with  it,  in  two 
ways  of  manifestation,  off/race  and 
salvation,  of  Law  and  Justice ; 
and  thus  God  is  present  with  the 
Angels  and  Saints ;  with  Devils  and 
icicked men ;  and  Adam  and  Christ 
are  the  two  eminent  and  princijial 
administrations  of  this  jnystery^ 
and  all  the  rest  from  C«m  and^^e/, 
through  all  the  other  several  per- 
sons, ordinances,  and  ministeries, 
as  of  Prophets,  Apostles,  Anti- 
christ, are  but  divers  administra- 
tions or  discoveries  of  this  ;  and  all 
ordinances,  gifts,  and  graces  of  the 
Spirit  are  but  weaker  appearances 
of  this  mystery,  and  such  minis- 
trations as  the  Spirit  of  God  ad- 
ministers in  our  nature,  till  it  be 
glorified  in  a  higher  glory  :  when 
-.  13.  that  which  is  perfect  is  come,  that 
^^'  which  is  in  part  shall  be  done  away; 
God  shall  be  unto  us  broad  rivers 
and  streams,  where  shall  go  no  ship 
with  sails,  nor  galley  with  oars. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         133 


An    additional 

Antichrist  and  the  Mys- 
tery of  Iniquity. 

THESE  Scriptures  hold  forth 
a  description  of  Antichrist. 

There  shall  arise  false  Christs  Mark  13. 
and  false    Prophets,    and   shall 
shew  great  signs  and  wonders. 

— Except  there  come  a  falling  2  Thes.  2. 
away  first,  and  that  man  of  sin  be  ^'  '*'  ^" 
revealed,  the  son  of  perdition,  who 
opposeth  and  exalteth  himself 
above  all  that  is  called  God,  or 
that  is  worshipijed  ;  So  that  he  as 
God  sitteth  in  the  Temple  of  God, 
shelving  himself  that  he  is  God. 

—  Whose  coming  is  after  the 
working  of  Satan,  with  all  power 
and  signs,  and  lying  wonders, 
and  with  all  deceivableness  of 
unrighteousness. 

And  as  ye  have  heard  that  An-  1  John  2. 
tichrist  shall  come ,  even  now  there     ^^' 
are  many  Antichrists. 

And  I  beheld  another  beast  ^^'^' ^^^ 
coming  up  out  of  the  earth,  '  ^' 
Sfc. 


And  he  doth  great  ivonders,  so 


3    ^:c. 


134  Some  Beams  of  that 

that  he   maketh  fire  come  down 
from  heaven 

And  deceiveth  them  that  dwell 
on  the  earth,  by  the  mea?is  of 
those  miracles  ivhich  he  hadpower 
to  do. 

And  he  causeth  all,  both  small 
and  great,  Sfc.  to  receive  a  mark 
in  their  right  hand,  or  in  their 
foreheads. 

The  great  whore  that  sitteth 
upon  many  waters. 
Ri'v.  17.  2,  /  saw  a  woman  sit  upon  a  scar- 
let-coloured beast,  full  of  names 
of  Blasphemy,  having  seven  heads 
and  ten  horns,  and  the  woman 
was  arrayed  in  purple  and  scarlet 
colour,  and  decked  with  gold  and 
precious  stones  and  pearls,  having 
a  golden  cvp  in  her  hand  full  of 
abominations,  and  upon  her  head 
written,  mystery  Babylon  the 
great.  And  I  saw  the  woman 
drunken  with  the  blood  of  the 
Saints. 
John  4.  And  every  spirit  that  confesseth 
not  Jesus  Christ  coming  in  flesh 
— is  that  spirit  of  Antichrist. 

From  all  the  Scriptures  and  the 
revelation    of  the   Spirit   of    God 


3. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        135 

concerning   the    mystery    of  ini- 
quity these  things  will  arise. 

That  the  mystery  of  iniquity  or 
Antichrist  is  a  false  Christ,  or  false 
anointed  one,  that  is,  when  any 
other  thing  bat  the  Lord  himself 
is  in  the  place  or  office  of  Christ  a^^  pro 
unto  us,  either  our  own  righteous-  advemu. 
ness,  as  our  Priest  and  Sacrifice, 
or  our  own  wisdom,  wit,  or  reason, 
as  our  Prophet,  and  Teacher,  and 
Interpreter  of  spiritual  things. 

And  this  mystery  of  iniquity, 
or  Antichrist,  is  from  a  fallirig 
away  first,  that  is,  from  a  depar- 
ture from  God,  and  the  life  and 
light  of  God,  and  dependency  or 
subsistence  in  God,  that  is,  when 
man,  or  the  spirit  oUnanwiW  sub- 
sist of  itself,  live  in  itself,  and  be 
wise  of  itself,  and  worship  of  itself, 
and  be  righteous  of  itself;  this  is 
the  man  of  sin,  or  son  o^ perdition, 
or  fiesh  which  God  will  destroy  ; 
and  this  Spirit  of  Antichrist,  or 
man  fallen  thus  from  God,  sits  in 
the  Temple  of  Goc?  as  God;  that 
is,  is  in  aU  forms  of  worship,  and 
there  /zve5,  and  reigns,  and  rules 
the  whole  T/iari  into  a  fleshly  obe- 


136  Some  Beams  of  that 

dience ;  and  his  coming-  or  appear- 
ances are  as  Satan,  tliat  is,  in 
spiritual  wickedness,  transform- 
iw^  himself  into  an  Angel  of  light, 
teaching,  interpreting,  revealing 
the  mysteries  of  God  in  carnal 
reason  and  luisdom  by  natural 
parts  and  arts,  not  in  the  pure 
Spirit  and  anointing  of  Go^,  and 
so  performing-  all  things,  in  order 
to  God  and  his  worship,  and  com- 
munion with  him,  by  lying-  signs 
and  wonders,  and  all  deceivable- 
ness  of  unrighteousness  ;  for  while 
the  spirit  of  man,  in  its  own  wis- 
dom and  power,  acts  in  the  pre- 
tence of  God  and  to  God,  and  in 
the  mig-hty  working  and  power  of 
Satan,  it  doth  bring  forth  5f^?i5 
and  wonders,  even  things  wonder^ 
ful  in  the  e?/e5  of  the  natural  man ; 
and  such  things  as  are  very  signs, 
very  images,  and  shadows  of  »S/?i- 
n^w«/  things,  though  not  the  things 
themselves. 

And  the  appearances  of  this  man 
of  sin  are  many  and  divers,  there- 
fore called  mdi,ny  Antichrists ;  and 
as  this  maji  of  sin  opposes  the 
Lord  Jesus  in  spirit  and  light  he 
is  called  the   beast,  that  ascends 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        137 

out  of  the  earth,  or  the  lowest 
part  of  the  Creation,  the  flesh;  and 
by  the  Jire  or  fieshly  counterfeit- 
ings  of  the  Spirit,  which  he  works 
in  the  sight  of  them  that  dwell  on 
the  earth  or  of  those  that  are  in 
the  flesh,  he  deceives;  And  yet 
such  is  the  power  of  this  beast  or 
this  spirit  of  flesh,  as  it  constrains 
men,  and  compels  them,  and  over- 
comes them  wholly  to  its  own 
power,  making  such  in  whom  it 
reiixns  to  receive  a  mark  in  their 
hand  and  foreheads,  that  is,  to 
own  and  jjrofess  this  fieshly  ivis- 
dom  and  actings,  and  to  practise 
and  put  forth  the  power  of  it 
against  Christ  in  Spirit. 

And  this  is  that  whore  too,  for 
when  the  spirit  of  man  is  departed 
from  God,  and  the  life  of  Gud^ 
it  is  become  an  adulteress,  having 
left  its  first  love,  or  husband, 
which  was  the  Lord  himself,  and 
sits  upon  a  beast,  even  upon  the 
flesh,  a  beast  of  scarlet  colour, 
that  is,  bloody  and  persecuting 
the  precious  and  spiritual  appear- 
ances of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
this  is  a  beast  of  seven  heads  and 
ten  horns,  which  heads  and  horns. 


138  Some  Beams  of  that 

are  but  figures  of  carnal  wisdom 
and  power,  and  the  seven  and 
teji  figures  of  perfectioi  and  com- 
pleteness, as  to  the  7nan  of  sin  ; 
for  the  number  of  the  beast  is  the 
number  of  a  man,  and  yet  his  num- 
ber is  but  666,  that  is,  is  but  a 
number  of  weakness  and  imperfec- 
tion, and  work,  or  bondage ;  not 
the  number  of  God  or  of  seven, 
which  is  perfection  and  rest. 

And  the  whore  is  adorned  with 
gold  and  pearl,  which  are  those 
excellencies  of  nature  and  forms 
of  worship  and  Scriptures  with 
which  she  cZec^s  herself,  and  is 
adorned  as  a  counterfeit  spouse  of 
Christ,  and  upon  her  head  is  wys- 
^erz/,  that  is,  all  this  appearance  of 
hers,  even  her  highest  and  choicest, 
her  head,  is  mystery  to  all,  who 
are  made  drunken  with  the  cup  of 
her  for}iicatio7is , or  STpirhuiil  whore- 
doms and  idolatries,  they  discern- 
ing- none  of  these,  but  all  being*  in 
mystery  to  them. 

And  this  Antichrist  is  one  who 
denies  Christ  coming  in  flesh,  or 
God  in  his  jyeople,  who  is  coming 
and  coming,  that  is  ever  flowing 
out  in  fresh  and  glorious  discove- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        isu 

ries  and  manifestations  oih\\nse\f, 
forbidding  all  beyond  them  as  new 
lights  and  false  revelations^  and 
fixing  God  and  his  appearances  in 
their  Conceptions,  Votes,  and  Re- 
sults, and  Counsels,  and  Conse- 
quences, and  Conclusions,  and 
Laws  of  worship. 

This  Antichrist  thus  described 
is  found  in  man,  or  the  spirit  of 
mere  man,  in  all  his  departure  or 
falling  away  from  God,  in  all  his 
lying  signs  or  count  erf eitings  of 
the  spirit,  in  his  sitting  as  Goc?, 
in  his  being  a  beast  or  opposing 
the  Spirit,  in  his  scarlet  colour, 
or  his  crncifyings  of  Christ  in  us ; 
in  his  denying  the  Lord's  coming 
or  further  manifestations  of  his 
light  and  Spirit  in  us,  and  thus 
quenching  the  Spirit. 

And  from  hence  he  flows  out 
and  spreads  himself  in  the  world 
in  all  Idolatrous  forms  of  worship, 
in  all  false  interpretations  of  God, 
and  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 


149  Some  Beams  of  that 


These  are  the  several 
Attainments. 

The  Common  Protestant. 

THE  common  Protestant,  as  to 
doctrine  and  fundamentals^ 
are  so  far  in  a  discovery  of  the 
mystery  o^  salvation,  as  to  behold 
a  state  oi  condemnation  in  sin,  and 
a  way  of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christy 
and  faith  in  him ;  yet  some  take 
this  way  to  be  but  a  kno\vledp:e  of 
Christ  after  the  flesh,  and  of  Christ 
as  one  single  jierson  or  figure  of  a 
man,  and  the  first  glimpse  of  the 
love  of  God,  and  but  merely  a  dis- 
covery beyond  the  laiu ;  and  all 
but  2l  fleshly  sjnrituality. 

The  general  Redemptionist . 

THEY  that  are  for  general  re- 
demption through  Christ,  in 
the  free  offers  of  grace  to  all,  and 
his  dying  for  all,  some  say,  attain 
no  higher  in  this  than  Christ  after 
the  flesh,  and  fall  into  the  same 
consequence  with  those  that  hold 
the  particular  election  and  repro- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star. 

bation  of  some  ;  and  though  there 
be  in  this  a  more  g-eneral  ministra- 
tion of  Christ  held  forth  according- 
to  the  letter,  yet  they  say  it  goes 
not  so  high  as  the  mystery  oi  Christ 
in  Spirit  and  in  pure  glory  and 
truth,  but  of  Christ  in  glorified 
flesh,  and  as  in  one  single  person 
or  figure  of  a  man  ;  and  all  end 
but  in  2l  fleshly  spirituality,  and  in 
an  attainment  as  to  the  mere  letter 
of  Scripture. 

The  Free-Gracia7i, 

THEY  that  have  discovered  up 
into  free-grace  orthe  jnysiery 
of  salvation,  singled  out  from  con- 
ditions, qualifications,  and  works, 
some  say,  attain  no  higher  in  that 
than  a  discovery  merely  beyond  the 
common  Protestant,  both  going  qo 
higher  than  a  justification  by  im- 
putation, and  through  Christ  after 
the  flesh,  as  in  one  single  person  or 
figure  of  a  7?^a?^  glorified  in  flesh,  or 
the  body  without,  and  in  a  local 
glory,  or  a  circumscribed  nature, 
and  putting  all  the  righteousness 
upon  a  mere  account  in  God,  and 
all  the  taking  away  of  sin  or  sinful 


142  Some  Beams  of  that 

flesh  upon  a  7ion-imputation  or 
not-accounting  not  in  the  cruci- 
fying, death,  ox  fiery  trial  of  the 
flesh,  and  the  pure,  spiritual,  in- 
corruptible seed  of  God  within, 
Christ  hi  us  the  hope  of  glory. 

And  their  highest  attainment,  as 
to  duties  and  ivorks,is  only,  as  some 
say,  to  the  nature  and  manner  of 
their  production  or  flowing  forth, 
they  counting  the  nature  and  ori- 
ginal of  all  no  higher  than  a  habit 
oi grace  or  quality,  and  their  pro- 
ceeding as  immediately  in  the  na- 
ture of  that  which  they  say  is  love ; 
all  they  do  being  from  love,  and  in 
love,  not  in  bondage. 

Conclusion. 

AND  \kiQ%Q. attainments zj^  not 
such  as  are  therefore  con- 
demned, because  no  higher,  or  more 
spiritual,  but  are  only  considered 
as  not  the  highest,  but  in  order  to 
the  mystery  of  salvation,  and  several 
measures  and  ages  of  attainment, 
and  seeing  darkly,  as  in  a  glass, 
till  that  which  is  perfect  is  come. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         143 


A  Discovery  of  Frayer. 

