A Call to the Churches, Collection of letters
A Call To the Churches: OR, A Packet of Letters to the Paſtours of WALES.
For Mr. William Erbery.
THe Milk and Honey (ever remembred freind) which formerly I ſucked in your Miniſtration, makes me apt to conclude that your pit is not dryed up, nor your root withered, but that the intern Spirit of the inward heaven doth raign in you in the night. It's many years ſince I looked on you as an Image; I never heard (nor had a line) from you (as ſome hereabout had.) It may be you thought me leſs teachable, and more uncapable of underſtanding then ſome others; indeed I am ſo. I knew not where to direct a line to finde you by reaſon of your private life, which to ſome is ſafe and ſerene, and to others tempeſtuous and dangerous.
The Hermite is not very uſefull to man or beaſt (nor the Chriſt to him) becauſe Talents will ruſt and rot the living creature, unleſs they be thrown out of your private cheſt and ſhip. The Prophets, Apoſtles &c. ſpake to God (the Eternity) liſtened to him; and ſpake from him, they writ, they preached, they charged their Ambaſſage, as the heavenly true Spirit ſpake to them; and that creature was ever the baſeſt, that did trade leaſt between the mother (the heavenly nature and angelical world) and the ſinfull children of men (now out of Paradiſe, wandring in the heart of this ſhadowy world.) The more you be in the heavenly action (which is publique alſo to millions every day in the year) the more like the God of all beings, and inhabitant of eternity. I do both long and profeſs to become a little child againe, willing to learne my A.B.C. anew, if my once-dear School-maſter Erbery can teach it me (for I muſt not take printed Pictures inſtead of reall Letters.) I am dayly longing to withdraw into the inner world (the more ſpiritual Chamber) to converſe with the inhabitants, that know how God is the Father of ſpirits, lights, loves, and mercies, in his begotten Word and generated Spirit. I deſire you (according to your attainment) to help me (I mean to ſcribble a few lines to me) in anſwering theſe things. How is God above all, through all, and in all his people? How all things are of him, through and to him? How do we live, move, and have our being in him? what is that hereſie of perdition the holy One (in Peter) mentions? and chiefly what, where, when, and how God is?
I am not aſhamed to enquire, or wait of a meer poſt neer the gate of the wiſdome of God about theſe matters; neither do I diſown you (as ſome ſtrange notioniſt, or ſceptick gnoſtick) in what you in the light of the Father, can or will hold forth, for ſatisfaction by the Spirit; for ſince I knew you, or taſted the wine in you, I ever lodged reſpectful thoughts of you. I fear neither truth nor its enemies; I would try all things (all ſpirits, bodies, and beings in the light, liberty, reſt and power of the Spirit of Jeſus:) and becauſe a ſon of man is but a vanity, a very, glance, a branch, a ſhadow, and off-ſpring of the eternal root; therefore one branch may coſap with the other, and the little little twig (neer the root) doth communicate in juce with the higheſt-flown branch of the ſame tree. I doubt not but the whiſpering of the melodious love from any (though from poor me) might refreſh you under the ſun in this vain vaporary life: This is but a word in haſte and heart, to invite (if it ſeem good) a line from you, and then the few lines (that concern you in my inward book) I may better tranſcribe. My true love (with my wifes) to your ſelf and your rib; begging we may rightly take in, and not miſtake the firſt and ſecond man, and the third form that is at hand. I onelyonly beg of you a ſound about your grounds in Scripture-nature, and in the internal eternal Spirit concerning Men, Saints, Officers, Ordinances, Churches, and Societies of men. No more then, but that I am
Wrexham 1652. 29 of 4 Month. Your fellow-branch at the feet of the God of all fleſh, and Father of all Spirits. Mor. Lloyd.
I have a word with you, when firſt you be pleaſed to let me hear from you.
For Mr. Morgan Floyd.
Sir,
YOurs of the twenty ninth of the fourth month, I received at Roth near Cardiff this 12 of Auguſt; and I return an Anſwer in ſilence, ſeeing we are both in the Eternal Spirit, with the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, where there is no need of ſpeech to communicate our thoughts or attainments each to other; being taken up into him who is our All, and all in All.
There the Myſtery of the Reſurrection begins, and the Apoſtle goes on in that heighth from 1 Cor. 15.28. to the end; that this is the Reſurrection, not that laſt and general of the world, but the firſt Reſurrection; the riſing of the Saints, or of the dead in Chriſt, who ſhall riſe firſt: I ſay that this is the Reſurrection onelyonly of the juſt, and not of the unjuſt nor of all; any man (even without the Spirit of Revelation) may judge by reaſon, and reading of that Chapter; where the riſing of the ſpiritual body t… incorruption, immortality, power, and glory, is the glorious appearing of the ſecond Man, the quickning Spirit, the Lord from Heaven (in us) to the heavenly Image; which is the third eſtate of the Saints now approaching, and the latter part of your Letter points at.
This I call the third diſpenſation, or laſt diſcovery of God unto and in men, differing from Law and Goſpel-order; yet comprehending both, and above both, yea above all: for here all men and things are nothing, but God is all and alone, yea God is All in all.
This third diſpenſation, as all the Prophets and Apoſtles did write and wait for; ſo in this I wait in ſilence with God (though I ſpeak ſometimes to men) for a full diſcovery of him in me, and to all the Saints with me; for when the Lord my God ſhall come or appear, all the Saints ſhall come with thee, Zach. 14.5.
