have bin such bloudy Butchers of him as that they shall be swallowed up in the sence of such unspeakable grace Conviction for sin doth greatly help forward legall humiliation but for a kindly and spirituall mourning men must looke upon Christ not only as killed by them but as killed for them Thus shall it be with them according to what is foretold Mat. 24.30 When the signe of the son of man shall appeare in heaven then shall all the Tribes of the Earth mourne speaking of the twelve Tribes of Israel who shall mourne because of him that commeth to shew such mercy to them who have dealt so unworthily with him This is the mourning which will befall this people like that of Megiddon when this great battell shall be fought Vse 1 For use in the first place were I to speake to such people as were likely to be insnared with these Froggs and spirits of Divells This might teach them diligently to beware of such and in case any of them should come over into this Country Iesuits or Cardinalls or Bishops doe not hearken to their whisperings whatsoever they shall present unto you for this will bee the issue of it whosoever they be that hearken unto them they w ll never leave them till at length they have brought them to this field of destruction they will goe forth to gather the Princes of the Earth and whither will they gathâ—r them even thither where will be the Fatall ruâ—ne of them all And therefore let all Christian Princes understand it that they cannot listen unto these Froggs Popish Bishops or Cardinalls or Iesuites or who ever they be that come unto them on this errand but they will by this meanes bring their Kingdomes to utter destruction Be wise now therefore O yee Kings be instructed yee Judges of the Earth you see what wofull worke will be made at length by these Froggs they will bring you into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon King James who made a Paraphrase upon it doth interpret it to signifie destruction by deceit as if it were compounded of two Hebrew words which may so hold it forth But oh that it had beene as well beleeved as told how many sad changes and Agitations throughout all Christendome might have bin prevented that have risen upon hearkning to these Froggs destruction and Calamity are in their wayes keepe your selves therefore farre from all fellowship with them that will be your wisedome In the second place this may teach us to rejoyce at home Vse 2 though wee doe not live to see these victories obtained I know not what you that are young may live unto for the neerer these things come unto their accomplishment the swifter their motion will be as it is with all naturall motions but however let us rejoyce together in beholding them by Faith although they bee yet to come when David rejoyced in Christ Psal 16.9 10. and faith therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope for thou wilt not leave my dead body in the Grave neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see Corruption this David in spirit â—eeth long before and looketh at his owne Resurrection as seaâ—ed up unto him in the Incorruption of the body of Iesus Christ If David can rejoyce so long before in beholding this then ought wee to rejoyce in beholding before-hand the destruction of Gods Enemies and his gracious deliverances of his people for wee may see it before-hand by Faith and behold it with confidence in the truth of him that hath promised it for so also did Abraham Iohn 8 56. Your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad and why should not the Fa th of Christians bee now more cleare eyed then at that time it was to behold the truth of his promises and rejoyce in the accomplishment of them Thirdly we may from hence gather some ground of Faith to Vse 3 beleive that there will come a time when the Iewes will generally mourne for the sight and death of Christ as much as ever they mourned of old for the death of Iosiah and least you should say that Parabolicall Scriptures are not Foundations of Faith and yet any Scripture truely expounded is ground sufficient for the truth it holdeth forth yet you may find sundry other Scriptures that speake expressely to their Conversion Rom. 11.12.15.25 26. I would not Brethren that yee should be ignorant of this mystery that blindnesse in part is happened unto Israel untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles be come in that is untill men turne backe from Antichrist unto Christ untill they see Christian Princes more sincere in the worke of God and then all Israel shall be saved for though they were cast off for their own sakes yet are they beloved for their Fathers sake v. 28. For if thou wert cut out of the Olive Tree which is wilde by Nature and wert grafted contrary to Nature into a good Olive Tree how much more shall these which are the naturall branches bee graffed into their owne Olive Tree for saith he God is able to graffe them in againe and he will doe iâ— or else the Apostles Argument will not hold Also that of the Apostle to the Corinthians 2. Cor. 3.14.15.16 Even unto this day when Moses is read the Vayle is upon their heart but when it that is Israel shall turne unto the Lord the Vayle shall be taken away this is not spoken of two or three sprinklings of Israel that doth not make