An Epistle of John Reeve to a Friend, written in May 1657.
Shewing,
That Elect Angels are distinct from him who visibly beheld him Face to Face, and what that Reprobate Serpent-Angel was in his Creation, which by the secret Council and unsearchable Wisdom of God, fell from his created Glory like Lightning from the invisible Heaven above, to this visible Earth beneath; and through his super-seeming God like Counsel, he overcame innocent Eve; and she yielding unto him, he wholly entred into her Womb and naturally changed himself into her Seed, and so became the first-born Son of the Devil, and afterwards a cursed Cain, and the Father of all those Cananitish Reprobate Angels, spoken of in the visible Records of the Scriptures; Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his Brother, the 1st of John, the 3d Chapter, and 18th Verse. And the Tares are the Children of the wicked one, Math. 13th Chapter, and the 18th Verse. Also in what Condition Adam was created in, and how he come to fall from his created Estate, and what that sin was that Eve and he were guilty of, and how Sin came first in their pure created Natures.
Again, what that heavenly Glory is and where it is, that God's Elect Wheat, which are the Seed of Adam, and not of Cain shall possess when time shall be no more, and what that shameful Eternal Death is, and where it is reserved for the Seed of Cain and not of Adam, who are either a Spirit given up to Persecution of Mens Consciences, or else they are left in Darkness to condemn the Things of Eternity, because they cannot comprehend them for want of a true distinguishing Spirit, which is a Gift of the Holy Ghost, unto him which is immediately sent by the Lord of Glory, that he may be distinguished by the new born of God, from all those counterfeit or deceived Preachers or Speakers in the World, who are apt and ready to judge Men in Darkness, if they soberly ask them needful Questions concerning things of Eternity; the understanding of those glorious Excellencies, which is the Saints Inheritance, being utterly hid from them, because they went before they were sent.
Friend and Brother in the Eternal Truth,
By this infallible Demonstration, you may know a Man that hath not a Commission from the true God, to preach and speak unto the People.
If a searching Speaker or Writer, deliver any thing unto those People that joyn with him, then for fear of his Weakness or Ignorance being discovered, he will counsel the Hearers to stick close to the Ordinances in the Word of God, or to hearken to them, or to that in their Consciences, and to beware of false Christ's and false Prophets, and such like borrowing Scripture Languages, to prevent the People of ever hearing the Glorious and Dreadful Things of Eternity from the ever-living God, revealed both by Voice of Words without, and Inspiration within, unto his two last despised true Messengers.
Thus it is clear, they have not the true Spirit of Paul in them, who gave the true Saints Liberty to try all Things or Opinions of Men, (for that was his Meaning) but to hold fast to that which was good.
Again, that Speaker or Preacher to People, whether publick or private, that declares against all Appearances that are contrary to his Way, discovers himself to a discerning Spirit, not to be of the Lord, unless he can demonstrate a Spiritual Commission received by Voice from Heaven, from the Mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that no Man can disprove him, though few from a true Understanding received him.
Again, he that preaches or teaches only of a God or Christ in Mens Consciences, doth he not question the Scripture Records concerning the Resurrection and Ascension of the glorious Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, who through Faith in his invaluable Blood-shedding, the Consciences of the Elect being sprinkled, are purified from the Power of all Unrighteousness of Flesh and Spirit, and so doth he not question the Resurrection of Mankind after Death.
Again if after Death there be no bodily Resurrection for the Spirit to possess an immortal God-like Glory, or to suffer an eternal Devil-like Shame, according to their Deeds done in their Bodies; is it not one of the vainest Babblings under Heaven, for Men to talk of a God or Christ, or of Righteousness, or Purity, or Mercy, or pure Love without Envy, or of any Spiritual Excellency whatsoever, unless it be for Gain or Glory amongst Men.
The eternal Spirit and alone everlasting Father, which essentially reigneth in the glorified Body of our Lord Jesus Christ his eternal Son, and spiritually, or motionally, or virtually liveth or reigneth in elect Men and Angels, bear Record between me and you for Everlasting, or World without end, whether this Witnessing be not sent unto you, and all the Elect that shall view it principally for the re-establishing of your tender Spirit, upon that spiritual Rock of all Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ God and Man, in one distinct Person Glorified and everlastingly Honoured, with all Variety of Spiritual new Songs and Praises, from his Redeemed or Elect Men or Angels, when all Time or Times is swallowed up into Eternity or Eternities.
John Reeve.