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Dear Friends, Brethren and Sisters, of the Seed
of Abraham, partakers with him in the holy call, and who in his faith wait for
that glory and inheritance immortal, which every one of you shall receive at the
appearance of the great God, and His Son Jesus Christ, to you all be peace,
truth, and love increased, wherein you may be established to the end of your
calling.
That which is set before me in the Spirit of
truth, and for which my soul travails and breaths after in the whole creation
(but especially in you who are already called thereunto) I am moved to impart to
you, thereby to stir you up earnestly to press on towards the appearance of that
to which you are called in one, which is no other than what has been held forth
from the beginning, even the only begotten of the Father, filled with grace and
truth; for the obtaining whereof, you that are faithful have denied the delights
of this present world, and do daily undergo the enmity thereof. Of whose
appearance many of you have received a certain hope which cannot be shaken, and
a measure of Him some are come to in the same Spirit, who have seen, felt, and
handled of His appearance, and have received of His fullness, wherein alone you
excel, and are able to hold forth that life in the power of obedience, meekness,
and fear, which no form nor knowledge without is able to bear or bring forth,
which is that alone wherein I rejoice in you; and not only so, but find cause in
heart to magnify that goodness and glorious power of God, already manifested in
you, and through you to the world, whose praises will daily increase, as His
virtues appear in you; which that you, and all the number of called ones, may
increase in, and grow to that stature, and full appearance of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, is the full desire of my soul, and that which will give us
an assured joy and perfect peace in one, when knowledge will vanish, and that
which is in part shall be done away.
Wherefore you that have received the Spirit of
prophecy, and that light out of darkness, which lets you see what manner of one
the Son of God must be at His appearing in spirit and power, holiness and great
glory. I beseech you that none of you sit down at rest in this fight, nor be you
puffed up therewith, as though you had already attained, lest thereby the enemy
prevail to exalt you above what is meet, and so others, less in wisdom, who are
more lowly, in spirit step in before you, and obtain that crown and glory to
which you were called; and so while you feed on the knowledge you lose the life;
but that everyone wait in the light to feel the power and life of the Son of God
manifest in your bodies, giving you victory over your own spirits, and raising
you up out of death into the life of the prophecies, that you all may know the
true worship in spirit, and what you bow to, that henceforth you may be servants
of righteousness, begotten and not made, which only has food able to satisfy
your thirsting souls, that you may all feel the only begotten of God in virtue
and power, working mightily in the work of the Father, and destroying the work
of the devil in every particular, for hereunto were you first called, that you
should inherit eternal life and power, the true riches of grace in
righteousness, and to receive a kingdom that cannot be moved, but that is able
to keep you against all assaults of the enemy, which riches is God's only
begotten, in whom is received of the perfect fullness of God, which is only able
to satisfy all fears, and supply all wants, in all who attain to His appearance.
And further, I beseech you that you satisfy not
yourselves only with a feeling of this working in you, but that you diligently
attend an entrance thereinto, that you may put Him on whom the Father begets and
forms in you, that your souls may be bathed and anointed therein. And not only
so, but that you bring Him forth before all men, even Him the only begotten Son
of God in meekness, long-suffering, in patience, in righteousness, in godly
holiness, and all His virtues; the living image of Him by whom He is begotten;
that it may appear to all men whose you are, and who possesses the vessel, and
what He is that appears therein; that it may be seen and confessed that God is
in you of a truth, revealed in His only begotten; for this is He, to whom at His
appearance every tongue shall confess, and every heart be struck with fear;
though the form of His beauty, and visage of His glory has (among false births
and feigned profession) been more marred than any man's; who instead of bringing
forth into the world the only begotten of God, to convince and condemn the world
of all ungodliness, and save them from it, have brought forth the conceivings of
their own brains, and the child born to them is no savior, but their birth has
left them in the world, and one with it, who are now turning the words of Christ
against His works, and their power to withstand His appearance in others, who is
the same which was, and is, and is to come to all generations.