The Earth-quake there ſpoken of is at hand, 'tis the ſame mentioned in Babylons final fall, Rev. 16.18, 19. for a threefold fall of Babylon is written, Rev. 14.8. Rev. 18.2. and v. 21. and that the third or laſt fall of Babylon, will be in the fall of this form of Church-fellowſhip (ſo called) you may ſee in your ſpirit, and in ſome printed ſcriblings of mine: therefore for Order, Ordinances, Officers, Churches, Societies of men, all are in Babylon, in confuſion of Tongues; that's out of order, &c. though many of the Saints conceive they are come to Sion already.
Babylon is a Myſtery (as you ſhall ſee with God very ſhortly) Babylon or the Beaſt is the myſtery of man,Rev. 13.18. Rev. 1, 8, &c. that's the woman alſo, or the Whore, the man of ſin: and Chriſt is the myſtery of God, God manifeſt in the fleſh, in his fleſh and in ours; (for we and he are perfect in one with the Father) and as the Beaſt is the Wiſdome of man, and the Power of man in the Church, that's the ſeven Heads and ten Hornes, &c. ſo Chriſt is the Wiſdome of God, and Power of God, which was in the Church, and is (though not known) and is to come; for that's his name, God with us, Rev. 1.4, 8, 9, 10, 13 verſes.Chriſt in us the hope of glory which is to come; when the myſtery of God ſhall be finiſhed or fully known to men at the ſounding of the ſeventh Trump, which is the laſt Trump, the Trump of God, when the great Trump ſhall be blown &c. which is the laſt diſcovery of God.
When this great Trump is blown, thoſe who were ready to periſh in the land of Aſſyria, and the out-caſt in the land of Aegypt, ſhall come and worſhip the Lord in the holy Mount at Jeruſalem, Iſa. 27.13. That's the new Jeruſalem which ſhall come down from God out of Heaven after Babylons fall, and freedome of all the Saints from that double bondage now upon their ſpirits; not onelyonly of gathered Churches, but of ſcattered Saints 'tis ſpoken, of the one as ready to periſh, and the other as outcaſts, in Aſſyria and Egypt too (as I ſaid) that's the twofold captivity we are all carryed away in, till the great Trumpet be blown.
Then the dead bones ſhall riſe out of Babylon, Ezek. 37.12.and God will open the graves of his people, who ſhall all come forth out of their forms and fleſh, when the glory of the Lord ſhall cover them,V. 19. and they live in the Eternal Spirit together: then the two ſticks alſo, the divided ſocieties of Saints ſhall become one, &c. for that's the third diſpenſation, called the diſpenſation of the fulneſs of time, when all things both in heaven and earth ſhall be gathered up into one,Epheſ. 1.10, 11. all the Saints of higheſt appearances, and of loweſt performances, both thoſe of Legal tempers and Goſpel attainments, ſhall be gathered up into one, into that glory, into God himſelf.
This Reſurrection of the dead,Phil. 3.11, 12, 13.14. 2 Pet. 3.13. the Apoſtle had not attained to, though preſſing toward it: and Peter was waiting for it in the new Heaven and new earth; for the old heaven and old earth (both Legal and Goſpel-diſpenſation) vaniſh away in God;Rom. 21.1 yea, there's no more Sea (ſaith Iohn) no more of that dividing and deſtroying Principle in man; for that's the Sea, which has made the Saints not onelyonly to daſh one againſt another, but every one to be as an Iſle by himſelf, and ſo indeed it muſt be in Babylons fall, not a man to be found, Iſai. 13.12. but every man flies to his own Land, v. 14. (to live ſolitary and alone in his own light,Mich. 4.5.10. compared. that light which ſhines in every man, and every man in his God) but every one that is found ſhall be thruſt through, and every one that is joyned with them; (that's not in the Hebrew) but every one that is joyned [in Babylon] ſhall fall by the ſword, v. 15.
There's no building of Temples in Babylon, nor joyning there in Church-fellowſhip; for that will fall, and we with it, till we retire alone into our ſelves, or the Spirit rather in us; and this we muſt be,Zach. 12.12. every man apart by himſelf; every Famlily apart, and their wives apart; man and his wife, though neareſt and deareſt fleſh,Jer. 31.9. So the Margent there. muſt be ſeparated, when the Spirit of Grace and Supplication (or favours) begins to appear to take us up into glory.
Then the multitude of the Iſles ſhall rejoyce, when the Lord comes to Raign, Pſal. 97.1. the Raign of God and of Chriſt, or the Saints with him, being the ſame with their Reſurrection, the firſt Reſurrection, Iſai. 60.1. Ezek. 37.25, 26. Zach. 14.5▪ 9. For as by the great Trumpet they are gathered one by one, Iſai. 27.12. ſo this ſhewes that all the Saints ſhall be found as ſo many Iſles, every one alone by himſelf, made ſo by the Sea; but the Sea ſhall be no more, when the new Heaven and the new Earth comes;Rev. 21. then all the people of God ſhall become one Land, one Continent, wherein the Lord alone ſhall live;Ezek. 37.21. this is the Land ſo much ſpoken of by the Prophets, the Land of the living, the land of Iſrael, who are promiſed to be brought to their own Land (being now in a ſtrange Land, in Babylon) but he that ſcattered Iſrael, will gather him;Jer. 31.10. and the Saints who are now ſcattered in and by their gathered Churches, yea all the ſcattered Saints with them ſhall be gathered up into God, who indeed is he who ſcatters as well as gathers; we do nothing, we can do nothing, but in him who is All in all.
