done and thy thoughts which are to us-ward they cannot be reckoned up in order before thee if I would declare and speak of them they are more than can be numbred Thirdly The consideration of the eminent acts of God's gracious Providence towards the Church of the Jews under the Old Testament is a proof of this truth some few whereof are these 1. Of all Nations under Heaven them only he separated to be a holy People for himself Deut. 7.6 7 8. Thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people for himself above all the people that are upon the face of the earth the Lord did not set his love upon you nor chuse you because ye were more in number than any other people for ye were the fewest of all people but because the Lord loveth you 2. That Aegyptian Deliverance so miraculously wrought for them was an eminent act of God's good Providence to them and that in these respects 1. He furnished them with a General every way fit for that Expedition Ps 105.26 He sent Moses his servant and Aaron whom he had chosen 2. He inflicted ten several tremendous Plagues and fearful Judgments on their persecuting and oppressive Enemies because they would not allow them liberty to worship God according to the Command of God and their own Consciences Ps 105.27 That of the cutting off all the First-Born of their Adversaries in one night when the deâ—â—â—oying Angel pass'd over them is memorable as also their being in Goshen a Land of Light for three days together when the other were in Darkness 3. In spite of all Opposers they had one very glorious Sacramental Passover-day before they were brought forth 4. He did greatly enrich them with Ear-rings and Jewels of their cruel Task-masters Exod. 22.36 5. While they were surrounded with the Red Sea on the one hand and Pharaoh's Army on the other you know what great Salvation he wrought for them Exod. 15.1 2 3 4 5. O sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the Sea 3. The many signal passages of his Providence towards them in the Wilderness do demonstrate this Truth Truly God is good to Israel 1. He sweetned the bitter Waters of Marah for them Exod. 15.23 24 25. 2. He Rained Manna from Heaven upon them and gave them Quails to eat even when in a pettish murmuring Humour they said unto Moses and Aaron would to God we had Died by the Hand of the Lord in the Land of Aegypt when we sat by the flesh-Pots and when we did eat Bread to the full for ye have brought us forth into the Wilderness to kill the whole Assembly with Hunger 3. When they Thirsted and had no Drink He opened the Rock and the Waters gushed out they ran in the dry places like a River Psal 105.41 4. Through the prevalency of Moses's Prayer they obtained a glorious Victory over the Amalekites Aaron and Hur holding up his Hands for which an Altar was errected to the Lord as an eternal Monument of that Meâ—â— Exod. 17. end 5. They had the Pillar of the Cloud by Day to keep them from the violence and scorching Heat of the Sun and the Pillar of Fire by Night to shelter them from the cold thereof and to lead them on their way in the Dark Ps 105.39 6. They had the Law in a most solemn way and manner given forth from Mount Sinai Exod. 20. O happy is that People that 's under a Theocracy and who are governed only by that Law which is purely Divine The Law Moral did in a general way teach them their Duty both to God and Man The Ceremonial did teach them more particularly what to give unto God and the judicial Law did inform them how they ought to walk one towards another as Members of such a Body Politick Nation Kingdom or Common-wealth 7. The Lord did institute Tabernacle-Worship first in the Wilderness Better be in the Wilderness with God's Ordinances than in Aegypt without them 8. When they proved Idolatrous in erecting a Molten Calf to be a visible representation of God's marching on before them upon their Repentance and Moses's Prayer God was graciously pleased to pardon their Sin Exod. 32.11 12 13 14 9. All that Forty Years they were in the Wilderness they had no need to renew their Shooes nor Garments 10. When they were stung with fiery Serpents they had a brazen Serpent erected as an Ordinance of divine Institution for their Remedy and Cure Numb 21.9 Lastly Most of all these things their Manna Water out of the Rock Tabernacles high Priest Ark Sacrifices Altars Pillar of the Cloud and Fire and the brazen Serpent were Typical representations of Jesus Christ and visible Signs of his Presence amongst them I was lately very much taken with the Reading of the First Second Third and Fourth Chapters of Numbers where after numbring the Children of Israel they are Ranked in Battalia as a Camp in the midst of this Camp was the Tabernacle with the Ark of the Covenant next unto it the Priests and Levites and round about them the rest of the Tribes when the Priests and Levites stood with the Ark the People stood when the Ark moved and marched on they accordingly followed and what did all this signifie But that they were even in the Wilderness under the conduct of their great Captain-General Jesus Christ Deut. 32.11 12 13. As an Eagle stirreth up her nest and fluttereth over her Young spreadeth abroad her wings So the Lord alone did lead him and there was no strange God with him he made him ride on high places of the earth that he might eat the increase of the fields and he made him to suck honey out of the Rock and oyl out of the stinty rock Gen. 32.34 Behold mine Angel shall go before thee it was in Allusion to this marching Posture of their's that the Psalmist breaks forth Psal 46. Though the Mountains be removed the Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our Refuge God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved And Cant. 6.16 Who is she that looketh forth as the Morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun terrible as an Army with banners Time would fail in telling you what God did in dividing Jordan in possessing them with a Land that did flow with Milk and Honey in distributing to every Tribe their Portion and Inheritance by lot in driving out their Enemies the Ammonites Moabites the Hivites Jebusites and Gargasites what shall I tell you of his raising up Deborah and Barak Gideon Sampson Ely Samuel and others endued with an extraordinary Spirit to be not only Princes and Judges over them but also to rescue them out of the Hands of their Enemies to whom their Sins had enslaved them what shall I tell you of all the gracious acts of favour conferred upon them under
