THE TIME OF FINDING Shewing When the Lord will be FOUND and by whom and when there will be NO TIME of Finding also the Persons are describ'd who shall not finde the Lord though they seek him with tears Likewise Some Reasons why the Lord hath suffered his work and GOOD OLD CAUSE to be stopt and how it shall certainly be REVIV'D again Also Something is here shewed about the manner how it shall be reviv'd and the Time when By JOHN CANNE Numb 23.21 23. Jehovah his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel What hath God wrought London Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes head-Alley 1658. To the Faithful of the Land every where Mourning and waiting for the APPOINTED TIME OF FINDING under the name of FIFTH-MONARCHY-MEN and COMMON-VVEALTHS-MEN PRECIOUS WITNESSES for your God and Country THe neerer I am still the Throne of Grace the more is your present condition upon my heart and truly this I can say it hath been very seldome since I began this WORK but poor Zion a Jer. 30.17 Whom no man seeketh after hath been all along in my eye It is b Isa 62.1 for Zions sake I cannot hold my peace c Isa 60.1 untill the glory of the Lord be risen upon her Now is the time that d Mal. 3.16 they who fear the Lord should speak often one to another and strengthen the hands which hang down and feeble knees I shall not say any thing of the THING it self what is of God shall stand only a few words what hath mov'd me to send THIS as a LOVE-TOKEN to all the Friends of the Bridegroom First I have observ'd of late that the Interest of Christ and his People the GOOD OLD CAUSE is not methinks so lively and HEARTY upon some mens spirits as formerly it was but either some disappointment of time Mat. 25.5 or the Bridegroom 's tarrying long hath occasioned a little deadness and faintness in some Choyce Ones Now that I may speak to the heart of these Wherefore should there be any CASTING DOWN Isa 40.2 Is not your warfare accomplished and the day of the Lamb come Therefore O ye worthies g Psal 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen your hearts wait I say on the Lord. If a traveller by reason of a long journey be almost tyr'd yet when he coms neer the place where he would be and sees it hard by this will put new strength into him again I have in this Treatise not only exprest my opinion that the Lord is REVIVING HIS WORK but have given some reasons for it what incouragement and refreshing the Lords people shall have by it a little time will shew For I am very confident as the Lord will suddenly check and blast all ways of falshood and deceitful pretenders to his Holy Secrets so he will shew a TOKEN OF GOOD to what is his own and is given forth by his Spirit concerning the Kingdom and Time Secondly As I know h Prou. 14.34 Righteousness exalteth a Nation and i Prov. 29.2 When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoyce so my desire and prayer to God is that every yoke may be broken the oppressed go free and violence be heard no more in our Land Indeed we did expect before now to have seen better days and were in a hopeful way to have had England k Isa 1.26 call'd the City of Righteousness the faithful City by having Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Now I do not doubt but we shall have our Civil Rights Liberties and Priviledges more full and free and better then ever any men had since England was a Nation Is any thing too hard for God to do cannot he raise up a Generation of faithful men and l Pro. 31.8 open their mouths for the dumb and in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction that is for him that hath not ability to speak for himself by reason of his simplicity unfitness or impediment in his speech or dare not speak for fear of his Potent Adversary I finde in our Chronicles how a Cardinal told the Pope * Speed Hen. 3. p. 624. That England was to the Pope as BALAAMS ASS which being so often wrong'd and cudgel'd it was no marvel if at length she open'd her mouth to complain What though * Here Gods judgment is a great deep that England should be the Beast or Asse on which must ride the Balaams or Heads of both Apostasies England have been an ASS and dumb a long while yet who can tell but after so often wrong'd and cudgeld she may speak and complain at last But more seriously that England hath been a while dumb I do not take the cause to be at least principally of any power or policy in men or fearfulness which hath surpriz'd the Nation but in order to the fulfilling of some Decree and Counsel of God and Scripture-Prophesies which were to be accomplished at this time the which time being expired such multitudes will stand up for their freedom and Civil-Rights that were the Enemies ten times more and stronger then they are they would signifie nothing Hence take notice of the blindness and folly of some men for if the time of Englands deliverance be not come there needs not such gathering of horse and foot together For I am confident the Lovers of ENGLANDS-LIBERTIE will be no secret plotters they scorn it neither will they move till the Lord by some signal Providence plainly shews that the time is come and when that is vain will be the help of man to frustrate the good purpose and work of God That Doctrine then which the Army us'd to preach to the Long Parliament will be often repeated by the people To punish only instruments St. Albans Declarat No. 16. 