^^HAT  which  hath  been  dis- 
covered concerning  Prayer  is 
this :  First, 

That  they  who  could  not  pray  in 
the  Spirit  might  use  a  form  of 
prayer,  as  John  taught  his  Dis- 
ciples, and  the  Lord  Jesus  his,  in 
that  of  Our  Father,  Sfc.  and  David 
in  thePsalms  ;  and  theApostles  and 
Christ  himself  are  found  in  the 
sameybrmand  expressions  of  prayer 
very  often :  he  went  away  and 
prayed  the  same  things  again; 
Mose5  prayed,  arise,  Lord,  (^c.  and 
again,  arise,  Lord;  this  is  the  Jirst 
discovery,  and  is  truth,  though 
truth  in  weakness  and  infancy. 

A  furtherdiscovery  is,  that  prayer 
is  rather  a  work  of  the  Spirit  than 
of  any  ybrm,  and  that  no  set  form 
ought  to  be  put  upon  the  Spirit  of 
God,  but  what  it  freely  breathes 
and  speaks,  and  all  constant  speak- 
ings to  God  in  this  (as  they  call) 
a  conceived  way,  or  impremeditate, 
or  extemporary  way  is  taken  com- 
monly amongst  Christians  for 
prayer  in  the  Spirit,  and  for  that 


14-1  Some  Beams  of  that 

spiritual  way  of  prayer  which  the 
Disciples  of  Christ  used  in  the 
Gospel,  who  were  grown  up  from 
the  infancy  and  childishness  of 
forms  or  words  taught  them,  which 
is  but  a  mere  natural  or  outward 
thing-,  as  they  say,  which  any  may 
perform  by  strength  of  natural  parts, 
as  wit,  and  memory,  and  affections. 

The  furthest  discovery  as  some 
say,  is  this: 

That  Prayer  is  no  other  but  the 
Rom.  8.  revelation  of  the  will  of  God,  or 
•■io,  27.  jjiij^d  Qf  God,  as  to  such  and  such 
particulars,  either  spiritual  or  tem- 
porul,  and  is  an  immediate,  jiroper^ 
and  sjnritual  act  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  in  the  Saints,  and  that  all  such 
speakinrjs  as  are  not  from  the  very 
manifestation  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
in  us,  are  but  such  prayers  and 
petitions  as  natural  reason,  and 
memory,  and  affections  m^y  form 
and  dictate,  and  doth  usually  ;  and 
that  there  is  no  difference  betwixt 
such  kind  of  praying  and  forms  of 
prayer,  (though  it  may  be  extem- 
porary or  conceived,  as  some  who 
can  pray  upon  this  account  three 
or  four  hours,  and  nothing  more 
frequent  now ;)  nay,  this  kind  of 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         145 

j)rayer  is  far  worse,  by  how  much 
it  trarisforms  itself  more  into  an 
Angel  of  light  and  is  not,  sitting* 
in  the  Temj)le  of  God  as  God ;  or 
pretending  itself  to  be  the  Spirit 
of  God,  and  is  not,  being-  more 
properly  the  flowings  and  breath- 
ings of  reason,  and  the  strength  of 
mans  wit,  and  memory  and  affec- 
tions, and  is  constantly  performed 
in  public  and  private,  and  thus  j^re 
is  fetched  down  from  heaven  in  the 
sight  of  men  that  dwell  upon  the 
earth,  or  such  as  are  yet  more  be- 
loiu  than  above,  or  in  heaven,  and 
Spirit :  and  thus  the  people  of  Israel  Isa.  i. 
ipraye(\,  whose  prayers  were  an  abo- 
mination ;  thus  the  Pharisees  made  Mat. 
long  prayers,  ^c. 

So  as  Prayer  then,  according  to 
this  discovery,  is  the  Spirit  of  Gf7c? 
only  revealing  and  speaking  in  the 
people  of  Go<i,  we  know  not  what 
^o  jora?/  /or  as  we  ought,  that  is,  Rom.  8. 
we,  as  ?^e  are  ourselves  know  not :  ^*^'  ^'^^ 
And  therefore  all  that  we  pray,  and 
not  the  Spirit  of  God  in  us,  not  that 
Spirit  oi Prayer,  spoken  on  in  Scrip- 
ture, is  but  the  Spirit  of  man  pray- 
ing, which  is  but  the  cry  of  the 

H 


146  Some  Beams  of  that 

creature y  or  a  natural  complaining 
for  what  we  want,  as  the  Ninevites, 
and  the  children  and  beasts  of  that 
City  all  cried  unto  the  Lord. 

But  in  pure  prayer  the  Spirit 
helpeth  our  infirmities,  the  Spirit 
Rom.  8.  of  God  which  makes  intercession 
^^'  ^^'  with  groaning s  which  cannot  be 
uttered;  that  is,  the  speakings  or 
manifestations  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
are  not  so  utterable  by  the  Jlesh  or 
voice  oiman,  and  the  Spirit  maketh 
intercession  for  iheSaints  according 
to  the  will  of  God,  or  according  to 
GW,(as  in  the  Greek)  that  is  Prayer 
is  God  speaking  in  us  his  mind  and 
will;  And  therefore  the  Lord  Jesus 
taught  this  in  that  form  and  doc- 
trine of  his :  Thy  ivill  be  done  in 
earth  as  it  is  in  heaven^  wherein 
he  set  forth  that  more  spiritual  and 
perfect  Prayer  which  was  only  ac- 
cording to  God,  and  which  the 
Saiiits  should  pray  afterwards  when 
the  Spirit  was  more  revealed. 

And  this  is  prayer  in  Spirit,  and 
to  pray  thus  is  to  pray  in  some  evi- 
dence and  demonstration  of  God, 
and  in  faith  or  believing  the  will  of 
God,  as  to  this  or  this  thing,  at  this 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        147 

or  this  time;  whatsoever  ye  ask  in 
prayer,  believing,  S^c. 

And  all  other  askings  or  seekings 
of  God  which  are  not  thus  in  Spirit j 
and  in  the  will  or  mind  of  God  in 
some  evidence  or  pure  work  of  Spirit, 
or  raising  of  Spirit,  is  but  the  askings 
of  creatures  as  creatures ;  and  thus 
all  mere  natural  and  carnal  people 
pray,  and  are  heard  and  answered 
many  times,  in  the  mercy  find  good- 
ness of  God,  who  makes  his  Sun  to 
shine  upon  the  just  and  unjust. 

All  exhortations  in  Scripture  to 
this  duty  of  prayer,  as  seek  ye  my 
face,  pray  continually,  watch  and 
pray,  be  fervent  in  prayer,  ask  and 
ye  shall  have,  8fc.  are  only  then 
rightly,  effectually,  and  properly 
appliedand  obeyed,  when  the  Spirit 
of  God  doth  it  in  the  Christian, 
when  the  Spirit  of  God  breathes  in 
and  reveals  the  will  of  God,  and 
acts  in  the  duty  or  expressions,  and 
the  Christian  speaks  in  himself,  or 
in  presence  of  others,  that  mind  of 
God;  and  so  this  Spirit  of  God 
clothes  itself  in  flesh,  or  letter,  or 
expressions, as  to  the  outwardman ; 
andthey  whosay  ^mewin  iheSpirit, 


148  Some  Beams  of  that 

as  the  Apostle  saith,  say  Amen  in 
the  same  Spirit,  or  else  they  are 
not  in  prayer  in  a  pure  spiritual 
closure,  or  unity  of  Spirit. 

Prayer  is  the  xuorkings  and  weaker 
or   fainter   manifestations  of  the 
Sjiirit  of   God  in  the    Christian, 
while  he  is  in  bondage,  that  is,  while 
God  is  not  the  fulness,  the  light 
and  glory ,  and  «//  in  a//  unto  him  ; 
for  where  there  is  any  asking,  or 
seeking,  or  desiring,  there  is  not 
perfect  rest,  enjoyment,  all-suffici- 
ency, and  fulness:  And  therefore 
while   Christians  are  in  bondage, 
and  not  yet  brought  into  the  glorious 
Roi:i.  8.  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God,  they  are 
under  the  Ministration  of  Prayer  to 
God,  or  of  asking  ;  as  children  are 
to  2L  fat  her  in  nonage  and  pupilage. 
All   Scriptures  of  Prayer,    or 
John  16.  concerningPr«?/er,  andthe/)ra?/c"r5 
w,  24.  ^£  ^i^g  Saints  in  the  vial,  are  con- 
siderable respectively  to  the  state 
Rev.  8.  3,  of  weakness  and  bondage  the  Saints 
'*■  are  in,  praying  not  in  the  Spirit  of 

God,  but  in  weakness  or  the  flesh, 
according  to  their  own  wills;  which 
hath  been  usual  with  Saints  for- 
merly, as  Paul,  who  prayed  thrice 
to  remove  the  buffeting,  and  was 


i 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         149 

answered,  my  grace  is  sufficient  2  Cor.  12, 
for  thee,  or  is  it  not  enough  that  I  ^'  ^'  ^" 
have  grace  for  thee  in  all  my  deal- 
ings and  dispensatio7isto\v2iY^B,  thee, 
live  thou  upon  that  ?  and  the  Lord 
Jesus  himself  prayed,  Father,  if  it  Mat. 
be  thy  ivill  let  this  cup  pass  ^  yet 
afterwards  he  was  more  the  mani- 
festation of  God,  Father,  not  as  / 
will,  that  is,  not  as  /,  or  that  of 
man  in  me,  but  as  thou  wilt ;  and 
many  Christians,  wanting  the  clear 
and  glorious  revelation  of  the  will 
of  God,  pray  for  such  and  such 
things,  for  the  obtaining  such  and 
such  mercies,  and  removal  of  such 
and  such  miseries,  being  all  this 
while  in  the  dark  to  the  will  and 
mind  of  the  Lord;  when,  as  if  the 
will  of  the  Lord  were  seen  or  dis- 
covered, they  would  rejoice,  and  be 
at  rest  in  such  conditions,  and  learn 
how  to  want  as  well  as  to  abound, 
that  is,  to  luant  such  or  such  things  Piiii.  4. 11, 
as  the  Lord  takes  from  them,  and  ^^' 
to  abound  in  the  Lord  without  those 
things,  or  with  those  things,  which 
is  the  sweet  state  of  the  Christian, 
and  a  rest  or  peace  in  figure  to  that 
glory  and  fulness  to  be  revealed  in 
us,  and  those  Christians  as  are  in 


150  Some  Beams  of  that 

some  measu  re  in  th  is  light  or  glimpse 
of  the  fulness  of  God,  are  entered 
upon  the  borders  of  Canaan,  and 
are  feeding  upon  some  bunches  of 
the  grapes  of  the  promised  land. 

A  Discovery  of  the  Law. 

SOME  say,  the  Law  is  obli- 
gatory and  binding"  to  all 
Christians,  because  moral,  and  so 
perpetual,  and  that  it  was  revealed 

Gal.  3.  19.  because  of  transgressions  :  And 
that  the  Law  is  of  no  less  efficacy 

Rom.  7.  7.  now  than  before  to  reveal  sin  and 
convince  of  sin,  and   that    Christ 

Mat.  5. 17.  came  not  to  destroy  the  Law,  but 
to  fulfil  it;  that  the  ministery  of 
the  Law  ought  to  precede  and  go 
before  the  GosjDel,  because  none 
ought  to  have  Christ  offered  to 
them  in  a  promise,  but  such  as  the 
Laiv  hath  humbled  and  prepared; 
that  God  doth  sanctify  the  Mi- 
nistery of  the  Law  to  conversion 
and  sanctifcation  of  his  people, 
and  such  as  preach  it  are  not  legal; 
thus  the  Protestant  in  general. 

Others  say  that  a  further    dis- 
covery of  the  Law  is  this. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,        isi 

That  the  Law  was  a  discovery 
or  appearance  of  God's  righteous^ 
ness  and  mans,  according  to  the 
nature  of  both,  as  in  the  first  Cre- 
ation, God  is  revealed  in  the  Law 
to  be  one  God  and  only  to  be  wor-  Mark  12. 
shipped,   and  no  other    Gods   but  g^J  3^ 
one ;  and  man  is   revealed  in  his     i4. 
first    created    righteousness,    love  Luke  10. 
thy  neighbour  as  thyself. 

The  Law  is  in  every  one  by  na- 
ture, accusing  and  excusing,  and 
God's  transcribing  it  into  tables  of  Rom.  2.  1. 
stone,  was  to  set  before  man  a  tes- 
timony or  witness  in  the  letter  of 
what  Law   he   had  inwardly,  the 
Law  is  spiritual,  and  to  bear  wit-  Rom.  7. 
ness  to  his  Apostacy  and  falling     ^^' 
away,  and  to  all  his  sins,  trans- 
gressions and  enormities  commit- 
ted. 

Moses  and  the  Prophets  were 
Ministers  of  it  in  the  letter,  the  John  1.  17. 
Law  was  given  by  Moses,  it  being 
first  delivered  or  preached  by  the  Mi-  Mat-  1 1- 
nistery  of  Angels,  or  dispensation  Heb!  2. 
of  Angels ;  the  Lord  Jesus  himself 
and  the  Apostles  were  clearer  and  Math.  a. 
more  spiritual  Ministers  of  it.         ^3"]^;  ^' 

The  Law,  as  it  is  in  letter,  and 
in  the   Ministery  of  Moses,  and  Heb.  10. 1, 


IvOlll. 


ir>2  SoDie  13 earns  of  that 

the  Prophets,  and  Christ,  Sfc.  is  a 
witness  and  image  to  the  more  ex- 
m.  8.  2.  cellent  Laiu,  that  of  the  Spirit  of 
life  in  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Law,  in  mere  letter  and 
/e^a/    minis tery,    works    bondage 

Heb!2.  14,  ^"^  brings  forth  the  5/;in7  of  bo?icl- 
•^-  o^e  in  those   who   are    under  the 

LaWy  working-  convictions  and  tes- 
timonies of  good  and  evil ,  whereby 
the    laiu  of  nature    is    awakened 

Rom. 2. 15.  and  strengthened  to  accuse  sinful 
flesh. 

