Chapter II: Part 2

For the Reason in Man doth send forth the Imagination of the Heart, the unclean Spirit in Man walking through dry Places, seeking rest but can find none; the ignorant dark Thoughts of the Imagination goeth out of a Man, to enquire of one that hath a Familiar Spirit, seeking rest but can find none, as King _Saul_ did: For the Imagination of the Heart being continually Evil, it always walketh through dry Places, where no matter of Life is to be had, to quench the Thirst of Sin or a defiled Conscience; neither can the Thoughts of Imagination be satisfied with what a Witch or a Familiar saith; therefore called dry Places: They may be called dry, because the Heart is never satisfied with what a Witch saith, for she always saith a Lie.

To tell a Man or Woman, that she doth or can raise Spirits out of the Ground without Bodies, as the Witch of _Endor_ did to King Saul, or that she did hear any low Voice or Speech of _Samuel_ out of the Ground, as she told the King; I say, she did but cheat the King, and made him believe she had raised _Samuel_, and had heard him speak to her with a low Speech out of the Ground, which had revealed unto her what sad Things would befal the King: so he believing her Words, his Spirit fainted, so that no Strength was in him; when as in Deed and in Truth, that _Samuel_ she said she saw arise out of the Earth, he did arise out of her own Heart; and that low Speech she said _Samuel_ spake, it was all in her self by the Motions of the Familiar Spirit begotten in her. And King _Saul_ believing her, being Partaker of her Faith, _Samuel_ spake a low motional Voice or Speech in him also, he believing it was _Samuel_ spake out of the Earth, but it was nothing else but the Voice of his own guilty Conscience within himself, as it was the Voice her Familiar Spirit in her self that spake as aforesaid.

So that the Meaning of the Prophet _Isaiah_, Chap. xxix. 4. concerning the Destruction of _Jerusalem_, that _Grief and Sorrow of Heart should speak in themselves_; as if the Speech came put of the Ground, because they saw in themselves nothing but Death and Destruction did approach, and was like to follow upon them all, fearing they should all be destroyed by their Enemies, and slain and fall to the Ground: So that Fear of Heart of Destruction, it spake a low Speech in every Man's Heart, even as if it spake out of the Ground, or as one that hath a Familiar Spirit; for it is the Nature of a Familiar Spirit to speak as if the Speech did proceed from the Earth, and the Speech doth seem to the Witch, and those that enquire of her, to whisper out of the Dust: When as the Speech cometh not out of the Ground, neither doth it whisper out of the Dust, as is imagined by most People, because Ignorance and Darkness hath overspread the Minds of most People in the World. But that low Speech the Familiar Spirit speaks or whispers, it is out of her own Heart, even that Wisdom begotten by the Imagination in her own Thoughts, that speaks as aforesaid, and no Spirit without her, as hath vainly been imagined.

So likewise the People of the _Jews_, the Fear, Grief, and Sorrow of Heart, being begotten in them for such like Sins, as that of Witchcraft, Idolatry, dealing with Familiar Spirits, causing their Sons and Daughters to pass through the Fire as burnt Offerings and Sacrifices unto Devils, which they supposed to be Gods; these Things caused their Hearts to fail and faint, and their Thoughts were troubled within themselves, which causeth their Speech to grow weak and low within them, even as if some Familiar did speak out of the Ground, or whisper out of the Dust, Fear, Grief, and Sorrow of Heart: But all come out of their own grieved Hearts, who were punished for their Sins; and not out of the natural Ground or natural Dust, as People do vainly imagine. This is the true Meaning of the Prophet's Words, and how Familiar Spirits may be said to speak out of the Ground, and whisper out of the Dust.

CHAP. X.

Again, it hath been objected by many, that Spirits may be raised without Bodies, and that Spirits may be talked with after they have been dead and buried; and that Spirits have appeared in a Shape to several People, yet this Spirit so appearing hath no Body nor Substance at all, neither can it be felt or handled by mortal Man, nor no immortal Creature neither: this is the vain Conceit of most People.

But to satisfy the Reader in this, I declare, that there is no immortal Spirit whatsoever, but it hath a Spiritual Body suitable to its Spirit; if the Spirit be immortal, the Body is immortal also: For this I say, no Spirit can have any Being at all without a Body, no not God himself, who was from Eternity; his Spirit could not be from Eternity without a Spiritual Body, in Form like Man; they were both from Eternity, and the one was never divided nor separated from the other, but they were both Eternal. And further I declare, that God was a Spiritual Body from Eternity, in Form like a Man; therefore God created Man in his own Image and Likeness. Now observe, if Man hath a Body suitable to his Spirit, so hath God a Body suitable to his Spirit, else Man was not created in his Image, if God hath never a Body, but is all Spirit, as People do vainly imagine. For this I know, that God was Spirit and Body, in Form like a Man, from Eternity, and his Spirit was never divided nor separated from his Body, but they were both Eternal.

