and therefore all must believe in the light, which is the life in Christ, the great mountain that filleth the whole earth; and here, in this mountain the Lord will teach them his ways; and so the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters covers the sea. God's and Christ's everlasting kingdom is over all, and from generation to generation, and the sceptre of his kingdom, is a righteous sceptre, and he rules in the kingdoms of men; for by him kings rule, and princes decree justice; and his seed I will make endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

G. F.

Here you may see how male and female were meet-helps in the government, when God made them in his image of righteousness and holiness, and how Christ restores man up into his image again, and how that male and female are all one in him, and of the increase of Christ's government and peace there is no end.

GOD said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowls of the air, and over all the cattle, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth: so God created man in his own image, in the likeness of God created he him, male and female created he them, and blessed them; and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over it,' &c. as before, as in Gen. i. ii. chap.

Here the female which was the meet-help for Adam, and they both male and female were meet-helps, joined in government, dominion, and rule, being in the likeness and image of God, and they were blessed in it; for God said unto them, (mark, them,) Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, subdue it, and have dominion over it,' &c. And this was before man and woman fell from his image. So God who made man and woman in his own image, gave them an understanding to understand what he said to them.

And the apostle saith to the Colossians, 'Seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of God that created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision, nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all, and in all.' Col. iii. 9, 10, 11.

Now this old man, in Adam, in the fall, being put off, and this man in the image of God, that he made and created them in, put on in righteousness and holiness, in such Christ is all and in all, a ruler and a governor, so that he rules in the male and in the female; in the new

man, in the image of God, they know him to be a ruler and governor. Isaiah saith, Unto us a child is born, a son is given, the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called the wonderful counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace; of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,' &c. Isaiah ix. 6, 7.

And the Lord saith, Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emanuel, God with us.' Isaiah vii. 14.

And man was drove from God, for his sin and transgression, but Christ his son makes an end of sin, and finishes transgression; and Christ renews man and woman again up into the image of God, that God had created them in, and so the emanuel, God with us. And so Christ is a ruler and a governor in them that have put on the new man, that he hath renewed in the image of God, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.' Gal. vi. 16. For the apostle saith, As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ; there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for they are all one in Christ Jesus.' Gal. iii. 27, 28.

So here all are one in Christ, that are baptized into the death of Christ, and have put him on; and such know his rule and government, the increase of which there is no end, &c.

The apostle saith to the Ephesians, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath prepared, or ordained, that we should walk in them, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith,' &c. Ephes. ii. 10. iii. 17.

So the new creation in Christ Jesus is God's workmanship in his image, in righteousness and holiness, as man was made in the beginning; and such know Christ to be ruler and governor in male and female, for Christ who is the brightness of God's glory, and in the express image of his substance, who destroys the devil and his work, renews man and woman up into the image of God again, as God made them in the beginning; and such know him to be a ruler, and a governor, and a counsellor, and a father. And the work of the apostles, who warned every man, and taught every man in all wisdom, that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, for in Adam in the fall they were imperfect, and so to be members of his body, and the mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations, which is now made manifest to the saints, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Col. i. 27, 28.

And Christ being in his people the hope of glory, which hope purifies them, even as he is pure; and is not Christ's government upon his

shoulders in his people, and a wonderful counsellor, and a prince of peace in them? as in Isaiah ix. 6.

And doth not the apostle say, God hath set some in the church, which is the body of Christ, to be helps in government, (to wit,) in the image of God, in righteousness and holiness, where Christ is governor and counsellor; and such have put on love and charity, which is the bond of perfectness, and the peace of God rules in their hearts, by which they are called into one body, which Christ is the holy head of, prince of peace, governor, and counsellor; but as there were such in the days of the apostles, that were self-willed, wells without water, and carried about with tempests, that speak great swelling words of vanity, promising themselves liberty, that were presumptuous, and despised government. And was not this the holy pure government of Christ in his male and female, his people, his church which they despised?

