A collection of the several books and writings of that faithful servant of God, Richard Hubberthorn who finished his testimony (being a prisoner in Newgate for the truths sake) the 17th of the 6th month, 1662.

MAny untimely Births in ages past and present have been brought forth, and the Work of such hath alwayes been to destroy the Heir, the Seed which the Lord hath blessed, that so the Inheritance might be theirs, and so would thrust them∣selves into the Kingdom; but they know while the Seed of the promise is alive, it keeps them out, and will not let them meddle with those things which they are not born unto; for they are sons of bondage, and children of falshood, and must not be heirs with the son of the free woman, &c. David, out of whose root the righteous seed did arise, the bright and Morning-star, he saw that Seed in his days, and was aware of them, and gave his testimony concerning them, saying, In heart ye work wickedness, you weigh the

violency of your hands in the Earth; the wicked are estranged from the Womb, they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lyes; their poyson is like the poyson of a Serpent, they are like the deaf Adder that stoppeth her ear, charm one never so wisely. Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth; break out the teeth of the young Lyons, O Lord, let them melt away as waters that run continually, when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces, as a Snaile which melteth; let every one of them pass away like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the Sun, &c. Psal. 58.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. And again he saith, Behold he tra∣velleth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth fals∣hood, Psal. 7.14. and so there was a travelling and labouring be∣fore they could get their iniquity brought forth, as we have true declarations concerning the ages past, how many have travelled and brought forth wind and confusion; so likewise in this age by experience can we give testimony of the like births which hath been brought forth to the sl••ughter amongst Babylons children, and here is one of the same birth born and brought forth in this City of London, to which I shall speak something at present; al∣though he conceal his Name, yet the seed you shall know by its fruits; it is one that would be reckoned amongst those children that in the Temple cryed Hosanna to the Son of David, M••tth. 12.15. But the Seed which David called Lord is risen, and hath rebuked the false voice; for it is not every one that cryeth Lord, nor every one that cryeth Hosanna, that enters into the King∣dom, but such as heareth the Word of God, and doth it.

Now the testimony which this Author gives to that which af∣ter a long travel is come forth, is this, That it hath been in his breast two years and upwards, while it at length is come forth as an untimely birth, or as that which is born out of due time, la∣bouring under the burden of being both unnecessary and un∣seasonable.

Such a Testimony as this, seems to beget a Wonder in the airy Spirits of men, as if a Monster were to be seen, (What, two yeares travel, and yet an untimely birth!) And many such false cryes are in this City, which enters into the sensual part of men, and gets into the affections; but there is a Seed risen which hath received from the Father the spirit of

judgement and understanding, and it doth not own things accord∣ing to the report, nor judge of things according to their names in outward appearance, but hath a measuring line given unto it, and a true ballance whereby voices, ways, worships, and testimo∣nies is tried before they be approved; and therewith shall this spi∣rit be tried, and voice which is come forth crying Hosanna to the Son of David, or a testimony to the Lords Christ; which being truly weighed and searched, may prove a testimony against the Lords Christ, which hath enlightned every man that cometh in∣to the world, in setting up mans spirit to be the light instead of the Lords Christ. But first let us consider the burden under which this man hath laboured; which is, as he saith, that which is both unnecessary and unseasonable. First unnecessary, because the same hath been before by better hands; so it is not to be admired as a Monster, because it hath already been, and effected nothing. Se∣condly, unseasonable, because those are already resolved, that Je∣sus Christ is the true light which hath enlightned every man that cometh into the world, which he would resolve, that the spirit in every man is that light; and so according to this, every man must follow his own spirit instead of following the light which Christ hath enlightned him withal. Now this burden thus considered, which is both unnecessary and unseasonable, having been in his brest above two years, all that have received the spirit of judge∣ment, and knows the workings of the mysterie of iniquity, and can truly read the state of those which are filled with unrighteousness, knows that this birth is cursed before ever it came forth, and it had been better that it had never been born nor brought forth into the world; for it will be to the great aggravation of his sor∣row and misery which did conceive it, and so long travel in it, and at last brought it forth; but among the untimely births shall we reckon it, which never saw the Sun, nor never received blessing from the Father; and happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast rewarded us, and happy shall he be that takes and dasheth thy untimely birth against the stones, Psal. 137.8, 9. Against this birth hath the Lord stretched forth his everlasting arm to dash in pieces; and this is not the first of Babylons children which in this age and in this City hath been brought for••h to the spoil, nor the first which this man hath brought forth; for he hath brought forth another without a name, which is both as unnecessary and as unsea∣sonable

