News from the new-Jerusalem sent by letters from severall parts, relating some hints and observations of that citty, all conspiring in a testimony that renders it exceeding glorious.

3. Letter.

Christian friend,

OUr loving Father hath comforted me by your Letter; I exceedingly rejoyce in your condition, I see his very great power magnified in you, to make you thus willing to be at his dispose: Its no smal matter for a soule to de∣ny it selfe. We have been a long time talking of self-deniall, because the letter of the Scri∣ture hath sweetly spoken of it; but truly we have not known what it is, from the indwel∣ling of truth in us: I am sure, thus much I finde, that it must be the death of the whol first man, that so the second man may be establish∣ed in righteousnes; and truly, 'tis the mighty power of God must passe upon us, to raise us up to live thus in himself. I could willingly open to you, how I was brought (in that mea∣sure that I am) into this life: It was by the sight or vision of God himself. For as I was one day carried forth by him to speake some thing to another, as he spake in me; I had this

wonderfull Vision that confounded me, and threw me to the ground before it, for it was no lesse then infinitenesse it self that beheld me, and at last made mee to behold it: but this sight of God did so astonish me, it destroyed and wrought such an utter death to my selfe, and to every thing below or besides him, (I mean things that appear to be;) that truly I may say, I had no spirit of a man left in me; but I sat before him as a meer passive appea∣rance. Then I felt the spirit of life from above enter into me again, and carried me forth to act where, when, and how it pleased; Now came I to be what he would have me, and never be∣fore.

It was not long since, that I should have been much troubled, to be called hither and thither, and to act the part of such or such a one; No, the reasonable man indeed was not dead yet in me, but now the Lord so slew it, that I cryed out; Here am I Lord, send me, for I am no more my self now, nor to act for my self, but for the Lord: And I wondred still, why the flesh in the ordinary appearnce of it, did remain? I mean, this outward form or vessel, that held the treasure; for indeed, I thought when the Apostle spake of a change, that it had been the changing of the outward

forme; but this day came upon me unawars: However, I doe not say, the outward form shal not be changed: let it be as it pleaseth him, my glory lies within the Vaile; I am not called so much to talk or judge of things without, I am to judge of things within me. Those things that I have tasted, seen and handled, I declare unto you; for the dispensation of truth is upon me: and I would not now speak any thing, or doe any thing, but as he speaks in me, and does in me; for its no more I now, but the Lord: I, indeed have been something in mans day, and I desired to be and to speak; but that day is past, its come into judgement, weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary, and found too light. The day of the Lord onely is now upon me; and here I desire to be perfected.

But I will yet goe a little further, and shew you the workings of God upon me, and in me: It was so, that before God so wonderfully ap∣peared to me; I had exceeding working in my spirit, and drawing to come up and serve the Lord in a more spirituall administration; and scriptures were still opened to me, in a new and strange way; still tending to that spiritu∣all enjoyment of God, which then was in mine eye, and now have. At last there was an extraordinary expectation begotten in me;

and I waited for my establishment in the spirit; though I did yet appear in the flesh: but against this, there were great fightings between the two powers, both from within me, and also from friends without: yet there was in mee, even in the darkest time, a secret hope; even beyond hope, that I should enjoy it, and my eye was unto him who hath now saved me: but here I was brought to lye down in his will, even without it; and though I never should have felt it, yet in this beliefe, could I have laid down my life, and have dyed. That there was such a time appointed for the people of God; and that they should surely have such a glory, though they appeared and lived upon earth; for the Lord hath said, The taberna∣cle of God should be with men; and he would raigne for ever and ever. But the day before this glory came unto me; I had this word ve∣ry strongly set home upon me, Wee shall not all sleep, but be changed: And truly as the time drew neer, I had such strong workings of spirit, that I could expect no other indeed; and I did expect it, and withall look't with what body I should come; for I was thinking (as I told you before) that this outward form must be done away, when God came to change us; but when I saw it still remain, and

