Terra pacis a true testification of the spiritual land of peace, which is the spiritual land of promise, and the holy city of peace, or the heavenly city of Jerusalem, and of the walking in the spirit, which leadeth thereunto / set forth by H.N. and by him newly perused and more plainly declared ; translated out of Base-Almaine.

THE PREFACE of H. N. To the Spiritual Land of PEACE.

H.N. Wisheth to the good-willing Reader, and unto all Lovers of the Truth (which read or hear these present Testimonies of the Land of Peace) that they might be prepared to be an upright people for the Lord, and taught to the kingdom of heavens; and also to have obtained in their spirit and minde ••••n the obedience of the Love) the simple eyes of the true Sight, the spiritual ears of the godly Hearing, and he second birth in Jesus Christ, whereby they might un∣derstand in spiritual maner the holy and spiritual un∣derstanding, that is witnessed therein, to the end that the same which becometh seen and heard migh be rightly judged according to the Spirit of the heavenly Truth, also the waye, that lead•••••• to the Life, entered into a ••••ght, and so the true Life of the Living, and the pleasant Lands of Peace become inherited rightly, and according to the Truth O yea, that it come to pass even so.

IN these true Testimonies of the worthy Land of Peace, (O ye good willing Hearts, which love the Truth) there is (out of an inclination of Love) witnessed and described unto you by Writing, the many maner of weldernessed

Lands, together with the sundry kindes of Travel and Ʋnrestfulness of the disorderly people of the wicked world, and thea 1.1 de∣parture out of the same; as also (then imme∣diatly following) the entrance into the spi∣ritual Land of Promise (b 1.2 the Rest of all the children of God) to the end that every one (which loveth the Rest of the Lord in Jesus Christ) might forsake the said wildernessed lands, and so (according to this our direction) enter into the noble commodious Land, and into the holyc 1.3 City of Peace.

2. Therein is likewise evidently declared unto you (with clear manifestation) the holy people of the same Land, and how lovingly, peaceably, and uprightly they live in that same good Land.

3. Into the Which good Land of Rest and Peace,d 1.4 the Lord will now in the last time, under the obed••ence of the Love (according to his Promises) assemble 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people or his Elect, and be gracious unto them, and so will (through the service of his Love)e 1.5 bring them into the same out of all Wildernessed Lands, and separate them from all disorderly and seditious people.

4. O ye children of the Kingdom consider of the minde: and the lovers of the Truth, humble you now every one under the obedi∣ence

of the Love, andf 1.6 have or exercise love among each other, to the end that ye may remain unoffended: alsog 1.7 know the Truth in the Spirit, through the Love, and live in all Truth and upright righteous∣ness.

5. For I will open my mouthh 1.8 in similitudes, reveal and witness the riches of the spiritual heavenly goods as parables, and figure forth in writing the mystery of the Kingdom of God or Christ, according to the true beeing.

6. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear, and who so hath eyes to mark, let him mark what the Spirit of Love saith, and bringeth to light by his Minister.

7. I looked and behold: to the children of the Kingdom (the Family of the Love of Jesus Christ) it is given to understandi 1.9 the mystery of the heavenly Kingdom; but to those that are therewithout, it is not given to under∣stand the same; for that cause all spiritual Ʋnderstandings do chance unto them, by Si∣militudes, Figures, and Parables.

8. Verily the strange people, together with all those that have their forth-going without the Family of Love, arek 1.10 ignorant, and all the enemies to our godly Testimonies of the gracious Word of the Lord, and of our most holy Service of Love, arel 1.11 resisters of the

Truth of God. For that cause also they have heard very painfully with their ears, andm 1.12 hardned their hearts against the Truth. They have likewise wholly shut to, the sight ofn 1.13 their eyes before the Truth, to the end they would not see the same nor her Requi∣ring, and altogether stopped the hearing of their ears before the calling-voyce of the Truth, for that they would not hear the same, nor the Requiring thereof, because they would in no wise understand in their hearts, the Truth and her Requiring, as also for that they would not turn them to the Truth and her Requiring, neither shew forth any up∣right Fruits of Repentance:o 1.14 nor yet come to the godly life; and have even so (in the hard∣ness of their hearts) turned them about to the condemnation.

9. For that cause likewise, their portion or inheritance, is not with the children of the Kingdom, in the Family of Love;p 1.15 but with the children of the wicked world, whoseq 1.16 fa∣ther and head is the devil himself.