1648. p. 50. and let the head by whose power and in whose interest all hath been done not only go free but stand in perpetual priviledge and impunity to head such instruments again as oft as he can find opportunity and get any to serve him is a way so far far from security as it leads indeed to endless trouble and hazard or to perfect loss of all Again in point of Justice with what Conscience inferior ministers can be punished and the principal set free FOR OUR PARTS VVE UNDERSTAND NOT NEITHER DOE VVE KNOVV ANY GROUND OR REASON TO EXEMPT KINGS FROM HUMANE JUSTICE It is a maxime in the Civil Law Si quis ff quod quisque Juris c. That of right every man should be judg'd by such Laws as himself hath practised against others Thirdly What I have spoken about Professors I have plain enough exprest my meaning I only intend Backsliders who by their Covenant-breaking Hypocrisie and Falshood have made the Profession
Lords hand h Jam. 5.16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much A mother sometimes refuseth to give her breast to the childe though he ask it but if he beg it with tears cries shrieches she cannot but grant it such was Iacobs seeking the blessing i Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee go except thou bless me But how did he hold the Angel k Hos 12.4 He wept and made supplication unto him As if he should say I am resolv'd never to cease weeping and crying here will I abide in mourning and bitterness of Soul till I am blest l Exod. 3 2.10 Deut. 9.14 Let me alone saith God to Moses In which words we have not onely a condescention of divine Grace unto the cryes and tears of the Godly as if the Lords hands were to be disposed by their prayers but Moses importunity as if he would not let go his hold except his suit were granted A man under a tree may reach some fruit but if he clime up and get to the top there he shall have more fruit and better fruit riper sweeter larger That prayer may AVAIL MVCH it must be more then common or ordinary strong crying and without ceasing It is said of Elias m Jam. 5.17 18. By his praying he did shut and open Heaven But how prayed he earnestly saith our Translation the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Text hath He prayed a Prayer or in praying he prayed so that there is single-praying and double-praying and they have theirs accordingly n Isa 64.7 There is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee These people are not blam'd so much for not praying as for not putting forth themselves in prayer they should like Iacob and Moses have taken fast hold on God and never have left off weeping and crying day and night until their supplications had been granted as an Arrow fals short of the mark when the Bow is not well bent the Arrow drawn up to the head and delivered with strength So our prayers oft-times fall short of answer because we do not o Psa 63.8 press hard after God p Mat. 11.12 take him by violence follow him from place to place and not let him go till he q Psa 10.17 cause his ear to hear This our Savior in one of his Parables notably shews r Luk. 11 â— Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth The word rendred importunity is properly * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impudence and it hath this meaning Though among men it would be thought too much boldness and impudence for a man not to be said nay yet the Lord is so far from disliking it when it is his own case as he would have his children to force as it were a grant from him the like we have in the importunate widow Å¿ Luk. 18.7 8 Shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them I tell you he will avenge them speedily Methinks this bearing long and avenging speedily will not well accord unless we take the sence thus When the Lord shall raise up a poor destitute remnant who like the widow will never cease weeping and crying to him then he wil suddenly come forth to pour out the vials upon the Little Horn the last Apostasie Babylon though formerly he kept silence a long time I question whether that