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TRUE AND BLESSED WAY
TO HEAVEN,
A TRUE DOCTRINE FROM THE WORD OF GOD,
FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERY LOVER OF THE TRUTH, AND
THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF TITEIR SALVATION, .
BY- ©:
JOIN HERR.
Se LANCASTER, PA. cs
INQUIRER PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY. ‘
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CONFIRMATORY TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE.
(*HRIST says, Matt. vil.: ‘Strait is the gate, and nar-
row is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there _
be that find it.’’ :
The Prophet Isaiah, -xxx., says: ‘‘ This is the way, walk
ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn
~— to the left.
Matt. xxi. says: ‘‘If any man will come after Me, let
'him-deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”’
Mark vill. says: ‘‘ Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed
of Me, and of My words, in this adulterous and sinful
generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed.”’
- In 2 Cor. vi., Paul says: ‘‘ Wherefore come out from
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you, and will be
a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters,
i~
-
saith the Lord Almighty.”’
In 1 Cor. x., Paul says: ‘‘ My beloved, flee from idol-
atry.”’
Seminar wor. X.,; Paul sayss) ** But Tsay, that’ the things
which the Gentiles-sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and
not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellow- é
ship with devils. Ye can not drink the cup of the Lord, .
and the cup of devils: ye can not be partakers of the .
Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.’’ ‘
In 1 Tim, vi., Paul says: ‘Tf any man teach otherwise,
(iii)
iv CONFIRMATORY TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE.
and consent not to wholesome ‘words, even the words of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is accord-
ing to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting -
about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy,
strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men
of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing
that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”’
In 2 John v. ro, 11, is written: ‘‘If there come any
unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into
your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that bid-—
deth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.’
In 1 Thess. v., Paul says: ‘ Prove all things; hold fast
that which is good. - Abstain from all appearance of evil.’’
£
AUTHOR’S PREFACE.
(INCE God of His great and boundless mercy has
called me so unworthily into His service; and hath
opened mine eyes (as He did those of him that was born
blind), so that I could see and know my miserable and
damnable condition, and hath by the gracious and exalted
hand of the spiritual Moses, Christ Jesus, led me out of
the Egyptian bondage of the spiritual Pharaoh, the devil,
and hath brought me by the guiding light of the Gospel,
into the narrow way of the cross, whereon I seek by His
~grace to walk in my weakness, through the wilderness of
this world, with all the patriarchs, apostles, and those wit-
~ nesses of the truth who were faithful unto death; who
have-all gone before, and left many holy memorials and
ma testimonies behind them, whereby we shall be guided in
the conduct of the Lord’s warfare; for here we have not
to contend with the carnal Amalekites, with bows, swords
and shields, but with the hellish spirits of darkness, with
the prince of the power of the air, and with flesh, sin,
death and hell, and with the weapons of the spirit, to cast _
_ down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it-
self against the knowledge of God, in which every thought
must be taken captive under the obedience of Christ.
Neither dare we look back, nor step to a side, but must
ever press forward toward the mark, for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
5 i Av) *
vi f AUTHOR’S PREFACE.
Although this holy way of the cross was so gloriously ~
trodden several hundred years ago, by the holy martyr-
witnesses of the truth; yet in our time, it has again been
overgrown with the bushes of vanity, and the thorns of per-
verseness and human sophistry, so that it is found with dif-
ficulty by a poor sinner, or pilgrim; unless God in a
special manner offers unto him the hand of grace, and
converts darkness into light, or the rough-and uneven to
an even way. This is also the cause why I have felt my-
self constrained through the love of Christ to put the tal-
-ent of grace (which God through Christ bestowed upon
my soul) to usury, and put this little work to print,
whereby I might perhaps serve some in the work of their
salvation.
And again, since many people look upon us as if we
_ were selfish and Pharisaical, and would declare or publish —
something new, inasmuch as we have no fellowship with
any other party; therefore I felt myself constrained
through love to all upright souls, to present the true
Church of Christ, with the true divine life which must
exist in it, according to the clear testimony of the Holy
Scripture, so that every one can see how the parties and
communities of the present time lie in decay, and are
committing spiritual fornication with one another, for..
which reason they shall be shunned or avoided.
In the third place, while most people in our time have
the veil of Moses upon their hearts, when they read the Old
Testament, that they ever confound the kingdom of Christ
and the kingdom of this world, and do not properly dis-
tinguish between them; therefore I have endeavored to
explain with the testimony of evangelical truth, how
Christ divided these two kingdoms, so that they can have
no part with one another.
4
AUTHOR’S PREFACE. vil
In the fourth place, I have briefly presented, with the
testimony of the Holy Scriptures, how the Church of God
from the beginning, and at all times, was separate from
the church of darkness, and how she must still -be sepa-
rate; whereby every God-fearing person may see, that we
are unjustly reproached as being of a selfish or partisan
spirit. 3
In the fifth place, I have briefly explained why we
have separated ourselves from the Mennonites, and will
not hear them preach. But on the other hand we freely -
- declare that we have not separated ourselves from the true -
Mennonite Church, which several hundred years ago
stood so gloriously in the light. But we acknowledge
with all our heart, and confess with the mouth, that the
ground and doctrine which Menno-Simon and the holy mar-
tyrs confessed and practiced, was the true ground of the
apostles and prophets, of which Christ is the chief corner
stone ; and we are not ashamed to confess and support it as
our own doctrine, and in our weakness we desire to walk
with them on it, as the narrow way of the cross,. upon
which Christ walked before us. ‘Therefore we are unjustly
charged with separating ourselves from them, or as if we
had commenced some new thing. But this has ever been
the way with those who depart from the truth. Thus
Ahab said to Elijah, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
But the prophet replied, I have not troubled Israel, but
thou and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the
commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed
Baalim. (1 Kings xviii.) Thus we say also, we have not
troubled Israel, neither have we forsaken Christ, His word
or His Church ; but we seek with all our hearts, poor and
insignificant as we are, to walk in apostolical order, main-
™%
. ae ”
Vlll- - = * AUTHOR’S PREFACE -
- tain.the ordinances of the church, and to walk in accord- .
ance with them. But we desire with all the prophets and -
holy men of God, to protest against all degenerate Chris-
-tianity, and reject all carnal worship and commandments
of men, and adhere alone to God and His word; by
which we know that we shall obtain little honor with the
world, but must be rejected by it, and regarded as fools.
However we seek not the honor of men, but the honor of
God, and with it are well contented; because Christ, the
Captain of our faith, was also accounted a fool and a de-
ceiver, with His apostles and all His holy followers and
witnesses of the truth; therefore Christ also says, Ye must
be hated of all ‘nations for My name’s sake. (Matt. xxiv.)
Again, If ye were of the world, the world would love his
own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth
you. (John xv.)
In the sixth place, I have briefly pointed out why we
cannot unite with those professors who pretend to uphold
an awakening doctrine. I have also set forth what we re-
gard as a truly awakened and regenerated person, and the
element in which he must stand, if he otherwise has ground
to hope that he is pleasing to Christ. I have a atts ~!
swered and explained some objections.
In the seventh place, I have briefly set forth to all my
readers, how they must come to repentance, and then -
through repentance be transplanted into grace in Christ
_ Jesus, before they are qualified to judge impartially by the
word and Spirit of God, whether this work is of God, or
agrees with the spirit of the Gospel; ‘‘For the natural man
receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because — a
AUTHOR’S PREFACE. 1X
~~ they are spiritually discerned.” I have done this for the |
reason, lest any one should judge rashly, or ignorantly re-
_ proach this work, and thereby bring the greater judgment
~ upon himself, and the declaration of Peter be fulfilled in
them, where he says, They speak evil of things that they
understand not: and shall utterly perish in their own cor-
ruption. tu
In the eighth place, a short exhortation to all my be-
loved brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, for the encour-
agement of our souls, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, amen. .
- Oh! my beloved reader, do for once wake up rightly,
and pray to God in singleness of heart, for wisdom, which -
will be given unto thee; then search this little work with
an humble and childlike spirit, without any selfishness or
ES party spirit, when thou wilt find the pure truth as it is in
-God’s word ; which has for so many years been darkened
amongst the people, and yet is so gloriously grounded in
the Scriptures, and so many witnesses have attested it, and
sealed it with their blood. .
Therefore I will humbly beg of every one, for Christ’s
sake, do not ignorantly judge or reject this little work, but
examine it in simplicity, and if any should think that I am
- too strict, or have made the way too narrow, I can only
‘appeal to the Scriptures, and the doctrine of Christ
and the apostles, and yet say this: if it can be shown,
(which it cannot), that it does not agree with the same, I
shall be heartily sorry, and will willingly retract ; but if it
: X agrees with the same (as it also does), then do not censure
me, but the Scriptures, or Christ and his apostles, because
‘they taught this narrow way before I did, and another
ground can no man lay, than that which is laid, which is
- Jesus Christ. -
4
A i f tant
Wa dic - AUTHOR’S PREFACE.
_ Again, I humbly pray that no one shall think that I
_ seek honor or fame by this work; but freely affirm that I
desire not honor of men, but from my heart I desire the
souls of my fellow creatures, that I might bring them to
Christ, so that they may be made eternally happy. ‘There- -
unto may God the Father help us, through our Lord Jesus .
- Christ, in time and eternity, amen. ‘The Lord be with all
- faithful souls, amen.
THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
CHAPTER 1.
iS \* see in this present and dangerous time that the
i \ kingdom of Jesus Christ, with His perfect, pure and
unchangeable truth, and saving doctrine, is mostly lost
amongst nominal Christians; that each party in many re-
spects follow their own ways, and disregard the word of
life. From this there has such great confusion arisen in
Christendom, that we may well call it the great spiritual
Babylon, Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was cruci-
fied. (Rev.xi.) Some pretend to regard only the leading
of the Spirit, and reject all outward commands of- the
Scriptures, thus doing violence to them, and do not per-
ceive that they are led by their own spirit, and not by the
spirit of Christ. If they would obey the spirit of Christ,
_ they. would also keep His commandments; for he that-
loveth Christ, also keepeth His commandments, and His
- commandments are life everlasting. (John xii. and 1 John
vy.) Others pretend in some measure to observe an out-
‘ward form of worship, but know httle of the power thereof.
- because they have not obtained the regeneration from.
above, nor the pure Divine worship in their hearts, there-
fore their faith is vain and barren, which is fully proven
by their fruits. This is the way things stand at present in
(11)
a
12° THE WAY TO HEAVEN. —
Christendom, and by these proceedings e rtheign of Anti-
christ grows stronger, and goes on in full power, and all
under the semblance of the Gospel, with all deceivable-.
ness of unrighteousness in them that perish, thereby fulfill-
ing the prophecy of Christ where He says, ‘‘ there shall
arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great
signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were. possible,
‘they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you
‘before. Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, behold,
He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the
- secret chamber ; believe it not.’’ (Matt. xxiv.) ,
It is therefore necessary that our eye be single, and our —
vision clear, in order to perceive which is the spirit of ——
Christ, or which the spirit of Antichrist, and whereby
they shall and must be known; and again, which is the
reign of Antichrist, and whereby it shall and must be
known, which are the true fruits of the spirit of Christ ;
and again, which the evil fruits and works of darkness and |
Antichrist. In order to consider, and in my simplicity
further to illustrate it, I will take those words of Paul as a
ground where he says, ‘‘ Be ye not unequally yoked to- ~
- gether with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath right-
eousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath -
light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ~
and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
For ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said,
- I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their
God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out
from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and
- will be a Father unto you, and ye shall’ be My sons and
ed
THE WAY. TO HEAVEN. sided he
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.’’ (2 Cor. vi.) ‘In
the first place it is here to be observed, that the Corinthian
church had somewhat departed from her first simplicity
and purity, and her members had become somewhat famil-
~ Jar with those whose works were evil, and did not with-
draw themselves from them, as may be seen in the twelfth
and thirteenth chapters, where Paul reproves them ~
sharply ; and there were also ‘false apostles amongst them,
and they did not separate themselves from them, but in a
measure made themselves common with them, as may be
“seen in the eleventh chapter, where he says, ‘‘ But I fear
lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through
his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the
-, simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preach-
eth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye
receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or an-
- other Gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well
bear with him.’’ Here we can plainly see that they made.
- themselves somewhat common with the unfruitful works of
darkness, and did not reprove, but rather tolerated one
another. This faithful apostle, seeing that this leaven
would ultimately leaven the whole lump, and that they
had already in part imbibed this serpentine venom, felt
- himself constrained.to present to them the foregoing in-
-? Ol
struction; that they should not be unequally yoked to-
~gether with unbelievers, etc. I will now, first, show
what this unequal yoke is, and secondly, why we should
not de unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
I would then say in the first place, that this unequal
yoke is sin; under which all the children of Adam are
- fallen, and have been captivated, and through unbelief are
held in the slavery of the devil, to the hurt and ruin of
\
4
~
TAY VHE WAY TO HEAVEN. oe
their souls. For this reason Christ came into the world, ©
that He might deliver us from this yoke of sin and service
of the devil; and He now calls to all penitent sinners,
‘*Come unto Me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and
learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and
My burden is light.’’ (Matt. xi.) All those then, who
loathe and are weary of this heavy yoke of sin, and by its
heavy burden are bowed down and humbled, come to
Jesus with sighing, prayer and supplication for His grace
and deliverance, and with willing hearts submit unto the -
yoke of His pressing cross (which though it is here a little —
bitter, but hereafter becomes sweet), will by His grace be ~
speedily delivered, and by His blood. made free from this
first yoke, so that they will no more serve sin, but reign
over it.
The confirmation of the position, that this unequal yoke
is the yoke of sin and the devil, may be perceived-in the
beginning, where the angel Lucifer exalted himself with all
his adherents, and sought to rise above the throne of God.
- Here he introduced this yoke of sin, and all the angels
- who submitted themselves to this yoke, also fell with him,
into eternal ignominy and pain. (2 Peter 11.) Then he
also came to our first parents, and brought them under
the burden of this yoke by subtlety, deceit, and fair and
flattering words; and through evil lust poisoned their
spiritual nature and obedience to God, so that they re- -
garded the word of their Lord lightly, and rejected His
delightful yoke, under which they enjoyed such glorious ~
liberty and fruits in the garden of Paradise, to their great-
est joy and comfort, with the sweet delight of beholding
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. : sere ac
the lovely countenance of God. In this state of glory
they became emulous, and desired to be yet more glorious,
and be equal with God in wisdom. But they experienced
the contrary ; for so soon as they obeyed the counsel of
the serpent, and rejected that of their Lord, they fell
under the devil’s terrible yoke of sin, and not they alone,
_ but all their descendants with them. As they were before
glorious in light, they now found themselves in misery and
- total darkness; as they were formerly in joy and happiness,
they were now in fearful sorrow and condemnation ; as
they were before the image of God, so they were now
the image of the devil; as they were before in unity with
God, and He was their loving Lord and Friend, so they
- were now in unity with the spirit of darkness, and held
captive under his dominion. They now had to regard
_ God as their enemy, flee from His presence, and be driven
_ from the garden of Paradise. Now they experienced the
fruits of this yoke of sin, but it was too late; the day be-
came cool, the summer was past, Paradise was barred, and
the flaming sword at the gate forbade the approach to the
tree of life. Here all their hope of life was extinguished ;
they felt nothing in, or saw nothing for, themselves, but
death and condemnation; and there verily would have
s been neither hope nor comfort for them, if God had not
from eternity foreordained, and in the fullness of time sent
‘His only begotten Son, to heal this wound, to destroy this
image of the devil, to open the door of Paradise, and to
transform us fallen and dead sinners, into new and living
creatures in the image of God, and through His great
love, bring us under His. lovely and peaceable yoke;
which although it may be bitter to the flesh here, is happy
and sweet to the spirit.
16 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
But God in His mercy, beholding these poor creatures
lying under the power of death, was constrained to open
unto them the treasures of His boundless love, and by
promise to reveal unto them that He will put enmity be-
tween the woman’s seed and the seed of the serpent.
The woman’s seed shall bruise the serpent’s head, and he
shall bruise his heel. By this promise they were again
comforted, on it they based their hopes, and all holy men
who followed them firmly believed that they would again
be released from this yoke of sin, by which they had lost
their fellowship with God, and through this faith they ob-
tained a good report. (Heb. xi.) ;
Now we find, by consideration, that this yoke of sin
was a very heavy and grievous yoke, and that all misfor- .
tune and sorrow, even in this life on earth, arose from this —
cause. Sin was the cause why God destroyed the first -
world by a flood of water, wherein all perished that was
not in the ark. In the second age of the world Sodom
and Gomorrah, with their adjacent cities, were destroyed
by fire and brimstone, rained upon them from Heaven, as
an example to all unbelievers. 2
Disobedient Israel all had to die in the wilderness be-
cause of their sin and unbelief, except Joshua and Caleb ;
and, what shall we say, by sin death came into the world,
and all mankind became subject unto death, because all
have sinned (Rom. v.), and from Adam unto the present
time all have died except Enoch and Elijah, whom:the -
Lord took away in an unusual manner. |
But the further. however that God revealed His will t 0:5.
the children of men, the higher did sin rise by transgres-
sion, for sin was not imputed when there was no law. :
(Rom. v.) But by the law the offence came to abound,
\
“
—
ic THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 17
and sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought all
_ manner of concupiscence, for without the law sin was dead.
~. (Rom. vil.) By this it is plainly to be seen, that all
transgression of God’s commandment, and all disobedi-
ence of His word, is a joining in, or a being thus un-
equally yoked together with unbelievers ; and if we add
anything to God’s word, and desire to serve Him by the
commandments of men, or according to our own tradi-
tions, we are still under this yoke of sin, for all that God
has not commanded is strange to Him, as He spake to
Moses, saying, ‘‘ Ye shall not add unto the word which I
command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it,
that ye may keep the Sie eae of the Lord your
_ God which I command ‘you.’ (Deut. iv. and xil., and
Prov. xxx.)
But as no man. by the works of the law could be made
righteous, nor delivered from this yoke of sin, Christ, the
‘promised Messiah, came to release and set us free there-
from, and brought a new spiritual essence or being to
light, and extended the realm of His peace, and opened
the new and living way to Paradise, and brought the lost |
sheep into the fold of His evangelical pastures, and led it
into the tabernacle of His peace. (John x., Matt. xviii.,
and Luke xix.) He revealed the whole counsel and will
of His Father, gave His commands wherein we shall live
and obey Him (John xii.), and fulfilled all the require-
ments of the law, being the very substance of all its figures
and shadows; and having purchased us with His precious
blood, He chose us as His Bride and Church, to be holy
and unblamable, and keep His commandments unrebuka-
“ble, until His appearing. (1 Timothy vi.) His command-
ment is, that we should love one another, (John xv.,) not
18 . THE wAy TO HEAVEN, » i
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing ; but contrary- _
wise blessing ; knowing that we are thereunto called, that _—
~ we should inherit a blessing, (1 Peter iii.,) for Christ Him-
self also says, that we shall love our enemies, do good to’
those that hate us, bless those that curse us, pray for those
that despitefully use us; and if any man smite us on one. |
cheek, offer the other also; and him that taketh away our
coat, forbid not to take our cloak aiso ; give to every man
that asketh us, and of him that taketh away our goods, we ,
shall not ask them again. And as we would that men
should do to us, we should do them likewise. :
Here then are Christ’s plain words and His own doc-
trine, and if we desire to be Christians, the mind must be-
in us which was also in Him (Phil. ii.) ‘‘ that we may be
blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke
in the midst of a crooked and preverse nation, amongst
whom we shine as lights in the world; holding forth the
Word of Life.’’ (Phil. 11.) For He is the true lawgiver
and teacher, who was promised in the beginning, in whom.
all the Holy Fathers and Prophets trusted, and of whom
they predicted. He has fulfilled the law, and changed it
from the letter into a new and spiritual power, and thereby
became the end of the law for righteousness. (Rom x.)
This (I say) is the true lawgiver whom we shall hear, as
Moses says, ‘‘A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up ~
unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye
hear in all things, whatsoever He shall say unto you. And —
it shall come to pass, that every soul which will not hear
that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people,’’
(Acts ii.,) and the Heavenly Father also bears testimony
Himself, that ‘this is My beloved Son, Him shall ye hear.”’
(Matt. xvii.) Therefore we must hear Him, and be obe-
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. — 19
dient unto Him in all that He has commanded us, take
- upon us His easy yoke, bear His cross and follow Him, as
He became a pattern for us. If we do not do this, but
live according to our own will, and do not regard His
word and example, then we are yet under the unequal
yoke of sin and death. The Son has not yet made us free, —
_. for those whom the Son maketh free are free indeed.
- (John viii.) These also love Him, and because they love
they keep His commandments, and because they keep His
- word, the Holy God-head will come to them, and make
- His abode with them, so that God dwells and walks in
them, they are His people, and He their God. (2 Cor. vi.)
Such a people this Prince of Peace hath chosen for Him-
self, and hath made them free from the tyrannical yoke of
the devil; they are born not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John i.)
Such a people as have beaten their swords into plough-
shares and their spears into pruning hooks, and no more
know of war, (Isaiah ii.,) who use no other sword than
| the sword of the Spirit, and the shield of faith, (Eph. vi.,)
+ whereby they cast down imaginations, and every high
‘thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of —
Christ, (2 Cor. x.,) and fight for their spiritual King who
is the Lord of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel, the Lord of
Be iethe whole world, the righteous plant of David, the Lord
_ our Righteousness, the only begotten and blessed Son of
the Most High God ; through whom all grace and truth
has come, and in whom all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge are hid, and who divides to every man as He
will, for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head ;
-__ whose throne is forever and ever. (Ps. xiv.) This Lord
}
Pid
, Pa mee
20 2 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
(I say) they serve with all their heart, in full confidence,
and upright and faithful love, and look not upon that
which is visible, but upon that which is invisible; not
upon that which is earthly and perishable, but on those
things which are imperishable and eternal; not on an
earthly and perishable kingdom of this world (as the blind
world does), but on an eternal and Heavenly Kingdom
that ever remaineth. They seek not the honor of man,
but they seek the honor of God, and how they may please
Him; they seek not for distinction and office, whereby
they may reign over nations, but they seek for the office ot
the Spirit, whereby they may reign over and subdue the
flesh, and praise God in the Spirit; they engage not in
combat with their natural foes, but they go forth in the
-name of the Lord, by the armor of righteousness on the
right hand and on the left, against their daily tempter and
enemy of their souls, who goeth about them as a roaring
lion. (1 Peter v.) They no more labor in the yoke of —
sin, for they have been made free from it by the blood of
the Lamb, and have taken upon themselves the easy yoke
of Christ, and have submitted themselves to His cross,
under which they enjoy manifold comforts, and their souls °
are quickened in this life and in the world to come have
everlasting life; where they will be crowned with heavenly
crowns, and with harps of God praise Him whom Pap!
have served.
‘But on the contrary, woe! to all those who are not so ~
minded, and regard not the word and command of their
Lord, but only seek that which is visible and perishable, —
seek only for an earthly kingdom of this world, and seek
not for that spiritual kingdom which is in Heaven, and
distinct from the world; desire and seek their own honor
‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 21
_ among men, but the honor which is alone of God they do
not desire. Oh God! how many only seek for office to
rule in the kingdom of this world, but the office of Thy
Spirit, by which they might rule over their ungodly flesh,
they do not desire. How many are there whose feet are
only directed to the shedding of blood? and go forth
against their natural enemies, with swords and weapons of -
steel to destroy them (whom Thou hast said they shall
love), but the sword and weapons of the Spirit, by which
to withstand and contend against their hellish foe and
_ murderer of their souls, they desire not, although he leads
them into eternal captivity, and slavery of darkness.
Oh, my God! what is the cause of such blindness? It
is because they are entirely satisfied under the fearfully
tyrannical yoke of sin, and though the yoke of My Son
Jesus Christ is so easy and light, yet they desire it not.
Therefore their end must be death, and their going forth
certainly must be hell, unless they be yet converted.
_ Yes, my beloved reader, all those who yet live after the
flesh, and fulfill the lusts thereof, which Paul says are
‘‘adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idol-
-atry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murder, drunkenness,
‘revellings and such like; of the which I tell you before, as
I have also told you in time past, that they which do such
things, shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’’ (Gal. v.)
Nevertheless, those who, according to the outward ap- |
- pearance, do not live such rude and uncivil lives, but do
not remain in the doctrine of Jesus Christ and His holy
apostles, nor walk therein, are notwithstanding under this
.unequal yoke; for he that transgresseth and abideth not in
the doctrine of Christ, hath not God (2 John), and who--
22 THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
soever teacheth another doctrine, let him be accursed.
(Gal. i.) All those who do not truly repent of the sins
which they have committed, and by true faith embrace
Christ, and receive forgiveness of their sins, are yet under
this unequal yoke. ;
In short, all that is not in Christ and His doctrine,
however glorious it may appear, nevertheless is under this
yoke, of which the apostle warns believers that they shall
not be joined.
Oh God! who is there in this present Ginitendoie that
“receives the counsel of this, Thy. faithful servant. and — €
apostle: and with it observes that divine order which
Thou hast instituted from the beginning, one against the
other, namely, the good against the evil, life against death,
and the God-fearing against the ungodly, and hast divided
and separated them, that there ever were two nations on
earth ; namely, Thy people, which walked in Thy statutes,
and the children of wickedness who walked in the statutes
of the devil; the church and communion which at all
times served Thee with upright hearts and fervency, of
spirit, and again the church of the devil, which also in.
~semblance take Thy covenant in their mouth, but have
ever yet hated instruction, oo cast Thy word behind them.
CPSs che) cae
But since Satan ever seeks to intermix these two king- —
doms as he did in the beginning with Eve, and thereby
still deceives innocent hearts, and holds them captive under-
his heavy yoke of sin, so that I find myself constrained,
through the love of Christ, with the holy Apostle, to warn
~ every God-fearing soul, not to be unequally yoked together
with unbelievers ; or they will also receive the same reward
with them; for whosoever makes himself partaker of their
sins, will also receive of their plagues and punishment.
-
THE WAY TO HEAVEN, 23
CHAPTER LL.
-Y WILL now furthermore show, why we should not be un-
equally yoked together with unbelievers, and that the
children of God from the beginning were not thus yoked
together with them; nor the Church of God take any part
with the church of darkness, or the children in Christ’s
kingdom have any part with that of this world. _
In the first place we must observe, that God is light, and
in Him is no darkness at all, (t John i.,) and dwelleth in -
a light whereunto no man can approach,.(1 Tim. vi.,)
__ therefore no darkness can approach to or stand before Him.
For if we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in
the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with
- another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth
x
us from all sin. (1 Johni.)
_-. Again, since God the all-wise Creator, in His eternal
light and wisdom, created all things pure and good, and
separated light from darkness,as we may observe by the
creation, (Gen. 1.,) and we see that it is still, and ever will
remain separate, so long as days remain on earth. When
day or light approaches, darkness must vanish ; and when
. day recedes, darkness again takes its place. These are
ever In opposition to each other, and can never be-united,
_ because God separated them, and said they shall be sepa-
rate, and the whole creation declares to us that the word
- He has spoken remains unchanged to the present time.
24 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
- Now since God the _all-wise Creator, who knew all His ~
works from the beginning of the world, (Acts xiii.,) did in
- the outer or material world ordain that these two elements,
of light and darkness, should stand in opposition to each
other, so that all His children who stand in the element
of His divine light might thereby have a testimony and —
living figure, constantly to remind them that they can
enter into no fellowship, or take no part with the chil-~
dren of this world, who stand in the element of darkness;
and though they may possess beauteous lights, and their
dark hearts be partially enlightened, yet they only illum-
\u
inate the night, and cannot attain to the clear light of the —
sun, or of the day. But as the night has many lights, given
for its illumination, yet it ever remians night, so also the —
children of this world, or of darkness, have received much
light, for the purpose of their government, so that they
also emit a beautiful light, yet its property or nature is
cold. Thus God had created many angelic spirits of light,
and placed them in the regions of heavenly light, so that
they might at all times be governed, warmed and pre-
served in this light by the eternal Sun and God-head.
They however exalted themselves in their light, and sev- —
ered themselves from God and His love. Therefore they
had of necessity to lose the fellowship of His love, whereby
they had before been preserved in their primitive element;
and consequently fell into a different element, namely-out
of the realm of light, into that of darkness, wherein they
now reign and rule over the children of unbelief, who yet
dwell in the darkness of this world, (Eph. vi.,) who al-
though they possess a beauteous light and worldly wisdom,
it is nevertheless foolishness with God. (1 Cor. i.) As
~ God has given many lights to rule the night, He has on the
.
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. x 25
-
contrary given but one sun to rule the day, before whose ~
rays all the lights that rule the night must lose their bright-
ness; so the one Eternal Sun, the Triune God-head, gov-
erns all the children of the day, and leads them in His
- eternal light, through Jesus Christ, who is the brightness
_ of his glory and the express image of His person, (Heb. i.,)
~and through the power of His Holy Spirit He warms, en-
livens and animates them, and preserves them in His light,
so that they can form no fellowship with the children of
“night, or of darkness, (Eph. v.,) but must ever remain sepa-.
rated,.and stand in Opposition one to the other, because
the elements in.which they exist are in direct opposition
one to the other. Therefore Paul says: ‘* What commu-
nion hath light with darkness, or what concord hath Christ
with Belial ?’’ (2 Cor. vi.) and Paul further says: ‘‘Be
not ye, therefore, partakers with them; for ye were some-
times darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk
as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all,
goodness and righteousness and truth), proving what is ac-
ceptable to the Lord; and have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”’
(Eph. v.) ‘Therefore David saith: ‘‘I have not sat with
vain persons, neither will I go with dissemblers. I have
hated the congregation of evil-doers ; and will not sit with
the wicked.’’ (Ps. xxvi.) And Solomon says: ‘‘ The
_ Holy Spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from
thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide —
when unrighteousness cometh in. For wisdom is a loving
spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words.’’
(Wisdom of Solomon i.) For this reason the Lord speaks
by the Prophet (Amos v.) to the Jewish people, ‘‘I hate,
' I despise your feast days, and will not smell in your sol-
a
26° . THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
emn assemblies. Though ye offer Me burnt oie and
your meat-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I
regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou
--away from Me the noise of thy songs: for I will not hear |
the melody of thy viols.’’ Now the question is, why
would the Lord not hear the lovely songs and psalms of ©
David? or why did He disregard the offerings which He -
had yet commanded by Moses to be brought? The reason
is, because they did not serve Him unblamably according
to His law, and did not abide in the element of light, but
would perform Divine service in the element of -darkness ; |
wherefore He knew them not, and their service was an ‘
abomination to Him.
For this reason our first parents had to be put out of
‘Paradise, because through the guile of the serpent they -
- were brought to fall out of the Divine element, into the
element of Satan; and not they alone, but their whole ~
posterity with them, namely all the children of Adam, who |
are all by nature sinners and children of wrath, and alien- ~
‘ated from the life of God, (Eph. ii. and iv.,) wherefore,
- because of one trangression and sin, judgment came upon
all men to condemnation, and death passed aoe all men,
for that all have sinned. (Rom. v.)
While then the image of God was totally destroyed in
Adam, and the communion with God broken up through
the element of Satan, the Paradisical liberty which he en- ~
_joyed had to be taken from him, and he himself driven out
of the garden, the door locked and guarded bya flaming |
sword, so that he could not approach the tree of life, to ~
eat thereof and live forever. (Gen. i.) Yet God did -
not leave them without comfort, but gave’ them the-
promise of the future Messiah, who should again’release —
a THE WAY TO HEAVEN. ; 27
them from the great darkness, fall and death, under which |
they were taken captive. Of this he gave them assurance,
_ by the coats of skins which He gave them, to cover their
nakedness, Thus they then, through faith, hoped in this ©
promise, until the time appointed, when Christ the Son of’
God came into the world, and again restored the new cre-
ation, brought to light the new things of the Spirit, opened
the new and living way to Paradise, became our peace, and
— reconciled us with God by the cross, having slain the
enmity thereby. (Eph. ii.) ‘‘In whom we have redemp-
_tion through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins; who
is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every
_ creature; and He is the head of the body, the Church;
who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead ; that
- in all things He might have the preéminence.’’ (Col. 1.)