So that instead of holding forth that spiritual
power of perfect redemption from above, to save His people from their sins, and
set them at liberty from the bondage of corruption, to serve God in the new man,
the Son of righteousness, of peace, and holiness, God's image, there appears,
the son of wickedness, in every form, at liberty, and pleaded for, the image and
power of all unrighteousness and ungodliness, preached and set up; so that the
very faith and hope of God's appearance in their generation is destroyed. So
these not waiting in faith, single in the begettings of God from above, to see
in patience that formed, born and brought forth, but mixing with their
reasonings and wisdom from below, have not attained His appearance, but have
turned the truth of God into a lie, His glory into shame; wherefore God has
given them up to believe their own conceivings: And you has He called in that
glorious hope and powerful faith, wherein you now stand; and them He has left to
be heirs of the corruptions of this world, which they have minded more than
Himself; where now many of them are the great opposers of His appearance, who
were once called to bear a measure of His testimony in spiritual life and power.
And now, dear Friends, the called of God you
are, unto the day of His coming, whose light has shined out of darkness, giving
you a knowledge in this great mystery and hope, and a power you have received
from above, whereby you are come nearer the day than those before you, and many
have denied the world and their inheritance, that you might stand single in the
hope thereof. Now the day is yours if you be watchful, and faithful thereto,
that you mix not with the earthly seed, nor bring forth a false birth, but that
your hearts be single, and open to receive Him from above, the heavenly Seed in
the will of God, and not of yourselves; the Son of righteousness, the Father's
glory, who has the living image and power of God, to make all Sons and Daughters
of the Most High, conformable to Himself, and heirs with Him of the same
kingdom, glory, and power; even as many of you as so receive Him, as to put Him
on as He is, and so walk in Him as the begotten of God, children of the Most
Holy, whom He has counted worthy of so high a calling, as to receive His name,
power, and glory, and to bear testimony what He is before all men, and to hold
forth the power that you have in His name and image, above all names and forms,
in heaven or in earth; and this with all diligence, meekness, and fear, lest
satan deceive you of that simplicity that is in Him, and so you come short of
His glory, and others be called. Now quit yourselves as the beloved of God; cast
off every weight which would hinder your attaining Him, that in the light is set
before you; crucify every affection after the earthly, and put away all the
cares and pleasures that would choke this Seed, and whatever would mix in your
minds, or plead for a place in your hearts, let it be to you as an accursed
thing, that the blessing of Abraham may come upon you, and through you to
manifest to all the world, and that the Holy Name of Christ may be glorified in
you, which has long been polluted through such who have professed it, in a
contrary nature.
For this is He to whose appearance in the world
every tongue shall be made to confess, and the angels of God shall worship Him,
for He is the glory of God, and power of righteousness in heaven and in earth,
God's love and good will among men, and in Him is the Father revealed, whom no
eye has seen. You that have received Him, and hold Him forth, are the light of
the world, let Him shine to the glory of your Father; it is you that hold forth
the foundation of faith; He being lifted up will draw all men to Him; as you
receive Him from above, and there is that in every conscience that will answer
His appearance, for God has not left him without witness: So that he that
believes not is condemned already in himself, because he believes not in that
only begotten of God, whom the Father has sent into the world. If He does that
work in you which no other can do, than how should any believe or confess that
it is He? But at His appearance His works shall declare Him, and leave all
without excuse.
His righteousness, His meekness, His patient
sufferings, His lowly-mindedness, His faith and obedience to the Father, His
love and tender compassion towards all men, being richly furnished with all
manner of godliness, shall declare Him whose image He bears, and whose Son He
is, and from whence He comes, for the earth has not those fruits, power and
glory: Thus shall He be glorified in His Saints, and admired in all them that
believe, and receive His testimony: And in this birth you shall not only save
yourselves, but hold forth salvation to all that here thereof.
