The Babe of Glory, Preface – Letter 2
THE BABE OF GLORY, Breaking forth in the broken Fleſh OF THE SAINTS Breathing out The Life of God (Hid in their Fleſh) now to be revealed and raiſed, Iſa. 40.5, 6.
BY WILLIAM ERBERY.
And ſhe brought forth a Man child who was to rule the Natitions with a rod of Iron, and the child was caught up to God and to his throne.
Rev. 12.2, 5.
London, Printed by J. C. For Giles Calvet, at the Signe of the Black ſpread-Eagle, at the Weſt end of Pauls, 1653.
A Preface to the following Letters.
THe Goſpel is a myſtery, the myſtery of the Goſpel is Chriſt in us the hope of glory, Rom. 16.25. Eph. 3.3. Col. 4.3, 4. 1 Cor. 14, 26Col. 1.27. The manifeſtation of the Spirit in manifold gifts, was moſt neceſſary for thoſe who ſhould manifeſt the Myſtery of God to men; three gifts eſpecially, of a tongue, interpretation, and revelation; a tounge, to open the Original, as to utter it to all Nations. The gift of Interpretation, to interpret Scriptures infallibly tranſlated, and to tranſcribe the thoughts and writings even of heathen Poets to a holy ſenſe of the Myſtery of God. The Spirit of revelation was not only that which was common to Saints, Eph. 1.17. but a ſpecial gift of the Spirit, to reveal both the Myſtery of Chriſt, Eph. 3.3. and by that mighty power working in them, to preſent every man in Chriſt, Col. 1.27, 28, 29.
According to that meaſure of the ſpirit in me (being in much confuſion, even in Babylon with all the Saints) I ſhall manifeſt this Myſtery, as 'tis made known to me by the teaching of God in my Spirit.
Firſt, I ſay, that the Myſtery of the Goſpel, or of God, is Chriſt in us the hope of glory; the glory, is God in mans fleſh, Zach. 2.5. Chriſt in us, is God manifeſt in our fleſh as in his;Joh. 14.20. Chriſt in us is called the hope of glory, becauſe they in whom Chriſt is revealed, have the glory ſo revealed in them, as to wait for it in themſelves, as 'twas in him when raiſed from the dead.
For as Chriſt was the brightneſs of his fathers glory, and this glory vailed in fleſh while he lived in it: ſo in death his fleſh being crucified and ſlaine to God, God raiſed it up to glory the third day, and ſo the glory was revealed:1 Pet. 1.21. This was to manifeſt the Myſtery of God in us; the ſame God and father being in our fleſh as in his,Phil. 3.11. will raiſe us up to the ſame glory of Chriſt riſen. This reſurrection of the dead, was that which the Apoſtle had not attained to,1 Cor. 15. yet waited for, and all the faith of Goſpel-ſaints, was ſo exerciſed in this Reſurrection,2 Cor. 4.10. that they alwayes bare in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jeſus, that the life of Ieſus might be manifeſt in their mortal fleſh; that as, Chriſt though living in the fleſh, his life was in the Father, and this fully manifeſt in his reſurrection, when his body was ſo glorious, that nothing but God, even the glory appeared in him: ſo when Ieſus ſhall deſcend from heaven, from his hidden Diety or Godhead, and come down in the Spirit, fully manifeſt in our fleſh, we ſhall be changed and raiſed up to the ſame glory, Col. 3.3.even to the life of God himſelf; for as our life is now hid with Chriſt in God; ſo when Chriſt who is our life ſhall appear (fully in us) we ſhall appear with him in glory; but we muſt ſuffer firſt, and dye to fleſh as he did, before we live and reign with him.
The firſt reſurrection and reign of the Saints with Chriſt, is a more ſpiritual Myſtery then carnal Chriſtians and Churches commonly conceive; 'tis not in worldly government and outward glory, but in that glory aforeſaid to be revealed in us, when we ſhall (as Chriſt raiſed) rule the Nations with a rod of iron, Rev. 2.26, 27. Rev. 3.21. Ier. 51.21, 22. Zach. 10.5. 1 Cor. 6.2.and daſh them in pieces like a potters veſſel, not onelyonly Churches and Kingdoms, but Armies and horſemen we ſhall tread down as durt in the ſtreet: yea, we ſhall ſit in the throne of God with Christ, being above all things below God, and judge the world of Angels and men; not only Angels of Churches, but all that is of a carnal principle, and Power on Earth.
