The first epistle.: A crying voice of the holy spirit of love, wherewith all people are out of meer grace, called and bidden by H.N. to the true repentance for their sins, to the entrance into the upright Christian life, and to the house of the love of Jesu Christ.

The Fifth Chapter.

BEhold, even thus, for aa Light and Sal∣vation of the Heathen, is this same (on∣ly out of grace, undeserved) published un∣to the Heathen, for a Gospel, to a morti∣fying of their vaine understanding,b and of the corrupt ungodly beeing, and to an in∣corporating to the new man, whom the Apostles of Christ did publish, namely,

Christ (the like-beeing of God)c in up∣right righteousnesse and holinesse. In whom (and in none other) standeth the forgive∣nesse of sinnes.

2. These publishers of the holy Word or Gospel of the Kingdome of God (seeing now that Jesus Christ had a shape in them, as a very true light and life of God, and that Gods shape was in Christ, where-tho∣rough they likewise were in Christ, and God in them) have published that word (Grace and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesu Christ) in the truth.

3. But although the Apostles did publish this after this manner, yet have they notwith∣standing, spoken no otherwise then of one God, who had shewed his procreation or generation in them as ae glory of the only∣borne Sonne of the Father, full of grace and truth: namely, that God the Father had be∣gotten and declared in them, his likef life of God, out of his life, and his like light, out of his light.

4. Seeing then that they did beare this like∣beeing of the God-head, in them, there∣fore have they (through the same) knowne the living God, who was their salvation: namely, through the life of God, Jesu Christ, being appeared unto themg in the spirit. Where-through they also published the life that

is everlasting: and so witnessed likewise, that those which hadh not the Son of God, could not also have the Father, and that they were withouti God in this world. For the like-life of God,k is the only born Son of God him∣self. And whosoever refused him, might not obtain the grace before God. For it is so concluded by God for ever, that in the Son is the life of salvation,l and that it shall also be obtained in him.

5. This is verily the grace of God the Fa∣ther (which was published in times past unto the children of men, under the obedience of Faith, and which is also published now in the last time, under the obedience of the Love) that the life of the living Godhead is appeared upon earth, and that (through the same) the Unity in the Peace with God the Fa∣ther is to be obtained, whereby tom know him in his glory, and his uniformeness with the manhood, through the Lord Iesus Christ. Read, Iohn 17.

6. Behold, this is the difference (with a brief Instruction) betwixt God the Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ.

Take it to heart.

7. My service to content thee, my Beloved, vouchfase to take in good part, with a re∣gard to the God of the living. And this

my writing (to the answering of thy request) have I rehearsed in this manner; seeing other∣wise no means for to open the understanding of the Godhead of Christ, and to content thee, or to satisfie thy demand.

8. Behold, I have here witnessed the mind unto thee in full manner; so that in this Instru∣ction (so far forth as the Lordn dothilluminate thine understanding) there shall be sufficient to answer thy request. And thy intent of heart in the Spirit, shall likewise through the beleif of the truth, if thou hast a right regard hereunto,o and takest this same to heart, be well-minded to our most holy Service of Love. The Almighty God lead thee into his Righteousness, Amen.

The End of the Third Epistle.

Notes

• a

  Luke 2.
• b

  Rom. 1 Rom. 6. Rom 8 1 Cor. 5. 1 Cor. 6. Gal. 5. Gal. 6.
• c

  Luke 1. Ephes. 4.
• e

  Iohn 1.
• f

  Iohn 1. 1 Iohn 1.
• g

  Ephes. 3
• h

  1 Ioh. 5.
• i

  Ephes. 2.
• k

  Iohn 1. 1 Iohn 1. 1 Iohn 5.
• l

  Iohn 10. Iohn 14.
• m

  Iohn 8 Iohn 14. Iohn 17.
• n

  Ephes. 1.
• o

  Prov. 4.