10. Seeing then that they, through their resisting against the Love, and the re∣quiring of her service, are become children ofr 1.17 wrath; and (through the seed of the old Ser∣pent) are grown disobeyers of the Requiring of the Word of Jesus Christ, and of the Do∣ctrine

of his Service of Love as also as 1.18 cur∣sed people, even to be coheirs of the everla∣sting fire (which is prepared for the devil and his angels) therefore verily they understand nothing at all of the wisdom of God the Fa∣ther, nor yet of the upright beeing of Jesus Christ the Son of God and man

11. Therefore cometh now likewise theu 1.19 end, and Gods mighty hand upon the un∣godly, which have had no will to Gods Love,x 1.20 nor liked that the Love should r••ign over them. But Gods mercy cometh over his Elect, which sigh and pray night and day unto him,y 1.21 and have an hunger and thirstz 1.22 after the Righteousness.

12. For truly, the gracious time cometh, and is now already come, wherein the blessed people of the Lord shalla 1.23 delight, recreated, and rejoyce them.

13. In which this gracious time, there shall nothing be figurely, or Image like, nor yet also the Testimonies of the Truth of God,b 1.24 any Parables or Similitudes to the children of the Kingdom; for through Gods heavenly Truth (the Light of Life-from Heaven) all whatsoever is of God and Truth, becometh now published unto themc 1.25 openly, nakedly or clearly, from the right hand of God the Fa∣ther, and they are made heirs therein under the obedience of the Love.

14. Yea, the holy Spirit of Love (which is a comforter of the heart) whom the Father sendeth in the name of the Truth (the Bee∣ing of Christ) hed 1.26 teacheth and declareth all things unto them; namely all what was spoken unto them in times past (concerning the Truth) as Parables or Similitudes, for in times past (the whilest the covering (which is the foreskin of the flesh of sin) was yet be∣fore their hearts and the Vail (which is the flesh of Christ) still before the clearness of the fare of God and Christ) they could notg 1.27 endure that which is the clearness of the holy Ghost it self.

15. But when as now (in their new birth) the Vail•• departeth from their hearts, so is it all th••n Light and life unto them through the holy Spirit of Love,h 1.28 which cometh unto them out of the Father,i 1.29 from the uncovered face of Christ, as alsok 1.30 remaineth with them everlastingly, and leadeth them into all Truth. It is very true.

16. Come now all hither, O ye peaceable children! together with all ye which love the Truth and Peace; and have your Forth∣going in the Spiritl 1.31 to the life of the new birth in Jesus Christ, according to the Re∣quiring of the Word of the Lord and his ser∣vice of Love.

17. Fly nowm 1.32 out of the North, and out of all wildernessed Lands. Rest not your selves among the strange people, nor among any of the enemies to the house and service of Love; but assemble you with us, inton 1.33 the holy City of Peace, the new Jerusalem, which is des∣cended from heaven, and prepared by God, like a garnished Bride for her Husband.

18. O Jerusalem! (thou holy City of the great King)o 1.34 the Light of thy God of Israel doth now rise up over thee, according to the Promises.

19. Thereforep 1.35 stand now up, and set thy self in the high place, and look round about thee, towards the East, or Sun rising, and be∣hold the Comfort which cometh unto thee from God.

20. Behold,q 1.36 thy children assembled them together, from the Sun rising and going down, rejoycing them in the holy Word, and are mindfull of God.

21. They werer 1.37 led away captive from thee on foot by the enemies. But now thee Lord bringeth them unto thee: and exalt∣eth them with Honor, as it beseemeth the children of the Kingdom.

22. For God will bring downs 1.38 all high Hills, and make the high stony rocks, and the Vallyes plain, that Israel mayt 1.39 walk and

dwell free (without fear) to the honor of his his God.

23. The Groves, andu 1.40 all pleasant sweet∣smelling trees shall shadow Israel round a∣bout by the commandment of the Lord.

24. For God will now in this day of his Love,x 1.41 be gracious unto his people, and (through his mercy) bring Israel againy 1.42 with joy; as also lead them continually with his Righteousness, in the clearness of his Ma∣jesty, &c.

25. Now this passed over, will (in the Te∣stimonies of the spiritual Land of Promise) rehearse more at large touching the holy ones of the God of Israel and of their garnishing, as also distinct the wildernessed lands, and the unpeaceable people from the good land, and the peaceable people to the end that the death and destruction may be understood and known from the life and preservation of salvation,* 1.43 and that no man may err ignorantly

26. But hereforth on following in this our Preface (before the beginning of the spiritual Land of Promise) we wil rehearse the mercy of God, where through this lovely rest of the spiritual land of Promise is (out of Gods heavenly truth) appeared unto us and the knowledg thereof given us, to understand; therefore hear and understand ye dearly be∣loved.