in the Prophet be yet fulfill'd t Isa 62.6 7. I have set watchmen upon thy wals O Ierusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth As things when they come neer their Centre move more swiftly and speedily then before It seems to me neer or about the breaking forth of the Great work in the last dayes there will be a people so ingag'd for Zion that they will make it their whole work to mourn and weep before the Lord never ceasing till he break the Heavens and come down u Isa 66.8 Assoon as Zion traveled she brought forth her Children I think indeed when the Lord shall put such Travels and Birth-pangs upon the hearts of his people as that they will give him no rest but mourn like Doves perpetually before him and make it their meat and drink day and night we shall suddenly see the Lord bringing the Rod of his strength out of Zion and to work terrible things in the Earth A Blessed TIME OF FINDING x Rev. 22.20 Amen even so come Lord Iesus CHAP. II. When there is no Time of Finding though the Lord be sought with tears FIrst When men like Esau for light things and vanities When the Lord will not be found 1. When men give up great Priviledges for vain things most prophanely give up great Priviledges Of Esau it is said a Heb. 12.16 17. for one morsel of meat he sold his birth-right But what follows Afterward when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears There are three things in the History which aggravate Esau's prophaneness as to be sinful above measure 1. The great thing which he lightly parted with it was no less then his Birth-right now the dignity of the first-born was very great and many eminent priviledges it had The first-born b Exod. 22.29 were peculiarly consecrated and given to God c Gen. â—9 3 Next in honor to their prents d Deut. 21.17 Had a double portion of the Fathers goods e 2 Chron. 21.3 Succeeded them in the Government of the Family or Kingdom f Numb 8.14 17. And likewise in the Administration of the Priesthood and service of God Yea more g Rom. 8.29 It figured Christ and h Heb. 12.35 all true Christians heirs of the New Ierusalem All this as if it had been nothing he carelesly parted with But Secondly Not for the worth of it The Text saith i Gen. 25.34 Iacob gave Esau bread and pottage of Lentils which was a kind of pulse much like to fetches or small pease very course food nevertheless so vile an exchange made he of his Heavenly dignity Naboth upon k 1 King 21.2 3. no terms would deliver up the inheritance of his father to Ahab But this man for one morsel of meat sels that which was far better 3. When he had done all this l Gen. 25.34 He rose up and went his way and despised his Birth-right that is he shewed no remorse sorrow or repentance for selling so precious a thing for so poor a price he esteemed his Birth-right very little before but now he sets it
present hear and see among the Antichristians But Blasphemy rayling lying murthers sorceries c. nothing in truth but what tends to the dishonor of his Great Name but were the whole Kingdome of the Beast destroyed then would the Lord have glory and prayse for being found of his people What man would not have a filthy stink remov'd that a sweet persume might be in the place thereof so long as Hypocrites reign and Tyrants rule the Nations their sins like dung will stink in the nostrils of the Lord but when they are removed he will smell a sweet savor of praise and thanksgiving Besides the Saints do often use it in prayer as an argument for a time of finding namely the praises he shall have of them g Psa 9.13 4. Have mercy upon me O Lord consider my trouble c. That I may shew forth all thy prayse in the gates of the daughters of Zion Again h Psal 79.11 12 13. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee c. Preserve those that are appointed to dy and render to our neighbors seven fold into their bosome c. So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever we will shew forth thy praise to all Generations So then do any desire to know why the Lords little remnant at this day are so earnest in prayer against the enemies of Gods glory Why they would have the i Isa 33.14 sinners in Zion afrayd and fearfulness to surprise the Hypocrites That such as k Psa 125.5 are turned aside to their crooked ways may have their faces filled with shame and confounded in all their counsels and designs It is for this end that the Lord alone may have prayse It is reported of Nero when he had banished any good Common-wealths men or put them to death he would keep a day of thanksgiving that is thank his gods for his great deliverance It is true the faithful doe abhor such kind of thanksgiving and leave Nero's exsample to be follow'd by corrupt men and such as he was They dare not prayse God because Hypocrites reign but on the contrary when they see the Lord doth punish them for their wickedness then they will praise him with their whole heart But 2. 