up an Israel much lesse all Israel as Paul speaketh in the place forenamed and what mystery were it if it were meant onely of those that were brought home by Peters Ministery But that blindnesse is come upon them till the fulnes of the Gentiles be come in and that then all Israel shall be saved this is indeed a Mystery to the Gentiles as the calling of the Gentiles was a Mystery to the Iewes Thus wee see there are cleare Scriptures for it which when we doe see we may more freely take up parabolicall Scriptures perceiving what they worke upon and build our Faith on them thereby to be strengthned in Prayer for such a blessing that they may come and sing Hallelujahs with us and wee may sing prayses with them Fourthly wee may learne from hence the true nature of Vse 4 Godly sorrow both in the cause of it and in the measure of it For the cause of it wee must see him from whom all saving repentance doth flow even Christ whom we have pierced and then indeed we mourne aright when we mourne over him It is not saving Repentance that which the Law worketh though it doth indeed make way for it but they see him and mourne over him the sight of him worketh godly sorrow in the heart And what is the measure of it it is even such as for the losse of a mans onely Sonne and his first borne the staffe and
live better then an hypocrite this is the true meaning of the second viall The first note that we may gather I will not be long in it nor Doct. in this place the matter requires it not in some places it might As upon the corruption of common Christians followes the corruption of religion so by the discovery of the corruptions of Christians or upon the discovery of the corruption of common Christians followes the discovery of corruption in Religion This note followes upon the former words compare this verse with the second trumpet vpon the sounding of the second trumpet there was brought in corruption of religion in the Imperiall Christian world as in the 8. Chapter of this booke and the 7.8.9 ver The first Angell sounded and there followed â—aile and fire mingled with bloud whereby all the green grasse was burnt up c. The first Angell poured out fire and bloud that is vncharitablenesse and contentiousnesse and so corruption grew in the spirits of common Christians and what followed upon that And thereupon the second Angel founded and there fell a great mountaine burning with fire cast into the sea on the contentiousnesse and quarelling of common Christians and their ambition There grew contention about primacy in Church Governours and that so far corrupted the sea A mountaine of high prefermâ—nt being cast into the sea that a third part of the sea became bloud here was a third part a great part of their religion specially that which concernes governement became bloud very noisome both their doctrine and governement so that looke as on the corruption of the lives of Christians presently religion grew corrupt so on the discovery of corruption in common Christians In this second viall follows the discovery of corruption in religion it self in this second viall and looke by what degrees the trumpets sounding brought in corruption into the Church by the same degrees the vials bring forth the discovery of corruption in the Church the vials of Gods wrath discover corruption pollution in Religion The reason of this point is taken from the powerfull efficacy Reason of all religion to transforme the sincere professors of it to the like nature with it selfe looke what the religion is such is the spirit of all that are sincere and serious professors of it and therefore if there come in any corrupt doctrine corrupt religion our Saviour tells us by their fruits ye shall know them for such as their corruption is in judgement such will it bee in their lives in Mat. 7.15 Beware of false prophets c. by their fruits you shall know them a good tree cannot bring â—orth evill fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fâ—uit and so it was with the Pharisees though they were the strictest sect of the Iewists Religion Act. 16.5 Yet as they were corrupt in their lives so their Religion was corrupt and those that were Proselites to it Mat. 23.15 They made them twofold more the children of hell then themselves 2 Tim. 3.13 Evill men and deceivers waxe worse and worse deceiving and being deceived and the ground of that is this the concurrence of the spirit of God with his owne word and the concurrence of the spirit of Satan with his ordinances and instructions there is a spirit goes with both that doth assimulate and transforme a powerfull professor of sincere Religion to be sincere in heart And the Professors of corrupt Religion to transforme them into the nature thereof In the 59. of Esay verse 21. My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth and for ever Gods spirit goes with his owne Ordinances where ever they are rightly and sincerely received as alway by some they are where ever they have free passage they will have some good issue and some persons or other on whom they will worke such a change in 2 Cor. 3 18. We all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of God are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord. Consequently if Antichrist come with his delusions hee shall