The same prophet said, Christ's kingdom should be a tabernacle, when the Lord had washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion by the spirit of judgment and burning, Isa. iv. 4, 5, 6. He saw in a vision the stubbornness of many, to their own destruction, and said they would make their hearts fat, and their ears heavy, and would not hear; and shut their eyes, lest they should see, until their cities were wasted without inhabitant, and their houses without men, Isa. vi. 10, 11. But said, in it there should be a remnant, which should be as a teil-tree, or as an oak, whose substance was in them when they cast their leaves, so the holy seed should be the substance thereof, Isa. vi. 13. which afterwards was fulfilled; for Christ the holy seed was after, in the remnant that was saved, as the substance remained in the teil-tree or oak, when their leaves were cast. This was also a certain testimony of the Son of God, who was set for the fall and the rising again of many in Israel, Luke ii. 34. who was to be manifested in man, to restore him to his first estate, as the apostles at large afterwards witnessed.

The same prophet also prophesied of the birth of this second Adam, and of his kingdom and government, Isa. ix. 6, 7. And said, the remnant of the house of Jacob should no more stay upon him who smote them, but should stay upon the Lord, the holy one of Israel; and should return unto the mighty God, Isa. x. 20, 21, as afterwards it came to pass. And again he testified of the peaceable kingdom of Christ, wherein the earth should be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea, Isa. xi. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, which knowledge came afterwards to be received by the light which God had commanded to shine in their hearts, who were witnesses of the same, 2 Cor. iv. 6, by which, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God was received in the face of Jesus Christ.

storation into that image and perfection of holiness in which he was created; so that to all who received him when he came to be manifested to them, he gave power to become the sons of God, and heirs of life, John i. 12.

And Jeremiah also prophesied of the scattered flock of the Lord, whom the wicked pastors of Israel had destroyed. And the Lord said, I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where they have been driven, and will bring them again into their fold, and will set one Shepherd over them, which shall feed them, Jer. xxiii. And in his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our righteousness; verse 6. And they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, but the Lord liveth which brought the seed of the house of Jacob out of the north country, and out of all countries whither he had driven them; verse 7, 8. All which the Lord spoke by way of prophesy, that he would restore Israel, his people, unto unity with him, which could not possibly be until he had finished transgression in them, which was the first cause of separation from God and the glory of his power.

And again, the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah prophesied of the restoration of Israel, and said, he would bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth; he that scattered Israel will gather them as a shepherd doth his flock, Jer. xxxi. 10. And also said, he would make a covenant with the house of Israel, and the house of Judah, not according to the covenant which he made with their fathers when he took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, (mark!) but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Irrael; I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Again, the Lord by the prophet, Isa. lv. 1, Know the Lord, &c. Jer. xxxi. 31, 32, 33. called every one that thirsted to drink freely of This is the covenant in which Christ was the waters of life, without money and without promised, wherein God would write his law in price; and called many to repentance, verse, 6, his people's hearts, which afterwards the aposand said, Let the wicked forsake his ways, and tles witnessed, and in which they knew the the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him blood of Christ to cleanse them from all sin, 1 return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy | John i. 7. This covenant was a covenant of upon him; verse 7. Here was the promise of light, and of life, and they were justified by mercy unto man, if he forsook his unrighteous faith, Gal. iii. 24. and so were presented blameways and thoughts; and to no other, as after-less unto God, which the blood of bulls and wards was testified, Prov. xxviii. 13. And fur- goats could not do, nor any outward thing, thermore the prophet declareth the glory of the Heb. x. 4. true church, and saith, the Gentiles shall come to her light, and kings to the brightness of her rising, Isaiah lx. 3, which was afterwards fulfilled.