2. Because of his great Name Should Saints forget their duty of thanksgiving yet would the Lord be a Gainer that there is a time of finding in respect of his great Name l Josh 7.9 What wilt thou do saith Joshua unto thy great Name So Moses m Exod. 32.12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say For mischief did he bring them out That is though thou hast matter enough against this people to consume them as one man and to withdraw thy presence from them yet remember thine own Concernments to wit how deeply thy Glory Power and Faithfulness will suffer if thou appear not again for them When Hanun the son of Nahash had most unworthily n 2 Sam. 10 4. abused Davids Messengers it was David principally that was wronged neither could he in point of honor and justice put it up without taking severe revenge upon the enemy for it It is Jesus Christ who at this day is the greatest sufferer in his Cause Name and Kingdom and therefore should he not in judgment come forth against the despiteful abusers of him what would become of his Glory would not an evil and adulterous generation conclude o Eze. 8.12 9.9 Isa 29.18 The Lord sees them not neither regards he good or evil When the Israelites were in great distress at the Red-Sea p Exod 14.15 Moses cryed unto the Lord It is true they had then a time of finding but why was it q Psa 106.8 He saved them for his Name sake that he might make his mighty power to be known There is much comfort in the words if well considered Many honest hearts looking on their tears sighs and groans are discouraged to think what poor and weak things they are what is all our weeping say they and mourning before the Lord Shall we have a Time of finding for such low things Do you stick here pretious ones But consider there is more in the Lords eye why he will be found of his people then their cryes and tears he will hear them for his Name sake that his Power Justice Mercy Faithfulness c. may be known So then though you should question whether the Lord in regard of your poor prayers and groanings will arise against Evil doers yet methinks it is not possible you should doubt but he will doe it r Neh. 9.31 1 Kin. 8.41 Jer. 14.7 21. FOR HIS NAME SAKE Å¿ Psa 115.1 Not unto us Iehovah not unto us but unto thy Name give the glory for thy mercy for thy truth I cannot but think we are nigh THE TIME OF FINDING because Christs little flock have Gods glory so much upon their hearts As a servant in the field sowing seed he doth it not to have the crop but for his masters profit so the Saints up and down the Nation are t Psa 126.5 sowing in tears and crying day and night to the Lord that he will arise and have mercy upon Zion u Dan. 2.44 Breake in pieces and consume the fourth Monarchy and render double vengeance upon Babylon But for whom is this sowing Not unto us O Lord not unto us x Psa 83.17 18. Let thine enemies be confounded and troubled for ever yea let them be put to shame and perish That men may know that thou whose Name alone is JEHOVAH art the most high over all the Earth I know well enough what the faithful are charged with for witnessing against the unrighteousness of men viz. That that they would have others down to have all power and greatness themselves and that they allow of no Ministry or Magistracy For Answ 1. The Lord who seacheth the hearts knows all this to be false y Josh 22.22 If it be rebellion or if in transgression against the Lord save us not this day 2. The Accusers themselves know it to be false For would some men for worldly Advantages corrupt their consciences they have had not a little profered them of Esau's Pottage and Balaams Reward But 3. This is true we pray against the Antichristian Ministery and Magistracy that the Lord would pluck them up Root and Branch and cast them as unsavory Salt to the Dunghil And this we do not being against all Magistracy and Ministery but to have a Isa 1.26 Judges restored â—s at the first b Jer. 3.15 and Pastors according â—o the Lords own heart and so Christ â—he c 1 Tim. 6.15 ONELY POTENTATE Lastly it is our Opinion until the last Apostacie be destroyed d Psa 67.2 God's way will not be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations for it is THIS THAT LETTETH the ruine of Babylon and the Gathering