come with all the power of Satan whose comming saith the Apostle 2 Thess 2.9.10 is after the working of Satan and with all power of signes and lying wonders with efficacie of delusions a signe these delusions are not meerely Nationall but effectuall to transforme the heart like unto the minde their will like unto their judgement and their life like unto both that you shall have the whole frame of their state such as is their Religion if the lives of Catholike Professors be corrupt an evident argument their Religion is corrupt and if their Religion be corrupt their lives cannot bee sound they that live by that Religion must needs be corrupt so that upon the discovery of the corruptions of the lives of Catholikes then men began to scruple their Religion at first it was fairely interpreted of some Catholikes that were reformed and brought to the truth they thought that all abuses found in the Friars Monks was but from the lives of men their religion was better their religion did not teach them so and therfore thought still they might appeale to the Pope himself as Luther did they thought it was the ignorance of the Priests that brought Pardons into the Countrey to sell them for groats and shillings but this was but a charitable opinion and in truth the Priests the ministers of that Religion did but act the spirit of that Religion the whole heart was sicke and the whole head and body mortally distempered The Use is thus much it must be a word of holy admonition and warning to all Professors Vse 1 in this Countrey and Church members to all that professe they came out of England for purity of Ordinances to be very circumspect pure and faithfull and zealous in all their whole conversation for beleeve it you will finde this true and remember it while you live if you bee corrupt in New-England if you be unfaithfull here if you be worldly minded here false of your words and promises here injurious in your dealings here beleeve it one of these two will unavoidably follow either all England will judge your Reformation but a delusion and an invention of some of your Magistrates or Elders or otherwise looke at you as not sincere but counterfeit This unavoidably you will finde true you cannot poure forth a Viall of more wrath on Religion as it is heere reformed and established through the blessing of God you cannot load it with a heavier Viall of Gods wrath then if heere you shall grow worldly and covetous deceitfull and contentious and unbrotherly Are these your Church members such such things were done but I hope it was not your Church Members are we not all brethren Doth our Estates
observation and the powring out thereof is the worke which the Lord calleth men principally to attend upon and wherein God hath manifested his presence most and wil goe on still to manifest more of the presence of his wrath unto other states now the points that arise from the words are two That forme of government wherein one by sole and singular Doct. 1 authority doth govern the Church specially many Churches and most of all all Churches doth spring from the Earth and savoureth of the Earth for so it appeareth to be from the Text for all these Angels powred out their Vialls upon the Earth Verse 1. Not as Earth is opposed to other elements but as it is opposed to Heaven so that as their Earth is earthly so is their Sea and their Rivers and Fountaines and their Sunne and this throne is but an earthly throne you see no such throne in the Tabernacle of the Testimony opened in Heaven so farre as Churches are Heavenly these thrones are not set up in them for this is it which Iohn reprooveth 3. Io. 9. in Diotrephes that he loveth to be a primate and would not regard a letter from Iohn himselfe though an Apostle for the brethren he would not receive them himself and forbad them that would and cast them out of the Church the true spirit of an earthly Primate for they savour of earthly ambition and covetousnesse love Balaams wages they stick not to buy their places for silver care not what they give for them but having gotten them with buying they must maintaine them by selling they must sell Ordinations and Absolutions and Dispensations and must be maintained by the benevolences of their obedient Clergy and in truth the summe of the matter is quid mihi dabis and what is all this but earthly bravery if ever you have beene at their thrones though it were but the thrones of their chauncellors and Officialls you shall see nothing but that which savoureth of the Earth earthly pride or pleasure or Covetousnesse I am and have lesse cause then many others from my last Diocesan who being more learned was more ingenuous and favourable then many others not wont to speake these things yet when the necessity of clearing my Text leadeth me to them I may not without unfaithfullnesse to God and his Church keepe silence we came not hither to speake hardly of other Churches but when the Word of God calleth for it we should be wickedly silent if we should not let the people know what the mercy and blessing is which we doe enjoy and what we are delivered from Rea. 1 The first Reason of the Doctrine is from that forme of Church estate which Christ hath instituted in his Word which is no other but the government of a Church of a particular