In this myſtery of the Reſurrection, all your Queſtions in the Letter will be anſwered, your doubts ſatisfied, your darkneſs cleared, your Captivity ended; for 'tis the glorious liberty of the children of God, the manifeſtation of the ſons of God,Iſai. 52.8. the appearing of the great God in us, when we ſhall be like him, ſee him as he is, know him as we are known, ſee him eye to eye; Iſai. 61.9, 10.as he ſees us, we ſhall ſee him, ſee his Face, and his Name on our foreheads; that is, we ſhall not onelyonly ſee God,Rev. 21.3. Rev. 22.4.18, 19. Rom. 8., but men ſhall ſee God in us; for all that ſee us, ſhall acknowledge, that we are the ſeed which the Lord hath bleſſed: the bleſſed ſeed is Chriſt the Son of God, ſo all the Saints ſhall be in the glory of the Father, when the Sonne ſhall be ſubject,1 Cor. 15.44. and God All in all.
This is the Adoption and Redemption of the body, the Reſurrection of the body when the body,Rom. 8.23. now natural or ſoully (as the Greek reads it) ſhall be raiſed ſpiritual,2 Cor. 15.45. the Eternal Spirit appearing to be all in all.
This will be in every one of us in particular (for we muſt be gathered one by one) and this will be in all the Saints in general, who are the body, the dead in Babylon, the dead body of Chriſt there; But thy dead men ſhall live together, with my body they ſhall ariſe, &c. Iſa. 26.19. together with is not in the Hebrew; which reads, Thy dead men ſhall live, my dead body they ſhall ariſe &c. that is, when the Lord God, in us all, ſhall ſl…y us all; and all fleſh to himſelf, our gifts, our graces, and all ſhall be ſlain to God, and by him. His ſword, his ſpirit, the fire ſhall do it; we muſt all dye, come downe to the duſt, lye there, as the dry bones (not ſo much as fleſh or skin upon us much leſs ſtrength, ſpirit and life) yet we ſhall live, though now dead, yea the dead ſhall live; that is, as none ſee God but the blind, none hear him but the deaf (deaf to man and to ſelf) ſo the dead alone can live,Iſa. 29.18. and they live in death, who finde themſelves the dead body of the Lord: my dead body they ſhall ariſe, awake and ſing ye that dwell in the duſt, &c. in the loweſt eſtate of fleſh, when the firſt man Adam is turned to duſt, when we are nothing, we are all in God, and God is all in all, and in this we may ſing together: For the third man bears the Image of the heavenly, which is the ſecond diſpenſation typified in the third daies Reſurrection of Chriſt, as I ſhall tell you another time, with God.
I'll ſay no more: 'tis love, 'tis the Lord that makes the dumb to ſing, and the tongue of the Stammerer to ſpeak plainly, or elegantly, as the margine reads it, Iſa. 32.4.
Your lines were ſo to me full of divine elegance, of love and delight:Eph. 3.17.18.19. truely 'tis my love to you likewiſe, and the Lord in me, has made me in much haſte to ſtammer this much unto you; I am now ſilent, yea dumb; the Lord God, who rejoyceth over you with ſinging, will ſing and ſpeak himſelf with delight in you: There I leave you and all the Saints with you, your beloved wife, whoſe I am as I am,
Yours, William Erbery.
For Mr. Henry Walter.
Dear Brother.
I Am bold thus to ſalute you;John 14.20. Gal. 4.26. Joh. 17.21, 22. Rom. 8.18. Rev. 21.2. Col. 3.1, 2. becauſe we are both in the Father, and in Jeruſalem that is above, which is free, and the mother of us all, though all the Saints ſee not, nor the glory in which they are already; but when the glory ſhall be revealed in them, they ſhall then ſee the new Jeruſalem coming downe from God out of heaven, and him alone dwelling in them; that is the ſtate of all the Saints that ever were or ſhall be, their being was and is in God, and there they were from the beginning and before the worlds:2 Pet. 3.13. Rev. 10.7. Rev. 21.3. and this we wait for to appear in us all in theſe laſt times, when the myſtery of God ſhall be finiſhed and fully known, when that life and glory which we have with Chriſt in God (though now hid from us) ſhall be revealed in us and upon us alſo; ſo that not onelyonly we ſhall ſee God in us, but men ſhall ſee and ſay, that ſurely God is in you of a truth, as my letter to Mr. Cradock will tell you at large: this is the new Jeruſalem; and then we ſee that holy City coming down from God out of Heaven; when that which was hid with God as 'twere in Heaven, ſhall be manifeſted to us and in us on earth; and our life (as I ſaid) which was hid with Chriſt in God, ſhall ſo viſibly or clearly appear in us, and to men, that it ſhall be ſeen a tree of life in the midſt of us, not onelyonly yeilding fruit every month to our ſelves to ſtrengthen us; but holding forth leaves, ſuch an outward appearance of glory in us to men, that it ſhall heal and ſatisfie them, Rev. 22.2. this is that pure river of life, clear as cryſtal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and out of the Lamb, that is in us, when all that glory of God in Chriſt ſhall be ſo clearly manifeſt on us, that this river of life which is in us, ſhall run forth and ſtream abundantly among the ſons of men, who are as the ſea ſpoken of, Ezek. 47.8. all whoſe Fiſh ſhall be healed by the living waters coming to it, verſe 9, 10. as the fruit of the tree of life before, and here mentioned, verſe 12. is for meat, and the leaves thereof for medicine, for healing or bruiſes, as the margin reads, and Rev. 22.2. for the healing of the Nations.
Tis not the Nations onelyonly, or National-Churches, but the gathered Churches and ſcattered Saints alſo want this healing; ſuch breaches and bruiſes are upon Societies and Spirits, that God alone can heal us all, and will, in that day wherein he ſhall reveal himſelf with glory in us, Iſa. 30.26.