over the Skull when nothing else is left not repenting of his Deed but because on that bone there remains no flesh to eat The Hieroglyphick is applyed to 〈◊〉 and WEEPING-HYPOCRITES who will shed tears when they have murthered the people yet so as not repenting for what they have done but fearing lest they should not have enough of MANS BLOOD to drink and swallow down Quest But if men acknowledge their sins before the Lord with fasting and weeping shall they have a time of finding doing no more I answer No q Jon 3.8 10. Except they turn from their evil way and from the violence that is in their hands When Joshua and the rest of the congregation knew who was the TROUBLER had they onely acknowledged that great wickedness and mourned for it I say done no more there had been no time of finding and so much the Lord tels them r Josh 7.12 except you destroy the accursed thing from among you I will not be with you any more So when it was told David that Å¿ 2 Sam. 21 1 2. c. The three years famine was for Saul and his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites Had there been no more 〈◊〉 â—â—nfessing the sin and asking forgiveness the Lord would not have been intreated for the Land So it may be said of all others in the like case should they confess their Apostacy Falshood Oppression c. I say publickly acknowledge the same before God Angels and men appoint solemn days of fasts to weep and mourn for their sins Nevertheless except THE ACCURSED THING BE DESTROY'D the TROUBLER ston'd and judgment executed upon the BLOODY HOUSE OF SAUL there is no time of finding neither will the Lord regard such things and this the Scripture makes good t Pro. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper whose confesseth and FORSAKETH them shall have mercy If it be so in what case then are such men who are so far from forsaking their sins as they will not confess them but call evil good c. yea more make account by keeping the Accursed thing to prosper and to carry all before them in spight as it were of God and of his Son and Zion But the perversness of transgressors shall destroy them Prov. 11.3 CHAP. VII How Saints may know it is a Time of Finding First WHen a man findes How a time of finding may be known 1. When all fears are removed and the spirit quiet that all distractions and unquietnesses are removed from him and a sweet calm breathes upon his Spirit u Psal 34.4 6. I sought the Lord saith David and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears Again This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles What his fears and troubles were the title of the Psalm shews David for fear of Saul goes to Achish King of Gath and being there he is in more fear then before Insomuch to save his life he useth x 1 Sam. 21.10 11 12. c. strange gestures indeed not beseeming a man much less the Lords anoynted But what doth he else Inwardly his soul is calling upon God and finding that all terrors and amazements were over and his spirit quiet he concludes it was a time of finding You shall see in time of much rain as the waters run down the hils they make a great noise by reason of the rubs in their way but no sooner are they fallen in and closed with the river but the hissing is ceased and all is quiet and still Oh! the unquietness sometimes of a poor soul by reason of the multitude of RVBS what through troubles without and fears within there is a strange noise confus'd like the noise of many waters y Psa 6.6 I am weary with my groaning a Psa 69.3 My throat is dryed all the night make I my bed to swim I water my couch with tears mine eyes fayl while I wait for my God Notwithstanding all this no sooner is this poor trembling shrub fallen into the stream of love and sweetly closeth with it but all casting down and disquietness is over b Psa 27.1 Iehovah is my light and my salvation for whom should I fear Jehovah is the strength of my life for whom should I dread VVe have the like example in David another time when Absalom made that unnatural rebellion against him at first he was c Psa 3.1 much troubled for d 2 Sam. 15 12. the conspiracy was great and the people multiplyed still with Absalom but when he poured out his Soul before the Lord he had that given in to him as he neither feared the number which the Traytor had with him nor the hellish counsel which Ahitophel might give him If a man should see a Lyon or Bear coming fiercely against him this could not but at first amaze him notwithstanding if he should perceive a place of safety by him and run to it and see himself in it now he would fear no more The malice and wrath of Persecutors their threatnings banishment imprisonment ruine of families and killing the body doth at first startle and affright a good man but having been with the Lord and graciously found him he fears not what any Tyrant can do cares not for his big words and stout looks for he sees the Tyrant bound and knows the Lord will not unchaine him neither suffer him to stir otherwise then it shall make for the