Christian Reader, I thought to have beene
silent, but this is a time of warre, the war
increaseth not onely in earth but also in
heaven, when the Lord will destroy his
enemies, hee provokes them to come out
against his people; and the Saints are as
a marke for many to shoote at, but this
is the comfort of the Saints, the Prince of peace, his Angells
the Ambassadors of peace fighteth for Sion and the hill thereof,
against the Dragon and his Angells, Blessed those that
helpe the Lord against the mighty, the Lord takes part with
Open note 1Back to note ¹those that helpes the Saints, wherefore let those that
are against the Saints hold there peace; I will
Open note 2Back to note ²speake come what will; The enemies of the godly are forgers
of lies, and the Saints become their enemies because they
Open note 3Back to note ³tell them the truth; wherefore deare friends of Christ harken
Open note 4Back to note ⁴ not to lying vanities and so forsake your owne mercies;
joyne to the Saints in holy union, as Jehovah saith to the Prophet
let them returne to thee but returne not thou to them,
though it be hard to goe against the flood the Dragon casts
Open note 5Back to note ⁵out of his mouth, yet looke to him that guides the stearne the
Captaine of our Salvation, remember that the destroying
Open note 6Back to note ⁶mountaine Babell is rowling downe as a burnt mountaine,
and the beast and the false Prophet is comming also with the
ebb into the lake, wherefore let the Saints take hart, though
they goe against the streame of the times, for their way is one A3 high, A3vhigh, and it will be easie for they of the world to goe downe
the streame with the lyers their companions, wherefore comfort
ye my people, comfort ye my people saith our God,
though there be pleaders against Gods people, and they are
not suffered to pleade for themselves, yet the Lord will pleade
Open note 7Back to note ⁷their cause; the spirit may depart from seven and sevens, but
hee that hath the seven spirits will never depart from his
spouse, he will be with her to the end of the world, walking
in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, all the congregations
that puts away all abominations so farre as they
know and mingle not with drosse, what is not declared by
letter, must be cleared by the word that was before the letter;
Christ manifest in all his offices, and so measure the Temple,
the Altar, the worship, and the worshippers, put away all
humaine inventions that agree not with that rule; and so in
his armes I leave thee that lovest Sion.

Exhortations to Gods people.

Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkenesse;
and before your feet stumble upon the darke
Open note 8Back to note ⁸mountaines, while you looke for light he turned it into the
shadow of death and make it grosse darknesse.

Open note 9Back to note ⁹Let that which is halting be healed, least it be turned out of
Open note 10Back to note ¹⁰the way, Come out of her my people least your hearts faint
when you see the judgement: It is commendable for Gods
Open note 11Back to note ¹¹people to abide steadfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship.

Observations for Gods people.

Open note 12Back to note ¹²They that be ashamed of the iniquities, shall see the pattern
of the house of Jehovah, The labour of the foolish weary every
one of them, because he knoweth not how to goe to the
City.

Comfort to Gods People.

Open note 13Back to note ¹³Behold I will make thee a new threshing instrument, haveinging A4r mouths wherewith thou shalt thresh the mountaines and
Open note 14Back to note ¹⁴beat them small and make the hills as chaffe, this honour
have all the Saints, they shall have a two edged sword in their
Open note 15Back to note ¹⁵hands, they shall be terrible as an Army with banners; great
are the Armies, many were the publishers all the Congregations
Open note 16Back to note ¹⁶ of the Saints; as shee preachers hold forth Christ, publish
the Gospel, take in and cast out, exercising the power
of Christ

Admonishons to such as goe from mountaine to hill forgetting
their resting place.

Open note 17Back to note ¹⁷Arise, this is not your rest, because it is polluted, Polluted
Open note 18Back to note ¹⁸Congregations is not the rest of the Saints; why gaddest thou
so much to change thy way, thou shalt be ashamed of Ægypt
Open note 19Back to note ¹⁹as thou wast of Assyria, It may be thou maiest be ashamed
of the Presbytery as thou wast of the Hierarchie.

Wy doe we sit still? Assemble your selves and let us enter
into the defensed Cities, and let us be silent there, for the
Lord our God hath put us to silence and given us water of
gall to drinke, because wee have sinned.