So likewise is it with Angels and Men, and all other Creatures; where-ever the Spirit of Life is, there is Bodies of Life also; let it be either in Spiritual Bodies, or in Natural Bodies. For if the Body of either of these be dead, the Spirit is dead also; and if the Spirit be dead either in Spiritual Body or Natural Body, the Body is dead also: For the one cannot have any sensible Being without the other. And further I say, that they were both together Spirit and Body from Eternity in God the Creator, and he hath ordered and created all his Creatures, both celestial and terrestrial, that Spirit and Body should be one living Being, and that one should not subsist nor have no sensible being without the other: Even as God himself could not enjoy no sensible Living being without a Body, he knowing this in himself.

Therefore he created all his Creatures Spiritual and Natural, with Bodies suitable to their Spirits, and Spirits suitable to their Bodies, so that one might not be divided nor separated from the other; for if one dieth, the other dieth; and if the Spirit live, the Body liveth also. For this I say, that if the Spirit of God himself could not be without a Body from Eternity, how then is it possible that his Creatures should have Spirits without Bodies, seeing he himself his Spirit could not have any Being without his Body from Eternity.

But this Conceit, that the Spirit or Soul of Man is immortal, and cannot die, and may have a Being without a Body, and appear in a Shape without any Substance; this vain Conceit proceeded first from the Imagination of Reason in Man, even from _Cain_, the first Devil in Flesh and Bone. And this Imagination in _Cain_ his Posterity, being Heathen Men, who had no Communion with God, nor Revelation of Faith, as the Sons of _Adam_ and the Sons, of _Seth_, the Generation of the Righteous, had; they knew that the Spirit and Body was all one Substance.

But the Imagination of Reason, _Cain_ his Posterity, the Heathen Opinion, do imagine the Spirit of Man to be immortal, and cannot die; and that Spirits may appear in Shapes without Bodies; and that Spirits may go out of the Body, and go to Heaven or Hell and leave the Body to be laid in the Ground, as the Quakers and others do.

And this Imagination of Reason in Man hath created to it self a new Creation, which God never created. Man hath created and made in his Imagination a Spirit without a Body, and that this Spirit so created is immortal, and cannot die, nor is not capable of Death, that it can slip out of the Body, and that it can have a Being when it is gone out of the Body, and appear in a Shape without Substance or hath Power to assume what Shape it please, and yet this Shape, it doth assume, shall have no Substance yet it shall appear in a Shape and fright People.

And the Imagination of Reason in Man hath created Man in his own Image and Likeness, as God did _Adam_: As thus, First, he hath conceived in his Imagination, that God is a Spirit without a Body. Secondly, he conceiveth in his Imagination that the Devil is a Spirit flying in the Air, which can neither be seen nor felt; yet this Devil or Spirit without a Body doth tempt Man to Evil, whereby Man is punished, and the Tempter he is escaped away without Punishment.

Also it is conceived by the Imagination, that this Devil or Spirit is in Hell-fire, and in Chains of Darkness, and can go no further then God will permit him, because his Chain is no longer then God hath limited him.

Also it is conceived in the Imagination, notwithstanding the Devil is chained, and in Hell-fire tormented, yet he being a Spirit without a Body, he is so swift that he can be in all Places at one Time, so that he can tempt thousands of Men and Women to sin at one and the same Time, and they themselves never the wiser, nor know him when he tempted them. All this the imaginary Devil can do, and much more; and yet be in Hell fire, and tied in a Chain at the same Time, and all but one Devil, a Spirit without a Body.

Also the Imagination hath conceived that the Soul of Man is a Spirit infused or put into the Body by God himself, and that Man begets the Body, but not the Soul or Life of Man, that is conceived to be immortal, or a Spirit that is so invisible, that cannot be seen nor known what it is, and that it can live of it self when it is gone out of the Body.

Thus the Imagination of Reason the Devil, hath created its own Soul in its own Image and Likeness; and this hath been the Occasion of producing of Familiar Spirits, and of dealing with those that have a Familiar Spirit, being conformed to the very Image of the Devil. Many Things more of the like Nature might be said in this Point.

But here the Reader may see if there be any true Light of Faith in him, how the Imagination of Reason in Man hath created Spirits without Bodies, and that the Devil is a Body-less Spirit, and in Hell-fire, and in a Chain of Darkness, and yet at Liberty at the same time to tempt People; and in Hell-fire, and yet out of the Fire when he pleaseth; and that he may be called out of Hell, or out of the Ground, when a Witch by her Familiar Spirit doth call; and that he shall appear in any Shape they will have him, yet he shall have no Body nor Substance, but a mere Shadow; yet this Shadow shall speak with a low Voice or Speech out of the Ground; as if Speech could proceed from a Shadow without Substance.

So that the Imagination of the Heart of Man hath created to it self a Devil, that God never created; and the Imagination of Man's Heart hath created his own Soul in the Image and Likeness of the Devil, that is to say, a Spirit without a Body; and that a Spirit without a Body may be capable of Joy or Sorrow; and that a Spirit may subsist and have a being in Joy or Sorrow without a Body, which Thing is impossible.

But observe the Creation that the Imagination of Man hath created to himself; for it is the Nature of Imagination of Reason the Devil, he always creates Spirits without Bodies, but God the Creator he always creates Spirits and Bodies together, for God never created any Spirit without a Body; for when God made Man after his own Image and Likeness, he made him with a Body as well as a Spirit, else Man could not be made in the Image and Likeness of God, if God had a Body of his own as well as a Spirit.

