weak beggarly elements of the world, in observing days, times, months, &c. which God never commanded? And not only in bondage themselves by observing of them, but bring others into bondage, and imprison and persecute such that will not observe them, and shut up their shops. And hath not the apostle bestowed all his labour in vain upon such? And is not God and Christ more dishonoured upon those times and days which they call holy-days, than any other times and days in the week? For do not you see there is more vanity, wickedness, looseness, profaneness, and taking God's and Christ's name in vain, upon those you call holy-days, which the apostle calls beggarly elements, than any other days of the week? You that be in bondage under these weak beggarly elements of the world, are not you spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments or elements of the world, and not after Christ? And did not the apostle warn the church of Christ of such things? And said, 'If you be dead with Christ from the rudiments or elements of the world; why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances? viz. of the world. And the apostle saith, Touch not, taste not, handle not; which all are to perish with the using, after the commandments and doctrines of men.' So the church of Christ were not to touch, taste, nor handle the rudiments, elements, traditions, ordinances, commandments, nor doctrines of the world. And therefore they suffered because they would not taste them, nor handle them. But they that are not dead with Christ, do not hold him their head, they are not like, but in the world set up many heads, and taste, touch, and handle the traditions, rudiments, elements, ordinances, commandments, and doctrines of the world, commanded by worldly men, which are not after Christ; and such are in bondage under them. Col. ii. the chapter throughout. And such persecute them that will not observe their days and rudiments, &c. but see the day of Christ, and observe it.

And the apostle said, 'I am sold under sin,' Rom. vii. 14. and 'to be carnally minded is death, because the carnal mind is enmity with God; it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.' Rom. viii. 6,7. And again the apostle saith, God hath concluded all both Jews and Gentiles in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Rom. xi. 27. And again he saith, all are concluded under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believed. Gal. iii. 22.

How that death past over all men, and all died in Adam. This is the unconverted estate in the death, sold and concluded under sin and unbelief; then sin and death is over the unconverted. Now Christ shedding his blood, and tasting death for every man that is dead in sins and trespasses, and so died for their sins, and is a propitiation for the sins

of the whole world, and is a quickening spirit, and is the one mediator between God and man, who gave himself a ransom for all, and would have all to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth, that will make them free, that they might live in Christ, and follow him that makes an end of sin, and finisheth transgression, and brings in everlasting righteousness; who died for their sins, and destroys the devil and his works, and bruises the serpent's head, who brought in sin, and through death destroys death, and the devil the power of death, and so is risen for their justification. And all that he hath quickened and made alive by Christ, as the apostle saith, he hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephes. ii. 6. And so God by Christ reconcileth all things unto himself, by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven; and the gospel of life and salvation is preached to every creature under heaven. Col. i. 23.

And the apostle saith to the Hebrews, in the first covenant they had ordinances of divine services, of ceremonies, and a worldly sanctuary; which covenant stood only in meats, drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, and ceremonies imposed on the Jews until the time of reformation; but Christ being come, a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, namely, the old covenant. Heb. ix. 1. 10, 11. who is made a priest, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. Heb. vii. 16. But now once Christ in the end of the world hath appeared to put away sin, by the sacrifice of himself; so in the end of the world, of all worldly things, worldly sanctuaries, tabernacle and carnal ordinances, and commandments, and divers outward washings, and all outward worldly tithes, offerings, and sacrifices which are worldly. Now Christ once in the end of the world hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; (Heb. ix. 26.) in the end of all these worldly things; and he is the beginning of a new world with his heavenly things, who makes all things new.

And the apostle saith to the Corinthians, upon them the ends of the world are come, that is, the end of all outward worldly things; and he calleth them babes in Christ, Cor. x. 11. he could not speak to them but as unto babes in Christ, who were not of this world. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear, and read these things.

G. F.

IX. Concerning the builders that reject the corner stone; and the husbandmen that kill the Lord's servants and son; and how Cain built the city Nod, and Nimrod the city and tower Babel; and God hath set up his city, new and heavenly Jerusalem, and the apostate christians have set up the city Babylon, since the apostles' days.

WHAT are all your priests, bishops and teachers, the wise master builders in Christendom, that like the Jews do reject Christ the corner stone, and so do fulfil the scriptures like the Jews; who make a profession of the letter of the new testament, as the Jews did of the old, who rebelled against the good spirit that God gave them to instruct them, and resisted the holy ghost, that led the holy men of God to give forth the scriptures, and resisted them also, and persecuted them, and resisted Christ, that was conceived by the holy ghost, and crucified him. And this was the work of such wise master builders, in the days of Christ in the flesh. And all you outward professors of the letter in Christendom, that look upon yourselves the wise master builders, do not you hate the true light the life in Christ, by which he enlightens every one that comes into the world, and do not own it? Then they must be blind builders. And do not acknowledge that God pours out of his spirit of grace upon all flesh, and to lead them, and teach them, and bring their salvation; and do not you say this is not sufficient, without you wise master builders? And do you acknowledge that the grace and truth is come by Jesus, and all people in this grace, and truth, and spirit, to serve and worship God? And they that do so, and come to forsake you priests, bishops and teachers, that look upon yourselves to be the wise master builders, are you not then angry, and persecute such, and say they have forsaken the means?