This Reſurrection and reign of the Saints, I call often a third diſpenſation: for as Chriſt and the glory was revealed but in part, even in the Apoſtles themſelvs, who knew but in part, and propheſied but in part: ſo all of that ſecond diſpenſation went no further then death, they were baptiſed into Chriſts death; by breaking of bread, ſhewed forth his death in them, they being in a dying and ſuffering condition; but in the third diſpenſation, typified by the third dayes reſurrection, the Body of Chriſt the Saints ſhall ſo riſe in the Spirit, and their life hid before, ſhal be ſo fully manifeſt in their fleſh, that nothing but God, nothing but glory ſhall appear in them: yea, they ſhall ſo riſe and ſhine, that the glory ſhall riſe upon them, and the glory ſhall be not only in them, but ſo on them,Iſa. 60.1.14. Iſa. 61.9. that both themſelves and all thoſe that ſhall acknowledge that they are the ſeed whom the Lord hath bleſſed. No man ſhall dare to curſe or blaſpheme, not trouble nor touch them, no more then Chriſt was when raiſed from the dead.
Theſe are the Saints of the moſt high this day, who are above all forms, and fleſh, not in attainment or preſent enjoyment, but in pure apprehenſion, perfect conviction, and patient waiting for it.
While waiting, they are as a woman with child, to bring forth the Babe, the firſt born of glory in themſelves; that is, to bring forth Chriſt fully in their fleſh; but their fleſh muſt ſuffer firſt, as Chriſts did, before glory was brought forth, and he begotten in the reſurrection.
Thus the Saints did ſuffer as a woman in travel before the man child, before Chriſt in the Spirit was brought forth in the Goſpel or ſecond diſpenſation, Iohn 16.20. 'Twas ſo, and 'tis ſo now under the Apoſtacy; the Church or people of God are as the woman in heaven, who travels in paine to be delivered of the Man child, Rev. 12.2. but when the third diſpenſation comes, there will be ſorer pangs and throws on all the Saints, who ſhall ſuffer more then ever any before; their ſufferings being more great and general, even on the whole body, Ier. 30.6. For a man ſhall travel with child, yea every Man ſhall be as a woman in travel. 'Twas but a child, the child Ieſus was brought forth in the goſpel-diſpenſation, Act. 4 27. when we all come to a perfect man, to the meaſure of the ſtatute of the fulneſs of Chriſt, then the propheſie is fulfilled, A woman ſhall compaſs a man, Jer. 31.33. 'tis not a Babe now, nor a child any more, but A man, that's the mighty God is brought forth in glory.
Chriſtina Regina Sueciae. Anagram,
Hic eſt in viragine Caeſar.
Here's Caeſar in a manly woman.
A word in ſeaſon By a Suediſh Scholar.
From Wales.
Dear Friend,
FLeſh is burning ſo faſt with us here, and elſwhere, that I cannot tranſcribe what is written within for preſent; your lines are bleſſed to me, and therefore may I ſay, Do not impriſon the truth from me in unrighteouſnes. I am a child, but not yet little enough; I long for the promiſed ſlumberings, for he giveth his beloved ſleep, that is, Reſt from his own thoughts in the ſecret chamber, till the indignation be overpaſt. If you be got into the Cradle of innocency, you are taught of him (who is nothing that can be ſeen with the natural minde) and can but cry in that Cradle. And when you cry Abba, forget not your poor, tryed, tempted, tyred, and through mercy ſuſtained and renewed Lover and Brother,
M. L.
From Ireland.
Dear Sir,
LInes are too low to manifeſt endearendeſs of love in union, yet muſt I borrow ſome of thoſe beggerly and vaniſhing appearances for to ſalute you withall; my rejoycing is, to behold darkneſs and ruine upon all fleſhly gloryings, and former excellencies, wherein ſo many vaine boaſtings have appeared. Well! confuſion and a poor mournful dying ſpirit is my ſtate, the very life and vigor of all knowledge is taken away from me; I hear no news of him or from him but lye ſlaine under the Altar, and ſay, How long Lord will it be ere thou come forth and reveal thy ſelf▪ to ſave all fleſh with a vengeance, and to plague every apprehenſion into truth! Well dear life, eat and drink abundantly, expend thy ſelf upon thy own, for there is enough to ſatisfie and content thee. I can ſay no more, but retire home into my root from whence I came forth, and where I am thine in all love and union,
T. R.