So that _Adam_ was made or created in the Image and Likeness of God; for _Adam_ had a visible Body and Spirit, undivided and unseparable one from the other; they were but one visible sensible Being, and when the Life was dead the Body was dead, and when the Body is really dead, the Spirit and Life was and is dead also; and both are laid in the Ground together, as is declared in all our Writings, but more especially in that Book entituled, _The Mortality of the Soul_.

CHAP. XI.

Also I do further declare, that God did never create any Spirit without a Body, neither of Angels, nor Men, nor no other Creature, neither in Heaven above, nor in the Earth beneath, nor the Waters under the Earth. There is no Spirit or Life whatsoever that is created of God, but it hath a Body to that Life or Spirit; but if a Spirit have any Being without a Body, that Spirit is none of God's Creation; for God never created any Spirit whatsoever without a Body, as I said before.

But the Imagination of Reason in Man, which is the Devil, hath created all Creatures in the Imagination to have Spirits without Bodies, both of Angels above and Man here on Earth, and all Creatures upon the Earth, and in the Waters, that have the Breath of Life, the Imagination of Reason saith, their Spirits may subsist without Bodies, or go out of those Bodies they have, and enter into other Bodies, and appear in the Shape of a Body, and yet be of no Substance: so that the Devil's Creation is all of Spirits without Bodies, and God's Creation is all with Bodies and Spirits together.

And this Darkness hath overspread the Nature of Man all the World over, which is the Occasion of that Opinion of Houses and Places being haunted with evil Spirits, and Spirits walking without Bodies, and dealing with Familiar Spirits, that peep, and mutter, and whisper as it were out of the Ground. These Things and many more are produced by the Imagination of the Heart of Man, for the Imagination of Man's Heart is evil, and continually evil; for it hath given a Being to Spirits without Bodies, to fright it self to that which hath no Being of it self.

For I declare and perfectly know, that there is no such Thing as Spirits to walk without Bodies, nor assume any Shape after Death, nor be raised out of the Ground by any Witch or any Familiar Spirit whatsoever; it is all produced out of the dark Imagination of the Heart, where Ignorance beareth Rule, for there is no such Thing can be presented but to the Ignorant and dark minded People.

Thus I have given the Reader to understand something more concerning the Power of Witches, and how they may be said to raise Spirits out of the Ground, and from whence that low Speech doth come, with those Scriptures opened that speak as if a Familiar Spirit did hear whispering out of the Dust.

Also I have given the Interpretation of that in _Samuel_ concerning the Witch of _Endor_, and those Places of Scripture in _Isaiah_; these Places are the most concerning Spirits being raised without Bodies, of any in the Scriptures; but there have been some other Places of Scriptures, that do seem to carry a shew as if Spirits might rise again without Bodies, and I have been desired by some to open those Scriptures that seem to tend to that Purpose, though the common and general Objection amongst all People is, that of the Witch of _Endor_ and King _Saul_, which I have opened before; yet for the further Satisfaction of the Reader, I shall open and interprete the other Places objected, that seem to tend to the same thing.

The Places of Scripture are three; the first is _Isa._ lxi. 1. the Words are these, _The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good Tidings unto the Meek: He hath sent me to bind up the Broken-hearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound_----So _Luke_ iv. 18. the Words in _Luke_ are much to the same Purpose, and little Difference; only that which _Isaiah_ did prophesy of, it was fulfilled by Christ in his time----So the first Epistle of _Peter_, Chap. iii. and 18, 19, 20. Verses; the Words are these, _For Christ also hath once suffered for Sin, the Just for the Unjust; that he might bring us to God, being put to Death in the Flesh, but quickened by the Spirit_. Verse 19. _By which also he went and preached unto the Spirits in Prison_: Verse 20. _Which sometime were disobedient, when once the Long-suffering of God waited in the Days of_ Noah, _while the Ark was a preparing, wherein few (that is) eight Souls were saved by Water_.

CHAP. XII.

As for that Saying of the Prophet _Isaiah_, it was a Prophecy of Christ, that he should be anointed to preach Glad-tidings, unto the Meek, and that he was sent to bind up the Broken-hearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound. This Prophecy was fulfilled when he was upon Earth, as may plainly appear by those Words in _Luke_ aforementioned.

Also the Reader may understand, that these Places of Scripture have no Relation at all to the raising of Spirits without Bodies; nor of Spirits being in Prison, nor delivered out of Prison by the Power of Christ without Bodies.

But the Meaning is this, that the Spirit of the Lord Almighty was upon Christ, and in him, and did anoint him to preach Glad-tidings of Salvation to the Meek in Heart, who did believe in him and trusted in his Words; all such as were broken-hearted, who were led Captive by the Error, Ignorance, and Darkness of the Mind; he came to proclaim Liberty to the Spirit of Man, who was in Captivity; and to open the Prison-door of Mens Hearts.