When that day comes, called the day of God, when God ſhall come, that is, appear in us all, then all the Saints ſhall come with him, yea with thee, as Zach. 14.5. How can this be, that all the Saints ſhall come with thee? ſurely thus, when God ſhall come or appear in thee, all the Saints ſhall come or appear with thee in God.
Therefore as Jeruſalem of old was a City in unity,Pſa. 132.3. Eph. 4.4. Act. 4.32. or compact in it ſelf, and as the Apoſtolique Churches or ſpiritual Jeruſalem had the unity of the Spirit, and bond of peace, being one body, and ſo having all one heart and one ſoul; ſo in the new Jeruſalem, much more unity, peace, and love, will appear in all the Saints one to another, and toward all men.
Therefore though the City had twelve Gates, yet but one ſtreet; that's ſtrange, Rev. 21.21. yea the Gates of the City were never ſhut day nor night, but always open to receive all; that's ſtranger yet, verſ. 25. yet ſo it is, Iſa. 60.11. compared with verſe 5. to 10. and as but one ſtreet in that City, Rev. 22.2. ſo but one Tree on either ſide of the River, verſe 2. that's as ſtrange, how on both ſides the River ſhould grow but one Tree. True Ezekiel being under the legal diſpenſation ſaw many trees; but John in the ſecond diſpenſation, ſeeing the third approaching, ſaw but one Tree on each ſide the River; one River in the ſtreet, and but one ſtreet in the City; ſo all the Saints, though many in forms and fleſh, ſhall be ſeen in Spirit, one in the Lord, yea one Spirit with the Lord himſelf.
Oh, how many ſtreets are in the great City Babylon? how many ſtreets in our Cities below? how many Societies? how many Churches divided in Spirit and in Form alſo, one from another, and in themſelves? Surely the Saints are in Babylon, when their Societies and gathered Churches are become not onelyonly the ſcattered bones, dead; but as the two ſticks,Ezek. 37.2. verſe 13. divided and dry too; for 'tis but ſticks, not living branches. I call the Churches ſo, not the Saints therein: for the life of grace is in them, though truly it be much hid from others, and hid to themſelves this day; yea dead in many, and in moſt buried with earth, and earthly mindedneſs. I'll ſay no more.
My dear Brother, let us wait together for the firſt Reſurrection, if by any meanes we may attain unto it,Rev. 20.6. that the dead in Chriſt may riſe firſt, that the dead and divided Saints may riſe out of Babylon, Ezek. 37.12, 23.that God may bring us out of our Graves of forms and fleſh, being defiled in both. I do not by this deny the general Reſurrection that ſhall be, but deſire you, and all the Saints with you, to look for this,Col. 3.1. that is next and neareſt to you, to riſe not onelyonly from ſin as thoſe under the ſecond diſpenſation were riſen; but to riſe from ſelf, as we ſhall in the third, when God ſhall be all in all, that we may all hear him in us ſpeaking with power, Ariſe, ſhake thy ſelf from the duſt,Iſa. 52.2. ariſe and ſit down, O Jeruſalem! looſe thy ſelf from the bands of thy neck, O captive Daughter of Sion. Farewell.
Your William Erbery.
For Mr. Ambroſe Moſton.
Beloved Sir,
I Wrote unto you once before I received yours laſt; but mine miſcarried, and 'tis no matter; for the whole contents thereof concerned outward things, as Church-Order, Ordinances, and Officers; which I proved then not to be of the primitive inſtitution, with power from on high, and appearance of the Spirits preſence in gifts,Luk. 24.49. Act. 1.4, 5. Act. 21.4, 33. which was the ordinary conſtitution of a Goſpel-Church. Firſt in order, that is, the manifeſtation of the Spirit in manifold gifts, called the Baptiſme of the Spirit, this being the pouring forth of all the gifts of the Spirit;1 Cor. 12.7, 12. 1 Cor. 14.1, 12. for ſome the Church under the Law had, as gifts of propheſying, ſignes, miracles, raiſing the dead, &c. which the preſent profeſſing Goſpel-Churches are far below, even that legal diſpenſation.
Secondly, The Officers of Chriſt,Act. 14.23. 1 Tim. 4.14. 2 Tim. 1.6. James 5.14. Act. 20.23. were as for number five, Eph. 4.11. ſo the loweſt Elder, Paſtor, and Teacher was ordained with a gift of the Spirit given by the laying on of hands; by which, as they were enabled for their miniſterial work; ſo were they to abide, and to ſit down with their particular flocks; for the Apoſtles onelyonly were to go forth to the world;Col. 1.23, 25. as the Evangeliſts were appointed to ordain Eiders in every City,Tit. 1.5. Act. 13.1, 2, 3. and the Prophets to miniſter unto the Lord in the Churches, laying on their hand on ſuch Apoſtles who were ſucceſſively ſent abroad out of thoſe Churches to preach the Goſpel, with the holy Spirit ſent downe from heaven,1 Pet. 1.12. Eph. 3.4, 5. Col. 1.27, 28, 29. without which the Myſtery of Chriſt could not be manifeſt to men. This was the full miniſtery of Chriſt in thoſe five, which the world could not want, nor the Church be without; the want of which, leaves both in Babylon or confuſion, as it has been all along the Apoſtacie, and is now more viſible this day to many ſcattered Saints.