‘« And having spoiled principalities and powers, He eae
_ a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.’
(Col. ii.) He hath purchased with His own blood, and
‘purified unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works, (Titus 11.,) a glorious church, not having spot or
wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and
without. blemish. (Eph. v.) ‘They are therefore made
free, (by the blood of Christ,) from the yoke of sin under
“which they were captives, and are made new creatures, con-
formed to His image, partakers of His divine nature, and
have escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust; for they do, and have laid aside all malice and guile,
and abstain from all appearance of evil. (2 Peter i., and
~ Thess. v.) ;
For this reason the apostle See his fellow-believers
against being unequally yoked together with unbelievers,
since he saw that they were again becoming somewhat
28 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
familiar with them ; and asked them, What fellowship hath —
righteousness with unrighteousness ? what communion hath
light with darkness? or what concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel ?-
or what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? As
if he would say: Can you show me that ever righteousness
could have any benefit, or obtain any good, from unright-
eousness? Or if you can not show it, why are you so ©
forbearing with such false apostles? who present them-
selves as the apostles of Christ, or teachers of righteousness,
(2 Cor. xi.,) who preach another Jesus unto you, whom
we have not preached, by whom ye receive another spirit
which ye have not received, or another gospel which ye —
have not accepted, (2 Cor. xi.) Yea, I fear that, ‘‘as the
serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds
should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in
Christe: .Germ.an,) ;
Or again do tell me, when could ever light and dark-
ness form any communion? Does not all creation teach -
the contrary? Why do you then still have fellowship with
such unfruitful works of darkness as I hear are amongst
you, and do not reprove them? Yea, I testify to you, that —
if I come again I will not/spare: since ye seek a proof of -
Christ speaking in me, (2 Cor. xiii.,) for I am fearful lest ©
by this leaven ye may become wholly leavened ; therefore
purge out the old leaven, and put away from among your-
selves such wicked persons. (1 Cor. v.) ~
- Thirdly, do tell me, how, or by what means, Christ and =
Belial can form a concord? I presume you-must acknowl-
edge, never! Therefore prove yourselves: or do you not
know that Jesus Christ isin you? If He is in you, why,
or in what manner, can ye have concord withsuch children _
Rise
ge Bee THE WAY TO HEAVEN, 20
of Belial? But if it is so, that ye are reprobates, I trust
that ye shall know that we are not reprobates; (2 Cor. .
_ xili.;) and do receive our admonition, and be no more
unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
Fourthly, what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel? Is not the part and reward of the believer, to be
united with God through the blood of Jesus Christ, and to
stand in fellowship with Him in the element of light?
And on the contrary, the part and reward of the unbeliever
or infidel, is to be united, through their earthly mind,
with the prince of this world, or Satan, and to stand in
- fellowship with him in the element of darkness. Now,
therefore, I tell you, since they, (namely, the believer and
unbeliever or infidel,) are so widely diverse from each
~ other, do take my true and faithful admonition to heart,
and do no more be unequally yoked together with them;
or you will be made partaker of their sins, and receive of
their plagues. (Rev. xviii.)
__ Fifthly, I ask you again, do tell me, what agreement
- hath the temple of God with idols? Hath not God
- chosen His temple as the abode of His glory, and
the place of His holiness, wherein He desires to be
a
served unblamably, and sacredly, according to His will
and law? On the contrary, He has rejected and accursed
all idolatrous temples; seeing they are only inhabited by
idols, and the work of the hands of men, which are an
abomination to Him. ‘Therefore reflect on these things,
- for ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said,
- JT will dwell in them, and walk in. them, and I will be
their God, and they shall be My people.’’. But if ye are
- God’s temple, and the glory or the Spirit of God is in
- you, why do you ‘then bring yourselves into comparison
30 | THE WAY TO HEAVEN. —
with such temples, or people in whom the Spirit of God —
does not dwell; but are only inhabited by dumb idols of -
their own spirit, and declare to you another Jesus, whom
we have not preached, or another gospel, though there is —
no other, ‘‘ for though we or an angel from Heaven preach _
any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached —
unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say
I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.’ —
(Gal. 1.) =
- Sixthly, I ask you again, if you are this temple, why do —
you then tolerate such things amongst you, (as I fear are
amongst you,) as debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, back- —
bitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: and lest when I
come again, my God will humble me amongst you, and —
that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and
have not repented of the uncleanness, and fornication, and
lasciviousness which they have committed. (2 Cor. xii.)
Therefore do take my earnest admonition to heart, before |
I come to you; for if I come again I will not spare, but in-
the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be
established.’’ (2 Cor, xiii.) #3
Seventhly, I say to you: If ye are the resale of the liv-
ing God, which shall be holy, then do come out from —
among them and be ye separate, (or separate them from
you, and put away such wicked persons, 1 Cor. v.,) and.
touch not the unclean thing, (understand, have no fellow- /
ship with. the unfruitful works of darkness, Eph. v.,) and
He will receive you, and be to you a Father, and ye
shall be His sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. —
Here we can plainly see how earnestly the apostle Paul _
admonished his Corinthian church to separate themselves
‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 3t-
from all leaven of false doctrine, and also from all wicked
members, who are in their communion; so that they do
not become defiled through them, and finally the whole
body or community perish; fora little leaven leaveneth the
~ whole lump. (1 Cor. v.)
But what would this faithful and chosen apcsite of God
- say, if he at this present time should come to us, and take
a view of the present nominal Christendom, and would see
what disunion and disorder exists among them, and how
_ idolatrous they mostly are, and would (as they imagine)
“serve the unknown God, according to their own traditions,
_and the commandments of men, ‘‘ desiring to be teachers
of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor
_ whereof they affirm.’’ (1 Tim. i.) We may well lament
with the prophet and say, ‘‘What then, is this people of
Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they
hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. J hearkened and
% heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented of his
Bee ones saying, What have I done? every one turned
- to his course, as the horse rusheth into battle. Yea, the -
- stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the
‘turtle, and the crane, and the swallow, observe the time
of their coming; but My people know not the judgment
of the Lord. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law
of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made He it ;
_~the pen of the scribe is in vain. The wise men are
ashamed, they are dismayed and taken. Lo, they have
% _ rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in .
4
them?’’ (Jeremiah viii.)
-Oh Lord |} is it not lamentable to observe the life of the
Be " present nominal Christendom? Some live in open forni-
4 cation: and adultery, i in drunkenness, lasciviousness, in play-
BF Pa THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
ing, lying and deceiving, in hatred, envy, contention, dis- - ¥.
putation, in quarreling, fighting, war and bloodshed, in
carnal lust and ungodly haughtiness, in avarice, pomp,
arrogance and pride, seeking to adorn their sinful and
ungodly bodies, which are yet but food for worms, disre-
garding their poor souls, but hastening from one unright-
eousness to another, that the heathen who have neither
Scripture or instruction, hardly lead such ruthless, ungodly —
and damnable lives as these. Others who lead somewhat
more decent lives before the world, are nevertheless mostly
earthly minded, and seek only the things which are visible,
so that they do not lose their honor and good name; thus
casting the cross of Christ from them.- They love the
world more than Heaven ; they have their lands to look after, _
therefore they cannot come now (Luke xiv.); they still herd
the unclean swine, and desire to satisfy themselves with.
the husks which the swine eat (or doctrines of men, which
their pastors or teachers give them), and will not return to.
the Father, where they could obtain the bread of life,
without money and without price; but they ever spend
their money for that which is not bread, and their labor —
for that which satisfieth not, (Isaiah lv.,) and ever hew
themselves out broken cisterns which can hold no water,
and forsake the living fountain. (Jer. 11.) Therefore they
s
-
must also be put to shame, and with rebellious Israel, be -
written in the earth. (Jer. xvil.) Such carnal people then
meet together (as they think) at the Lord’s table (but not ~ ‘@
at the Lord Christ’s, but might well say at the devil’s),
and as they think, break the bread and drink the cup with
one another, in remembrance of the sufferings of Christ.
[Oh, great presumption! since they mostly by their carnal
and haughty lives, only mock Christ, and crucify Him
rEy
ts
‘
a
C pie
i
THE WAY TO HEAVEN, 33
| afresh. ] And when this is accomplished, they imagine
the debt is paid, and they begin anew; and with all this
it shall be called (oh God!) @ Christian church or holy
communion.
I say again, what would this holy apostle do, if he
would have to behold such churches, or idolatry? I pre-
sume his spirit would be stirred within him, as it was at
Athens, and he would feel himself constrained to declare
to them ¢he unknown God whom they ignorantly thought
they were doing service; and yet they neither know Him,
or desire His word, and much less obey. They draw nigh
to Him with their mouth, and honor Him with their lips,
but have removed their hearts far from Him. In vain do
- they worship Him, since they teach such doctrine as is
only the commandments of men. (Isaiah Axi esi hey. =
_ take the Lord’s covenant in their mouth, but they hate in-
‘struction, and cast His word behind them; when they see
a thief, they consent with him, and are partakers with
adulterers. (Ps. 1.) They glory in Christ and His merits,
and esteem themselves His church and members of His
_ body; ‘but they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, ©
whose end is destruction; they serve not the Lord Jesus
_- Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair
speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple. (Rom, xvi.)
That this is the truth, their open fruits bear testimony
before the whole world ; for the tree must be known by
the fruit (Matt. vii.), and the church or community of
Christ by its members, whether they are members of Christ
or of Antichrist. If they are members of Christ, they
~ must also be partakers of His Divine nature, (2 Peter i.,)
and the mind be. in them which was also in Christ, and
also walk before Him in a holy and unblamable life, be-
a4 THE WAV TO HEAVEN.
ing engrafted into Christ by an unfeigned faith, through
which they unremittingly bring forth the fruits of the-
spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentle- ~
ness, goodness, faith, patience, meekness, temperance,
(Gal. v.,) righteousness, truth and humility, (Eph. v.,) and
in a steadfast course of self-denial, and daily mortification . .
of sin, and dying to their own will, so that God lives in
them and they: in Him; and consequently no more live ~
after the will of the flesh, but after the will of God, who
they desire should rule and guide them according to His
own will, in time and eternity. They are now children |
of peace, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a peculiar people, that they should show forth the ~
praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into :
His marvelous light. (1 Peter ii.)
1st. They are the light of the world, the salt of the —
earth, and the city on the hill which can be seen of all
-men. (Matt. v.)
2d. They are the spiritual seed of Abraham, and obtain
the inheritance with Isaac, for they are with him born by
promise, of Sarah the free-woman, namely of Jerusalem
which is above, which is free, and the mother of all such. —
(Gal. iv.) Therefore they have also no part with Ishmael,
the son of the bond-woman. Neither has Ishmael any part
with them, seeing he is cast out of the house of Abraham,
_and-cannot be heir with the son of the freeswoman. (Gen. -
xxi.) Therefore the fleshly Ishmaelites, (namely carnally-
minded people,) also persecute the spiritual children of -
Abraham, who obtain his inheritance; namely the spiritual
regenerated children of God, who with the spiritual Isaac,
Christ Jesus, do not inherit a perishable kingdom of this
world, but an eternal and imperishable kingdom in -
Heaven. (Gal. iv.)
eS
~
q
ani
|
: THE WAY TO HEAVEN. ie
3d. They are the ark of the covenant, wherein is the ~
- golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded,
-~and the tables of the covenant. (Heb. ix.) They are the
Church of-Christ, the people of His covenant, who have
__ received hearts purified as gold, and partaken of the hidden
~~ manna (Rev. i.), and the tables of the new covenant writ-
- ten in their hearts by the finger of God, namely His
_ Spirit (Heb. vii.), and they have the budding and _blos-
- -soming rod of Aaron which bears almonds; for their fruits
- flourish and bloom evermore, and bring forth the precious
almonds or fruits of righteousness; for they shall be as a
tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her
roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh,
- but_her leaf shall be.green; and shall not be careful in the
year of drouth, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
(Jer. xvii.) ie
- But this figurative ark of God could not remain in the
land of the Philistines, for they knew not the ways of the
a God of Israel, and were smitten in secret parts, and their
_ god Dagon was cast down before the ark of God, and lost
his head and hands, and the plague would not cease until
the ark was sent away out of their country, and was
brought to its place in Israel, where it belonged. And
although the Philistines saw that the God of Israel was too
__ mighty for them, and that their gods must perish before
Him, still they would not forsake, nor cease to serve their
idols. (1 Sam. v., vi.) In like manner the ark of the
~ new covenant, namely, the sanctified soul, cannot‘ remain
~ in the land of the spiritual Philistines, namely, their
seductive and idolatrous churches and sects, and in the
fellowship of such carnal and uncircumcised Philistines ;
because they know not the ways of their God, (for the
36 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God,
1 Cor. ii.,) and through such sanctified souls their pre-
tended Divine service is reproved, so that the secret
thoughts of their conscience are smitten with pain and ©
trouble, through the power of God; and their idolatrous
false doctrine and principles, which they honor as God,
cannot stand before them, but must fall down and perish.
Therefore they would rather send this ark of the cove-
nant, (or such sanctified souls,) out of their land, or com-
munion, and let them go to the land of Israel, or Church ~
of Christ, as the place where they ought to be; but they
themselves will not be circumcised, or adopt the ways and
will of this ark of God, or submit themselves to the cove--
nant of Israel; even though they are convinced that the
God of Heaven dwells in the camp of Israel, that is, in the
congregation of Jesus Christ, which is separated from all
nations who are not embraced in the covenant of Israel, .
and do not keep the law of the Most High, in all things as
He has commanded. Yea, I say again, that many are ~
convinced in themselves, that God dwells in such a com- —
munity, and that the carnal community of which they are
members, cannot stand before God; but notwithstanding,
they let the matter rest, and still remain in the land of the
Philistines, and bring their offerings to their god Dagon.
That is, they still remain connected with their false doc-
trine, under which they yet have no promise, for ‘* Who-
soever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of —
Christ, hath not God.’’ (2 John.) Many, however, are
enviers of the truth, and begin to hate such sanctified
souls, who separate themselves from them. They mock
and slander them, and say one to another, as the spirit of
wisdom saith, ‘‘ Therefore let us lie in wait for the rights
f
s
7
Nc
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. act
eous ; because he is not for our turn, and he is clean con-
trary to our doings: he upbraideth us with our offending
the law, and objecteth to our infamy the transgression of
our education. He professeth to have the knowledge of
God: and he calleth himself the child of the Lord. He
was made to reprove our thoughts. He is grievous unto
-us even to behold: for his life is not like other men’s, his
ways are of another fashion. We are esteemed of him as
counterfeits: he abstaineth from our ways as filthiness; he
pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed, and maketh
his boast that God is his Father.’’ (Wisdom 1.)
This is the language of the ungodly, as may be seen and
heard abundantly at the present day, because we do not
approve their carnal life and impure worship, nor run with
them to the same excess of riot. ‘(1 Peteriv.) Therefore
such things they imagine and are deceived: for their own
wickedness hath blinded them. As for the mysteries of:
God, they know them not, (Wisdom i.,) and imagine the
while that they are good Christians. ‘‘' They are pure in
their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthi-
ness.’’ (Prov. xxx.) For whoso despiseth wisdom and
nurture, and does not walk unblamably in the law of
Christ, and with Him under all cross, in constant self-
denial, in seclusion from the world, and all false doctrines ;
he is miserable, and his hope is vain, his labor is unfruitful,
and his work unprofitable. (Wisdom iii.) :
4th. But the souls that are separated from the world,
who are regenerated and sanctified, do not regard this little
reproach, for their hope and trust is in God, and they
_ know that their Lord and Master Christ Jesus bore. the
same; therefore they bear it patiently, and feel constrained,
% _ through love to their Lord and Master, to pray for those ~
bed
38 : THE WAY TO HEAVEN. —
who persecute and deride them, that God would give them
light, and convert them from darkness to the marvelous
light in Christ Jesus. They remember that they also, in
time past, walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit
that now worketh in the children of disobedience: and —
were also by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love where-
with He loved them, hath quickened them together with
Christ, and hath made them sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus. (Eph. u.) For this reason they
choose with Moses and Paul, rather to suffer affliction with
the people of God, and esteem the glory of Christ higher —
than all the treasures of Egypt, (Heb. xi.,) for they have . ~
gained His love, and He has accepted them as His Bride,
and Church, which is gloriously prefigured by the beauti-
ful temple of Solomon; for they are the spiritual temple of
the Lord, who as living stones, were by the faithful ser-
vants and laborers of this spiritual Solomon, quarried out
of the sinful mountain of this world, and dressed by the
hammer of God’s law, and their hearts circumcised by
the pruning knife of God’s holy word, and borne by the
chariot of His grace, love and mercy, and drawn together
- by the Holy Spirit, from all nations, kindred, tongues and
sects, and brought to the living stone, disallowed indeed o
of men, but chosen of God and precious; on which they
are built, and do build themselves up to a spiritual |
house, an holy priesthood, and offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God. (1 Peter 11.) RG
But as this figurative temple of the bata was built in Je- _ |
-rusalem, and never erected or appeared in any of the
heathen countries, and never could have any agreement —
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 39
with the idol-temples of the heathen, for this was the tem-
ple of the living God, whilst the others were the temples
of dumb idols, (mark the great difference or opposition,)
so this spiritual temple, or such sanctified souls, who as
living stones are built up a spiritual house in the Jeru-
‘salem which is above, which is the mother of us all, (Gal.
es
iv.,) cannot appear in the heathen countries, that is in the
idolatrous churches or sects. But as Solomon received
many presents from the surrounding Gentiles, which were
used in the building of the figurative temple, (1 Kings iv.
and x.,) so the spiritual king Christ Jesus received many
souls from amongst the Gentiles, of all nations and tongues,
by the preaching of the Gospel, as Paul teaches that they
were all by one spirit baptized into one body, whether they
were Jews or Greeks, bond or free, and have ail been made
’ to drink into one spirit, and together make but one body,
of which Christ is the head ; and are therefore engrafted
into the spiritual vine, and are moved by the sap or es-
sence of the Holy Ghost, to reprove the ungodly and idol-
- atrous world, on account of their false righteousness, sin
-and judgment, (John xvi.,) and for this reason they can
have no fellowship with their unfruitful works of darkness,
(Eph. v.,.) for they have tried them which say they are
apostles, and are not, and have found them liars; (Rev.
li. ;) for he that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is notin him. (1
John ii.) For this reason they no more go to such lying
- apostles to hear them, (John x.,) for they know not sucha
strange voice, and will rather flee from them; for ‘‘ the
Holy Spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from
thoughts that are without understanding.’’ (Wisdom i.)
Yea! they cleave alone to the altar of the Lord, and to
_
One | THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
His holy temple, ‘‘ that they may publish with the voice of.
thanksgiving, and tell of all His wondrous works.’’ (Ps.
xxvi.) They pray the Lord with David that they may
dwell in the house of the Lord, (that is, in His Church, )
all the days of their life, to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple.’’ (Ps. xxvii.) Therefore
they will (and can) not attend the assemblies of the im-
penitent, where the carnal, earthly, avaricious, haughty,
drunken, adulterous, envious, blind and perverted people
meet as bound together in one body, and build themselves
up toa carnal idolatrous temple, wherein their teachers cry
- peace, where there is no peace, and sew pillows to the arm-
holes, and make kerchiefs upon the heads of both young |
and old. to catch souls, and when they have taken them,
they promise life to those whom the Lord saith, they shall
not live, (Ezek. xiii.,) and pervert the Gospel of God
maliciously, and profane His sanctuary, (namely His
Church,) for they put no difference between the holy
and profane, neither have they shewed difference be-
tween the unclean and clean. (Ezek. xxii.) But at the_
present time they will have all in common, as Lucifer
would in the beginning: for almost every one teaches
at the present day, that there is no difference, or it
is a matter of indifference, where we stand, or with.
what religious community we are associated, or whether the
members of our church or brethren are earthly, sensual, or
devilishly minded or not. All this will not injure a child
of God, if he only himself serves God ; whilst yet accord-
_ ing to the whole New and Old Testament this cannot be.
For how can a child of God, whose body is a temple of
ths Holy Ghost, be in fellowship with the devil, and yet.
serve God? This conflicts with the whole Scripture, and
~
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 41
is contrary to all Divine order, as has been partly shown
before. The Holy apostle Paul teaches the believer quite
differently, where he says, ‘‘ My beloved,*flee from idol-
atry,’’ and again, ‘‘ What say I then? that the idol is any-
thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any-
- thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles
sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I
would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye
cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils:
ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table
~ of devils: do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we
stronger than He?’’ (1 Cor. x.)
As if he would say, in other words: Will ye poor crea-
tures provoke the Lord, who hath called you from dark-
ness to light, and from fellowship with the devil to fellow-
ship with Jesus Christ ; that ye will now again have fellow-
ship with such heathenish people? or are ye stronger, and
have ye more might than He, that ye can do this? whilst
ye yet know, that there can be no concord between Christ
and Belial, nor God has no fellowship with Satan, or with ©
any unbeliever ; but hath rejected him, together with all
unbelievers, for they are one with him. Therefore the
believer hath no part with the unbeliever, and for this rea-
son I counsel you to reflect that you are poor creatures,
-and can accomplish nothing against the Lord. Do then
_ cease, and be not again unequally yoked together with
unbelievers; but rather reprove them, and have no com-
pany with them, that they may be ashamed. (2 Thess. iii.)
But now in our time the learned (might well say per-
verted) theologians regard neither Christ nor His apostles ;
nor observe that the Holy Scriptures everywhere point us to
Christ and His apostles; but they say plainly, that it is a
yt aah THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
matter of indifference, whether the outward service is ob- 5
served scripturally or not; if we only serve God in our
hearts, it matters little whether we have outer Divine service
or not; with more such carnal reasoning and objections,
- similar to what the serpent said to Eve: Should God have
spoken so, or so, ye shall not surely die, for God doth
know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall
be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and _
evil. (Gen. ill.) So also these, because they obey the
counsel of the serpent, and have thereby become wise in
their own eyes, they will through their awakened intellect
or sagacity rise above Christ Jesus, the majesty of God,
and lightly regard or reject what Christ so earnestly taught
and commanded, and sought to impress by life and ex-
ample; and His apostles, who are the twelve foundation.
- stones of his church, have also confirmed it with doctrine
and example; and now let every one take heed how he
builds thereon: for other foundation can no man lay, than
that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. iii.)
These are they which rejoice in their pride, of whom the
Lord speaks through the prophet Zephaniah, (ill.,) and
whom he will take away, that they be no more haughty.
Oh! that each one would receive eyes to see, and ears to
hear, before the sun and light, moon and stars, become
darkened ; or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden
bowl and wheel be broken at the cistern, (Eccl. xii.,) and
every one be placed before the judgment-seat of Christ, _
and give account of all that he hath done. (Matt. xxiv.)
We must however with lamentation behold how far this _
pernicious doctrine-is spread abroad, so that almost every
one comforts himself with it, and all remain at rest with
their idolatrous Divine service, and hope thereby to be
vA
eee THE WAY TO HEAVEN. — 43
‘saved. But ‘‘not every one that saith to Me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven ; but he that doeth —
the will of My Father which is in Heaven.’’ (Matt. vil.)
Others, who are not joined to any church or system of re-
ligion, are undisturbed, for in the first place they partly-
believe this doctrine, that outward service is of little or no
consequence: this is then not strange. And in the second
_ place, if they observe the conduct of most of those who
yet pretend to hold Divine service, they see that their life
is carnal, profligate and ungodly: and that Christendom
is mostly transformed into a complete heathendom, so that
we may well lament with the prophet, and say, ‘‘ Oh God,
the heathen are come into Thine inheritance; Thy Holy
temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on
heaps.’’ .(Ps~ xxix.) ‘
Some, or most of them, will yet partially have a separa-_
tion at their Supper, but therewith they will not disturb
others in their rest, but let each one have their way, and
with it all shall be well ; and they go on dissembling with
one another, so that they do not fall under the cross, and
lose their credit with the people. Some who are partially
awakened, and learn to see that the service with which
- they are united is not right, go out from those, and unite
themselves to another, which is somewhat better in appear-
ance, but still also commits fornication with the whore of
Babylon, and drinks the wine of her enchantment; where-
_by they again become intoxicated in their light, and ne-
_ glect to take oil with them, wherefore their light must be
quenched at the coming of the bridegroom, and the door
will be shut, and their knocking be too late. (Matt. xxv.)
In this way poor souls are so lamentably deceived, that
Christ well says, if it were possible, the very elect would
ers. be deceived. (Matt, xxiv.)
Maye THE WAY TO HEAVEN. Some
But in this way Satan can transform himself into an angel
_ of light, and his apostles as teachers of righteousness; and
thereby keep the poor souls under his reign. (2 Cor. xiv.)
In this way the whore of Babylon can array herself in pur-
ple and scarlet robes of the merits of Christ, and gild
herself with the fair virtues of the Gospel, represented by
gold, precious stones and pearls. As she is said to sit on
many waters, so she governs and influences the many sects
and parties, all of whom she holds in the bond of her en-
~chanting fornication. She holds the golden cup in her
hand, which is full of abominations and filthiness of her
fornication ; namely with her hypocritical doctrine and
false worship, wherewith the sinner is comforted by Bap-
tism and the Lord’s Supper, without repentance or regen- —
eration, and speak peace to him, whilst yet there is no ~
peace; and by their good words and fair speeches (which
without appear fair and gilded), deceive the hearts of the
simple. They have the form of godliness, but deny the
power thereof: from such all Christians must turn away.
(Rom. xvi.)
But with this whore, the kings of the earth have com- .
mitted fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have
been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (Rev.
xvll.) Namely, the many corrupt sects and parties have
elected unto themselves kings beside Christ, and make
laws and idols unto themselves; as there is the idolatrous
and unscriptural infant Baptism, and their impure and
idolatrous Supper, which they administer to impenitent,
carnal people, contrary to all Scripture, with other 'super-
-stitious and abominable rites. Others make laws for
themselves, and profess to baptize on faith (as it also ae i
should be), but baptize their subjects without repentance,
~
\
_ ‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 45
faith, or regeneration, which the fruits fully testify ; which
is directly contrary to the doctrine of Christ and the new
covenant, which any God-fearing soul can clearly see in
the New Testament. Their Supper is even as before said ;
namely, it is administered carnally, and carnal people par-
take of it, and thus their whole worship is carnal, and not
in agreement with Christ and His teaching. ‘These carnal
people choose for themselves teachers and wardens after
their own lusts, having itching ears, (2 Tim. ii.,) who run
although they are not sent, and judge without Christ or
His Spirit. These are the kings of the earth, who govern
earthly-minded people, and are so drunken with the wine
of their enchantment and fornication, that they stagger on
byways perpetually, (Jer. vili.,) and withal they presump-
tuously assume to be guides to the blind, lights to them
which are in darkness, instructors of the foolish, and
teachers of babes, which have the form of knowledge, and
of the truth in the law. They teach another, but teach
not themselves: they preach a man shall not steal, yet
they steal (namely, they rob God of His honor). They
say a man shall not commit adultery, yet they commit
adultery; they abhor idols, but commit sacrilege. They
make their boast of the law (or rather of the Gospel), but
dishonor God by violating it; and through them the name
of God is blasphemed (Rom. i1.), for they reject the cross
of Christ, and will not bow to this spiritual king, or take
upon themselves His meek and gentle yoke, but rather re-
main with this gloriously bedecked whore, and drink her
enchanting wine, whereby they lie in spiritual drunkenness,
‘are ever learning, and yet never come to the right knowl-
edge of the truth. (2 Tim. iii.)
_- My beloved reader, is it not a deplorable error, that
oo ~
46 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
each of these parties assumes to be the true Church of
Christ, yet each one will criticise the other, and reject
Ls
their principles and doctrine, and do not perceive that they ~
are mostly, one with the other, lying in spiritual drunken-
ness, and. sleeping on the enchanted ground, (of which
--John Bunyan speaks,) so that they cannot see the light of —
the glorious gospel of Christ, or perceive His doctrine?
From whence has arisen a profligate and carnal life, which
any God-fearing person may clearly see by their fruits ;
for some live along in a Laodicean lukewarmness, in a de- ©
cent moral life according to nature, imagining the while,
that they are rich and have need of nothing, whilst (O
lamentable!) they know not that they are wretched, and —
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Others are so
lost in avarice, that their insatiable spirit does not know
how to gain enough gold and silver, wherefore Paul says:
‘‘ They that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare,
and.into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men
_in destruction and perdition; for the love of money is the
root of allevil.’’ (1 Tim. vi.) Others live in pomp, haugh-
tiness, and pride, in cursing, swearing, contention, strife,
war and bloodshed; and some also in lying and deceit, in
_ gluttony and drunkenness, fornication and adultery, and
other such ungodly abominations, whose end is death and’
certain perdition, if they do not repent. (Gal. v.) This
is the abomination of the golden cup, by which the whore —
makes them drunken with the wine of her enchantment,
so that they stagger perpetually on the way of error (Jer.. -
vii.), and do not come to the narrow and living way of
the cross; and although the many parties are somewhat
divided in their tenets, like unto the many waters, yet they
are bound together by the spiritual fornication of flattery
xs,
mt - THE WaY TO HEAVEN, 47
and feigned patience, and thus together form, or consti-
tute the great Babylon, whose ‘‘ plagues shall come in one
day, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly
burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth
her.’’ (Rev. xviii.)
Therefore, my beloved reader, or all ye that fear God,
-incline your ear to this heavenly messenger which calls to
- you, ‘* Come out of her, My people, that ye be not par-
taker of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
For her sins have reached unto Heaven, and God hath
remembered her iniquities.’’ (Rev. xviii.) Yea, beware,
and keep yourselves from the wine of her enchanting for-
nication, and seductive spirit, that you do not become
- drunken therewith, and be ever learning, and never able
4
to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Tim. ii.) Let
every one flee the pernicious doctrine, which gives liberty
to have fellowship with such carnal people as stand in the
dark element of our fallen nature; for light and darkness
have no communion, nor ever can form any, as has been
shown before. Or can two persons walk together except
they agree? (Amos ili.,) so also a spiritual and carnal —
person cannot have fellowship with one another, (for flesh
and spirit are in direct conflict, Gal. v.,) if so be that his
carnal and sinful fruits are known; but if they are con-
‘cealed we cannot judge until the Lord come; for some
men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment,
and some men they follow after. (1 Tim. v.) But when
they become revealed, the separation must also follow, as
we can see was the case when Jesus revealed Judas to His
disciples. Also in the case of Ananias and his wife, and
with Simon the sorcerer, with more similar examples, be-
_ cause ‘fan unjust man is an abomination to the just; and
~~
48° | , THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
he that is upright. in the way, is abomination to the
wicked.’’. (Prov. xxix.)
5th. I say again, that the believing children and regen- eh
erated Christians are the spiritual temple in which God
walks and dwells, therefore they also remain in Jerusalem ;
and adhere alone to the altar Jesus Christ, and behold the
~ beauty of the Lord and His service, (Ps. xxvii.,) and live
alone in His word and Spirit, in which, and through which,
their souls are now nourished and quickened into eternal
life; therefore they no more lust after the swine-husks of
the doctrine of men; they have chosen Christ, and He has
chosen them; therefore they no more halt between two
opinions, but flee from Baal and all his prophets. (1 Kings
XVlll. )
6th. They are children of righteousness, therefore they
can seek, or obtain, no benefit or profit from unrighteous-
ness.
wth. They are children of love, therefore they are also -
not false or hypocritical to any one; but in_all their walk
and works, show what is in their heart. Neither do they
know any man after the flesh, but according to the word
of their Lord, they are impartial in love, and without de- .
ceit or hypocrisy to any one.
Again I say, they are the children of love, Barats
they hate that which is evil, and rejoice not in inquity,
(1 Cor. xiii.,) but rather reprove it, and can have no fel-
— lowship with those who are not in the element of love.