For this I say, all Mens Spirits by Nature are shut up in the Prison of Spiritual Darkness in the Mind, and are lead Captive by the Ignorance of Truth; so that the Spirit or Soul of Man is shut up a Prisoner in the Body of Man, until the true God and Saviour hath been preached to them, as it was by Christ himself, when on Earth he was anointed to preach Glad-tidings of Salvation; and he anointed his Apostles to preach Glad-tidings of Peace to Men, and to open the Prison, and to deliver the Captive out of Captivity, and to set the Spirits of many that were in a Prison of Darkness in their own Minds go free: This Prophecy was fulfilled at that Time by Christ and his Apostles in their Commission.

But the same Captivity and Prison of Darkness is now upon the Spirits of all Men, as it was at that Time: For this I say, and many People can Witness, that their Spirits have been shut up Prisoners in Spiritual Darkness in their own Bodies, until the true God the Saviour hath been preached unto them by his last Messengers.

For this I declare, that those Words of the Prophet _Isaiah_, they were spoken with Relation to a Spiritual Liberty, and to a Spiritual Captivity, of the Mind or Spirit of Man, and not to a Natural Captivity. Neither was it meant the opening of the natural Prison Doors, to them that were bound by the Powers of the Nations; but the Doors of Mens Hearts were opened at the preaching of Christ and his Apostles, in that Light, and Life, and Salvation was preached unto them, that whoever Believed that this Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour of the World, should be saved and delivered from the Fear of Eternal Death: So that the Soul of Man that was lead Captive into Prison, and bound in Chains of Darkness, and strong Doors lockt fast to keep the Spirit of Men in Prison, by the Works of the Law, and the Expounders of the Law before Christ came, the Spirit of Reason in them did lead the Generality of People their Spirits into Spiritual Captivity, and shut them up in Prison, and tied their Spirits up in the Observation of the Ceremonial Law of _Moses_.

Which was as Chains of Darkness: and not only so, but shut the Door of Hope upon them, so that there was no Hope to be saved in them, but by observing the Law aforesaid, which _Paul_ calls _beggarly Rudiments_, _Gal._ iii. So that this Spiritual Captivity and being bound in Prison, and the Doors being shut, it was the Spirits of People that were Captives and Prisoners in their own Bodies, kept by the Legal and Ceremonial Righteousness of the Law of _Moses_; and when Christ came to preach, and to give Power to his Apostles to preach the Gospel of Truth, both to Jew and Gentile, then was the Door of Hope opened in People's Hearts, and many that were bound in Prison, whose Spirits were led Captive, they were set at Liberty from that Bondage of the Ceremonial Law, wherein they were bound, and brought out of that Prison of Darkness in the Mind, into the glorious Light and Life of Faith, by the preaching of Christ and his Apostles.

Then was this Prophecy of _Isaiah_ fulfilled in the Apostles Commission; then was Liberty preached to the Spirits of many that were bound and in Prison in their own Minds, the Word of Faith preached unto them, it opened a Door of Hope of Deliverance from the Bondage of the Law as aforesaid, wherewith they were bound; so that by Faith they had in Christ, their Chains fell off their Feet, and Darkness of their Understanding; so that they were at perfect Liberty, and delivered out of Prison, and the Prison-Door of Hope in Christ being opened, all true Believers in Christ were set at Liberty, free from Captivity, and out of that Spiritual Prison of Darkness into the glorious Liberty of the Sons and Daughters of God for ever and ever.

So is it now in this Commission of the Spirit, we the Witnesses of the Spirit have preached Glad-tidings of Salvation, and have opened the Prison-Doors of Mens Hearts, and have let many out of that Spiritual Prison, that were bound to the Righteousness set up by the Imagination of Reason now in these last Days, who were led Captive by their own Traditions, and kept in Prison in their own Bodies for many Years; but by the Declaration of Truth in all our Writings and our Speakings, many People have been delivered out of Captivity and out of Prison, their Spirits have been let loose out of the Chains of Darkness, because the Door of their Hearts hath been opened by the Word of Faith in the true God, which we have preached and written; this many can witness at this Day the Truth of it. So that now that Scripture is fulfilled again these last days; and this is the true Meaning of the Prophet _Isaiah_, in those Words concerning opening the Prison, and giving Liberty to the Captives that were imprisoned in their own Bodies by the Conceptions of the Imaginations of their own Hearts.

So that there is not the least Colour or Ground from those Words, for the Reason of Man to think that Spirits may be let out of Prison without Bodies, or that the Spirit of Christ did Preach to any Spirit in Prison without his Body.

CHAP. XIII.

And as for those Words of _Peter_ aforenamed, where he saith, _Christ was put to Death in the Flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; by which also he went and preached unto the Spirits in Prison, which sometime were Disobedient, when once the Long-suffering of God waited in the Days of_ Noah, _while the Ark was a preparing, &c._

The Meaning of those Words are as followeth; that Christ was put to Death in the Body of his own Flesh, this is confessed by most People that profess the Scriptures of Truth, but very few do truly believe, that the Soul or Spirit of Christ did die, or was put to Death at all, notwithstanding the Scripture saith, that _He poured out his Soul unto Death_; and he himself saith, _His Soul was heavy unto Death_. Therefore that the Reader may understand what is meant in that Christ was put to Death in the Flesh but quickened by the Spirit; mind,