Open note 20Back to note ²⁰Beware of doggs, for the leaders of this people cause them
Open note 21Back to note ²¹to erre, and they that are led by them are destroyed, they that
posesse them, slay them, and their teachers have Open note 22Back to note ²²swallowed
up the old path.

Good councell to luke warme Congregations.

Open note 23Back to note ²³Open note 24Back to note ²⁴Open note 25Back to note ²⁵I councell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou
maiest be rich, and white rayment that thou maiest be clothed,
Open note 26Back to note ²⁶ that the shame of thy nakednesse doe not appeare, and
anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou maiest see, such as
see the evill of their way, will enter into holy fellowship with
silence and here the Saints: The Prelates in their time put the
godly to silence, and the time will come when God shall put
many to silence, and then they will heare what the spirit speaketh
to the Saints none dareing to speake against them.

Q.Question What may be the darke mountaines wee may avoyde falling
on them.

A.Answer This is a begging age, and there is Phisitians of no value
that beg questions but not for healing, but some have many
questions to beg, but before we fall upon querees, let us heare A4vhere what hath beene done against the Saints, There have
beene councellors of state that have councelled for their hurt:
I hope better things of some that are now clouded with
temptations; that they will dote upon questions of no
worth, and plead for a thing of naught, and against the
Saints, but were they grave councelors as healing Elders, they
would endeavour to heale Babell shee not being healed, or
come out of her into holy fellowship, as the straight gate by
Open note 27Back to note ²⁷reason of persecution, and so shine forth to the consuming of
Open note 28Back to note ²⁸Antichrist, and their holy fellowship and godly conversation
will be as the leaves of the trees of the sanctuary for the healing
of the nations. And if they were wise pleaders, they
would not plead against the Saints, who were companions
with them in sufferings, and in their adversitie, gave themselves
to prayer in holy fellowship for them, which they called
convinticles, who after the way they called heresie worship
they God abiding steadfast in the Apostles doctrine and
fellowship, and put away uncleannesse from them so farre as
they know, they doe not separate with shame, as some Congregations
like darke mountaines, those that abide in holy
fellowship doe not separate with whores, they doe not worship
with harlots as the people that doe not understand, but
may fall upon the darke mountaines; If those pleaders that
accuse the Saints of that they know not, were they wise pleaders
Open note 29Back to note ²⁹ they would plead the cause of the dumbe, who keepe silence
Open note 30Back to note ³⁰ in evill times, the wicked being in sight: If they would
plead their own innocency after some that have been first as
seeming just, they are made dumbe and put to silence, for none of
their Complaints shall passe the Presse, but the Presses are filled
with their Letters, that open their mouthes wide to smite
the Saints with the tongue, and wound them with the Pen,
blotting them with their Inke, as if they would not
have the name of holy Ones among them; as in the time of
the Hirarchie, the pretious were put out, and the uncleane
kept in, and compelled to come to worship, though they relished
it no more then the White of an Egge: But now when
the name of Antichrist should be raised out, now they have a
prise in their hand to set upon reformation, now the judgementsment B1r of God are on the earth, “should not the Inhabitants thereof
learne Righteousnesse”; shall the hands of the wicked be strengthned,
and the hearts of the godly sadded, whom the Lord hath
not sadded: Remember what is said, “this is that king Ahaz
that sinned more and more in the time of distresse:”Open note 31Back to note ³¹ Oh that the
Saints were wise to gather into holy fellowship, the roote of
Open note 32Back to note ³²Jesse set up for an Ensigne, and so Thrones set up for Judgement
in the gates of Sion, executing the power of Christ to
judge each other; then there would bee little or no worke for
Lawyers, especially among the Saints; then evill reports of
the Saints would not be received and such as bring up an evill
report of the good way of God are not likely to see the pattern
of Jehovahs house.—Let such take heed they fall not upon the
Open note 33Back to note ³³darke mountaines, as they fell in the Wildernesse, but give glory
to God, confessing their sinne, be ashamed of Iniquities, so
shall ye see the Pattern of the House, and goe not so much as
neere the Corner of the Harlot, gad not from mountaine to
hill, forgetting the resting place, dayes without number: “Why
gaddest thou so much to change thy way,”Open note 34Back to note ³⁴ If there be another Lord-
like power set up, you shall be ashamed of it, as you were of the
former Hirarchy, marke what the wise Preacher saith, “The labour
of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not
how to goe to the city.”Open note 35Back to note ³⁵ Is there not great labour lost in wrong reasoning,
strife about words, Presbitery and Independency which
the Saints in fellowship owne not? is there not much wearinesse
in reading many bookes to no profit, but to please the
flesh? is there not much wearying in carnall disputes, contending
for nought shewing lust which should not be the custome
of the Saints? the reason of their wearinesse is they know not
to goe to the city where the Saints sit together in holy fellowship
as in heavenly places, according to the doctrine of laying
on of hands, which hath not been tought, so farr as I know in
the confused congregations since the defection of Antichrist;
the doctrine of Baptisme and the laying on of hands hath been
as it were lost, as the book of the law which was found in good
Open note 36Back to note ³⁶Josias time of reformation, such as desire reformation now, may
doe well to pat to pen, and presse, pulpits and conferences to
cleare those two doctrines, the doctrine, of baptisme will cleare
the purities of the ordinances, the doctrine of laying on hands B will B1v will cleare holy fellowship, the laying on of foule hands, yea,
bloody hands of the Prelates hath beene taken for the doctrine
of laying on of hands as if the using of the ceremonie as a shell
to the kernell held forth in the doctrine, even as if the joyning
of the lips which is the ceremony were all that is required
Open note 37Back to note ³⁷to imbracing by love.

