A Sudden and Cloudy MESSENGER With Glimpses of great joy to the Israel of GOD Declaring the hastning of that day of the Resurrection of the Lord JESUS in his Saints tending to a deliverance from spiritual and temporal Captivity but much sorrow woe and calamity to the Lords and his peoples Enemies in England Presented especially to the waiters for this day of the Lord to the gathered Churches Parliament Army City of London and Ministers of England A Spark from the Altar or a Beame of the Light of God declaring the scattering of the gathered Churches in England A voice out of Cloudy Discoveries to the Army A further warning to London of the dreadful coming of the Lord God Almighty A voice to high and low shewing what the determination of the Lord seems to be on this Land A warning to awaken all the Idol Shepherds in England otherwise called Ministers with friendly advise to those in the Ministry that have the true Spirituall life of Jesus brought forth in them By a lover of peace and purity though appearing so terrible and dreadfull EDWARD ELLIS Gal. 1. 15. 16. 17. When it pleased God to reveale his Son in me that I might preach him among the heathen immediatly I conferred not with flesh and bloud neither went I to them that were Apostles before me Cant. 2. 11 12. Loe the winter is past the rain is over and gone the flowres appear on the earth the time of the singing of birds is come and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our land the Figtree putteth forth her green figs and the Vine with the tender grapes give a good smell Arise my love my fair one and come away untill the day break and the shadows fly away Cant. 3. 11. Go forth O ye daughters of Zion and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother crowned him in the day of his Espousals and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart London Printed for the Author 1649. An Epistle to the Churches Parliament Army City of London and Ministers so called in ENGLAND CHurches should I tell you of more Warres Pldgues Famine Staining of all Worldly Glory shaking all Earthly Powers you would it may be beleeve me But if by a Beam of light I tell you of the shaking and scattering of your Heaven your Sumptuous and Glorious Building the Churches gathered You say This is a hard saying who can heare it but surely it will be done whether you beleeve it or no But heare a word more I told you my Spark of light was well nigh spent it s now suppli'd or anointed with fresh oyle mistake me not my design is not presently if I could to take you off those wayes wherein you are or may be profitable in building up one another in your most holy faith so long as there is Lambs smoaking flax or bruised reeds or babes in Christ among you there is need of your helping one another till power from on high be brought forth in a more immediate way to do it which shall be in the time appointed by the Father The end of that which is declared unto you is to prove you are not of so long continuance as many of you imagine Honourable Parliament of England who are managing the great Affairs of this tottering Kingdom you are now higher than you were I have nothing against it but there is one higher than you the Lord of Hosts who has his designs in the midst of yours In this small volume written by a glimse of his light you may take a small view and sight of his footsteps that are and will be upon this Kingdome even the overturning all worldly powers and Governments that His may be set up whose right all Government is the Lord Jesus which is more pure and spirituall than any is yet in the world to which if you or others shall act subserviently you may flourish if not expect yours or their designs frustrated or broken that tend to Exaltation This Kingdome to whom you ought to be as Fathers how many Stormes has past through it and been upon it Al 's pretty quiet now and they begin to strengthen and settle all almost exalting themselves as though all evill were past though not a whit bettered by those judgments that have been already But behold that line of desolution that is spread over this Land to lay its Excellencie yet more lower I wish you would lay it to heart and tremble before the Lord put off and lay by your brave Ornaments within and without that the Lord may know what to doe unto you Could I command as many drops of bloud as teares have fallen from mine eies or sighs from within as have been in beholding the miseries hang over this Kingdome I would write unto you in a more scarlet die If you will read this Book you shall find nothing but joy and gladnesse proclaimed to the Israel of God and that the day of their Redemption drawes nigh but lamentation mourning and woe to the wicked be they high or low rich or poor noble or ignoble those in power or not in power I can proclaim nothing else what it will cost me I know not Storms I have met with already but they caused me not to desist from my work but were as wind to the fire which makes it flame the more so long as God thought fit to imploy me I have lived among divers Great Persons many years a poor servant and now come to this hard incounter with them it seems harsh but surely the strong Lord of Hoasts is before he leads he is Light Life and Strength a strong Tower a Buckler and Shield to help me to beare stripes if need be and to avoid their scornes although they should say as Eliab to David 1 Sam. 17. 28. I know thy Pride and the haughtinesse of thy Spirit Or as Michal to David 2 Sam. 6. 