I declare, that it was the Soul or Spirit of Christ, which was the Godhead-life that dwelt in that Body of Flesh and Bone of Christ; for, as the Scripture saith, _In him all the Fulness of the Godhead dwelt Bodily_: And this Godhead-life that dwelt in the Body of Christ's Flesh, it was put to Death in the Body of Christ's Flesh, and the same Godhead-life that was put to Death in the Body of his Flesh. And when Christ's Body was crucified upon the Cross, then was the Soul and Life of Christ, or the Godhead-life did die, and was put to Death in that Flesh of Christ; for that Flesh of Christ was God become Flesh, as the Scripture saith; and the Soul and Life of Christ was the Soul and Life of God. And,

When Christ poured out his Soul unto Death, it was the Godhead Life that was poured out unto Death; so that the Godhead Spirit was put to Death, and did die in the Flesh of Christ when he was Crucified. But this Godhead Life which was put to Death in the Flesh of Christ, it quicken'd again where it was put to Death, even in the same Flesh where it was put to Death. And in its quickening again, it raised the same Flesh again, and so spiritualized the same Flesh that suffered, and made it uncapable to suffer Death any more.

For this I say, no Spirit or Life that is put to Death whatsoever, could possibly quicken again in the same Body, but the Life of God only, so that Christ must needs be God as well as Man; for it was Christ that was put to Death in the Flesh, and the same Life that was put to Death, and did die, that which did die did quicken again, and so is called a quickening Spirit.

Now observe, it cannot properly be called a quickening Spirit, if it had not been once dead: For if the Spirit and Life of Christ did not die, nor was not dead, then I say, there was no need that this Spirit and Life, should quicken again, for it was always quick and alive.

For the Spirit quickening doth imply, a sensible Life is quickned out of an insensible Life; as a Child in the Womb before it is quick, it feeleth no Pain, neither doth it stir in the Womb, and the Midwife doth not care to destroy it to save the Womans Life, because the Child was not quick, it was an insensible Life, no more capable of Pain then there is in Death, or a dead Lump of Earth; but when a Child is quick in the Womb, it is capable of Pain, though it hath not Strength to express it to us that are strong, yet it is capable of Pain, because it is quickened into a sensible Life, that is, a living Soul, a living Spirit, and so may be called a quickened Spirit of Life, out of that which was dead; yet by the Appointment of God in his Creation, and the Warmness of the Womb, there is new Life or Spirit doth quicken in the Womb in its Season, according to the Appointment of God when he created all Things, and placed a Law of Generation in them.

So likewise the Spirit or Life of Christ was put to Death in his own Body of Flesh, as aforesaid; and in its Season he himself had appointed before, namely three Days and three Nights, this Spirit of Christ so put to Death, it quickened again in the same Flesh a new and Glorious Life, which made that Flesh that suffered Glorious also.

And this is the true Interpretation of _Peter's_ Words, and the Faith of all true Believers, that the Spirit, Life, and Soul of Christ did die, and was put to Death in the Body of his own Flesh, that was Crucified on the Cross by the Jews; and that the same Spirit that was put to Death, it did quicken again out of Death into a new and Glorious Life by his own Power, therefore called a quickening Spirit.

So that here is no Ground at all for that vain Conceit in People, who do believe that Spirits may be raised without Bodies, or appear without Bodies, but altogether to the contrary. And as for that saying of _Peter_, _By which also he went and preached unto the Spirits in Prison, which sometime were disobedient, when once the Long-suffering of God waited in the Days of_ Noah _while the Ark was a preparing_.

These Words do seem to carry some shew, as if the quickening Spirit of Christ, after he was risen from the Dead, or in the time he did lie in the Grave, as if his Spirit in that Interim of Time went into some local Place where Spirits were in Prison without Bodies, to preach unto them, who had been Disobedient in the Days of _Noah_: This is the vain Conceit of most People from those Words of _Peter_, who saith, _By which he went and preached unto the Spirits in Prison_, as if the Spirits of the Disobedient People in the Days of _Noah_ had been in Prison in some local Place in the Earth without Bodies, who had been departed in the Days of _Noah_, in the Destruction of the World by Water.

This the Imagination of Reason in Man doth imagine, that Spirits may be shut up in Prison without Bodies, and that the quickening Spirit Christ might Preach unto them without a Body.

But the true Light and Revelation of faith doth know to the contrary, that no Spirits can have any Being at all without Bodies, neither of God, Angels, nor Man, nor no other living Creature, who hath the Breath of Life in it.

But to give the Interpretation of this Scripture, that the Reader may understand, it is thus; the Spirit of Christ, that quickened from the Dead to Life again, I say, is the same Spirit that preached to the Spirits in Prison in the Days of _Noah_, and the Spirits of the disobedient World were in Prison in their own Bodies in the Days of _Noah_, as they were when Christ came upon Earth, for then he opened the Prison to them that were bound, by preaching Glad-tidings of Freedom to those that were bound, and Liberty to those Spirits that were in Captivity.

Now (as I said before) this Captivity is Spiritual Captivity, and to be bound and in Prison, it is meant a Spiritual Imprisonment in the Mind, and not a natural Imprisonment of the Body. And this I say, the very same Spirit of Christ that preached to the Jews when he was upon Earth, did preach to the old World in the Days of _Noah_, though in a twofold Manner.