If there bee another power out and above the congregation
Open note 38Back to note ³⁸which is the Eldership above her stewards, for the losse is blessed
of the greater, so surely the congregations united together
in Covenant, by worship or agreeing in the name of Christ in
time of reformation having beene back—sliders, such as the tipicall,
Open note 39Back to note ³⁹ nationall, great congregation said, come let us joyne in
Open note 40Back to note ⁴⁰Covenant, what was meete for the tipicall Church as the generall
congregation of the first borne, the same is meete for every
visible congregation when they come to reformation, uniting
themselves together in holy union, to injoy holy communion
and so shine forth to the consuming of Anticrist, electing,
choosing out from among themselves, ordaining, investing
by her owne power given her from Christ shee being
in his stead the Eldership to appoint her Officers as her maides
Open note 41Back to note ⁴¹to kill her fatlings, dwelling together in one Parish is not from
heaven to make one bread and one body but of men, but many
members becomes one body according to Gods, Ordinance to
have power to take in & cast out by uniting together by faith
& order agreeing in the name of Christ and so we are indowed
with power and order; as two parties husband and wife becomes
one by Covenant more or few partners becomes one by
covenant, civill fellowships many members becomes one congregation
by Covenant, so joyning to Christ by faith gives us
not a visible right to the ordinances, but uniting together according
Open note 42Back to note ⁴² to the minde of Christ, joyning to the Lord in Covenant,
so in times of persecution holy fellowship will not falsefie their
Covenant, though the Parish Assemblies turne with the State
in evill times, but this is too great a labour for my selfe, I doe
Open note 43Back to note ⁴³but hint it to the honored that labour in the word and doctrine
as a patient desire to be healed wherein I erre, I earnestly beg
these questions of the wise and learned, by what name or title
soever called or would be called; for of them is pretious Preachers
concerning the doctrine of repentance from dead workes and B2r
and faith towards God; but of them are those that have spoken
evill of the old and good way, of them there is that have
blasphemed the Tabernacle and dwellers in heaven, of them
there is hirelings to speake against the gathering of the Saints
in order, as Shemaiah was hired by Sanballat & Tobia to hinder the
Open note 44Back to note ⁴⁴building of Gods Temple, of them there is not any that ever I
heard that opened the doctrine of laying on of hands, wherefore
though I honour them for the truth they teach, yet I submitt not
to them in that which is besides the text, wherefore turne my
questions to the more honored Christians, peculiars purchased by
Christs blood, such as have the tongue of the learned to speake a
word in season to the weary, honored before such as ashame their
name, as the righteous is better then his neighbour, such as through
Open note 45Back to note ⁴⁵beleeving out of whose bellies flow rivers of waters of life, such as
Open note 46Back to note ⁴⁶feere Jehovah, with whom are his secrets, holy brethren such as are
Open note 47Back to note ⁴⁷made partakers of the Divine nature, I know no other Divines but
Open note 48Back to note ⁴⁸brethren and sisters united together as godly Phyladelphian, and
Open note 49Back to note ⁴⁹sweet Smyrna dwelling even together in unity honored Saints with
the double edged sword of those holy hearers, I begge these questions
following.