20 21. That I have uncovered my selfe as one of the vaine fellowes it is before and at the command of the Lord But I will yet be more vile then thus in this manner if the Lord think fit and will be base in mine owne sight Plainnesse and truth is almost out of fashion it was once otherwise Job 32. 21 22. Let me not I pray accept any mans person neither let me give Titles unto man For I know not to give flattering Titles in so doing my Maker would soon make me away Zech. 8. 16. Speak you every man the truth to his neighbour But Idle Shepherds awake call upon the Lord come you should be wise if you read what is said concerning Powers great ones City and you What will you do even like your brethren in former times will you not you know who smote Michaiah on the cheek 1 Kin. 22. 24. and said which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to thee so Amos 7. 10. a Priest that ought to have been wiser when a Heardsman comes with a true
Scripture reaches these last dayes you are conversing one with another with a great deal of comfort because you are joyned together in an outward forme but there will be found many false ones among you when this day comes and surely then you will be shaken and that day tend to your sâ—attering how you shall be gathered together judge you Further consider those Scriptures that prophesie of the shaking of heaven and earth and declare what will become of yours in that day if you can Farewel the Spark from the Altar the beam of light hath even spent it self for there shall be a day that the watchmen upon the mount of Ephraim Jer. 31. 6. shall cry arise yea and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God Micah 2. 10. Arise yea and depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted Joh. 14. 31. Arise let us go hence Cant. 6. 10. Who is he that looketh forth as the morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sunne and terrible as an Army with banners A Voice out of cloudy Discoveries to the Army HEarken O Army I was of you I am with you still and acknowledge that present power you injoy to be that the Lord of all Armies hath invested you with you have been and still in appearance are instrumentally a wall of defence to keepe Israel from the rage of malicious Enimies through the good hand of our God that hath been upon you as you have fought for Israel with your Swords in the Field many of you being sprinkled with Blood Israel hath wrestled with God for you in the Mount like Moses bedewed with teares that one without another should not boast of victory and that both might returne praise singly to God and the Lord of Hosts be made more glorious to either of you What you have done this way was excellent and glorious in its season the Lord thereby dying as I may say his and your garments with the blood of his own and Israels Enemies I cannot certainly determine whether you shall conquer them any more so or no remember what the voyce is cloudy you have got many Victories and Conquests by your Sword of steal Will you suffer your selves now to be overcome by the Sword of the Spirit the power of the Lord Jesus Christ Surely this designe of the Lord is hastening apace whereby he will overcome all his Enemies in his Saints by the power of his Spirit which will be as great a plague and torment to high and low in this Land as these miseries by a bloudy and unnaturall warre nay surely greater when this day of the resurrection of the Lord comes in his Saints which doubtlesse is hastning they shall consume away while they stand on their feet when as beheading and slaying in the Field delivered them from their paine presently As to this world It s a wonder to consider and observeable that not a Dog should bark at Israel when they marcht out of Aegypt though at midnight It will be as great a wonder to see Israel I mean the beloved ones of the Lord to march up and downe in England in his strength and majesty and not a Dog I mean wicked men so called Revel. 21. not able to bite though bark they may by reason of that consumption and vexation of spirit that shall be upon them Army keep your Swords and your Power walking in wayes of Justice and Righteousnesse but you that are spirituall mind and hasten the comming of that day wherein Israel shall have no need of Armies to defend them from Enimies the Lord in them will be strong enough to doe that besides he will be a wall of fire round about them no need of Scouts Sentenels or Guards the Lord will keepe it night and day this glorious dayes a comming of the Saints Exaltation and safety by the fulnesse of Jesus in them The Alarm 's given Trumpets sound Harolds proclaime it The watchmen are set upon the watch-Tower spie him neerer and neerer tarry there long no relief as from men yet not weary Awake awake stand up Israel in the Army when the Lord calls but tarry till then the world will yet rage and be mad but le ts goe up at once feare them not their strength is departed from them the Lord of Hoasts is on Israels side still They say they are strong wise and rich It s no such thing they have rejected the word of the Lord they are weake foolish and poore as to a spirituall understanding But were they as they say the Battle 's the Lords he marches in the Van He sounds the Trumpet and will go before as whirlwinds of the South Zec. 9. Joel 2. he will also send a hornet before their hearts shall fail them and melt away like water This Spirituall Army will be very great mighty men all when they are got together no feare of fainting in their marches for God is with