And as the Spirits of Men were in Prison in their own Ignorance, Blindness and Darkness of Understandings, in that they were led Captives and Prisoners by their wicked and unnatural Lusts in the Days of _Noah_: So were both Jews and Gentiles in the Days of Christ when on Earth, their Spirits were led Captive, and into the Prison of Unbelief and Persecution of the Lord of Life, in that their Fathers persecuted the Lord's Prophets and Messengers he did send; so did these Jews persecute the Lord himself, when he preached to their Spirits that were in Prison, and led Captives by their wicked murdering Wills into the Prison of Unbelief; for he did preach when on Earth, that whosoever did believe in him should be saved. And as many as did truly believe in him, their Spirits were brought out of that Captivity of Unbelief, and out of the Prison of Darkness in the Mind, into a glorious Liberty and Light of Life Eternal. And thus did the preaching of Christ Spirit deliver many Spirits of Men and Women out of Prison, in the Days when he was upon Earth.

So likewise this quickening Spirit of Christ, it preached unto the Spirits in Prison in the Days of _Noah_. And why were their Spirits in Prison in the Days of _Noah_? Because they were disobedient. And how may they be said to be disobedient? Because they did not believe that good Man _Noah_, who was a Preacher of Righteousness. And how did he preach Righteousness unto that wicked People? In that he prepared the Ark, and being so many as a hundred Years in building, all that while God is said to wait for their Repentance, and that they might believe that God would destroy the World by Water.

But instead of Repentance and believing they hardened their Hearts, and mocked at _Noah_ and the Ark; so that while the Ark was preparing, God waited for the People's Repentance; and all that while that _Noah_ was building he preached to the People, that the World would be drowned.

And the Spirit of Christ, which is the Spirit of God which was put to Death in the Flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, by which he went and preached unto the Spirits in Prison in the Days of _Noah_, it was the same Spirit that instructed _Noah_ to build the Ark; so that the building of the Ark by _Noah_, he being a Preacher of Righteousness, in that he believed God, and built it as the Spirit of God had commanded and instructed him; as God did _Moses_, shewed him the Pattern of the Tabernacle in the Mount.

And in as much as _Noah_ did obey the Commandment of the Lord, according as the Spirit of the Lord did reveal unto him, _Noah_ may be said to be a Preacher of Righteousness; and he doing all things by Inspiration of the Spirit of Christ, which was not at that time made of Flesh, but in the Fulness of time became pure humane Flesh, and suffered the Pains of Death. And the same Spirit that suffered Death, that very same Spirit that quickened, was that Spirit that preached to the Spirits in Prison in the Days of _Noah_, as aforesaid.

And the making of the Ark by the Inspiration of God's Spirit in the Sight of the People, who were in Prison in Ignorance and Darkness of Mind, is called by the Revelation of Faith, _A preaching to the Spirits in Prison_: So that the Spirit of God in _Noah_ may be said to preach unto those Spirits in Prison, in the Days of _Noah_, and that there was but eight Persons saved from the Flood.

So that this Place of Scripture doth no way prove, that the Spirit of Christ did ever preach to Spirits in Prison without Bodies; neither did Christ's Spirit preach in the Days of _Noah_ without a Body; for he always preached with a Body himself, or else chose Men that have Bodies, and gave them Power to preach to Spirits in Prison, and to deliver the Captives, and to set the Prisoner at Liberty, and the bound in Prison to go free.

So that the Reader may see how and in what Manner the Spirit of Christ did preach unto the Spirits in Prison in the Days of _Noah_, and how their Spirits may be said to be in Prison, and how their Unbelief in the Days of _Noah_ was called Disobedience, to the preaching of _Noah_ all that while the Ark was building. And being built by the Inspiration of the Spirit of God, it may and is called the preaching of Christ's Spirit to them that were in Prison in Spiritual Darkness in their Minds; for their Minds being darkened, they did those Things that were unseemly; yea, unnatural as the People of _Sodom_ did. Now, were not the Spirits of these People in Prison, and led Captive of those unnatural Lusts, I think no sober Man will deny; yet these were those Spirits in Prison that Christ's Spirit preach unto in the Body of _Noah_, in the Days of _Noah_; and that there was but eight Persons in the Days of _Noah_, that were saved from the Destruction by Water, by the preaching of that Spirit of God in _Noah_. This is the true Interpretation and Meaning of those Words of _Peter_ the Apostle aforementioned; and how the Spirit of Christ went and preached unto the Spirits in Prison in the Days of _Noah_.

CHAP. XIV.

Again, there are some other Places of Scripture, which several People have objected, as if the Spirit or Soul of Man might go out of the Body, and subsist in Bliss and Happiness, or in Misery and a tormented Condition, without its Body it always lived in; from that Place _Luke_ xxiii. 43. Jesus said to the Thief on the Cross, _Verily I say unto thee, This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise_. Now observe, this no way proves that the Thief's Soul went out of his Body into a paradisiacal Place, and so escaped suffering Death, or did not die; for if the Soul of Christ did die at that time, as is clear by Scripture it did; then the Soul and Life of the Thief did die also.