And what! are all you bishops, priests, ministers, and teachers, the keepers of the vineyard in Christendom? Hath it not been let out to you husbandmen, and when the Lord hath sent forth his servants to look for fruits among you, have not you banished, imprisoned, stoned, hanged, killed, burned and put to death many of the Lord's servants? And have you not crucified to yourselves afresh the son of God, the heir of the vineyard, and put him to open shame, by your evil lives and conversations?

And therefore what will the Lord of the harvest do unto you husbandmen, think you, that have thus done unto his servants, and son, and heir? Do you think you will not all be turned out, and your vineyards let forth to such as will bring forth fruits to the Lord? Let all the persecutors, and imprisoners, and banishers in Christendom about religion, since the apostles' days, consider this, and what will be your VOL. VI.

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end, who have brought forth no fruit to God, but have disobeyed him, like Adam and the Jews, and followed the serpent, the murderer and destroyer of men's lives, and have not followed Christ that destroys the devil and his works, and came to save men's lives, and not to destroy them, and rebuked such as would have had men's lives to be destroyed, and told them they did not know what spirit they were of. And therefore all you husbandmen, and vineyard keepers, and wise master builders, that have destroyed so many men's lives, and imprisoned, and banished so many, and spoiled their goods, because they would not conform, and be of your faith, religion, and worship; and you have not been of the true religion, faith nor worship of God; neither know what spirit you have been of yourselves, that have done this; neither have you been nor are in the spirit of Christ, who came to save men's lives, and not to destroy them; and Christ did not destroy those Samaritans that would not conform and receive him, but rebuked them that would have had men's lives destroyed by fire from heaven.

So not like these mad people that build gallows and prisons, and kindle fires on earth to destroy men; because they would not receive their invented ways, religions, and worships, and yet they would be called christians, after Christ's name, and follow him not in life, example, and doctrine.

And Cain who disobeyed God, and did not well, who was a murderer, though he was a sacrificer, he was a builder of the city of Nod; and doth not that signify wandering? And in the new world did not Nimrod, who did not regard the Lord, build Babel, a city of confusion; and what became of Nimrod's city and stock?

And did not the Jews, who rebelled against God and his law, and spirit, become vagabonds, persecutors, and murderers of the righteous? And have not the christians since the apostles' days, that hate the true light, the life in Christ, and are erred from the spirit of God, that he hath poured upon all flesh to lead and guide them, and the truth and grace of God that comes by Jesus, to teach them, and bring their salvation; have not these been the builders of Babylon, the city of confusion, since the apostles' days? in whose city the blood of the prophets and martyrs of Jesus is found; so that they are become drunk with the blood of the righteous, and prophets, and martyrs of Jesus. And are not the dragon, beast, and false prophet found in this city? But down they must fall, and God will reward them according to their works.

And there was scarce a righteous man, or a prophet, but they suffered in outward Jerusalem, by the transgressing Jews; for Christ said, 'Nevertheless, I must walk to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.' Luke xiii.

Luke ix. 54.

33. But God is setting up his new and heavenly Jerusalem, into which, neither the dragon, the old serpent, nor the beast that rose out of the sea, the sea-beast, nor the beast that rose out of the earth, the landbeast, nor the false prophet, nor the whore of Babylon, nor no persecutor or unclean person can enter, though the gate stands open night and day, but such who walk in the light of the Lamb, and their names are written in the book of the lamb, and the glory of the Lord, and the lamb is the light thereof. Hallelujah for ever. And the nations of them that are saved walk in the light of this city.

X. News, news! Cain, Ishmael, Esau, Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, Balaam, and old Simon Magus, and his followers, turned outward Christians.

NEWS, news! Cain that wrathful murderer of the righteous is become a christian, but hath not left his wrathful hatred, murder, and persecution, but still remains a wicked one.

And news, news! wild Ishmael, whose hand is against every man, is become an outward christian, and hath put on the sheep's clothing, but remains in his mocking, and scoffing, persecuting birth, at the seed of the promise.

News, news! profane Esau, that man of the field, which despiseth his everlasting birthright, who is the first birth, who would have slain Jacob, he is become an outward christian, but he hath not put off his rough garment, by that he may be known not to be a sheep of Christ.

News, news! Corah, Dathan, and Abiram are become outward christians, but still remain with their false fire, until they be consumed by the Lord's fire, and remain in their rebellion and gainsaying till the earth swallow them up: so they may be known by their false fire, gainsaying, and rebelling against the law and gospel.

Strange news! Balaam, that layer of stumbling blocks before God's people, is become an outward christian, but he remains in his error, and coveteth after the wages of unrighteousness. And why may not Balaam become a christian as well as the sons or followers of Simon Magus, who buy their pretended gift for money, and sell it for money, as old Simon, who thought to have bought the spiritual gift for money, and have sold it for money?

And because we cannot give covetous Balaam his wages of unrighteousness, and the followers of Simon Magus money for their gifts, they are and have been very angry, and full of wrath, envy, and malice, and persecuted us; but they are known to all true christians to be of the seed of Balaam, and of old Simon Magus, and not of Christ.