preach the Everlasting Gospel but more particularly to prophesie Babylon's Downfall which tho' it be a very delightful and pleasing piece of service in the doing of it yet afterwards it exposes them to sore Persecutions that prove bitter Chap. Eleven The former Chapter having Prophesied of Rome's ruine of the Discovery and Destruction of the Mystery of Iniquity and Son of Perdition and that by the preaching of the Everlasting Gospel a doubt now arises concerning the fulfilling of this how can there be any Prophesying or Preaching where there is no Church and if there be no Church there can be no Prophets Antichrist has now possessed himself of the Temple of God and so Corrupted all under the foregoing Trumpets as has been already cleared that it 's hardly visible whether Christ have any Church or Kingdom in the World This Chap. solves this Scruple and affords some grounds of sweet comfort against this Discouragement The substance of the Chap. so much as concerns the Slaying and Resurrection of the witnesses take in some few Doctrinal Propositions 1. When Antichrist is at his height then does the Work of Reformation begin There was given me a Reed like unto a Rod commanding me to measure the Temple the Altar and them that Worship therein Verse 1. A Metaphor taken from Masons or such Artificers who in building a New House or repairing an Old do use a measuring Line Now is the time come that God will have Antichrist's Church-state Worship Ordinances and all to be tried and examined by the Rule of God's Word 2. When Antichristianism is at its height Reformation cannot be without separation The Court which is without the Temple leave out i. e. Let it now be known by the measuring Line that their Temple Altar Worship and Worshippers are none of mine 3. Antichristian Worship weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary is in God's Account Gentilism The outer Court is given to the Gentiles i. e. To such who though they profess Christianity and that highly too glorying that they are the only true Church yet their Practice pure Gentilism Antichristian Rites and Ceremonies are most of them borrowed from Heathens 4. Antichrists treading under the holy City shall not be for ever it shall be for an appointed time to wit 42 Months Verse 2. 5. In the height of Antichristianism Christ shall have a competent number of such as shall give a faithful Testimony against him I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore days cloathed in sackcloath Verse 3. The Sackcloath notes the meanness and lowness of their Condition their number two their paucity or fewness yet competent out of the Mouth of two or three witnesses shall every Truth be established If this one thousand two hundred and threescore Days be the same with the Forty two Months the time of Antichrists Reign as it 's very probable reckoning Thirty Days to every Month then by the two witnesses cannot be meant Magistracy and Ministry because there have not been during the whole time of Antichrist's Reign always some Magistrates who as such have given a Testimony for Christ against him only that Christ and in all Ages and Countries a competent number as in England Wickliff in Italy Marsilius Patavinus in Bohemid John Husse and Jerom of Prague in Saxony Luther and Melanchton in Helvetia Zwingliâ—â— in Basil Oecolampadius 6. They that have been called to witnessing-work have had a special Anointing for the Work of their Day These are the two Olive-Trees and the two Candlesticks standing before the God of the Earth vers 4. In allusion to the Lamps of the Candlestick in the Temple under the Old Testament which were kept burning by two Olive-Trees continually emptying themselves into them so did Christ out of his Fulness continually communicae abundant supplies of Grace and Gifts to his Servants 7. Of all Men in the World Christs Martyrs or Witnesses have the greatest interest in Heaven If any Man hurteth them fire proceedeth out of their Mouth and devoureth their Enemies An allusion to what Elias did 2 Kings 1.10 They have power to shut Heaven that it Rain not in the Days of their Prophecy To what Elias did 1 Kings 17.1 Jam. 5.17 They have power over Waters to turn them into Blood and to smite the Earth with all Plagues as often as they will This alludes to what Moses and Aaron did in Aegypt vers 5 6. i. e. They did denounce Wrath and Prophesied of sore judgments that would befall their Persecutors and accordingly it came to pass God made good their word they were Wrestlers and Israes indeed prevailers with God Luther was so mighty in Prayer that quicquid voluit potuit he could do what he would with God From vers 7. to 11. you have a particular narrative of the slaying of the Witnesses from thence to 15 of their Resurrection The time of the slaying of the Witnesses is 1. Set down when they shall have finished their Testimony or according to the Original when they are about to finish their Testimony verse 7. i. e. towards the end of the 1260 Days and towards the end of the Beasts 42 Months which is not so to be understood according to the great mistake of many as if they should never after this witness any more nor Antichrist Reign any more but only thus They shall finish their Testimony in Sackcloath and their Wilderness-State and he shall never Reign again so as when he trod under the holy City while the Church was in the Wilderness 2. The person by whom they are slain to wit the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit vers 7. i. e. The Pope and those that derive their Authority from him as was shewn Chap. 9.2 3. Whether this slaying of them be the taking away their Natural lives only or a Civil and Spiritual Death depriving them of all privileges which they enjoyed both as Men and Christians in silencing Ministers not giving them the liberty of their Consciences in matters of Religion according to the word or something that comprehends both I shall not curiously enquire nor positively determine only the latter I most incline to for many were slain in their Bodies and others suffered a Civil and Ecclesiastical Death by Banishments Excomunications and otherwise 2. The â—â—ace where is in the Street of the great City which Spiritually is called Sodom and Aegypt vers 8. i. e. In some places of the World which do professedly own themselves to be of the Popes Dominions whose City is a second Sodom for fulness of Bread Idleness and all manner of Uncleanness and never did Old Aegypt abound in heathenish Idolatries and oppress the People of God more than it I like will enough of that conjecture that speaks of Germany for it may be fitly called the Street of the great City as being a principal part of the Roman Empire The first thing that follows upon their being slain is the
