scatter and bring down all those Authorities Powers and Parties that had held his Church in this Nation at the Brick-kills in the condition of Servants and Bond-men then did he take off our filthy garments and clothed us with change of Rayment high Reformation Victories and many visible Testimonies of his Presence among us and all these as Earnests or first-fruits of that flourishing State which shall be brought forth in the Coming and Kingdom of the Lord Jesus In Israels Redemption out of Egypt mention was first made of a civil Interest only of their deliverance from the burdens and oppressions of that King but the principal thing intended was that God himself would be their King If this was a typical Preludium of the State of the Church in these last dayes as that Prophesie seems to imply I will restore thy Judges as at first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning If so then a deliverance from the yoaks of Tyranny and Persecution unto a condition of meer outward liberty and quiet was not the chief Result in ended us in our changes but that God would thereby bring us both Church and State under a more immediate Government to his Son that he alone should be our Law-giver King and Judge ruling us according to his own Word and Spirit not according to the Prudentials and Policies of this World If the Lord has thus kindled a Refining fire among us let us take heed how we quench it till our purification thereby preparing us unto that Kingdom and Glory that is drawing near The Lord hath taken new and extraordinary wayes with us besides that peculiar eye that hath watched over the English Nation in former times to save it from the bloud-thirsty Rage of Antichristian Adversaries their Invasions from abroad and Conspiracies at home God has of late made this Nation as it were a Stage whereupon he came forth and began that Cup of the Wine of his Wrath against the Kingdomes and Monarchies of Babylon that is determined against them here began the Horns of Antichrist to be thrown down here the spiritual and civil Liberties and Rights of Saints and Men were more visibly owned of God against the Injustice and Usurpations of Ecclesiastical and Temporal Rulers then had been before here the Office of Christ as Prophet and Head of his Church was vindicated and advanced above the Commandements and Laws of Men to the contrary The Authority of Christ as King of Saints and Nations and the right of Saints with him to Rule and Judge the World has gained more Reputation and acceptance with us then all the World over God speaks concerning his Church in the latter dayes Isai 43.18 Remember ye not the former things neither consider the things of old behold I will do a new thing And what was that new thing For your sakes I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all their Nobles ver 19. I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert Chap. 44.3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and flouds upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring The Lord had a People among us who he formed for his praise how did he for their sake bring down our Princes and Nobles the Paramours and Lovers of Babylon How was our Land which had layen like a wilderness for want of Gospel light and administration of Justice turned into Rivers of water through Righteousness Knowledge and the Presence of the Lord shining forth among us And in that day what a sprinkling of the Spirit was there upon the dry ground upon many Sons and Daughters among us of simple and low capacities weak and foolish things whereby many wise mighty and honorable were put to confusion and brought to nothing Let us call to mind what a Presence was with us in the fields what impulsions of the Spirit as of a mighty wind were upon many carrying them up beyond themselves through difficulties and dangers What a Spirit of Judgment was put upon many to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron What a light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ shined round about us What meltings and yernings were seen throughout all even the darkest corners of the Land under the sense of a crucified Saviour What Lightenings among the People of God and what Earthquakes upon their Enemies Such things as made us a terror and wonderment to all the Nations about us speak oh ye Virgins that are fallen asleep if these be ordinary Dispensations if ye have read or heard of a parallel if not then look upon them as beginnings of greater things yet to come to passe But if any shall say Why may not this glory set in a cloud as great things were done and as great hopes and expectations raised in Germany yet all came to nothing I answer Luther lived to see his Doctrine prevailed over many Cities and Countries and soon after his death brake out the Warr in that Nation for the punishment of them that were Adversaries to the Gospel when that Light was quenched there it sprung forth with renewed strength in this our Island and has ever kindled such a fire as has at sundry times cousumed the chiefest part of the Riches strong Holds and Yoaks of Antichrist that were among us God has begun the influences and effects of some of the last and glorious Promises in our Nation Providences and Prophesies have been as teeming wombs bringing forth the first fruits of great things amongst us The Promises that concern the Church of Christ towards the end of her wilderness state do speak of great changes and revolutions to come to passe about that time in the Antichristian States and Kingdoms with their Governments and Affairs that by these tempests this old corrupt frame of things may be broken and fall and way made for a glorious State of things to be brought forth in the fuller exaltation of Jesus Christ A Stone shall be cut out without hands that shall smite the great Image upon his feet Vpon the servants and upon the hand-maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit and these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire then the earth shall rele to and fro like a drunkard and shall be removed like a cottage and the Lord shall punish the Hoast of the high ones that are on high and the Kings of the earth upon the earth Then the Moon shall be confounded and the Sun ashamed If these Promises have begun their effects upon us in this Nation then let us know that the way of the Lord amongst us is new and his work extraordinary let us remember what a sprinkling of a gracious choice and active Spirit has been among us what excellent things were done while it was fresh upon us How Monarchy and Prelacy was cut off as