The  Law,  as  it  is  a  flgure,  or 
shadow,  or  image  of  Spirit  or  57;^- 
ritual  righteousness,  may  be  a 
Ministery  of  preparation  or  wi^- 

Aiat.  3  3.  ;ies5,  as  John  was,  pi'ejjare  ye  the 
way ;  and  the  Baptism  of  water  to 
an  outward  purif  cation  or  washing 
as  the  letter  or  Ministery  of  the 
Law  is ;  and  this  is  a  Ministery  of 
God's  first  appearance  to  a  sin- 
ner. 

Men  may  work  very  high,  as  to 
God  and  duties  and  luorks  by  the 
Ministery  of  the  Zaw  or  letter 
without,  and  the  law  within,  and 
the  letter  of  Scriptures  interpreted 
by  no  higher  a  light  than  that  of 
the  law  j  and  yet  all  such  right- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         15S 

eousness  is  but  to  bondage,  com- 
pared with  the  higher  law  or  Spirit  Rom.  8. 2. 
of  life. 

The  Law  curseth  all  unright-  Rom.3.i!i, 
eousness  as  to  the  Jlesh  or  man 
sinning,  and  it  is  that  standing 
condemnation  oi Jlesh  or  sin;  the 
Law  was  revealed  because  of  trans- 
gression, and  cursed  is  every  one  Gal.  3.  10. 
that  continueth  not  in  all  things 
that  are  written  in  the  Law. 

All  the  repentance  and  reforma- 
tion, which  the  Law  or  mere  mi- 
nistery  of  the  letter  works,  is  not 
spiritual  but  legal ;  and  yet,  if  in 
order  to  a  more  spiritual  or  to 
Christ  in  Spirit,  it  is  of  the  nature 
of  Johns  Ministery,  ?i preparatory  John  1. 17. 
Rnd  figure  of  more  glory  and  triith  Heb.  10. 1. 
in  substance. 

The  spiritual  man,  who  lives  in 
the  Spirit,  is  not  under  the  mere 
law  of  the  letter,  but  it  is  accord- 
ing to  its  spirituality,  the  princi- 
ple and  spiritual  life  of  him,  sp  as 
such  are  not  under  the  Law  but  Rom.  0. 14. 
under  Grace,  and  not  in  bondage  Rom,  7. 
and  fear  but   love ;  perfect  love  ,  \~^- , 

.'^  ^    -  ^    x-    ./  1  John  4, 

casting  out /ear.  is. 

They    that    are    true    spiritual 
comprehensive  Christians  know  in 
h2 


1 54  Some  Beams  of  that 

what  order  and  subserviency  to 
place  the  law,  as  it  is  in  a  minis- 
ter)' of  letter,  when  as  the  Infant 
Christian,  in  the  first  discovejy  of 
Christ  or  Free  Grace,  looks  upon 
all  Ministrations  below  him  as 
legal,  and  so  is  carried  out  to  op- 
pose them  too  disorderly. 


A  T>iscover\i  of  Duties  and 
Works. 

SOME     say    that    duties    and 
works  are  fruits  oi faith  and 
(lai.  5.  2-2.  of  the  habits  of  grace  in  us,  and 
Mat  7  'iG   ^^^  ^^^^  conformity  of  a  Christian 
Mat.  5.  i(j.  to  the  Commandments  and  Laws 
20.     '     of  God  revealed  in  Sciipfures,  and 
that  duties  are  to  be  done  because 
1  Tim.  6.     commanded,  and  that  they  are  such 
HH)'  10.     ^^2/5  and  means  as  God  hath  ap- 
24-  pointed  a  Christian  to  walk  in  to 

"14!%.     salvation ;  and   that  according-  as 
these  are  performed  more  or  less 
1  Cor.  11.   strMtly  a  Christian  ought  to  judge 
^  2s.  himself  or  approve   himself,    and 

'5.''     '    that   Christians  are  to  wait  upon 
God  in  duties  for  the  Spirit  and 
for  all  other  discoveries  of  himself 
thus  the  Protestant  in  general. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         i.)5 

Others  say  that  the  duties  and 
works  of  a  Christian  flow  from  the  Rum.  5.  r,. 
Spirit  of  God,  of  love  and  of  adop-  ^cNa's!^' 
tion,  else  they  are  but  the  perform-     J4. 

1       L    J-  c  ^       Rom.  8. 

ances   and  obedience  01  servants,     15. 
not  of  sons  and  such  as  are  horn 
of  Goc?. 

That  the  mere  Commandments 
or  letter  of  Scripture  is  not  a  /azi;  Rom.  <;. 
to  a  Christiem  why  he  should  walk  '^• 
in  duties,  but  the  Zazt;  written  in 
our  hearts,  the  law  of  Zi/e ;  and  Rom.  /. 
this  is  the  difference  of  duties  and  ^~'' 
performances  under  the  mere  Old 
Testament  dispensation  and  the 
New,  or  pure  Gospel  or  ?iei(;  Cove- 
nant, the  one  or  that  of  Moses  was 
a  Minister!/  from  without,  that  of 
Christ  from  within,  and  that  duties 
in  the  letter  are  but  Images  and 
figures  of  what  the  spiritual  man 
doth  act  from  that  /i/e  of  Christ 
in  him,  not  as  thing's  commanded 
him,  nor  in  relation  to  heaven  and 
AeZZ;  because  such  obedience  and 
actings  are  of  service,  and  acted 
as  first  from  without,  and  merce- 
nary or  of  price,  and  for  salva- 
tion. 


56  Some  Beams  of  that 


A  Discovoy  of  outivard 
Ordinances. 

SOME  say,  outward  Ordinances 
are  Commands  of  Christy  and 
therefore  to  be  done  because  they 
are  Commands,  and  that  they  are 
sanctijied  by  God,  and  his  Spirit, 
and  that  we  are  to  wait  on  God  iu 
the  use  of  means,  and  that  spiritual 
things  are  conveyed  by  Ordi- 
nances into  the  souls  of  men,  thus 
says  the  Protestant  generally. 

Others  say,  That  outward  Ordi- 
nances as  in  the  letter  are  the  Old 
Testamejit  Ministration,  or  a  Legal 
ministration  of  John  s  ministery,  or 
Christ  under  the  Law,  or  m  flesh, 
and  that  such  Ordinances  as  the 
Lord  Jesus  commanded  while  he 
was  in  the  Ministery  of  the  Law 
made  under  the  Law,  a  minister  of 
circumcision,  and  not  commands  of 
Christ  as  in  mere  glory  and  spirit, 
nor  a  ministration  of  his  as  in  that 
more  excellent  condition  and  the 
not  distinguishing  Christ  as  in 
flesh,  and  so  teaching  and  com- 
manding, and  as  in  Spirit,  and  so 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         157 

ministering'  in  pure  spiritual  light 
and  glory,  is  the  reason  of  all  such 
legal  doctrine  and  use  of  ordi- 
nances in  bondage,  as  is  this  day 
in  the  letter ;  Other  of  Baptism, 
&c.  or  Church  fellowship,  SfC. 

That  the  new  Covenant  or  God 
revealed  in  his,  and  teaching  his 
is  not  by  any  outward  way  or  mi- 
nistery  or  means,  but  by  the  in- 
ward  or  unction  and  anointing,  ye  Heb.  s. 
are  all  taught  of  God ;  no  man 
shall  teach  his  neighbour  or  bro- 
ther any  more,  saying,  know  the 
Lord;  and  all  conference  and  dis- 
coveries in  letter  or  speech  is  but 
mere  witnessing  to  the  Zo/^tZ  and 
the  discoveries  of  Go<i  of  what  we 
are  taught,  not  any  ministery  (as 
formerly)  for  teaching. 

No  outward  ordinance  or  mini- 
stration of  the  creature  or  oilettei- 
can  convey  or  confer  or  bring  in 
pure   spiritual  things,  there    is  a  John  3.  8. 
great  mistake  in  that,  and  they  are 
but  signs  and  shadows  of  spiritual  2  Cor.  4. 
things,  and  they  are  to  the  Spirit  Heb.  10. 1. 
in  the  New  Testament  as  the  sha- 
dows of  the  0/c?  were  to  the  flesh 
of   Christ,  figures   and  perishing 


158  Some  Beams  of  that 


Col.  2.  20.  thing's  and  to  be  fulfilled  in  Spirit 
25.**     '    and  in  the  coming-  of  Spirit. 

They  are  that  which  are  called 

1  Cor.  13.    the  beholding  God  as  in  a  ylass, 

^^'  the  seeing  darkly  and  in  part  the 

heavens  and  earth  which  are  to  be 

rolled  up  as  a  garment. 


A  Discovery  of  the  Jews  and 
their  Conversion, 


S' 


Koin.  11. 


7. 


OME  say,  they  are  those  who 
are  of  the  seed  of  Abraham 
and  have  Abraham  to  their  Father^ 
and  are  Jeius  hy  fleshly  birth,  and 
such  as  live  yet  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment Laws  and  Privileges  as  cir- 
cumcision, and  have  the  veil  upon 
Rom.  9.  6,  their  hearts  untaken  away,  oppo- 
sing Christ  come  in  the  flesh,  and 
expecting  the  Messiah  yet  in  a 
more  carnal  glory,  they  shall  be 
converted  and  called  in  before  the 
coming  of  Christ  in  Judgment. 

Others  say.  That  the  Jews  were 
but  aflgure  of  the  children  of  the 
bondwojnan,  and  of  the  Christians 
under  the  Apostacy  or  in  mere  let- 
ter and  corrupted  forms  of  wor- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         mo 

ship;  and  as  the  Jew  was  reckoned 
before  to  be  the  people  of  mere 
Ordinances,  and  of  the  worship  of 
God  according  to  the  letter  of 
Scriptures,  to  whom  the  Oracles 
of  God  were  committed,  and  to  Rom.  9.  4. 
whom  pertained,  &c.  so  the  Chris- 
tians generally  who  are  now  the 
people  of  the  New  Testament,  as 
to  letter,  and  of  all  the  worship 
according  to  the  scriptures  in  the 
letter,  are  that  Jew  under  the  new 
Testament,  answering  to  the  Jew 
under  the  old,  there  being  two 
seeds  according  to  the  flesh  and  Rom.  9.  6. 
according  to  promise,  though  they  ^' 
by  promise  or  faith  are  counted 
for  the  seed. 

The  calling  of  the  Jeivs  is  the  Rom.  2. 
bringing  up  the  Christians  from  ^'  ^^' 
letter  to  Spirit,  and  according  to 
this  mystery  the  Jews  shall  be 
called  and  converted  daily ;  and 
are ;  for  in  the  whole  Nations  of 
Christians  as  of  Italy,  Germany, 
Poland,  Denmark,  Spain,  France, 
Scotland,  England,  S^-c.  the  Lord 
shall  call  in  many  by  his  own  Spi- 
rit into  himself,  and  shall  be  re- 
vealed in  them  in  power  not  in 
form. 


IGO  Some  Beams  of  that 

That  the  Jews  who  are  by  na- 
ture Jews  or  according-  to  fie shly 
generation  shall  be  no    otherwise 
called  but  as    the    other   Jew  of 
which  they  are  a  figure ;  and  thus 
they  interpret  the  call  of  the  Jews 
Rom.  11.  and  not  in  any  such  outward  obser- 
^'        vation  as  men  commonly  suppose, 
Luke  17.  not  remembering  that  the  kingdom 
'■^^'        of  God  comes  not  with  observation 
as  to  the  world,  and  that  the  day 
of  the  Lord  shall  come  as  a  snare 
upon  all  the  earth. 

All  false  Worships  and 
Ways,  practised  i?i  Con- 
science  or  in  Liberty ,  will 
be  destroyed  in  Christ's 
Day. 

GOD  hath  a  time  before  Christ 
come  in  Spirit,  as  he  had  be- 
fore Christ  came  in  the  fiesh,  a 
time  wherein  he  suffered  long  and 
was  patient,  and  was  revealed  to 
his  people,  though  dwelling  in  much 
Gejitilism,Judais7n,2ind  ignorance; 
and  therefore  God's  appearance,  or 
comrnunion  with  his  people,  from 
the  time  of  the  falling  away,  or  of 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  I6i 

the  man  of  5m  being  revealed,  hath  2  Pet.  3.  3, 
been  in  grace  and  long  suffering ,  '  ' 
and  hath  patiently  borne  his  being 
crucified  in  spiritual  Sodom  or 
Egypt,  and  therefore  he  hath  been 
with  his  people  under  Popery ,  under 
Episcopacy ,  and  is  at  this  day,  not 
in  approbation  of  their  ybrm  but  in 
his  own  mere  love,  grace,  and  long- 
suffering,  and  is  at  this  day  ac- 
cordingly with  the  people  in  Inde- 
pendency,  Presbytery,  Baptism, 
^c.  and  all  other  male-administra- 
tions. 

The  Lord  Jesus  hath  a  day  and  2  Thes.  1. 
time  to  be  revealed  in,  which  is  his 
coming  in  the  Saints,  when  he  will 
judge  the  World,  and  then  shall 
Antichrist  be  consumed,  and  the  2  Thes.  2. 
flesh  of  the  whore,  or  Babylon  in 
all  \iQv  administrations  shall  be  tor-  Rev.  ir. 
mented  and  burnt  \\\t\\fire,  and  not 
a  little  one  of  Babylon  shall  be 
spared, but  dashed  against  thes^onc^, 
not  the  purest  Idols  she  hath,  even 
Idols  of  gold  and  silver,  with  all 
her  merchandize,  pearls,  and  pre- 
cious stones,  and  cinnamons  and 
odours, diW^  frankincense,  all  things 
0^  false  ivorship,  ^c.  and  adminis- 
tration, though  very  sweet  and  pre- 


162  Some  Beams  of  that 

cious  in  the  judgme7it  ofjlesh  and 
blood,  and  then  shall  all  the  saints' 
Indulgencies  cease  to  all  these 
things  under  which  they  are  now 
walking,  some  in  Conscience^  some 
in  Liberty,  even  then  when  God's 
indulgency  ceases. 


A  Discovery  of  Christ 
i?i  us. 