them and in his strength shall they walk You enemies of the Lord of Hoasts in England be you what you will tremble quake and feare for this terrible day of the Lord of Hoasts is comming apace And you O Army as you have been wise and diligent to learne and find out the designes and intended marches of your Enemies formerly be wise now and with double diligence set your selves to know the designes footsteps and travellings of the Lord of Hoasts that are and will be upon this Kingdom and act subservantly carry on your designes in the light and wisedome of God he alone and his Saints must be exalted in a spirituall power to which if you be subjected you that are so shall flourish but ruination and desolation of those that are not so at his comming It s a voice but of a cloudy discovery that 's spoken to you The Messenger that writ this Book sudden and cloudy you must not expect clearnesse it concernes you and others to pry narrowly into and search the Scriptures whether they be so or no then judge not before Micah 4. Chap. 3. 4. Farewell FINIS A further Warning to London of the dreadfull coming of the Lord God Almighty O London in thee was I nourished many years for thy happinesse I have suffered much my blood had not been dear to me so thou mightest have flourished and have been a City that the Lord would have taken pleasure in my bowells are yearning after thee I must bear witnesse against thee for all this and how am I straitened till it be accomplished from the dayes of thy Fathers thou hast departed from the Lord the Lord sent his messengers in the midst of thee to call thee to return to him what usage they had thou and many in the world knowst to thy shame your Fathers where are they the Prophets do they live for ever but hath not the words of his servants taken hold on you The day of the Lords anger they spoke of how hath it been accomplished on you these years
the unworthiest of men Edward Ellis Amos 7. 14. I was no Prophet neither was I a Prophets son but I was an heardman and a gatherer of Sickamore fruit and the Lord took me as I followed the flock and the Lord said unto me go prophesie unto my people Israel Isa. 21. 10. That which I have heard of the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel have I declared unto you I was bowed down at the hearing of it I was dismayed at the seeing of it Isa. 28. 11. 13. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people that they might go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken Ezek. 2. 5. Yet shall they know there hath been a Prophet among them Isa. 52. 8 9. 10. Thy watchmen shall lift up their voice with the voice together shall they sing for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion break forth into joy sing together you waste places of Jerusalem for the Lord hath comforted his people he hath redeemed Jerusalem The Lord hath made bare his holy arme in the eyes of the nations and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God FINIS A voice to high and low shewing what the determination of the Lord seemes to be on this Land HIgh low hearken the Lord of Hosts is come and stil coming his decree is like that of Nebuchaduezzar Dan. 3. 29. I make a Decree that every people nation and language which speak any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall be cut in pieces and their house shall be made a dunghill this is the determination of God upon all those that shall speak or act any thing amisse against the God of Israel unlesse they repent and that which the Lord hath begun already to do he hath and is still a making good that Prophesie Isa. 24. Read it O England to thy sorrow who wouldest have emptied this Land of the Saints and destroyed them now thou art near destruction thy self the day of the Lord is come against all those powers that wereas Cedars as Oaks as high mountaines he hath powred contempt upon Princes Psal 107. and caused them to wander in the wildernesse where there is no way and that promise is now fulfilled It shall come to passe Isa. 24. 21. that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high and the Kings of the earth upon the earth Isa. 23. 9. The Lord of hosts hath purposed it to stain the pride of all glory and to bring into contempt all the honourable upon the earth This he hath done already very much You present powers that have been as a rod and staffe in Gods hand for the accomplishing of his designe tremble and fear and avoid walking in their steps think not your power so strong that it cannot be moved for that strong God which overturned those powers that were before you is able and will most certainly dash you in pieces if you shall walk in their steps of oppression and violence Psalm 75. 