visible Congregation He owneth no other nor giveth any government to any besides them If thy brother offend thee goe and tell the Church and must the offence stay till all the world be gathered together or if it were meant of one Diocesan or provinciall Church when will they meete therefore the Church that must heare al offences is the Church of a particular Congregation which may all of them meete together in one place 1 Cor. 14.23 and then though offences come thicke they may all be orderly heard and remooved And consider moreover that which further cleares up this first ground what variety of officers God hath given to this Church not many Parishes to one Bishop but many Bishops to one Church so as that Paul writteth to the Saints at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons Phil. 1.1 And he sendeth for the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Acts 20.17 Whom he calleth Bishops Verse 28. And they were more then one in every Church according to Acts 14.23 They ordained them Elders in every Church directly contrary to the practise of the Lord Bishops of these dayes These things we speake that the people may know we set forth no new inventions though it be true that there is a newnesse in all the blessings of the new Testament whereas all the inventions of men wax old as doth a garment and there is no new thing under the sunne as touching mens inventions but they will grow old and vanish away as all Diocesin Churches will doe which the Lord hath not instituted Though indeed in the old Common wealth of Israel the Church was Nationall and there was but one high Priest who was a type of Christ but now Christ is come he hath delivered all his counsell to his 12. Apostles and they have left the ordering of his Church to some pastors and some teachers and some ruling Elders and some Deacons But besides these the Gospel knoweth no other The second ground is taken from the kinde of power which Rea. 2 God hath given to his officers in his Churches hath he given to them a Lordly or a Ministeriall power surely no Lordly power neither over their fellow Elders nor over the Church But he hath in his Word prohibited both these Math. 20.25 26 27. The Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them they that are great exercise authority upon them but it shall not be so amongst you but whosoever will be great amongst you let him be your Minister and whosoever will be cheife amongst you let him be your servant Amongst the Officers of Christ honour is carried by the most labour and not by most outward splendor But those that sit upon the throne of of the Beast doe not labour in any kinde of government but that which is merely antichristian to foment sin and let loose the reines of all prophanesse neither doe the officers which Christ hath set in his Church reach after outward honour but the cheife of them make themselves equall with them of the lower sort as Peter though an Apostle when he writeth to the Elders stileth himselfe a fellow Elder 1. Pet. 5.1 and exhorteth them to feed the flock of God not as Lords over Gods heritage but being examples to the flock so the Apostle in his second and third Epistle stileth himselfe an Elder so farre is he from affecting Lordly authority by all which we may see that all this kinde of Lordly and stately government is no way compatible to that government which Christ hath instituted in his Church The third reason is taken from that authority which the Lord Rea. 3 hath given to every Church over their Bishops as well as to their Bishops over them which cannot stand with Episcopall soveraignty It is true the Lord hath given them power over the Church let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour c. 1 Tim. 5.17 A power they have to call the Church together as the Apostles did for the choise of Deacons Acts 6.2 And to open the doores of speech and shut the doores of silence Act. 13.15 A power they have also to dismisse the assembly as they see cause for
they that begin they also make an end and send away the people with a blessing Num. 6.24 25 26. Power they have to direct to admonish privately publickly to rebuke with all authority Tit. 2.15 And sundry branches of rule may be deduced out of these yet as true it is also that the Lord hath given power to the Church over their Rulers as first to choose them they ordained them Elders by lifting up their hands Acts 14.23 And when there was an Apostle to be chosen in Iudas his roome they out of an 120 persons chose two men and presented them to the Lord Acts 1.23 Secondly they have power to send them forth about the Churches service as they sent Paul and Barnabas to Ierusalem Acts 15.2 And without controversie he that sendeth is greater then he whom he sendeth Ioh 13.16 Secondly they have power to admonish them if they doe offend say to Archippus take heed to they Ministery c. Col. 4.17 And the Church contended with Peter for eating with the heathen Acts 11.2 3. And had he not given them the better answer they would have proceeded against him These things then laid together what a beastly power is that of the Church of Rome and of such as imitate them as usurpe authority and judgement over so many Churches and will be judged by none Vse 1 For use in the first place