Wherefore as you profess that holy calling above
others, so in the fear of God take heed what you bring forth, be sober and watch
diligently in that which is from above, lest the enemy prevail to mix somewhat
of your own to hold forth in his name, that has not the nature, power, nor
purity of the Son of God, and that being above spoil you of His appearance, and
mar the true image, which you will find the envious one seeks to devour upon all
occasions, that alone having power over the head of the serpent; wherefore see
that you be covered with Him alone, as He is from heaven.
But above all things, I beseech you put Him on
as He is the Son of God's love, and so hold Him forth towards all men, but
especially towards the brethren; so much the more as this being that which the
enemy has cast long upon the children of light (to wit) want of love, taking his
advantage while the way has been preparing thereto, and the spirit of judgment
and burning has passed on the old building, a time of sorrow, and pulling down,
dressing the house where love should dwell; so that though the root of the
matter was in it, yet could not in that time spring forth towards others, nor
indeed be fully shed abroad in the heart, while that is there which God hates,
which love many have now received, and it is full time to bring forth, Him so
begotten in you, lest any selfishness appear in His stead, and so prevent you of
that which is most excellent: But that you all may put Him on, as He is manifest
from the Father's bosom, and that you be clothed therewith, from heaven, so
plentifully, that you may have to cast over a brother's nakedness, a garment of
the same love, who came from above to lay down His life for His enemies, and of
the same power, who can forgive sins, and offences, above seven times a day,
beholding each other with the good eye which waits for the soul and not for the
sin, which covers, and overcomes the evil with the good, that with Him you may
be perfect in love, judging, and receiving one another in the increase of God,
and not in that which is for destruction, giving more abundant honor to him that
lacks, that in the Body be no schism, nor defile one another, nor keep alive a
brother's iniquity, nor blot out the Name, and appearing of the Holy Seed in the
least, but keep the Lord in your eye, and the evils shall die and vanish away
from among you, and the appearance shall be the Lord's, and to Him shall the
gathering of the nations be; hungry souls shall see, and be satisfied with His
likeness, and all that behold His beauty shall confess unto Him, and in Him
shall the upright heart delight, for at His coming shall He establish the throne
of righteousness, and measure every appearance, and correct every false
judgment, and that which ensnares the simple will be cast out, for by the power
of His appearance shall everything be tried, and peace proclaimed in the name of
righteousness alone, for that which is not like Him, will not be able to stand
before His appearance. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him;
he that has this hope purifies himself even as He is pure, that he may be seen
in Him at His coming.
Now dear Friends, is your sound gone forth to
the ends of the earth, and God has made you famous among your enemies, in that
you have begun to confess His name, and nature, and that He is in you whom many
are looking for here and there, and now the eyes of people and nations is upon
you to see your end, and now your glory is in putting Him on, and covering you
with Him, a Lamb without blemish, before God and man, that in Him you may obtain
good report, unreprovable, and holy, so shall you stop the way of the destroyer,
and put an end of all false conceptions, and revive the hope of Israel.
Let His innocency be your armor, and put your
trust in His truth, for your salvation. The time is full come for you to declare
what He is to you, with boldness, with a confession beyond words; for this
appearance of Him in love is that which shall judge all likenesses, and try all
spirits, actions, judgments, and appearances, and by this shall you all be
measured, what spirits you are of, and all spirits in the world, for He shall
bring every hidden formed feigned thing to light, at His coming; and whatever
has not this love in it, is not His, nor begotten of God; but he that has this
love is begotten of God, and has Him, the Father and the Son, the end of the law
and the Prophets, the substance and life of all knowledge, faith and works, the
root and ground of every good gift; for herein are we made perfect in love, that
we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because we have put Him on, and
dwell in Him, who is love; and as He is, so are we in this world. But he that
loves not, is not made perfect in faith, in knowledge, in judgment, having not
learned Christ herein, therefore by this he must be judged himself. So blessed
is he that judges nothing before the time, who condemns not himself, wherein he
judges another, all judgment being committed to Him that can lay down His life
for His enemies. Therefore happy are you if you have Him on first, for when He
appears His judgment is true, and shall stand, when all that has come before Him
shall pass away, for Him alone has the Father sealed.