Thirdly, The Ordinances which are in the gathered Churches, are far from the primitive inſtitution in matter and form: For firſt, a Pſalm, a Doctrine, a Tongue, Interpretation, Revelation, were ordinary,1 Cor. 14.26. becauſe for edifying, and therefore Ordinances of the Church of Chriſt; theſe are not now at all; go, the edifice is fallen into confuſion, that's Babel. Secondly, the Ordinances, which are as the Childiſh tradition of Childrens Baptiſme; the breaking of bread, which ſhould be the Communion of Chriſts body, cannot be adminiſtred; becauſe the body is not onelyonly dead,Ezek 37.3, 16. as the dry bones of Babylon, but divided, as the two ſticks there; and how then can there be a communion, when there is no union of the body? for as there was before in the Goſpel-ſtate, but one Spirit, one baptiſme; ſo but one body; all believers and Goſpel-Saints walked in one Church-way, one way of worſhip, doctrine and diſcipline, &c. and though there was particular diviſions between brother and brother, yet not between Church and Church; for the body was but one, as I ſaid. Now the Saints by calling have diverſe baptiſmes, and are divided bodies: how can there be then breaking of bread, or communion of the body? 'tis but the bread of Mourners, Hoſea 9.4. read it in the Spirit.
I will not ſpeak of our Common-prayers, and cuſtomary carnal ſinging of Pſalmes; for though Prayers were publiquely performed in the Jewiſh Church, that Church being national,Act. 2.42. yet in the Goſpel-Churches (being a company of Saints) Prayers were proper onelyonly in the Church (as fellowſhip and breaking of bread was only there) not with the world or multitude; therefore Chriſt and his Apoſtles did never pray with their preaching. Act. 3.1, 12. Act. 4.24. compared.
Theſe were the things I then enlarged to you, in the Letter that was loſt; and truely I intended not now to ſpeak a word of this, when I firſt put pen to paper; there is a providence, and the hand of God in it, which led mine thus far, that you might lay it to heart.
Indeed (Sir) theſe are but outward things; there are more inward ſpiritual, and eternal truths, I purpoſed to preſent to your ſerious thoughts, that is, the new Jeruſalem coming down from God out of Heaven: what the Lord has taught me therein, I cannot now expreſs, only to tell you, that I teach nothing now to man, but the new Ieruſalem, in which when the Saints ſhall be gathered, as they ſhall all be one (for there's but one ſtreet in that City) ſo there being no Temple there, but the Lord God and the Lamb, the divided forms of Church-worſhip (being fallen with Babylon) ſhall appear no more; but God will be ſeen to dwell in his people, with that light and love, that many Nations ſhall be joyned to the Lord (in them, 'tis not ſaid joyned to them now) for God ſhall be all in all.
This I call the third Diſpenſation, differing from Law and Goſpel-order, yet comprehending both & above both; for Ieruſalem is above; and that was above to the higheſt Apoſtle, will come downe and appear to the leaſt and loweſt of Gods people,Gal. 4.26. for 'tis the mother of us all; yea the child ſhall dye a hundred years old,Iſa. 65.20. Eph. 4.13. for the leaſt child of God ſhall come to a perfect man, to the fulneſs of the ſtature of Chriſt; that is, ſhall ſee himſelf filled with all the fulneſs of God, as the moſt perfect man on earth, Eph. 4.13.
This third diſpenſation, or third diſcovery of God, all the Prophets did write of,Rom. 8.18, 23. and all the Apoſtles waited for the glory to be revealed in us, the glorious liberty of the ſons of God, ſaith Paul; 1 John 3.2.the appearing of God (even the glorious appearing of the great God in us) when we ſhall be like him, and ſee him as he is, ſaith Iohn; the new heaven and the new earth, ſaith Peter; 2 Pet. 3.13.all this we wait for, ſay they: and Iohn ſaw it coming down, even the new Ieruſalem, after Babylons fall.
The fall of Babylon will be by confuſion: when this comes to the Churches, and in the Spirits of the Saints, they ſhall then begin to ſee, what before they were blind unto; yea the blind alone ſhall ſee, for they that ſee ſhall be made blind, Iohn 3.39. Iſa. 29.18.
But this is the comfort to me and many with me, that as the eares of the deaf ſhall hear the words of the book; ſo the eyes of the blind ſhall ſee out of obſcurity, and out of darkneſs, Iſa. 29.18, 19.
This Scripture I ſpake of at Brecknock, the laſt firſt day. The Book, I ſhewed, was God dwelling in men, Immanuel, God with us, that's Chriſt, God in us; God manifeſt in our fleſh, as in his, is Chriſt in us the hope of glory; for all the Saints ſhall be taken up into the ſame glory with himſelf, and the Nations by this called, and joyned to the Lord.
This Book is ſealed to the learned and unlearned Preachers, Iſa. 29.11. yea to the Prophets and Seers, and moſt ſeeing men; yea ſealed with ſeven ſeals; that's perfectly ſealed, and from all Churches; for it relates to the ſeven Churches enclining to the Apoſtacie which followed.
Secondly, 'Tis but a ſma book, a very little one; for Iohn could ſwallow it at a bit, Rev. 10. and 'twas bitter in his Belly; 'tis ſo to fleſh, for it ſuffers by it, as Chriſts did; but the little Book is no more then God manifeſt in fleſh, in his fleſh, and in ours,
Thirdly, It ſhall be open, and that ſurely; for the miniſtery of God ſhall be finiſhed, fully known; and the Angel ſweares by God, that time ſhall be no more; for all ſhall be taken up into eternity, into God himſelf, and God ſhall be all in all.
I ſhall repeat no more; onelyonly the remembrance of the Lord, and his love to me, in your dear deceaſed Wife, who lives with me and in me; for there's the Lord in whom ſhe is, and in whom we both are, though we know not; but we ſhall, when the book ſhall be opened. My deareſt ſalutes to all the Saints with you. Farewell.