5. Lift not up your horn on high speak not with a stiffe neck for promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West but God is the Judge he putteth down one and setteth up another If you will honour God he will honour you if not you shall be lightly esteemed both of God and his Saints for they are looking for a spirituall glorie and power and will esteem of you as you act by the breakings forth of a spirituall light in you You corrupted ones of what degree soever how have you despis'd the poor Saints and scornd the excellent of the Earth Now is God lifted up now is he exalted and they shall despise you Howle you great ones what a sad day by the light of God doe I see comming upon you your Glory is gone the Saints shall see through you now by the light of the Father You painted Sepulchers what ever you are if you will not exalt the Lord Jesus they 'l esteeme of you no more than the mire in the streets many of them have esteemed of you and hath got their bread with sorrow of heart among you because of that abundance of vanity that was in you and that darknesse that was in their own spirits they durst not speake to you for feare of your power their Father will fill them with his own glory then shall they not fear your faces You Great ones that have and yet doe oppresse the Saints put off your brave Ornaments and mourne for the day of your joy is much spent vexation and disquiet of heart you must have but Israel joy and gladnesse The Saints deliverance must be in the destruction of their inward and outward enemies you enemies of the Lord in England consider turn to the Lord speedily the door of mercy is seemingly yet open it may be soon shut you will cry for pitty then but there shall be none but as you have rejoyced at the sorrowes of the godly so shall they rejoyce in yours Zion heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoyced because of thy Judgements O Lord Psal. 107. 42. When God is pouring contempt on Princes on the great ones of the Earth the Righteous shall see it and rejoyce You Enemies of the Lord be you great men or others read in the Revelations what Songs the Saints shall sing it s your doom and day of sorrow The day of the Lord is come O England a day of wrath and fury a Consumption is in this Land many sorrowes already more behind yea such a day as yet was never upon it Alas for that day is great so that none is like it Jer. 30. 7. I have heard a voyce of trembling of fear and not of peace Wherefore doe we see every man with his hand on his loynes as a woman in travell all faces are turned into palenesse the Foules of the Air knowes the time of their comming but thou O England knowest not the comming of the Lord it presages more ruine to thee The day of the Lord makes haste wherein he alone must be exalted in his own pure strength and wisedome Rulers take heed you act in the pure wisedome of God all your fleshly wisedome must be destroyed and the designes it thinks to effect will be frustrated to your sorrow and griefe that are not spirituall The day is come the Lord marches on still wherein he hath and will sift and fanne thee O England you see how the Lord hath discovered your spirits one to another Parliament consider this you seem to be more pure then others there 's drossie and chaffie spirits amongst you surely the Lord will search you yet more Take heed the next discovery be not by the breaking forth of a spirituall glory and power in those that are upright amongst you surely the Lords separating day 's at hand to divide between Sheep and Goats
be the Glory of it also it s now but the day of small things there 's many powers of darknesse to hinder the breaking forth of this Glory But who are you O great mountaines before the breakings forth of the Lord Jesus You shall become a plain he shall be brought forth in despight of you and there shall be shoutings crying Grace Grace unto Him Be silent O all Flesh before the Lord for he is rising out of the habitation of his Holinesse The Fountaine yet maintaines life therefore O spirituall Israel doe you search the Scriptures whether these things be so or no like those Acts 17. And do not lightly cast these precious Declarations to you away till you have carefully examined these things and consider what these voices meane O Israel consider is here another Gospel the breakings forth of another Spirit another faith or new prophesies Or is here not a tast of the promises prophesies and words of the Prophets of old and Apostles of our Lord Jesus Ghrist I speak as to wise men judge what I say and with Mary ponder these things in your hearts The God of wisedome be your light injudging It s the desire of him who could willinglp spend and be spent if the Father thinks fit for the furtherance of your Consolation and Joy who is The unworthiest of all Saints EDVVARD ELLIS A Spark from the Altar OR A Beam of the Light of God Declaring the Scattering of the gathered Churches in England before the consummation of all things Or The End of the World tending to a Discovery or Separation betweene the Righteous and the Wicked which shall be done by the Lords comming to his Temple At which day the Saints shall enjoy a more cleare Sight of their Fathers Glory than now they doe CHurches Harken I know you will startle at this Cloudy Messenger with a Sparke from the Altar or a Beame of the Light of God scattering yours which seems to be as a full Sun Many of you glory much in your Priviledges as if the Lord were no where in his manifestations of Light and Love but among you So did the Jewes Jer. 7. The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord Many of you thinke your selves very well and rich I should not meddle to impoverish or strip you of your Glory were I not certaine I am under the teachings and subservient to the designe of my Father You have many of you like Hannahs Adversary vext the soules of those that were not under your Formes upraiding them with barrennesse and unfruitfulnesse boasting of your owne But consider Hannah had an Husband and being vext with her Adversary cryed unto the Lord he brought forth fruit out of her wombe and she was a joyfull mother of children when she that vext her its possible waxt feeble To spiritualize it Those you have and still vex have an husband the Lord Jesus in him is their fruit found which he will bring forth and cause them to be fruitfull and strong when you may be weake and feeble Then shall they sing Hannahs Song of Joy read it 1 Sam. 2. Therefore talke no more so exceeding proudly let not arrogancy come out of your mouthes For the Lord is a God of knowledge by him actions are weighed they that stumbled are and shall be girt with strength 1 Sam. 2. 