God's Goodness TO HIS ISRAEL In All Ages Being the Substance of some SERMONS ON PSALM Lxxiii 1. Truly God is good to Israel even to such 〈◊〉 are of a clean heart By J. F. Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1700. God's Goodness TO HIS ISRAEL In all Ages Psalm LXXIII 1. Truly God is good to Israel and to such as are of a clean heart THEY that will be at pains to peruse 〈◊〉 Psalm throughout will easily perceâ—… under what a sad tepmtation the Psalm whether Asaph or David is not materâ—… had been at this time having observed how 〈◊〉 wicked prospered and what miseries the godly 〈◊〉 undergo he did begin to conclude that it werâ—… great matter whether he followed the ways of gâ—…liness any more or whether he turned Profane 〈◊〉 Atheistical v. 2 3. As for me my feet were almâ—â—â— gone my steps had well nigh slipt for I was envioâ—… at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked v. 13 14. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency for all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning While thus he was conflicting with the temptation the Lord directed him to the use of a blessed means whereby he came to be better instructed He went into the sanctuary i.e. he consulted the Oracles of God he searched the Records of Heaven the Holy Scriptures he was diligent in the practice of all duties of Temple-worship then in use he consulted with God and his Spirit and Jesus Christ the Sactuary was the Type and he the Antitype and then he could say Surely thou hast set them in slippery places thou castest them down into destruction how are they brought into desolation as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrours as a dream when one awaketh so O Lord when thou awakest shalt thou despise their image Having now overcome the temptation he pens this Psalm an excellent Prospective Glass for the Church and People of God in all ages wherein they may see 1. The variety and wonderfulness of the Dispensations of Gods Providence towards his Creatures 2. That its common and ordinary for wicked men to have worldly prosperity 3. That â—â—tentimes as to outward things Saints are of all â—…men the most miserable so 1 Cor. 15. to the end Psal 〈…〉 22. We are accounted all day long as sheep for the â—â—â—ughter 4 That they that are most spiritual are â—…ble to temptations and in a readiness to comply â—…erewith and therefore let him who thinks he â—nds take heed lest he fall 5. One of the best means under heaven to get victory over a temptatiâ—on is to go into the Sanctuary taking it in the fore-mentioned sense Lastly Tempted ones taking this course to wait upon God in the use of appointed means have sometime or other a glorious issue and not only so but they prove the most choice and excellent the most humble and lowly the most affectionate and loving the mâ—… Christ excelling and Soul edifying Christians thâ—… improve their temptations their Exercises undeâ— them and their issues out of them to some purpose for the glory of God the good of their own souls and the spiritual advantage of others This improvement the Psalmist made is worthy of our observation 1. He is now able with a holy asseveration to attest to this truth which he did so unbelievingly question Truly God is good to Israel 2. He bemoans his bruitishness stupidity and atheistical ignorance v. 22. So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee 3. He did attribute his preservation from yielding to temptation to the divine supports of the free grace of God only v. 23. Nevertheless thou art continually with me thou hast holden me by thy right hand 4. By the mercy received he is engaged to act a fiducial dependance upon God as long as he lives v. 24 Thou shalt guid me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory 5. He has more sublimated raised and elevated affections than ever v. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee there is none in all the earth I desire besides thee Lastly He is fully grounded settled and established in this truth that let the wicked prosper a thousand times over yet wo shall be to them in conclusion v. 27. For lo they that are from thee shall perish thou hast destroyed it 's as sure as if thou hadst already done it all them that go a whoring from thee and on the contrary the â—owns of Providence on Gods people shall never make him out of love with holiness I shall still say It is good for me to draw near to God I have put my trust in the Lord that I may declare all thy works Thus you see how the scope of the whole Psalm â—oes so much conduce to the clearing of what is contained in the first verse Truly God is good to Israel Some read the first word Although or Yet surely i.e. Though once I was under a strong temptation the Devil and my own carnal heart would have perswaded me that God did not care for his people Notwithstanding that to sense and reason providences do often speak forth the happiness of the wicked and the godlies miseries though this be the Opinion of the vulgar and common sort of people yet now I can set my seal to this truth God is good to Israel with a surely a truly a verily In the words there are these two things that need explication 1. Who are the Israel here spoken of 2. What we are to understand by those that are of a clean heart For the first Israel was that Name which God gave unto Jacob after he had wrestled with the angel and prevailed Gen. 32.28 Thy name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed Hos 12.13 The reason of the change of Name was no doubt for honours sake Sometimes it signifies all the posterity of Jacob Isa 48.1 Hear this O house of Jacob which art called by the name of Israel Rom. 9.4 2 Cor. 11.23 Phil. 3.5 Sometimes for the Church under the Old Testament consisting of the posterity of Jacob and Gentile Proselytes Psal 68.35 The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power to his people and 125. last Joh. 1.49 Rom. 9.6 For the Christian Church under the New Testament converted to the faith of Christ Gal. 6.16 1 Cor. 10.18 He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.28 29. When this Psalm was first penned by Israel here spoken of the Old Testament Church were principally understood but in
sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these lost Days spoke unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things 3. The dispensation they were under was full of Dread Horrour and Terror Gal. 4. end Heb. 12. When the Law was given forth from Sinai the Mount was all in a Fire to point at the hot burning Wrath they might look for in case they were found transgressors â—ur's from Mount Sion is full of Meekness Gentleness Mercy and Love St. John If ye love me keep my Commandments 4. The promises of our Covenant are better than theirs if they did observe the Statutes and Ordinances of God they might warrantably expect to be blest in their Basket and Store and such other temporal things according to Deut. 28. But now though we cannot by vertue of a promise expect blessings of this kind upon our observation of Divine Precepts but rather the contrary Matth. 10. Whoever will be my Disciple must deny himself take up his Cross and follow me And Acts 4. Through manifold Temptations or Tribulations we must all enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And 1 Tim. 2.12 All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persection yet we may expect Spiritual Blessings and that in a greater measure than they 1. We are promised greater plenty of Spiritual Knowledge than they That of Isa 11.9 relates to gospel-Times The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea And 35.5 Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf be unstopped And 32.3 4. And 42.16 I will bring the blind by a way they know not I will lead them in paths they have not known I will make darkness light before them and crooked things strait These things will I do unto them and not forsake them 2 Cor. 3.15 16 18. And 4.3 The Preaching of the Gospel is not Darkned with Types Figures and Ceremonies as in the Days of old 2. Spiritual Fruitfulness is promised to us Matth 21.41 The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you Jews and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof Isa 35.7 8. In the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert and the parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land Springs of water in the habitation of dragons where each lay shall be reeds and rushes 3. Spiritual peace joy and comfort is promised to our Days Isa 32.17 The Work of Righteousness shall be peace and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever Rom. 5. Begin Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord by whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God and not only so but we Glory in Tribulation also knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad into our Hearts by the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1. In whom believing ye rejoyce with a joy unspeakable and full of Glory 4. We have the promise of the Spirit more than they Joel 2.28 I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh Acts 2.17 Isa 44.3 O how good is the Lord to us in this respect if we are not wanting to our selves through unbelief the dispensation under which we are promises the pourings forth of the Spirit to us O! who are we that we should be thus dealt by Let 's make some use of what has been said as to this head and so I go on 1. Let Men and Angels be summoned in to admire and adore let our Souls and all that 's within us Extoll and Magnifie the rich Grace and Goodness of this God that has cast off his Ancient People and has taken us gentile sinners who were Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and Strangers to the Covenant and made us heirs of the promises Rom. 11.17 O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out O what are we poor wild Olives that we should be grafted in amongst the Natural Branches and partake of the fatness of the Olives O blessed are your Eyes and Ears which see and hear such things as were denyed many of the Fathers See Rom. 11. Ephes 3.8 9 10. Acts 28. end O how good is this God that has invested every particular Church of gentile Believers with greater privileges than their National Church had and private Christians are in some respects privileged beyond their Church Officers Rev. 1.4 He hath made us Kings and Priests to God to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving to him through Christ 2. Study to walk worthy of this goodness of the Lord unto all well-pleasing Col. 1. Let every Soul say O what shall I render to the Lord. 1. Take heed thou dost not live in any the least Sin beware of Ignorance if any thing prove the Condemnation of the World it will be this That light is come and they de light in darkness more than in light John 3.19 We may now say 2 Cor. 4.3 If our Gospel be hid it 's hid to them that Perish beware of unbelief John 3.18 He that believeth not on him is condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God O beware of ingratitude and turning Grace into Wantonness Jude 4. There are certain Men who were before of old ordained to Condemnation ungodly Men turning the Grace of God into Lasciviousness Say rather Rom. 6.1 Shall I Sin because I am under Grace God forbid 2. Think it not enough to abstain from Sin and to have true Grace but that your Graces may in some measure be answerable to the Covenant you are under has God been pleased to make great promises and wilt not thou labour for such a Faith as may apply these promises according to their full Latitude and extent Has God now manifested the Riches of his Grace in reconciling the World to himself through his Son declaring also that whosoever will believe on him shall be saved And why art thou still in a doubting and questioning Condition 3. Lay out your selves in glorifying this good God especially in these two 1. In a Gospel-Frame of Spirit Col. 3.12 Put on therefore as the Elect of God dearly and beloved bowels of Mercies kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness long-Suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another If any Man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye and above all these things put on Charity which is the Bond of perfection and let the Peace of God Rule in your Hearts to the which also ye were called in one Body and be ye thankful 2. In a Gospel-Conversation Phil. 1.27 Rom. 13.12 13 14. The