So also because these are in love, they are in God, and
God in them, and no more than God could be with Israel,
because of the accursed thing which Achan had secretly
stolen, (until they put him away,) can these be or remain
~ in such a carnal community, where there is not only one
~‘
NM
ae,
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. : 49
- sinful and accursed Achan, but everywhere sin and abomi-
nation abounds, namely earthly and carnally minded peo-
ple, who are not subject to the law of God, because Paul
says the carnal mind is enmity against God; therefore it
cannot be subject to it. (Rom. vill.) Since then, these
~ teachers and deacons do not put such offenders (or ban)
out of their community, although Paul teaches, ‘‘ Put away
from among yourselves that wicked person,’’ (1 Cor. v.,)
and in another place commands his believing brethren, in
_ the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every
brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition
which they had received from him. (2 Thess. iii.) But
these place themselves above the Scriptures, and retain
such abomination and carnal sinful people in their com-
munion, and rather encourage them in their sins, by ad-
ministering to them the sacramental supper, as if they were
~ members of Christ, and promise them peace whilst there is
-no peace. For this reason, such souls as are filled with
___. Divine love, know certainly, that the Lord their God, in
- whom they live and move, cannot be in such community,
‘because they do not obey the doctrine of Jesus Christ ;
and he that transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine
of Christ, hath not God. (2 John.) Therefore such
‘souls as are sanctified in Christ, cannot remain in, or be
present where such doctrine is taught, or where such
people hold exercises purporting to be Divine service. On
the contrary, they find themselves constrained to be faith-
ful to. their God; and forsake such Babel, and touch
nothing unclean; but with all true disciples of Christ,
shake the dust from their feet as a testimony against them.
Namely, they will no more follow them, or hear their
doctrine, so long as they refuse to accept their Lord’s
50 THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
word, and will not love Him, whom they love unceasingly,
keep his word and walk init. For not every one that saith —
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but -
-he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.
~ (Matt. vii.)
Thirdly, I say, they are children of love, therefore they
cleave to that which is good. O! this is their spiritual —
life, for there is none good but one, that is God, (Mark x.,)
in whom they live, and He lives in them. Therefore they
cannot unite themselves with anything that is not united
with God through His word, namely with a pure and un-
spotted Divine service, which is separated from the world,
and that brings forth the fruits of the Spirit, such as faith,
hope, love, humility and patience, with a child-like rever-_
ence toward God in Christ Jesus; so that they are all by
one spirit baptized into one body, whether they be Jews
or Greeks, bond or free ; and have been all made todrink ~
into one Spirit, (1 Cor. xii.,) and are also members of |
Christ, and of His fullness have received grace for grace,
(John i.,) through which they grow and increase in right- ‘
eousness, holiness and love, which is the bond of perfect-
ness. (Col. iii.) And this is the love which is without
dissimulation, abhors that which is evil, and cleaves to that
which is good. .
8th. These souls thus filled with love, are the bride of -
Christ, who are plighted to Him in love and troth, for
time and eternity. Therefore they have renounced all
strange amours, and spiritual adultery, and cleave alone to
_ their only and eternal Bridegroom Christ Jesus, who hath
‘bought them with so dear a price, and by His blood
redeemed them, and -hath glorified them, so that they —
should serve Him unblamably in holiness, (Eph. v.,)
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. y, ets
having neither spot or wrinkle; but separated from all
worship which is only built upon the sand, and is not
founded on their Lord’s true and holy word. ‘Therefore
they are also hated of all nations for His name’s sake, for
they are not of the world, as He is not of the world.
They testify of her works, that they are evil, and-no man
receiveth their testimony; but he that receiveth their testi-
- mony hath set to his séal that God is true. (John iii.)
_ gth. They are also an Epistle of Christ, which is mani-
fest, and may be known and read of all men: because their
fruits cannot be concealed, but their doctrine, life, walk,
works and deeds, may be read and seen of all, what they
are.
For first, they have a fervent zeal in warring against
their indwelling sins, whose motions they feel in their
earthly members, and continually mortify them through
the Spirit, that they may also live and walk in the Spirit, —
(Rom. vii.,) and lead a truly virtuous and godly life, in |
humility and self-denial, following after peace with all
men, as much as in them lieth, and holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord. (Heb. xii.) ;
In the second place, their doctrine is founded on the
word of the Lord, and do not ‘‘as many, which corrupt
the. word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, ir
the sight of God speak they in Christ.’’ (2 Cor. 11.) Yea,
they are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-
stone; and with John the Baptist, teach a true repent-
x ance, with a knowledge of, and dying unto sin; and with
Christ true sorrow, regeneration and change of heart
through faith in Him; for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a
~ power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth,
-
r:
52 THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 7 :
for therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith
to faith, as it is written, The just shall live by faith. —
_ (Rom. i.) Observe, from faith to faith, that is, through —
faith in God, man learns to know the righteousness of God
in His word; and becomes alarmed on account of his
transgression and sins, and begins to fear God, which fear
is the beginning of wisdom, and this wisdom then teaches
him to become entirely penitent, and gives him more_
“knowledge of the judgment of God in His word, and this —
knowledge brings him still more into a slavish fear, and
this legal or servile fear ever causes his sins to appear
greater; until at last, through this faith in the severe —
righteousness of God, and through the threatening of His
word, he feels himself entirely condemned and accused on
account of his sins; and dies in himself, and in his own
power, sinks entirely into death. Here then Christ as the
Mediator steps in, and stands between justice and the sin- -
ner, and lays hold of him by His Divinity, which by the
justice of God was crucified with His humanity, and by
His resurrection power, raises him up to a new and living |
creature ; so that he as having crucified the old man of
sin, died with Christ and arose again, then begins to inhale
the breath of God’s love, by which he is quickened, and
receives power to enter into Christ, and by Him then to
come to the Father, and is so covered over, and bedecked-
with the righteousness of Christ, which He purchased for »
him on the tree of the cross; and by which he obtainsa_ -
complete reconciliation with God, being made free from
all sin, and the promise of the Comforter or Holy Ghost
which Christ obtained of the Father comes upon him, and
will lead him into all. truth, until he comes to the measure ~
of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
\
4 i
" THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 53
Thus a person is brought out of the first faith which be-
gets fear into the childlike, confidential, and saving faith
in Jesus Christ, and now also lives by faith. On this faith ©
__-Christ has commanded to be baptized, in the name of the
-_ Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matt.
SeRXVET.) 8
First, ‘‘In the name of the Father.’’ Every such be-
liever then acknowledges in his baptism, that by the draw-
ing of the Father, through the power of His righteous law,
_. his soul has been moved, drawn, and by His justice been
ie brought to a true knowledge of God, and thereby broken
in spirit, cast down, wounded unto death, and condemned
on account of his sins; by and through which He has
shown His eternal and incomprehensible love, in this,
that, though he had deserved, yet God had had not cast
him into hell, but sent His beloved Son, so that whosoever
would believe on Him should not perish but have ever-
lasting life; (John iii.;) and hath made Him to us for
~ wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption,
through His blood, and has made Him to be a mediator
-and intercessor for us, that we might be reconciled to
God. Through this perception and knowledge of God
the Father, he is moved to be baptized in the name of God
Mths Father ; namely, to the honor of the Father, with feel-
ings of gratitude and confiding faith, that He will bestow
“upon him all the promises which He has made through —
Jesus Christ.
Secondly, ‘‘In the name of the Son.’’ He perceives
that whilst he as a disconsolate sinner was not banished
from the presence of the Father, but given over to the Son,
- and drawn to Him by the hand of the Father, so the Son
ma also fulfilled the word of His promise to him, where He
if
~
54 - _ THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
says, ‘‘ All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”’
(John vi.) Christ hath received him by the blood of the
atonement, and covered over his sins, from the face of
His Father ; so that through Him, he is again made a new
creature, and through the virtue of His merits, he dared
_ draw nigh to the Father, and obtained the forgiveness of
sins. And thus in baptism he enters into the marriage
covenant with Christ, eternally to love and obey Him, for
the great love, and the immeasurable riches of His grace,
so freely bestowed upon him, and quite happily confides ~
in Him, that He will bestow upon him all the promises
which He purchased from His Father, in time and
eternity through the Holy Spirit. (John xvii.)
Thirdly, ‘‘In the name of the Holy Ghost.’’ He per-
ceives, and believes, that as he has through grace been
reconciled to God the Father, by the blood of Jesus
Christ, and the Father in His righteousness is also recon-
ciled to him; and he has also obtained the promise of the
Father and the Son, namely the Spirit of truth, so he also
confides and resigns himself quite happily to the leading -
of the Spirit, that He will, according to the promise of
Christ, lead him into all truth, and perfect him in holiness,
unto the stature of the fullness of Christ Jesus. (John xv.)
_ This then is the true Christian faith, which comprehends
and combines the true essence and operation of the triune
God-head, and becomes or is the abode or temple of God,
wherein He dwells and walks; yea, a new heaven and an
entirely new creation, for old things are passed away, and
all things have become new. (2 Cor. v.) In this new
creation, the witness of the triune God-head exists, as John
teaches that there are three that bear record in heaven,
t : THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 55
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these
three are one. And there are three that bear witness in
earth, the spirit, and the water and the blood: and these
~ three agree in one. (1 John v.) Observe, there are.
three that bear record in heaven, namely, in our inner
-man, who after God is created in the image of Jesus
Christ. ‘This record is concealed from the world, for the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit, they
- are only foolishness to him. (1 Cor. ii.) Therefore there
must also be a witness on earth, so that the world can in
_ part feel and see, and thereby learn what the witness in
such soul is, namely, spirit, water and blood, and these
__ three agree in one. Firstly, the Spirit, when He comes,
He will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of
judgment. Firstly, they will be reproved of their sins,
because they do not rightly believe in Christ, but their
faith is vain. Again, because of righteousness, because
Christ has gone to the Father, and has wrought a right-
eousness which avails before God. (Rom. i.) But the
world ever sets up her righteousness beside the righteous-
ness of Christ ; for which reason it is reproved. Thirdly,
_. the world is reproved because of judgment, because the
__ prince of this world is judged, through His going to the
_ Father, and He has cast him out, and taken his power.
‘from him, so that he can no more reign over us, or hold
us captive.
-But the world still ever remains under his mastery, and
will not submit herself to the dominion of Jesus Christ, or
let Him be their judge, whilst yet the Father hath com-
mitted all judgment unto the Son; that all men should
honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. (John v.)
‘But the world exercises her own false judgment against
j
56 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
the children of God, and hate and deride them, and call
good bad, and bad good, light darkness, and darkness. 2.
light, and many times judge others, and do even the same, —
thereby condeming themselves. (Rom. ii.) For this
reason the Holy Ghost is a witness in the children of God,
against the world, and reproves her because of her sins
and false righteousness, and because of her sinful judgment.
(John xvi.)
- The other witness on earth is the water of baptism,
which Christ commanded to His believers, whereby they
should testify to the world, and with it renounce the devil,
the world, and their own carnal will, and all worldly and
carnally-minded people, that they will no more run with
them to the same excess of riot; but as they in former
times were children of the devil, the world, and lived to
their own will, so they are now by free grace born of the
Triune God, and have also the testimony of the Father, -—
Son and Holy Ghost with them. (John v.) Therefore
they now build the world adieu, and receive baptism in the
name of the three attributes of the God-head, to signify —
that they have made a covenant with God, in a good con- ~
science, on account of the forgiveness of sins through
Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 111.,) and through the seal of the
Spirit, which gives them witness that they are the children
of God. (Rom. viii.)
The third witness on earth is blood. Whilst then these
believers are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, as
Paul teaches: ‘* Know ye not, that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His death.
Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so we also'should walk in new-
~
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. Se
ness of life. For if we have been planted together in the
likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of
_ His resurrection.’’ (Rom. vi.) Since then believers are
baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, and have became
partakers of His sufferings, and are washed from their sins
by His blood, so they shall yet further be planted in the
likeness of His death, so that they may be made in the
likeness of His resurrection; namely they bind themselves
in baptism through Divine Love, willingly to bear the
cross with Christ, and with Him suffer reproach, and
drink the cup of suffering, so that nothing shall henceforth
separate them from His love; neither tribulation nor dis-
__ tress, nor persecution nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril,
nor sword; for in all these things they are more than
conquerors through Him that loved them. (Rom. viii.)
This is the third witness on earth, that the earthly-
minded people might be moved thereby, when they see
their faith, their love to their Bridegroom and their fellow-
‘believers, their patience in suffering, their obedience to
_ Jesus Christ, who is bestowed upon them by the Father,
- as their leader to point out the way; yea Himself is the-
way, and had also Himself to receive the three witnesses
or baptisms on earth; namely the baptism of the Spirit,
_ the baptism with water, and the baptism of suffering.
(Matt. iii. etc.) Therefore they follow Him obediently,
although they are not of the world, (even as He was not
of the world,) they must however have such witness with
them, and also let such witness be seen on earth, whereby
earthly-minded people might be convicted when they see
their pious and godly walk; for the Spirit reproves the
world, that they might be thereby converted, and learn to
know which are the children of God. ‘The water of bap-
f
58 . THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
tism should represent to the children of this world, how
the children of God submit themselves inwardly and out-
_ wardly to their teacher and master, Christ Jesus, in sub-—
missive obedience, and follow Him in true self-denial.
The blood, or their suffering in this life, which they bear
with patience and great steadfastness; and with Christ
love their enemies, do good to those that hate them, bless
those that curse them, and pray for those who despitefully
use them, and do not resist evil, but rather flee from one
city to the other; (Matt. v.;) this should convince the
world that they are children of God, true disciples and
followers of Christ, who are born from above of water and
spirit, (John ii1.,) and are true children of peace, who have
converted their swords into plough-shares and their spears
into pruning-hooks, and shall learn war no more, (Isaiah
ii.,) and have the seal of the living God in their foreheads. _
(Rev. vii.) These are they which have come out of great
tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb, (Rev. vii.,) for they are bap-
tized into the death of Jesus Christ, and have died with
Him, and are buried with Him by baptism, and through
faith have risen with Him in a new life, so that they no -
more live to themselves, but to Him that has died for
them; and are therefore members of Christ, flesh of His
flesh and bone of His bone; are in Him and He in them, |
and are one with Him, as He and the Father are one, and —
the world thereby may know that they are His disciples.
They are also many members, but only one body, of which
Christ is the head, and of His fullness they have all received
and grace for grace; and grow also to a divine stature, _
and Christian perfection, so that they are no more moved,
or let themselves be tossed to and fro by every wind of —~
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 59
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness
whereby they lie in wait to deceive, but they speak the
truth in love, and grow up into Him in all things, which
is the head, even Christ. (Eph.) For He has sanctified
and cleansed them, through the washing of water by the
word, that He might present them to Himself a glorious
~-church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph. v.)
toth. Their Supper they hold in Christian love and
brotherly unity, in remembrance of the suffering and death
- of their Lord and Redeemer; for they are baptized into
His death, and have been made partakers of His sufferings,
in this that they have risen with Him, through the faith
which is of the operation of God, who hath raised Him
from the dead, and when they were dead in their sins, and
the uncircumcision of their flesh, and forgiven them all
~ sins. Therefore they are also in fellowship with Him.
For both He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified
--are all of one; for which cause He is not ashamed to call
them brethren, (Heb. ii.,) and as they are brethren they
are also heirs with Christ and partakers of His heavenly
gifts; because as He is so are also they in the world, and
have fellowship one with the other, and the blood of Jesus
Christ cleanseth them from all sin; and they also walk in
one spirit, and are bound together in one body by love,
which is the bond of perfectness; even as many- grains
‘make one bread, and many berries one cup, so also are
many members one body, and are all partakers of one
bread. (1 Cor. x.) In this unity of love they meet oc-
casionally, to break the bread together, in commemoration
of the broken body of Jesus Christ; and divide the cup
amongst one another, in remembrance of the blood which ~
60 : THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
Christ shed on the tree of the cross; and receive by faith
as spiritual children, the spiritual body of Christ, which
He brake for them, and their souls are comforted thereby ;
and drink His blood (understand spiritually) which He
shed for them, whereby they are refreshed and comforted
unto everlasting life; for His flesh is meat indeed, and His
blood is drink indeed; he that eateth His flesh, and drink-
eth His blood, dwelleth in Him, and He in’them, and
hath everlasting life. (John vi.) In such loving and
‘spiritual -repast, Christ is in the midst, comforting every
faithful soul, forgiving them their sinful weaknesses, and
imparts unto them His own worthiness, and all His des-
erts; and sanctifies them in His truth, through the offering
of His blood. (John xvii.) He leads them into His
chambers, and kisses them with the kiss of peace. (Songsi.) ~~
His left hand is under their-head, and His right hand doth
embrace them. (Songs ii.) So they may say with the
prophet: We will greatly rejoice in the Lord, our souls —
will be joyful in our God; for He hath clothed us with
the garments of salvation, He hath covered us with the
robe of righteousness, as a bride-groom decketh himself
with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with j Jews
els. (Isaiah 1x1.) :
Since then this Supper is-left unto us asa figure, with
such power that it signifies to us the death of Christ, His
love and peace, with the unity of the brethren; and also is
a figure of the communion of His flesh and blood ; there-
- fore no one but a disciple of Jesus Christ can rightly par-
take of this Supper, according to the Scripture. Those
alone who are flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone;
who neither seek nor acknowledge redemption from sin by |
or through any other means than alone through the merits ~
J '
-
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. _ 61
= ;
of the offering, death and blood of Christ; who stand in
unity, love and peace with their brethren; who lead a
pious and unblamable life in Christ Jesus as the Scriptures
teach, (Phil. 11.,) in whom is the mind which also was in
Jesus Christ, who through His great love gave His life for
us, therefore we ought also to give our life for the breth-
ren, (1 John ili.,) and help to bear one another’s burdens,
by which we will fulfil the law of Christ. (Gal. vi.)
t1th. They wash one another’s feet, according to the
example of their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ; like as
He humbled Himself, and out of love washed His disciples’
feet, and charged them that as He had done so they also
should wash one another’s feet; for the servant is not
__ greater than His Lord, neither is the apostle greater than
He that sent him, and happy are ye if ye know these
things anddo them. (John xiii.) This is the reason why
all regenerated, humble and believing Christians, accord-
ing to the command and example of their Master humble
themselves amongst one another, and wash one another’s
_ feet, and acknowledge and testify thereby that they are
washed within by the blood of Christ, and that they are
cleansed by His grace from all the sins of weakness and in-
advertence, which yet cleave to them. For as the feet-are
the members of our body which tread the earth, and _ be-
come defiled by its dust and filth, therefore Christ says, he
that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is
. clean every whit: as if He would say, so long as ye are in
this earthly body, the earth will also adhere to you, and
you will be spotted and defiled through your sinful mem-
_ bers, as your natural feet become defiled by their contact
with the earth. Therefore it is very necessary that I
‘should wash you, for if I wash you not ye have no part
i
62 ‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
with Me. But if you are once washed with My blood, and _
your hearts are sprinkled therewith, ye need no more than
to wash your sinful members, and through the Spirit mor-
tify and overcome the evil lusts, whose motions even yet
are felt in the flesh, and from the earth cleave unto you,
but ye are by Brace clean every whit, and there shall be
no sin imputed to you. (Rev. i., 1 John ii.) pee
On the other hand, it represents to us the true humility,
simplicity, love and brotherly unity, which shall exist
amongst us, as sanctified children of God, and partakers
with Jesus Christ, that we in lowliness should esteem ™
others better than ourselves, (Phil. ii.,) and be willing to
serve one another in labor, in watching, in fasting, in
sickness, in necessity, or in death, with teaching and ex- —
horting one “another, in order to strengthen and confirm
one another in faith, till the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who will then change our vile body, like unto His
glorious body, (Phil. iii.,) when we shall see Him as He
is, and rest from all our works. ?
But woe to all those who are not minded, as has been
shown from the word of God ; who have not received their |
baptism on an unfeigned faith to the honor of -God, and
who do not eat their Supper, or hold their communion, in~
such union and brotherly love, in remembrance of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and do not regard His teaching, com-
mands, pattern and example, but are too proud, haughty,
and exalted to humble themselves one to the other, and
wash one another’s feet, according to the command and
example of Jesus Christ, whilst He yet says: Happy are
ye if ye know these things and do them. But how un- |
happy must all such be, who whilst they do know these -
_ things, yet do them not? The declaration of John, that
st THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 63
whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine
of Christ, hath not God, should be a fearful one for them
to contemplate. If he has not God, then his portion must
_ of necessity be with the ungodly, in the lake which burneth
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. And
again, he that saith I know Him, and keepeth not His
‘commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
(1 John ii.) If they are liars, then they have no part in
the city, for without are the fearful and unbelieving, and
the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
‘inthe lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. (Rev.
xxl.) Oh! what will such poor souls do, who do not be- —
lieve the gospel of God, or if they do believe it, will not
obey it? It would be better for them never to have been
born; for if the righteous are scarcely saved, where will
the disobedient, ungodly and sinner appear? (1 Peter iv.)
Again Christ says, ‘‘ He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth
not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that
I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken of Myself, but the Father which
sent Me. He gave Me a commandment, what I should
say, and what I should speak. And I know that His com-
- mandment is life everlasting ; whosoever I speak therefore,
even as the Father said unto Me, so speak I.’’ (John xii.)
Again, chapter xiv.: ‘‘ If a man love Me, he will keep My
~~ words: and My Father will love him, and we will come to
him and make our abode with him. - He that loveth Me
not, keepeth not My sayings: and the word which ye hear
is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.’’ Here we
3 can learn how Christ insists on the keeping of His word,
eR and will have us observe all that He has commanded ; for
64 THE WAY TO HBAVENS <3 AO
he that heareth His word and doeth it, is likened unto a ~
wise man; but he that heareth and doeth not, is likened
unto a foolish man, etc. (Matt. vii.) Therefore all such
as keep not His commandments, and do them, will with
all their light and fair appearance, have with the foolish
virgins, to hear the sentence, Depart from Me, ye workers
of iniquity, for I know you not from whence you are.
(Matt. xxv.)
r2th. This united and sanctified Saeame has also
received the keys of binding and loosing from Christ.
That which they bind on earth, is also bound in heaven; ~
-and what they loose on earth is also loosed in heaven,
(Matt. xvill.,) namely, that they do with the binding-key
or righteousness of God’s word, keep His household pure
and clean, by putting away from them all carnal, volup-
tuous, avaricious, drunken, adulterous, perjurers, proud,
selfish and disobedient sinners, and thereby bind and ex- _
clude them from their community, so that they do not
defile the rest, and the whole body perish. Because they
have departed from, and sinned against the Lord’s holy
word have denied the faith, and become carnally minded, —
proud and exalted, and seek to cause divisions and offences
_ contrary to the Christian doctrine which they have learned
(Rom. xvi.), and choose unto themselves a way whereon
they can walk without cross, according to the flesh and
their own will. All these are again bound with the key
of the strict justice of God’s law, under the curse, wrath,
and condemnation of a righteous God; for they have
fallen from grace, under the displeasure of God, have
stepped out of light into darkness, and are therefore sepa-
rated from the community of the saints, and are bound by
the key of God’s word, and pabssqucriy also excluded
from heaven.
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 65
Secondly, they again loose, receive and comfort all
penitent, broken, sorrowing and anxious sinners, with this
key or peaceable gospel, whereby they are released from
the curse, sin, death and condemnation under which they
were bound, and are made free, and again united with
Christ, in obedience to His word; and in a firm con-
fidence rely, and through faith embrace the merit of His
4
innocent death and blood, and comfort themselves in a
child-like confidence in His sufferings, and have received
the seal of the Spirit as the pledge of their salvation. These,
I say, are they who have been loosed by this evangelical
key, and are also loosed in heaven. (Matt. xviii.)
Thirdly, this expulsion or separation is very necessary
to preserve the body of Christ from suffering injury or
being ruined ; for righteousness has no profit or enjoyment
“with unrighteousness, and light has no communion with
darkness, Christ no concord with Belial, or the believer
no part with an infidel, (2 Cor. vi.,) therefore they must
be separated, and all carnal and disobedient sinners de-
barred from the community of saints, until such time as
they receive grace from God unto true repentance and
sorrow for the sins they have committed, and are recon-
~ciled with Him through Christ, as may be seen of the ~
- Corinthian fornicator where Paul admonished the Church
to forgive him, and receive and comfort him in love, so
that he would not be swallowed up with over-much sor-
row. (2 Cor. il.) But so long as they persist in impenti-
tence, we shall have no fellowship with them, but with-
draw from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not
-after the tradition which they have received, (2 Thess. ili.,)
~-and have no company with them, that they may be
ashamed, but avoid them, and not eat with them, but
66 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
_ much rather reprove them before all, that others also may _ |
fear. This command the Holy Apostle Paul charges be- ~
fore God, and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels,
shall be observed without preferring one before another,
doing nothing by partiality, (1 Tim. v.,) for a little leaven ©
leaveneth the whole lump. (1 Cor. v.) If we do not
remove the unfruitful branches from the vine, they will
injure the fruitful branches, and if we do not remove the
offensive members, the whole body must perish, (Matt. v.,)
and the children of light, or the day, cannot be in fellow-
ship with the children of darkness, or the night. At the ~
time of the darkness in Egypt, there was no darkness with
Israel, the literal seed of Abraham, but all was light, and
‘they were separated from the Egyptians; so is also the —
~ spiritual Israel, the seed of the spiritual Abraham, sepa- —
rated from the darkness of this Egyptian world. They
therefore walk in the light, and can have no fellowship —
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them. Because God is light, and in Him is no darkness
at all ; therefore His people shall also walk in the light, as __
He is in the light, and shall be holy, for He is holy, as ~
the Lord Himself says, (Lev. xx.,) ‘And ye shall be
holy unto Me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed
you from all other people, that ye should be Mine.’’ For .
this reason also, He would not be with Israel in the time
of Joshua, because Achan had stolen the accursed thing,
and said, ‘‘ Neither will I be with you any more, except
ye destroy the accursed thing from among you.’’ So also
Moses and the whole assembly of Israel had to depart
from Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, when the earth opened
her mouth, and they went down alive into the pit. (Num.
xvi.) We find also, that throughout the whole Old Tes-
~
rd
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. £269.
tament, the people of God were a separate people from
all other nations, and that amongst themselves they had to
abstain from all uncleanness, and walk unblamably in the
law of the Lord, if He would be with them. How much
more should the Church of Christ, which is flesh of His
flesh, and bone of His bone, be kept pure; whereby she
asa chaste virgin might shun the amorous approach of
every stranger, and let her light shine in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, (Phil. ii.,) and cleave alone
to her Head and Bridegroom, Christ Jesus; ‘For if the
word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgres-
sion and disobedience received a just recompense of re- —
ward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salva-
tion ; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him ; God
also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders,
- and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, ac-
cording to His own will?’’ (Heb. ii.) ‘‘For if they es-
caped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much
more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that
speaketh from Heaven.’’ (Heb. xil.) And, ‘‘he that
despised Moses’ law, died without mercy under two or
three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose
ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under
_foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the
covenant an unholy thing?’’ (Heb. x.)
But how will such teachers and nominal Christians stand
when the day of the Lord comes, and they must give an
account of their stewardship? They have and read the
- word of God, and yet the many testimonies therein do ~
not move them to obedience, but they will, and do, re-
~ tain such carnal and ungodly members in their community,
68 THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
contrary to the word of the Lord, and the order of the if
holy apostles, only so that they may have a large body,
- or retain the honor of men; or otherwise they must them-
_ selves be quite blind and obdurate, (as they, alas! also
are,) that they do not know how to discern, because these
things must be spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 11.) For
‘since they will not receive the love of the truth that they
might be saved, God also has sent’ them strong delusions,
that they should believe a lie. (2 Thess. ii.) For they
have changed the Evangelical order of baptism, (which
Christ directed to be administered to those who are
taught, and believe,) and according to their own opinion
or judgment, baptize innocent and ignorant children and
infants, and will (as they think) make them members of
Christ, whilst yet they are in the bosom of Christ, through
grace, being sanctified and washed by His blood from the ~
original sin of Adam. Yea, those whom Christ Himself
has blessed, and promised the kingdom of Heaven, they
will, through the laying on of their impure hands, bring ~
to Him, and make them His members, whilst they are His
by purchase, and heirs by promise. (Oh, abomination
and idolatry !)
Those whom Christ has presented to us asa pattern, and
besides with a verily declared, that unless we are converted
and become as children, we shall not enter into the king-
dom of Heaven; these they receive into idolatrous and
anti-Christian Churches, and from their youth are offered
_ up to Moloch; for they are brought up in such heathenish
pomp, pride and arrogance, in dancing, cursing, swearing ;
in strife, contention, war and bloodshed, in all manner of .
carnal and voluptuous life in this world ; so that they only
may please the world, notwithstanding all shall be and is’
a = ~~
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. _ 69
deemed consistent with Christianity. (Oh, great. pre- :
sumption!) Their fruits fully prove that they neither
know Christ nor desire His word ; yet their hireling preach- -
ers speak peace to them, though they have no peace, for
they are carnally minded, and to be carnally minded is
death, and is enmity against God. (Rom. viii.) Oh,
woe to all such empty comforters! and hireling preachers
-who teach according to the itching of their ears, and
promise them liberty, whilst they themselves are the ser-
vants of corruption ; for they are the enemies of the cross
of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their
belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly
things. I think any one who is spiritual, could well know
that such churches are not the churches of Christ, but of
Antichrist, who are drunken with the wine of-the Baby- .
lonian whore, so that they reel and stagger continually
until they finally fall into the pit together. (Matt. xv.)
Other parties appear somewhat more attractive in their
outward form, or according to the letter, butif we observe
them spiritually, or weigh them in the balance of God’s
word, they are still in most points found too light. In
the first place, they think they baptize on faith according
to the word, and regard infant baptism as the command-
-ment of men, (as it is also nothing less,) but alas! their
fruits mostly testify that their faith is dead, standing only
in word and not in deed, as both the prophet Isaiah and
Christ say, this people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is
far from me. For if they had the true saving faith which
worketh by love, the fruits would have to prove it; but
we find everywhere such carnal fruits as prove the con-
trary ; for they are mostly worldly, and worldly minded ;
10 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
some are proud, haughty, selfish, ambitious, vain-glorious,
wrathful, perfidious; they backbite and traduce their
neighbors, and seek by craft when an opportunity offers —
to cheat or take advantage of them. Others are addicted
to strong drink, and are frequenters of public places and ©
assemblies, and continue until night, till wine inflame
them, (Isaiah v.,) some curse and swear, even curse men
which are made after the similitude of God. (James iii.)
Some are avaricious, and quite earthly minded, practice
usury, and consider day and night how they may make
worldly gain, and forget the prize that is set before them.
They pursue the world with great earnestness, but the ser-
‘vice of God they regard as a by-work; for when one meets
the other, their conversation is mostly about this world.
When they meet at church, this is their chief discourse,
until their preacher rises, and with a cold heart, exhorts
from the letter of the Scripture, for several hours, in which ©
they receive neither sense of themselves, or of God and
Hislove. Therefore they return again to their homes with
their cold hearts filled with the world, thinking the while
they have done God service, and the one thing needful for
their souls they regard not. (Luke x.) They do not re-
flect on the death and suffering of Christ; they do not
view or reflect upon the pain and sorrow of eternity; the —
almighty, great and terrible God, they do not fear; and at
His terrible and fearful judgment they are not amazed ; or
they should and would certainly produce different fruits,
and with fear and trembling would workout their souls’ salva-
tion. (Phil. 11.) With their mouths they profess to be de-
fenseless and not to avenge themselves on their enemies, but
yet if any one despitefully use them, or does any thing to.
the prejudice of their estate or property, they will grasp.