Brecknock the 23 of Aug. 1652. Your William Erbery.
For Mr. Vavaſor Powel.
Dear Sir,
I Am owing to you in much love, and in a Letter you long ſince ſent unto me, but now I ſhall repay you an anſwer; which I had not ſo fit an opportunity to returne, till by the preſent bearer. I do not remember the contents of that; onelyonly I conceive, 'twas ſomething concerning Chriſt, and 'tis that alone I ſhall in this confer with you; for your Church-fellowſhip is at an end, with God; though ſome men may ſee ſomewhat in it, yet 'tis but a dead carcaſe they look upon, the form of a man; but the Spirit, life, and power form on high appears not at all to me, nor to many in it; as I have hinted in a Letter to Mr. Moſton.
This is not to direct you in preaching, but to deſire your ſecond thoughts in the things you ſpake of, the perſonal reigne of Chriſt; which with confidence you declare to be in that fleſhly preſence of his, with which he aſcended, and ſhall ſo deſcend to reign a thouſand years on earth, and the Saints with him.
This hath ſome ſhew in the Letter of Scripture; but if the Spirit hid in your fleſh, and mine, ſhall be ſuffered to come forth, and truely to interpret, without the Tradition and Teaching of men, God may ſhew you another ſenſe, then what is commonly revealed by Chriſtians and Churches.
The firſt ground whereon your foundation, or fundamental doctrine ſtands is, Act. 1.11. Ye men of Galilee, why ſtand ye gazing up into Heaven? this ſame Ieſus which is taken up from you into Heaven, ſhall come ſo in like manner, as yee have ſeen him go into Heaven.
To this, know, that the Diſciples of Chriſt were too much taken with his fleſhly preſence, while he was living with them in the dayes of his fleſh;John 16.7. Joh. 20.13, 20. and his departure from them, or dying of fleſh, filled their hearts with ſorrow; as after he was raiſed, thoſe who were weeping at his grave,John 20.17. rejoyced to ſee him in the fleſh again, and ſo to touch him; but that muſt not be, ſaith he, till I am aſcended; and this touch could not be, but by the Spirit, that in them was to take and touch the Spirit in him.
And what was he, even Jeſus? but God manifeſt in fleſh; for 'twas God who roſe and aſcended up on high,Joh. 5.19, 30. Joh. 8.27, 28. Joh. 14.9, 10. compare. Pſal. 68.1, 18. that's God in fleſh: and what was his coming? but when that Spirit and power of God in his fleſh, ſhould appear in theirs, the ſame Jeſus came again; for as the ſhedding forth of all the Gifts of the Spirit on the Diſciples, was the ſame: ſo Chriſt tells Paul perſecuting the Saints (or the Spirit rather in them) I am Jeſus whom thou perſecuteſt, Act. 9.5.
Jeſus was therefore come again; for his coming that he promiſed, 'twas nothing but the promiſe of the Father which they heard of him, and in him; for as the Father was all in all in his fleſh, who dwelt and did all his works, ſpake his words: ſo when God even the Father ſhould appear thus with power in their fleſh, as in his, then he came indeed, Iohn 14. 18, 19, 20.
He that believeth on me (ſaith he) the works that I do, ſhall he do alſo, and greater works then theſe ſhall he do; becauſe I go to the Father. His going to the Father was his diſappearance in fleſh; for when he no longer appeared to them in fleſh then he was ſaid to depart; therefore his coming again was in the Spirit: when he, who was with them, ſhould be in them, then Chriſt was the Spirit the quickning Spirit: becauſe I live▪ ye ſhall live alſo, Iohn 14.17, 19. thus Chriſt was the Comforter, verſe 16. called another Comforter, becauſe he came in another preſence then that of fleſh; he came, and yet was he the ſame Comforter; for I will not leave you comfortleſs, I will come to you, verſe 18. yet a little while, and the world ſeeth me no more, but ye ſee me, &c. the world, that's carnal Chriſtians, could ſee no more of Chriſt, when his fleſhly preſence was gone; but ye ſee me, ye who are ſpiritual, or when ſpiritual: ye ſee me; how? ſure in the Spirit, in the Spirit of life, v. 19. and in the Spirit of light or knowledge, v. 20. At that day ye ſhall know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you. No more Chriſt in the fleſh, but in the Father, and Chriſt no more to be known after the fleſh, but he in us, and we in him.
This ſpiritual underſtanding of Chriſt, the diſciples while carnal (yea while Chriſt was in the fleſh) were ignorant of; therefore he calls them in a common name, Ye men of Galilee, Acts 1.11. and their gaping up to heaven after his fleſhly preſence, is reproved there alſo. The ſpiritual knowledge of him is then taught: This ſame Ieſus which is taken from you (in the fleſh) ſhall ſo come unto you (in the ſpirit:) and ye ſhall ſee him, (as was ſaid before, Joh. 14.19.) that is, after a little while they ſhould ſee him, Joh. 16.17.) This little while cannot be at the end of the world, after ſo many hundreds of yeers to be ſeen in a fleſhly appearence; but not many days hence, that's a little while, Acts 1.5.
Yea, but how was this in the like manner? for they ſaw him go up in the fleſh; true, but they ſaw not the fulneſs of the Spirit dwelling in that fleſh after 'twas raiſed; but when he ſhould aſcend and give gifts unto men, then God who received gifts in the man (as the Hebrew reads Pſal. 68.18.) appearing in the Saints and in their fleſh, with that Spirit and power that was in Chriſt, is ſaid to come: and thus in the ſame ſenſe, or in the like manner, Jeſus came, as they ſaw him go up to heaven.