glory of his great name in e Phil. 1.28 the salvation of the one and perdition of the other It was an evident sign that the Lord answered not Saul seeing his terror and trembling continued upon his heart Is not that Scripture in part fulfill'd at this day f Isa 33.14 The sinners in Zion are afrayd fearfulness hath surprized the Hypocrites Is not Cains case the condition of many g Gen. 4.15 they think every one that meets them will kill them h Pro. 14.13 In the midst of laughter their hearts are full of sorrow i Jer. 20.3 4. Magor-Missabib fear is round about them k Job 15.21 A dreadful sound is in their ear They dream of danger when they sleep and where ever they come l Deut. 28.66 Have no assurance of their lives Oh! what fantastick and pannick fears and Satanical delusions an unquiet guilty conscience causeth He that hath a minde to hurt others fears it is in the minde of every one to hurt him But what may we think of such people Truly I think if the Lord had any regard to their prayers he would not leave them under such continual terror and dreadful amazement m Psa 112.7 A good man shall not be afraid of any evil tidings But these people when n Jer. 49.23 they have heard any evil tidings they are faint-hearted And though it be but a Hear-say and a Noise and nothing in it yet they tremble
him f 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness as if he should say Though I will not remove suddenly this wicked Angel from thee yet I will so fortifie thee with my grace against all his fiery darts that thou shalt be more then a conqueror and get the victory over him and the greater thy assaults and temptations are and the weaker thou art by reason of infirmities the stronger my Grace shall be in supporting thee in all assaults of temptations As a loving mother whilst the childe cries she takes him on her lap wipes off the tears from his eyes and kisseth him often and suffers him not to goe away till he laughs again of the content and satisfaction which he hath In such a way deals our Heavenly Father with his Mourning children as their cheeks are running down with tears he takes them in his arms and kisseth them with the kisses of his mouth and speaks so comfortably to the heart as they goe away with their g Psa 126.2 mouths filled with laughter and their tongues with singing And such a time of finding David often had we find him in the Psalms to make very sad complaints by reason of the great afflictions and troubles which lay upon him nevertheless in the close h Psal 7.17 13.6 42.11 rejoyceth and giveth thanks to God signifying no doubt he had received Issachar's portion i Deut. 33.23 satisfied with favor and full with the blessing of the Lord. For howsoever he was not certain of the time of his deliverance neither how and in what manner he should be delivered yet this he knew and by the Spirit it was confirm'd to him that it should go wel with him and what was best for him he should have and every thing promis'd him should be made good That saying of Solomon may have place here k Pro. 13.25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his Soul but the belly of the wicked shall want these sentences are both true applyed to sincere Christians and Hypocrites in respect of Soul-satisfaction The former are brought into l Song 2. the banquetting house and have m Son 7.6 Loves for delights n Isa 25.6 fat things full of marrow and wines on the lees well refined what can a man have more at a feast then content and satisfied in whatsoever he desires such a FILLING have those at the throne of Grace it is a LOVE-FEAST where Christ and the Soul banquet and rejoyce together yea sometimes there is such an overflowing-fulness as they are constrained to say It is enough Lord it is enough I am satisfied with the fulness of joy and pleasures at thy right hand But the Hypocrites belly shall want did he finde no more satisfaction in his falshood and craft then in fasting and praying he would soon give up the trade or starve If a man being extream hungry instead of wholsome meat should take some poysonous thing his misery and pain would be greater then before That which Hypocrites and Apostates suck from duties is spider-like only poyson for their unbeleef and fears do rise and they are afterward more unquiet and restless then before and hence it is that after they have fasted and prayed they have usually in hand one pestilent design or other Quest But doe not Hypocrites and Apostates finde Soul-satisfaction in fasting praying and other Ordinances Answ 1. Imaginary they may but truly and really they doe not for here that is made good o Mal. 2.2 The Lord of Hosts curseth their blessings Besides what Soul-satisfaction can there be had in things which p