THE WAY TO HEAVEN, ri
the sword of the law, and through its power avenge them-
selves of their adversary, so as to obtain satisfaction ; not-
withstanding Christ teaches us, if any man will sue thee at
the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak
also. (Matt. v.) Asif He would say in other words: if
any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat,
do thou not contend with him, but rather let him have
thy cloak also ; for whatsoever you leave for my sake, you
shall receive fourfold in this present life, and in the world
to come everlasting life. (Luke xviii.) And this the dis-
_ ciples of Jesus Christ shall do, because they seek not that
which is on the earth, but that which is above, where
Christ is at the right hand of the majesty of the Father;
and while their treasure is not on earth, but seek that.
which is in Heaven, and they are redeemed from the
earth, through the blood of the Lamb: therefore their con-
versation and citizenship is also in Heaven; from whence
also they look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who
will change their vile bodies, that they may be fashioned
like unto His glorious body. (Phil. ili.) Yea, since they
are children of peace, and know of no strife more, there-
fore they would rather leave all, than to contend and
strive about such things, and thereby defile their con-
science. Therefore Paul also says, (1 Cor. vi.,) ‘‘ Now
therefore, there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go
to law with one another. Why do you not rather take
wrong? Whydo you not rather suffer yourselves to be
defrauded ?’’ This is the manner and peaceable nature of
all true Christians. They would rather suffer themselves
to be defrauded than that they contend and strive. They
commit all things to their Heavenly Father who cares for
them, so that not a hair of their head falls without His
72 THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
Gnowledee. and should there be any rate unjustly taker
_. from them, they say with Job: The Lord gave and the -
Lord hath taken away, or at least suffered it to be taken ;
therefore the name of the Lord be praised.
These, however, desire to be, and flatter themselves that
they are the disciples of Jesus Christ, yet they neither re-
gard His teaching nor the counsel of the holy apostles ;
but they have become vain in their worldly imaginations,
-and in their carnal reason (which is their teacher) suppose
that they have liberty to contend and carry on suits at law,
serve in worldly offices, and assist others to obtain office, ©
and think they can as Christians sit in the seats of justice, .
to pass judgment on evil-doers, or help to adjust suits at
law; and are thus unequally yoked together with unbe- ~
~ levers, about which Paul warns his brethren. (2 Cor.
vi.) This they do, however, because the prince of this
world has blinded their minds, and the veil of Moses is»
untaken away, in the reading of the Old Testament, which ~
veil is done away in Christ. (2 Cor. iii.) Therefore they
can also not separate these two kingdoms, one from the
other, which, however, Christ has made twofold.
Seeing then that Christ’s kingdom was not, or is not of
this world, but is a peaceable, spiritual and heavenly king- —
dom, and has also called such regenerated, spiritual, peace-
able and heavenly citizens into His kingdom, who have
beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into
pruning hooks, and learn war no more. Yea, such as are
become dead to the law by the body of Christ and are
married to another, even to Him who is raised from the
dead, that they should bring forth fruit unto God, and now
serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the
letter. (Rom. vil.) I will, therefore, here in my in-
Watt
7 vat fa rey also can a have no fellowship with one Bee
74 | ‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
CHAPTER III. :
N the first place, the people of the kingdom of this
world, being born of the flesh, are carnal, and earthly
minded. ‘They aspire after worldly honor, but the honor
of God they do not desire. The people of the Kingdom
of Christ are regenerated through the power of the Holy
Spirit, are spiritually minded, and seek the treasure and
honor which is of God. (Rom. viii.)
Secondly, the, people of the kingdom of this world ex- |
act an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, hate their
enemies, and prepare themselves with carnal weapons, as
spear, sword, harness, rifle and powder, to contend against
them. (Matt. v.) The people in the kingdom of Christ.»
do good to those that hate them, and through humility and
patience overcome evil with good; and are prepared with
the spiritual weapons of the armor of God, the shield ot
faith, and the sword of the Spirit, to contend against the
devil, the world, and their own flesh; together with all
~ that will exalt itself against God and His word. (Eph. vi.)
Thirdly, the people of the kingdom of this world labor
and strive for an earthly kingdom, and a corruptible
crown. (xz Cor. ix.) The people of the kingdom of
Christ labor and strive for an eternal kingdom, and an in-
corruptible crown. (1 Cor. ix.)
Fourthly, the people of the kingdom of this world seek |
to rule, reign over, and subdue the world with power or
violence. (Matt. xx.) The people of the kingdom of
THE WAY. TO HEAVEN, 75
~
Christ, are ready to serve every one, and triumph not by
might or power, but by suffering, and through patience
they have at all times overcome, and kept the world sub-
ordinate to themselves, and gained the martyr’s crown
through suffering, in which they became like unto the ex-
ample of their Lord, who redeemed them from the earth,
received them into the tabernacle of peace, made them
partakers of His divine nature, and predestinated them to
“be conformed to His image. (2 Peteri.) Therefore they
~ love their enemies, do good to those that hate them, pray
-.for those that despitefully use them, and when they are
persecuted in one city, they flee to another. - Nevertheless,
they acknowledge the government of this world to be God’s
ordinance, and the rulers of the land to be God’s minis-
- ters, who have received from God a servile calling, to keep
- the lawless in subjection, and to preserve order in the
kingdom of this world, to protect those that do good, and
execute wrath on him that doeth evil. (Rom. xiii.) ~
Therefore, they are also debtors to be obedient, and sub-
ject to the powers in all things, except they should com-
mand aught which would conflict with the word of God;
when they must obey God, who is judge over all, rather
than man. (Acts v.) They are ever ready to render all
their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom
custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. (Rom.
xiii.) Since they are servants of God, and ministers in
. the house of this world, so far as they are faithful in the
discharge of their duty, they will also not lose their re-
ward, but with Ishmael they have the promise that their
_ kingdom shall be enlarged, and established.
But the children of the kingdom of Christ have not re-
ceived the spirit of bondage, but the spirit of adoption,
|
76 : THE WAY TO HEAVEN. Y
whereby they cry raver Father, and the spirit itself beareth |
witness with their spirit, that they are the children of God; _
and as they are children, so they are also heirs, namely, ~
heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. They are not
born after the flesh, but by the spirit they are regenerated,
and as Isaac was, are children of the promise. (Gal. iv.) |
Therefore they can also not be heirs together; for Ishmael
who was born after the flesh, of the bond-woman, was cast
out of the house of Abraham, but Isaac, who was of the
free-woman, was born by promise, received the inheritance
~ and blessing. So also the children of the kingdom of this ©
world cannot be heirs with the children of the kingdom of
Jesus Christ; for the children of the kingdom of this
world are with Ishmael, only born after the flesh, which is —
of the bond-woman, after the will of man; but the chil-
dren of the kingdom of Christ are born spiritually, accord- —
ing to the will of God, of the Jerusalem which is above,
which is the mother of all. (Gal. iv.) Therefore they
are in opposition one to the other, and cannot have fellow-
ship or be heirs together, except the children of the world
are first born of the spirit from above, and yield a child-
like obedience to the doctrine of Christ, and are minded
as He also was, (Phil. i1.,) and no more resist evil, or
avenge themselves with the sword, but love their enemies,
and with Christ pray for them in suffering; (Matt. v.,)
and help the poor rejected and crucified Jesus to bear His _
yoke on the narrow way to the cross, in which He walked
before His followers, in all humility and self-denial, unto —
the end. Then Christ will also crown them with the -
crown of righteousness, and bestow upon them the riches
of His heavenly mansions, unto all eternity, in Jesus’.
name, amen. :
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. at "9
I say therefore again with testimony of the” Scripture,
that neither emperor nor king, prince nor lord, noble nor
ignoble, rich nor poor, male nor female, bond nor free, can
find or make any other way to Heaven, than the narrow
way of the cross, which Christ the eternal Emperor, King
and Ruler of heaven and earth, Himself walked in. All
- those who will not walk upon this way, or enter through
this door into the sheepfold, but climb up some other way,
will be declared thieves and robbers, and have to hear the
I nce Depart from Me, for I know you not whence
you are.’’ (Matt. xxv.)
Let no one think, (beloved reader,) that I despise or
reject government; but on the contrary, I regard, and
_ with the Apostles Paul and Peter acknowledge, that gov-
ernment is a Divine ordinance, in the kingdom of this
world, to punish and restrain the evil doer, and to protect
and encourage the good. Governors are ministers of God |
to us for good, and they bear not the sword in vain, but
are revengers, to execute wrath upon those that do evil.
For God well knew that all men would not bow themselves
under His word and will, nor fear and obey Him. There-
-fore He established government, and put the fear of man
in the hearts of those who would not be restrained by the
fear of God; whereby order might be preserved in the
world amongst the wicked, and that they would not by
violence destroy one another, and that the devout and
godly may live under their protection, to the praise of
God. Therefore we also owe the powers obedience, ‘not
only for wrath, but also for conscience.’’ (Rom. xiii.)
- But when we rightly observe the difference between
these two kingdoms, and through the Spirit of Christ in
_. the Gospel, mark the contrast, we will soon perceive that
J
78 _ - THE WAY TO. HEAVEN.
the government is not given to the disciples of Jesus, to
govern and keep the world in subjection with the sword.
But it is given to those people who are yet under the letter
of the law, who are yet carnally minded, and seek to sub-
-due their enemies with the sword, and execute vengeance
as the law requires; for the law said, an eye for an eye,
~ tooth for tooth, life for life, (Exodus xxi.,) and on this
principle government is based, for it is a revenger, to exe-
cute wrath upon him that doeth evil; for it is written,
whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be
shed. (Gen. ix.) But Christ, as the true law-giver, whom
we shall hear, has given those who are His, quite a differ-
ent command, and has denied them all revenge and de-
fense, saying, Of old it was said, eye for eye, tooth for
tooth, but I say unto you (observe) that ye resist not evil;
but whosoever will smite thee on the right cheek, turn to
-
him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the —
law and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
‘Again, ye have heard that it hath. been said, thou shalt
love thy neighbor, but hate thine enemy; (mark) but I
say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse
“e
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them —
which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye
may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven.
And like as Christ by His doctrine denied those that were
His all revenge and defense, so He also by His example
abundantly demonstrated what He taught, and did good
to all men; even showing His greatest enemies the greatest
love ; as may be seen when Peter cut off the ear of the high
priest’s servant. Jesus reproved him, saying: Put up thy ~
sword again into his place; for all they that take the —
sword, shall perish by the sword; and He touched his
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. — "9
‘ear and healed it. (Matt. xxvi.) Here we can see, that
He entirely denied the sword, and all defense, to those
that were His. And on another occasion, when His dis-
ciples desired to pray for vengeance as Elias had done,
that fire should come down from Heaven and destroy His
‘enemies, Jesus reproved and rebuked them, saying: “Ye
know not what manner of spirit ye are of; for the Son of
Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”’
(Luke ix.) Further, while the Scribes and Pharisees knew
that Jesus Christ was such a great friend of mankind, and
the Prince of peace, that He denied those that were His
the liberty to exercise the vengeance of the law, but on the
contrary preached nothing to the penitent sinner, but
peace, mercy, grace and favor, and was not come to de-
stroy men’s lives, but to preserve them: so, in order to
tempt Him, they brought to Him a woman, who had
been taken in the act of adultery, thinking, ‘*‘ Now we will
catch or ensnare Him, now He cannot escape our hands, |
for if He says this woman shall not die, whilst Moses com-
_ manded such to be stoned, then He is a transgressor of the
law ;’’ (and they would have cause to condemn Him to
death ;) ‘‘but if He says she shall be stoned, then He is
done with His doctrine of forbidding vengeance by the
law.’’ With this subtle device and conclusion, they came
to Him, saying, ‘‘ Master, this woman was taken in adul-
tery, in the very act. Now, Moses in the law commanded
us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou?
But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the
- ground,’’ (but I suppose much more in their earthly hearts
and consciences, and convicted them of their sins,) ‘‘ and
He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is with-
- out sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.
—
Be =—s
Bow. THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. ~
But having heard this, they all went out, being convicted
by their own conscience, and Jesus was left alone, and the
woman standing in the midst. Then Jesus said to her:
Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned:
thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto
her, Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.”’
(John viii.) Here we can see again what a peace-making
and amiable king Jesus is, and that He in truth did not
come to rob men of, or destroy their lives, but much more
to dig about the tree, and dung it by His grace, that it -
might yet bring fruit unto everlasting life.
But the sovereigns and kings of the earth, are on the
contrary quite different minded, for their feet are directed
to shed blood, and to take vengeance on their enemies, ©
and they are diligent day and night, wearying themselves
‘to destroy towns and countries by their power, making
widows and orphans without number, and mercilessly de: —
stroying one another, and grieve because they cannot make
_the destruction greater. Therefore they are not the sheep
of Christ, but rather ravening lions, bears, and ferocious
wolves. Like as the prophet Ezekiel says, (xxii.,) ‘‘ Her ~
Princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the
prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest
gain.’’ Therefore he shall have judgment pe mercy,
that hath shewed no mercy. ©
It is therefore plainly to be seen, that these two king:
doms, namely, the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of
this world, are placed in opposition one to the other, as has ~
been already shown in part. For as God did commit the
sword to government, with the command to execute wrath
upon evil-doers, and to shed the blood of murderers, as
> <THE WAY TO HEAVEN. : 81
Paul declares, (Rom. xiii.,) so however Christ the new
lawgiver, when He came and established His kingdom, re-
stored all things in it to the primitive order; for He is the
recreator, through whom God has reproduced all that was
lost in Adam. Before Lucifer had fallen, there was peace
in Heaven, and strife was unknown, until he sought to ex-
alt himself above God. Then war commenced, and there
was no peace until the dragon was cast out, with his angels,
and was put out of heaven, and was cast upon the earth.
(Rev. xii.) So also before he appeared to Adam and Eve
in Paradise, in his deyelish and revengeful spirit, and they
were not yet led astray, there was peace in Paradise ; but
as soon as the fall occurred, there was corruption and dis-
quietude at hand, and soon after there was a revengeful
Cain born, who became a murderer of his brother. This
revengeful spirit did not remain in Cain alone, but has
passed upon all men, and there was now no other means to
overcome the spirit of revenge, which was infused into us
by Lucifer, but alone through Jesus Christ; inasmuch as
He never received or knew of any revenge, for He was
~~ never with us under the fall, but was the only eternal and
mine ©
blessed Son of God; and was thus of God sent into the
world to overcome the devil, and to crush this serpentine
venom in us, thereby bringing peace and rest to His own
- in His kingdom, which He established on earth through
Christ. Therefore the heavenly host also sang praises unto
God when this happy birth took place, saying, ‘‘ Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace good will toward
men.’’? Therefore Christ also at the annunciation of His
peaceable and happy gospel, often times said, Repent and
believe the gospel, for the kingdom of heaven has come
nigh unto you: as ifHe would say, in other words, re-
oy
82" ‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
pent and mourn for your malicious, revengeful and proud
heart, which is the fruit of the seed sown in your hearts by —
the devil, and from which no one could relieve you, but ye
were hitherto captives. Therefore believe the gospel, and
accept of My peaceable doctrines; for the prince of this
world, who held you captive in his rage, will now be cast
out, and My reign is now near at hand; for I will now
fulfill the law for you, according to its strict and severe right-
eousness and justice, crush the rage of Satan, and lead you
again into Paradise, out of which Adam was barred, so that
_ you may again dwell together in love and peace, and in
happy and comfortable communion, I in you, and youin Me, ~
even as I am in the Father, and Hein Me; and I will give
you the glory which He has given Me, that you may be
one as We are one. (John xvii.) Therefore I give you
quite a different law, from that which was before, which
yet permitted wrath or revenge; for that law was too weak
to take away wrath out of your hearts. Nothing but My
blood could do this, which I am now ready to shed for
you, and all those who are penitent, and have sorrow for
their sins. These shall then be washed; and I will give
“My life unto death, whereby I will wholly vanquish and
overcome Satan, set his captives free, destroy his rage,
purge your hearts of it, that he can no more reign over
you. On the third day I will rise again, and through the
power of My resurrection I will make new creatures of
you, and receive you in My kingdom. For I will go to
the Father and send you the Comforter, who will spread
abroad My kingdom in your hearts, and teach you the
‘true peace, and bring to your minds all things which I.
have spoken unto you.
These promises of Christ were all fulfilled after His
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. | 83
ascension into Heaven; for on the day of Pentecost the
peaceable reign was fully inaugurated or commenced on
earth. Here the tongues became inflamed through the
Spirit, and the love of Jesus; here all war, violence, and
garments rolled in blood, were consumed by the fire of
Divine love ; here the lovely child Jesus was born and
glorified in their hearts; here the. Son of comfort was
given unto them in the power of the Spirit, whose govern-
ment was upon His shoulder, and gave them power with
Him to bear and overcome all things through patience and
love: for he is called wonderful, the world could not com-
prehend Him, nor understand His peaceable kingdom ;
so He is also counsellor, who at all times commends His
- love to us, and counsels us to. come to Him, and submit
ourselves to His sweet and easy yoke, to the end that we
may obtain peace and the adoption; He is also power and
victor, everlasting Father and Prince of peace; of the
_ increase of His government and peace there shall be no
thy end ; His peace is not such as the world giveth, which is
of short duration, but His peace is a never-ending peace,
~ and passes all understanding. (Phil. iv.)
Here the nations came together on the mountain of the
Lord, in the house of the God of Jacob; here they were
taught the ways of the Lord, and to walk in His paths;
for the law went forth from Zion, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem. ‘There the nations were judged,
and the people rebuked; and there they beat their swords
into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks ;
and no one was against the other, for they were one heart:
and one soul. (Isaiah il.) The wolf and lamb dwelt
together, the leopard lay down with the kid, a little child
~ could lead calves, young lions and fatlings together; for
84.5 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
the revengeful hearts, and serpentine spirit of craftiness, —
the proud, haughty and tyrannical, as Saul and his like, -
were so moved in their hearts by the mild and sweet south —
wind of the Gospel, that they lost their abhorrent dispo-
sition, and became lambs and sheep in the kingdom of
Christ, which now began to bloom gloriously, and the
plants grew as in the time of May; the vine budded, the
pomegranates blossomed, the turtle was heard, the foxes
which used to destroy the vineyard were caught by the
sweet cords of the Gospel, and lost their knavish cunning.
(Songs ii.) _ For here the unarmed and indefensive fisher- _
men had more power to pierce the bowels than the soldiers
with their bows of steel; Jews and Gentiles were united
and brought together as one body, one church and com-
munion, whose head and king was Christ. (Eph. iv.) _
This, my beloved reader, is a short description of-the
peaceable reign of Jesus Christ, by which we can easily see -
how far nominal Christendom has fallen, and how little
they know of the peace or reign of Jesus Christ, but are
blind and cannot see afar off, and forget the purging which —
they could obtain of Christ, whereby they would be made
free from their evil nature, and their ruthless heart circum-
- cised by the Spirit of Christ ; for if they were partakers of _
this Spirit, they would clearly perceive that the kingdom —
of this world can have no part or fellowship with the king-
dom of Jesus Christ: for no one can serve two masters; he
must forsake one, and adhere to the other. (Matt. vi.) For
this reason Christ has denied all wrath, honor and dominion
in this world to those that are His, and has appointed
them His kingdom as it was appointed unto Him by His -
Father; so that they shall be minded as He also was ~
minded; not revile when they are reviled, nor threaten ~
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 85
when they suffer, but commit all to Him that judgeth
righteously. (1 Peter i.)
—- Therefore, as Paul declares that the powers of the world
do not bear the sword in vain, but that government is
God’s minister, a revenger to execute wrath on him that
docth evil. (Rom. xii.) But the same apostle also for-
bids revenge to all Christians in the twelfth chapter, say-
ing, ‘‘ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather
give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine ;
I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy
-hunger, feed him; ifthe thirst, give him drink: for in so
doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”’
Paul calls the rulers of this world God’s ministers, for
the reason before noticed, because they have received a
servile office in the house of this world, to keep it in order
and obedience to law, wherefore we are debtors to thank
God for their protection, and to pray for their welfare ; for
God will have all men to come to the knowledge of the
truth. (1 Tim. iil.) Therefore the children of God are
always willing also, and constrained by a sense of duty, to
give to Caesar the things that are Cesar’s, but give them-
selves unto God; for we (if children of God) are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works:
therefore, if Czesar bids us take the sword to execute ven- ~
geance against our enemies, contrary to the doctrine of
Christ, we cannot obey him, but must obey our King and .
Emperor Jesus Christ ; and much rather flee from one city
to another, than that we should persecute or destroy them ;
for we can not reign and rule over others; therefore with
_all true disciples of Christ, we feel eonstrained to decline
to perform such service, and desire to serve all men in
86 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
love; not persecute others, but rather be persecuted, and
as sheep flee before the wolf; and feel constrained through
love to our Redeemer to forsake all and follow Him under
the cross, and to serve Him in all things that His word re-
quires of us, and to seek peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord.
But since there are many who comfort themselves, and
think they can be disciples of Christ, and yet wage war in
the world with the sword, since Paul calls them God’s min-
isters. But this is in no wise proof of the position. At the
time when Paul declared the object and duty of the gov- ~
ernment, the ungodly and tyrannical Nero reigned. He
was a Gentile, and had the whole Roman Empire under —
his power and dominion, and Paul was twice brought be-
fore him, and as history informs us, he shed the blood of
Christians like water. Nevertheless, Paul calls him minister
of God, whom God used as a-.rod for chastisement, until —
it became stubbed, when He cast it into the fire. So also,
according to this doctrine of Paul, we may call Pharaoh a
minister of God, by whom He showed forth His power,
yet Paul also refers to him as a vessel of wrath. (Rom. ix.)
The king of Babylon, whom the Lord calls the rod of
His anger, and the staff of His indignation, was God’s
minister, to execute His chastening upon His people. God
afterwards threatens him with punishment, and prongua a
a woe upon him. (Isaiah x.)
Pilate was also a servant or minister of God, and had
his power from Him; for Christ says, ‘‘ Thou couldest have
no pote at all against Me, except it were given thee from
above.’’ (John xix.)
So also God made the fiery serpents in the Widens
His servants ; and the lion, which tare the man of God for
his disobedience, was also a servant of God.
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 3 87
So God also oft times makes fire, water, lightnings, hail,
storm, pestilence, and ferocious animals, His servants in
the execution of His purpose, and to show his power and
might. - :
In this way God makes government His servant, for all
power is of God, whether good or bad. If they are tyrants,
~ God may use them as a scourge ; but such will have a fear-—
ful reckoning to render for their stewardship; as it is
written, ‘‘a sore trial shall come upon the mighty.’’
(Wisdom vi.) If they are faithful stewards, they will not
fail of their reward ; but they are not children in the house,
but servants only, or ministers, who will not be defrauded
of their reward or wages. Should the olive tree forsake his
fatness, or the anointing oil of the Holy Ghost, to be pro-
moted over the unfruitful trees of the wood? or to reign
or rule over the vindicitive world? This he can not appre-
hend. Or should the fig-tree forsake its sweetness, and
good fruits of peace, to be promoted over the trees? Yea,
should the vine forsake her heavenly must, of purification
and sanctifying, which produceth peace and humility, to
be promoted over the evil and impure world? This they
‘all leave over to the thorny bramble, who rejoices in the
promotion, and says, if they do not submit themselves.
under his shadow, fire shall proceed from the bramble and
consume them, (Judges ix.)
Those who overflow with the anointing oil of the Holy
Ghost, and bear the sweet fruits or figs of righteousness,
and produce the true wine of purification and sanctifica-
tion; these are the children who obtain the inheritance,
-and with these all war, with violence,.and garments rolled
in blood, are consumed by the fire of the love of Jesus,
and these are clothed alone with the garments of love, for
yp
83 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
they are in God and God in them, therefore they love one ~ _
another with pure hearts fervently, as those who are born
again, not of corruptible seed (or the will of man) but of
the incorruptible, (by the will of God,) namely, by the
ts
living word of God, which abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1.) - 3
- This was also the reason why the Pharisees feared, if they _
- would leave Christ thus alone, with His doctrine of peace, ©
* all men would believe in Him, and the Romans would
come, and without resistance take away their place and
nation. (John x1.)
Therefore Christ also said to Pilate: My kingdom is not
of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then
would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to
the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence. (John
‘xvill.) Therefore He also fled, or withdrew, when He .
perceived that they would make Him king; and would
not so much as be a judge or divider amongst them, but
fled all honor of this world, and sought alone the honor
of His Father in heaven. Thus are His disciples or fol-
_ lowers minded, for they desire not the honor of men, but
they seek, with their Master, the honor of God. They
are despised by the world, for they testify with their Mas-
ter, that her works are evil. (John vii.) They are in
Christ, and Christ in them, therefore they must be, and
are also willing to suffer with Him; and having been
planted in the likeness of His death, they are also in the
likeness of His resurrection. (Rom. vi.)
I therefore say again, with testimony of the Scriptures,:
that all those who yet strive and contend, hate and envy
one another about the earthly kingdom of this world, do
not possess the wisdom which is from above, but that
which is earthly, sensual and devilish; for the wisdom
“
a
_ THE WAY TO HEAVEN, - | 89
_ which is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James iii.)
This is the wisdom of those who are perfect, of whom
Paul speaks, yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the |
- princes of this world, (observe,) that cometh to nought.
(1 Cor. 11.)
Lastly, we can yet plainly see, that Christ in His Kinet
“dom has no part in the kingdom of this world, for when
Satan tempted Him, he led Him up into a high mountain,
and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the
glory of them, and said unto Him: All these things will |
I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.
(Matt. iv.) If Christ would have had any part in the
kingdom of this world, the devil would have had no power
to tempt Him. On the contrary, Christ would have
quickly replied, ‘‘Should I fall down and worship you for
these kingdoms, that you should give them to Me? These
_ kingdoms are Mine, and My reign consists of their govern-
ment , and thou, Satan, hast no part therein, therefore get
thee behind Me.”’
But as Christ’s kingdom was not of this world, pnt is a
spiritual, heavenly, and eternal kingdom, so He had to
' wrestle with the prince of this world, and overcome the ~
devil, with all worldly glory, wherewith and whereby His
spiritual, regenerated and heavenly followers and servants,
whom He hath called into His kingdom, may also over-
come, and entirely let go, or abandon it, and live alone
in His kingdom, whereunto He has purchased them with
His blood, and chosen them as kings and priests forever; _
therefore they must also contend with principalities and
powers, namely with the rulers of the darkness of this
uf
90% >: THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
(Eph. vi.)
Now Christ Himself calls Satan the prince of this ror ¥e
whom He came to cast out, and did also cast Him out of
all true believers’ hearts,so that they may serve Him alone
in His own kingdom. But since the world does not turn
to Christ in true penitence, nor submit itself to His yoke,
but still remains under the prince of this world, therefore
the Holy Spirit must still reprove the world of sin, be-
cause they do not believe in the doctrine and word of
Christ. Of their righteousness, because they seek a right-
eousness outside of Christ, and of their judgment, be-
cause the prince of this world is judged, (John xvi.,) and
- Christ has entered into His kingdom on earth and in
Heaven ; has reconciled all things, slain the enmity by
the cross, proclaimed peace, cast down the accuser, who
accused us before God day and night, and has triumphed
over sin, death, devil and hell, and having spoiled princi-
palities and powers, He made a show of them openly, tri-
umphing over them in it. This was the stone which was
cut out of the mountain without hands, which brake to
pieces the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold.
This was the kingdom of which Daniel prophesied that —
the God of Heaven would set up, which should never be
destroyed, and shall not be left to other people. (Reflect, —
except those who are not born of blood, nor of the will —
of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John i.)
It shall break in pieces. and consume all these kingdoms,
and it shall stand forever. (Daniel ii.) Therefore Paul
also says to the believers, ‘‘ Give thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheri-
tance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from.
~
*%
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. gi
the power of darkness, ang hath translated us into the
kingdom of His dear Son.’’ (Col. i.)
But if we, on the contrary, consider the lords, princes
-and officers of this world, with their pompous, vain and
ambitious life, we will soon find, (if we otherwise have eyes
to see,) that they are yet unregenerated, unbelieving and
carnally-minded people, who have not known the way of
peace, but they are ever provoked by the fierce spirit of
Lucifer, to pride, ambition, rioting, ostentation, fighting,
war and shedding blood, with all manner of wickedness
and pompous life, as is also the case with the common
people, and the sinful rabble. Therefore it is easily seen,
and may be certainly known, what manner of spirit they
are of; for all such fruits are contrary to the spirit of —
Christ, and foreign to His nature, and he that hath not
the Spirit of Christ, is none of His; (Rom. viii.;) and he
that transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ,
hath not God. 7
Hereby -I would admonish all men, whatever their
station in life, whether high or low, noble or ignoble, poor
or rich, of whatever condition, calling or name they may
be, that they would for once rightly consider, and com-
pare the nature of these two kingdoms. ‘Take the quality,
nature, peace, love, humility and meekness of the kingdom
-of Christ, and contrast it with the quality, nature, re-
-venge, bitterness, pride, ambition and carnal life of the
kingdom of this world, and you cannot fail to perceive,
that those of the earthly kingdom are yet without Christ,
and aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope. There-
fore do not let yourselves be any longer comforted by the
lies of those who say peace and safety, and sew pillows to
re Ai ~ Na . eee
™
92 _ THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
the armholes, and lay kerchiefs under the head, to hunt -
the souls; and promise them liberty, whilst they are them-
selves the servants of corruption. I tell you of a truth, .
with the holy apostle Paul: so long as you yet live in your
carnal will, ye shall die; for to be carnally-minded is death, |
and is enmity against God. (Rom. viii.)
What does it profit you, that you esteem yourselves
Christians, if you remain in your proud, vain-glorious, am- ~
- pitious, sinful and vain_life, and walk from one unrighteous- —
ness to another, and with all your deeds and works despise
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal and Almighty Father,
~who came from the high heavens, as a commander of
heaven and earth, and opened for us the barred door of
Paradise, trod the path of life before us, and with clear
words made known to us the will and counsel of His
Heavenly Father, sealing all with His precious blood, and
promised unto all those who would receive His word, take
His cross upon them and follow Him, that they should
have everlasting life. (John iii.)
‘Therefore I say again, what does your glorying and im-
aginary Divine worship profit you, if you will not receive -
Christ’s precious word, but persist in your own traditions
and carnal life? What will be your’state of mind, or your
cheer, when He shall come with all His holy angels in _
‘flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not __
God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus ©
Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
-from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His
power.’’ (2 Thess. i.) What profit had the rich man of
all his giory and sumptuous fare, when he was in hell and- —
torment, and could not so much as obtain a drop of water
~ to cool his glowing tongue, which he had perhaps yielded
we
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 03
up little to the praise or glory of God? Thetefore ye
vain and carnal people, who yet desire with the rich man
to array and adorn your sinful bodies here, and indulge in
sumptuous fare; reflect upon these things in the day of
grace, reform your lives, and be converted to the living
God, before the time has fled, and the hour come, when
_ it shall be said, Give an account of your stewardship; lest
_with the unprofitable servant you be bound hand and foot,
and cast out into outer darkness, where there will be weep-
ing and gnashing of teeth, where the worm dieth not, and
the fire is not quenched, but must drink of the wine of
the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture in-
ale As
to the cup of His indignation, and shall be tormented with
fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels and
‘in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of your tor-
ment shall ascend up for ever and ever. (Rev. xiv.)
A person is usually greatly terrified and affrighted, if he
only thinks he sees a spirit, or apparition, in a dark and
quiet midnight; he is overwhelmed with terror and amaze-
ment. But what frightful spirits and inexpressible visions
and spirits of devils will here be beheld! What fearful
terror, trembling, and continuous gnashing of teeth will be
_ heard; what a continual lamentation of themselves and
their own condemnation; what despair and gnawing of
conscience, will there be felt, because of the neglect of the
grace of God, and because the great treasure which Christ
_ has purchased for them has now passed out of their hands.
Oh! how this sword will pierce the soul, and ever awaken
new pangs of torment. Oh! how will they then cry out
with fear and despair: We miserable and execrated beings,
we hated the Lord’s instruction, and would have none of
His fear; we rejected His counsel, though. He ofttimes_
ye
ig /
04 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
convicted us, aad we despised all His reproof. But now
we must eat the fruit of our own way, and be filled with
our own devices. Oh! we fools, suffered ourselves to be
tempted by the lusts of our sinful flesh. This is now death
to us, and yet death flees from us; and the reward of our
profligacy now destroys us, and yet we can not die. Oh! |
‘that the mountains would fall upon us, and the hills cover
us: but our wishing is in vain, we must now reap what we
have sown; our time is past, the gulf is fixed, comfort has -
vanished, and hope is at an end; the pound which we once
obtained of God is taken from us, and there remains noth- —
ing for us but bonds and darkness, and the society of dev-
ils and of hellish spirits for our eternal fellowship and tor-
ment. Oh fearful eternity, oh shuddering time, oh. tor-
menting pain, oh restlessness without end! Oh that all-
men could be aware of this fearful condition, in this time
of grace, and that the sounding of this shuddering, sor-
- rowful, weeping and wailing of. the damned souls, could
be heard with the ear of the spirit, if only for a moment; -
they would without delay work out their souls’ salvation 75
with fear and trembling.
