it neither becomes a prudent Man to mind or take pains to refute were it not for the Sin that ignorant supestitious Minds may contract by their Use Deut. 18.10 11. The Instances in Scripture that are brought for a Proof for them are 1. Personal not standing Rules instituted for a common Standard to judge by 2. They are begged as Signs from God to determine them about some extraordinary Service as Jonathan's Sign of the Philistins bidding him come up 1 Sam. 14.10 Or Eliezers Sign of the Woman that should be Isaac's Wife 3. The being of them lay doubtful whether God would condescend to grant or no. 4. They were often miraculous as Gideons Fleece Josh 6.7 There is a secret Touchstone in a prudent sagacious Christian to discern between a Divine Lot and a natural Accident or Satanical Delusion 1. From the deepness of Impression it makes the Power and Influence it has on them for attempting or persevering in a known Duty or good Cause 2. The momentuousness of the matter and greatness of the Concern 3. The tendency it has to Piety or other Circumstances as may be observed in many Instances 1 The Evening Lesson after the Earthquake being a providential Exposition of it Jonah 3. Within Forty Days and Nineve shall be destroyed I hope as sure an Interpreter of the Event Nineve was not destroyed as of the Duty Ninove repented it was an Accident or Lot to the Composers of the Book but none to the Disposers of Lots Clodovâ—us thought it a Divine Encouragement to War when he heard they sung at Church Psal 144. He teacheth my Fingers to fight The Consul of Roscius a Persecutor convinc'd on his Death-bed by a Divine Sortilegium that fell on Psal 32.2 and made him confess his Sin Mâ—ldacion foretold the Recovery of his only Child from Psal 103.3 3. The Rarities of Nature or ruch new things as natural Reasons may be clearly given for are not to be concluded Prodigies 4. There can be no Danger but rather a Duty of suffering every extraordinary Appearance to awaken us to what Duties we knew before For that which is the End of common Providence must be much more the end of extraordinary Beside the very Word Mophath signifies a powerful Perswasive and in this it differs both from Signs and Miracles that Signs are instructive Prodigies to excite and stir up to what we know Miracles are for certain Confirmations of particular Truths Persons Offices before manifested but Prodigies are chiefly design'd against Security and for making Man humble under the Sence of new Impressions of God from new Appearances Isa 48.6 7. They are created new lest thou shouldst say Behold I knew them Eccles 8.17 Tho' a wise Man think to know it yâ—… shall he not be able to find it So though it owe the Name of Prodigy meerly to our Ignorance yet this general moral use of it is our Duty Joel 2.30 I will shâ—w Wonders in the Heaven and in the Earth c. before the great and terrible Day of the Lord and whosoever shall call on his Name shall be saved So whatever great Day such Appearances impress on us if they bring us to call on the Name of the Lord the Effect is saving Suppose they were done by Satan permitted to try us as in Job's Case when they bring forth this effect upon us Satan is disappointed of his Designs Deut. 13.3 Moreover such kind of Appearances being of a threatning Nature are of themselves more indefinite and conditional so that such an Improvement removes their relative signalness 5. We are to reckon them Prodigies determined 1st When we see the Event correspond and the likeness between them an Expository Gloss 2ly When Scripture has mix'd a Prophecy and Prodigy together and limited the Time either by Quantity or Characters as the Destruction of Jerusalem the Day of Judgment and this in the Text then we may determine the Event when the Prodigy appears Rev. 15.4 3ly When the Prodigy is very great As the Text says a great Earthquake Rev. 16. the greatest that ever was and the Concern very great which is signified For God sends no extraordinary Embassadours on mean sleeveless Errands Greatness and Goodness are the Standard of Divine Effects We have very good Testimony that a Herald from Heaven came to King James the Fourth of Scotland to forbid him the intended War against the English in the midst of his Court On this the Nations Happiness depended 4ly When Prodigies are crowded together in multitudes as was before Jerusalem's Destruction Luke 21. and before the Division of the Empire into Ten Kingdoms there were frequent Earthquakes and Eclipses Bearded Comets Armies appearing in Fiery Figures with Bloody Rivers wild Beasts coming tamely into Crowds of People 5ly When the same Prodigy is often repeated which has very evident Signatures of the Effect as Luke 20.30 Earthquakes in divers places Or if it has been an usual Presage of like Judgments 6. If it be a Foretaste of Judgment upon a whole Nation that are afterwards destroyed by a fuller measure of the same Cup Matth. 