Isa 1.14 Amos. 5.21 God hates and despiseth and q Pro. 15.8 are an abomination to him As a man in his sleep dreames he eats and drinks largely but when he awakes findes himself almost dead for hunger or like little children sucking a stick or finger in their mouths are satisfied with it though they draw no sweetness out So Hypocrites as r Jude 8. filthy dreamers fancy a feeding and please themselves like children with nothing it being the will of God that they should be hardned and ripened for judgment in such a way But 2. There is a satisfaction which Hypocrites and Apostates have by fasting and praying for hereby they doe deceive others and the more easily carry on their own designs As I have heard of a GREAT HYPOCRITE who having by his weeping prevailed with some honest men to think better of his actions then they did before no sooner were their backs turned but he laughed at them and cal'd them fools that they should believe any more or trust him for his tears Thus they are like the Magician which had the enchanted Egg howsoever being broken there was nothing but wind in it yet many bewitched by him thought it had a world of happiness A weeping Hypocrite knows well enough were his prayers and tears discovered there is nothing but JVGLING in them they are all wind lies and falshood nevertheless by a kind of enchantment the simple are made to believe there is a world of truth and love to the good old cause under the Egg-shell of a r Mat. 8.16 dis-figured Jesuitical face But leaving Hypocrites to the great day of discovery For those who walk uprightly times of finding must needs be satisfactory of the experience they have of Divine Love If the Bride knows she is taken up in the Heart-love of her Friend though he should say nothing to her of what he would do for her yet she is sure he will look after her and provide for her that she wants nothing So a Saint taken into the bowels of Jesus needs nothing more for here he sees all things Å¿ 1 Cor. 3.22 Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are his And so much he sweetly experienceth 4. A time of finding when Saints have the things granted done for them which they asked to a full content of his soul Fourthly It is a time of finding when mourners in Zion have the things given them and done for them which they asked As the Fish is caught while the Fisher is angling for her so is the promise t Isa 65.23 While they are yet speaking I will hear Again u Isa 58.9 30.19 Thou shalt call and the Lord shall answer thou shalt cry and he shall say Here I am Such a time of finding had x Gen. 32.28 Jacob y Num. 14.20 Moses a 2 Chr. 20.11 12. Jehoshaphat b 2 Ki. 20.5 Hezekiah c 1 Kin. 18.37 38. Elias d Dan. 9.20 10.12 Daniel c. Neither hath the Lords hand been shortned or his ear heavy in this very thing toward his present mourners for many of the great things which they have sought with tears he hath given them in according
to their hearts desire so that their sowing in tears hath not been without some pretious fruit as to a harvest already Quest Wherein hath the Lord answered the prayers of his people in giving them already what they asked Answ 1. Many have been the sighs and groans which they have poured forth before the Lord that he would discover all deceitful workers take away their vizard and sheeps-clothing that so the foulness and wolvishness of their ways might be e Pro. 9.10 known and f 2 Tim. 3.9 their folly manifest unto all men True it is when the Apostacy first broke forth many good people g 1 Cor. 13.7 Beleeving all things and hoping all things had some hope that the Covenant-breakers under their publick miscarriages had secretly some good intent to promote not their own interest but Christ's and his people Hence for a while they were silent judging the best but as the Apes were known by the nuts though taken for men before and admired for their dancing So it was not long after some had taken greatness and power upon them but such ambition oppression covetousness and BASE-SELF appeared as honest people every where perceiv'd they were APES Revolters the very men characterized by h 2 Tim. 3.1 Paul in Timothy howsoever formerly deemed otherwise That this time of finding may the better appear let us consider some particulars wherein the Lord hath most gratiously answered the prayers of his people in unmasking evil men 1. Their unthank fulness this is i 2 Tim. 3.2 one character of the Last Apostates I am perswaded there is no History Divine or Humane of men more monstrous ungrateful inhumane towards their friends and Benefactors then some of late have been Toads leave their poyson where they had shelter and refreshment and the Eagle kils the Swan that nourisheth her Are not good men just so