as this: And so from experience he may say, that it is both unnecessary and unseasonable either to conceive, or bring forth any such thing against the seed which the Lord hath blessed; for there was never any as yet which did strive against the Lord or his anointed ones which did prosper, neither shall to the ends of the earth.

So the burden of this man is searched and judged, and f••und not to be the burthen of the word of the Lord, though he thought it to be so, when in him he felt the fire of enmity, b••yling and bubling up within him, as in his Epistle: But we have found it to be such a burthen as the false Prophets in Jerusalem did see for the people, which was false burthens and causes of banishment, Lam. 2.14. But if the fire of the Lord had been kindled in him, it would have consumed this birth in the womb, before ever it had been brought forth.

But the hour is coming and now is, in which the Lord is fulfil∣ling his promise according to the Scriptures, which saith, that he will make Jerusalem a burthensome stone for all people; all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in piece••, though all the people upon the earth be gathered together against it, Zac. 12.3. And as this was spoken, so it is fulfilled, and fulfilling, that the te∣stimony of God may be sealed up among his children: For now is the light risen with which the Lord Christ is gathering into the new Jerusalem, the City of the living God, and now hath many burthened themselves with it, and so burthened, that they can∣not tell how to unburthen themselves of it. But to ease themselves of that burthen which is ready to press them down, they break forth into reviling terms, and unsavory speeches, and false asser∣tions against the light, and those that walk in it, and will deny both the light and children of light to be spiritual: Some calling it natural light, some calling it natural conscience, some created light, some the light of reason and understanding; some old crea∣tion light, some a dim light, some the spirit of man, and so burthen themselves with it: and when they have both spoken and printed such things to ease them of their burthen, their burthen grow•• again; and so they do not cease to vex and grieve the holy spirit of God from day to day, and when they have burthened them∣selves with the enmity against the light, and the works of righte∣ousness, proceeding forth from it to the father, then they cry

the burthen of the Lord, the fire of the Lord within them. But saith the Lord to such, I will destroy that man and his house, and the burthen of the Lord shall ye mention no more, for every mans word shall be his burthen: for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God, Jer. 23.36. There∣fore is the measuring-line gone forth to measure the false burthens whereby they pervert the words of the living God, with their own words and imaginations; and unto those which ever were reproachers of the way and people of God, the Lord saith, I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame which shall not be forgotten, Ier. 13.40. So this is written that no man should any more burthen themselves with the burthensom stone, whereby they will be broken to pieces if they fall upon it: But that every one may come to it, that with it they may see their false burthens, and the sin which doth so easily beset them, and may cease grieving of the spirit of the Lord while his spirit striveth with them; and may come to know every man his own word, which will become his burthen when it returns again unto him. But the word of the Lord goeth forth and returns not empty, nei∣ther doth it burthen him which it goes forth from, when it re∣turns again unto him. Although the true burthen of the word of the Lord be known in many before it go forth from them.

Therefore then seeing that it is an untimely birth, and not that which is born of the spirit, which is come forth from him to whom I now am to speak. Now least others being in the same blindness with him, think as he doth, that it is a true voice, or Hosanna to the son of David, or a true testimony to the Lords Christ, I shall weigh his testimony, seeing that the true voice is gone forth both in the days of his flesh, and since; in which days he was truly declared to be the light of the world, and the true light which lightneth every one that cometh into the world, Joh. 1.9. Joh. 8. Now see∣ing that this Author hath set up another thing to be the light which hath enlightned every man, then Christ, viz. the spirit of, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. I shall trie this testimony according to the Scriptures, whe∣ther it be a testimony of the Lords Christ, or a testimony against him, in these things following, which are the Heads of his Do∣ctrine concerning the Light.