4. Psal. 113. 7. 8. He raiseth up the poore even such as you despise out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill that he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his people But hearken still Tell many of you of a spirituall Glory that 's contrary to yours or a Land more excellent than yours one may almost as soone make a blind man beleeve the Moone is made of cheese as saith the Proverb as cause you to see this spirituall Land that is discoveries above and contrary to yours I have been wandring a long time like Noahs Dove as the Spies to search the Land I have seene it afar off behold a branch or a cluster of its fruit it s a glorious land only with pure spirituall glory the inhabitants are very wise and strong but with the wisedome and strength of the Lord of Hoasts no need of any low or inferiour light but the pure light of God no need of Teachers to say Know the Lord no feare of Enemies The gates stand open It s very pure nothing but holinesse there it s very strong the Lord himselfe is walls and bulwarks There may be Dogs and ravenous Beasts about it they may attempt to storme it but they shall soone be destroyed Rev. 20. 9. This spirituall Land of Canaan is altogether glorious When the Lord has given me a more cleare view of it if he thinkes fit you shall heare of it But Churches hearken Many of you boast much of your strong Pillars that will beare up your building to the end of all things almost I mean those Scriptures that are so frequently brought to prove the continuance of your practise but I spare you considering the Disciples were ignorant to the Resurrection of Christ though taught by him living under his teaching of their measure Yet hearken there 's a great deal of danger in your way and practice in retaining those Scriptures that make for you in opposition and clear contradiction to many others You boast much of them to prove your way if that be true which many of you hold out if the light of God did not lead me I might question the authority of them which I doe not but am rather confirmed in the excellency of them or else not know what to make of them But Churches hearken still Because many of you are so confident that I may not beat the aire or speak at uncertainty what will you say to those Scriptures that prove your desolution First Consider those Scriptures that promise and prophesie of the large measure of the fulnesse of God the Saints shall be filled withall in the last daies and then tell how long you thinke your building can stand Joel 2. 28. I will poure out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie your old men shall dreame dreames and your young men shall see visions And so upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those dayes will I powre out my Spirit Zech. 12. 8. In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them Zech. 10. 5. And they shall be as mighty men which tread downe their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle they shall fight because the Lord is with them and the Riders of horses shall be confounded Zech. 10. Chap. 7. vers. 12. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man and their heart shal rejoyce as through wine yea their children shall
who are yet so mingled that nothing but the pure light of God can discover O England this will not be one of the least of thy plagues that are comming upon thee you seem to be like those Mal. 3. desiring delighting in and longing for the comming of Jesus to his Temple He makes haste but who may abide his comming He comes like a Refiners Fire and Fullers Sope to take away that filthinesse that is in his Saints then shall they return and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked and what a sad day this will be to thee O England judge The day of the Lord is come and hastens greatly for thee O Israel for thee O captive Daughter Zion who lyest in the dust among the pors in the valley and shadow of death how doest thou mourn by reason of the oppressors within and without thee thou fearest continually there is none to guid or comfort thee almost amongst thy friends thou art drunk yet not with Wine but with the fury of the Lord thou faintest as thou travailest up and down thou art as a wild Bull in a Net the more thou strivest to get out of thy misery the more thou art intangled thou prostratst thy selfe to thy Enemies that say bow down that we may goe over thee and how have they darkned the breaking forth of thy spirituall glory thou chaste Spouse how many looks hast thou for thy deare Husband for the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus in thee why he is risen and hath appeared to some already The words will seem to thee as Tales thou beleevest them not yet say not how can this thing be though it be marveilous in thy sight O sad soule consider Is any thing too hard for God he will worke and who shall let him if he say take away thy filthy garments they are gone be full thou art full he will fill thee with his own presence then shall the enemy be thrust out and the spoilers spoild The dayes of thy mourning shall have an end deliver thy self O Zion that dwelleth with the Daughter of Babylon the Lord will contend with those that have vext thee they shall be consumed by the brightnesse of his appearing thou shalt rejoyce according to the dayes of thy mourning How hath thy King O Zion cast down thine enemies in this Kingdome he will goe on and thou shalt rejoyce when the world shall howle for sorrow Isa. 65. 