darkness and wasting in their spirits counsels and proceedings the very report whereof put a fear upon the Nations about while lie owned and blessed and comforted his People by a glorious leading Presence among them What is the meaning of these things Is there not a far other more Excellent State of things signified and intended hereby then the present frame of things of late set up under which worldly pomp and policy the old oppressive and corrupt Interests of former worldly States and Governments with a too general defection of many from their first light love and purity is springing and growing up again in the Land The changes that of late have passed over us are a further Testimony from God unto us that he is doing some new thing in the Earth It is said Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come The first coming of our Saviour was ushered in by a change upon all Nations the Romans possessing themselves of the Kingdome of David and of the Government of the whole World Joel saith chap. 2.30 31. I will shew wonders in the Heavens and in the Earth bloud and fire and pillars of smoak the Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into bloud before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come We are to know the second coming of the Lord Jesus to set up his Kingdom on Earth draws near when we see changes coming upon the whole frame of things both in Church and State This Nation a Nation wherein Profession is reformed unto the greatest degree of Light and Purity of any Nation in the World yet how has it been turned upside down How have the Heavens of our more reformed as well as the Earth of our more loose corrupted Church-state been shaken How has the Sun of Monarchy Kings and Nobles been darkened and the Moon of our Civil State been turned into bloud How have formes of Government and Authorities hastily risen up one after another and have as fast dissolved in weakness and confusion Revel 21.1 I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed away and there was no more Sea When the Governments Kingdoms and Common-wealths throughout both the Antichristian and the more Reformed Nations become unsettled shaken and falling in pieces it is a sign they are grown old in sin and guilt and as fit for no more use are ready to be done away The time for the fulfilling of that Prophesie seems at the very door Revel 14.15 Thrust in thy sickle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe Who ever saw the Nations round about us in such a posture of warr and wrath as at this day so fitted for destruction What Earthquakes Eclipses Comets raining of Bloud and raging Pestilences have there been of late How is the whole Creation sensible of the drawing near of the Lord Jesus whose coming in the Spirit of Grace and Glory in his People and in Wrath and Judgements against his Enemies is that which causeth all these changes which have been and are yet to be in the World It is well known to many that both the spiritual and visible Interest of Christ hath begun to shine forth more of late in this Nation and God hath given more visible testimonies in a way of owning of it here then in any other Nations besides So soon as this Interest and Cause was placed among us what a series of changes did presently flow in upon us What commotions were stirred up against us from abroad and how are all the Nations about us since put into a flame Nations long settled upon their lees of Antichristian blindness and corruption when God begins to empty such from vessel to vessel to bring upon them one breach and change after another it is a sign he has some new and special thing to do with such People Oh that we might see the Lord Jesus as he comes forth through these things and lifts up himself still more and more by them The Refinings that have attended our changes have a fresh significancy with us that God is about some new and extraordinary things among us every change was as a fire purifying the succeeding parties into a more refined Spirit and Principles then those that were before as new work and new difficulties were presented while many went off their hearts failing them through darkness weariness or fear a new Spirit was put upon others in a fresh supply of light and strength giving a more piercing sight into the excellency of the interest and cause in hand and further Resolution to presse forwards towards it Principles in the beginning of the day were dim and weak both in the Civil and Military Instruments carrying them forth a little higher then unto the Interest of meer civil right and freedome against the Arbitrarines and excess of Monarchy and Prelatical Church state these Generations being most of them laid aside a choicer People were raised up in their place of clearer Principles and higher Aymes calling for Impartial Justice removal of burdens dethroning of Kingly Power abolition of Worldly Pomps and Splendour a Religious Magistracy a Spiritual Ministry liberty of Worship c. they had so much light as to discern the present frame of things to be exceedingly corrupted with Antichristian mixture and to see there was a better state of things to be had framed and acted not according to Humane Reason and Prudentials of State in the hands of men as men but according to the Decrees and Laws of Christ in the hands of men as spiritual and Saints Further changes so far heightened this Principle as that the Interest and Right of Jesus Christ to exercise a Kingly Authority over the Kingdomes of men was publickly and solemnly owned for a reason among us let it be observed how the Lord winnowed and purged one party after another how the said old dark and corrupt fashion of things was a going away and a new face of things began to appear with a new lustre both upon Church and State upon Doctrine and Worship garments of mourning and bondage formerly upon the People of God changed into a state of liberty and gladness a loose and worldly Church reformed first to the letter after to a degree of spirituality the contest begun for a civil Interest refined into a contest for spiritual Faith Prayer and expectations in many rising higher and higher first for civil liberty then for a spiritual after for the Kingdom and Government of Jesus Christ And here that word may not unseasonably be minded Psal 68.13 14. Though ye have lain among the pots yet shall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold when the Almighty scattered Kings in it it was white as snow in Salmon When the time came that the Lord would