24.7 Those Prodigies before Jerusalem's Destruction are called the Beginning of Sorrows which are compleated Luke 22.26 at the Destruction of the World Lastly Where ever we are sure to make Scripture the other Witness there we may be sure to determine the Event and be among the Wise Men that can discern the Signs of the times Matth. 16.3 There are a Fourth kind of Prodigies that are Judicial being extraordinary Punishments in themselves But all Temporal Judgements being Signs and Warnings to others that are guilty of the like Crimes of the like Punishments and to themselves of greater Judgments to come Luke 13. John 5.14 Thou art made whole sin no more c. They differ only from signal Prodigies in their absolute not formal and relative Nature The Third Head was the Proof of an Earthquakes being a Prodigy 1. It is evident from it's being the Prince of Prodigies A Prodigy is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a terrible thing There is nothing terrible if this be not The sad and lowring Face of the Heavens gives some warning of Thunder but Death 's the first Presage of Earthquakes Dat signum ruina From Storms in the Air or Tempests in the Sea we fly to the Land or Houses But if the Earth it self fail us and the Foundations of the Houses shake whither can we then run for Refuge Riches or Power Strength or Wit can save from many Dangers but none of them prevalent against an Earthquake A Cave in the Earth will save from Thunder the Walls and Coverings of our Houses can save from Wind and Hail but all these Shelters are dissipate when the Earth is dissolved We can change the Air in time of a Plague and the Country in time of Famine but the gaping Earth stops all Passage Sword and Sickness have laid some Cities waste but they never overthrew in a moment and buried them under ground
3. Hophmannes expounding the Locusts to be the Jesuits who received their Universal Diploma from the Pope 1543. says They had Swarms of Locusts for their Fore-runners through Germany Italy Poland and Hungary and left a double Plague behind them of Jesuit and Famine The Text thus explained affords these Four Doctrines 1. That Earthquakes are both signal and penal Prodigies There was a great Earthquake and the 10th part of the City fell 2. Sinners Penalties are Saints Praemiums the Punishment of the one is accompanied with Reward to the others nay there is Goodness to both For though they suffer their course of Sinning is stopt which is the worst Evil of the two God destroys not for Destruction sake he lets not carelesly his Creatures fall out of his careful Hand but the greater Good is to the Saint who enjoys both Deliverance and serving his God without Fear and most Glory to God who manifests his Holiness by such angry Stamps of his Foot such visible Threatnings This Earthquake shakes Antichrist's Foundation and by it the Graves of the Dead Witnesses are opened and many Antichristians turn'd Glorifyers of God 3. There is reason to expect signal Earthquakes though we dare not assert that this which is come is one of them we expect untill we see more of the Event There are three great Earthquakes yet to come 1. This in the Text at the Resurrection of the Witnesses 2. One at the opening of the Temple ver 19.3 The greatest of all under the 7th Vial at the Day of Judgement Rev. 16. The First of these is very nigh for the Prophecy of the Reformation before this Earthquake is set down in Seven several Steps and we can read in History or see in Providence six of them fulfilled 1. A Publick Church built by the Measures of Sacred Scripture ver 1. a publick Testimony for Christ and a Prophesying 2 Churches and Ministers sill'd with Grace and Gifts like Candlesticks and Olive-Trees Read Melchior Adamus Clark's Lives and other Accounts of our Famous D vines 3. A most wonderful and successful spreading of the Gospel notwithstanding all Opposition Satan was as busie as ever the Pope and Emperor had neither less Force and Power nor less Subtilty and Enmity nor did they use less Diligence than the Pagan Emperors and Pharisaical Jews did against the Preaching of the Gospel at first It seems no less a Miracle to see Reformed Churches now than Christian Churches then Their Arms were no other but approving