SOME  say  it  is  no  other  but 
habits  of  grace  in  us,  and  such 
a  work  of  sanctif  cation  and  mor- 
tijication  wrought  by  the  graces  of 
the  Spirit ;  and  this  they  say  is 
Christ  formed  in  us,  the  image  of 
Christ,  the  conformity  to  Christ ; 
this  the  Protestant  generally. 

Others  say  Christ  in  us  is  when 

we  are  made  the  anointed  of  God, 

which  is  the  Christ,  or  the  whole 

1  Cor.  12.    entire  Christ,  as  one  spiritual  new 

man. 

And  that  the  image  of  Christ  in 
us  is  Christ  manifested  in  onr  flesh 
Phil.  3. 10.  as  to  sufferings  and  death,  whereby 
the  flesh  is  crucified  in  the  power 
of  God  and  of  the  Spirit,  and  the 
outward  man  or  the  Flesh  is  dying 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        1C3 

and  perishing  even  day  by   day, 

and  is  then  dead  when  the  very  life 

of  the  Flesh  is  slain,  and  we  live 

no  more  unto  ourselves,  but  God  or 

Christ  liveth  in  us,  it  being  no  more 

we  that  live,  and  manifested,  as  in  Gal.  2.  20. 

resurrection,  or  in  the  life  of  the 

Spirit,  wherein  we  who  were  dead 

in  sins  and  trespasses  are  risen  with 

Christ,  who  is  the  resurrection  and 

the  life,  I  am  the  resurrection  and 

the  life. 

The  Fieri/  Trial. 

THERE  is  a  State  and  condition 
of  Christians  scarce  known, 
and  it  is  the  fiery  Trial,  or  that 
power  of  God  put  forth  upon  the 
administrations  that  Christians  are  1  Pet.4.12. 
under,  and  so  passing  out  of  them 
into  higher  discoveries  of  God;  and 
the  fiery  trial  is  the  Spirit  of  God 
burning  up  or  destroying  such  an 
administration  to  a  Christian,  as 
when  a  Christian  passes  from  a 
mere  legal  state  into  a  state  less 
legal  or  more  Gospel,  receiving 
some  more  precious  and  sweet  ap- 
pearances of  God  in  Grace,  and 
free  promises;  in  this  passage  there 


164  Some  Beams  of  that 

is  a  Fiery  Trial  upon  that  first 
Administration  that  was  Legal, 
whereby  man's  own  rig'hteousness 
is  consumed  and  crucified  to  a  more 
excellent  discovery  of  God;  and 
even  in  that  more  Gospel-State  of 
a  CAm^zan,  whereby  he  enjoys  God 
in  that  ministration  o^ graces,  gifts, 
and  Ordinances,  there  will  be  a 
fiery  Trial  in  a  Christian  s  passage 
into  more  glorious  manifestations 
of  God,  and  there  will  be  a  burning 
and  torment  even  in  that  ministra- 
tion of  his  graces  and  gifts,  ^c. 

And  this  State  is  Prophesied  of 
in  that  Scripture,  the  sun  shall  be 
turned  into  darkness,  and  the  moon 
into  Mood  before  that  great  and 
notable  day,  that  is,  not  only  the 
Lord  Jesus,  the  Sun,  (as  some  say) 
will  be  as  darkness  to  the  world, 
S^c.  but  all  that  which  was  the  glory 
and  ligJU  of  a  Christian,  and  his 
way  of  communion  with  God,  his 
Sun,  and  Moon,  and  Stars  shall  be 
darkened  and  become  as  blood  be- 
fore that  notable  day,  or  that  more 
excellent  revelation  of  God:  and 
2rct.3.io.  that  oi  Peter,  but  the  day  of  the 
Lord  will  come,  ^c.  in  the  which 
the  heavens  shall  pass  away  with  a 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,         IC5 

great  noise,  and  the  elements  shall 
melt  with  fervent  heat ;  the  earth 
also,  and  the  works  that  are  therein 
shall  be  burnt  up  ;  which  is  not 
only  a  Prophecy  of  the  last  judg- 
ment, but  of  the  particular  judg- 
ment  upon  former  administrations 
in  a  Christian  which  is  figured  out 
in  the  heavens  and  earth,  and  ele- 
ments, which  are  those  ?nore  or  less 
glorious  administrations,  and  the 
fire  is  that  trial  by  the  Spirit  of 
God  which  as  fire  burns  and  de- 
stroys. 

This  is  accordingly  figured  out 
in  that  to  the  Corinthians,  The  fire  i  Cor.s.i.i, 
shall  try  every  mans  work,  of  ^^' 
what  sort  it  is  ;  If  any  man's  work 
shall  be  burnt,  he  shall  suffer  loss, 
which  work  is  those  several  admi- 
nistrations of  gold,  silver,  precious 
stones,  ivood,  hay,  stubble,  which 
pass  under  the  revelation  of  the 
day,  or  glory  of  Christ,  or  fre  of 
the  spirit. 

This  is  further  revealed  in  Re- 
velations, 2.  9.  I  know  thy  works 
and  tribulation  and  poverty,  (§'c. 
and  ye  shall  have  tribulation  for 
ten  days,  this  was  written  to  the 
Church  of  Smyrna,  or  to  all  Chris- 


IGG  Some  Beams  of  that 

tians  under  the  Jigure  of  that 
Church  which  was  tribulatioUy 
prison  or  bondage  and  poverty  ; 
that  is,  while  Christians  are  in 
their  former  administrations  as  in 
bondage,  prison,  poverty,  looking 
at  all  they  have  as  nothing,  and 
^\\  former  things  they  were  rich  in 
as  nothing,  and  now  as  bondage  to 
a  more  excellent  enjoyment  of 
God. 

This  is  likewise  in  the  mystery 
of  it,  the  cross  of  Christ,  or  the 

Fhi\.i.\o.  fellowship  of  Christ's  sufferings, 
crucify ings,  and  death,  for  as 
Christ  crucified  all  that  glorious 
administration  in  which  he  was 
in  the  flesh,  and  it  all  died  to  a 
more  glorious  life,  even  the  glory 
of  God  the  Father ^  so  every  Chris- 
tian is  to  take  up  this  cross,  and 

1  Cor.  1.17,  to  bring  his  highest  and  choicest 
18,23.      administration  to  this  cross,  and 

i  Cor.  2. «.  to  have  them  all  crucified  to  higher 
discoveries   of    God,   this    is    the 

Gal.  6. 14.  knowledge  of  Christ  Crucified,  or 
self-denial. 

Many  Christians  who  are  sad- 
dened, darkened,  in  much  tribula- 
tion as  to  the  administrations  they 
are  under,  and  take  them  for  de- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         1C7 

sertions  and  withdrawing s  of  God, 
when  as  they  are  the  presence  of 
God  upon  such  administrations 
making  them  dark  and  wither  and 
consume,  and  the  bringing  in  of  a 
richer  and  fuller  glory. 

God  in  Heaven  or  in  a 
Place  of  Distance  as  to 
our  Injirmity. 

MANY  Christians  in  their 
conceptions  of  God  and 
prayings  or  addresses  to  God  con- 
sider him  as  in  a  local  glory,  and 
so  change  the  glory  of  the  incor- 
ruptible God  into  an  image  made 
like  to  corruptible  man. 

God  is  infinite  and  all  in  all, 
and  whither  shall  /  go  (saith  the 
Psalmist)  from  thy  spirit,  or  whi- 
ther shall  I  fly  from  thy  presence, 
and  where  is  the  place  of  his  rest  ?  Isa.  66.  i. 
And  say  not  in  thy  heart  who  shall 
ascend  into  heaven  to  bring  Christ  Rom.  lo. 
down  from  above  ?  The  word  is 
nigh  even  in  thy  heart,  the  word 
(saith  the  Apostle)  that  we  preach, 
which  word  was  Christ  the  eternal 
Word,  which  was  with    God  and 


168  Some  Beams  of  that 


was  God:  And  thus  the  Lord  is 
Phil.  4.  said  to  be  at  hand,  the  Lord  is  at 
hand. 

The  spiritual  Christian  knows 
that  all  Jifjures  of  place,  as  of 
God's  residence,  as  heaven,  and 
all  such  discoveries  of  God  as  to 
place  or  distance  are  only  as  to 
man  and  to  the  hifirmities  of  man  ; 
and  therefore  p7-«?/s  not  and  speaks 
not  to  Go^  nor  of  God  as  to  Place 
or  distance,  but  as  if  he  were  in 
Aim  and  about /im,  his  H^A^  Aawc? 
embracing  him  and  Ais  /e/V  AawcZ 
under  him ;  and  in  such  discovery 
of  God  as  he  hath  by  faith,  Sfc. 
or  any  such  graces  and  other  ad- 
ministrations  he  worships  not  God, 
nor  considers  GoJ  as  that  or  ^/m^ 
discovery,  because  then  he  should 
worship  something-  for  God,  which 
is  not  God,  and  as  Joh?i,  fall 
down  at  the  feet  of  the  Angel  or 
some  glorious  ministration  and 
worship  there. 

The  carnal  and  weak  Christian 
worships,  prays,  ^c.  and  thinks  of 
God  as  to  form,  figure,  and  place, 
and  distance,  and  discoveries  of 
him  by  graces,  gifts,  ^c. 

Whereas  Go^  is  only  to  be  en- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         wo 

joyed  in  those  as  in  a  glass  darkly, 
for  we  have  not  seen  his  shape, 
nor  heard  his  voice. 

The  Spiritual  Sabbath. 

THIS  Mystery  of  God  was 
held  forth  first  in  the  Cre- 
ation in  that  of  the  seventh  day 
which  God  was  said  to  sanctify,  Gen.  i. 
which  was  no  other  than  the  en- 
joyment of  God  in  the  Revelation 
of  himself,  who  is  perfect  rest  and 
sabbath  in  his  own  glory,  the  six 
days  being  accordingly  2i  figure  of 
X\\Q  Christian  in  bondage  or  under 
active  and  working  administra- 
tions, as  those  of  the  Law  and 
Gospel  are,  as  all  forms  of  wor- 
ship, duties,  graces,  prayer.  Ordi- 
nances, 8fc. 

This  Sabbath  was  a  sign  to  the 
people  of  God  in  bondage  or  under 
the  law,  and  the  Lord  Jesus,  in 
his  Active  Rud  fulfilling  Adminis- 
tration while  he  was  in  the  flesh, 
was  the  Antitype  of  the  six  days, 
and  his  entering  into  glory  was  Lnke  24. 
that  very  Sabbath  and  rest,  which  '^^• 
was  the  bosom  of  the  Father  from 
whence   he  came   and   where    he  John  i.  is. 


170  Some  Seams  of  that 

returned,  and  this  is  the  scope  of 
that  fourth  chap,  to  the  Hebrews, 
and  the  bosom  of  the  Father  is 
that  Sabbath  or  Rest,  there  re- 
ilcb.  4.  maineth  therefore  a  rest  to  the 
people  of  God,  and  he  that  hath 
entered  into  his  rest  hath  ceased 
from  his  works  as  God  did  from 
his,  that  is,  the  Lord  Jesus  hav- 
ing- fulfilled  his  day's  work  as  to 
the  law,  entered  into  his  glory  or 
restj  so  Christ  in  that  held  forth 
the  true  Christian  Sabbath,  which 
was  the  father,  as  Philip,  shew 
us  the  Father  and  it  sujfficeth  us  ; 
there  is  fulness,  rest,  sabbath,  and 
sufficiency  in  the  Father,  or  Re- 
velation of  God  in  the  Christian. 

So  as  the  Spiritual  Christian 
in  the  true  discovery  of  God,  his 
fulness  lives  in  an  eternal  every- 
day sabbath,  while  some  live  in 
little  more  than  the  bare  sign,  or 
one  day  in  the  lueek. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        i7i 

The  Gospel  as  in  its  ow7i 
Glory  J  and  as  in  the  Scrip- 
tares  of  the  Old  and  Neiv 
Testament. 

THE  Gospel  is  everlasting,  Rev.  u.  e. 
for  it  is  the  tidings  and  Re- 
velation of  God,  in  love,  grace, 
or  mercy  to  his,  or  God  mani- 
fested in  Jlesh,  or  making*  his  Ta- 
bernacle with  men. 

This  Gospel,  which  is  no  other 
than  the  mystery  of  Salvation, 
revealed  or  declared  in  Spirit  to 
men,  is  clothed  in  several  admi- 
nistrations, as  that  of  the  Old 
Testament  ?Lnd  the  New,  the  Scrip- 
tures of  both  being'  the  Revelation 
of  heavenly  things  by  earthly  or 
created  things,  or  by  natural  forms 
and  expressions,  so  as  the  letter 
is  a  par  able,  figure  or  allegory,  by 
which  spiritual  things  are  spoken 
and  brought  forth  amongst  men ; 
they  are  they  which  testify  of 
Christ,  hitherto  I  have  spoken  to 
you  in  Proverbs,  Sfc.  The  Scrijj- 
tures  or  writings  of  the  everlast- 
ing Gospel,  are  the  true  scriptures, 


172  Some  Beams  of  that 

as  they  are  the  very  Imag-e  and 
letter  of  the  mystery  of  Salvation^ 
or  of  Spiritual  things,  or  the  ?nind 
of  God,  or  as  they  are  in  that  pure 
and  spiritual  Older  and  form  of 
words  to  truth  itself;  not  as  they 
are  merely  in  their  grammatical 
construction  and  sense  or  common 
reading-,  which  any  that  under- 
stand the  Hebrew  or  Greek  may 
receive,  and  therefore  the  Scrip- 
tures according  to  such  or  such 
interpretations  and  consequences 
of  men,  are  not  to  be  imposed  as 
mere  things  of  faith  and  funda- 
mentals, but  so  far  as  the  spirit 
of  God  reveals  them  to  be  that 
very  truth  and  mind  of  God  in 
those  who  receive  them,  else  they 
are  received  and  acknowledged  for 
the  Authority,  and  reputation  of 
men,  not  of  God,  therefore  Christ 
told  the  Pharisees  they  erred,  not 
knowing  the  Scriptures,  and  yet 
they  had  the  Scriptures,  and  read 
them,  and  understood  them  in  the 
letter,  but  not  in  the  Spirit. 