Now they that have come so far as a Cain and a Balaam, to hear God's voice, and Corah, Dathan, and Abiram that came out of Egypt, and never came so far as to be baptized into the death of Christ; and to put him on, nor ever came to be created anew in Christ Jesus, and to put off the old man of Adam in the fall, and to be renewed up again into the image of God, in righteousness and holiness, that God Almighty made them in. Therefore such Cains, Corahs, and Balaams never came to know the government of Christ in male and female; but presumptuously despised government, as Corah, Dathan, and Abiram did Moses, and as Balaam, who went forth with Balak to curse Israel; but God restrained him, and reproved him for his error, who was destroyed at last, as well as Corah, Dathan, and Abiram: so will all they come to naught that despise the holy government of Christ in his males and females; and do not you think that Corah, Dathan and Abiram, and Balaam could not speak high swelling words of vanity, though they were wells without water, and trees without fruit, and clouds that are carried about with a tempest, as in 2 Pet. ii. and Jude xi. 12, 13. Which such presumptuous ones as these now are known by the fruits, as it was in the apostles' days, which despise the righteous government of Christ in his male and female; but Christ the beloved seed, who bruises the serpent's head, in all his followers, and destroys the devil and his works, he will reign whose right it is, in them that are baptized into his death, and have put him on, and have put off the old man in Adam in the fall, and have put on the new man in the image of God, which he hath created in righteousness and holiness; in such Christ was and is a wonderful counsellor, and a governor, and a prince of peace, the same to-day as he was yesterday, and so for ever, in his church, throughout all ages; who destroys the devil and his works, that would hinder him; so he will reign, rule, and govern, and is a counsel

lor in the hearts of his people, whose right it is.

Blessed be the Lord

for ever. Hallelujah to the Lord, and his Christ reigns.

God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion,' &c. Gen. i. 26.

Now the Lord saith, Let us,' and were not all things made and created by Jesus Christ, whose name is called the word of God? And doth not John say, 'There are three that bear witness or record in heaven, the Father, the word, and the holy ghost, and these three are one? So there are three that bear witness and record in heaven, &c. And there are three that bear record or witness in earth, the spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one.' And is it not the spirit of God that mortifies the deeds of the flesh, and the water of the word that washes, and the blood of Christ that cleanseth? Are not these three that bear witness for God in the earth, for man or against man, are they not God's witnesses in the earth? And the Lord saith, Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, (namely, men witnesses,) every word is established among men, but the witness of God is greater' than the witness of men. He that hath an ear, let him understand these things. 1 John iii. 7, 8.

Here you may see how every one is to improve his talent which Christ gives them, if not, it will be taken from them, and they cast into utter darkness.

CHRIST JESUS Saith, The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return, who called his own servants, and delivered them his goods, and to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, and to every one according to his several ability,' &c. Matt. xxv. Luke xix. 20. And after a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them; and he that had five talents, had gained five more; and he that had two talents, had gained two more. And the Lord commended these servants, and said, well done good and faithful servants, enter into the joy of your Lord; but he that had received the one talent, went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord's money: the Lord said, take it from him, and give it to him that hath ten, and cast the unprofitable servant into utter darkness, and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Now these talents that were given to the Lord's servants, and to every one according to their several abilities, was the Lord's heavenly treasure, and was not their own, but the Lord's, and they were, and

are to improve this heavenly treasure for the Lord, and to put it forth, and to gain with it for the Lord at his appearing to them, when he calls them to an account, that it may be said, 'Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.' But the wicked and slothful servant, (he is called a servant too,) hideth the Lord's talent in his earthly napkin, and did not improve the Lord's heavenly treasure; and he was cast into utter darkness. And therefore all are to consider, whom the Lord hath given more or less of his heavenly treasure to, how you do, and how you have put the Lord's heavenly treasure forth, and have improved it; I say, the heavenly treasure which you have from the Lord Jesus Christ, who spake this before he was crucified; and after he was risen, did not he go to the Father to receive a kingdom; who said, All power in heaven and earth is given to me? Therefore the Lord's money or treasure of talents ought to be improved, and put to the exchangers, that he may receive it with usury and advantage. So here are exchangers of the heavenly talents or treasure of the Lord, the increasing of them to advantage for the Lord; as there is outward bankers and exchangers, and usuries, where they do put forth their outward money for gain and profit to themselves. But this is a parable that Christ speaks concerning improving of his heavenly treasure of talents, which every one is to improve, or increase that heavenly talent, or measure which they have received from the Lord, as good and faithful servants, and stewards, if that they do intend to enter into the joy of the Lord.

Kingston upon Thames, the 7th of the 10th month, 1687.

G. F.

Concerning the apostate Christians, that think to do miracles by dead men's bones, &c. of praying to the saints that are dead, and asking counsel of the dead, and praying for the dead. Concerning purgatory, and making a God or Christ of the elements of bread and wine. Concerning the traditions the Jews taught, which made the word and commandment of God of none effect, and the traditions the apostate Christians teach people to follow, and set up above the scriptures of truth. How Christ is the true rock, and not Peter. And that he is the head of the true Church, and so to be held by his members. The antiquity of the cross of Christ, which was and is acknowledged to be the power of God by his true Church. By G. F.

THE Lord saith, 'Whosoever toucheth the body of a man that is dead, or dieth in his tent, and purifieth not himself, he defileth the ta