Oh! do come, all ye priests and prophets of Baal, who
comfort the people with lies; do for once rightly awake, ~
and reflect upon how you, with the ungodly Belshazzar, ~~
so shamefully misuse the holy and golden vessels which
your fathers have taken out of the Holy Temple at Jerisa-
lem, and brought to Babylon, and now honor your gods
with them; (Daniel v.) as, there is Baptism, Supper, and
the outward ceremonies and Divine services, which are
taken from the Holy Temple, wherein the glory of God-
dwelt; namely, out of the apostolic community, or Church
of Christ, wherein the holy offerings of prayer to God _
zx ao
aed Phe
an
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 95
were made from hearts sanctified and pure, as a sweet-
smelling savor. These ye have taken, and distributed
_ them among your Babylonian communities (which, how-
x
ever, do not belong to Babel, but to the temple or Church
| of God.) By drinking out of these holy vessels, ye have
_ become drunken, and praise your gods, or your own tradi-
tions and false worship, by which ye comfort the people
with lies, who the while feel glorious, and all think they
are good Christians.
I say yet again, do for once be rightly awakened, and
with Belshazzar lift up your heads, and behold the Scrip-
tures, written by the finger of God against you; and with
fear and trembling see the Holy Spirit as interpreter, that
He may explain and illustrate the Scriptures, (namely, the
Holy Gospel,) when you will hear and perceive that you
have been weighed in the balance of God’s Word, but were
found too light, and instead of the peace which you
thought to have with God, you have nothing but punish-
ment, wrath and disfavor to await of Him, unless you re-
form, fear God with all your hearts, keep His command-
ments and do them ; for why do you call Christ your Lord,
if you do not keep His commandments ? ;
If we take a view of the common people, we will find
~ almost everywhere such a rude, dissolute life, as gluttony,
drunkenness, fornication, adultery, cursing, swearing,
dancing, playing, cheating, hating, envying, contention,
fighting, shedding of blood, destruction of towns and
countries; and above all, the country is mostly drunken in
vanity, with all manner of pomp and haughtiness, with
such a Sodomitish life, that we could perhaps scarcely find
such an abandoned and ungodly life among the heathen,
as is manifest and well known amongst the nominal Chris-
“
96 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
- tians. Yet they hope to be saved a grace, through Christ.
Oh, Jesus, Jesus! shouldest Thou have chosen to Thyself.
such a people? Shouldest Thou have humbled Thyself so
low, that we might live in all voluptuousness and gratifica- © >
tion of the flesh, and yet be Thy disciples? Shouldest
Thou, who art the word of truth, have preached lies to
Thy apostles and disciples, in this, that Thou hast pointed
them to such a narrow way of the cross? And should
Thy chosen apostles whom Thou hast sent out have been
so silly as to believe Thee, and walk on so contracted a
way as Thou hast commanded them, whilst we now may
walk on such broad ways of the flesh, and yet be saved
through Thee? But, oh no! Thou, oh Jesus! art the
truth, and Thy word will remain truth unto all eternity ;
and all those who will not bow and humble themselves
under Thy meek and gentle yoke, and will not with all
their heart believe and obey Thy word, will also as foolish
men and virgins be doomed by Thy word, and have to re-
main without the door, where will be weeping and gnash-
ing of teeth.
r—
Oh, Jesus my Saviour, do teach us to die, whilst yet we
live, and bury us in Thy death, and raise us-up again |
_ through the power of Thy resurrection, and lead us with ~
Thyself into that heavenly, transcendant, spiritual life, -
and animate us with that same united life which is in
Thee, and by which we can go with Thee into eternity,
_ and will enable us to discern the spirits, whether they are _
true or false, whether they are from Thee or whether they —
are from the abyss of darkness; since they come forth and
appear as bright and shining lights, like as the beast which __
John saw coming up out of the earth, which was like a
lamb, and yet spake as a dragon ; which did great wonders,
a
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 97
so that he made fire come down from Heaven, and de-
ceived them that dwell on earth, by reason of those mira-
cles which he had power to do. (Rev. xiii.) Therefore,
my dear Saviour, direct us, direct our hearts on high unto
‘Thyself, that we may walk with Thee in Heaven, and no
more according to the inner man be on earth, for Thou
_ art the Lamb that redeemed us through Thy blood, and
Pg
hast chosen us, that we should be found holy and unblam-
able before Thee in peace. ‘To Thee be praise, honor,
glory and eternal blessing: amen, oh Jesus!
Beloved reader, since I have now briefly, and in part,
with testimony of the Holy Scriptures, set forth the differ-
ence between the Church of Christ and the church of An-
tichrist, and between the kingdom of Christ and the king-
dom of this world ; so that every one who is taught of God
can well see, that the Church of Christ in our time has al-
most everywhere been spoiled by the little foxes ; namely
by the false prophets who have crept in, and have so cor-
rupted and distracted the flock of Christ by their false doc-
trine, that hungering and thirsting souls scarcely know
where to find the true bread of life, Christ Jesus, or the
waters of His Holy Gospel, and therefore still remain cap-
tives in this spiritual Babylon, to the great distress and
detriment of their souls. Wherefore do awaken, and lift
up your heads, all ye who yet sit captive in Babylon; come
-and with us journey to Jerusalem, and let us build up this
ruined temple, which has for so many years been defiled,
trodden down and laid waste by the uncircumcised heathen,
and through their impure priests, who have entered into
their vocation without being called by the Spirit of Christ,
and have perverted His Holy Gospel, and have profaned
the Holy Sanctuary (the Church), for they have put no
98 BK THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
difference between the holy and profane, neither have ©
they shewed difference between the clean and'the unclean.
CHZKExXxits)
This defiled temple or church (I ey let us again purify ;
for Jesus Christ, the Eternal Emperor and King of peace,
has again proclaimed by His grace, and given charge to
leave this anti-Christian Babel, and again to build up Je- |
rusalem; that is, to again erect His Church, with all her
apostolical ordinances, which has long lain waste, and her
glory in the dust, so that the pure offerings of God. were
not offered in the Holy Temple, on the pure Altar Jesus
Christ, which stands in the midst of His Church; but on
the contrary, on the high places of human reason, to the
great detriment of Israel and affliction of many faithful
souls. *
Therefore, prepare yourselves, all ye who are yet true
Israelites, rend their bonds asunder, and cast their cords~
from you, and do not let yourselves be longer detained by
these false prophets, who lay pillows under your arms, and
kerchiefs under your heads, and say Peace, peace, when
yet there is no peace: but depart from all impure worship,
wherein ye find no life, and with the prodigal son, forsake 2
the herding of swine, in which you are engaged, and the
husks upon which their teachers feed them, or upon which
the rich citizens fare; and approach the Heavenly Father, —
who will ken, and not sooner, receive you, and give you
the kiss of peace, bestow upon you the finger-ring of His
love, clothe you with the righteousness and merit of Jesus
Christ, and being shod with the preparation of the Gospel
of peace, will lead you into His house and communion;
then will ye hold feast, and receive the true meat or food, —
in which the soul lives, to the praise and honor of God. .
- ‘pH WaY TO HEAVEN. _ 99
‘Thus have the saints done from the beginning, until the
time of the last reformation, in which time we find many
examples of separation ; for light cannot be in darkness,
~ or the Spirit of God in a body or community subject unto
‘sin, but will flee the idolatrous and depart from profligacy.
Therefore consider with David the days of old and the
-years of ancient times, and observe how the faithful be-
lievers at all times stood against unrighteousness, and
reproved it and fled from idolatry; as I will now in my
insignificance briefly point out from the Holy Scriptures,
to the honor of God, and the edification of all hungering
souls. Yea, dear Lord, bless this work, in the name of
Jesus, amen,
\ j ( mae
cate Cig we THE WAY ‘rO HEAVEN.
>
CHAPTER: FV.
N the first place I will begin with Abel and Cain, for
Cain was the first-born, and was earthly-minded, and
was the beginning of the Church of Satan on earth. Abel
was the second-born, and was spiritually-minded ; and was
a figure and beginning of the Church of God on earth.
When they would bring the Lord an offering, they did
not bring it in fellowship, but each one brought his own
sacrifice. Cain brought of the fruits of the field because ;
he was a tiller of the ground, and had regard to earthly
things: but Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and
the fat thereof, because he was a keeper of sheep, and re-
garded spiritual things. Cain’s offering was rejected of
the Lord, but Abel’s was accepted: for by faith Abel of-
fered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. (Heb. xi.)
This is also the constitution of the false Church, which
in the first place consists of people who are only born ac-
cording to nature, and are earthly and carnally-minded,
are tillers of the ground and worldly-minded, whose hearts
are yet written in the earth: notwithstanding they will
offer sacrifice to God, but their offerings are only the fruits
of the earth, namely from an impure, earthly, envious and —
revengeful heart, which is full of all manner of sin and un-
cleanness, and impregnated with the seed of the serpent.
For this reason their offerings and prayers are rejected of
the Lord, for to the impure and unbelieving all things are
impure, for both their mind and conscience is defiled ;~ r
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. ~ Toi
Ss they profess that they know God, but in works they deny
Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every
good work reprobate. (Titus 1.)
But the Church of God is quite differently constituted.
The spiritual and regenerated Abelites cannot bring their
offerings in fellowship with the generation of Cain ; for
they are shepherds, and watch, or help to watch over the
sheep of Christ, and are in fellowship with one another,
and offer the firstling of their flock, which is Christ Jesus,
who is also the head of the Church, and the beginning,
the first-born from the dead; that in all things He might
have the pre-eminence. (Col. i.) With pious Abel they
make this offering to God through faith, which is to Him
-a sweet-smelling savor; wherefore they are also graciously
regarded of God, and obtain forgiveness of sins ; their
_ souls are comforted and quickened unto everlasting life.
~ Therefore they are also despised, mocked, envied and per-
secuted by the generation of Cain, for they say, ‘‘Let us
lie in wait for the righteous ; because he is not for our turn,
and he is clean contrary to our doings ; he upbraideth us
with our offending the law, and objecteth to our infamy,
_ the transgressions of our education. He professeth to
have the knowledge of God: and he calleth himself the
child of the Lord. He was made to reprove our thoughts.
He is grievous unto us to behold: for his life is not lke
other men’s, his ways are of another fashion. We are es-
teemed of him as counterfeits; he abstaineth from our
ways as from filthiness.’’ (Wisdom ii.)
In the second place we see, that when men began to
multiply on the face of the earth, and the sons of God
(namely, those of Seth’s generation, who was the other
_* seed in Abel’s stead), saw the daughters of men (namely,
\
=v 102 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
the daughters of Cain’s generation), that they were fair,
and took them wives of all which they chose; the Lord
said, ‘‘ My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that
he also is flesh.’? From this unity of the two generations, —
there sprang forth ‘‘ mighty men, which were of old, men
of renown,’’ but the wickedness became great in the earth,
so that God was necessitated to destroy the world by a
flood of waters. Nevertheless, His Church, which had pre-
served herself unspotted from the world (or Cain’s genera-
tion), He preserved by or through the ark which was pre-
pared by Noah, and thus brought the righteous from the
first into the second age of the world. |
Thus it has happened unto Christendom. So long as the
Apostolic Church remained separate from the world,
obeyed the spirit of God, and alone heard the voice of
Christ and His Apostles, she stood well and was glorious.
But when professors of Christianity began to multiply, and |
the spirit of Cain began to intermix with them, they be-
came carnal, and beholding the daughters of men that they
were fair, began to intermarry, and unite themselves with
them. Out of this sprang the fall of Christendom (under:
stand what I mean), namely, when men of the generation ©
of Cain arose, putting on the form of godliness (or Christ-
ianity), and introduced perverted doctrines and sects, and
by their evil seed begat daughters or churches, which were
fair in form, and also gave the flesh a fair liberty. These —
then drew away the disciples (or Christians) after them,
and becoming sensual, looked upon this fair but carnal ap-
pearance, left their own generation or church, and inter-
‘married, or united themselves with such churches as were
born of the seed of Cain, according to the will of man.
From such union there were begotten or sprang highly re-
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 103
nowned spirits, who appear in a fair form of wisdom and
godliness, desiring to be teachers of the law, and say,
‘With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own,
who is lord over us?’’ (Ps. xii.,) through which the poor
_people of our day are so miserably deceived, and as in the
~~ time of Noah, have become “‘ flesh.’’ The true Christian
seed has become so greatly diminished in our day, that
‘there is very little to be found that is not mixed with the
generation of Cain, or false doctrine or churches. Even
if they do not entirely intermarry with one another, yet
they carry on adultery with one another, and do not- —
regard the Spirit of God which strives with them.
They have become so blinded by their carnal disposition,
that they do not perceive that there is suspended over them
an eternal deluge, which will shortly involve all those in
destruction and eternal ignominy and torment, who will
not enter into the ark which the Spiritual Noah, Christ
Jesus, has prepared for His family.
But all those who are yet remaining of the peneentian of
Seth, and have not united themselves with Cain’s genera-
tion, will go with Noah into the ark; namely, all believ-
ing, regenerated: Christians, who are yet remaining of the
_ seed of the first Church, who have kept themselves un-
spotted from the world, and not suffered themselves to be
tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doc-
trine, and craftiness of men, but abstain from all appear-
ance of evil; these suffer themselves to be, and are incor-
porated with Christ in the ark of His community, which
_He has prepared for us through the blood of the Everlast-
ing Covenant, thus passing out of the first into the second
world (with Noah and his household). Namely, they here
(that is, in this life,) pass out of their old evil and sinful
-
104 ~ . THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
nature, into the new essence or nature of the Spirit; for
-. old things have passed away, and all things have become
new with them; and there is, therefore, no condemnation
in them; therefore they also, after this life, go with Him
into the new and eternal world, and into the eternal life,
where there will be no more sorrow, lamentation or death,
but unceasing pleasures and delight.
_ But like as Noah and his family, when they had entered
the ark and the Lord shut them in, they were now separ-
‘ated from all that was without the ark, and they could
have no fellowship with one another. This was a figura-
tive occurrence, typifying that which was afterwards ful-
filled in Christ spiritually. All believing, regenerated
Christians who become incorporated with Christ in the
ark, or His Church, by baptism, and enter into covenant
with God, are now also separated from all sects and
churches which are not in fellowship with Christ, seeing
there is but one ground laid, which is Jesus Christ, and
but one corner-stone in Zion, on which the Church is |
built; but one way to enter in, which is strait and narrow;
and but one body, and one spirit, in which we are called
~ In one hope of our calling; one Lord, one faith, one bap-
tism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in us all. (Eph. iv.) Christ also prayed,
(John xvii.,) not only for His apostles, ‘but also for them
which shall believe in Me through their word: that they
all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in
Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may
believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which
Thou hast given Me, I have given them, that they may. be
one even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that
they may be perfect in one; and that the world may know
“
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. TOS
that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast
~ loved Me.’’? From this it may be plainly seen, that all
who are members of Christ, and branches in Him, must
_also always bring one kind of fruit, and be of one mind,
and have the same love one to another, and stand fast in
one spirit and in one mind, and with. one mouth glorify
- God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and as
many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them,
and mercy, and upon the Israel of Ged. (Gal. vi.)
‘But, on the contrary, that all who-do not walk accord-
ing to this rule, cannot be the Church of Christ, but the
church of Antichrist, is plainer than the light of day.
‘Therefore the household of Christ, who are incorporated
into His communion, are separated from all those who are
not of this household, or do not stand in fellowship with
Christ. Neither can they give ear to their doctrine or
2 service, for their voice is strange ; therefore they do not
2
know them, and flee from them, as Christ says they will.
_ (John x.) They speak the word or letter of the Scrip-
tures, without life or power, because they are destitute of
the interpreter or Holy Spirit; therefore, the children of
- God do not incline to it, because it is only the husks with-
- out any juice or substance, or bran in which there is no
flour; but only human reason or awakened understanding, .
preaching without the spirit of God. Although they take
the covenant in their mouth, yet they hate instruction;
-_ when they see a thief they go with him, (namely the false
prophets who steal God’s word,) with flattering lips and a
double heart they speak, and have fellowship with (spirit-
ual) adulterers, which is a clear evidence that they are yet
bound together in one body with the bands of darkness,
and together constitute the great Babylon, on which the
~
106 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
whore sits, and saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am:
no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her
plagues come in one day. (Rev. xviii.) For this reason
the household of faith, who are incorporated with Christ
in the bond of love, can no more be equally yoked to--
gether with them; for they are children of righteousness,
therefore they can have no fellowship with unrighteous-
ness; they are children of light, therefore they can have
no communion with such unfruitful works of darkness, but
are much more constrained through their light and love to -
reprove them.
In the third place, all those creatures who were wrought
upon by the Divine power, or were drawn of God, entered
with Noah into the ark. -These were of all the different
species, genera or natures, and all left their fellows and
those of their kind, received one nature, and were together
in peace and harmony in one community.
Thus it was also in Christ; for when He had prepared
His Church through His own blood, and the believing
Jews who were of His own lineage, according to the seed
of Abraham, and who received the first message or invita-
tion, had entered in with Him; then there were great mul-
titudes of heathens, of all nations and tongues, who, as
wild and ravenous creatures, walked in their own ways,
called and drawn by the Gospel into the fellowship of
Christ, and they became one fold and one shepherd.
(John x.) But before this could occur they had to leave ©
/
the idolatrous temples of the heathen, and to come out ©
from amongst their impure religious services, separate
themselves, and not touch the unclean thing. Then the
Lord received them, was a Father unto them, and they
were His sons and daughters. (2 Cor. es j
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 107
If the creatures had not yielded to the drawing of God,
and not been obedient in leaving their fellows and kind,
and going with Noah into the ark, they would all have
perished in the flood. So also will it be with us; when
we are called by the grace of God, and know or under-
_stand by the Holy Scriptures, that there is an eternal flood
of fiery wrath to come over this evil world; but we are not
willing to leave our evil, sinful nature, our carnal associ-
ates and friends, or our fellowship in the church of dark-
ness; we will also, with the multitude of the ungodly, per-
‘ish in the flood of fiery wrath for our disobedience.
In the fourth place, pious Lot was necessitated, for the
‘preservation of his soul, to leave Sodom, and flee to the
little town of Zoar, by the command of God; but if he ©
had not believed the word of God and been obedient to
His command, he would have had to perish with fire and
brimstone.
Sc also we, if we-do not heed the heavenly voice, which
calls to us, ‘‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues’’ (Rev. xvili.), namely, if we will not forsake
our sins, and will not depart from that spiritual Sodom
and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified (Rev. xi.), that
is, from the churches and sects who comfort the carnal
sinner with the Gospel of Christ, and promise him life,
though they shall not live, and liberty, whilst they are
themselves the servants of corruption, and thereby Christ
is still crucified; for He will only have the penitent and
burdened sinner comforted thereby, and not have His
pearls cast before swine. ‘Therefore I say, if we will not
with Lot forsake them, we will have to fall with them
under the fearful wrath of God, unto eternal. ignominy
_ and torment,
~
108 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
Fifthly, we can see how the figurative Israel were sepa-
rate from all other nations, who were about them; and
were not allowed to make any fellowship with them; and
as long as they were herein faithful to God, and kept His
law, the Lord was with them. But if they did not hear,
and joined in fellowship with idols, and the surrounding
heathen nations, God also rejected them, and turned His
face from them, until they were again converted, left their
heathenish customs, and again established true Divine ser-
vice.. Then the Lord again received them, as may ems
‘be seen throughout the whole Old Testament.
This is also again very necessary in our time, since
Christendom has taken up and adopted a strange, carnal,
idolatrous and heathenish mode of worship, that we would.
again abandon their heathenish customs, and flee from
their impure worship, and again, by the grace of God, es-
tablish the true apostolic communion of Jesus Christ, with
all its ordinances, so that the Lord may not cast us off for
ever, but will have mercy on us and gather us again, as
His erring children, into one fold and under one shep--
herd, so that we may be joined together and compacted
by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effec-
tual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase
of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph. iv.)
Sixthly, all creatures which did not part the hoof and
chew the cud, were unclean to the figurative Israel. The
hare ruminated, but had not the cloven foot, therefore he
was unclean. ‘The swine, though he divided the hoof, yet
he did not ruminate, and therefore was also unclean. _
(Lev. xi.)
So it is also in the spiritual Israel: if a person did as-_
sume the habit or disposition of the hare, ruminate on the
+
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 169
_ word, consider and reflect upon it, and also take it to heart,
but would not forsake his sinful nature, and not withdraw
from sinful associations, and strange or idolatrous worship,
and as Paul teaches, flee from idolatry, and avoid all ap-
_ pearance of evil, he would still be unclean to the Christian
Church, because his walk would still be impure, as repre-
sented by dog’s claws, whilst the Church shall be holy and.
unblamable.
Again, if even some one did withdraw from all unclean-
ness, and strange worship and outward idolatry, but withal
did not ruminate on the word of God, reflect upon it and
take it to heart, but with the swine, after washing, turn
- again to his wallowing in the mire, and rooting in the
_ earth, would not regard the crown which is suspended over
his head, he would also be unclean to the Christian Church,
‘as not having the inward renewal which can alone spring
from the power of the seed of God’s word.
But if any one, in the similitude of a sheep, ruminates
and divides the hoof, he is clean, and a member in the
body of Christ, for he is separated and withdrawn from all
_unrighteousness, and lives in all things according to the
word of God, and may say with David: ‘‘ Thy loving kind-
“ness is before mine eyes; and I have walked in Thy truth.
_ I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go with dis-
semblers. I have hated the congregation of evil-doers;
and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in
-_innocency : so will I compass Thine altar, O Lord: That I
may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of
all Thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved Thy habita-
tion (that is, the Church) and the place where Thine honor
- dwelleth.” (Ps. xxvi.) ‘To see Thy power and Thy
glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. Because
x
Tio _. THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
Thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise
Thee. Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up
my hands in Thy name.’’ (Ps. Ixiii.) Oh, God and Lord
of my life.
Seventhly, all the pious fathers and prophets have ob--
served this separation, although apostate Israel was by
times almost entirely drowned in idolatry. Yet these |
would take no part with them, but severely reprove them, _
and declared to them the wrath of God revealed in His —
law, as may be seen of Ahijah, Elijah, Elisha, Isaias, Jere-
miah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and all prophets and children of
the prophets, how they at all times adhered to the Law of
the Lord, and reproved all false worship ; for which rea-- —
son they also had to suffer much and flee from those who ~
sought their life, so that Elijah thought he only was left, —
and they sought his life to take it away. But the Lord —
replied to him ‘‘yet I have left unto Me seven thousand in
Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and
every mouth which hath not kissed him.’’ (1 Kings xix.)
_ Thus we also feel ourselves constrained, with all faithful
witnesses of the truth, to preserve the law of Christ, and
to reprove all apostate Christians with their false worship,
and to withdraw from them, so that we do not become
partaker of their sins, and receive of their plagues. (Rev.
XVlil. ) oetae
Eighthly, the man of God from Judea who prophesied
against the altar of Bethel, who was forbidden of the Lord
to eat bread or drink water in that place, or to return by
the way he had come; but was deceived by the old, lying . :
prophet, and returned and ate and drank with him, con-—
trary to the word of the Lord, and had to be torn by the-
lion. .
THE WAY TO HEAVEN, ft
“So, also, there are many at the present time who are
called by the grace of God to prophesy against the open
idolatry, sin and ungodliness, but they do not preserve the
word of their Lord, nor walk in accordance with it, but
let themselves be again deceived by the deceitful, old, ly- ©
ing prophets, and walk with them in another way than that
which they have been taught by Jesus Christ, the mouth of
eternal truth, and eat of their impure bread, and drink of
their impure water, or false doctrine; therefore they must
also be apprehended by the hellish lion, except they heart-
ily repent and be converted ; for whosoever transgresseth,
and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, (veflec¢,) hath
not God.
- Ninthly, the pious king, Jehoshaphat, joined but once
with the ungodly king, Ahab, and went with him to Ra-
moth in Gilead, where he was near losing his life; and
_ when he came home, the prophet met him and reproved’
him, saying, ‘‘Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love
them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee
from the Lord.’’ How much more will the wrath of God
be upon those, who are at all times in fellowship with such
carnal and-spiritless people, who hate the Lord? for to be
carnally minded is enmity against God; and also strive
for them and hear the false prophets, who unanimously say, i
Go and prosper; this or that can do you no harm, you are
saved by grace and not by works, and such like comforts ;
whereby they make the commandment of God of none
effect by their own traditions, and the Scriptures are in
many respects not regarded by them, but walk according
to their own ideas, or opinion, and not according: to
s&s Christ; therefore all true prophets must with Micaiah
- predict the contrary, and declare to them their destruction,
~
ti2 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
through the Spirit and word of the ora in which they
live. For this reason they also can not join in fellowship |
with them, nor run with them to the excess of riot and
idolatry as they do. Therefore we are also hated and
mocked by them, and regarded of them as capricious fools ;
thinking we hate them, because we cannot predict good
for them, and as they think always evil. We must there-
fore say with the apostle, ‘‘If our gospel be hid, it is hid
to them that are lost: im whom the God of this world hath —
blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest Spent 2
of the glorious gospel of ig who is the image of God, _
should shine unto them.’’ (2 Cor. iv.)
Tenthly, we can see how Israel and Judah, under the
reign of Ahaz and Hoshea, lived in fearful idolatry, until
the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, and gave them
into the hands of the Assyrians, who then possessed Sama-
ria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. Then they took them-
selves Jewish priests, who taught them to fear the Lord.
Howbeit, every nation made gods of their own, and they
. feared the Lord and served their own gods, after the
manner of their own nations whence they had been
brought. (2 Kings xvil.)
Thus the heathen, or those who are yet unregenerate,
who have not been circumcised with the circumcision of
Christ, made without hands, have been brought. into the
spiritual Israel, and laid waste the true Divine worship,
_ and have introduced their own traditions, or made their
own gods; for each party or people have made their ~
own religion, by which they have been brought up, their
God, upon which they trust, and with which they will still
fear the Lord; but His right manners and commands, .
which. he has prescribed through Jesus Christ and His holy
4
‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN. - mei 2.)
Apostles, those they do not observe, but ever do according
to their old apostate Christian custom.
For this cause we feel ourselves constrained through the
grace of God, with the pious Hezekiah, again to institute
the true Divine worship, and to reinstate the ordinances
of the holy communion of Jesus Christ, according to His
_holy word and peaceable Gospel, which is and shall be
our rule to all eternity. But on the contrary, with our
limited gifts, to proscribe, shun, avoid and flee from all
strange gods and doctrines of men, and with Hezekiah
alone cleave unto the Lord, and not depart from Him
either to right or left. :
~ Eleventhly, the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, have left us a glorious pattern and example,
showing their fidelity and love to God, and honoring Him
alone without any hypocrisy. Had they consulted carnal
reason, as carnal people at the present time do, they might
have said: We can very well fall down before this 1 image ;
God knows very well that we do not worship’it in our
hearts; but no, they were faithful to their God, and to this
they bore testimony, as well with their body before man as
with their souls beforeGod. Herein God was praised, and:
His name was glorified, and they were delivered from the —
hand of their enemies. (Daniel iii.)
-Daniel, a faithful servant of God, would rather be cast
_ into the lions’ den, than in the least to sin against his God.
If he had thought in order to avoid offence, he would in
obedience to the king make his petition according to the
decree, but in his heart pray to God, it would not have gone
well with him; but he knew that this would not stand be-
_ fore God therefore he put his trust in Him, and left us an
example of faithfulness, (Daniel vi.)
114 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
So also the pious Matthias, old Eleazer, the good Tobias,
the mother with ‘her seven sons, and other similar exam-
ples which would extend the work too far to treat specially
upon. .
Twelfthly, Christ has also warned His disciples in the
New Testament, that they should beware of false prophets,
who come to them in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they
_are ravening wolves; and gave them the fruit as an evi-
dence by which they shall be known. And further Head- —
monished them to take heed and beware of the leaven of
the Pharisees and of the Sadducees; but this His disciples
did not understand at the time, but reasoned among them- -
selves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. How
much less will the world be able to comprehend that the
children of God should separate themselves from all hypo-
critical and Pharisaical doctrine, which appears fair out-
wardly, but inwardly, are full of ravening and wickedness.
They are not competent to prove such prophets and teach-
ers; because they have themselves never tasted the sweet —
and delicious odor of the Gospel, nor have they received
-the wholesome and delicious word of God, in which alone —
the children of God live; but still are content to herd the
swine, and desire to satisfy themselves with the husks or
doctrine of men. Therefore they can also not discrimi-
nate: but those souls who are sanctified through the truth,
prove the spirits by the fruit, and all those who they know
do not walk in sincerity before God, and do-not faithfully
watch over their flocks, but let them follow all strangers
and false prophets; who are yet thieves and robbers; yea, -
ravening wolves, who do not spare the flock of Christ ;
of whom Paul earnestly admonishes the bishops and
teachers, saying, ‘‘Take heed therefore unto yourselves,
THE WAY TO HEAVEN, Its
and unto all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath
‘made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which
He hath purchased with Hisown blood. For I know this,
that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw
‘away disciples after them. herefore watch and rcmem-
ber, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn
every one nightand day with tears.’’ (Acts xx.) Thus
Paul also speaks to Timothy: ‘‘This know also, that in
the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud blas-
phemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, with-
out natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incon-
tinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors,
-heady, high minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers
\
of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the >
power thereof: from such turn away (reflect on this). —
For of this sort are they which creep into widows’ houses,
and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away.
with divers lusts, ever learning and never able to come to ©
the knowledge of the truth.’’ (2 Tim. iii.) :
Again, ‘‘ If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is
proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and
strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
‘surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,
_and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness:
(now reflect) from such withdraw thyself.’’ (1 Tim. vi.)
Again John teaches, ‘‘If there come any unto you, and
bring not this doctrine, receive him not into you house,
we
116 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God -
speed, is partaker of his evil deeds.’’ (2 John.) Sf
Again, Paul to the Romans says, (xvi.,) ‘Now I be-
seech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and ~
offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned ; _
(now reflect,) and avoid them. For they that are such
serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly ; and
by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the
simple.’’ .
The Spirit in Revelations says, ‘‘I have a few things
against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, —
which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my —
servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed
to idols.’’ Again, ‘If any man worship the beast and his ~
image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his —
hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of
His indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the ~
presence of the Lamb.’’ é
Therefore I say once more, that all those who-do not
watch over the flock which is committed to them, but let
them follow all false prophets and teachers, must neces- —
sarily be no true shepherds, but hirelings, who care not for.
the sheep. This is clearer than the light of day.
Oh God ! is it not a lamentable delusion, that there are —
so few to be found in our time who are not involved in —
spiritual fornication? for where do we find a community —
amongst all parties which is not taught by the woman Jeze-.
bel to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to —
idols? where do we find those who do not honor the image ;
of Antichrist? where do we find the true and faithful pas-
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 117
tors, who enter in through the door? where are those to
_whom the Porter or Holy Ghost hath opened, that he can
call the sheep and lead them out from all strange worship
and sinful idolatry, whose voice alone the sheep know and
follow, but will not follow strange hirelings, but flee from
them, for they know not their voice? I, for my part, -
could find none who are free from spiritual fornication,
and not involved in the pernicious spirit of liberty, who
can speak and teach together with flattering lips and a
double tongue, to avoid the cross and retain the honor of ©
men, and have thus-all. been made drunk with the enchant-
ing wine of the Babylonian whore who sits on the many
waters, or the spirits of the parties, whereby their eyes are
darkened, and their spiritual understanding perverted, that
they sleep in the accepted time, whilst the sun is shining
pleasantly, and cannot watch over their flocks ; for whilst
they should be giving them the true wine of purification
and sanctification, which would sanctify their whole soul
and body, that their whole walk both in flesh and spirit
should be holy, but instead they still give them the wine
of spiritual fornication, which to the flesh is pleasant, but
hereafter will become bitter, they have slidden by a perpet-
ual backsliding, ever learning and yet never coming to the
knowledge of the truth. .