The  Gospel  being  thus  distin- 
guished into  the  spiritual  nature 
of  it,  and  into  the  administration 
with  which  it  is  clothed,  nothing 


I 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        173 

is  pure,  spiritual^  divine  Gospel, 
but  that  which  is  light,  life,  glory, 
spirit,  or  God  revealed;  whatso- 
ever is  of  mere  letter,  form,  Ordi- 
nance, is  of  the  administration  or 
Gospel-clothing  and  appearance, 
as  to  men  and  as  in  the  flesh, 
things  that  are  seen  are  temporal, 
thing-s  that  are  not  seen  are  eter- 
nal. 

So  as  that  distinction  used  con- 
cerning Ordinances,  when  they  are 
called  Gospel- Ordinances,  Gospel- 
Commandments  in  contradistinc- 
tion to  the  legal  Ordinances  is  a 
great  mistake  and  an  advancing 
and  Exalting  outward  things  into 
spiritual,  and  putting  an  Image  of 
Christ  and  divinity  upon  them, 
which  they  will  not  bear  in  such 
an  oppositio7i  or  contradistinction, 
to  the  Ordinances  under  the  law, 
for  all  the  Ordinances  under  the 
law  or  of  the  Old  Testament, 
were  Gospel  Ordinances,  or  Ordi- 
nances holding  forth  Christ,  and 
figuring  Christ :  and  so  the  Ordi- 
nances of  the  New  Testament ; 
and  are  all  alike  letter,  outward, 
and  visible,  and  of  things  that 
perish  with  using,  which  was  the 


174  Some  Beams  of  that 

Col.  2.  2.  nature  of  the  Administrations  of 
the  Law^  and  therefore  saith  the 
Ajwstle  they  did  all  eat  the  same 
spiritual  meat,  and  they  did  all 
drink   tlie    same  spiritual   drink, 

1  Cor.  10.  and  they  drank  of  that  rock  that 
^''*'  followed  them,  and  that  rock  was 
Christ;  that  is,  the  Ordinances 
of  the  Law  or  OZfZ  Testament 
were  as  much  spiritual  as  those  of 
the  A^eiiJ  Testament,  that  is,  such 
things  as  signified  Christ  in  the 
flesh,  which  those  of  the  New 
Testament  as  Baptism,  and  the 
last  Supper,  but  he  concludes,  be 
not  ye  Idolaters  as  were  some  of 
them,  they  sat  down  to  eat  and 
drink  and  rose  up  to  play  ;  that 
is,  they  did  Idolize  those  outward 
administrations  as  their  manna, 
water,  out  of  the  rock,  and  pass- 
over  which  they  ate  and  drank, 
and  rose  up  to  play,  that  is,  lived 
in  the  mere  refreshments  of  such 
formal  participations  and  commu- 
nion with  mere  outward  things 
and  Ordinances,  and  were  cheered 
and  contented  with  such  created 
enjoyments  of  God  ;  thus  they 
rose  up  to  play  after  their  Idolatry 
with    those    Administrations,    as 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        175 

many  weak  Christians  now,  who 
having-  sat  down  to  eat  and  drink 
in  the  Administrations  of  the  New 
Testament,  as  these  in  the  Old, 
rise  up  ioj)lay,  go  away  fed  up  with 
created  refreshments,  rather  than 
spiritual  manifestations  of  God. 

Assurance  of  Salvation. 

THE^pwre,  spiritual,  and  glori- 
ous assurance  of  salvation 
comes  from  the  knowledge  of  God, 
or  the  pure  manifestation  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  bearing  witness,  and 
g-iving  testimony,  that  we  are  the 
children  of  God ;  this  is  pure  spi- 
ritual assurance,  this  is  called  the 
white  stone  with  a  new  name  writ-  Rev.  2. 17. 
ten,  which  none  know  but  those 
that  have  it,  this  is  the  unction  1  Joim  2. 
whereby  we  know  all  things,  this 
is  that  Spirit  by  which  we  know 
things  freely  given  to  us  of  God. 

So  as  all  Demonstrations  of  Sal- 
vation, which  are  made  to  the  soul 
by  Tiny  rational,  persuasive ,  or  Ar- 
gumentative way,  and  not  in  the 
mere  evidence  of  the  pure  light  or 
spirit  of  God,  is  but  movdX,  or  human 
and  traditional,  and  will  fail ;  and 


20. 


170  Some  Beams  of  that 

all  applications  of  Gospel  promises, 
and  all  Conclusions  from  the  mere 
letter  of  Scriptures,  which  are  not 
the  pure  imag^e  or  Figure  without, 
answering  the  very  evidence  and 
demonstration  o{  Spirit,  and  of  God 
within,  is  but  a  literal  amd  formal 
assurance,  and  will  fail. 

All  counterfeit  or  resembled  tes- 
timonies, either  by  Satan,  who  can 
transform  himself  into  an  Angel  of 
Light,  or  by  the  mere  persuasion 
of  Nature,  or  the  carnal  conscience, 
whereby  Nature  doth  willingly  de- 
ceive, and  flatter  and  persuade  itself, 
being  usually  unwilling  to  perish^ 
and  believe  its  own  destruction  will 
fail. 

But  there  are  many  ways  of  as- 
surance of  Salvation,  though  more 
dim  and  faint,  besides  that  more  in- 
ward and  purely  spiritual,  and  that 
merely  of  God,  which  is  enjoyed 
very  rarehj,  and  I  know  not  by 
whom ,  excepting  those  only  to  whom 
the  Kingdom  of  God  is  revealed  in 
spirit,  and  God  is  seen  face  to  face; 
and  first  assurance  is  wrought  by 
the  knowledge  of  God,  according 
to  such  enjoyment  as  the  soul  is 


Bright  and  Moniing  Star.         177 

under  in  its  Administration  to  God, 
as 

First,  there  are  these  ways  of 
knowing  God. 

1.  By  reason  or  the  7nere  lig-ht 
of  nature^  and  works  of  this  cre- 
ation, and  here  is  a  law  accusing 
and  excusing,  (as  the  Apostle  saith) 
and  how  God  is  revealed  in  this  as 
to  salvation  in  all  those  Nations 
where  the  Gospel  is  not  heard  as 
in  its  outward  letter  and  Adminis- 
tration, or  elsewhere,  and  how  far 
God  may  administer  Christ  in  this, 
as  formerly  to  Job  and  Cornelius, 
I  dare  not  judge,  nor  condemn,  nor 
conclude,  but  sure  there  is  no  Sal- 
vation  out  of  Christ ;  and  hovv^  far 
God  may  use  this  light  of  nature  or 
reason  to  administer  Christ  in,  as 
he  makes  use  of  others  more  low 
and  visible  administrations  not  so 
excellent,  I  know  not. 

2.  There  is  a  knowledge  of  God 
by  graces  and  gifts,  or  fruits  of  the 
Spirit,  as  faith,  love,  self-denial, 
repentance,  &c.  and  by  the  letter  or 
promises,  and  outward  Ordi?iances 
and  Duties;  and  as  God's  manifes- 
tation is  in  these,  so  is  the  assurance 

12 


178  Some  Beams  of  that 

of  salvation  through  these,  and  such 
assurance  is  of  no  higher  and  clearer 
and  more  glorious  certainty  than 
God  through  these  doth  afford,  that 
is,  (as  the  Apostle  saith)  darkly  as 
in  a  glass;  and  as  these  are  sha- 
dowed and  clouded,  so  is  the  assur- 
ance, and  that  is  the  reason  why 
so  many  are  cast  down  and  afflicted 
as  to  this  thing  of  assurance,  and 
pine  and  consume  because  the  tes- 
timonies of  their  Salvation  are  no 
brighter  nor  clearer  than  such  Ad- 
ministration will  admit,  and  here 
they  are  to  wait. 

The  reason  why  assurances  of 
salvation  are  no  more  glorious  nor 
pure,\&hec2iVimthespiritualChurch 
or  Saints  are  in  Baby  Ion, in  the  flesh , 
compassed  about  with  the  mystery 
of  iniquity,  and  of  Antichrist  in 
ourselves,  and  enjoy  not  God  in 
that  sweet  and  pure  vision  as  they 
shall  do  when  they  return  to  Jeru- 
salem, the  new  Jerusalem,  the  City 
of  the  living  God. 

They  that  speak  of  the  assurances 
in  pure  revelation  of  Spirit,  not 
comprehending  all  the  several  ad' 
ministrationszLndmeasureswheTein 
God  appears  to  his,  do  much  mis- 


Bright  and  Morjiing  Star,        179 

take,  and  it  will  appear  from  that 
knowledge  of  God  which  is  amongst 
men,  in  all  its  several  dispensations ^ 
as  here  follows. 

The  Knowledge  of  God  ac- 
cording to  thevarious  Dis- 
pensations of  Himself 

GOD  is  known  in  the  light  of 
nature  or  reason,  and  works 
of  this  creation,  the  eternal  power  Rom.  i. 
and  Godhead  being  seen  by  things 
that  do  appear,  and  man  being 
made  after  the  Image  of  God,  and 
having  a  laiu  within  him  accusing  Rom.  -i. 
or  excusing. 

2.  By  the  mere  letter  or  scrip- 
tures, and  light  of  nature  or  reason, 
which  is  a  rational  dispensation, 
heightened  from  such  Images  and 
appearances  of  God  as  it  meets  with 
there  or  in  letter. 

3.  By  outward  Ordinances,  or 
signs  and  Images,  and  things  that 
do  appear,  and  thus  God  is  seen 
still  as  in  the  creation,  or  in  created 
things. 

4.  By  the  minister]/  of  Angels, 
or  a  more  high  and  Seraphical, 


ISO  Some  Beams  of  that 

though  still  creature-ministrations 
of  God. 

5.  By  graces  or  appearances  of 
the  Sjnrit,  as  faith,  repentance, 
love,  self-denial,  humility,  8fc. 
which  was  the  ministration  of  the 
first  Gospel-iivL\QS  under  the  Old 
Testament,  before  Christ  came  in 
the  flesh,  and  now  in  the  New  Tes- 

2  Cor. 3.18.  tament,  since  his  coming,  and  this 
is  said  to  be  as  in  a  glass. 

6.  By  God's  own  light,  even  Am- 
5e(/* revealed ;  and  this  is  ih^ipure, 
increated,  divine,  immediate  glory, 
flowing  from  himself,  or  himself; 

John  17.  Father,  (saith  Christ)  glorify  me 
with  thyself,  or  the  glory  that  I 
had  with  thee;  and  the  glory  that 
thou  gavest  me,  I  have  given  them, 
that  they  7nay  be  one  as  tve  are  one. 
Now  let  us  consider,  who  knows 
God  according  to  himself,  or  his 
own  light  and  glory. 

None  (saith  God)  can  see  me  and 
live  ;  so  as  they  that  see  God  do  not 
live,  they  do  not  live,  or  that  thing 
called  themselves  do  not  live  ;  that 
which  is  called  a  mans  self  is  his 
own  reason,  his  wisdom,  his  righte- 
ousness, his  desires  or  will,  his 
imaginations,    his   affections,    his 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         isi 

lusts ;  now  if  these  live,  God  was 
never  yet  seen,  none  can  see  God 
and  live ;  for  when  any  see  God, 
it  shall  be  no  more  they  that  live, 
but  Christ  or  God  that  liveth  in  Gal.  2. 20. 
them  ;  now  who  is  there  that  hath 
seen  God  that  doth  not  live,  in  whom 
nothing  of  self  lives.  And  that  we 
may  see  how  God  revealed  will 
annihilate  and  bring  to  nothing  all 
Jlesh,  consider  the  appearances  of 
Angels,  and  graces,  &c.  How  was 
Daniel  smote  into  astonishment  ? 
no  spirit  was  left  in  him  :  how  was 
Isaiah  ?  Woe  is  me,  I  am  undone, 
I  have  seen  the  Lord :  how  was 
John  when  he  fell  at  the  Angel's 
feet  ?  how  have  many  left  the  world 
and  worldly  contents,  relations,  and 
all  other  creature  comforts,  as  many 
Anchoritesandcontemplative  souls, 
who  are  carried  no  higher  than  by 
Angel  discoveries  ! 

Oh !  how  doth  the  pure  appear- 
ance of  God  pour  shame  upon  all 
Jlesh,  ^nd  Jleshly  glory  and  excel- 
lency, upon  all  the  visions  and 
dreams  that  man  hath  had  of  God, 
either  by  pure  reason,  his  image, 
or  by  creature-imagery ,  or  outward 
administration  and  notion  by  letter. 


182  Sofiie  Beams  of  that 

1  Cor.  13.  or  by  graces,  ^c.  for  when  that 
which  is  perfect  is  come,  that  which 
is  in  part  shall  be  done  away :  The 
day  of  our  Lord  will  be  upon  all  our 
Isa.  2.  Cedars,  and  Oaks,  and  pleasant 
pictures  J  and  Idols  of  gold  and  sil- 
ver, even  our  richest  and  most  spi- 
ritual Idolatry,  ^nd  judgment  shall 
be  upon  all  the  merchandize  of 
JBabylon,  the  pearls  and  precious 
stones,  the  Cinnamon  and  odours, 
Sindfrajikince7ise,  upon  all  deceive- 
ableness  of  unrighteousness,  and 
all  false  worship,  ^c. 

A  further  Discove?y  of  the 
JMi/stery  of  Salvation  in 
the  Gospel- Administra- 
tion, and  its  own  Glory. 

THE  Gospel -administration, 
wherein  the  mystery  of  sal- 
vation is  first  discovered,  is  in  the 
Scriptures  of  the  New  Testament 
held  forth  in  these  following*  par- 
ticulars. 