serv'd those who have sheltred the Backsliders kept them alive and rais'd them up how are they rewarded for it but with poyson and murther for they study and watch how to render evil for good Here we have the truth of that Proverb k Pro. 26.8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling so is he that giveth honor to a fool If you fling a stone up into the ayr and mount it above the clouds there it will not tarry but presently fals down again chusing rather a dunghil or some such filthy place to be in When some men were first raised up their places were high honorable and lawful but they would not abide there but be on a dunghil rather where they might wallow in luxury pride wantonness and have dirt enough to cast on the faces of their best friends 2. Committing the same sins which formerly they condemn'd in others As one said of the Trent-Fathers They would pare other mens nayls but let their own grow So the excess riot ambition oppression c. of former Kings and Bishops these must be par'd and cut off though themselves in the mean time more sinful in the same ways and courses Who spake more against covetousness then Crassus and yet who more covetous who wrote more against the Title of Vniversal Bishop then Gregory the Great yet no man more liked it and affected it then himself so Sylla and Richard the third commanded other men to be sober and honest and yet none worse then themselves who was he that would have no Government by Kings because of their wastful Courts and putting the Nation to unnecessary charges in maintaining the pride of their children and who is he that hath been more lavish and expensive then any before him What a deal of good doctrine have some men in their sermons and so in their books concerning humility self-denyal contentment and to mortifie the members of the body Oh! what a noise have they made against the world this bewitching-world and that men should not seek great things honor riches Court-Promotion In their words and writings here all is dung and vanity of vanities But should a man come home to their practise and observe what heaps of this DVNG and vanities they have scraped together and are like the daughters of the horse-leech l Pro. 30.15 Crying GIVE GIVE never satisfied nor say It is enough He would almost think they walked in their steps of whom our Saviour speaks m Mat. 23 3. They say and do not when they are teaching others we have this very soberly from them We would think him unwise who hath brought much sweet water into his cistern and largely gives it out to others but himself drinks that which is bitter and unwholsome what profiteth it a steward to know the nature of meats and not to taste them or to be able to dispute of the nature and use of fire and yet to die for cold I shall leave the application to themselves and the rather because they doe not think to be sav'd by their book 3. A base complyance for the wages of unrighteousness with the corrupt interest and lusts of men As puppets are moved wholy at his direction and bent that extends or slacks the strings whereon they dance and the blind-bayard rusheth into the battel but which way he goeth he sees not he cares not save only his rider spurs him such a discovery there hath been of late that whatsoever some persons have commanded though against Reason Religion Law Conscience yea their own former Vowes and Oaths the same hath been immediately put in execution n Pro. 9.12 If a Ruler hearken to lies all his servants are wicked A wicked Ruler will have none about him but such as shall serve his turn and purposes As a man will not be at the cost of keeping beasts unless he think to have profit by it When Elisha had promised a childe to the Shunamite it was very much that she should say unto him especially knowing him and confessing him to be a man of God o 2 Kin. 4.16 Doe not lie unto thine handmaid a very harsh expression But what might be the reason He had talked to her before of the Court and of his greatness there asking her what he should p ver 13. speak for her to the King or to the Captain of the Host upon this the good woman presently suspected that he spake as a Courtier to her and howsoever she took him for a Prophet yet perceiving he had such an interest with the King and his Courtiers and his Soldiers all Apostates she much fear'd he had learnt some of their principles i. e. to complement dissemble flatter lye c. * Amos. 7.12 O thou Seer go flee thee away to the Land of Judah and there eat bread and prophesie there as if he should say if thou meanest to be safe and not to starve leave this place for if thou meddle with the Apostacie Hypocrisie and baseness of the Court thou wilt have neither peace nor livelihood and doubtless the