27. Forasmuch now as we had a great de∣sire to the placea 1.44 of Rest and Peace which God hath promised, and that we sought after the same with a fervent longing for, that we might finde it, or come to the knowledg of the same holy Land of Promise; so hath the God of heaven been gracious unto us, and not shut from us the knowledg of his holy Land, which he hath promised unto his People, as a land of Rest and Peace;b 1.45 nei∣ther yet covered nor hid from us his Truth of the same.

28. But verily we are gone thorow, or passed beyond many and sundry maner of wil∣dernessed lands, and ignorant people, and so have considered of the nature of every land and people

29. In all which we have found the strange ignorant people very unpeaceable and divid∣ed in many kinde of maners, dispositions, and natures, as also vexed with many unprofita∣ble things, to a great disquietness, and much miseryc 1.46 unto them all.

30. The whilest we considered diligently hereon, so found we by experience, that every people had their disposition and nature, ac∣cording to the disposition and nature of the land wherein they dwelt or were born.

31. But when we passed thorow, and per∣used

used all this same, so have we, through the mercy of God (at the end of all this) found a lovely land,d 1.47 or a peaceably city, whose people (and none other) is a peaceable, con∣cordable, and lovely people; agreably minded, living peaceably, and are faithful to each o∣ther. Into the which peaceable City, and un∣to the peaceable people of the same, the Lord (the God of heavens) hath miraculouslye 1.48 brought us.

32. It is true, the whole earth is unmea∣surable great and large, and the lands and people are many and divers, but the most part of the lands are beset with grievous labour, and with much trouble,f 1.49 and the pe ple captived with many and sundry unprofita∣ble v••x••tions.

33. But theg 1.50 children of the Kingdom have a land that is void of all molestation, and a City that i. veryh 1.51 peaceable which al∣so isi 1.52 inhabited with no maner of vexation or unprofitable labor, but with joy, in all peace.

34. Wherefore the people that dwelleth therein, is likewise a wise and understanding people, according to the nature of the same good land; and it is a people of one maner ofk 1.53 nature and disposition, concordable, peacea∣ble, and lovely.

35. Verily, without this one City of Peace or land of the living▪ there is no convenient place of Rest on the whole earth; neither yet without the Commonalty of this one maner of people of the same city, any meete people,l 1.54 among whom such an understanding is to be found, or that can live so peaceably as this same.

36. But this land of peace (which with his lovely people is ful of joy, and liveth in concord) is a secret land, and is severed from all other landsm 1.55 and people.

37. It is also known of no man but of his Inhabitants, and of those which come into the same, & that be assembled with them. But the entrance into the same, isn 1.56 very straight and narrow; for that cause it is found of few, but there are many that run past it, or that have not any right regard thereon.

38. Seeing then that the entrance into this same good land, is very straight and narrow, and becometh foundo 1.57 of few, neither is it rightly regarded, therfore remaineth this good land of the Living unloved and unknown of the most part of strange people, and of all un∣believers of our godly Testimonies.

39 Wherefore, to the end now to incourage all people to the love of the same, so will we (out of inclined love) partly describe the state of the good land, and the upright dealing of

the lovely people, and testifie of every ones disposition and nature, that if haply there might be any one found that did know his estranging from the same, and had a desire (with all his heart) to assemble him with us thereunto.

40. For verily, in respect of the excellency thereof, it is the best-worthyp 1.58 to be loved, and for love thereof toq 1.59 forsake all whatsoever is without it; for it is much better, more pre∣cious, and beautiful, yea and more excellent, rich, and joyful or living,r 1.60 then all what may be found, devised or invented upon the uni∣versal earth.

41. But whosoever loveth not the same a∣bove all things neither yet doth (for the love thereof) forsake, deny, give over, ors 1.61 leave himself with all that he hath, he shal not en∣ter into it.

42. But if there be any one that is of the dis∣position or nature of the same: or whose lusts and desires stand inclined or are affected to∣wards it, such a one verily, shal (for the wor∣thiness cause thereof) love the same, as also not think it tedious to assemble him unto us,t 1.62 and to pass thorow that way that leadeth thereto.