not too mean an Employment for them to bring this Message to the Shepherds Luk. 2.8 9 10. Fear not for behold I bring you good tydings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord verse 13.14 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men And that good old Man Simeon verse 28 29. When he had seen the Child Jesus he took him up in is Arms and blessed God saying Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of they people Israel Christ himself being come they might now know that God was a great Lover of Mankind now they had an ample proof of his faithfulness in making good what he had long before promised Now they might be sure that Shadows would flee away the Substance being come Now they might be assured of the downfal of the Devil's Kingdom witness the silencing the Oracles of Jupiter Apollo and Hecate as also the locking up the Temple of Janus 3. God's goodness to the primitive Church was in furnishing them with Pastors according to his own Heart the greatness of which Mercy may appear from the Consideration of these Circumstances 1. The number of primitive Church-Officers was perfect and compleat for species and kind there was none wanting which her Condition did then call for Of extraordinary Officers there were Twelve Apostles Acts 1.1 Seventy Evangelists particular Churches had their ordinary Officers to wit Bishops i. e. Pastors and Teachers to whom the Administration of Ordinances and Oversight of the Flock was committed Presbyters or Elders who were to look to the Peoples Manners and Government of the Church 1 Tim. 5. And Deacons who were to take care of the Poor Acts 6. begin 2. There was then a parity and equality of all Officers in their kinds Amongst the Apostles none claimed a Superiority over the rest Peter's Supremacy was then unknown as the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven were given to him Matth. 16.19 so also to the rest Joh. 20.23 The very affectation of pre-eminence was in those days distastful to Christ Matth. 18.1 2 3 4. and 20.25 26 Jesus called them unto him and said Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them but it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be great among you let him be your Minister and whosoever will be chief among you let him be you Servant even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister And as it was distastful to Christ so also to themselves Matth. 20.21 22 23 24. When the ten heard what the Mother of Zebedee's Children had asked for her two Sons they were moved with indignation against them And as one Apostle was not over the rest of the Apostles so there was a parity between Bishops and Presbyters i. e. ordinary Preaching and Ruling Officers or Elders they were not two distinct Offices nor Officers as may appear from Act. 20.17 with 28. whom he had called Presbyters v. 17. he calls Bishops v. 28. 2. From Philip. 1.1 he directs the Epistle to the Bishops and Deacons Philippi being but a City it cannot be imagin'd that there were Metropolitan of Diocesan Bishops in the plural number in it therefore the Bishops there spoken of were only ordinary Church Officers This is the observation of Chrysostome on the Text. 3. From Tit. 1.5 with 7. For this cause left I thee in Crete to ordain Presbyters for a Bishop must be blameless This for must either be a reason of what is in the preceding verse or it signifies nothing the qualifications required in both are the same therefore they are not distinct Officers 4. From 1 Pet. 5.1 2. The Apostle exhorts the Presbyters to watch over their Flocks v. 5. taking the oversight of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishoping it over them The Work of both is the same and therefore the Office is the same 5. From Ephes 4.11 12. where all sorts of Officers both extraordinary and ordinary are reckon'd and if Lord Prelates be neither Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors nor Techers They are none of Christ's Creatures but of Humane Institution 6. From 1 Tim. 3.1 to v. 8 begin where the Apostle gives Rules for the Examination and Ordination of a Bishop and then immediately he passes to the Office of a Deacon without so much as mentioning any thing of a Presbyter as taking it for granted that Bishop and Presbyter were one and the same the Rules for Examination and Ordination of both are the same And thus you see God was good to the Primitive Church in giving her such Officers as did neither Lord it over one another nor over the Lord's Heritage A Third circumstance of this Mercy was the extent of the Apostolical Commission Matth. 28. Go Preach the Gospel to all the World whereas formerly it was confin'd within the compass of the Land of Judea such is the goodness of God to the Sons of Men now that he is not willing any should perish but all should come to the knowledge of the Truth See Act. 10.28 34 35. Mark 16.15 Luke 24.47 Act. 1.8 and 20.21 Rom. 1.4 5. 4. He did furnish the Apostles with variety of eminent Gifts and Graces suitable to their Work they had such a Gift of Preaching that they needed not Read or Study but they spake by immediate Inspiration from the Holy Ghost Gal. 1.11 12. Eph. 3.3 At one of their Sermons three Thousand were Converted Act. 2.41 At another five Thousand Act. 4.4 They had a Spirit of Prayer they needed not a Book to read a Prayer by a set form They had the Gist of working Miracles Matth. 10.8 By laying on of hands they could confer the gift of the Holy Ghost upon others Act. 8.17 and 10.44 and 19.6 In matters of Faith that concerned the Salvation of Sinners and the Church's Edification they were acted by a Spirit of infallibility Joh. 16.13 They could inflict corporal Punishments upon notorious Hypocrites and Blasphemers Act. 5.9 10. and 13.11 2 Cor. 10.6 They were endued with a prophetical Spirit whereby they could foretel things to come Rom. 11.5 26. 2 Thess 2.2 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Tim. 3.1 Joh. 16.13 The whole Book of the Revelation is prophetical 4. Consider the Church it self and God's goodness was great to them in these respects 1. Of Ordinances 2. Order and Government 3. Of the Purity and Simplicity of the Truth in those days 4. Of their Gifts 5. Their Graces 6. Perseverance 7. Sufferings 1st They had no Ordinances but what were of Divine Institution these also were divinely Administred and a glorious Presence of God was that that did highly beautifie all their Administrations Act. 4.31