- This is the reason we found ourselves necessitated,
through the Word of the Lord, and the leading of His
‘Spirit, entirely to separate ourselves from all parties, so
-that we would not also perish with them; for he that is
joined to an harlot is one body with her, but he that is
_joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Cor. vi.)
_ Therefore we will cleave unto the Lord alone, and serve
Him according to His word, and make no fellowship ex-
2
»
wh
118 THE WAY TO HEAVEN. Be
cept where we perceive that the Spirit of the Lord exists; —
for Paul siys, ‘The Lord is that Spirit; and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.’’ For they that
profess that they know God, but in their works deny Him,
are abominable, and to every good work reprobate. (Tit.
.1.) If they are abominable to God, and to every good
work reprobate, and yet will preach and take the pure
Word of God in their unclean mouth, should they not
also be to us, and all children of God, abominable?
Should it not cause a painful aversion in us, to see them
with unwashed hands or impure hearts enter into the sanc--
tuary of the Lord, as priests to watch over the Lord’s her-
itage, whereunto the Lord had never chosen them, but are
abomination to Him? Yea, I suppose that if we do not
feel a painful aversion to such teachers, but can yet walk
with them, hear them preach, or (yet more) can preach in
fellowship with them, then the pure spirit and love of God
cannot dwell in us. This is clearer than the light of day;
‘for an unjust man is an abomination to the just; and he
that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.’’
(Prov. xxix.)
Therefore it is highly necessary that we have a clear dis-
cernment of, and watch closely over ourselves, that we
first learn rightly to know the false prophet which is in
ourselves, and if we rightly know this, then we may also
learn to know those wbo come to us from without, and
know how to prove them by their doctrine or fruit; for as
the priest is, so are generally the common people, and as
the teacher is, so also are most of his members or disciples;
and as the tree is, so is also his fruit; and as the workman
is, so is also his work; and as the husbandman is, so is also
his husbandry. For like produces like; what is born of the
—
THE WAY TO- HEAVEN. 119
\
‘Spirit, that is spirit; but what is born of the flesh, that is
flesh. Wherefore, if a teacher be born of God, and is of
God placed in his calling, so that he does not speak of
himself, but God by His Spirit speaks through him, then
his word or teaching will also not remain fruitless; but
there will be spiritual children begotten by the hearing of
his preaching. For God’s word is not fruitless, and does
not return void; and such teachers must also have a spirit-
- ual community, who know his voice and follow him, but
flee the voice of a stranger; for sheep ever associate
together, but they flee from wolves, and if not they will be
torn. Where this fruit is not attendant, there is also no
true pastor who has a proper care for the sheep, but a hire-
ling, whose own the sheep are not, and who flees when he
sees the wolf coming, or else howls with him, and poe to
tear and scatter the flock.
. Therefore, the true and faithful lambs of Christ must
also withdraw from and flee such unfaithful shepherds, and
cleave alone to Jesus Christ their only Shepherd, who ©
teaches them that every plant.which the Heavenly Father —
~ hath not planted shall be rooted up. Therefore let them
alone; for they are blind and leaders of the blind. And
if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch.
(Matt. xv.)
* This counsel, I say, they will follow when they see one
teaching others, whilst he himself is not taught, or will
plant others, whilst he himself has not been planted
of God by His Spirit, and placed in his office or calling,
but has only obtained his ministry through carnal people,
and now speaks the word without spirit or life, and his
Sunday’s service is conducted without impression or power,
and the remaining time concerns himself little about his
120 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
church or congregation, but lets the members walk in car-
nal life as they please, and is well satisfied if they only do
not neglect attendance at meeting or forsake their breaking
of bread. This is a sure evidence that such are false proph-
ets and deceivers, therefore all true children of God must
let them alone, flee from and avoid them, according to the
counsel and command of Christ. (Matt. xv.) :
Thirteenthly. All true teachers must be known by their _
care of the sheep of Christ, because they feed them on the
pastures of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, lead the sheep into
the fold through the true door, teach them, and walk be-
fore them m true repentance, a true regeneration and
change of heart, a true evangelical ban and avoidance,
and all similar evangelical ordinances besides, and are dili-
gent in watching over and praying for the flock, and lead-
ing them out and turning them away from all lying apos-
tles and deceivers, that they may not be torn or the flock
scattered. a
But, my God, where will we find the true and faithful
pastors and teachers in our day, who watch faithfully over
their flocks? Where will we find the community who as.
sheep flee from wolves? Where are those who, with To-
bias, flee from impure worship, and do not eat of the offer-
_ ings or meat of the Gentiles, neither hear or receive the —
doctrine of the false prophets; but cleave alone to the
temple of the Lord and His altar, where the voice of
thanksgiving is heard, and all His wondrous works are ~
told? It is lamentable that so little is found in our day:
because they say, ‘‘ We have made a covenant with death,
and with hell we are at agreement; when the overflowing
scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for
we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have —
=
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. fy 121
we hid ourselves.’’ (Isaiah xxviii.) Therefore, “ judg-
ment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar
off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot
enter. Yea, truth faileth;-and he that departeth from evil
maketh himself a prey.’’ (Isaiah ix.) Oh God, oh God!
_ how shall Thy sheep be preserved ? how shall they find the
right door to enter into Thy fold or Church, with so many
standing in and barring the way which Thou, oh Jesus,
_hast taught? Oh Lord, behold how Thy sheep faint upon
the mountains, whilst the pure water of the holy doctrine
is fouled-by the unfaithful pastors, and the pure bread
whereby they alone could live is not broken unto them,
_ but they must eat that which their pastors have defiled, yet
they cannot live thereby (Ezkl. xxxiv.) except Thou,
Lord, dost come to the rescue, and dost again lead them
on the right way, on which the unclean do not pass over,
and fools shall not err thereon. Yea, dear Lord, do Thou
awaken true watchmen, which shall cry aloud and blow
the trumpet, that Thy people may gather together from
amongst all uncircumcised heathen, and fight for Thy
Sanctuary with the weapons of the Spirit, and give them
power to overcome, through faith in Thy blood, oh Jesus; —
amen. :
122 <THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
CHAPTER V.
F.any one should be curious, or inquire why it is that —
we will not hear the Mennonite Teachers, who yet pro-
fess'to uphold the same ground and doctrine which we also ~
do? ,
In the first place, then, I reply, that it is because they
profess with the mouth, and falsely boast that they are the
~ true defenseless people and have the true ground of the
apostles and prophets, and to be built upon Christ as the
Rock and true corner-stone of which our reformers, Menno
Simon and Detrich Philips, were such earnest advocates
and faithful teachers; the truth of which’so many thousands
have sealed with their blood, and testified to in so many ~
_ places, as is to be seen in the Martyrs’ Mirror.
But these in our time do not regard the doctrine of
these Reformers, and value their teachings very lightly, —
Because Menno and Detrich, in their doctrine and writ- —
ings, place the present Mennonite Church quite out of the
order of Christ and His Apostles; out of which order it in
truth is, as their fruits bear testimony before the whole
world.
Therefore, my dear reader, I will point you to these.
writings. Search them impartially, with a heart and mind
influenced by the Holy Spirit; and observe how they
depicted the church of Christ, and with testimony of
apostolical truth and spiritual power, have presented it to —
us gloriously; and which the members of the Church bore
\
Fa
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 123
testimony to by their fruits, and sealed with their blood.
And when you have rightly apprehended this truth, then
take a view of the present church or community with a
spiritual eye, and observe their carnal life, their proud and
haughty mood, their cool and sluggish heart in Divine
things, their insatiable worldliness, their walk and conver-
sation, which is, with most of them, in many ways vain
and carnal; and when you have observed this, then go a
little further and inquire whether you can yet find many
amongst them who are truly unarmed and defenseless; then
ask the judge and advocate, and they must say that some
of them are engaged in strife and suits at law, as well as
others 3 then ask the accused and transgressor, and they
will tell you that none are more frequently on juries to
‘judge and pass sentence on them than these; then ask the
inn-keepers, and they will tell you that many of them who
~ are lovers of spirituous drink present themselves, of which
some of their preachers are not free; and if you would ask
the race-rider, and his like, they would have to say that
they also have some of them for spectators, as well as of
all others. And if you consider these fruits impartially
according to the Gospel, you will find that their boast of
being the Church of Christ is a vain and idle pretense,
and as far as the evening is from morning, or darkness
from light, so far are they separated from the doctrine or
‘community of our first reformer, or from the Church of
Christ. It is to be feared that the candlestick is taken
from them, that they cannot see it; and if they do yet see
it, and do not repent, it will finally be taken from them,
because they will not receive the truth, which is yet at all
times offered unto them.
Again, it is a certain evidence that a teacher is faithful
7 « —
124 ' THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
if-he cleaves firmly to the word of truth, and does not -
yield either to the right hand or to the left, doing nothing
by partiality, but those that sin rebuke before all, that —
others also may fear, and keep this commandment without
spot unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ; and knows no man after the flesh, that is, not to
regard the person of any one, but denies all liberties to
every one, and knowingly consents to no sin, but earnestly -
_ reproves, rebukes and exhorts; and wheresoever he sees
danger for himself, to watch well over his flock, and not
let them go where he cannot go himself; for their blood -
rests upon him, and he must be prepared to give account —
of their souls. .
But it is easily to be perceived, that the contrary is the
case with the teachers of the present Church, ‘True, they
lament the decline of their community, and do not see
that they themselves lie under the decline, and verily are
the first cause of it, seeing they do not watch over their flock,
and give them carnal liberties, such as contending at law,
~ thus repelling force by force, serving offices, helping others
to obtain them, sit on juries and assist in deciding suits.
at law, with more things of the same nature; and besides
all this, they lead such an idle, carnal, earthly and im-
penitent life, that the world can see no light, but on the
~ contrary nothing but gloom and darkness, through which —
the name of Christ is reproached. With all this, they will
still, with their carnal and execrable patience, bear with
them, contrary to the Word of the Lord; and if through
love any one reproves them because of these things, some ~
will acknowledge that it should not be so, and they for
themselves could not take such carnal liberties, but if.
others can take such liberties as above adverted to, they
THE WAY TO HEAVEN, 125
will leave it over and still bear with them in patience, and
_ not reprove them on that account. Hereby they give evi-
dence themselves that they are no faithful pastors, and do
not watch over the souls of their flock, and cannot receive
the commendation which the Spirit in Revelations gave to
the Ephesian Church, when He said, ‘‘I know thy works,
and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not -
bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which
say they are apostles, and are not; and hast found them -
liars.’’ (Rev. il.) A true pastor must say with the apos-
tle, ‘‘Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.’’
And if they will not obey, they must be reproved ; and if
they will not receive the reproof, but persist in their irreg-
ularities, they must be separated as unfruitful branches. _
If these teachers were faithful, they would have to ob-
serve these rules, and-comfort none in their carnal life.
with bread and wine, but much more reprove them, and
_ point them to true repentance, and dying unto sin; and
then come to Christ, to receive remission of sins, and first
gain communion with Him, before they could be received
_ by baptism, or be comforted by partaking of the holy em-
_blems of the broken body and shed blood of Christ. They
would delay the administration of these ordinances, until
- they could perceive by their fruits that they are new crea-
tures, that old things have passed away and all pia have
become new. (2 Cor. v.)
As this is not the case in our time, but almost entirely
lost, and the new spiritual influence or operation is not
taken into consideration by these teachers, but regard is
generally had only to the outward forms of worship, and
if these are in part observed, all is well and they are satis-
fied, therefore one of two things must follow: either the
~~
x
a
126 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
teachers must be unfaithful and false, and do not put their
~ Lord’s money to usury, or they must themselves be blind ;
and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the
ditch. Therefore all truly awakened souls must take the
counsel of Christ and let them alone, withdraw from, shun
and avoid them, until such time as they have better per-.
ception of the word of the Lord, and observe what it
teaches. :
In the third place, Christ teaches us: ‘‘If a man love
Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him,
and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with
him. He that loveth Me not, keepeth not My sayings;
and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s —
which sent Me.’’ (John xiv.) Again, He that hath My
commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me:
and if ye love Me, keep My commandments. (John xiv.)
Now it is evident that these teachers cannot love Christ,
because they do not keep His commandments, or do them.
For Christ commanded His disciples and apostles, first to
teach the people, and when they believe, baptize them.
Now it is clear, that a person cannot have a right saving
faith in Christ, unless he first comes to true repentance,
either by the hearing of the word preached, or else by
direct Divine influence, so that he feels himself broken-
hearted, wounded and stripped of all virtue, and truly -
hungers and thirsts after righteousness, seeks and heartily
desires Christ his Redeemer, and also truly finds Him.
And when he has found Him, and obtained His mercy in
the forgiveness of his sins, he only begins rightly to believe
in Him, and right happily to resign and commit himself.
to Him; because he has experienced the immeasurable
_ riches of Christ and His merits, while he before could not
“ ‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN. . P27 s.
have believed that such a profligate, miserable and execra-
ble sinner, as he had felt himself to be, should be exalted
to such high honor as a son of the Father, as a child of
God, and a joint heir with Christ! This we can see by
the prodigal son, when he arose and went to the father;
with Queen Esther, If I perish I perish, yet I will venture.
My Father has bread enough and to spare; who knows,
perhaps he might receive me asa poor hired servant. But
when he came, and his father received him so lovingly,
then his dubious heart was comforted ; then he believed
that of a truth his father loved him beyond measure; now
they could rejoice together with inexpressible joy—the
father rejoiced over the son that was lost, and the son re-
joiced that he had received such unexpected grace and
favor of his father.
So it was also with Nathaniel, who was an Israelite in-
deed in whom there was no guile. When Philip told him
he had found the Messiah, he could not believe, until he
went himself and saw and heard Him; then he believed
_and confessed that He was the Son of God.
The man that fell amongst thieves on his way from
Jerusalem to Jericho, who was stripped of his raiment,
wounded and left half dead, when he saw the priest and
Levite mercilessly pass by, most likely-had little thought
that such a merciful Samaritan would come, and take him
up in such love and mercy as he afterwards experienced.
So the right faith which worketh by love, is a saving
power of God, which does not exist in an impenitent per- ©
son; for where there is true faith, there is also the new
birth, and where the new birth is, there the old must first
have died, and be buried with Christ, and through the
faith which is of God’s operation, have risen with Christ ’
also to a new spiritual being.
poet “THE WAY TO HEAVEN, _
But if any one might say that a person must be Groweke :
to repentance by faith, and through it draw nigh to God,
this I also confess; forwhen Adam saw that he was fallen
through his transgression, believed in the strict righteous- _
ness of God in His word, and saw that he was thereby
condemned to eternal death, he was afraid of his God,
until He again took him up and comforted him with His
promises, through which he then passed from the first fear-
ful faith in the strict righteousness of God, into the saving ~
_ faith, and by it, through the promises of God, received
full assurance, and did not ales those things which he
did not yet see.
Thus every person must, through the severe and inher-
ent righteousness of God, be humbled, broken, cast down
and be made penitent, by which and through which he is
made fit or qualified to receive Christ and His promises,
and be comforted through Him, and washed of his sins.
So that he is incorporated in Christ through a child-like
faith in baptism, as a branch in the vine, or a member in
the body, and is made partaker of the Divine nature, and
conformed to the image of Christ; for the spirit of glory
and of God resteth upon him, and he is through the saving.
faith bound with Christ, and made righteous through His
blood, and lives by faith.
I have said that these teachers must not love Chest be-
cause they do not keep his commandments. They baptize
people without repentance or reformation of life, and with-
out the living, saving faith which worketh by love. This
their fruits fully attest, for they are carnal and carnally
minded before they receive baptism, and when they have
received it, they remain in their old carnal course, think-
ing they are now baptized Christians, and comfort them-
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 129
- selves with it, not remembering what Paul says, ‘that in
Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avail-
eth anything, but a new creature; or faith that worketh by
love. -And-where this does not exist, how can baptism be
observed rightly, according to the doctrine of Christ and
“the apostles? How shall we be baptized by the Holy Spirit
into the death of Jesus Christ and the communicn of His
body? How shall the dying to the flesh, the burying of
sin, and the rising to a new life, be rightly represented
here? How can such an one make the answer of a good ©
conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ? I conclude, nevermore! Christ says, ‘‘ Either
make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the
tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known
by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being
evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh.’’ (Matt. xi.) But that these
have not been made good, or well planted, is well attested
by their fruits: for a penitent, believing, rightly baptized
and regenerated Christian, is possessed of the Divine
nature, conformed to the image of Christ, and is minded
as He also was, prays without ceasing, and is thankful in
all things, for this is the will of God in him; so that he
lets his light shine in the midst of a crooked and perverse
nation, holding forth the Word of Life; and counts all —
things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ, for He is his life, and in death He is his gain, for
through Him he has overcome, and does yet daily over-
come the weaknesses and sinfulness of His flesh, and ever
_ brings the good fruits of the spirit, as a fruitful tree planted |
by the waters, and all those who eat of his fruit and receive
his doctrine shall live. All these will be one, as Christ and
130 _ THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
the Father are one, and consequently there is no condem-__
nation in them; for they walk not after the flesh, but after —
the spirit; for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has made them free from the law of sin and death, and
they have passed from death unto life, and have been re-
ceived as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
Again, they cannot love Christ, because they do not
observe the command of love which Christ gives between
brother and brother; for he that hateth his brother
is a murderer, and a murderer hath not eternal life
abiding in him. But -he that loveth God, loveth
his brother also; for ‘‘by this we know that we love
the children of God, when we love God, and keep His
commandments.’’ (1 Johny.) God’s command is given —
unto us through Christ, that if our brother sins against us,
we shall tell him his fault between him and us alone; if he
hear us, we have gained our brother, but if he will not
hear thee, then take with thee one or two more. -If he
shall neglect to hear these, tell it unto the Church; and if
he neglect:to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an
heathen man and a publican. (Matt. xvii.) Hereby we
can clearly perceive what true brotherly love is; namely, —
if we see our brother commit sin, or if we hear that he has
committed sin, we shall inquire into the matter, and in
love reprove him, and with all diligence seek to rescue his
soul from death; or as Jude says, ‘‘save him with fear.’’ _
If we do not do this, we transgress the command of God,
and do not love our brother, and are murderers, because
we let our brother approach death, and do not warn him; i
which shows that we ourselves are in darkness, and know
not whither we go, because darkness has blinded our eyes. ©
(1 John ii.) But these teachers do not only neglect to—
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. ; E31
reprove sins, between brother and brother, but also public
transgressions, which occur openly before the world, such
as the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and a haughty,
arrogant life. By times they sit at taverns, and become
so much inflamed with wine that disorder ensues; and in
_ general lead such a carnal, voluptuous life, as to cause the
heart of a true Christian to weep. All this they pass by,
which their public acts attest, and withal they comfort them,
as if they were members of Christ, when they come to their
- Supper, by which they show that they are in darkness; for -
they do not love their brethren, for if they had any love
to them, they would have to pull them out of the fire of -
sin. (Jude.) But as they do not do this, but much more
‘comfort them with the holy emblems of the broken body
and blood of Christ, they are murderers, inasmuch as they
help to lead their souls to. death under a false hope. With
all their carnal life, they imagine it is well with them, and
rest in carnal security, until death precipitates them into
eternity, where they will come and knock, saying: Lord,
we have eaten and drank in Thy presence (in the Supper)
and Thou hast taught in our streets, (or meeting-houses, )
therefore open unto us. But the Lord will answer, De-
part from Me, I know you not. (Luke xiii.)
In the third place, brotherly love, which is so closely
allied with Divine love, is of such a nature, that when
brethren meet together, they will speak with one another
of the condition of their souls, of their necessities and the
duties they owe to God, of the dying unto self, of their
daily self-denial, and their increase in holiness, without
which no man shall see God; of the constant danger in
which they feel themselves to be; and will admonish and
encourage one another, and seek to build one another up
¥
I~
= ~ er
132 THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
in the most holy faith, and that. they may add to their
faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge
temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience ~
godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to —
brotherly kindness charity; and because these things be —
and abound with them, they will also not be barren or un-
fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he ©
that lacketh these things, is blind, and cannot see afar off,
and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
(a'Peter 4:) 2
But because this is not found or seen amongst the pres-
ent Mennonite community, but more the contrary, both
with teachers and hearers, as every God fearing person
may plainly see; therefore, according to Peter’s declara-
tion, they must of necessity be blind, and grope as those ©
that have no eyes, and stumble at noon-day as in the night,
and are in desolate places as the dead; for the way of —
peace they know not, and there is no judgment in their
goings; they have made them crooked paths: whosoever
goeth therein shall not know peace; (Isaiah lix.;) for their
vine is the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah; °
their grapes are grapes of gall, and their clusters are bitter.
(Deut. xxxil.)
My dear reader, do not pervert these words; for Christ
says (John xv.,) that He is the true vine, and we are the
branches. Now it is incontrovertible, that if we are
Christ’s disciples, and branches in Him, we must also bear
His spiritual fruits, and must uninterruptedly produce the
spiritual wine of purifying, and of true sanctifying, and
grow and increase in the same, and of -His fullness receive
grace for grace; ‘‘ for if the first.fruit be holy, the lump is :
also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”’
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 133
All nature teaches us that like produces like; for what is
_ born of the flesh is flesh, but what is born of the Spirit is
‘spirit, and brings the whole nature of the Spirit. There-
- fore we must know the tree by his fruit, the vine by the
berries, and the Church by her members, whether they
are carnal or spiritual, whether the berries are bitter or
- sweet, whether the fruit is good or bad; for the tree must
be known by his fruits. Christ, the spiritual Vine, stands
in the midst of His Church, and sends forth spiritual
branches, which bear spiritual and sweet berries, out of
which the spiritual and sweet wine of purification and true
sanctification is begotten, and the good fruits of the Spirit
become manifest, as love, joy, peace, humility, patience,
faith, hope, with true godliness and self-denial.
On the contrary, the prince of this world, or the poison-
ous and sour vine, standing in the spiritual Sodom, in the
midst of the community or Church of darkness, shooting
forth such carnal or sour branches, through his sour sap,
from which bitter berries are produced, which beget the
poisonous wine of dragons, the cruel venom of asps ;—
namely, carnally-minded people, or members which pro-
_ duce the fruits of the flesh, as hatred, envy, wrath, strife,
seditions, gluttony, ostentation, drunkenness, fornication,
adultery, cursing, swearing, lying and deceiving, coveting
their neighbors’ goods, and aheart permeated with averice,
which is idolatry, and a root of all evil. They seek for
great wealth and honor in the world, which is also given
to them, because they fall down and worship and serve the
god of this world, and attest by their works and deeds
what manner of spirit they are of.
I will now. hereby commit the aforementioned commu-
_ nity or church, with more others, to the judgment of the
134. . © THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
upright and God-fearing reader, whether it is not a branch
~ of this pernicious vine? I for my part will appeal to the
fruit, which must attest before the open world, that they
are not a branch of the sweet vine Jesus Christ, or else He
must have forsaken His sweetness and become a rough
thorn bush, or bitter vine. I say again, that if it is so,
then Christ must have entirely changed Himself, and His
spiritual and invariable word, which will stand in eternity,
must no more avail ; for He must now be able to receive
us contrary to His word, without repentance, regeneration
or dying unto ourselves ; His narrow way of the cross must
also have changed itself into a wide way of the flesh, easy
to journey on; He must also no more desire spiritual, re-
generated teachers, or elect them to His service, but he
must be pleased to have such in His service, who preach
from an earthly mind, who concern themselves little about
their members, of whom they must yet render an account. ©
For the most of them are only earthly minded, and seek
earthly things with all their ability, without regarding
for themselves the crown which is suspended over their
heads, much less wiH they be concerned about others,
whether they obtain the crown ornot. Besides they are so
blinded through their earthly mind, that they themselves
cannot see the crown; therefore they cannot present it to.
others, but let them proceed on their way in their carnal
liberties without reproof. This was the cause through
“which this community fell so miserably ; and it would be
high time that they should awake from their sleep, and
-arise from the dead state into which they have fallen, that
Christ should give them light; but they had slidden by a
perpetual backsliding, as the Prophet Jeremiah says,
‘< Shall they fall and not arise? Shall they turn away and
+ . oP =,
“THE WAY TO HEAVEN, rete
{
not return? Yet will this-people slide by a perpetual
backsliding ; they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I
hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright; no man
_ repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done ?
every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into
battle. Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her ap-
pointed times ; the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow,
observe the time of ther coming ; but my people know not
the judgment of the Lord.’’ Oh! that they were wise and
would take it to heart, and give glory to the Lord their
God, before He cause darkness, and before their feet stum-
ble upon the dark mountains, and while they look for.
light, He turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross
darkness. But if they will not hear this, and persevere in
their carnal ways, yet my soul shall with the soul of the
prophet weep in secret places for their pride, and mine
' eyes shall weep sore, and run down with tears, that the fold
of Christ, which was once so glorious, yet now is carried
_awaycaptive. (Jer. xii.) I say again, that Christ must
have entirely transformed Himself, if He could endure
such carnal things as have been referred to in His Church,
-and receive her as His bride and spouse. Yea, He must
have become enamored of a shameless harlot, who ever in-
trigues with His arch enemy, the prince of darkness, and
lives according to His will.
But no, no, my Jesus, no! ‘Thou hast not chosen the
members of a harlot to be members of Thy body, but such
- as are of Thy generation, and born of Thy Heavenly race,
_and who are flesh of Thy flesh, and bone of Thy bone, as
a spiritual virgin adorned with Thy blood and merit, who
aby: virtue of the spiritual and heavenly betrothal stands
_ bound to Thee, in time and eternity, to live with Thee in
136 _ THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
holiness and righteousness; and through her as Thy spirit-
ual bride, the Church, there may yet at all times spiritual —
children be born, who have become partakers of Thy na-—
ture and transformed into Thine image. For she is the —
spiritual Jerusalem, which (with her heart and walk) is -
~ above, and is the mother of us all; and all births, which
are not born through this spiritual mother, and of Thy
seed, Thou wilt not know or receive into Thy kingdom;
for they are of the carnal mother of spiritual. fornication,
born out of the abyss, through the seed of the devil.
Therefore, they also belong to his kingdom, and must
receive his inheritance.
Oh! how many there are, who will seek to enter into
Thy kingdom, who will not be able to do it ;—how many
will.come ina blind hope with the foolish virgins, and
say: Lord, Lord, open unto us ;—how many will come and
‘say: Have we not prophesied in Thy name, cast out dev-
ils, and done many wonderful works? and how many will
say: We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and —
Thou hast taught in our streets. But withal Thou wilt —
say: Depart.from me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew
you! Oh, lamentable! it is now too late to hope, too late -
to repent, too late awakening to a view of themselves, or
of their destruction, too late to come when the door -is.
closed, and Thou, Lord, with those that are Thine, have
gone in to the wedding. Oh God, give me rightly to
apprehend and know this, that I may consider this well,
may strive through my Redeemer to enter in through this
strait gate, where flesh and blood cannot approach ;. that
I may here truly put off myself, and enter into Thee, Thou
all-satisfying good, and die to self and be as nothing, and
Thou, as the all, becomest in me all in all. Oh God! do
or 2
S‘
i THE WAY TO HEAVEN. | 137
Thou help all Thy children to find the stright, narrow and
self-denying way of the cross and death, where the un-
_ clean shall not pass over. It is a high way and a holy
place, where Thou, Oh Jesus, Thyself, walkest with Thy
disciples, and dost happily clothe them with the multitude
_of Thine angels, and impartest to them the hidden manna,
and dost quicken them unto everlasting life, by giving them
the water of salvation. Oh happy way, oh glorious com-
-_ munion, oh heavenly joy, oh Paradise in the world, in the
midst of the cross, through which we come to that trans-
- cendent life, to the heavenly mansions of eternity, to the
beholding of the living God, in His glorious brightness,
in unending love to God and the Lamb, unto unending
eternity! Amen, oh! Jesus, Amen.
Further, my dear reader, you might say, that there are
yet some faithful and God-pleasing souls in this commun-
ity, who have no pleasure in these things.
So I answer in the first place, that I will believe that
_ there are yet good-meaning souls among them, who have
no pleasure in these things; but here is the question,
whether our good meaning will save us, or whether it is
the keeping of the commandments of God? I apprehend
it is the keeping of the commandments of God. ;
Manasseh offered up his children to Moloch in a good
_ meaning, and brought the punishment of God upon him-
self. Jehoshaphat went to battle against Ramoth in Gil-
ead, with the ungodly Ahab, in good meaning, for which
the prophet reproved him, saying, Shouldest thou help the
‘ungodly, and love those who hate the Lord? because of
this the wrath of God is upon thee. So we might also say
~to such souls, Should ye go to the Supper with such un-
godly and carnal people, and hold those for brethren whom
‘
RLgO Casa THE WAY TO HEAVEN. =~
the Lord hates? for this reason is the wrath of God upon
you.
the best of the flocks to offer; and although it had a fair
appearance, yet the Lord rejected him.
So it is also to be feared with these souls, that alihowel
they are convinced by the word of God, that such carnal
and spiritless people are an abomination to God, yet they
indulge them, and will not reprove them, and make them-
selves partakers of their sins; for they do not obey the
voice of the Lord who calls to them, Come out from among
_ Saul saved the accursed Agag out of good meaning, and
them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean ~
thing, and I will receive you, and be your God and Father, ©
and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the hare
Almighty. (2 Cor. vi.)
But because these will not come out, or separate them-
selves from such fleshly people, but contrary to the teach-—
ing of Paul, still have fellowship with such unfruitful works.
of darkness, and do not reprove them, they also have no ~
promise, for they do not let their light shine, or otherwise
the darkness would have to vanish ; for where light is,.
there darkness cannot remain ; and where there are dead,
the living cannot abide, or the savor of the dead would
infect them, that they also would have to perish. A little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump, and a little poison cor-
rupts the whole meal (or doctrine), that those who partake ~
- must perish.
Thus, my dear reader, it is clear that our good meaning
will not save us, but obedience to the voice and commands
of God. Peter had a good meaning when he would pre-
vent Christ, saying, ‘‘ Be it far from Thee, Lord: this
shall not be unto Thee,’’ but Christ said, ‘‘Get thee be-
\
THE. WAY TO HEAVEN. — 139
hind Me, Satan; thou savorest not the things that be of
God, but those that be of men.’’ So the foolish virgins,
without doubt, had a good meaning in themselves with the
light they had. ‘Thus we could bring many examples from
the Word of God, to show that nothing will serve us be-
_ fore God, but truly following Christ and the keeping of
_ His commandments. :
In the second place, I believe that all faithful souls who
truly hunger and thirst after righteousness, will, with the
prodigal son, leave the fellowship of carnal and unclean
persons, and commit themselves to the Father, to be
directed by Him to a community where they can receive
the true meat for their souls, and where they can also re-
joice together with the household of the Father; namely,
with the believing servants of God, who bring forth the ~
pure garment of the righteousness and merit of Christ,
with which to clothe them, and put the ring of the pure
love of Christ upon their hand, and bring the pure gospel
of Christ, and put it on their feet, wherein they can then
walk, and keep His commandments. (Eph. vi.)
Wherefore I say again, that all faithful souls, who let
themselves be directed alone by the Divine Spirit, must
separate themselves from such carnal professors ; for light -
and darkness have no communion; the believer has no
part with the unbeliever; the temple of God hath no
agreement with idols (2 Cor. vi.); and for this reason we
were: constrained, to the honor of God, to separate our- —
selves, and can also, for God’s sake, take no part in their
worship, so long as they do not better observe the pure
evangelical truth, truly fear God, keep His command-
ments, and walk in accordance with them. Not those
who hear the word of God, or take it upon their lips, are
-
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140 | THE WAY TO HEAVEN, ~
accounted wise men and virgins, but those that keep it.
