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And all the believers in the light, which is the life in Christ, are born again, and enter into his kingdom, and are heirs of it; so heirs of an everlasting inheritance.

And Aaron, he and his company, in the old covenant and testament, were to look to the candlesticks, and to look to the seven lamps, a perfect number, as you may see in Numb. viii. and Lev. xxiv. and Exod. xl. and Exod. xxiv. And this they were to do throughout their generations. And so Aaron was to order the lamps, evening and morning, which were to burn continually without the vail of the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation. Levit. xxiv.

And these outward things served till the seed Christ came in his new testament, and in his new covenant, who abolished all those outward candlesticks, lamps, and lights in the outward Jews' generation, and the priesthood also. And in the generation of Christ in the new covenant, his believers, that are gathered in his name, which are passed from death to life, which are his church, doth not he call them candlesticks? For in the revelations he calls the seven churches, or seven congregations, which are a perfect number, 'seven golden candlesticks.' And Christ, the high priest, doth enlighten the candle, which is the spirit of man, in the candlestick. And these congregations of people are them that he sanctifieth in body, soul, and spirit. And Christ walks in the midst of these 'seven golden candlesticks,' in his heavenly fine linen, a and heavenly golden girdle; and his hair as white as wool and snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass, as if they were burning in a furnace; and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength. So here Christ, in his new testament and new covenant of light, life, and grace, is not according to the old, but doth exceed in glory. Rev. i.

And the Jews, in the old covenant, the priests, before they did offer to God the outward sacrifice, they were to be sanctified; which outward sacrifice was to be holy. But the Jews in spirit, in the new covenant, which is not according to the old, they are sanctified by Christ, and made clean by his blood and heavenly water; and he is their sanctification. And then all the sanctified believers are a royal priesthood, and they offer up spiritual sacrifices, and the spiritual sacrifices are holy. So the sanctifier and offering in the new covenant, and that which doth sanctify, are not according to the old. And therefore, Christ abolisheth the old covenant, and all its ways of sanctifying with the blood of creatures, which was their life; for Christ sanctifies in his new covenant with his own blood, his life, and makes all clean; and destroys him that made man and woman unclean; and renews man and woman up into the image of God, which they were in before they fell; and makes

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them as clean again as God made them, and brings them up into himself, who is first and last, that never fell. So that they are built upon him, the living rock and foundation, and grafted into him, and he, the root, bears them. And here they, with their spiritual, heavenly trumpets, sound forth to the praise and glory of God, and bring forth fruits to his praise.

And the apostle in the new covenant said, 'that God had made them able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter; for the letter of the old testament killed, but the spirit of the new testament giveth life.' And farther he saith, If the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious in its time, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance; which glory,' saith the apostle, 'was to be done away.' Which is done away by Christ in the new covenant and testament. And therefore, the ministration of the spirit in the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, is more glorious: for if the ministration of condemnation be glorious, which was the ministration of the old testament and covenant, then how much more doth the ministration of righteousness in the new covenant exceed it in glory? For that which made glorious in the old testament, had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory of that which excels it in the new covenant; for if that which was done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious. For Moses put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished, to wit, the old covenant and the vail, which the apostle witnessed were abolished then in his day; but their minds were blinded so that they did not see it. For until this day remains the same vail, untaken away in the reading of the old testament, which vail is done away in Christ.

'But even till this day, when Moses is read, the vail is over their hearts,' saith the apostle, to wit, the Jews and other Jewish minded people; for while Moses is read, and in reading the old testament, it keeps the vail upon them; then what do they that not only read it, but practise many things in the old testament, and yet will be called christians of the new covenant? But doth not the apostle tell you, 'The vail is over their hearts when Moses is read?' And the old testament and vail are done away by Christ in his new testament and new covenant of light, life, and grace. And they that do not believe it, the vail is over them, and their glory is no glory; and they are under the ministration of death and condemnation, and not under the ministration of the new testament of life; for the vail remains untaken away in reading of the old testament. And even to this day, whilst Moses is read, the vail is over their hearts,' as the apostle saith.

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And now, you called christians, is not 'swearing truly by the Lord, and performing the oath unto the Lord, for the ending the strife among men,' is not this in the ministration of Moses? is not this your practice? and did not Moses command it by the law in the old covenant? And are not outward temples and pulpits, Moses and the old testament? And are not tithes, and offerings, and first fruits, Moses' vail and the old testament? And is not the observing of days and months, and the passover, which you call the time of Easter, and your Pentecost, or Whitsuntide, as you call it, Moses and the old testament? And is not calling of your days, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, &c. and your calling the months by the names of May, June, July, August, &c. which is neither from Moses nor Christ, but from the heathen, which your practice herein is not according to the old covenant nor the new? And are not the sabbath, and the priests' surplice and white sleeves, and the change of garments to differ them from other people, Moses and the old testament, and not the new testament and covenant? And are not outward altars, and candlesticks, and sanctuaries, and outward candles burning in your temples, Moses and the old i testament? And whilst ye read and do all these things, doth not the apostle tell you, the vail is over your hearts?' For doth not the apostle tell you, that Christ hath abolished Moses' old testament, and hath taken off his vail, and made his glory no glory, because the glory ece of the new covenant and testament hath dimmed it, and done away the glory of the old?