1.  In  repentance,  which  they  say 
is  a  sorrow  for  sin  wrought  by  the 
Spirit  of  God  and  the  Law,  flowing" 
from  Christ,  who  gives  repentance 


Bright  mid  Morning  Star.         183 

to  Israel,  and  the  Spirit  of  grace  Acts  5.31. 
which  mourns  over  him,  ^c.  and  is  Zec  12.10. 
thsit  godly  sorrow  for  sin,  the  new-  2Cor.7.io, 
man  grieving  over  the  old.  ^^• 

2.  In  faith,  which  they  say  is 
an  act  of  the  regenerate  soul  upon 
Christ,  resting"  and  believing  in  him  Rom.  3.28. 
for  justification  and  righteousness, 

or  as  some  say,  a  ^race  from  Christ  Rom.  1.17. 
or  righteousness. 

3.  In  conversion  or  ca/Zm^r, which 
is  the  work  of  the  spirit  of  God, 
turning,   or   sanctifying,  or  per-  iThei.4.7. 
suading  the  soul  of  the  Christian  ^JIlIq'^', 
from  his  sinful  and  unregenerate 

estate  to  God  in  Christ. 

4.  In  J^<s/^;?ca^^o?^,  which  is  God's 
pardoning  the  sm5  of  a  believer,  or  Rom.  5.  9. 
not  imputing  sins  unto  him,   and  Rom. 4.25. 
imputing  the  righteousness  of  Christ 

unto  him,  whereby  he  stands  j>w5^z-  Rom.  8.33. 
fiedzxiA  forgiven,  ^xiA  righteous  in  Rom.  5.  1. 
the  sight  of  Goc?  freely  ;  and  of 
God's  grace  through  faith  instru- 
mentally,  which  as  the  hand  re- 
ceives Christ,  as  some  say  ;  without 
faith,  as  others  say.  Thus  the 
Scriptures  in  the  letter  hold  forth 
the  first  revelation  of  the  mystery 
of  God  in  such  words  and  expres- 
sions as  these,  and  such  as  these 


184  Some  Beams  of  that 

are,  as  prayer,  good  works,  duties, 
ordinances,  which  ?irevery suitable, 
diud  projwrtioiiable  to  the  first  ap- 
pearance  of  God  in  us,  or  the  mys- 
tery oi salvation,  working  in  its  in- 
fancy and  first  creation  in  the 
Christian,  and  thus  the  infirmity 
of  Christians  is  fitted  with  a  mani- 
festation of  the  mystery  in  icords 
and  forms,  and  all  the  Christian 
Churches  of  the  world  generally 
draw  out  all  their  Systems  and 
models  of  divinity  into  articles  of 
faith,  and  Confessions  of  faith, 
according'  to  this  very  letter  of  Scrip- 
tures, which  is  no  other  but  a  reve- 
lation of  the  mystery  of  Salvation 
as  to  man's  infirmity,  and  say  some, 
they  call  it  their  fundamentals ,  and 
the  highest  attainment  of  Chris- 
tianity. 

Others  say  the  mystery  of  sal- 
vation is  no  other  than  Immanuel 
or  God  with  us,  or  God  in  flesh, 
not  only  in  that  man  Christ,  but  in 
the  whole  Christ,  Christ  being*  no 
more  but  an  anointed  one,  and  that 
anointed  one  is  our  nature  or  weak- 
ness anointed  with  the  Spirit,  even 
God  himself  who  is  strength  ;  and 
this  mystery  of  great  and  exceeding 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         185 

glory  is  revealed  in  pieces  ojidparts, 
and  after  the  manner  of  7nen,  ac- 
cording to  the  infirmity  oi ouv  Jiesh, 
within  the  Christian  in  graces,  8^c. 
and  in  the  Scriptures ,  or  expressions 
and  forms  without  the  Christian. 


The  Seekers,  their  Attain- 
me)it,  with  a  Discovery 
of  a  more  spiritual  Wax/, 

THEY  find  that  the  former 
Christians  of  the  first  or  of 
the  Apostles'  times,  according-  to 
Institutions  then,  and  the  adminis- 
tration of  Ordinances  then,  were 
more  visibly  and  spiritually  en- 
dowed with  power  from  on  high, 
or  with  gifts  of  the  Sjnrit,  and 
so  were  able  to  make  clear  arid 
evident  demonstrations  of  God 
amongst  them  ;  as  in  the  Churches 
of  all  the  Christians  then,  in  Co- 
rinth, Ephesus,  ^c.  And  that  all 
who  administered  in  any  outward 
Ofitce,  as  to  spiritual  things,  were  i  Cor.  12, 
visibly  gifted;  there  was  then  an 
Apostle,  Evangelist,  Prophet,  Eph.  1. 
Pastor,  Teacher,  Gifts  of  Heal- 


Some  Beams  of  that 


Cor.  13.  ing,  Gifts  of  Miracles,  of  Tongves, 
Sfc.  And  all  was  administered  in 
the  anointhig  or  unction  of  Spirit y 
clearly ,  certainly ,  infallibly  :  they 
ministered  as  the  Oracles  of  God. 
But  now  in  this  time  of  the  Ajws- 
tacy  of  the  Churches,  they  find  no 
such  gifts,  and  so  dare  not  meddle 
with  ?iny  outivard  Administrations, 
dare  not  preach,  baptize,  or  teachy 
^c.  or  have  any  Church-fellowship, 
because  they  find  no  attainment 
yet  in  any  Churches  or  Church- 
ways,  or  administration  of  Ordi- 
naces,  according  to  the  fivsi  jjattern 
in  the  New  Testament,  they  find 
nothing  but  the  outward  Ceremony 
of  all  Administrations  ;  as  of  bare 
water  in  Baptism,  of  bare  Imposi- 
tion ofhandsin  Ordination,  of  bare 
Election  of  Oncers,  as  Pastors, 
Teachers,  S^c.  of  bare  Church-cen- 
sures, without  the  visible  power  of 
gifts  of  Spii'it  which  were  before. 

Therefore  they  wait  in  this  time 
of  the  Apostacy  of  the  Christian 
Churches,  as  the  Jews  did  in  the 
time  of  their  Apostacy,  and  as  the 
Apostles  and  Disciples  at  Jerusa- 
lem, till  they  were  endued  with 
power  from  on   high,   finding*   no 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         187 

practice  for  Worship,  but  accord- 
ing* to  the  first  pattern. 

They  wait  only  in  Prayer  and 
Conference,  pretending  to  no  cer- 
tain determination  of  things,  nor 
any  infallible  consequences  or  in- 
terpretations of  Scriptures. 

They  wait  for  a  restoration  of 
all  things,  and  a  setting  up  all 
Gospel  Officers,  Churches,  Ordi- 
nances, according  to  the  pattern  in 
the  New  Testament. 

They  wait  for  an  Apostle  or 
Angel,  that  is,  some  with  a  visible 
glory  and  power,  able  in  the  Sjrlrit 
to  give  visible  demonstration  of 
their  sending,  as  to  the  world :  and 
thus  they  interpret  those  places  of 
the  Revelation. 

This  is  the  highest  of  their  At- 
tainment. 

But  some  speak  of  a  further  dis- 
covery, and  more  spiritual  than 
this  of  the  Seekers,  as  this  : 

1.  That  there  is  no  warrant  from 
Scriptures  to  expect  any  restoring 
of  Offices  or  Ordinances  according 
to  the  first  pattern  in  Scripture. 

2.  That  the  ^y&X pattern  in  Scrip- 
ture of  Offices  and  Ordinances, 
was  but  a  more  purely -legal  Bis- 


10 


188  Some  Beams  of  that 

j)ensation,  or  a  discovery  of  the 
Gospel  rather  as  to  Christ  after 
the  Jleshj  than  after  the  Spirit ; 
and  a  discovery  as  to  the  weakness 
both  of  Jeivs  and  Gentiles  then, 
respectively  to  visible  Administra- 
tions, and  gifts  of  Spirit. 

3.  That  the  A  dministrations  and 
Cor.  13.    gifts  then,  were  but  a  ministration 

in  part,  and  darkly,  as  in  a  glass, 
and  of  things  that  should  vanish 
away. 

4.  That  God  never  set  up  any 
Administration  or  Office  but  for  a 
time  and  season,  and  used  it  as  a 
temporary  dispensation ;  as  the 
Tabernacle,  Temple^  Law,  Priest- 
hood, ^c.  and  then  left  them  never 
to  be  restored.  So  the  first  Gos- 
pel  administration  by  Ordinances, 
gifts,  Sfc. 

5.  That  to  wait  in  any  such  way 
of  Seeking  or  expectation,  is  Anti- 
christian,  because  there  is  no  Scrip- 
tures to  warrant  any  such  restora- 
tion, or  expectation  of  such  admi- 
nistratio7is :  and  that  all  such 
waiting  is  that  desert,  wilderness- 
condition  prophesied  on  by  Christ ; 
that  is,  ivaste  and  barren  as  to 
spiritual  things  :  If  they  say,  Be- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.  189 

hold,  he  is  in  the  desert,  go  not  Mat.  24. 
forth  :  And  that  it  is  that  condition 
prophesied  on  to  be  in  the  secret 
chambers,  or  single  fellowships 
that  are  in  such  expectations  ;  a 
c/mm5er  signifying'  an  uj)per  room, 
or  a  room  above  others ;  so  this  state 
of  Seeking  is  thought  by  those  of 
that  Way,  to  be  an  upper  room,  or 
higher  administration,  as  to  Pres- 
bytery, Independency,  Baptism, 
8^c.  and  that  Lo,  Christ  is  here, 
or  the  gathering  into  that  Way, 
and  saying  it  is  his,  to  wait  in. 

6.  That  the  truth  is,  Christ  is  in 
all  his  in  spirit  and  truth,  and  as 
the  eternal  seed;   and  his  fulness  Coi.  1.26. 
is  already  in  the  Saints,  or  all  true 
Christians :  and  that  all  growth,  Eph.  3.  is, 
improvement,  or  reformation  that     ^^* 
is  to  be,  is  only  the  revelation  or 
appearance  of  this :  When  he  shall  goi.  3.  4. 
appear,  8fc.  or  to  be  revealed  in  ijohn3.2. 
the  brightness  of  his  coming,  in  the  •iThes.a. 
day  of  the  Lord  Jesus  ;  and  that     ^'^' 
he  is  in  us  that  true  life,  salvation, 
glory  ;  only  we  see  him  but  in  part ; 
and  that  all  conceptions  of  God  or 
Christ,  as  to  distance  of  coming,  Rom.  10.6, 
^c.    administrations,    ordinances,     ^**'^' 
gifts,  are  but  to  expect  Christ  in  a 


100  Some  Beams  of  that 

Col.  }.Z6,  Jieshli/  way  or  appearance,  not  as 
he  is  hi  us,  our  life,  fulness,  hope 
of  glory ,  ^c.  And  this  next  ap- 
pearance of  his  shall  be  in  his  own 
light,  spirit,  and  glory,  in  himself 
and  his.  And  this  is  that  Refor- 
mation to  be  expected ;  this  is  the 
Psa.  36.  last  administration  of  himself  by 
himself  in  his :  In  his  light  we 
shall  see  light. 

And  the  Saints  or  true  Chris- 
tians shall  not  only  see  God  thus  in 
himself,  face  to  face,  as  they  are 
seen;  but  the  world s\i^\\  see  him  in 
a  way  of  conviction  and  sjnritual 
judgment  upon  themselves ;  even 
him  that  sits  upon  the  throne. 

And  all  that  pure  administration 
of  Ordinances  and  Gifts  which  was 
and  is  expected  by  these,  is  but  a 
middle  or  iiiterdispensation  betwixt 
God  and  his ;  wherein  God  is  seen 
as  in  a  glass,  not  as  he  is  in  his  own 
glory,  which  is  himself,  which  is 
the  last  and  most  spiritual  disco- 
very. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         191 

The  Grounds  both  against 
Liberty  of  Conscience  and 
for  it,  ckarly  stated,  for 
all  to  judge. 

Against  Liberty  of  Conscience 
these  are  the  strongest  Grounds, 
and  all  the  Grounds  generally 
known. 

THE  Magistrate  is  the  keeper 
of  both   the  Tables   of  the  Custos 
Law :  and  as  he  may  punish  any  Tabl?^ 
evil  committed  against  the  second 
Table,  or  the  society  of  man ;  so 
he  may  punish  any  Idolatry  com- 
mitted against  God,  or  the    Wor-  Exod.  20. 
yAzp  of  God,  in  the  first  Table. 

2.  The  Magistrates  under  the  Old 
Testament  reformed;  Moses  and 
Joshua,  the  Kings  and  Princes  of 
Tudah  and  Israel,  Neheiniah,  ^c. 
50  the  Magistrates  now. 

3.  The  Magistiate  is  the  minis- 
ter of  God  for  good,  and  a  terror  Rom.  13. 
fo  evil  works,  and  bears  not  the 
^^word    in    vain;     therefore    may 
Dunish  Heresy  and  Schism,  because 

wil. 

4.  The  Magistrates  are  797^0- 
ihesied  on  to  be  assistants  to  the 


192  Some  Beams  of  that 

Church  of  God  :  Kings  shall  be  thy 

fathers,  and  Queens  thy  nursing 

'mothers;  and  therefore  may  punish 

all  such  as  are  enemies  to  it,  as  all 

Heretics  and  Schismatics  are. 

Acts  5. 1.       5.  Peter  smote  Ajianias  and  his 

wife  Sapj)hira  with  death,  which 

was    a    temporal   punishment    for 

their  sin  of  Hypocrisy  :  so  may  the 

Magistrate  put  forth  a  temporal 

punishment  for  a  spiritual  ofifence. 

6.   Paul  wished  that  they  were 

Gal.  s.  12.  cut  offivhich  troubled  them:  there- 
fore Magistrates  may  cut  off  Here- 
tics, because  they  are  troublers  of 
the  Church. 

Rev.  2. 18.  '''•  The  Church  of  Thyatira  was 
reproved  for  suiOfering  Jezebel  to 
teach,  and  to  seduce  :  therefore  Ma- 
gistrates are  not  to  sw^er false  Pro- 
phets or  Seducers  to  be. 
Zech.  13.  8.  The  father  ?in(^  mother  o^  him 
that  is  ^  false  Prophet,  shall  thrust 
him  through,  and  say.  Thou  shaV 
not  live;  for  thou  speakest  lies 
in  the  Name  of  the  Lord.  This 
was  a  Prophecy  as  to  Magistrates' 
punishment  for  Heresy. 