But those who do not do or keep it, are foolish men and
virgins, and do not know Christ, and He does not know ~
tien: ee
Therefore, my beloved readers, do for once wake up, —
diligently search the Scriptures, and pray God in single-
ness of heart for wisdom from above (and it shall be given
—James i.), that she may teach thee, and govern thee
according to the will of God. Then take a view of those
people who have a fair appearance outwardly, and prove
them in their whole course of life, inwardly and out-
wardly, by the touch-stone of the Word of God, whether
they are inwardly regenerated through the Holy Ghost,
and transformed into new creatures, so that old things
have passed away, and all things become new, and do no
more live after the flesh, but after the spirit hve unto God,
in love, peace, patience, knowledge, temperance, truth,
godliness, and in an unfeigned truth that worketh by love,
so that they let their light shine in the midst of a crooked |
and perverse nation, and their mouths overflow with the
water of life. As Christ says: He that believeth on Me,
as the Scriptures have said, from his belly shall flow rivers
of living water.. (John vil.) For if Christ gives us the
water, which becomes in us a well of water springing up
into everlasting life, the mouth must overflow with it ; for
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
And this is the water which flows from under the threshold
of the temple of the New Jerusalem, namely, from the
sanctified souls, wherein God and the Lamb reign on the
throne of love; and whithersoever these waters flow every-
thing shall be healed and live. (Ezkl. xlvii.) Whatso-
ever liveth in these waters will live forever, and nevermore
\ THE WAY TO HEAVEN, EAI
“perish. (John x.) Here the fruitful trees grow on both
sides of the river, with their twelve manner of fruits, and
their leaves serve for the healing of the nations (Rev.
Xxli.) ; namely, this glorious spiritual stream brings with it
the holy doctrine of the twelve apostles out of a sanctified
heart ; and whosoever receives this doctrine will be healed,
and shall live, and the leaves, namely his outward godly
conduct, serve to the conversion of the nations. Yea, my
God, let this water flow freely in all lands and countries,
in many thousand souls, to the praise of Thy glory, in -
Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yea, beloved reader, only believe, that if a soul arises
with Lazarus from its death in sin, it will or can no more
remain in the congregation of the dead, but will resort.to
the communion of Christ and His disciples, and partake
of a Supper with them. _ (John xii.)
Or if a-faithful Cornelius fasts and prays without ceas-
ing, there will be a Peter shown to him, who will declare
Christ and His pure truth to him, and receive him by bap-
tism into the community of Jesus Christ.
Or if a grace-hungering eunuch desires with all his heart
‘to serve the true God, there will a Philip have to come,
and declare to him the crucified Jesus, and receive him
into His happy community.
“Or if a zealous, affd according to the law faithful, yet -
furious Saul, though he-be of the sect of the Pharisees,
Christ himself will appear to him on his perverted way, and
illuminate him with His heavenly light and brightness, and
_ then send an Ananias to him, to lay his hands upon him,
whereby he will receive the true sight and receive the
_ Spirit of grace, and by baptism take him up into His
happy community:—who then also held his former right-
a
142 "THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
-
eousness and Pharisaic sect only but loss, and rejoiced | that ;
he had found Christ.
So also in this case, if truly faithful and God- sécking
souls are in this or any other impure community, Christ
will illuminate them, and in thé first place give them to
perceive and know their own darkness; and when they
perceive this, they will soon also. perceive the darkness
which is around them, and will feel constrained to
‘protest against it. But this witness the unbelieving and
darkened hearts will not receive, and begin to hate and
mock such souls, and say they think themselves better
than others, and will not regard their reproof. This
greatly afflicts such souls, but drives them closer to God,
_ with prayer and supplication for His Spirit and grace, to
lead them into all truth, which God also will give to them,
and by it_teach them to have no fellowship with the un-
fruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, and
forsake such Babel, and flee from idolatry, and avoid all
appearance of evil; for they have proved their teachers,
and tried those who say they are apostles and are not, and
have found them unfaithful, roguish and liars. Unfaith-
ful, because they do not watch over their flock, and keep ~
the commandments of God, or do them. Roguish, be-
cause they craftily pervert the Scriptures, in order to justify
and support their impure carnal community, as if they
were the community of Christ. Liars, because they pre-
sent themselves as Christ’s apostles and teachers of right-
eousness, and are not, but have run whilst they were not
sent, or were placed in their calling by carnal people ;
therefore they preach to them according to the itching of
their ears, and promise such carnal people liberty, whilst
they are themselves the servants of corruption. Since we
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. ero as
have then, according to the tenor of God’s word, with the
limited gift of grace bestowed upon us, proved these teach-
ers and found them unfaithful, we found ourselves con-
strained, after we had offered them peace and they would
not receive it, to separate ourselves from them, and shake
the dust from our feet as a testimony against them;
namely, that we will no more go to hear their preaching,
until they through the mercy of God might find the book
of the law, and. rend, not their garments, but their hard-
ened hearts, and with Josiah declare to their people the
destruction which awaits them, unless they repent, and also
put away all uncleanness and carnal liberties from their
community; and no more let the priests who preach with-
out the Spirit of God rule in their calling, but measure all
by the Spirit of Christ, and sever all that is not found to
be Evangelical; and thus purge the sanctuary, and estab-
lish the true Divine worship, according to apostolical order.
For this we seek with all our heart and all our soul to be
faithful to God; seeing He has of His free grace called us
_ from darkness into His marvelous light, that we should.
show forth His praises, and in these last and dangerous
_ times reveal His truth; but also take heed to ourselves,
_that we do not drink the wine of the Babylonian whore,
nor recelve the mark of the beast; but with all earnestness —
adhere to those who keep the commandments of God, and
the faith in Jesus. (Rev. xill., xiv.)
~
144 _ THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
we
CHAPTER VI.
N the fifteenth plaee, some one might inquire, what ig
the reason that we will have no fellowship with such .
‘preachers or communities as preach and maintain awaken-
_ ing doctrines?
My answer is, because they still cleave to Babel, and will |
not entirely separate themselves from the church of dark-
ness, but with flattering lips and double heart, they still go
_ on together, as David says, Ps. xii., Help, Lord; for the
godly man ceaseth ; for the faithful fail from among the
children of men. ‘They speak vanity every. one with his
neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart do they
speak ; that many have come so far through the deception
of the serpent, that they think they must attend alone to
the leading of the Spirit ; as their own heart or conscience ~
teaches, so they will do, whether it agrees with Scripture
or not. They do not much regard whether their outward
worship (as they call it) agrees with the Holy Scriptures —
(which they term the dead letter) or not, if they only
serve God in heart, with more such like expressions and
objections ; so that I am surprised that people who have
the name of being enlightened of God, have not learned
to know the old crooked serpent, which lies at the tree of
knowledge of good and evil, better. Are not the most of |
these awakened people filled with false doctrine, through
the distortion and misrepresentation of the will and coun-
sel of God? so that scarcely any are to be found who with
J
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 145
all their heart seek and honor God and. His Divine testi-
monies in the Holy Scriptures, but they mostly all honor
the idol of their awakened understanding, .which was
awakened by the eating of the forbidden fruit, more than
they do the holy testimony in the Scriptures ; and, what is
yet worse, they ascribe their perverted explanations, which
emanated from the old crooked serpent, to Divine illumi--
nation, whilst yet all such construction only amounts to
this, that they. are not willing to do those things which yet
of right and reason should be done, according to the tes-
timony of the Holy Scriptures; and is therefore contrary
to God and His holy Word, and, therefore, of consequence
execrable. The Scripture cannot be broken, but stands
firmer than Heaven and earth, and is bestowed upon us of -
God, a gift from Heaven, wherein we can learn to know
God, according to His inherent righteousness, and eternal
_ judgment against all ungodliness and disobedience to His
will; and, again, all penitent, pious and obedient children,
who live according to His will, have comfort and hope
through the Holy Scriptures, because therein they perceive
and discern the immeasurable depth, height, length, and
breadth of His everlasting love, to all those who love and
obey Him. Therefore, David says, ‘‘ The fear of the
Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the
Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be de-
sired are they than gold; sweeter also than honey and the
honey-comb. Moreover by them is Thy servant warned :
and in keeping of them is great reward.’’ (Ps. xix.) Yea,
_the Scriptures are a fountain, whence God giveth His spir-
_ itual children drink ; for His word is spirit and life, and
_ through His spirit He makes it life, so that it is spirit and —
- life unto us, and we also experience it in power through
146 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
which we grow and increase in the knowledge of God, and
our Lord Jesus Christ. _
Oh God, grant that all those who eve ee a por-
tion of Thy Divine life, would let themselves be led by the
angel of the covenant, out of the spiritual Sodom which
will by Thee be burnt with fire and brimstone on account ~
of the wickedness of her people; for her sins have reached
unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities:
but oh! how many who will leave Sodom do not reach
Zoar ; how many pillars of salt do we see standing by the
way! How many monuments do we see by the way which
might serve for our warning! Oh, that we could rightly.
‘take it to heart, and not stand still on the way of our pil-
grimage, until we enter into eternity! Oh Lord! do Thou
look upon the captives in Babylon, who sigh in their bond-—
age; make for them a path, and open the way, that Thy —
groaning people may go out; for Satan hath them yet
hedged in, and keeps them in his net ; the whore with her
fair attire and adornment of precious stones, ever yet flat-
ters and caresses them, and keeps them constantly drunken
_ with her enchanting wine, so that they cannot rightly see
their danger, and therefore still remain sitting as captives in
Babylon. Oh! do for once rightly awaken: yea, I coun-
sel you in the name of the Lord, wake up, and arise from
-your sleep, and look upon the ruler of the land, who
has pointed out to you, through His holy Word, what ye
should do; lest you have to drink the wine of His fierce |
wrath, which will be filled to Babylon, for’ strong is ; the
Lord God who judgeth her.
But if some may think and say, We have left the spirit-
, ual Babylon and Sodom, and by the grace of God have
gone out of her; then I would reply, If you have left the —
\
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 147
inner Babel, why will you remain clinging to the outward
and fleshly Babel? Why do you not show by your deeds
that you have separated from Babel? Why do you not,
with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, show to the
princes of Babel, with all their servants, that ye are serv-
ants of the Most High, and would rather, to the honor of
your Redeemer, bear all cross and affliction that might
come upon you, than to honor this Babylonian image ?—
for, whosoever doth not forsake all, cannot be My disciple.
What will it benefit you, if with Saul you have been an-
ointed of the Lord, and been encompassed with His
Spirit, if you will yet, contrary to the word of the Lord,
spare the accursed Agag, and retain him as your friend ?
(1 Saml. xv.) What does it avail you, if you have been
enlightened of God, if you will not with Elijah flee from
all the idolatry of Ahab, and the prophets of Baal, but still
halt between two opinions? (1 Kings xvilil.) What does
it avail you, to prophesy with Saul among the prophets; if
when you are alone, you persecute the little David, Chrisg
Jesus, by not receiving His word? (1 Saml. xix.)
Many of you esteem yourselves enlightened and regen-
erated Christians, whilst yet the fruit testifies that it is not
so; for ye have not yet received the nature of Christ, and
will not go with Him without the camp, and help Him
bear the cross, or rightly humble yourselves under His
- cross; for many of you yet conform yourselves to the world
in her accursed and heathenish pomp of dress; many
avenge themselves on their enemies, contrary to the doc-
trine of Christ, and with it will object and say, we must
be obedient to the government; whereby ye show that the
vail of Moses is yet upon your hearts, and ye are not yet
dead unto the law, and have not yet been made subject
—_
148 THE WAY TO HEAVEN. ee eae
unto Christ. A Christian is a pilgrim and a stranger on
earth; his citizenship and sovereignty is in heaven, towards
which his constant walk, hasting, running and desire is
directed ; and he is as a fool in the world, for his thoughts
are otherwise directed: therefore God has also chosen him
as His child, and joint heir with His Son Jesus Christ, and
therefore the world is crucified to him, and he to the
world ; so that he no more lives to himself, but to Christ
who lives in him. He controls his mind, the deliberations
and thoughts of his heart, so that they do not withdraw
his soul from its chief good; he guards his feet, that they
do not seduce him unto the way of the unrighteous; he
stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his
eyes from seeing of evil. (Isaiah xxxili.) He uses-no
violence toward his neighbor, and is compassionate toward —
those in distress; he flees the corruption that is in the
world through lust, and regards that alone which is invisi-
ble, and with his God in heaven; for he has closed the
{ve doors of his outward senses, hearing, seeing, speaking,
tasting and feeling, as to the world and her vanities, there-
fore the doors of the inward senses are. opened in the
school of the Holy Ghost, in the city of the living God.
Here we receive another spiritual hearing, by which we
can perceive what the Lord speaks in us. Here we receive ©
another spiritual sight, by which we see into the secret
concealment and wonders in God’s word or law. Here
we receive a new tongue or speech, by which we declare
the wonders of God which have been revealed unto us,
and spread His praise abroad in holy devotion to the
honor of God, and the edification of others. Here we
also receive a new taste or smell, for as the soul beforehad
its enjoyment and delight in the receiving of vanities, so
2
~
> THE WAY TO HEAVEN. - 149
we have now our delight with David in the law of the
Lord, to speak of it day and night ; and having tasted the
kindness and goodness of God, and the powers of the
‘world to come; and whatsoever is not scented with the
fear of the Lord, we can neither smell or taste. The feel-
ings also become changed, for as we before felt hatred,
envy, wrath, revenge, impatience and ill will toward our
enemies, so now we feel love, patience, compassion, mercy
and forgiveness toward them; for we see the ignorance
-and blindness under which they yet lie, and besides we
lay our hearts and hands in the open side and holy wounds
of Jesus, and reflect upon how much He suffered and en- -
dured in our behalf, whilst we were yet sinners, and
through His great love reconciled us to God by His suffer-
ing; and by these reflections we receive enjoyment and
love of life in Him; and by this entrance through this
spiritual door, the new and living way opens unto us,
where we pass through the veil of the flesh, as the portals
-of death unto life, and shall not come into condemnation,
and henceforth go no more out and in through this portal;
but being now brought into Christ’s sheepfold, go out and
in, through the spiritual door, and find pasture. Therefore
we can also hear no doctrine or service which is brought
‘forth through the exercise of the outward senses, and
preaching through an awakened and enlightened under-
standing, effected only through the eating of the forbidden
fruit, whereby they know what is good and evil. This is
a strange voice to such a soul, which she does not know
and cannot follow, but flees from it, seeing that all that is
a brought forth through the power of the outward senses is
not pure, however fair it may appear, for it lacks the secret
and concealed power of Christ, and the essence of the
~
-
150 3 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
Holy Spirit, through which alone God’s Word may be
be spoken, and without which all preaching is vain, as may
be well seen at the present time. So much as is preached,
the more wicked and ungodly does the world become, and
the people more perverted and profligate, and from no |
other reason than that the preachers generally only speak
from natural reason, or at best only from an awakened
understanding, without the spirit of Christ, and the hidden
_ inward fife which is of God, which alone is obtained by.
dying unto self, and captivating our thought under obedi-
ence ot :Ghrists ."(2.Cor,-x.)
‘Therefore, ye precious souls, who have in part tasted the
grace of God, and withdrawn yourselves from the gross
vanities of the world, and brought your lives into virtuous
form; do watch over yourselves, and capture the little
foxes which spoil the vineyard, and take heed that ye in-
dulge in no hberties contrary to the word of the Lord, but”
strive with all diligence against your evil flesh, which is al-
ways deliberating how to find a way on which it can walk
comfortably without dying altogether, seeing it will ever
take part with things pertaining to worship, and assume
fair virtues, to the greatest detriment of the soul; forall
that the flesh works of itself without Christ and His Spirit,
is condemnable ; 1t may appear as fair as it will, and is
nothing better than Uzziah, offering in the sanctuary of
-God without priestly call or office, and therefore worthy of
reproof. ‘Therefore, if we would be saved, we must die to
our carnal will here, and through faith arise with Christ in
a spiritual will, so that we do no more live unto ourselves,
but to Him that died for us and arose again. (2 Cor. v.)
We must put off the old garment of unrighteousness, and
put on the new garment of righteousness. We must let
f _ THE WAY TO HEAVEN. | E51
the old vessel of our heart be purged by the blood of the
i
Lamb, that we become new bottles, if we think indeed to.
receive the pure wine of heavenly wisdom and godly unity ;
in short, we must faithfully follow Christ inwardly and
outwardly, if we would indeed be recognized as His disci-
ples. Of this, those of old have plainly written: namely,
that he only is a Christian, who is such not only in name,
but in the work; who follows Christ as his pattern; who
‘is holy, guiltless, unspotted and unreprovable; in whose
heart wickedness can find no place, but on the contrary,
the fear of God and virtue alone abide in him; who of:
_ fends no one, but willingly helps every one. He is only a
Christian, who according to the example of Christ, does.
not hate his enemies, but does good to his adversary, and
prays for his enemies and persecutors; for whoso is pre-
pared to injure or spitefully use any one, denies that he is
a Christian. It looks very bad to. have the name of Christ
on the tongue, and Judaism or heathenism in the heart,
and not walk in the statutes of Christ’s commandments,
nor lead a life that is becoming Christ. He that does not
follow Christ, and hear and serve Him in all things, con-
fesses and bears the name of Christ in vain, but only mocks
Christ, inasmuch as he calls himself His servant, and will
not serve Him.
Thus, my beloved reader, I have briefly pointed out the ~
reason why we have separated ourselves from all parties ;
so if you rightly prove and measure it by the rule of the
holy Word of God, without any hatred or party spirit, you
will find that it has not occurred out of selfishness or party
spirit, neither of a high mind or exaltation, but out of pro-
- found self-denial, to the honor of God as true followers of
Christ ; for fornication with the whore of Babylon has al-
152 _ THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
ready been carried on too long ; so that it is high time that _
not only we, but all men, might open their eyes, and for ~
once sever the cords wherewith the devil hath captivated
them according to his will.
For He, who is clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, —
and His name is called the Word of God, who is King of —
_kings, and Lord of lords, will shortly cast the beast, to-
gether with the false prophet, that wrought miracles before |
him, with which he deceived them that had received the —
mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image, —
into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Rev. xix.)
And all those who have worshiped the beast, and received
his mark, shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His
indignation ; and shall be tormented with fire and brim-
stone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the prey
ence of the Lamb. (Rev. xiv.)
Behold, He shall come quickly ; and His reward is with
Him, to give to every man according as his work shall be.
Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they —
may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in |
through the gates into the city. For without are dogs,
and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and
idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Rev.
XXil. )
He that hath ears, let him hear what the aside saith
unto the churches. (Rev. 11.)
Ps
f
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 153
CrrAge PER Vit.
Y beloved reader, since I have now, with testimony of
the Holy Scriptures, clearly shown the reason why we
have separated ourselves from all parties, and refuse to hear
their preachers ; I will yet further explain some expressions
made in the New Testament, which many people take as
proof that we-shall hear all false prophets.
In the first place the expression of Christ (Matt. xxiii.) :
«©The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All there-
fore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and
do: but do not ye after their works ; for they say, and do
wat. ieee
- Upon this I reply. First, as the Scribes sat on Moses’
| seat, and still yet taught the law of Moses, even though -
they did with it add some of their own traditions, of which
Christ warned His disciples (Matt. xvi.), yet He could, at
this time, not direct His disciples away from the law, as
(He Himself was put under the law, to fulfill it. There-
- fore He said: All that that they bid you observe (mark,
He says what they bid you observe), that observe and do.
Now, what shall they observe? Unquestionably the com-
~mandments of God given by Moses, which the Scribes yet
taught ; for if they had not taught this, they. would not
-have been in Moses’ seat. But because they taught the
law which pointed to Christ, observing its legal ceremon-
ies, offerings and worship, so Christ could at this time not
~ yet direct his disciples away from them: for the law was
”
i
isd | THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
not yet fulfilled ; the perfect offering, hich should be the Sige
end of all figurative offerings, was not yet offered; the
veil of the temple was not yet rent; the figures and shad-~
ows were not yet changed into the true substance ; Christ, -
the new and spiritual King, had not yet received His king-
dom, but the figurative kingdom of Moses was yet stand-
ing. But when this kingdom came to an end, and all
things written in the Scriptures were accomplished, and
Christ received all power in heaven and on earth, then He ©
did not send the Pharisees who were instructed in the law,
but His disciples, who were instructed by the Spirit, or
endued with power from on high, to preach the Gospel
throughout the whole world. (Matt. xxvii.) Neither did
He direct Cornelius by His angel (when he fasted and =
prayed), to send to the Scribes, nor yet to the heathen |
priests; but to Peter, who should tell him what he ought
to do. Neither did the Lord send by His angela Scribe,
or Mosaic priest, nor yet a false prophet, to the eunuch of
Ethiopia, but Philip ; nor did He send any other to pray-
ing Saul, but a faithful disciple, that he should lay his |
hands upon him, whereby he should receive sight, and be
filled with the Holy Ghost. (Acts ix.)
Neither can we find anywhere that God sent His chil-
dren to the false prophets, but much more warned them to
beware of them, and pointed them away from them. But
that Christ did not here direct His disciples away from the
Scribes, is for the reason before cited; namely because
they sat on Moses’ seat, or that of the law, and no other
people had or taught the law but the Jews; therefore they ,
also were the people of God, according to the letter, so
long as the law with its ceremonies and ordinances stood
“in power; but because they did not receive Christ, they
of
a
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. ; 155
were rejected according to the Spirit, (Rom. 1x.,) as Christ
also says, (John xy.,) ‘‘If I had not come and spoken unto
them, they nee not had sin: but now they have no cloak
for their sin.’
But after Christ had established His snarl eiedciek
or Church, He ever directed His children to His spiritual
community, and warned them to beware of false prophets ;
as the Scriptures plainly show in many places. (Matt. vii.,
Acts xx., 1 Tim. vi., 2 Tim. 111.) :
_ But if any might say, that the present preachers also sit
on Christ’s seat and preach the Gospel, even as the Scribes
sat on Moses’ seat and preached the law, therefore we may
hear them ; to this I reply, by first asking, which of all the
parties in nominal Christendom are the people of Christ,
-which is separated from all other nations as the Jewish,
(which according to the letter was God’s people,) was
separated ? Or which of the many different preachers now
sit on the one seat of Christ, as the Scribes sat on that one
seat of Moses? If ye say that all the preachers of all par-
ties sit in Christ’s seat, then I reply it is false, and has no
ground in Scripture ; or if ye say that all communities who
confess the name of Christ are Christ’s people, the same-
as the Jews were God’s people according to the letter ;
then I again answer that it is false, and has no ground in
the Scriptures.
For in what way could it be acccomplished, that Christ’s
one seat could be divided into so many, and yet remain
_ the only seat of Christ, even as Moses’ seat was but one?
for Christ does not say that they sat_on Moses’ seazs, but
“on Moses’ seat.
Or how can the one way of Christ, which is strait and ’
narrow, be divided into so many ways, and yet remain but”
one way? — .
zt ees ‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
Or how could the true, pure, and indivisible doctrine
of Jesus Christ be changed and taught in so many divided,
separated and perverted interpretations, and yet éver re- —
main the only one true doctrine of Christ ? aes,
Or how can the one door to the sheepfold have so many.
entrances, and still remain the one only door to the Lee
fold ? :
Or how can the united Church of Christ stand in so
many separations, divisions, contentions, and yet ever re-_
main the one united Church, which is joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according —
to the effectual working in the measure of every part, °
maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in
love? .
Or how then shall all these communities have received
the keys of binding and loosing from Christ, so that what
they bind on earth is bound in Heaven, and what they -
loose on earth is loosed in Heaven, whilst they continually
reject and condemn one another, and hold their doctrines
as perverted, and yet with all their binding and banning, -
they will all come together in Heaven ?
‘Tf you still say that all communities are the people of
Christ, and their teachers all sit on Christ’s seat, then I
pray you answer the above questions and reconcile them
with testimony of the Holy Scriptures; for human reason- -
ing or testimony we do not desire.
But if ye say no, they cannot all be Christ’s communi-
ties, and their teachers not all sit in Christ’s seat, (as in-
deed they cannot,) then I say, ye can prove or show noth-
ing by the foregoing expression of Christ, and can take no
ground therefrom, to hear them; but must shun and eee
them as false prophets.
1
| THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 157
For it is impossible ; Christ has but one seat, and that
is indivisible; one love, and that is unchangeable; one
way, and that cannot be divided ; one door, which cannot >
be converted into many; one Church, and this cannot be
‘separated, or engage in contention, without coming to
nought ; for a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
Yea, there can be but one Church, which has power to
bind and loose ; and what this does not loose with the
Word of God, or cannot receive on account of Christ’s
doctrine, must be without, or Christ’s word must be with-
out power, which yet stands firmer than Heaven and earth.
(Matt. xxiv.) :
Therefore, beloved reader, I ask you again, which of
~ these communities is the true apostolical Church of Christ,
which has the keys of the kingdom? For if one of these
has received power of Christ, that she can with His doc-
_trine, counsel, and will, bind and loose; then all other
parties that do not unite with this Christian community
standing in the doctrine of Christ, must of necessity have
_ another doctrine, which is not sound and pure, and conse- .
quently cannot stand before God, with their doctrine and
principles; for he that transgresseth and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
And if one of these parties believe that they are the
Church of Christ, and have the doctrine and seat of Christ, _
- with all His ordinances, as true repentance, regeneration, ©
_ baptism, true Supper, washing of feet, separation and avoid-
ance, all of which they truly teach and observe; then I
ask them, what then do they seek with those who they be-
lieve are in the way of error, and have not the true doc-
_ trine, but are altogether on perverted ways? If they say,
they seek that which is good; I would reply, if ye will yet
158 “THE way TO HEAVEN. 3 ‘
seek that which is good, with those whom you yourselves —
admit that they are perverted, then you must believe that
ye yourselves have not yet found that which is good. But
if ye say, ye will hear them, so that you do not offend
them ; then I would reply, if ye do it for this reason, then
ye yet seek to please men, and Paul says, ‘‘If I yet pleased
men, I should not be the servant of Christ.’’ (Gal. 1.)
If ye say, ye will not quench the Spirit, nor despise
prophesyings, but would prove all things, and hold fast
that which is good; I would reply, if ye have not yet
proved them, or have not experienced, whether they teach
sound doctrine or not; how can or dare you then say that —
they are perverted, or that their doctrine and principles ~
are not good? 5 |
But if ye say, ye have proof and experience, that the
ground and principles which they uphold are not good,:
and, therefore, you can truly say they are perverted ; then
I reply, if ye then acknowledge that they are perverted, —
what will you yet further prove with them? and why do
you ever resist the doctrine of Paul, where he says, we —
shall avoid all appearance of evil?
In the second place, the apostles did not mean that be-
-lievers should go to the Scribes and Pharisees, or the
heathen priests of idolatry, to prove them, and hold fast
‘that which is good, when they had already gone out from
them, and forsaken their worship; neither the false apos-
tles or hypocrites, who they knew did not walk worthily. ©
For of these He ever warned them, and taught them to
avoid such, as before said. But He means the teachers in
the church, that they shall not quench the Spirit, and not
despise prophesying, but prove all things and hold fast that
which is good, and if there is anything reveals itself inany
~
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 159
of the teachers, which has the appearance of evil, under
the pretense of godliness, they shall avoid such appearance
of evil. | 3 ; ;
In another place He says, ‘‘I beseech you, brethren,
~mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to
the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. For
they that are such, serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but’
their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches de-
ceive the hearts of the simple.’? (Rom. xvi.)
In the third place, some will advance the expression of
the Saviour when John said, ‘‘ Master, we saw one casting
out devils in Thy name, and we forbade him, because he
followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid
him not; for he that is not against us is for us.’’ (Luke
ix.) In the first place I reply, that this expression in no
wise gives us liberty to hear false or perverted teachers. In
the first place it is to be observed, that at the time when
_ Jesus was on earth, His twelve disciples journeyed with
Him personally from place to place, ever believing and
hoping that Christ would erect an earthly kingdom; and
for this reason they forbade him, thinking that because he
did not journey with them from place to place, he had no
part with Christ. But Christ, who did not erect an earthly,
but a spiritual kingdom, knew him better, and saw that he
was not against Him, even though he did not journey with
Him from place to place; therefore He said, Forbid him .
not, for he that is not against us is for us.
In the second place, it is to be observed that Christ at
this time had not yet received His kingdom, and His doc-
trine or testament was not yet confirmed through His
blood; for death had first to take place; for a testament is
confirmed by death, otherwise it has no power, if the testa-
me
160 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
tor yet liveth; whereupon neither the first testament was
dedicated without blood. But when -His testament-was ~
confirmed and sealed with His blood, and He had as-
cended from earth into heaven, and sent the Father’s
Spirit down from heaven upon His disciples, who then
reminded them of all things that He had told them, then
they only rightly saw what a kingdom Christ’s kingdom is.
Then they, as spiritual builders, laid the foundation of the
new Temple or Church on the spiritual Rock. Then they -
no more journeyed with Him naturally from place to place,
but followed Him spiritually, by obeying His doctrine,
and in all things making Him their pattern.
Therefore, Paul says, ‘‘ According to the grace of God
which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder, I have
laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon. But
let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For -
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which
“ast fesus-Christ’? «(1 Cor: ail.)
Then they regulated all things according to the aneteine
of their Master, and proved all things by it, and what did
not agree with His doctrine they rejected, and did not hes-
itate to say, ‘‘ Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in
the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.’’ (2 John.) ~ Or, -
‘¢ He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His com-.
mandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”’ (1
John ii.) |
Or, ‘Though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any
other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say _
I now again, if any man preach any other Gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.’’
(Gal. i.) | WS Oo
=
~
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 161
Or, ‘‘If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is
proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and
strifes of words.’’ (1 Tim. vi.) ~
Or, ‘‘If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him
God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
of his evil deeds.’’ (2 John.) —
_ Or, ‘‘ For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast,
and every transgression and disobedience received a: just
recompense of reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect
-so great salvation ; which at the first began to be spoken
by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that
heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with
signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of
the Holy Ghost, according to His own will.’’ -(Heb. ii.)
‘‘For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake
-on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away |
from Him that speaketh from Heaven.’’ (Heb. xii.) 7
~ Since then, Christ’s word and doctrine stands so firm,
and is so unchangeable, and the Holy Apostles proved all
teachers by it, and so freely and openly rejected, con-
~demned and accursed everything which did not accord
with it, and ever warned their fellow believers from all
such, and directed them to flee them, as has already been
- abundantly proven; so we also must ever prove the spirits,
teachers or parties, with the doctrine of Christ and the
apostles; and what does not agree with the word of God
by them, must of necessity be under the curse of God
- (otherwise the Scriptures must be untrue), and, therefore,
we must also take their counsel, and must shun, avoid and
°
162 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
flee them. I would again ask all those who advocate such
liberties, whether they believe that all these many parties
possess, teach and walk according to the pure doctrine of ©
Christ Jesus? If you say yea, then I say again it is false;
for Christ and His doctrine cannot be separated. When
the Corinthian church became somewhat contentious, and |
one would be of Paul, another of Apollos, the third of
Cephas, and the fourth of Christ, the Apostle Paul faith-
fully reproved them, and asked them, Is Christ divided?
was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the
name of Paul? Does he not call them carnal? ASS ver-
ily! ye are carnal, and walk as men.
But now we cannot believe, neither can it be shown, .
that each part of this Corinthian church had chosen a
special doctrine, or that they were divided in doctrine;
but only in name one would’be called after Paul, another
Apollos, another Cephas, and again another Christ. But
these parties in our day do not only differ in name, but
also in doctrine; therefore they are not only carnal, but-
they are idolatrous, because they in many points teach
their own doctrine; for that Christ’s doctrine can never
be divided is indisputable. |
But if you say no, they cannot all have the doctrine of
Christ, and you do further not believe that they keep His
commandments; then I reply: If you believe that they are
not all right, or have not all the doctrine of Christ, nor.
keep His commandments, then for the first, prove the one
under which you yourself stand, whether she in all things
have the doctrine of Christ, or keeps His commandments.
If you find that she has not, then reflect that a little poi-
son will corrupt the purest meal, and cause the whole to
- become deadly. Would you not exercise so much discre-
“
\
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 163"
tion, that if a person would continually mix a little poison
with the pure bread, without doubt you would take heed
and not eat of the same? So also, if you know that your
community has not got the pure doctrine of Christ, but
that some of the doctrine of men is mixed with it, should
you not also be so wise as to abandon your dangerous posi-
tion, and receive the true doctrine of Christ, and do and
walk in obedience to it, and then shun, flee, and avoid all
such impure teachers, when you know that their doctrine
is not sound, but deleterious and destructive?