Then where was the Paradise the Thief's Soul, and Christ's Soul that was heavy unto Death, where did they go? To this, I say, they went to a Place of rest, where all righteous Souls go, which is to the sleep of Death, for their was nothing did die but the Souls of them both; and the Paradise Christ and the Thief went into that Day they suffered Death, I declare it was this, that Christ was sure in himself that he should rise from the Dead the third Day, and afterward should enter into eternal Glory, and this Assurance in Christ that he should rise again the third Day, it was Paradise and Peace to his Soul, that he should pass through that Death, he was now to suffer that very Day into a new Life, that should not be capable to die any more.

So likewise when the Thief did truly believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Saviour from eternal Death to those that did believe; as it is certain he did when he said, _Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy Kingdom_; for he did really believe, that Christ would rise the third Day, and that he would raise him to eternal Joy and Happiness at the last Day; and the Thief dying in this Faith, he entred into Peace of Mind, and had Rest and Freedom to die, in Hope and full Assurance that Christ would raise him up Soul and Body to eternal Happiness at the last Day.

And this was that Paradise that Christ and the Thief were in, that very Day they both suffered Death; for the Assurance of everlasting Life in a Man's self here in Mortality, is the Paradise of Peace in this Life. This I know to be true, and this was the Paradise Christ did mean the Thief should be in that very Day he believed; and not that either of their Souls went out of their Bodies to any other Place or Paradise, then what was in their own Bodies, as aforesaid.

In like Manner People imagine, that the Soul of Man goeth out of the Body at his Death, from that Saying _Acts_ 7. 59. from those Words of _Stephen_, when he was stoned to Death, he said, _Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit_. The Meaning is this, that when any Man died in the true Faith of Christ, in the Hope and full Assurance that Christ will raise him up to eternal Happiness at the last Day, he commits his Spirit into the Hands of Christ, knowing that though he doth lose his Life for Christ's Sake here, that Christ will raise it again, and save his Soul hereafter; and so Christ may be said to receive his Spirit. For this I must tell the Reader, that there is not a quarter of an Hour's time to the Dead to his rising again, no not a Minute; for there is no time to the Dead, not a Minute of an Hour, though a Man have been dead five thousand Years, yet it is not a Minute of an Hour to him that is dead.

For all time belongs to the living; for after Death there is nothing but Eternity, on the other side of Death either eternal Happiness or eternal Misery: So that when Men die, they may be said to go immediately to Heaven or to Hell, to Joy or Torment, to be receiv'd into Christ's Hands of Mercy, or into the Hands of Christ's Wrath, where they shall be tormented with the Devil and his Angels, yet shall never see the Devil, nor his Angels, nor themselves, to Eternity; as they did not know the Devil here, neither shall they know or see him hereafter, yet be tormented with him.

And in this Sense a faithful Spirit or Soul, as _Stephen_ was, may be said to commit his Spirit into the Hands of Christ, and that Christ doth receive his Spirit into his Hands, and will raise it up at the last Day, which will not be a Minute of an Hour's time to the Dead, as I said before; therefore let not the Seed of Faith think the time long between Death and the Salvation of their Souls, because so many of the Faithful have been so many hundred Years in the Grave: And let not the wicked unbelieving People comfort themselves, that the Dead shall never rise again, because the Fathers are Dead, and the Prophets are dead, and we see none of them rise again; therefore we conclude, their Spirits are gone to Heaven without Bodies, and the Spirits of the Wicked are gone to Hell without Bodies, but a Minute of an Hour's time will decide this Matter, when the dead are raised: For they shall not remember they have been a Sleep in the Dust one Minute of an Hour, for their is no Remembrance of time in the Grave. Therefore let that vain Conceit that is in most People fall, of Spirits going to God without Bodies: For I can assure you there is no such Thing, neither can there be any true Peace in that Conceit. I know it by Faith now, and by Experience, for I was of that Opinion once my self, when I was zealous in Religion according to the Puritan Way; but I knew no Scripture truly, neither was there one true Interpreter of Scripture, no not one in those Days, that could shew a Man the true Righteousness of God, or the true Way to everlasting Life.

CHAP. XV.

There is another Place of Scripture that is objected, that seems as if the Soul went out of the Body when they die; as in 1 _Kings_ xvii. 21. where _Elijah_ prayed, that _the Child's Soul might come into him again_. The Meaning is this, that _Elijah_ did pray in Faith unto God, that he would assist him in this or other Things; as in shutting up the Heavens that it should not rain, and calling for Fire from Heaven to destroy those two Captains and their Fifties, and many other wonderful Things he did; so he prayed unto God to strengthen his Faith, so that he might have Power to raise this Child's Life out of Death again.

Therefore he stretched himself upon the Child, and prayed that the Child's Soul might come into him again; that is, that the Child's Soul or Life might quicken in the Body of the Child again; for _Elijah_ knew the Soul of the Child was dead, and by the warm Flesh of the Prophet laid upon the Child's dead Flesh, and the Faith and Prayer of the Prophet together, it begot Life in the Child again; so that the Soul that was dead it became Life in the Child again; and that Life that was quickened, it run through the Veins of the Childs Body, and so the Child's Soul did come into him again.