9.  If  Magistrates  shall  not  punish 
for  Heresy,  Errors  and  Schism^ 
there  will  be  nothing  but  Confusioa 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         io:i 

and  no  settlement  nor  establish- 
ment of  any  Peace,  Order,  or 
Truth  in  the  Church. 

10.  It  appears  from  the  practice 
of  all  Christian  States  generally, 
who  punish  all  such  as  conform  not ; 
from  all  Councils  and  Synods,  who 
still  hold  this  power  to  be  in  the  Ma- 
gistrate, of  reforming  and  punish- 
ing Heresy  and  Schism. 

The  Grounds  for  Liberty  of  Con- 
science which  are  strongest,  and 
are  all  commonly  known. 

1.  Moses  was  a  keeper  of  both 
Tables  only  as  he  Avas  a  Type  of 
Christ,  and  so  called  the  Mediator 

of  the  Old  Testament,  and    Wor-  Juim  i.  ir. 

ship  of  God  then  :  but  so  is  not  the 

Magistrate    now,     the     Office     of 

Moses    being    fulfilled    in    Jesus  Acts  3.  -n. 

Christ,  and  ending  in  him,  even 

in  that    Person  in   whom    all    the  Luke  9.  so. 

Types  were  fulfilled. 

2.  The  Magistrates  of  the  Old 
Testa?nent ;  as  Moses,  Joshua,  the 
Kings  of  Judah  and  Israel,  Nehe- 
miah,  8^c.  were  in  a  peculiar  and 
special  way  of  Magistracy  as  to 
that  Church-Polity  of  the  Jews, 
and  had  a  special,  and  peculiar, 

K 


35 


194  Some  Beams  of  that 

and  infallibly  directive  power  of 
Priesthood  with  Urim  and  Thum- 
7nim,  and  Prophets  anointed  of 
God  to  assist,  and  direct,  and  iti- 
struct  them  in  the  Law,  or  Refor- 
mation of  the  Church  at  such  times 
as  they  reformed.  And  the  Law  of 

2  Cor.  3.  (i,  the  Old  Testament  lay  more  plain- 
''  ^^'  ly  and  clearly  in  the  letter,  not  so 
much  in  spirit  as  the  letter  of  the 
New  Testament :  And  therefore 
the  Magistracy  now  having-  no  such 
special  reference  to  a  Church- Po- 
lity, nor  any  such  Ministery  infal- 
libly directive  joined  to  them,  can- 
not proceed  so  to  reform,  nor  com- 
pel, noY  punish. 

3.  The    Magistrates    under    the 
New  Testament  are  Ministers  as 

Rom.  1}  4  to  yood  and  evil,  not  as  to  Truth 
and  Heresy  :  and  this  ^oorZ  and  evil 
is  such  good  and  evil  as  falls  under 
the  Law  of  their  cognizance,  that 
is,  the  Lawof  A'^«^2/re,by  which  they 
make  Laws,  and  judge  the  breach 
of  them  :  which  Law  of  Nature  or 
light  Reason,  is  the  Law  or  prin- 
ciple for  administration  of  Justice 
and  Righteousness  in  all  Societies 
of  Men  and  Nations :    And  thus 

ii..m.  13.4.  the  Mao-istrate  bears  not  the  sword 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        195 

in  vain.  But  this  is  not  as  to 
Heresy  and  Schism,  of  which  the 
higher  Law  is  judg-e,  viz.  the  Law 
of  the  Spirit  of  life  which  is  in 
Jesus  Christ,  not  the  Law  of  Na^ 
ture  or  this  Creation. 

4.  In  that  Prophecy,  Kings  shall 
be  thy  fathers,  and  Queens  thy 
nursing  mothers,  is  not  in  its  own 
Scripture,  or  any  other,  interpreted 
to  be  any  other  thing  than  the  in- 
dulgency  and  favour  of  States  and 
Kingdoms  to  the  people  of  God ; 
which  is  far  from  bearing-  witness 
to  any  destructiveness  or  persecu- 
tion of  them. 

5.  That  Peter  smote  Ananias  and  Acts5.i,2. 
his  wife  Sapphira  with  death  for 

lying,  is  only  a  witness  of  God's 
power  and  holiness  put  forth  in  an 
act  of  Miracle  upon  the  sin  of  Hy- 
pocrisy for  convincing  unbelievers, 
and  confirming  believers,  and  is  no 
way  exemplary  to  any  Magistrate, 
being  a  power  by  miracle,  or  by 
an  extraordinary  act;  and  Magis- ^ 
tracy  in  its  administration  is  ordi- 
nary :  and  it  was  in  an  Apostle, 
not  a  Magistrate,  by  a  spiritual, 
not  a  carnal  weapon. 

6.  Paul  swishing  that  such  were  Gai.  5.12. 


196  Some  Beams  of  that 

cut  off  that  troubled  them,  holds 
forth  no  other  cutting  off  than  by 
Church-censure  or  Excommunica- 
tion, which  was  a  visible  dividing 
them  from  that  visibly  spiritual 
body,  the  Church,  called  a  deliver- 
ing up  to  Satan,  ^c. 
RcT.  2.18.  7.  The  Church  of  Thyatira  was 
reproved  for  suffering  Jezebel  to 
teach  and  to  seduce :  but  this  is  not 
the  Magistracy  of  Thyatira  which 
was  to  forbid  her  teaching  by  pun- 
ishment, but  the  Angel  or  Minis- 
tery  of  that  Church,  as  all  agree, 
who  was  rebuked  because  they  or 
he  put  not  forth  that  spiritual  power 
they  had  oi  Admonition,  Rejection, 
Excommunication , 
Zcch.  13.  8.  The  father  and  mother  of  him 
''^'^'  that  begat  the  false  Prophet,  and 
was  to  thrust  him  through  that  pro- 
phesicd  lies  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
was  a  Prophecy  respectively  to  the 
Law  of  the  /ezt;s  which  was  amongst 
them  against /ft/se  Prophets,  and 
had  a  true  Priesthood,  and  infal- 
lible Prophets,  with  a  special  Law 
to  try  them  by,  and  condemn  them. 
And  more  spiritually  was  this  :  By 
the  false  Prophet,  is  meant  the 
spirit  oi  Antichrist :  hj  the  father 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        197 

and  mother  that  begat  him,  they 
who  made  him  a  Prophet,  or  begat 
and  cried  him  up  into  the  reputa- 
tion of  a  Prophet:  and  then  thrust- 
ing him  through  for  the  lies  he  pro- 
phesied, is  their  spiritual  smiting 
that  Anii- christian  working  with 
the  Sword  of  the  Spirit,  through 
some  new  enlightenings  from  God 
received,  or  brightness  of  Christ's 
glory,  which  shall  slay  and  kill  all 
appearances  and  deceivableness  of 
^Ae  wia^  q/  si^i  or  false  Prophet, 
and  not  suffer  him  to  live. 

9.  That  there  will  be  no  settle- 
ment of  Peace,  Order,  or  Truth 
in  the  Church  if  the  Magistrates 
do  not  punish  for  Heresy,  is  upon 
mistaken  and  false  grounds,  sup- 
posing three  things  which  are  not. 
First,  that  the  Church-polity  of 
the  Jeius  by  Magistrate  and  Priest- 
hood is  to  be  used  by  Christians ; 
which  is  not,  it  being  fulfilled  in 
Christ,  the  true  King  and  Priest ; 
and  Christians  having  no  such  in- 
fallible Priesthood  to  join  to  Magis- 
tracy. Secondly,  that  Civil  povjer 
can  establish  anything  of  an  higher 
glory,  law  and  principle,  than  it- 
self as   all   spiritual    truths  and 


193  Some  Beams  of  that 

discoveries  of  Jesus  Christ  are. 
Thirdly,  the  mistake  of  true  spi- 
ritual settlement, peace,  order,  and 
truth,  which  receive  all  their  beinrj, 
propagation,  and  establishment 
from  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  the 
Scriptures,  and  such  spiritual  Laws 
as  God  hath  revealed  for  ordering 
the  outward  man  of  the  Christian 
by,  respectively  to  the  Society  or 
fellowship  of  other  Christians, 
called  Church-censures ,  &c.  Chris- 
tians being  under  a  twofold  Polity  ; 
that  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ,  as 
Christians ;  that  of  the  kingdom 
of  this  ivorld,  as  men,  or  such  as 
are  subject  to  the  Laws  of  civil 
Government :  And  likewise  sup- 
posing all  peace  and  order  to  be 
grounded  upon  Uniformity,  not 
EpJi  4.  3.  upon  Unity  of  spirit ;  and  preser- 
vation of  the  civil  Peace  of  the 
State. 

10.  That  States  and  Kingdoms 
do  to  this  day  practise  punishing 
Heresy  by  the  power  of  Magis- 
trates, and  that  Councils  and  Sy- 
nods do  allow  it ;  all  such  practice 
of  what  States  soever  in  this  kind 
doth  shew  only  what  they  do,  not 
what  they  ought  to  do.     And  the 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,         199 

kingdoms  of  the  world  are  prophe-  Rev.  17.17. 
sied  on  to  give  their  Kingdoms  and 
strength  from  themselves  to  the 
false  Church.  And  for  Councils 
and  Synods,  they  are  such  as  have 
erred  in  other  things,  and  why  not 
in  this?  It  being  their  great /^i^eres^ 
to  establish  themselves,  &c.  by  the 
Magistrate's  power. 

Whatsoever  is  not  0/  faith  is  R<>m-  ^^■ 
sin  :  So  as  all  who  are  compelled  in 
things  of  Worship  to  do  anything 
of  which  they  are  not  persuaded, 
do  sin. 

Gospel-sins,  or  sins  against  an 
higher  law  or  light  than  that  of 
Nature  and  Reason,  (which  is  the 
only  sphere  for  Civil  Government 
to  move  in)  is  to  be  judged  and 
punished  by  a  law  and  light  pro- 
portionable, and  more  spiritual  than 
any  power  of  Magistracy ;  as  the 
Spirit  of  God  going  out  in  Gospel- 
Judgment,  Admonition,  Rejection, 
Excommunication,  S^c. 

The  danger  and  hazard  of  Per- 
secution of  the  members  of  Christ, 
which  is  a  sin  bringing  much  judg- 
ment, because  judged  and  punished 
by  such  a  light  and  law,  viz.  by 
Synods  and  Councils  of  men  who 


200  Some  Beams  of  that 

are  not  infallible  in  their  decrees 
AwA  judgments  of  truth  and  heresy. 

By  force  and  compulsion,  men 
Avho  are  2oeak  in  the  faith  are 
made  hypocrites,  in  their  outward 
man  conforming  to  the  laws  of  men 
in  fear  and  bondage. 

All  such />oit;er  of  compulsion  in 
States  and  Kingdoms  principled 
with  any  %A^  and  liberty,  except 
Spain,  France,  ^c,  shall  destroy 
the  true  Interests  of  all  such  States 
and  Kingdoms  oppressing  all  So- 
cieties and  fellowships  of  men,  as 
to  spiritual  things,  though  never 
so  peaceably  affected,  as  men  and 
subjects. 

A  Mystery ;  or  the  Chris- 
tianfoUowing  the  Appear- 
ances  of  God  through  all 
created  Things. 

TH  AT  which  is  the  pure,  spi- 
ritual, comprehensive    prin- 
ciple of  a  Christian,  is  this  : — 

That  all  outward  administra- 
tions, whether  as  to  Religion,  or 
to  natural,  civil,  and  moral  things, 
are  only  the  visible  appearances  of 


Bright  and  Morning  Star,        201 

God,  as  to  the  world,  or  in  this 
creation;  or  the  clothing  of  God, 
being-  such  forms  and  dispensa- 
tions as  God  puts  on  amongst  men 
to  appear  to  them  in;  this  is  the 
garment  the  Son  of  God  was 
clothed  with  down  to  the  feet,  or  Rev.  1.  13. 
to  his  lowest  appearance.  And 
God  doth  not ^x  himself  upon  any 
one  form  or  outward  dispensation, 
but  at  his  own  will  and  p)leasure 
comes  forth  in  such  and  such  an 
administration,  and  goes  out  of  it, 
and  leaves  it,  and  takes  up  ano- 
ther. And  this  is  clear  in  all 
God's  proceedings  with  the  world, 
both  in  the  Jewish  Church  and  Heb.  12. 
State;  and  CAm^mws  now.  And  -^''^'■ 
when  God  is  gone  out,  and  hath 
left  such  or  such  an  administra- 
tion, of  what  kind  soever  it  is,  be 
it  religious,  moral,  or  civil ;  such 
an  administration  is  a  desolate 
house,  a  temple  whose  veil  is  rent, 
a  sun  whose  light  is  darkened  ; 
and  to  worship  it  then,  is  to  luor- 
ship  an  Idol,  an  Image,  a  form, 
without  God,  or  any  manifestation 
of  God  in  it,  save  to  him,  who  (as 
Paul  saith)  knows  an  Idol  to  be  1  Cor.  8. 4- 
nothing. 

K  2 


202  Some  Beams  of  that 


Thepwre,  spiritual,  comprehen- 
sive Christian,  is  one  who  grows 
Phil.  3.  14.  up  with  God  from  administration 
IS."  ■  to  administration,  and  so  walks 
with  God  in  all  his  rejnoves  and 
spiritual  increasings  andjioivings ; 
and  such  are  weak  and  in  the  Jiesh 
who  tarry  behind,  worshipping 
that  form  or  administration  out  of 
which  God  is  departed. 

A  Postscript  to  Master 
Gataker,  Author  of  a 
Book  called  Shadows  with- 
out Substance,  written 
against  me. 

Sir, 

THE  reasons  why  I  did  not 
answer  you  were  these :  I 
mean  your  last  Book,  called  Sha- 
dows  without  Substance,  ^c. 