• Quest.Question 1.

  Whether the Congregations that know not the Doctrine
  of laying on of hands, that know not the power, or have given
  their power to the Beast, that know not how to weld the two edged
  sword, that know not how to speake each to other. 2 or 3 by
  Open note 50Back to note ⁵⁰course, and others to judge, that know not how to judge one another,
  that know not how to deale with one another, 1 by telling
  privately, 2 by two, or 3 & then to the Congregation, whereof they
  be members, that know not how to elect, choose, ordaine, invest
  Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons, Male and Female, qualified according
  to holy writt, whether such congregations as these may
  not be said to be darke mountaines.

• Q.Question2.

  Whether such as be tontosticated with the cup of fornicators,
  rayging and rangling drunke with pride and passion, also
  staggering are not like to stumble and fall upon those darke mountaines.

• Q.Question3.

  Whether the Saints that withdraw from all that walke
  disorderly either brethren or congregations agreeing in the name
  of Christ covenanting to walke with God, and one with another to
  walke with God in all his waies, so farre as they know or shall
  know be not the way and order of the Gospell,
2.4 Whe- B2 B2v

• Q.Question4.

  Whether such Congregations as last aforesaid be not senced
  Open note 51Back to note ⁵¹ Cities which are walled by the power of Discipline, upon
  Open note 52Back to note ⁵²all the glory shall bee a defence, and such for whom the Prophet
  prayes the walls may be built.

• Q.Question5.

  Whether the mixt Congregations, that exercise not the
  power of Christ that he hath given them be not unfensed Cities.

• Q.Question6.

  Whether that new threshing instruments having mouthes
  called new, as the new commandement which was from the beginning
  be not the ordinance of Dissipline to beat the mountaines into
  chaffe, the graine may appeare, behold I will make the tipicall congregation
  nation one congregation, behold I will make thee a very
  Open note 53Back to note ⁵³ visible congregation under the Gospel a new threshing instrument,
  Open note 54Back to note ⁵⁴ so the power is given to her, nnot to her officers.
• Open note 55Back to note ⁵⁵

  Q.Question7.

  Whether the Congregations be not the shee preachers to
  whom the command is given, to whom the promise is made, goe
  Preach and Baptise, observe and doe all I command you, and I
  will be with you to the end of the world.

• Q.Question8.

  Whether all the Saints shall not have honour, the power
  as the two edged sword, her overseers being one with her, not
  Lords over her.

• Q.Question9.

  Whether the Saints that would have healed Babell, she not
  Open note 56Back to note ⁵⁶being healed are not to come out from confusion and gather
  into order as flockes of sheepe goe up from washing.
• Open note 57Back to note ⁵⁷

  Q.Question10.

  Whether the Congregations that suffer Christ to reigne
  over them, the Roote of Jesse set up for an ensigne, exersing the
  power of Christ to take in what is serviceable, casting out what is
  offencive, would not be as terrible as an army with bannors, comly
  Open note 58Back to note ⁵⁸ as Jerusalem beautifull as Tirzah.

• Q.Question11.

  Whether the Males in every Congregation be not to lift
  up pure hands, propheng one, by another, two or three by course,
  the rest judging.

• Q.Question12.

  Whether such Preachers as speake against such as walke
  in order and are of the quiet of the land, such counsellers as adviseth
  to their hutt, such pleaders as pleade for a thing of nought
  Open note 59Back to note ⁵⁹shall not be called to the barre of Gods judgment if they repent not,
  Oh, that wee might submitt one to another in all that is good.

O that the time were come that the wolfe might lie with the lamb,
Open note 60Back to note ⁶⁰and a little childe should leade them.