courage through all oppositions difficulties and temptations in that day to the contrary Third Rule Consider which way the Works of Providence looked that were formerly done amongst us and whither they tended though Providence when it is alone is not any certain Rule to go by yet when the Works of God and his Word and Spirit go altogether when a People have his Word and Spirit stirring them up unto a Work and Providences coming in one upon another to carry them out in it then are Providences to be heeded as signs of the times and of the Work God is about Psalm 105.26 He sent Moses his Servant and Aaron whom he had chosen they shewed his signs among them and wonders in the Land of Ham. The Works God wrought for Israel in Egypt and the Wildernesse was as Gods manifestation to the Nations who were his People and what he was about when a People are engaged in a cause upon holy and righteous Principles the Promises Prophecies and Truths of the latter dayes and God is seen going forth before them working glorious Deliverances for them this is a lowd Testimony What is the Work God is determined to do in such a day Psalm 105.14 15. He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying touch not mine Annointed and do my Prophets no harm How like to this the dealing of God with England of late have been may appear whosoever shall remember what an eye of peculiar respect and favour the Lord had upon a People among us what a choice and blessed Spirit a despised People had whereby many wise and honourable among us were confounded What power to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron How no weapon that was formed against them could prosper Moreover how the Lord stretched the line of confusion and the stones of emptinesse over all such constitutions and interests as had been props and pillars for the upholding the old Antichristian and worldly pomp pride and greatnesse if the aim and tendencie of these Providences be considered it is easie to ghesse what the Work of God is at this day Fourth Rule Take notice what things have fallen out upon a People among us since they left the Work of the Lord they were first about to build their own houses since they left their first love and labour and patience and zeal in that Work and are joyned to another Interest As soon as Saul failed in the Work of the Lord 1 Sam. 16.14 The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him That Spirit he had for the Lord and the work of Reformation left him and he was turned to hate the same Spirit when it came upon David It is a true observation where the Spirit of God is seen in the most gracious lively and warmest workings of it there are the choicest Servants of God and there is his Work carrying on What a blessed Spirit was there upon a People among us What zeal did it work what indignation what godly sorrow for miscarriages what purging of themselves from the old leaven what pressing on towards a thorow Reformation and the good things of the latter dayes how is this Spirit I would I could not say it departed from them Object But wherein does it appear that that Spirit has left them Answ It appears by their principles and designs the Spirit of God acts upon holy and gracious Principles and unto holy and noble ends a People led by the Spirit of God do act upon such Principles as are spiritual the Word of God Faith in the Promises Love to Christ to his Saints to the breathings of the Spirit in them to Righteousness and Holiness now where you see these Principles left and slighted and others took up worldly power and pollicy and conjunction with them that either left the Work formerly or were enemies to it and practises tending to pour contempt upon the blessed Cause and Interest of Christ among us and upon all those that would still be faithful to it untill the Kingdomes of this World become the Kingdome of our Lord this is not the Spirit of God you may be assured that does such things The spirits of any thing are known by the breath or savour it yeilds Thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of man where we find a strong scent and savour in our own hearts or others of the flesh-pots and onyons an hankering after the treasures of Egypt the pomp preferments titles and honors the constitutions and interests of those that the Lord cast out before us to be like the Nations in Government State Designs and Manners there we may fear the Spirit of the Lord as to any further work is departed Moreover since many left off following the Lord fully we see not our signs and tokens of Gods wonder working Providence as formerly Exod. 33.16 Wherein shall it be known here that I and thy People have found grace in thy sight is it not in that thou goest with us so shall we be separated I and thy People from all the People that are upon the face of the earth Whilst there was a People among us that were faithful with the Lord and his Saints and had a heart to the glorious things God hath for his Church the Lord Jesus went forth before them as General and put the feir of them upon all that were about them but since then what frowns from Heaven what tokens of displeasure have been upon us both at Sea and Land whereby all things drive heavily at home fears and confusion abroad wasting and consuming upon their Armies now observe in what walk and way we had the Lord present among us and how since then he has withdrawn himself from us and thence we may gather where his Work lies at this day Now then if you judge these Rules to be such as may give any certain light to resolve us in the question The Work the Lord our God is about at this day is a choice Work and a great Work and beyond the ordinary wayes and Dispensations of God in times past First The Lord is forming a People for himself purifying and fitting a People to follow Christ in those special Services wherein his Glory is more eminently concerned if the Works that God has done in the midst of us be in order to some greater things he has yet to do then will he sanctifie and prepare a People that shall understand the Work of the Lord and serve him therein Psal 110.2 Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies thy People shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness They that shall be of the most ready and willing spirit to serve Christ in the Work of his Kingdom shall be a People of more grace and holiness then others a People that shall have Faith and Love to Christ and Zeal for