Indeed he was taken up in the Cloud; but the Cloud was to take him out of their ſight, Act. 1.9. to take his fleſhly preſence out of their ſight: this they would fain ſee ſtill, but ſhould not, verſe 10. and he will come again in a Cloud; that is in our fleſh, when moſt confuſed and darke (for ſo the Diſciples were, before the Spirit came at firſt.) The comfort is at his ſecond coming; when in our fleſh we are moſt cloudy, dark confuſed Chriſt will come (or appear in us) with more majeſty, power, and glory, in the glory of the Father in us.
Yea the Apoſtles themſelves dream'd of a perſonal raigne of Chriſt, or reſtoring the Kingdome to Iſrael, Act. 1.6. But 'tis not for you to know the times and ſeaſons, which the Father hath put in his owne power; but ye ſhall receive power after that the holy Spirit is come upon you, verſe 7. Mark, I pray you, how the times and ſeaſons (of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and of Iſrael with him) was in the Fathers power; this they were not to know, nor could they, while carnal; but when the power of the holy Spirit came upon them, they ſhould then know the Kingdome reſtored to Iſrael, when they had received power from on high; for the Kingdome of God is within us.
This, my dear Brother, ſhall be made know to you and me, that the Kingdome of God comes not by outward obſervation; but ſeeing the Spirit ſhall againe be poured forth from on high, Iſa. 32.15. let us wait for this together, though our Palaces be forſaken, verſe 14. though our Church-fellowſhips and fleſh fall; for ſo 'twill be, before the Spirit come, verſe 9. to 13. for Chriſts pure fleſh was crucified through weakneſs, before he was raiſed in power, or received the Spirits fulneſs.
Then ſhall we know the reign of Chriſt and of the Saints with him, for a thouſand years, Rev. 20.4, 6. but as yet, what fleſhly thoughts and interpretations have paſſed over theſe words, by the Millenaries of old, and by many gratious Saints of late? what, is all the book of the Revelation a Myſtery? and muſt theſe one thouſand years onelyonly be literally underſtood, juſt for ten hundred of years? and will not the Saints be more ſpiritual, but ſtill to think of a fleſhly reigne, a reigne of Chriſt after the fleſh, and of Saints after the fleſh? whereas, no man nor Chriſt is to be known ſo any more.
And may not the one thouſand years be but one day, and that one day, the day of God? (when God ſhall appear) for that day is called one day, Zach. 14.7. known to the Lord, to the Lord alone in us.
Dear Sir, I ſhall leave but two things, and it may be a third, to your ſerious conſiderations. Firſt, you know the appearances of God, from the beginning, have been more and more ſpiritual, and will be ſo to the end; how fleſhly and outward did he appear before, and under the Law, in viſible forms? In the Goſpel, the preſence of the Lord, and his power, was more ſpiritual, in inward and eternal things; that is, in things not ſeen, 2 Cor. 4.18.
Therefore the third diſpenſation (which Mr. Moſtons Letter tells you) will be more ſpiritual yet;Heb. 5.7. who in the days of his fleſh, &c. that was when be was on earth, therefore his being now in the Heaven, is all in the Spirit; for he is far above all heavens. Eph. 4.10. for though Chriſt was in the days of his fleſh, yet he was not fully come, till the Spirit was ſent; therefore this ſecond coming will be more in the Spirit yet; for the Apoſtles themſelves had but the firſt fruits of the Spirit; there will be a harveſt, a fuller meaſure of the Spirit, then was in the Apoſtles times, as the Prophets teſtifie, Zach. 14.8.9.10.
Secondly, doth not the reigne of Chriſt, which you hold forth in a fleſhly preſence, hinder the Saints from looking for the Spirit? that fulneſs of the Spirit, promiſed by all the Prophets to be poured forth in the laſt dayes? when he comes the ſecond time without ſin to ſalvation, with fulneſs of the Spirit in us.
Laſtly, doth not that preaching of yours, cauſe many Saints to be more carnal, earthly, looking for a Kingdome here below; for they begin to reigne already as Kings, but not with Chriſt, nor in righteouſneſs, which is that alone (and not in forms of Religion) that ſhall dwell in the new Heaven and new Earth, now waited for.
My deareſt ſalutes and ſervice preſent to all the Saints with you: If I have not tyred your Spirit with theſe tedious lines, and if you ſhall pleaſe to interpret my love and enlarged affections therein, with acceptance thereof, you will much more oblige
Brecknock the 23 of Aug. 26. 1652. Your William Erbery.
For Mr. Walter Cradock.
Loving friend,
WHat was at firſt intended to all the Paſtors in Wales, that is now preſented to you laſt who are firſt; but as the firſt ſhall be laſt: ſo He, who is the laſt and the firſt, is now beginning to appear, not onelyonly in the ſcattered Saints, and againſt the gathered Churches; but to gather up all into himſelf. This is the hope and joy of
Your. William Erbery.
