The First Edition, edited by Thomas Elwood
From the text published London: Thomas Northcott, 1694 (unless otherwise noted.)
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THE APPEARANCE OF THE LORD'S EVERLASTING TRUTH, AND
BREAKING FORTH AGAIN IN HIS ETERNAL POWER IN THIS OUR
DAY AND AGE IN ENGLAND--
Wherein the Lord's mighty power and word of life hath been richly and freely preached, to the
gathering of many into reconciliation with God by it; to the exaltation and glory of the great God,
through the bringing forth of the heavenly and spiritual fruits, from such as have been gathered by
his Eternal Light, Power, and Spirit unto himself. And by the sowing to the Spirit in the hearts of
people, life eternal hath been reaped; that the flocks have been gathered, which have the mile of
the word plenteously: that the riches of the word have flourished and mightily abounded; and
God's heavenly plow with his spiritual men hath gone on cheerfully, to the overturning of the
fallow ground of the hearts, that had not borne heavenly fruit to God. And God's heavenly
threshers with his heavenly flail, have with joy and delight threshed out the chaff, and corruptions,
that have been atop of God's seed and wheat in man and woman: and thus have they threshed in
hope, and are made partakers of their hope; through which God's seed is come into his garner.
Oh! the unutterable glory, and the unexpressable excellency of the everlasting glorious Truth,
Gospel, and Word of Life, that the infinite, invisible, and wise God, (who is over all) hath revealed
and manifested. And how have the professors, priests, and powers risen up in opposition against
his children, that are born of the immortal seed by the word of God! And Oh! how great have the
persecutions, and reproaches, and spoiling of goods been, that have been executed upon them!
But they that have touched them, and touches them, which are as dear to God, as the apple of his
eye, how hath the Lord manifested himself to stand by them, in overthrowing powers, priests, and
states! What changes have there been since 1644 and 1650, and 1652! How have the jails been
filled since then in this nations with the Heirs of Life, God's chosen ones, who had no helper in the
earth,, but the Lord and his Christ! So that Truth's faithful witnesses were scarcely to be found,
but in jails and prisons, where the righteous were numbered among the transgressors; who had
neither staff nor bag from man, but the staff, the Bread of Life,, and the bag that holds the
treasure, that waxes not old. But the Lord Jesus Christ, that sent them forth, was their exceeding
great supporter and upholder, by his eternal Power and Spirit, both then and now.
G.F.