So dearly beloved ones, my soul breaths towards
you herein, that in all your several gifts and administrations, this Son of God
be your eye and end, the beauty and glory of the Father, that the hope thereof
to attain, may stay you in all trials and temptations, knowing that in Him alone
is your lasting peace, and that which does now befall you in all your
afflictions is to shake all other appearances, that way may be made for Him
alone, whose image and life none can judge nor condemn. And the day is come,
that happy is that man who has nothing else to glory in; and this know, that the
appearance of God in His own begotten, is your glory; and if any man boast
himself, and not herein, when he is weighed therewith he will be found wanting,
the sound thereof will not save him.
As the same Spirit from whence this
comes, moves in any one, so let them send it abroad among the called of God, to
be read and known.
Come forth you children of light, come forth,
depart out of the world, touch not the unclean thing, that the Holy One may make
His appearance among you; make haste to the day of your God. If He shine forth
salvation is with you, but He cannot appear in that heart where the world is
retained. If you be like the world it will own you; but that image which it
receives not, is your everlasting glory and beauty. So mind what works in the
vessel; for now must every child appear like his Father, and must bring to light
of what spirit he is begotten; and only blessed is he that comes in the name of
the Lord, with power and great glory. That which the world is ashamed of is that
with which the Son of God is glorified, and again must be glorified. He that
bears the iniquities of men, and is filled with reproach, and yet appears
without sin, is our Savior. And a Lamb without spot must take away the sin of
the world; His manifestation destroys the work of the devil, in a body prepared
He delights to perform the counsel of God, and to bring hidden things to light;
that He may speak mysteries to the wise therein, and hold forth a way to the
simple, leading out of the snares of subtlety.
Wherefore all that love His appearance, and seek
the face of redemption, love that which prepares His way to His appearance in
His temple; that which breaks down the will of man, and as a fire goes before
Him; which is that baptism with which all that will receive Him must be baptized
into death. So when sorrow, anguish, and tribulation comes upon you, rejoice,
and flee not. This comes to destroy nothing but destruction, and to kill that
which keeps you from eternal life, and to prepare a way for your peace, and a
place for everlasting righteousness to dwell in you. For truly friends, in the
threshing floor must the altar be set up, and where God answers by fire, there
must His house be built: And as many as look to the end of this, may not despise
correction, nor faint under the hand of reproof.
That is good which brings down into the death
where the wonders of God are learned, for he that will labor in God's vineyard
must know every seed and its root; what feeds it, and what famishes it, and the
ground of every weed, the cause of every curse. This many may see, when it's
come to a tree, branches, and brings forth fruit; but then it is strong and
powerful, and not easily plucked up, seldom got down without fire, and much
sorrow, therefore blessed is that eye that's lowly and diligent, which sees
every several appearance, that he may slay the seed of wickedness e're it bud,
and not suffer the enmity to take root; for he that suffers diverse seeds shall
have sorrow therein; and he that sows among thorns and briers must reap trouble;
and where this kind is suffered to grow, there is torment to themselves, and
trouble to others, for how should the thistle change its nature.
So all that desire peace, prepare a place that
the Seed thereof may grow alone, and the Sun thereof may arise and shine
clearly, that nothing may grieve His Spirit, for Jacob must dwell alone, and not
be numbered among the rest of the nations, neither has the Lamb fellowship with
the beasts of the field.