All which prophesies were the universal love of God in Christ Jesus to mankind, for his re

And by the mouth of Ezekiel, the Lord promised to gather his people again unto himself, and seek them as a shepherd seeketh his sheep, and feed them in a good pasture, Ezek. xxxiv. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Here was God's universal love again manifested by way of prophecy, for

the recovery of lost man; all which promises both of the birth and coming of the Son of were made conditionally unto mankind, if they God, and of his perfecting the work of the believed in him whom God hath chosen to be Lord, which is to destroy the works of the the author of eternal salvation, to all who re-devil, and restore man into that image and ceive and believe in him. glory of God, which he lost by transgression; that he who runs may read it, Hab. ii. 2. This was the very end for which he was manifested, and for which he died and rose again, accord

Then afterwards Daniel prophesied of the suffering of the Son of God, of whom the prophets had written, whom the angel showed that seventy weeks were determined to finish trans-ing to the Scriptures. gression, and to make an end of sin, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, Dan. ix. 24.

And in verse the 26th saith, That after sixtytwo weeks shall the Messiah be slain, but not for himself; and in verse the 27th, He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week, and in the midst of the week he shall cause the offerings and the oblations to cease.

This showed the death of the Son of God, before he came into the world, by which sin and transgression were to be finished, which were the cause of offerings and sacrifices, still demonstrating God's eternal purpose through him, to put an end to transgression in man, without which man could never come to him again, nor be restored into that image and glory which he lost by transgression, which is the perfection of holiness in the sight of the Lord, which the apostles testified unto, 2 Cor. vii. 1, that man might live with God in the spirit, for which end he was created, which was brought to pass through the death and suffering of his Son, whom he sent into the world, that they through him might be saved, John iii. 17.

And the Lord spake again by the mouth of Amos, and said, The ploughman should overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains should drop down with sweet wine, and he would bring again the captivity of his people Israel, Amos ix. 13, 14.

And Micah foretold of the birth of this Saviour, even in Bethlehem Ephratah, though it was little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of it should He come forth that was to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting; and he shall stand and rule in the strength of the Lord, and in the majesty of the name of the Lord, and shall be great unto the ends of the earth, Micah v. 2, 3, 4. And also said, that the remnant of Israel should be among many nations, as a dew from the Lord that tarrieth not for man, and as the showers upon the tender grass, &c. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, as a lion among the beasts of the forest; and as a young lion among the flocks of the sheep; which should rouse them, and go through, and none can deliver, ver. 7, 8.

All which prophecies being so clear and full,
VOL. XII.-No. 6.

So when He was come, of whom the prophets gave testimony, and born in Bethlehem of Judea, Matt. ii. 1.; Luke ii. 4, He began to do many mighty works and wonders, in restoring the blind to sight, and the lame to walk, and the deaf to hear, as it is written of him, Mark vii. 37; whose work was always a work of perfection, both in his restoration of body and soul, who saved to the uttermost, all who came to God by him, Heb. vii. 25., and made man every whit whole, John vii. 23. He did not leave his work imperfect, in or upon them who did believe in him; for then he had done no more than did the old covenant, which was disannulled because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof; because it made not the comers thereunto perfect; for then it should have ceased, Heb. x. 1, 2., but he hath obtained a more excellent ministry; by how much also he is become a Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises, Heb. viii. 6. For if perfection had been by the Levitical priesthood, under which the law was received, what further need was there that another priesthood should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? Heb. vii. 11.

The first priesthood, with all its offerings and sacrifices, evening and morning, and with all its rites and ceremonies, could not make the comers thereunto perfect; and the law, with all its works, could never justify any, nor make any thing perfect, Heb. vii. 19. Therefore Moses did but obtain a servant's place, yet being faithful therein, according to what God had manifested, Heb. iii. 2, 5, he was called the friend of God, in doing whatsoever he commanded him, and laid down his head in peace in the land of Moab; according to the word of the Lord, Deut. v. 4, 5. Though that priesthood had not then appeared, through which the perfection of holiness was afterwards witnessed, nor power to become the sons of God-but only servants, who doing what the Lord commanded them, it was well-pleasing to God, and he blessed them in their generation.