43. Wherefore, to the end now that all those (which desire, under the obedience of the Love, to dwell in this good Land, with

this People of Peace) might be gathered to∣gether into the same, without harm and un∣hindered, and that no man should remain without it, for want of any knowledg of the Way: So will we shew the neerest Ways, and the needfullest Means, and Guides, that lead thereunto; because that every Traveller, may still keep the right High way, and not turn from it, neitheru 1.63 to the right side, nor to the left, but may keep so much the more diligent Watch, until that he be come thorow the Gate, into the holyx 1.64 City of the good Land. We will also (for that men should in no wise erre, nor be deceived on the way) distinct, and mark out those Land, Places, and People, which are most needful to bey 1.65 over passed, andz 1.66 left; as likewise, all what∣soever is deceitful and harmful, and will in like maner, evidently shew, according to the Truth, how, wherewith, and where-through, all harmful, and destroying things, together with all the enemies or adversaries, and all tempters, and assaulters▪ are to be resisted and overcome, which would let, and hinder the traveller from coming into the good Land.

44. And if now also, there be any man in the journey, that is become deceived, or erring upon the way, through any of the deceitful things (which we do shew hereafter follow∣ing)

or which hath set downa 1.67 himself to rest any where upon the way, to the intent to live quietly, and is not yet come into the holyb 1.68 City, thorowc 1.69 the Gate: Let not him pitch his Tents there, neither yet make him there any Tabernacle for to dwell there; but let him give eard 1.70 and credit to our undeceive∣able councel of the Wisdom, and set his feet in the right way that leadeth thereunto; and so travel forward to the good Land of the Living, and of the truee 1.71 Rest and Peace.

45. For whosoever is not yet come into the holy City, through the Gate or Door;f 1.72 he is not yet also come to the uprightg 1.73 Rest of the Children of God.

46. Wherefore (ye dearly beloved) seeing now that this way to the holy Land, is peril∣oush 1.74 to pass through, for him that is unex∣pert therein; so have we thought good (out of hearty love) to testifie and shew forth distinelly (and that altogether, to the preser∣vation of the traveller) the most part of the wildernessed places of the strange people, and the perils of deceit, each one according to his pernitiou•• disposition and nature; to the end, that every one may be of good cheer, and may (without fear) pass through the way rightly, and without harm; and for that no man should remain lost, except he would himself.

As likewise for this cause, That if happily any man should be faln into error, upon the way, or should chance to be deceived, and se∣duced by any of the same, he might yet un∣derstand and perceive, in which place of error, and among what sort of unrighteous or igno∣rant people he is, or hath united himself; and also how far off, or neer-by, he is to the good Land of Peace, and to the peaceable people of the Love.

47. Behold (ye dearly beloved) (like as hereafter followeth) have we (out of an inclination of love) shewed and de∣scribed in this maner, because that every one of us (namely, ••••e to whom the Lord hath giveni 1.75 to know, or to understand the secret∣ness of the good Land or of the heavenly Kingdom) might (with all lovers of the truth) be turned to the same good Land of the Kingdom of Peace, with one consent of minde, and with a good courage; as also enter into, and pass through the wayk 1.76 that leadeth to the same Life, with a good faith and firm hope; whereby to unite the same with us, and with thosel 1.77 peaceable people (in allm 1.78 love and concord) who do always live in peace, and in all upright righteousness.

48. For this same good Landn 1.79 is the up∣right place of rest, which God hath prepared,

reserved, and kept for his People, from the beginning of the world; for to possess them with the same in the last time.

49. Moreover, this same Land, is a Land full of Joy, Life, and Songs of Praise, and likewise, full of all maner of Riches of God. For therein is the secret Treasureo 1.80 of all spiritual and heavenly Goods. It is also a Land, wherein Wine and Oyl, Hony and Milk, and all Sweetness (to a joy and life) floweth abundantly; like as we shall here∣after following, rehearse more at large of the same.

50. Rejoyce you now with this,p 1.81 O ye Heavens, and recreate thy self now with us, thou Earth, and all ye that hope upon the Good. Give ear now to the Truth, under∣stand and consider well of the strange States of the wildernessed Lands, and People, to the end, that ye may forsake orq 1.82 pass by them, and have also a good regard unto the lovely State of the goodr 1.83 Land, and of the holy People, whereby to love the same, and to unite you, or to become one being with them. For all this same each one particularly, is hereafter following, described unto you in writing, even according to the Life and Truth.