But if you believe that your community is the true
Church of Christ, then you must believe that the others
are in the way of error, or they could not be contentious
about the ground and doctrine. Therefore, according to
all Scripture, you can obtain nothing with them ; for right-
eousness hath no fellowship with unrighteousness, and
light hath no communion with darkness.
But if you will not separate yourself from them, because
of the friendship of men, then I must say again, with holy
Paul, that since you yet seek to please men, contrary to
the word of God, you cannot be the servant of Christ.
May the Lord give every one eyes to see, and ears to
hear, and a heart to understand, and a mind to compre-
hend, and a faith to embrace, all that may redound to His
honor and glory, and to the happiness and salvation of
our souls, and that through Jesus Christ, ever blessed.
Amen, a
t64 > THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
CHAPTER: VIH;
ELOVED reader, if thou shouldest read through these _
pages, and perhaps not yet know thyself, or not have
come through true repentance to Christ, as the true light,
thou mightest, perhaps, form an ignorant judgment, and.
mock or slander the sentiments presented. I would,
therefore, by the grace of God, give thee a short instruc-
_tion, how thou must first come to repentance, and then
through or by true repentance and grace be transplanted:
into Christ Jesus, and thus receive ‘from Him grace for
grace.
Therefore, dear man, before all things use all earnest
diligence to learn rightly to know thyself, how exceedingly
corrupted and depraved thy nature is, and that thou al-
ready liest under the wrath of God, and wilt have to abide .
there so long as thou perseverest in thy impenitence, as it
-is written, ‘‘ There is none righteous, no, not one. There
is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after
God. They have all gone out of the way, they are alto- ©
gether become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good,
1
no, not one. ‘Their throat is an open sepulchre; with >
their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is:
under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and _bit-
terness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction
and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have
. they not known, ‘There is no fear of God before their
eyes.’’? (Rom. i11.) . |
-
> cat aie aig THE WAY TO HEAVEN, | 165
This is a picture of all men according to nature, for we
are all born in sin; and as the Lord said to Noah, the im-
agination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and the
Apostle Paul says there is no difference; for all have
_ sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Yea, man is
dead in trespasses and sins; and his walk is according to
the course of this world, according to the prince of the
- power of the air, and fulfils the desires of the flesh and of
the mind, and we are all the children of wrath by nature,
even as others, and: are without Christ, and strangers to
the covenants of promise, and consequently have no hope,
and are without God in the world. (Eph. ii.)
-Therefore, oh man! reflect upon thy condition, and
learn rightly to know thyself, what a miserable creature
thou art, so long as thou remainest in-thy unregenerated
state and livest in the lust of thy flesh. Thou hast noth-
ing to await but death, yea, eternal death and condemna-
tion; for thou art out of Christ and His promises: there-
fore delay not thy conversion. Repent, lest thou mightest
come too late, and find the door of grace shut; for Christ
says, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’’ Again,
‘verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I
said unto thee, ye must be born again; the wind bloweth
where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but
canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth; so
is every one that is born of the Spirit.’”’ (John iii.)
But if thou wilt know, (dear man,) with Nicodemus,
how these things can be, then reflect upon thy vain, carnal
~ _
166 - _ THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
and sinful life, how thou at all times from thy youth,
(from the time that thou hast come to understanding,)
hast lived in sin; in the lust of the eye, the lust of the
flesh, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but —
of the world. Learn to know thy stubborn nature, how
full of wickedness, hatred and bitterness thou art, that thou
canst not bear a little scorn, but dost seek to be avenged,
rendering evil for evil, and railing for railing; and how
long thou canst by times bear a hatred to thy neighbor _
who has despitefully used thee, whilst Paul says we shall
not let the sun go down upon our wrath; how often hast
thou calumniated thy neighbor, and sought to hide thine
own shame before man by lies and fig-leaves; how dost
thou seek to adorn thy sinful flesh, with all manner of |
costly pomp and elegant clothing, that thou mayest gain
the esteem of men, which in the end is but food for worms;
how dost thou riot and feast, live in gluttony and drunk-
enness, fornication ‘and adultery, dancing and leaping, —
cursing and swearing, gaming and defrauding, with all
manner of folly and vanity, jesting and mockery, and en-
joyment of the flesh; and with all this, thou goest “to ne
church or meeting, and in thy miserable blindness, thinkest
thou art a Christian; whilst yet, unless thou repentest, thy
departure must be hell and eternal death. Therefore,
dear man, think of thy condition, if thou art yet unregen-
eraté, and attend with the ears of the heart to what the
Lord says: for once give ear to the voice of the Almighty, —
who looks down upon thee with eyes of flaming fire, and
with the two-edged sword in His mouth: Thinkest thou,
O sinner, that thou canst hide thy sins from Me? thinkest |
thou I will not find thee, and bring all thy works to judg-
ment, and if thou dost not repent and be converted, I will
_ THE WAY TO HEAVEN, 167
reward thee with the fire of hell, where the worm dieth not
and the fire is not quenched. (Mark ix.) Dost thou re-
gard thy never-dying soul so little, that thou wouldst so
shamefully barter it for a mess of pottage, or a little pleas-
ure of this world? If Israel could not stand before Me
when the mount burned, and fled when they heard the
thunder and voice of words, how will ye, oh! ye sinners,
stand before My judgment, when your sins shall smite you
in the face and your consciences condemn you? Then
shall ye call upon the mountains to fall upon you, and the
hills to cover you, from the face of Him that sitteth upon
the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Yea, sinner,
dost thou know how long time thou yet hast, or how many
thy days shall yet be? art thou certain that thou must not
this day, or this hour, render an account of thy steward-
ship, and go away into eternal torment with all the un-
godly and hypocrites? Or dost thou think thou wilt sin
whilst thou art well and hast strength, and when thou art
‘sick thou wilt reform and call upon Me for help? But I
say unto thee, ‘‘ Because I have called and you refused, I
stretched out My hand and you regarded it not, you have
“set at naught all My counsel, and would none of My re-
proof; I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when
your fearcometh. When distress and anguish cometh upon
you, then shall you cali upon Me, but I will not answer ;
you shall seek Me early but shall not find Me, but shall eat
of the fruit of your own way, and be filled with your own
devices.’”’ (Prov. i.) Then shall they say and lament,
‘Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice
overtake us; we wait for light, but behold obscurity ; for
brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the
wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes; we.
=j a
168 i THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
stumble at noon-day as in the night, we are in desolate
places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn -
sore like doves; we look for judgment; but there is none;
for salvation, but it is far from us. For our transgressions —
are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us:
for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities,
we know them.’’ (Isaiah lix.) Therefore, oh uncon- |
verted sinner, reform whilst thou canst yet sin; spare not
thy penitence until thou art sick; defer not to become
pious, and spare not repentance until death. ‘‘ Before thou
a”
prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth —
the Lord. Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end,
and cap time of vengeance, when He shall turn Bick HE
face.’’ (Eccl. xviii.)
For our God is a consuming fire, hich shall devour the
adversaries ; and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands © |
of the living God, who will in flaming fire take vengeance
on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gos-
pel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with
everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord and
the glory of His power. (2 Thess. i.) Therefore, oh
- man! if thou remainest impenitent, and wilt live on unto
the end in the lust of the flesh, then thy portion will be in
the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, and shall be
tormented day and night, from eternity to eternity.
Here the wild beast of the desert shall meet with the wild
beast of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow, |
and it shall be a habitation of dragons, and a court for
owls. Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord and read; no
one of these shall fail, for He hath cast the lot for them,
and His hand hath divided it unto them by line ; they shall
possess it forever, from generation to generation shall they
dwell therein. (Isaiah xxxiv.)
~
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 169
_ In the second place, it is necessary to know God in His
omnipotence, righteousness and holiness; that in His
~rigteousness He will not leave any sin unpunished ; that He
is a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the father upon the
children unto the third and fourth generation of them that
- hate Him. (Exod. xx.) For He isa living God, and an
everlasting King; at His wrath the earth shall tremble,
and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation,
__ for before Him they are not regarded ; the nations are ac-
counted as the drop that remaineth in the bucket, and as
the small dust of the. balance; behold, He taketh up the
isles as a very little thing. Lebanon is not sufficient to
burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the
inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth
- out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a
tent to dwell in; that bringeth the princes to nothing; He
maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. (Isaiah xl.) And
the people shall be as the burning of lime ; as thorns cut
up shall they be burned up in the fire. (Is. xxxiii.) Be-
fore such omnipotence ye sinners should, with the sinners
of Zion, beafraid, and fearfulness should surprise the hypo-
~ erites, that they might say, who among us shall dwell with
a devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlast-
ing burnings? (Is. xxxill.) Before God there shall no
one be found clean or righteous except Christ, as itis writ- —
_ ten in Job: ‘‘ What is man that he should be clean ? and
he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Behold, He putteth no trust in His saints ; yea, the heavens
~ are not clean in His sight. How much more abominable
and filthy is man, that drinketh in iniquity like water ?’’
(Job xv.) Therefore, oh man! wilt thou be able to ap-
{
I7o THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
pear before this Holy-God ? then thou must have Christ for —
thy ransom, and must be justified through His blood, so
that thou embracest Christ’s righteousness by the faith
which is of God’s operation, and come before God with
this righteousness, instead of thine own; then the right- |
‘eousness or justice of God which stood against thee will
lose its claim, and thou wilt be accepted on account of
Christ’s righteousness or merit, and all thy sins be forgiven
thee. es
But if thou wilt obtain the righteousness of Christ, and
~ dost earnestly seek it, then thou must of necessity first see
that with all thy own righteousness, worship and honesty,
thou art accursed, through the righteous justice of the law
of God; and if thou, in this miserable condition, findest
thyself to be yet out of Christ, and perceivest thyself con-
demned, then thou wilt begin to groan and sigh, and
with David cry out, ‘‘O Lord God of my salvation, I
have cried day and night before Thee: let my prayer come
before Thee: incline Thine ear unto my cry ; for my soul
is full of troubles; and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am.
as a man that hath no strength; free among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest
no more; and they are cut off from Thy hand. Thou hast
laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkness, in the deep.
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and Thou hast afflicted me
with all Thy waves.’’ (Ps. lxxxviii.) If thou then find-
est thyself in such condition, and seest no way of escape,
but liest as it were between two tables of the covenant;
only wait on the Lord, for He will send the voice of one
crying in the wilderness of thy heart, which will call unto
thee Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, for the ax is
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. ay
_laid at thy root as an unfruitful tree, and if thou bringest
not forth fruit, wilt be cut down and cast into the fire,
(Luke iii.)
: If thou hearest this voice, and feelest thyself as an un-
fruitful tree, “then only do not despair, but let thyself be led
into a true heartfelt repentance, that thou mayest become
right sensible of thy sins, and thy proud and exalted heart
be rightly humbled and brought low, and ‘thy crooked and
- serpentine deceit be made just and true; and the rough
‘and uneven way in which thou hast walked become a plain,
. even and humble way; so that thou mayest see the salvation
of God. And if thou hast experienced this preparation of
; heart, then observe what He further teaches, that if thou
hast two coats, give to him that has none; and he that —
hath meat shall do likewise, and be upright in all things ;
take no more than is appointed ; do violence to no man,
neither accuse any falsely, and be content with thy wages ;
and if in all things thou art obedient, and feelest a willing
heart, then take good heed that thou dost not begin to
--muse whether this is not now Christ. But this is only a
‘burning and shining light in which we are apt to rejoice
fora season. But there must yet a greater power come
after this, who will baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost,
whose fan is in His hand, and He will purge the floor of
our heart, through His blood, and will gather the wheat or
good fruits into Elis barn. (Luke iii.)
Now, if thou hast obtained this and hast been pardoned,
then thou wilt learn to know the beginning of Christ’s
miracles: namely, how He converted the water of thy
tears of repentance into a very sweet wine; and His glory
will be revealed unto thee. Through this there willa heart- ~
_ felt love arise in thee toward Him, so that thou wilt now be-.
* af
~
172 THE WAY TO HEAVEN,
~ come willing to forsake all for His sake, and to follow Him > :
under the cross. Here the Bridegroom is with thee ; there-
fore thou canst not fast, and all is sweet to thee. His left—
hand is under thy head, and his right embraces thee.
(Songs ii.) But, faithful soul, the time will come when the
Bridegroom will again be taken from thee ; then thou wilt
be sorrowful, and shalt fast: but be not dismayed, or de-
spair not of His coming to thee again ; but go out from thy-
self, and search for Him in the streets of the town of thy
heart, and cry, saying that thou art sick of love; and
though He does not answer so quickly, yet do not be dis-
couraged, for He will preserve thee. He may let thee be ~
wounded by times, to see whether thy love is true, and thy :
faith steadfast ; but if He find thee faithful, He will again |
kiss thee, and say, Peace be with thee ; and also teach thee ~
that thou canst do nothing without Him, and must ever
receive new grace from Him. By this means and exercise _
thou shalt grow from one degree to another, and step by —
step increase in power, and receive from His fulness grace _
for grace. .
Yea, faithful soul, if thou art also led with Christ unto
Mount Tabor, and beholdest His glory, so that thou _
wouldst here build tabernacles; yet thou must again come >
down, and go with Christ to Golgotha, and learn to enter
through tribulation into the kingdom of God. But here’
take heed that thou dost not depend upon thine own power, Zi
thinking that thou canst now overcome all and leave thy
life for thy Redeemer, whereas thou mayst with Peter in a_
‘short time deny Him. Therefore learn to become quite
nothing in thyself, and let Jesus be all in thee, and look
upon Him as being the author and finisher of thy faith,
who gave Himself for thee unto the cross; who though He
THE WAY TO HEAVEN, Meee
“might have had joy, yet was not ashamed of its reproach; _
__ therefore do thou also not be ashamed to take upon thyself
the cross and follow Him, when He will not leave thee
without a witness of Himself, but will enlighten thee more
and more, and reveal to thee the mysteries of His word,
so that His Gospel will become to thee a true meat to the
soul, wherein it may be fed, thy faith strengthened, and
~ love be made more fervent, and zeal more vehement unto
“4
obedience and self-denial for Christ’s sake. If thou findest
this with thyself, then take heed that thou dost not despise
any of the commandsof Christ. For the old serpent may,
perhaps, come with subtlety, and say, Thou art now a re-
~ newed Christian, and hast no need of water Baptism, Sup-
per, feet-washing, nor any outward ceremony (as he may
call them), but only serve God in spirit, and observe the
emotions of thine heart and conscience, and what they
approve is right.
_ But, dear man, here watch closely, and be on thy guard,
that thou dost not exalt thy heart (in which the serpent
preaches) above Christ and His word; but adhere strictly
to all His commands, and with David hate every false way;
and look to the first builders of the Church, how they re-
_ garded it as a duty to baptize such as before had the Holy
‘Spirit ‘so: richly poured out upon them; and how they
_ brake the bread together with one accord, according to
<<
the instruction of their Master. Thus do thou also, and
in all humility and simplicity obey the doctrine of Jesus
Christ in all things, and exercise thyself in godliness, and
Christ will be with thee, and bestow upon thee the crown
of life; for blessed are they that do His commandments,
that-they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter
in through the gates into the city.
194 THE wa¥ TO HEAVEN.
If thou obey His doctrine and keep these His command-
ments, then watch here again, and be on thy guard, so
- that the serpent does not lead thee into self-righteousness, -
and thus rob thee of grace; but learn to be a little child,
and remain in humility, and suffer the grace of God to do
all these things through thee, and say with Paul, Not I, but
the grace of God that is with me. ‘Then will thy righteous-
ness be better than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, and
thou wilt consequently enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Behold, beloved reader, such repentance, regeneration,
and true obedience of Christ, we teach and confess with —
all our heart and tongue. If thou becomest partaker of
this, and come from darkness to light, and then read these
pages through with devout attention, then thou wilt find
the pure and unadulterated truth, which has for many years
been darkened, and yet has been so clearly taught and left
behind by Christ and His apostles, and all holy men who
were faithful unto death, and sealed their testimony by
their blood. Therefore we deelare nothing new, but the
old command, which ye have heard from the beginning.
Again we declare unto you a new commandment (that is,
new and strange to the world), which thing is truein Him
and in all God’s children; because the darkness. through
the grace of God is past, and the true light now shineth ;
therefore we will walk in the light as in the day, and have
no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them. ;
Therefore I say again, that a true penitent, who sees his
misery ard unworthiness, thinks himself unworthy to lift
his eyes unto heaven, but will much more smite upon his
breast, saying, God be merciful to me asinner: where, on —
the contrary, a self-righteous one thanks God that he is not
ponies So SS THE WAY TO HEAVEN, zi 175
as other people, and expects to be saved by his good works.
_ A true penitent hungers and thirsts after righteousness, but
a self-righteous person is rich, and increased in goods, and
has need of nothing, and knows not that he is wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. A true
penitent follows the star of the Divine word, and his con-
victions, until he finds the child Jesus, and when he has
found it, he rejoices with exceeding great joy; whilst the
self-righteous remains seated at Jerusalem, resting on. his
~ outward forms of worship. A true penitent leaves all for
Christ’s sake and follows Him; but the self-righteous thinks
he has kept all the commandments from his youth up, but
to sell his riches and give_up his self-righteousness, and
take upon himself the cross of Christ, he can not do;
therefore he can also not enter into the kingdom of God.
A true penitent lies in sack-cloth and ashes with Mordecai
before the king’s gate; whilst on the contrary the rich and —
self-righteous with Haman proudly boasts, and thinks he
is held in high esteem with the king; but because he exalts
himself he must be humbled, but he that humbleth him-
self shall be-exalted.
In short, a true penitent watches and resists the carnal
lusts and desires, and is not conformed to this world, but
condescends to those of low estate; he casts off the works
of darkness and puts on the armor of light; he loves not
the world, neither does the world love him, for Christ has
chosen him out of the world, therefore the world hateth
—
him; he puts off the old man and puts on the hew man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image that created
him. He puts off the old Adam with his whole nature,
which walks after the lusts of error, as there is pride, avar-
ice, unchastity, hatred, envy, gluttony, drunkenness, idols
*
176 | | ‘THE WAY TO HEAVEN, ~
atry, lying and deceiving, with all the vanity and volup-
tuousness of this world; and puts on the new man, which ~
after God is created in holiness and righteousness and -
truth—the fruits of which are faith, hope, love, righteous-
ness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. In suffering he —
is patient, merciful, compassionate, chaste, amiable, and
kind, and yet earnest in hatred of sin, and ready to reprove
it, and has an upright, hearty love and zeal for God and
His word. His lamentation is at all times against his evil
flesh; his prayer is ever to God, that he might be justified
through Christ, and receive the power of His merit; his’
petition is at all times for forgiveness of his daily weak-
nesses and infirmities, for he always feels himself poor and’
empty; but he holds Christ as his all, and His word of
great worth: his eyes are ever directed upon the Lord,
and in all things he trusts in Him.
A truly penitent person is at all times temperate and
sober and of a prayerful disposition; he rejoiceth when he’ —
suffers with Christ, and glorifies God in such behalf; he
humbleth himself under the mighty hand of God, and
casteth all his cares upon Christ, and looketh for that
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God,
and our Saviour Jesus Christ. He knows how to possess ~
his vessel in sanctification and honor;. not in the lust of :
concupiscence, even as the Gentiles, which know not God;
for the time-past of his life may suffice him to have wrought
the will of the Gentiles. He now walks in the Spirit, -
therefore he does not fulfil the lusts of the flesh; but he.
ylelds himself unto God as one that is alive from the dead,
and his members as instruments of righteousness unto God,
_ and his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is his reasonable service; for he no more liveth unto. ”
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. yaa
himself, but Christ liveth in him; and the. life which-he
‘now lives in the flesh, he lives by faith in the Son of God,
Therefore, my beloved reader, pause a little here, and
_ observe and examine thy heart well, whether thou hast by
the grace of God come to this true Christian life, and from
* thy heart desirest to do the will of God through Christ:
and if thou findest this to be so, and that thou art stand-
ing in this life, then thou art only become rightly compe-
tent to discern whether this doctrine is of God, or whether
I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh
his own glory; but he that seeketh His glory that sent
him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Therefore we will not do as many, which corrupt the word
of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight
of God speak we in Christ; neither at any time used we
flattering words, but as we were allowed of God to be put
in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing
- men, but God, which trieth our hearts. Nevertheless the
foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the
‘Lord knoweth them that are His, And, let-every one that
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in
-a great house (namely in the house of this world), there
are not only vessels of gold and of silver, (namely as gold
- sanctified, and as silver purified souls,) but also of wood
and of earth, (namely as wood fitted to the fire, earthly-
minded people,) and some to (God’s) honor, and some to
dishonor. If any man therefore purge himself (now re-
flect) from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified
and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto Bee
~ good work.
; Now the God of peace, that brought again from the
= _ dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the
+
is /
essen ~THE WAY 0 HEAVEN.
_ sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, makes “
all faithful souls perfect in every good work to do His will, bg
and work in them that which is well pleasing in His sight, -
through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever,
amen.
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. | 179
CHAPTER IX.
ET a short exhortation to you, my heartily beloved
4 brothers and sisters, sanctified in the Lord, who with
me, have been called from darkness to the true light, by
God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ and the —
power of His Holy Spirit, to whom be honor from ever-
lasting to everlasting, amen.
My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, in the first
- place I would exhort you, with Moses and Paul, that ye’
would remember how ye in times past walked according
to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the chil-
dren of disobedience: among whom also we all had our
- conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is
“rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,
even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved;) and hath
raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places, in Christ Jesus. (Eph. ti.) Oh, my dear chil-
dren! this great love the Heavenly Father bestowed upon
- us, not because of our works of righteousness, but accord-
ing to His great mercy, through Jesus Christ; therefore
_ keep in remembrance how much good the Lord hath done
to your souls. When ye lay in your blood, and no eye.
pitied you, then He passed by you, and saw you polluted
-
180 ‘THE Way TO HEAVEN.
in your own blood, and said unto you, you shall live; and
He raised you up through His grace, and you had waxen
great, yet you were naked and bare; then He passed by —
you, and looked upon you, and behold it was the time of
love; and He spread His skirt over you, and covered your
nakedness, and He sware unto you, and entered into cove-
_ nant with you in baptism, that you should be His; and
bathed you with the waters of grace, and washed away the
blood of your sins, and anointed you with the sweet- —
scented oil of the Holy Ghost, and clothed you with the
broidered garment of righteousness, and shod you with the
badger skins of peace, and girded you about with fine
linen, and covered you with the silken veil of the pure fear
of God, so that the sun of liberty does not bribe you, nor |
the storms of persecution blow the dust of sin again into
your eyes; He decked you with the ornaments of the gifts
of the Holy Spirit, and put bracelets upon your arms, and
chains upon your necks and set the crown of joy upon your
heads, and gave you the sweet honey of the Gospel and oil
of the Holy Ghost, as meat whereon you might live: and
thus you have received the kingdom of Heaven, which is
within you; and this all of free grace. (Ezkl. xvi.)
Oh, blessed is now he (reflect, my beloved), that watch-
eth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they
see his shame. For behold, he cometh quickly: therefore
let every one hold fast that which he hath, that no one take
away his crown ; for Him that overcometh will He make
a pillar in the temple of His God, and he shall go no more |
out: and He will write upon him the name of His God, ~
and the name of the New Jerusalem, which is the city of
His God, etc. (Rev. ili.)
Therefore, my dearly beloved brothers and sisters in the
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. I8t
~~ Lord, let us be on our guard, and watch at all times, for _
we live in a very dangerous time; for the devil has trans-
formed himself into an angel of light, but yet ever seeks —
how he may devour us: therefore take good heed, and let
no man beguile you of your reward in avoluntary humility
_and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which
he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and
_ not holding the Head, from which all the body (namely,
_ the whole Church) by joints and bands having nourish-
ment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the in-
erease of God, and that all in love. (Col. ii.) Therefore,
my dearly beloved, keep that which God hath committed
unto you, and walk in the light whilst ye have the light,
lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in dark-
ness knoweth not whither he goeth. Ever keep in remem-
brance how ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, that.
ye may also so walk in Him ; rooted and built up in Him,
and established in the ia as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving; and do all things
without murmurings and disputings ; that ye may be blame-
less and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of
life. (Phil. ii.) Christ says (John v.), Verily, verily, I
say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on
Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come _
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Again, ‘‘ If yeabide in Me, and my words abide in you, ye
shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so
shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so ~
shave I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye keep
182034 THE WAY. TO HEAVEN.
my commandments, ye shall abide in My iowes 3 even as Ee
have kept My father’s commandments, and abide in His
love.’’ (John xv.)
Here we can see, that the true love of Jesus consists in —
the keeping of His Goma adindite ; therefore let us stand —
fast in the word of truth, which is ingrafted into us, and
which is able to save our souls.
John says (1 John ii.), ‘‘ But whoso keepeth His word,
in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know ©
we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him,
ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.”’
Therefore David also says (Ps. xix.), ‘‘ The fear of the -
Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the
- Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired _
are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold ; sweeter also
than honey and the honey-comb. Moreover by them is
‘thy servant warned: and in keeping of them is great re-
_ ward.’’ Again (Ps. cxix. 72), ‘‘ The law of Thy mouth is
better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.’’ Again
(vs. 103-106), ‘‘ How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! ©
Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. | Through thy
precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false
way. Thy word isalamp unto my feet, and a light unto
my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will
keep thy righteous judgments.”’
Oh, my beloved brothers and sisters! As we learn by
the Holy Scriptures throughout, that all holy men of old ~
~held the Word of God in high esteem; and that God also
requires this of all His children; for He published His
Word here upon earth, as an indication to us, of how we
shall walk, and also to know thereby, that He will leave no
sin unrequited, but reward every one according to his
/
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. | 183
x. ra
works. Therefore do with all earnest diligence guard your-
selves against sin, and watch over yourselves ; for the
devil does not only go about like a roaring lion, but also
as a subtle serpent, and before we are aware he may
_ have wounded us by his hellish fangs, and thereby infused
his subtle poison into our souls. Therefore watch as faith-
ful porters over the treasure with God has bestowed upon
you out of free grace, and entrusted to your care, that at
the coming of the Lord He may not find you asleep. For
Satan is ever intent upon bringing sanctified souls into a
spiritual slumber, so that they may not so clearly perceive
their danger. Into this condition he had, in a measure,
brought the Corinthian Church, when Paul says there were
many weak and many sickly amongst them, and many
slept. (1 Cor. xi.) There was also in this Church some
disorder, because spiritual sleep begets spiritual impotence,
with inability to strive against evil, and indolence and want
of fervency in that which is good ; the inclination and love
- to prayer yields, by degrees the holy devotion of God is
lost, which is followed by spiritual blindness, so that we
do not perceive our own misery, and as a consequence fall
into spiritual security, and forget that we were purged of
our old sins; at last becoming rich, and think we have
need of nothing, and know not that we are wretched, and ~
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. (Rev. iii.)
And withal; the world again, by degrees, gets possession
of such souls, lust is conceived, and desire and enjoyment
of the world, with gold and silver, is begotten, and with
it, the longer the more God is forgotten, because their
holy devotion to God is lost; the thoughts the while more
_ directed to the world, until at last, through his spiritual
~ sleep, the communion between God and the soul is severed,
184 THE WAY TO HEAVEN.
the Holy Spirit necessitated to withdraw, the unclean spirit
finds the house empty, swept, and garnished, and takes
with him seven other spirits, more wicked than himself, |
who take possession and make their abode with him.
Therefore, my dearly beloved brothers and sisters, I again
say, watch and be sober in prayer, and above all things,
have fervent charity amongst one another, for charity ——
covereth a multitude of sins (1 Pet. iv.), wherefore the
rather give diligence to make your calling and election
sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall; for so
an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, into
the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
‘Christ. (2 Pet. i.) But if you by times feel spiritual
indolence or discouragement in yourselves, then do vio-
lence to yourselves, in prayer and supplication to God,
that-He would bestow an earnest and devout spirit upon —
you, with a firm faith and fervent love, that He would not
suffer you to fall into spiritual impotency, whereby you
would be unable to use the spiritual weapons, in your con-
test against the devil, the world, sin, death and hell. But
above all things pray the Lord to preserve in you the shield —
of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery —
darts of the wicked, for faith is the victory by which we
overcome the world! And Christ says, all things are pos-
sible to him that believeth, what things soever ye desire
when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall
have them. ;
Since we then have such precious promises, let us be the
more courageous in our warfare against the devil, the world,
sin and death; and let us in all things keep God in view,
upon whom we must ever look with the eye of faith, and
walk as in His presence, and reckon gurselves to. be dead.
-. unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 185
\
For we have, by the grace of God, renounced the god and
prince of this world, and have yielded ourselves unto the
Lord Christ, that we will be faithful unto Him, and serve
Him unto the end. Therefore it is meet that we should
keep in remembrance how He has received us through His
promises, and entered into covenant with us, that He will
be with us every day unto the end of the world. And if
_ we love Him, and keep His commandments or word, then
the Father will love us, and They will come unto us, and
make Their abode with us. And above all this, He gave
His life for us unto death, that we through His death might
live.
Oh! should we regard His love lightly? Should we re-
gard it of so little worth that we should not also in return
love Him? Should we yet again barter this precious pearl
for things of this perishable world? Or should we again \
with Esau, sell our first heavenly birth, after God the.
Father hath begotten us by His Son, for meat, or natural
lust or gratification? Ohno, no, my beloved, no! Let
us not be of them who draw back unto perdition, but of
them that believe unto the saving of the soul. It had
been much better for us never to have known the way of
righteousness, than that we should again turn from the
holy commandment given unto us.
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, do let us |
press onward in the work of sanctification with an earnest
zeal, and ever yet increase in the knowledge of God, and
His Son Jesus Christ; for he that lacketh these things is
blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he
was purged of his old sins. And let none amongst us
_ think, that if we have outward humility and propriety of
186 : THE WAY TO HEAVEN. — yard eye
conduct, if we have Christian virtues, if we are diligent
in our attendance at worship, and also shun all false wor-
ship, and refuse to hear perverted teachers, that this issuf-
ficient for us. Oh, no, no, my beloved, no! The foolish
virgins had light also, and are called virgins also, as well
as the wise; but because they had no oil their lamps went
out, and they were rejected. |
Therefore, my beloved, take heed that no one depend
upon his virtues or light, and go about to establish their
own, or a Pharisaical righteousness; but let grace do all
things through you, and remain in humility or nothingness
as the innocent children, and live by faith; for saving faith
ascribes all to God, and offeis up all to Him again; seeing
that all good comes from Him, for He worketh in us, both
to will and to do of His good pleasure. Therefore, TVs
beloved, remember what Christ says, Except your right-
eousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall
- in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Now what —
_ is the righteousness that we must have, which is better than
~ theirs was, if we shall otherwise enter into the kingdom of _
Heaven! Without doubt the righteousness which Christ
acquired for us before God, by His bitter suffering and
death. For Paul says, that He (namely God) at this time
declared His righteousness; that He might be just, and the
justifier of him that believeth in Jesus? Where is boasting
then? It is excluded. By what law? -Of works? - Nay;
but by the law of faith. (Rom. i.) From these words ~
-of the Apostle, we can clearly see, how that true faith -
strips us of all self-righteousness and boasting; for faith |
ever looks unto God and His righteousness, and acknowl-
edges that He alone is righteous, and that He makes us’
righteous is alone of grace through Jesus Christ. There- ~ —
= if
THE WAY TO HEAVEN. 187
fore, faith ever (as it were) sinks itself into the righteous- ~
“ness of Christ, and embraces it, and because of this faith
_Christ’s righteousness is imputed unto us, and through this
we obtain peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved, in all your doings, look at all
times unto Christ; in all your walks follow Him; in all
your works seek no salvation but alone in His blood; in
all your prayers offer the same unto God as a sweet-smell-
ing savor, and that all through faith; for what is not of
faith is sin. Then you will reap the rich fruits of His
righteousness, and be eternally happy; and that all of
grace from God the’ Father, and through Jesus Christ our
Lord, amen. Grace be with you all, amen.
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