Number of all Nations and they shall stand before the Throne and before the Lamb. Tho' it was hardly visible whether there was a Church or no formerly yet now they shall openly shew themselves Cloathed with white Robes to shew that they have shaken off Popery with its Doctrine of Merits Indulgences Penances and Satisfactions and seek Justification only by Faith in Christ and his Righteousness having Palms in their Hands as a sign of Victory over the Beast over his Mark his Image and the Number of his Name and they cried with a loud Voice Salvation of our God which sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb and the Angels also fell on their Faces before the Throne and Worshipped God saying Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen The State of the Church shall now be a kind of Heaven upon Earth in comparison of what it was during Antichrists Reign and her Glory shall still encrease from one Degree to another till she be fully possessed of Heaven it self where their shall be a total exemption from all Evil and an abundant affluence of all good truly God is good to Israel Chapter Eighth This Eighth Chapter does under the First four Trumpets contain as I humbly conceive the Churches Sufferings for the next Three Hundred Years after Constantine where observe 1. Upon opening the Seventh Seal there was silence in Heaven for half an hour i. e. for some short time the Church had some respite from outward Commotions and Troubles and this is to be reckon'd among the Demonstrations of God's goodness to them or it signifies a holy attention in Heaven's Inhabitants the Christians to what God shall be pleas'd to speak to them by this Seal that brings forth Seven several Trumps and each of them a several Judgment it put them in a kind of amaze to consider That no sooner they were deliver'd from Paganish Persecutions which lasted for Three hundred Years but immediately there 's a new Cloud a gathering 2. To the Seven Angels which stood before God were given Seven Trumpets v. 2. to intimate God's goodness in this That he did solemnly denounce Wrath and Judgment against Carnal Christians that began to corrupt their Ways and thereby did call aloud upon them to Repent Trumpets are for an Alarm to War and they give a distinct sound that every one may know their Duty So good is God that he is not willing that any should Perish but all should come to the knowledge of the Truth Repent and be Saved 3. Even in those Days God had a Praying People whose Persons and Prayers found acceptance through the Intercession of Jesus Christ Verse 3 4. Another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden censer and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of the Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the throne and the smoak of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angel's hand 4. The very same Angel of the Covenant Christ himself takes some Fire from off the Altar and casts it into the Earth And then there were voices and thundrings and lightnings and earthquakes v. 5. It 's he that perfumes the Saints Prayers that plagues and punishes the world of Apostate Professors with spiritual Judgments All Judgment is committed of the Father to the Son and therefore the Sealed ones may be secure they need not be afraid of what shall fall out O the goodness of God in this thing And now come to the Trumpets themselves When the first Angel sounded there followed hail and fire mingled with blood and they were cast upon the earth and the third part of the trees were burnt up and all green grass was burnt up vers 7. This may be fitly applied to Arrianism the first spiritual Plague wherewith the Church was pestered even in Constantine's time It brought Hail with it which is a cold and nipping thing destructive especially to Trees and Grass Many Trees i. e. Eminent Ones became cold in matters of Worship and in their Love one to another And all Grass was burnt up i. e. The generality of common Professors throughout the World were much Baptized into Arrianism There was Fire mingled with Blood i. e. It produced a most bloody Persecution of all that were Asserters of the Divinity of Christ and his being Co equal Coessential and Co-eternal with the Father God's goodness under this Trumpet was in these two 1. There was but a third part of the Trees burnt up i. e. There were several Persons of great Note both Magistrates and Ministers who did even in those days faithfully witness to the Truth of Emperors Constantine Valentinian Gratian Theodosius of Ministers Alexander Hosius Foelix Secundus c. 2. Tho' Fundamental Truths were much struck at yet the Lord caused the Earth to help the Woman Rev. 12.16 i. e. Tho' their Synods and Councils did begin to grow very earthly carnal and corrupt yet God made use of them for the prefervation of Fundamental Controverted Truths in there Purity and Incorruption In the Council of Nice call'd by Constantine Anno 330. Arrianism was abundantly confuted in that of Constantinople Anno 380. under Gratian and Theodosius Macedonius and his Followers called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they denyed the Personality of the Holy Ghost were confuted The Third great Council at Ephesus under Theodosius II. Anno 431. did condemn Nestorius's holding that Christ had two Persons The Fourth at Chalcedon under Martianus An. 451. condemned the Eutychians confounding the Natures of Christ Upon the sounding of the Second Trumpet There was as it were a mountain burning with fire cast into the Sea and the third part of the Sea became blood and the third part of the creatures which were in the Sea and had life died and the third part of the Ships were destroyed i.e. Now began hot contests between Church-men for Precedency and this did quickly corrupt the Ordinances themselves the Seas and Ships by which Christians as such do maintain a Spiritual Trade and Commerce with God and one with another Contentions among Church-men were a fair Foundation laid by the Dragon for the intended and designed Superstructure of Antichristianism and they were kindled 1. By their own Pride and Ambition 2. By reason of the great Benefices bestowed upon them by Constantine witness that Voice then heard Hodie venenum effusum est in ecclesiam this day Poison is poured out on the Church It might then be said Religio peperit divitias filia devoravit matrem 3. They had the favour of the Emperors and great Men. 4. Because their Ministry was in the Imperial Seat they claim'd more than ordinary Privileges 5. Some good Men being much wrong'd and injur'd by the unjust Sentences and Church-Censures issued forth against them in the Eastern Councils did