Now as you have seen the image of the earthly,
and felt his power and inclination to earthly things, captivating your minds
downward, to things below; even so must you bear the image of the heavenly, if
He reign that comes from above. Till then think not you are perfect, nor have
attained to the resurrection of the dead. For this I know of Him, in whom your
life is hid, that as He arises, He shall as strongly lead your minds into the
heavenly, as ever you were captivated with the earthly. So he that can read the
figure, rejoice in hope concerning Him that is to come, yet let none glory in
the sight of this knowledge, but press into the life thereof, that God may be
seen and glorified in you. For as he that has gone much out with his mind, and
has drank in abundance of the earthly, is become the most subtle, selfish, and
hard, and filled with all unrighteousness, till he become incurable, even so he
that returns in, and drinks abundantly of the heavenly, does become simple,
innocent and harmless, separate from all ungodliness, till he become
incorruptible, and receive power to attain the Son of God, whose image declares
the Father, from whence he is; for he that has seen the Son, has seen the
Father, and he that has the Son has the Father also. So dear Friends, behold the
end of your calling, and glory of your profession, your life in this world, and
eternal inheritance; for the which to attain, we endure all things, for which
sufferings and patience, we have a cloud of witnesses. So we follow not fables
and fancies (as some suppose) but every one as he is proved herein is able to
set to his seal, even the day of the Lord, with them that are going before,
whose spirits are herein perfected.
Wherefore dearly beloved of God, for His names
sake I beseech you, be zealous for His appearance, and with meekness and fear
instruct the ignorant, who oppose themselves; comfort the weak; in all things
leading with a life that cannot be blamed, knowing how manifold your labor of
love is doubled, in everlasting glory, as He comes to be made manifest to the
world. And the Lord God of power strengthen all your hand by the appearance of
His love; that by the shedding abroad of it in your hearts, you may be able to
overcome the world, and willing to give your necks to the yoke of Christ, and to
bear the burdens of the weak, till the Brotherhood arise, and the Body of Christ
be perfected in one; that none of you suffer an evil eye or ear, which delights
to behold the weakness of others, but that your whole delight be to wait for the
appearance of God in all, and to behold His face in them, rather than their
failings. And as this arises in every particular, it shall be a sure token to
you for good, and that you are passed from the love of evil, to the love of God
the Father, and the Son. And what you delight in shall be your inheritance. And
as you grow herein, so shall He whom you love to see, delight to make His
appearance among you, and to walk in you; and you shall not seek His face in
vain, but with His likeness shall be satisfied, and shall praise the beauty of
His appearance.
Thus in honor preferring one another, you shall
know, that the power of love is a ministration of life, to that which is to be
beloved.
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Who will be on the Lord's part? Now in this day
of darkness, when iniquity is growing to the full, and the Man Child is to be
born above it? And who will give up the vessel to bear His name against the
enmity that is now arising? And who will be glorified with the Lamb? Blessed and
happy is he that is found worthy to follow Him out of the world, bearing His
reproach. To as many as receive Him, He gives power to become sons of God.
But he that will bear His name, must receive His
nature, and himself also so walk, even as He walked: His name is power over sin,
and the world cannot bear it; he that bears His name, must bear it in His life,
and power, lest he blaspheme. Of flesh and blood it is not born, nor by the will
of man is it manifest, it's he that is born again who has His witness in
himself, that must bear His name before the world for a witness against them,
who has that life in him which testifies against the deeds thereof; but who bows
thereto betrays Him, and proves false in his testimony.