I so wonderfully beheld God, I was taken with admiration; yet did I still expect, that sure it would anone goe a way, for I thought it impossible, that I should look constantly up∣on this glory, and yet remain upon the earth; for indeed though I expected much, yet this sight was farre beyond my expectation. Now I felt the fleshly part within me flie a way at his presence, and Death and Hell were de∣stroyed; I heard sentence given against the enemy of all our peace, and he ran a way; I felt him cast out, and in the morning I could sing a song over him: For his head I found, was turned into the waters, yet still this outward body did not moulder a way. At last it was given mee from him that shewed me these things to aske, (for indeed, I was not able till it was given me) and I asked and said; O Lord God, why have I flesh upon me, and see thee in this glorious manner? (for Infinitenesse it self looked upon me, and I looked upon it:) Can any man see thee (I said) and live? It was answered me againe: Thou art not alive; I have slain thee: No man indeed can see mee and live; but as a man thou art dead, and ne∣ver shalt live more, as a man; but the sonne of God can see mee: Thou shall live as the son of God, and so thou shalt see me: But I said;

O Lord, Why am I not presently dissolved by this Infinite glory that now so openly beholds me? Why have I flesh upon me in the appea∣rance of it? It was answered; Thou hast brethren in the flesh, therefore hast thou flesh upon thee, because thou must carry them a testimony of what thou hast seen of me: but look for no glory in the flesh, but sufferings and perseeutions for thy glory lyes within all flesh, and accordingly I accepted of it, because it was the fathers will, and for no other cause. It was also manifested to me, that while they were persecuting me, I should be inwardly filled with the glory of God, and triumph o∣ver all their cruelty, though I might for this testimony suffer as Jesus Christ did upon the Cross. I should bee willing, in the will of God, to see your face; however this I am sure, that when the Lord brings forth his own righteousnes upon you, you cannot be silent to your own bowels, and that indeed I am; for I am not as to my own particular any lon∣ger, but am fallen into the Church, and there I see my self to have a most glorious resurre∣ction: I was afraid once indeed to loose my life; but I never had so much glory as now I finde in the body: Oh, how true is that word; Every one that will save his life shall loose it,

but he that looseth his life for my name sake shall find it: The Lord of heaven and earth give men to see their glory in union, and then they will never stand so much as they doe upon di∣stinctions; did they see their resurrection in the body, (and knew what this body is, they could not so account of any particular appea∣rances; but they should see themselves al∣wayes alive: and because he lives, therefore they should live also; for if they would cease to live in their own life, they should be per∣fected and live in the life of God: But the truth is, the word (Body) stumbles them, be∣cause they are not wholly yet brought off from looking upon things as they appear; for, hence hath flowen all our imaginary worship: but when Christ is again formed in us, then he and we by him, shall not judge according to the hearing of the ear, nor the sight of the eye; but righteous judgement: Therefore the filth of the daughter of Sion (or all those evils and mistakes which now possesse us) is said to be purged away by a spirit of judgment, as well as by a spirit of burning: For it must be first judg∣ed before it can be burned; and truly I doe in som measure see what that Scripture speaks off.

After death comes judgement; for I am sure that since I had this death, and since my

soule was separated from my body, I have been judged for things done in the body; that is, while I lived in the body; for I knew a time when I lived in this body, and I know now what it is to live out of the body, and yet appear in the body; for that is the great mistake: the body that appears to be, is not the body: The scripture saith, Its sown a natu∣rall, but raised a spirituall body: and men not knowing what to make of this spirituall body, conceive it to be so many distinct per∣sonall appearances as have deceased since the world first began: but the Lord in his time will shew them what this spirituall body is, and then they will better judge of it: but I am sure we without them, or they without us are not perfect; for though I have seen all these things accomplished upon me, in this parti∣cular body; yet I see that it is but as in a fi∣gure, which hath reference to the whole; therefore am I weak with them that are weak, and stong with those that are strong, and my glory lyes still in the body. Never do I look for perfection more in one particular appea∣rance but to be perfect in the whole: I am no more my own, but every ones, and every one is mine.

Dear Soul, the Lord of all our mercy sup∣ply

and keep you safe, under all those storms which are now breaking in upon us; I hum∣bly and heartily thank you for your sweet counsell in looking for tryall: it is that which my heavenly father hath warned me to look for. I leave you to his bowels and bosome, in whom I rest;

I am, Your endeared friend to serve God in you.