address themselves to the Church of Rome as being then most pure that they would interpose for some Remedy and Redress which was afterwards so much abused That the See of Rome claim'd it as a privilege That all Appeals should be made to them as may appear in the case of Appiarius at a Council of Constantinople This being withstood by the Eastern Churches occasioned many hot Debates and now it was that they had Wooden Bishops and Golden Chalices whereas in the days of Persecution they had Golden Bishops but Wooden Chalices The goodness of God under this Trumpet was in suffering only a third part of the Waters to be corrupted he preserves still some both Professors and Ordinances from Antichristian Pollutions Upon the sounding of the Third Angel There fell a great Star from heaven burning as it were a lamp and it fell upon the third part of the Rivers and upon the fountains of waters and the name of the Star is called Wormwood and the third part o the waters became Wormwood and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter i. e. Now the Apostacy grows higher whereas before Trees and Grass and Seas now Rivers and Fountains are Corrupted i. e. The very Scriptures and some of the choicest Streams thereof which convey spiritual Light and Life to Souls were much perverted the preceding Trumpers did strike at Christ in his Person and Natures this at his Offices now comes in the Doctrine of Merit Popish Pennances Indulgences Mediators Invocation of Saints This is fitly applicable to Pelagius who lived in the days of Honorius and Arcadius An. 405 or 415 He corrupted the Covenant of Grace it self that River the Streams whereof make glad the People of God He was a great Star that did burn as it were a Lamp he was a Man of great Parts and seemingly Godly but it was only the flourishes of natural and acquired Accomplishments not saving Grace wherewith he did shine God's goodness here was in this that he suffer'd only a third part of the Waters to be imbitter'd tho' Pelaganism did exceedingly spread through Italy France and Britain yet the Lord had still some eminent Lights in the Church that set themselves against it to wit Augustine Jerome Prosper Optatus c. Upon the sounding of the Fourth Angel The third part of the Sun was darkned and the third part of the Moon and the third part of the Stars and the day shone not for a third part of it and the night likewise i. e. This degree of Apostacy is so much higher than the former as the Sun Moon and Stars are higher than the Earth Seas Fountains and Rivers Now Darkness does in a great measure overspread the whole Face of the visible Church former Evils did arise from Pride and Ambition more than Ignorance but now both go together This is applicable to the Sixth Century wherein lights of all sorts came to be Darkned and Obscured there was a general decay of Simplicity and Purity in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government a thick Veil upon Scriptures Officers Ordinances People and All now the Gospel was much eclypsed with Humane Traditions Ceremâ—nies and Superstitions now we read of building of Abbies and Monastries of Kings and Queens deserting a Married stare to go a Pilgrimage meerly out of a blind Devotion multiplying of holy Days and many other Superstitious Fopperies God's goodness also here is obvious from the Text a third part of the Sun only was darkned c. as also from the last verse which is only a Transition to what follows intimating that tho' these four Woes that are past be great yet there are three greater to come tho' the Churches afflictions during this Century were very sad yet not comparable to what others especially those of the succeeding Age encountred with A few words of Application 1. From all this we may learn That one of the greatest designs that ever the Devil had against the Church was to corrupt Truths Ordinances and Worship Let us therefore Counter-work him in studying and endeavouring nothing more than the preservation of the Purity of the Gospel both in Doctrine and Worship 2. So hard a matter it is for Professors and Preachers to have their Garments kept clean from such pollution that the Sealings of God by Jesus Christ are the only preservative against the same It is not Morality Learning Policy or great Parts without saving Grace that will do All you that are in any measure chast Virgins acknowledge the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of Heaven for this rich Mercy 3. As I observed before that the Church never knew a more thriving time than under Persecution so it never fared worse with them than in a time of temporal and secular Prosperity Let us therefore when God calls to it be content with Persecution as well as Prosperity 4. From what has been said it 's clear as the Sun That the great Antichrist had his first Rise and Origination out of the Ashes of the Pride and Covetousness of the carnal Clergy and where-ever these are found in this Day I dare be bold to say It is a piece of Antichristianism mark'd out for Destruction by the Righteous Judge of all the World 5. Much of God's goodness is in this That all these Trumpets are not sounded together but one after another and he begins to punish with lesser before he proceed to greater Judgments O stand in awe and sin not take warning by one Rod otherwise thou shalt know that he has more Rods than one 6. We see Antichrist's Promotion and Advancement was by degrees and so shall also his Ruine therefore we had need of Patience Chap. Ninth This Chapter contains two Trumpets more the 5th from the beginning to vers 13. and 6th to the end The 5th holds forth the Mystery of Iniquity as higher than ever so that things cannot be in a more Corrupted State than now the method I shall observe shall be as briefly as may be to open the Words as they lie in order Upon the founding of the first Angel 1. You have the fall of a Star from Heaven to Earth this is Boniface the Third Bishop of Rome who Anno 606 got himself to be stiled universal Bishop by the means of Phocas after he had killed his Master Mauritius the Emperor 2. His Commission shewed him to be the Dragons Lord Lieutenant Whereas Originally Ministers did receive the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven from Christ Antichrist receives the Keys of the bottomless Pit and derives his Authority from the Devil v. 1. 3. You have the Execution of his Commission no sooner is he invested with this Power but he improves it he opened the bottomless Pit now Hell it self is set loose to do what mischief it can Verse 2.4 The effects that followed upon this opening are these Two 1. There arose a Smoak like the Smoak of a great Furnace whereby the Sun and Air were Darkned i. e. whereas under the