13. 14 15. Read thy glory also in the 60. of Isa. The Sonne of Righteousnesse will arise with healing in his wings and cure thee of all thy diseases and as thou hast been the shame of this Kingdome thou shalt be the glory of it the Lord will hasten to you all O Israel in his time Come Lord Jesus come quickly Surely his salvation is nigh them that feare him that glory may dwel in our Land Psal. 85. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked Psal. 91. 8. As we have heard so have we seene in the City of the Lord of Hosts in the City of our God God will establish it for ever Psal. 48. A Warning to awaken all the idle Shepherds otherwise called Ministers in England with friendly advice to those who are in the Ministry who have the true Spiritual Life of Jesus brought forth in them VVAtchmen where are you What asleep Where 's your Flock Awake and heare the Lords controversie with you You have fed your selves and not the Flock you have sought your selves and not them You have been cruell in rejecting and scattering them And now behold the Lord is and will be cruell scattering and rejecting you You howl and cry already because no man will buy your wares Yee Merchants of Babylon did you thinke it possible so great judgments should have come upon you in so little time Alas for you you blind guids how doe you travaile up and downe in sorrow and yet more is your portion still How will you live The Lord will take of his Saints which you have despised for Priests and Levites Do not you see how they are increased already They were but as a cloud of a hand breadth and now they are almost spread over the Land Are they not as a great Army Not of Locusts as you thinke but the Servants of the most High God in whom he will so appeare that you shall be fill'd with madnesse and vexation of Spirit by reason of the brightnesse of the Lords comming in them which Glory unlesse you returne unto the Lord you shall not taste of You think you are rich and wise and see more than they Well Watchmen what doe you see Doe you see men like trees Does the light appeare to you to be neither cleare nor darke Are you brought into a Wilderness not in temporall but spirituall things You will say no this is new light and heresie Therefore hearken and know you wicked Pastors your light is darknesse and you retaine it in opposition to further breakings forth of the Lord Jesus Woe unto you woe unto you that call light darknesse and darknesse light Watchmen The morning is come and yet commeth and also the night if you will enquire enquire Returne come its night and Watchmen what thinke you of it You are ignorant Therefore consider Micah 3. 5. 6. Where the Lord declares against false Prophets You are their Brethren their judgments yours Night shall be unto you that you shall not have a Vision and it shall be dark unto you that you shall not devine And the Sun shall goe down over the Prophets and the day shall be dark over them Then shall the Seers be ashamed and the Deviners confounded Yea they shall cover their lips for there is no answer of God This is your plague from the Lord at this day you carelesse Shepherds the Sunne is set upon you this glorious and bright day of the Lord is darke over you the breakings forth of the Sunne of Righteousness is upon the Saints it will break forth to a perfect day Light Life and Glory is among the Israel of God but darkness and obscurity among you But you 'l say you are Ministers of the Gospel and light is amongst you So were the Scribes and Pharisees Teachers in Israel as well as you in England They could declare to Herod the place where Christ should be borne But when he was born and chose poor despised and ignorant persons to proclaime his Glory in the World who greater Enemies to him than they Hearken you that have and would pretend to be our Leaders have not many of you acknowledged and preacht something of glorious times which were to come even the comming of the Lord Jesus in Spirit Why behold he is come and still comming in his Spirituall Glorie but the persons he hath appeared to are so mean and poore so sinfull and unworthy that you O ignorant Watchmen and thousands more in the Kingdome are offended and stumble even to the
ruine of your poore soules unless you repent Hearken you know who could tell where Christ was borne in the Flesh the Shepheards The place where he was laid in the Manger Watchmen would you know the place or the persons in whom the Lord Jesus will be born or bring forth himselfe gloriously in its possible in the vilest and unworthiest of men that you should stumble and the riches of his mercy exalted towards them They will love much because much was forgiven them But take notice the breakings forth of this Glory gives no liberty but destroyes and consumes the filthiness of their natures who are partakers of it Would you hear of the Spirituall Glorie and Excellencie of the Lord Jesus Goe to the Plough-men to the Shops to the Souldiery and many other places and there you may find those that can declare much of it to you But you will goe neer to perish before you will doe so therefore you lie down in darkness You careless Guides the Lord is angry with you How many poor souls has been lost whom you pretended to be Watchmen to and you never gave them warning of their danger but even luld them asleep You walk in lies You have and doe strengthen the hands of evill doers that they returne not from their wickedness You deserve to perish for them the Cry of the poore oppressed Husbandman is against you whom you have defrauded by requiring part of their increase not minding their precious soules for it like greedy and cruell dogs as you are read Isa. 56. 