this may be a ground unto us of just acknowledgement of the Lords faithfulnesse and truth who is not unmindfull of all that he hath spoken by his servants the Prophets but in due season doth fulfill his word The Apostle Iohn hath beene dead above 1500 years he dyed with the end of the first hundred yeares after Christ but the word spoken by him dyed not with him according to what we read Zach. 1.5 6. Your fathers where are they and the Prophets doe they live for ever but my words and my statutes which I commanded my servants the prophets did they not take hold of your Fathers So though Iohn be dead whatsoever Iohn hath spoken with his mouth he will fulfill with his hand and will not leave till he hath finished all the words that are written in this booke And what marveilous stay in this to the soules of those that build their faith upon the word of God He will ever be mindfull of his Covenant Psalme 111.5 He did let none of the words of Samuel fall to the ground 1 Sam. 3.19 He will not leave fulfilling to fulfill untill he hath fulfilled all and then Christ wil come to gather his people to himselfe therefore let not your hearts faile because God remaineth faithful and whether Zachary believe or no the Lord wil fulfil his Word Luke 1.20 The second use may be to take off that amazement which hath Vse 2 been found in the hearts of some concerning the undertakings of the Scots in our native Country since the world began was it never known for there are no Histories of note but are commonly known such a patterne as this that ever a whole Nation did rise to take up such a quarrell with so much justice wisdome and piety a thing to be wondred at that a whole Nation should carry such a matter in such a way many things have been done in Holland in Geneva for reformation but with much more tumult which when the Papists have objected our Divines have been wont to answer that they doe not excuse mens thrusting in their own weaknesses into Gods Worke but wonder not overmuch if you finde it otherwise in this matter for the Angels of God are their guides so that their foote shall not swell but they shal keepe their ranks and places and remember that they are subjects through they carry their swords in their hands Just care is taken that there be no robbery nor pilfering no oppressions no violation of any mans bed nothing taken up but it shall be duely paid for and yet the proceeding made with such constancy that in a way of humility the end must be attained or else there wil be no place in the conclusion These are great things but if men take them in hand that are girded with golden girdles when their Bibles goe along with them when Fasting and Prayers steere along their course you need not much wonder in such a Case Thirdly this may serve to teach us that surely this worke will Vse 3 prosper because the Lords Angel is in it and the Viall of Gods wrath in his Hand and he will not be beaten off though some instruments may quaile yet will he stil raise up more in their stead till those plantations be rooted out according to the word of Christ Mat. 15.15 Every plant which mine heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up In vaine therefore is it for men to uphold such sandy buildings which wil in the end be shaken down whatsoever dammes men may make to uphold the Episcopacy it will befall unto them as when men make dammes to stop water courses others come and cast in some small quantity of quick-silver or Aquafortis which eates such holes through the stones that it will soone issue out the water so this Aqua omnipotentis the vialls of the wrath of God wil at last consume and wast all things whatsoever stand up against them Vse 4 Fourthly let it teach us to praise the Lord for our gracious deliverance from the power of this Government brought in by the beast unto the government of Christ in his Church let those that count it new Wine refuse it it is old Wine unto us let us therefore in the name of the Lord rejoyce with trembling for our great liberties and pray that God will never leave untill he have rooted out not only the throne of the Beast but the Beast himselfe that the world may never more be pestered with them Now from the effects that follow upon the powring out of this Viall we may observe this second note Doct. 2 That upon the powring out of the Viall of Gods wrath upon the throne of the Beast their place the Pope himselfe and the rest of their Prelates and all their favourites and followers have not turned to God by Repentance but have broken forth against him in indignation and blasphemy His Kingdome was full of darkenesse but what profit have they made of it they gnawed their tongues through vexation rage and malignity of spirit against the Lords holy providence and the succesfull proceedings of these holy Angels they blasphemed the God of Heaven and looke at reformation as Rebellion as if it were the dissolution of al goodnesse and at length they wil say that they feare Christ himselfe is become a Puritan and have they repented of their tyrannies and usurpations over Ministers and over Churches but they have broken forth still more and more against the Lord his servants and Churches and what more may come forth I know not judge you what they speake in secret when they