God also blessed Abraham in his generation, because he obeyed his word and commandment, and withheld not his only son, at the commandment of the Lord, Genesis, xxii. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. He believed in God, and obeyed his word; therefore he died in a

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good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered unto his people, Gen. xxv. 8. And God said unto him, because thou hast done this; and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; in blessing, I will bless thee, and in multiplying, I will multiply thy seed; and make it as the stars of heaven, and as the sand upon the sea shore, &c., Gen. xxii. 16, 17.

And David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him, all the days of his life; save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite, 1 Kings xv. 5. For this he suffered the severe judgment of the Lord, so that he laid roaring all the day long, and watered his couch with his tears, Psal. xxii. 1.; Psal. xxxii. 3. By this judgment he was redeemed again unto God, and became a vessel of honour, to sound forth the praises of God, Psal. xcviii; Psal. ci. and ciii. and civ. After which he departed not from the law of God, but continued in the same unto the end of his days.

Many other of the faithful servants of the Lord, who obeyed his word and commandments, I might mention, both in the time of the law and the prophets, who kept the commandments, laws, statutes and ordinances of God; in the keeping of which, he promised life unto man, Levit. viii. 5.; Ezek. xx. 11. These laws, statutes and judgments, were given to Israel; but they despised them, and polluted his sabbaths; therefore he poured forth his fury upon them in the wilderness to consume them, Ezek. xx. 13. And all that went on in breaking his laws and commandments, he overthrew in the wilderness, and they never came into the promised land: 1 Cor. x. 5.

Now these things were examples to them that came after, that they should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted; verse 6.

Neither to be idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written; the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play, Exod. xxxii. 6.; 1 Cor. x. 7. This was counted idolatry, the which many are found in at this day, who can not endure so to be called; though we know that no unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, nor of God: Eph. v. 3, 4, 5.

And the apostle said, Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience; verse 6.

in the keeping of them, as I have before showed. Leonard Letchford hath lately sought to persuade me, that it would be praise to God, for me to say the commandments of God could not be done without sinning, as he and his brethren have long believed, and caused many to believe, to their own destruction. Thus they have kept people in sin and transgression, and imperfection; for which they have long pleaded, and do yet plead for their disobedience to God's law and commandments, from some failings of the servants of God before mentioned; which were only written to warn all not to tempt the Lord; as some of them tempted him, many of whom were destroyed in their rebellion and disobedience; but they who were willing and obedient, came to eat the good of the land of promise. And none of them did answer the Lord when he gave them his laws, statutes, and ordinances, commandments and precepts, and say it cannot be done, as Leonard Letchford of Hurst Pierpoint.

The paper is as followeth, September 6, 1663.

"Whether to do good, and not to commit sin, be a perfection that any man dares challenge whilst he lives on earth, or whether it be possible for any man so to keep God's commandments, and to observe his righteous law, as to say any day I have not offended, I have no need to say forgive me in any thing wherein I have done amiss? This was the question.

By which I have struck the devil dumb in the Quaker's Oracle at Horsham, known to the world by the name of Ambrose Rigge; Lord open his lips, that his mouth may show forth thy praise, in saying plainly it cannot be done.

L. L."

Now Moses and Abraham, as I have before asserted, to whom the law and commandments were given forth, did so keep them, and observe them, that the breach of them was never charged to them, but they were blessed in the keeping and doing of them. David turned not aside from any of the commandments of God all his days, save in the matter of Uriah; and many more, who kept God's laws and commandments all the days of their lives, and were blessed and their posterity after them, and praised God with an upright heart, in their Here follows some of Leonard Letchford's obedience to the law and commandments of doctrines, by way of query, lately published in God. And none of them did ever say, Lord two or three papers sent to me, which I shall open my mouth, that my lips may show forth compare with the writings of the holy men of thy praise, in saying plainly thy commandGod, which I have before asserted; who lived ments cannot be done, as Leonard Letchford but in the days of the first covenant, and the doth. If they did, show when or where any prophets; in which the law and commandments such doctrine was preached by any, either of God were given forth; yet they were blessed in the first covenant or the second, or else let

Harken, Leonard Letchford, Art not thou of perfect, 1 Cor. ii. 6.