11. and Phil. 3. 2. You may say the State gives it you let them looke it be not laid to their charge The true Ministers of Christ in former time never required the Magistrate to enact Lawes to constrain people to maintaine them nor did they make such a trade of Preaching as you doe to sell the word of God as men sell beasts You ignorant and beastly Watchmen those whom you have sheltred your selves so much under might as lawfully make a Law to drive you from the Pulpit to the plough or dig the ground and as just it would be Watchmen come are you for Peace You 'l say with all your hearts never good daies since we have had such divisions But Hypocrites hearken they that put not into your mouthes you prepared Warre against them But remember how many yeares is it since Israels troubles were How did you help them forward How did you rejoice in their afflictions Now is and shall be the time of your woe and calamitie they shall help forward and rejoyce in yours yea they shall give you a double portion of sorrow Hearken still You wait for a day to Reigne as you have done You 'l pay these Preachers their wags then will you not But stay you may be deceiv'd the Lord does not bring forth children for the Slaughter Know it ye ravenous wolves if you wait for it you may starve before that day come I know you are hungrie and thirstie after the bodies and bloud of the Saints like your Fore-runner Bonner of whose Tribe you are Would you be content to satisfie your hungry appetites on him that is writing to you if my Father thinks fit and gives me life and strength you shall But hearken Watchmen be instructed be wise in time meedle no more with the Saints you will but trouble and molest your selves and yet not conquer them Behold what you have pul'd upon your heads by medling with them in former yeares the same you shall meet with still Read Zech. 12. I will make Jerusalem a Cap of trembling unto all the people round about when they shall be in the Siege against it The Lord will make his people like a harth of fire among the Wood like a torch of fire in the Sheafe and they shall devoure all the people round about But againe In that day will I make Jerusalem a burthensome stone for all people all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the Earth were gathered together against it Therefore be you quiet and be content if the Lord of Hoasts think fit and be their servants though it be to hew their wood and draw their water and if you will yet preach preach this that the Kingdome is to be given to the Saints of the most High God and that the Lord has and will reprove and destroy the great ones of the Kingdome for their sakes if they will yet oppose and labour to destroy the breakings forth of God in them Watchmen heare yet the day of the Lord hastens greatly upon us to staine and bring downe all fleshly and worldly wisedome and out of its ruine bring forth a pure and spirituall Glory in his Saints There is a fountaine open for sinne and for uncleannesse If you will repent of your abominations and turne to the Lord you may be washt and made cleane If you will not you are in hazard of perishing It s the Counsell of God concerning you O false and deceiving Prophets Jer. 23. 15. Behold I will feed them with wormwood and make them drinke the water of gall for from the Prophets of England it may be read is prophanenesse gone forth into all the Land Zach. 13. And it shall come to passe that when any shall yet Prophesie then his Father that begot him shall say unto him thoushalt not live for thouspeakest lies in the name of the Lord And it shall come to passe that the Prophets shall be ashamed every one of his Vision when he hath prophesied neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive Isa. 26. They are dead they shall not live they are deceased they shall not rise their mâ—mory is and shall perish Psal. 120. Then said they among the Heathen the Lord hath done great things for them the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad Zech. 11. 3. That is A voice of howling of the Shepherds for their glory is spoiled If the Lord had not been of our side may Israel say they had swallowed us up Friendly advice to those Ministers that have the Spirituall life of Jesus brought forth in them Deare Friends I Hope you will not startle or be offended at those harsh words spoken to those lazie Pastors or punishments denounced against them They are words of Scripture or according to it the punishments such as are threatned by the Lord against such a Generation of men as they are my desire is not to cast contempt upon you but to incourage the lowest appearance of God in you though you be but one of a hundred to those false Pastors It has been so what a company of false Prophets were there to one Elijah 1 Kings 22. 6. And surely our Land may parallel Jerusalem wherein is many false Teachers for one that is true and faithfull But the Lord knowes who are his though men know not one from another Friends The Lord Jesus most certainly is