and absurdities that follow upon contrary opinions which do assert that it 's now a fulfilling or the futurition of it as a thing yet to come make me to conclude that it is past From what has been already said in opening the Chap. it 's clear That it is not now a fulfilling 1. This time cannot be exactly towards the end of the one thousand two hundred and threescore Days and forty two Months and if it be When did they begin 2. Antichrist is not now at the highest nor the Church at the lowest 3. We cannot be said to be the Street of the great City nor our times times of Popery 4. We are not the first that laid the measuring-line to Antichrist's Temples Altar and Worshippers 5. This savours of Spiritual Pride and can hardly be asserted without reflecting upon the glorious Martyrs that have gone before us as if they had not deserved the Names of Witnesses in respect of us whereas indeed neither we nor our sufferings are worthy once to be named in way of comparison with them and their sufferings Some do fondly fancy that nothing is to be witnessed to but some one Notion of their own 6. This would argue ingratitude and murmuring as if we were still in the Wilderness when indeed we have rather cause to bless God saying We bless thee Lord God Almighty because thou hast taken to thee thy great Power and hast reigned The absurdities that follow upon asserting that this is yet to come and that the foresaid Days and Months did begin with six hundred and six are these 1. By adding one thousand two hundred and threescore to six hundred and six will be one thousand eight hundred and sixty six about two hundred Years hence 2. This may breed security in this present Age. 3. For two hundred Years Antichrist must still be a increasing to a greater height than ever 4. Either all the glorious late Transactions throughout the World have had no tendency to the prophesied ruin of Antichrist or if they had all that has been done must be undone again and all the Nations that have cast off the Popes supremacy must Apostatize and become worse than before Is it probable that God has brought so many out of Aegypt to bring them back again No verily 5. If it be determined of God that Antichrist's forty two Months shall not expire nor his prophesied Reign begin till then then it will be but in vain to attempt any thing against him all this while And this is the second ground proving the preterition of this Prophecy There is but one more to wit the harmony and concurrence of providential Events Which this prophecy understanding it according to the interpretation given makes me conclude it is over add 1260 to 300 and the number that results thence is 1560. Now let us inquire a little what state the Church was towards the concluding period of this time or near thereupon Anno 1546 in the War between the Emperor and Duke of Saxony the Protestants were almost totally routed the Prince himself imprisoned Magistrates divested of their Robes many Ministers banished and imprisoned for not taking the Interm the Antichristian party insult exceedingly in sending great Guns and Prisoners which they had taken as Trophies of an absolute Victory over Lutheranism About the same time there was a great persecution in France in the Netherlands under the Duke of Alva of the Waldenses in Provence Anno 1545. They of Piedmont by the Duke of Savoy It is not unknown what was here in Queen Mary's days It is observed by some that within a few of these Years the number of them that suffered for Christ were 900000 and this may relate to the slaying of the Witnesses and as for the Resurrection about 1559 the Work of Reformation had a great reviving in German At a Diet of the Empire at Ausburg by publick Authority the Protestants had free liberty to make Profession of their Religion without prejudice to their Estates and civil Privileges about the same time Reformation had a reviving in Scotland In France under Charles the 9th Anno 1560. Queen Mary Reigned about 1554 and died some five Years after and Queen Elizabeth brought glorious days to Protestantism in general in respect of the Marian days Besides all these Arguments my own observation of the Acts of Providence at this day do more and more confirm me in this perswasion however if any can shew me more convincing Reasons to the contary I hope through Grace I shall not be found pertinacious I cannot slightly pass over so material a point as this is without drawing some practical Inferences from it by way of Application 1st For Instruction 1. The longest Day that ever was had an end Antichrist's forty two Months have their period 2. When Persecutors are at the highest then their Downfal draws nigh Nihil violentum durabile 3. O that all the Sons of Wickedness would be wise and instructed from what has befallen others to tremble and fear God because of his Judgments 4. Christ's Witnesses do carry on his Work by their Sufferings as well as Services Passive Obedience is as acceptable to God and useful to others as Active 5. No Cause of Christ sealed with a bloody Testimony shall ever be quite lost 6. The Reformed Churches that have in any measure cast off the Yoak of Antichristianism are highly to be esteem'd of tho' it was never intended of God that Reformation shold stand at what it did begin either in Doctrine Worship or Discipline yet the state of the Primitive Reformers was a Heaven upon Earth in comparison of what their Prececessors state was More particularly from these things we may venture to make some sober conjecture concerning the Dispensation this Age is under 1. If this Prophecy of the Witnesses be fulfilled about an hundred Years ago then we are now under the 7th Trumpet which contemporizeth with their Resurrection or does at least follow immediately upon it 2. The Work of Reformation is not to begin the Right-hand of the most High has already laid the Foundation 3. Antichrist has been already at the highest and is now a going down the Wind all the endeavours of Men and Devils shall not be able to raise him again to what once he was nor to support or keep him from falling tho' this and two or three Nations more should Apostatize to Popery more than ever yet it 's nothing contrary to my assertion unless Bohemia Switzerland Helvetia Hungary Holland and all in Germany France Sweden and other parts do professedly return to Rome again and become more Idolatrous than before which shall never be 4. We shall never know such another slaying of Witnesses as this 1. Those were in the Wilderness the suffering Witnesses of after Ages shall be out of the Wilderness 2. They were then in Sackcloth after Ages shall never know such a mournful Condition 3. They suffered before the Temple of God was opened in Heaven which