Dear Brethren,
IEruſalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, &c. not onelyonly Judah the National-Church, but the gathered Churches of Saints, that's Jeruſalem; yet the old Jeruſalem was the holy City, a City in unity, or compact together, not onelyonly in Spirit as Saints, but in Forms as Churches; but the Churches of Saints being this day divided in both, and de filed alſo in their worſhips and walkings, ſhew, that they are fallen from their firſt love, and from that Goſpel-faith which wrought by love unfained to all Saints, and to all men; beſides, that pure conſcience, peaceable converſe, with holineſs and heavenly mindedneſs, ſelf-denial, and zeal once appearing among the Saints in Wales, being ſo far from their preſent profeſſion. I could not but write, and print; becauſe not admitted, or not invited to confer in your Congregations. What I have ſaid and done in publique, I am not ſorry for; though ſorrow and ſufferings are in my fleſh, being forced in Spirit to make my ſelf bare firſt, and then my brethrens nakedneſs;Amos 6.1, 4, 7, 8. compared. Zach. 2.7. Deliver thy ſelf O Sion, that dwelleſt the daughter of Babylon; ſo the Hebrew reads, as if Sion were become the daughter of Bahylon. Ezek. 37.12. which fact of mine, many, and my ſelf alſo, ſometimes have judged as that of Cham who uncovered his Father; or like Edom, who looked on the day of his brother &c. but finding you at eaſe in Sion and the daughter of Sion in Babylo…, …artaker of her ſins; ye thus partake of her plagues, having a Vial of wrath poured on you all, being made naked by God, that men ſee your ſhame. For my part, I am willing to bear my ſhame, and his wrath with you, and thus to ſuffer with all the Saints, yea to dye, and lye down in the open valley with the dry bones, till God raiſe us up together from Babylon and bring us out of our graves of Forms and Fleſh, which do even bury, and hide from the ſight of men, the glorious appearance of the great God in us now ready to be revealed in theſe laſt times, when God ſhall appear; when he ſhall riſe, and his glory be revealed in us, the Saints in Wales will not onelyonly walk in the ſame light they formerly did, but in higher diſcoveries of God, and of Chriſt; yea in more holy and righteous ways with men. This is the new Jeruſalem, and new Earth wherein dwells righteouſneſs: and becauſe I hear a ſound of the new Jeruſalem coming down from God out of Heaven among you; and one of you ſaying, that one Form ſhould knock out another till that come, &c. I am come in the Spitit of love, with meekneſs and fear, to give an account of the hope that is in me, to my owne Country firſt, where I hold forth nothing but the new Ieruſalem, in which God ſhall gather all the Saints firſt, even thoſe who look for his coming; in whom he will ſo appear in power and glory, dwelling in the midſt of them, that many Nations ſhall joyne to the Lord in that day; and theſe Northern Nations▪ I believe, will be the firſt fruits of the world; for the Nations of them that are ſaved, ſhall walk in the light of the new Ieruſalem, and men ſhall dwell it, and there ſhall be no more utter deſtruction, but Ieruſalem ſhall be ſafely inhabited, Zach. 14▪ 11. Rev. 21.24.
What multitudes of men ſhall inhabit that City, the Prophets ſhew; not onelyonly that Ieruſalem ſhall be without Walls, and that a Nation ſhall be born in one day, but many ſhall flow in like the Sea; that our hearts ſhall fear and be enlarged for the abundance of Savage people that ſhall come in and cover us &c. Iſa. 60, 5, 6, 8 9. I ſay▪ we ſhall fear at fi…ſt, whether ſuch may be received by us; but again our hearts ſhall be enlarged to accept thoſe whom God doth… cauſing them to come up to his Altar,Zach. 2.5. Iſa. 55.5. Pſa. 66.8. and to beautifie the houſe of his glory, verſe 7.13. and though but little of this appear at preſent, and it appears but to a few, yet a little one ſhall become a thouſand, and a ſmal one a ſtrong Nation. I the Lord will haſten it, in his time, verſe 22.
This was not fulfilled in the Goſpel-diſpenſation (though it was in part performed then) yet that the full accompliſhment thereof is referred to a third diſpenſation in theſe laſt daies, appears by the parallel of Iſai. 60.19, 20, 21. with Rev. 21.22, 23, 24, 25. this new Ieruſalem being that third diſpenſation differing from Law and Goſpel-Churches, yet comprehending both, and above both, as the glory of the Goſpel was above that of the Law, and darkned the light thereof, even as the riſing Sun doth the Moon when it ſhines at full; but the light of the Moon, ſhall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun ſevenfold, as the light of ſeven days, in that day that the Lord ſhall hind up the breach of his people, and heal the ſtroke of their wound, Iſa. 30.20.
The breach will never be made up among the Saints, nor their wounds healed, till they come to the new Jeruſalem, where there is a Tree of life (the living God in the midſt of them) the fruit whereof is freſh and new to feed them every month (who are now cut off in one) and the leaves thereof, the very appearance of God in the Saints ſhall be a healing to the Nations, much more to themſelves, Rev. 22.2.
This health and happineſs, and a heaven upon earth (as well as hereafter) I wiſh unto you, and wait for in my fleſh, with all the Apoſtles and Prophets, that the throne of God and the Lamb may be in you, that you may not onelyonly ſerve him (waiting on him and for him) but ſee his face, and his name on your foreheads, verſe 4. that your ſelves may not only ſee the Lord fully in you, but that all who ſee you, may ſay, Surely the Lord is in you of a truth, and ſo joyn to the Lord with you; then ye ſhall be named the Prieſts of the Lord, men ſhall call you the Miniſters of our God (that's the glory of the Law and Goſpel in you) Iſa. 61.6. yea all that ſee you, ſhall acknowledge that you are the ſeed which the Lord hath bleſſed, verſe 2.
That's more then many will yet ſay of you; but I can, knowing not onelyonly the grace, but the glory that is in you; and when that glory ſhall be ſeen on you (as it ſhall, Iſa. 60.1.) then men ſhall ſee, and you will ſay that I am in the truth.
Cardiff the 31 of Aug. 1652. Your faithful friend, and ſervant in the Lord, William Erbery.