Take it to heart.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Isa. 54. Apo. 18.
• b 1.2

  Isa. 32. Heb. 4. Apo. 21.
• c 1.3

  Isa. 60.
• d 1.4

  Isa. 13. and 54.55 Ier. 3 and 17. and 23. and 31. and 33.50. Ezech. 20.
• e 1.5

  Isa. 65. and 66. Ezech. 34. and 37. 2 Mach. 2.
• f 1.6

  Ioh. 13. and 15. 1 Iohn 3. and 4.
• g 1.7

  Ioh. 8. 2 Ioh. 1.
• h 1.8

  Psal. 49.78. Matth. 13.
• i 1.9

  Matt. 11. and 13. Luke 8. and 10.
• k 1.10

  Deut. 32. Sap. 2. and 5. Psal. 14.
• l 1.11

  Gal. 3.
• m 1.12

  Isa. 6. Matth. 13. Act. 7. and 28.
• n 1.13

  Ier. 5. and 7. and 16.
• o 1.14

  Ioh. 5.
• p 1.15

  Psal. 1. Wis. 2. and 5.
• q 1.16

  Iohn 8.
• r 1.17

  Rom. 9. Ephe. 2.
• s 1.18

  Deut. 27. and 28. Eccl. 41.
• u 1.19

  Ezec. 7.
• x 1.20

  Rom. 2. 2 Thess. 2.
• y 1.21

  Luke 18.
• z 1.22

  Matth. 5.
• a 1.23

  Isa. 60.61. and 65. and 66. Eccl. 2.
• b 1.24

  Matt. 13. Luke 8.
• c 1.25

  Ioh. 16.
• d 1.26

  Ioh 14. and 15. and 16.
• g 1.27

  Ioh. 16.
• h 1.28

  2 Cor. 3. and 4. Col. 2.
• i 1.29

  Ephe 5.
• k 1.30

  Iohn 14. and 16.
• l 1.31

  Rom 6.8. Phil. 3.
• m 1.32

  Zach. 2.
• n 1.33

  Isa. 60. Zach 8. Apo. 21.
• o 1.34

  Isa. 60.
• p 1.35

  Isa. 51. and 52. and 60. Baruc 5.
• q 1.36

  Isa. 43.
• r 1.37

  Bar. 5.
• s 1.38

  Isa. 2.40. Bar. 5.
• t 1.39

  Gen. 23.33.
• u 1.40

  Bar. 5.
• x 1.41

  Bar. 5.
• y 1.42

  2 Mac. 2.
• * 1.43

  z Deut. 30. Ier. 21. Eccl. 25.35.
• a 1.44

  Psa 95. Heb. 4.
• b 1.45

  Exod. 3. Heb. 4.
• c 1.46

  Isa 42. and 59.
• d 1.47

  Isa. 26.60. Zach. 8.
• e 1.48

  Psal. 4.
• f 1.49

  Eccl. 1.2. and 3. and 6.
• g 1.50

  Bar. 5.
• h 1.51

  Isa. 60.65.
• i 1.52

  Isa. 35. and 54. Ier. 33.
• k 1.53

  Iohn 17. Act. 4.
• l 1.54

  Deut. 4.
• m 1.55

  Deut 10 4 Esdr. 7.
• n 1.56

  4 Esd. 7. Matth. 7.
• o 1.57

  Luke 13.
• p 1.58

  Psa. 48. Prov. 3. and 8.
• q 1.59

  Matt. 16.19.
• r 1.60

  Isa. 64. 1 Cor. 2.
• s 1.61

  Matt. 10. and 16. Luk 9.14. Ioh. 12.
• t 1.62

  Num. 12 1 Cor. 9. and 10.
• u 1.63

  Deut. 5. & 17. Josh. 1.23. Prov. 4.
• x 1.64

  Apo. 22.
• y 1.65

  Deut. 2. & 3.
• z 1.66

  2 Cor. 6.
• a 1.67

  Num. 32.
• b 1.68

  Apoc. 21
• c 1.69

  Psa. 118. John 10.
• d 1.70

  Num. 32. Prov. 4.
• e 1.71

  Isai. 32. & 60.
• f 1.72

  John 10.
• g 1.73

  Heb. 4.
• h 1.74

  4 Esd. 7.
• i 1.75

  4 Esd. 10 Ephes. 3. Col. 1.
• k 1.76

  4 Esd. 7. Luke 13.
• l 1.77

  sal. 32. & 33.
• m 1.78

  John 17 •• phes. 4.
• n 1.79

  Psal. 78. & 132. Matth. 25.
• o 1.80

  Matth. 13. Col. 2.
• p 1.81

  Psal. 96. Isa. 44.49.
• q 1.82

  Deut. 2.
• r 1.83

  Isai. 35.60.