I  found  that  Replies  and  Rejoin- 
ders did  exceedingly  confound  and 
perplex  the  plainness  and  simpli- 
city, and  glory  of  Truth,  and  had 
much  of  self,  and  passion,  and  re- 
crimination ;  which  I  am  confident 
the  Lord  will  shew  you  in  much  of 
what  you  have  written.     For  I  am 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         203 

assured  that  God  will  reveal  and 
convince  you  iiower fully  and 
mightily  in  many  passages  which 
yourself  wrote,  and  not  the  Spirit 
of  God.  Lay  your  hand  upon 
your  heart,  and  consider  sadly,  if 
the  advantage  of  the  times,  the 
glory  of  reputation,  the  passion  of 
man  in  you,  and  the  multitude  of 
years,  and  fame  of  learning  (not 
willing  to  be  convinced  by  days  or 
months)  did  not  write  most  of  your 
last  Book. 

What  you  wrote  in  the  sincerity 
of  Spirit,  and  in  that  measure  of 
Truth  you  received,  I  rejoice  in ; 
and  what  you  wrote  in  the  artifice 
of  your  parts,  your  ivit,  and  your 
other  human  advantages,  or  de- 
vices of  flesh  and  blood,  whereby 
you  laid  on  colours  to  make  your 
own  Arguments  fair  and  comely  to 
a  man  judging  no  higher  than  Rea- 
son, or  in  your  own  measure  of 
Truth,  and  whereby  you  laid  on 
your  darker  and  more  shadowish 
stuff  upon  me  your  adversary ,  ren- 
dering me  to  the  Reader,  both  in 
your  Title-page,  and  throughout 
your  Book,  as  one  that  denied  the 
Apostles'  Doctrine,    and   Christ's, 


204  Some  Beams  of  that 

because  I  denied  your  conclusions 
and  deductions  to  be  that  very 
Doctrine^  and  the  mind  of  those 
very  ScriptiLres  of  Christ  and  the 
Apostles.  This,  I  say,  must  pass 
under  the  Jiery  trial,  and  you  must 
sufifer  loss,  so  as  hyjire. 

Surely,  to  aeny  what  Master 
Gataaer,  or  some  Synods  of  men 
say,  is  not  to  deny  what  Christ 
and  the  Apostles  say,  unless  the 
Spirit  of  God  reveal  in  them  one 
and  the  same  Truth,  and  that  they 
all  speak  by  one  and  the  same 
Spirit,  in  one  and  the  same  lan- 
guage. 

Nor  did  I  see  that  you  in  all 
your  Writijigs  had  done  anything 
against  the  truth  declared  by  we  ; 
but  had  only  defended  yourself, 
and  your  own  measure  of  truth, 
with  rejection  and  reproaches  of 
mine ;  and  all  this  in  the  form 
only  oi  argumentation  and  confu- 
tation, not  in  the  power  :  so  as  I 
did  rest  without  replying,  knowing 
that  the  substance  of  what  truth 
I  had  written  was  as  I  had  received 
then;  and  would  abide,  because  he 
who  is  the  pattern  of  all  truth, 
Jesus  Christ,  abides  the  same,  yes- 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         205 

terday,  and  to-day ,  and  for  ever. 
And  for  any  expressions  of  mine,  or 
form  of  words  which  may  make 
truth  appear  to  some  not  one  and 
the  same  :  I  only  can  as  yet  speak 
truth  in  the  language  given  me  : 
when  I  can  speak  more  tongues, 
or  the  languages  of  several  Chris- 
tians, of  Avhich  the  gifts  of 
tongues  were  a  sign,  then  /  and 
you  shall  be  better  understood  by 
ourselves  and  others. 

Sir,  I  have  spoken  ohq particu- 
lar more  clearly,  which  you  and 
some  others  spake  on  in  my  Book. 
And  thus  I  take  my  leave  oi  you, 
desiring  to  love  any  appearance  of 
God  in  you,  and  to  forgive  any  in- 
firmities in  you,  which  are  of  man; 
as  I  desire  myself  to  be  loved  or 
forgiven  oi  others. 

And  truly  I  do  not  expound  that 
of  contending  earnestly  for  the 
Truth  to  be  in  reproaches  andjoas- 
sions,  in  Replies  and  Rejoinders, 
and  many  Books ;  but  in  Spirit, 
and  spiritual  affection,  and  pure 
manifestation  of  the  same  Truth. 
Sir,  your  Friend, 

John  Saltmarsii. 


206  Some  Beams  of  that 


A  pretended  Heresy. 

BoJk  npHAT  which  is  pretended,  or 
called  \^  at  least  believed  by  some  to 
broke  ^6  Hercsy  in  my  Book  of  Grace, 
loose,  is  this ;  which  I  desire  to  explain 
P.  84.  more  fully,  that  it  may  appear  more 
clearly  to  be  Truth  : 

That  Christ  hath  believed  per- 
fectly, repented  perfectly ,  morti- 
fied sin  perfectly  for  us. 

First.  That  Christ  hath  done  all 
for  us,  is  truth:  he  \\2ith  fulfilled 
all  righteousness,  both  that  right- 
eousness which  is  of  the  Law,  and 
that  which  is  of  the  Gospel,  in 
graces,  SfC.  and  upon  this  account 
he  is  made  unto  us  righteous- 
ness, SfC. 

Secondly.  Faith,  repentance, 
mortification,  were  all  in  Christ 
originally,  primarily,  as  in  their 
nature,  their  fountain,  their  root 
or  seed ;  and  therefore  he  is  said 
to  give  repentance  to  Israel ;  and 
he  is  the  author  andfinisher  of  our 
faith ;  and  it  is  called  the  faith  of 
the  Son  of  God  ;  and  of  his  ful- 
ness have  all  we  received,  and 
grace  for  grace  ;  for  every  grace 
in  him,  a  grace  in  us. 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        207 

And  to  say  Christ  hath  done  all 
these  for  us,  first  in  himself,  and 
then  in  us  through  himself,  I  hope 
is  such  an  Heresy  as  we  all  believe. 
It  may  be,  my  want  of  clearer 
explanation  made  it  be  taken  for 
Heresy  ;  which  I  hope  will  now 
be  judg-ed  more  candidly  to  be  a 
Truth. 

Nor  can  this  ( That  Christ  hath 
all  graces  and  perfection  in  him- 
self) prove  that  we  stand  in  need  of 
none  in  us,  no  Faith  nor  Repent- 
ance in  us,  nor  mortification  of 
sin  in  us,  no  more  than  PauVs 
Doctrine  of  Grace  and  Faith,  and 
the  Christian  to  be  under  Grace, 
destroy  the  Law,  or  make  void 
Faith,  or  cause  men  to  sin  that 
Grace  may  abound. 

I  never  yet  denied  the  Graces 
and  Fruits  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
which  appear  in  Faith,  Repent- 
ance, new  Obedience,  Mortifica- 
tion of  sin,  as  may  be  seen  in  all 
things  I  have  written.  It  may  be 
I  may  speak  Truth  in  such  a  no- 
tion or  conception,  or  measure  of 
light  as  1  have  received  it  in,  and 
not  in  another  s.  The  Christian, 
as  the  English  or  French,  can  only 
speak  in  his  own  Tongue  or  Lan- 


208  Some  Beams  of  that 

guage,  till  the  Lord  be  one,  and 
his  name  one  amongst  us  :  and  in 
the  mean  time,  let  us  judge  Heresy 
by  the  Truth  in  Scripture,  and  in 
the  Spirit ;  not  as  it  seems  to  us  so, 
or  appears  so,  perhaps  not  for  want 
of  true  light  in  what  is  written  but 
more  light  to  what  is  already  writ- 
ten, to  make  it  more  clearly  appear 
true  light. 

To  Master  Knolls,  the. 
Author  of  a  Book,  called 
The  shining  of  a  flaming 
Fire,  S^c.  written  against 
me,  as  to  the  point  of 
Baptism, 

Dear  Brother, 

I  HAVE  been  long  silent,  not 
because  what  you  wrote  had 
prevailed  in  me  to  believe  the  Or- 
dinance of  Baptism  by  water,  so 
practised,  of  that  necessity,  or  of 
t\\2it pure  and  Apostolic  practice  in 
these  times,  since  the  outward 
Court  given  to  the  Gentiles  hath 
been  trodden  down,  and  the  gifts 
of  Spirit,  which  was  the  glory  and 
life  of  those  visible  administrations 
then,  now  taken  away.      But  I  was 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.        200 

not  very  hasty,  because  I  know  it 

is  not  man  that  teacheth   Truth,  jo^n  e.  45. 

but  God ;    Ye  shall  be  all  tavght 

of  God.    There  are  three  thing's  I 

propound  to  you,  with  many  other. 

1.  That  all  that  baptize  now  by 

the  power  of  teaching,  {Go  teach  Mat.  28. 
and  baptize)  do  teach  in  the  same 
gift  the  disciples  that  baptized 
formerly  did  teach  ;  that  is,  as  the 
oracles  of  God,  in  the  pure  mani- 
festation of  the  Spirit  of  God,  else 
that  Command,  Go  teach  and  bap- 
tize, belongs  not  to  disciples  o 
less  ;j?<re,  less  certain,  and  less 
infallible  teaching,  as  all  disciples 
now  in  mystical  Babylon;  or  the 
flesh,  are ;  but  to  disciples  of  the 
first  anointing,  or  frst  fruits  of 
the  Spirit,  such  as  the  Apostles 
were,  and  such  as  Philip  and 
Anayiias,  and  the  brethren  with 
Peter,  ^c. 

2.  That  the  Baptism  of  water 
is  Christ's  Baptism,  or  his  admi- 
nistration ;  but  it  is  Johns  and  his 
Ministery  :  I  come  baptizing  with 
water;  but  he  shall  baptize  you 
with  the  Holy  Ghost :  And  there- 
fore Christ  never  gave  it  to  his 
disciples  in  their  first  Commission 
to  preach  to  the   Jews^  nor  bap- 


210  Some  Beams  of  that 

Mat,  10.  tized  he  any  himself ^  that  can  be 
found;  nor  doth  it  appear  that 
this  in  Matth.  28,  is  meant  of 
baptizing  by  water,  but  by  the 
Spirit,  or  baptism  of  gifts,  which 
Christ  baptized  with  in  their  ad- 
ministration, saying,  Lo,  I  am 
with  you,  or  in  you,  SfC. 

3.  That  the  disciples  of  Christ 
baptized  only  by  water,  as  in 
Johns  Ministery,  though  into 
Christ,  as  all  legal  administra- 
tions were,  viz.  to  Christ ;  and 
did  it  partly  in  honour  to  John's 
Ministery,  (for,  a  greater  prophet 
than  John  hath  not  risen)  and  to 
the  believer  s  weakness;  as  in  that, 

1  Cor.  1.  To  the  weak,  I  was  weak :  To 
them  under  the  Law,  as  under  the 
Law,  Sfc.  yet,  saith  he,  I  was  not 
sent  to  baptize  :  It  was  no  part  of 
his  Commission,  but  of  his  spiritual 
liberty,  and  to  edification  of  the 
weak  :  for  he  circumcised. 

And  there  is  another  thingwhich 
hath  caused  much  mistake  and  con- 
fidence in  this  point  of  Baptism  by 
water,  and  that  is,  The  not  distin- 

Rom.  6.  guishingthe  doctrine  of  Baptisms, 

^"'-  ^-  but  interpreting  the  words  of  Bap- 
tism used  in  the  Epistles,  which 
appear  to  be   words    of  mystery j 


Bright  and  Morning  Star.         211 

and  spiritual  immersion,  as  to  the 
mysteries  of  God,  and  of  bein^ 
made  by  one  Spirit  one  whhChrist, 
one  in  his  death,  buried  with  him 
by  Baptism,  Sfc.  to  be  of  a  mere 
literal,  elementary  signification, 
and  to  be  meant  of  water  only, 
and  from  this,  pressing  it  as  ne- 
cessary, 8^c. 

And  further,  there  is  no  little 
mistake  of  that  in  the  Hebrews, 
where  the  doctrine  of  Baptisms 
is  reckoned  amongst  the Jirst prin- 
ciples of  the  doctrine  of  Christ ; 
whereas  those  Jirst  principles  are 
reckoned  in  the  Hebrews,  not  as  if  Heb.  6. 
all  of  them  were  things  to  be  for 
ever  the  principles  of  ever  j  Chris- 
tian, but  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ 
in  some  of  those  things,  as  to  that 
age ;  those  things  being  first 
brought  forth  in  that  ministration 
of  Christ'  then :  for  if  it  were 
otherwise,  and  all  they  oi  necessity 
as  the  Jirst  principles,  then  where 
is  the  other  Baptism  of  gifts  there 
mentioned  in  the  Word  ?  For  the  Bu^mxr- 
word  is  Baptisms,  not  Baptism,  j^"^'^*- 
And  further,  the  Apostle  rather 
calls  Christians  up  higher,  more 
into  Spirit :  Wherefore  leaving, 
saith  he,  the  doctrine  of  Christ, 


212        Bright  and  Morning  Star. 

Hcb.  G.  1.  let  us  go  on  to  perfection,  or  ib 
that  which  is  perfect ;  which  is 
Christ  himself.  As  if  he  should 
say,  Let  us  be  no  moie  weak  Chris- 
tians, but  sucli  as  seek  higher  and 
more  excellent  things. 

I  refer  you  to  the  Doctrine  of 
Baptisms  here  in  my  Booh,  where 
I  have  not  controversially  written, 
but  in  meekness,  and  ^j/ftin  dis- 
tinction of  things. 

Nor  am  I  against  Baptism  by 
water,  if  administered  according 
to  the  measure  of  light  ye  are  un- 
der, and  not  in  an  Apostolical  ne- 
cessity and  pressure,  and  as  a  di- 
viding Ordinance  to  the  unity  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  in  Christians. 

Dear  Sir,  I  love  and  tender 
those  true  appearances  of  God  that 
are  in  you,  and  rejoice  with  you 
in  beholding  that  glory  by  which 
we  are  all  changed  from  glory  to 
glory,  ^'c.  and  am,  your  Friend  and 
Brother  in  the  Lord, 

John  Saltmarsh. 


F  I  ^  1  S. 


J  Whittjsgham  "20  Tookes  Court. 


1    1012  01002  4059 


Sparkles  of  Gh 

or  fome  Beams  ol 
Morning  Star, 

By  John  Saltmarsi 


It 


r-  ''^.