Moses in his house, made all things in likeness
of the pattern, so it became a tabernacle of witness to all nations (of the true
God therein) and against all their false gods, and false worships; and herein
was he faithful to Him that called him, and to all that beheld the pattern he
preached God's presence, dwelling in the tabernacle made with hands. How much
more must he that bears the name of Christ follow the pattern, and suit His
example, holding forth a tabernacle of witness, and preaching the presence of
the true God therein, and against all the world, their false births, false ways,
and worships, herein proving faithful to Him that has called thereto; and to all
that behold Him, holding forth that holiness is His habitation here on earth, as
it is in heaven, bearing a lively testimony thereof, by the tabernacle of
witness, conformable to the heavenly witness in all things. And to this end
Christ descended, walked and suffered on earth, leaving an example to all that
follow His steps, wherein, as in a lively oracle, God is found, in all that is
builded after His image; and seek in His name and nature, for the immortality
that dwells therein. Now God was not to be found in the tabernacle of Molech
(though sought never so earnestly) but in the tabernacle of witness, built
according to the pattern; neither is He now to be found in the image of the
world; or is His name born in that nature, though professed never so zealously.
Therefore let every one that names the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity;
the seed of evil-doers bears not the testimony of Christ, and are out of the
vine, in a contrary nature.
Did they blaspheme, who said they were Jews and
were not? How much more do they who profess the name of Christ, and are out of
the vine, in a contrary nature?
Wherefore all who aim to hold forth in love to
His appearance, and to attain His coming in purity and glory, must be diligent
in the heavenly light, ever minding the way and moving of the Holy Spirit, Him
that is from above, that His form you may see, who has the heavenly image, and
the holy power; that so beholding Him with open face as in a glass, you may be
changed into the same image, and formed thereafter, from glory to glory, by the
powerful working of the same Spirit; until the tabernacle be built conformable
to the heavenly example, the holy pattern, in body and spirit, that as He is, so
may you be in the world, that God may appear in His temple; that as the image of
the earthly appears in the world, so the image of the heavenly you may bear, a
witness against them. And by drinking in the communion of that Holy Spirit, and
power from above, you may become as able, zealous, and willing to hold forth the
heavenly in holiness, meekness, purity, patience, love, long-suffering, faith,
and obedience to God, and all the fruits of the Spirit, as the sons of the world
are to hold forth the earthly, in lusts and pleasures, strife, and envy,
cruelty, and oppression, and all manner of the works of the flesh; that you as
truly and really give up your bodies, minds, and strength to suffer with Christ,
that He may be manifest and magnified therein, in your mortal bodies, as others
who are without God in the world, do give themselves to act according to the
principles and power of the god of this world, his unrighteous ways, worships,
and fashions, and all his cursed courses, and the whole body of sin, and mystery
of iniquity born in them.
And where the tabernacle is thus edified, and
the temple thus cleansed, there is a vessel of honor, fit for the Master's use;
that being filled with the Holy Ghost, God may dwell on the earth, and take up
His rest therein, His tabernacle being with men, the appearance of the blessed
day, so many souls hunger for, and Abraham's Seed longs to see, which the god of
this world strongly opposes, in all whose minds he has blinded, and whose spirit
he possesses in disobedience to the heavenly light, for which the wrath of God
remains on that generation, till this day, and forever.
Wherefore all you who wait for the kingdom of
God, and love His appearance, whose coming again is without sin, abide within,
and wait in the temple where the Witness arises against the world, that in faith
and patience you may be counted worthy to receive that witness, that it may
arise and cover you, and that in bearing it you may come out of the world, being
conformable to Him, who suffered without the gates; bearing His reproach, and
you bear His Name. Touch not the unclean thing, and He will receive you for
Himself, in you to appear and be glorified. Rise up against the powers of
darkness. You that have received the earnest of this Spirit: Has He not said, I
will dwell in you and walk in you? Wherefore come out from among them, and be
you separate. This is the joy that is set before you, to wit, His appearance,
and that glory, for the attaining whereof, we endure the present sufferings, and
reproach; not to be compared therewith, for glory, immortality, eternal life.
Oh! Friends, who shall be found worthy at His
coming, and in whom may He appear, and not consume them? For our God is a
consuming fire; even in His holy temple is He known, and with clean hands will
He take up His rest, and in the pure heart shall He be seen; else who may dwell
with everlasting burnings? And who may abide that baptism wherein every one
shall be seasoned with the fire at His coming.
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