For this I say, if the Soul of the Child had been gone out of the Body, then _Elijah_ did not raise the dead Child to Life again; for how can a Man be said to be dead, when as Life doth not die, but slips out of the Body, as most People do vainly imagine; but it may be clear to those whose Understandings are enlightened, that _Elijah_ did raise the Child from Death to Life, and that the Child's Soul was dead in its Body, and that the Soul of the Child was revived in the Child's Body again by the Power of Faith in _Elijah_.

And the very same thing was done by the Prophet _Elisha_, as in 2 _Kings_ iv. 34. the Prophet _Elisha_ did the same thing to the _Sunamite_ Woman's Son, he _went up, and lay upon the Child, and put his Mouth upon his Mouth, and his Eyes upon his Eyes, and his Hands upon his Hands, and he stretch himself upon the Child; and the Flesh of the Child waxed warm, and_ Elisha _stretched himself upon the Child a second time_: Here the Reader may see, that the Child was dead, and by the Faith and Prayer, and by the Warmness of the Prophet _Elisha_ his Flesh, the Child revived to Life again both Body and Soul. And _Elisha_ did use the same Means and Way as _Elijah_ did? for he went in and shut the Door, and prayed unto the Lord as _Elijah_ did, and stretched himself upon the Child as _Elijah_ did, and raise the Child to Life again by the Power of Faith.

Yet _Elisha_ maketh no mention of the Soul coming into the Child again, but he delivered the Body and Soul of the Child, that were both dead together, he delivered them both alive together to the Child's Mother. It was the same thing done by _Elijah_, only some difference in the Words, but the Sense and Meaning is all one.

So that the Reader may understand, if any true Light of Life be in him, that the Soul of the Child went not out of its Body, but died in the Body; and by the Power of Faith in the Prophet, it quickened alive out of Death in the Child's Body again; for the Soul or Life of the Child never went out of the Body as is vainly imagin'd; but the Soul, Life, and Spirit of the Child was absolutely dead in the Body, and by the Power of Faith in the Prophet, the dead Soul or Life of the Child was quickened alive again, and caused the Body to live also. For if the Woman should have had the Soul of the Child given unto her without the Body, she would have given the Prophet no Thanks for raising her Child's Soul without a Body; but the Body and Soul being one Person, they were both dead together, and the Prophet raised them both together alive, and the Woman received them both together, and rejoyced greatly in God, and gave Honour to the Prophet.

Thus in short, I have given the true Interpretation of all those Scriptures that most seem, or most commonly are objected against the Mortality of the Soul, or to prove that Spirits do go out of the Body at the time of Death, or that Spirits may be raised without Bodies, or have any Being without Bodies, or that a Spirit may appear in a Shape without a Body, or that a Spirit can assume what Shape it please, yet have no Body or Substance.

These things the vain Imagination of Reason in Man hath created in it self, to fright it self with, for their is no such thing as Spirits walking without Bodies, neither doth any Spirit go out of the Body when Men die, as is imagined by most People; but these are Fictions of Mens Brains, created by the Imagination in the dark Minds of Men and Women, for God never created any such thing, as I have shewed before.

And as for that saying of _Solomon_, _Eccl._ xii. 7. _Then shall the Dust return to the Earth as it was, and the Spirit shall return to God who gave it._ His Meaning (I suppose) in these Words is, as is generally conceived by all People, the Body to the Dust, and the Spirit returns to God that gave it when Men die: But these Sayings of _Solomon_ are no Scripture, for _Solomon_ was no Scripture Writer, for his Writings were not written by the Revelation of Faith, but by the Revelation of Reason; yet it was the purest of Reason, and he had the greatest Measure of the Wisdom of Reason, and the Knowledge of Nature, of any that was before him since _Adam_, or any that shall come after him.

Therefore God chose him King, and gave him the purest Wisdom of Reason, according to his Desire in his Prayer to God, that his Wisdom might resemble Heaven for Glory, as it did; for what Glory could a King have upon Earth greater than he had? Which was a true Resemblance of the Glory of Heaven; and this Glory was procured by that Power and great Wisdom of Reason in him; yet for all this he was ignorant of the Revelation of Faith, and of spiritual and heavenly Things, ignorant of the true God, and of the right Devil, and of some things in Nature.

As that the Spirit of a Man should return to God that gave it without a Body; when as God never gave any Spirit to Man without a Body, nor to no other Creature: But _Solomon_ being ignorant, that the Spirit or Soul of Man is generated and begotten by the Law of Generation as well as the Body; this was in the Creation when God made Man in his own Image, the Ignorance of this caused him to speak thus; for he knew not where the Spirit went when the Body is laid in the Earth, no more than the learned Philosophers do, who say, A Spirit cannot die; as if the Spirit and Life of every Creature were the Spirit or Life of God, else they think no Creature could move and have a Being.

And though _Solomon_ was a wise Man, as the Heathen Philosophers were wise Men in Nature; yet they were all ignorant in this one thing, of the Law of Generation or Procreation, to increase and multiply, as God hath placed in Nature, when he created the World in the beginning; for every Creature as well as Man, were to increase and multiply by the Law of Generation; and this I am sure, they begot Spirit, Life, and Soul by Generation, as well as Bodies.

But if it be objected, that God breathed into Man the Breath of Life, and he became a living Soul; and so Man's Spirit is of a more noble divine Life or Spirit than any other Creature.