And therefore, are not you under the vail, with your tenths, and tithes, and offerings, and candles, and candlesticks, in your temples, and altars, and outward places of worship, with your priests' distinguishing garments, and your feasts, and observing of days and times, and swearing to end strife and controversy amongst you? Is not this Moses and the old testament, and reading the old testament, and not the new testament and new covenant, which saith, 'Swear not at all, but let your communication be yea, yea, nay, nay?' And Christ's righteousness is all the believers' fine linen, which are the children of the new covenant, and of the light, and their altar is spiritual; and Christ hath enlightened their candle, their spirits, with the light, which is the life in him; which burns in their temple night and day. And so Christ, in his glorious new testament and new covenant, he hath done away and abolished the first priesthood, with his garments, and offerings, and his outward lights, and altars, and feasts, and days, and carnal sanctuary, and oaths, and tithes. And they are blind as the Jews, that see him not come in his new covenant to abolish all those things of the old; who saith, in his new covenant, to his disciples and followers, "Freely ye have received, freely give.'

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And so it is clear, that the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, are not according to the old; and as people do turn to the Lord by his light, grace, and truth, and spirit, and gospel, to Christ in his new testament and covenant of light, life, and grace, the vail will be done away off the old covenant, and Moses from off their hearts, that they may come to read in the new covenant and testament. And such as are in the new covenant and testament, they are manifestly declared to be the epistles of Christ, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in the tables of stone,' as it was in the old testament and covenant, but in the fleshly tables of their hearts.' Now the Lord is that spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all,' saith the apostle, 'with open face (to wit, in the new covenant and testament,) beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, (a glorious beholding,) and are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even by the spirit of the Lord.' A blessed glorious change into a glorious image.

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And this is the glorious happiness and comfort, that all the children of the Lord in the new covenant and testament, and new and living way, did and do enjoy, which doth exceed the old covenant and testament, and old way in its glory, which is done away and abolished by Christ Jesus. So he hath taken away the first and established the second, who walks in the midst of his heavenly golden candlesticks, and is the head of his holy sanctified church, and is alive, and lives for evermore,' who is worthy to have glory and honour,' the lamb that hath been slain from the foundation of the world, who is razing down all the world's foundations, and he himself is the only holy, spiritual, safe, sure rock and foundation for his believers, which are living stones to build upon, who was, and is, and will be to all eternity the first and last. Glory to the Lord for ever. Hallelujah, praises to the Lord for ever, and for evermore.

G. F.

POSTSCRIPT.

The law showeth its righteousness by its works: and the gospel showeth its righteousness by faith, which doth exceed that of the law. And the law woundeth: but the gospel healeth, and is glad tidings and good news. The law condemneth: and the gospel delivereth. And Moses accuseth: but Christ defendeth. And Moses condemneth: but Christ pardoneth. The law restraineth the hands: but the gospel restraineth the hands and the mind. And the law condemneth: but Christ saveth. Moses, a servant, in his signs, figures, and shadows: but Christ a son, the substance, who takes away the sins, and signs, and makes all things new in his new covenant and new tesVOL. VI.

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tament. And the law was uttered with thunder from Mount Sinai: but the gospel with joy from heaven, and comfort of salvation. And the law and statutes were to one people, to wit, the outward Jews: but the gospel is to all nations, and to every creature under heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, in the old covenant and testament, even so must Christ, the son of man, be lifted up in his new covenant and new testament. John iii. Moses led the outward Jews to Canaan outward; and they were to conquer and drive out the seven nations before them with outward carnal weapons and armour: but Christ leadeth his Jews in spirit, in his new covenant, into heaven, and they are to conquer the spiritual wickedness and rulers of darkness, through Christ, with spiritual weapons and armour. So the new covenant is not according to the old. The old testament was the ministra. tion of the letter; and the letter killeth:' but the new testament is not of the letter, but of the spirit, which giveth life.' The ministra. tion of death in the old testament was engraven in stones, answerable to the outward Jews in the old covenant and testament, their stony hearts but in the new covenant and testament, the Lord saith, I will give them a new spirit and a new heart, and will take away your stony heart out of your flesh; and I will write my laws in your hearts, and put them in your minds: and they shall all know the Lord,' the Jews in the spirit, (Jer. xxxi. and Ezek. xxxvi.) in the new covenant and testament, which is not according to the old. And in the old covenant the Jews were to offer unto the Lord all their free-will offerings. Levit. xxii. And in Deut. xii. they were to eat of the free-will offerings before the Lord.' And in Ezra iii. Every one that offered willingly, offered a free-will offering unto the Lord;' and in Ezra vii. Now in the old covenant they offered those things, which were a free-will offering. But Christ in the new covenant, which is not according to the old, he saith, 'I am the good shepherd, that lay down my life for my sheep;' and saith, 'Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again; and no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.' John

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Here Christ the lamb of God, is the free-will offering in his new covenant and testament, which is not according to the offerings in the old testament and old covenant. And Christ, by offering up himself freely once for all, hath abolished all the offerings in the old covenant. No unclean thing was to be offered to God, nor to be eaten in the time of the law and old testament, nor any unclean person was to offer. And in the time of the gospel and new covenant, which is not according to the law and old covenant, much more doth not the Lord accept an unclean person, nor an unclean offering; for it is the spiritual sacrifice that he doth accept; and they are to feed of the clean, holy, heavenly sacrifice,

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