themselves to Men's Consciences by manifestation of the Truth What Arms had Luther and Melancton or Wickliffe or Hâ—sse A coming out of Babylon needs Divine Power as well as coming out of Egypt In the very next Parish where I was born 500 were converted at once Several of themselves have given me an Account of it There was Power to smite the Earth 4. Remarkable Judgments that had a Visible Finger of God in them destroying the Adversaries of the Gospel and Persecutors of it's Witnesses as we may read in Three King Henries of France and most of the Ring-leaders of the French and Irish Massacres and Netherland Persecutions besides Instances at home V. A great Decay in Religion Conviction and Conversion more rare than formerly Ministers go forth to their Work as Samson when his Hair was cut Prayer less powerful and less delighted in strictness in Holiness and Conscientiousness out of Fashion Christian Conferences forgotten Popish Doctrines and Formal Superstition thought more tolerable There is a great Degeneracy and backsliding from the Steps of our Fathers Pride Luxury Vanity and Formality prevail too much VI. Hence the Beast has prevailed in War God has been chastizing us with inward Desertion Leanness to our Souls Sackcloth on our Loyns though we endeavour to cover our Shame with outward Fig-leaves and outward Providential withdrawing from protecting and prospering us formerly Our Glory is gone our Ark taken our Arm feeble against the Philistins VII There remains then but one Step more to the Earthquake and we hope also that the three days and an half is nigh an end Fourthly The most terrible Judgements even Earthquakes have glorious issues The rest give Glory to God I shall only discourse on the first Doctrine under these Three Heads 1. In Explication of the Nature of an Earthquake and of a Prodigy 2. In proving that an Earthquake is a Prodigy 3. In Improvement of it according to our old customary Method of preaching The First Head has two Members to be spoken to apart The Nature of the Earthquake And the Nature of a Prodigy The First whereof is the Nature of an Earthquake which I sind as well explained in 2 Sam. 22.8 and Psal 18.8 as in either new or late Philosophers Then the Earth shook and trembled the Foundations of Heaven moved and shook because he was wroth there went up a Smoak out of his Nostrils and sire out of his mouth devoured Goals were kindled by it In which Description there is First It 's Protcus or manifold Form and Appearance 1. It shook 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 twice Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either by a vibration or trembling or an oblique declining which Seneca says of all others is most dangerous For if the Inclination should continue one Minute all Hills Mountains Cities Castles must necessarily be tumbled down And such was that with us without any Overthrow by reason of the sudden recovery from the Inclination Philosophers call them Epiclintas and Brastas c. Secondly And trembled Thâ—…â—ord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Bellowing or a Noise and Bruit as it is translated sometimes These are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A roaring and bellâ—…g of Wind under ground it 's Passage being strait and variousâ—… 〈◊〉 Thirdly Mov'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or remov'd from one place to another as the Hill in Queen Elizabeth's time here in England So Josephus gives an Account of another next to Jerusalem remov'd into another place And Amberbachius tells of another in Helvetia 1561. Or divides chasmatically the Earth as when it swallowed up Corah c. Numb 16.31 And a greater shall be at the Great Day Zach. 14.4 when the Mount of Olives shall cleaveâ— towards East and West Secondly The Subject of this Concussion and Commotion the Earth called also the Foundation of the Heavens it appearing to us the Center of the whole Heavens every thing tending to the Center of it or from it according to their Weight or Levity And some say it is not only the Pillar and Atlas of the Heavens by it's Solidity but the furnish'd Table and Store house whence all it's Luminaries are nourish'd God lays the Beams of his Chambers in the Water this renders it so wonderful that the solid Earth whose Foundations God lays that it should not be removed for ever Psal 104. should shake and tremble It is the Weight of Sin doth it God would never have altered or suffered to be altered any of his Foundations to
limits to it but indefinitely about the end of the great Period and no other Comment than the Aspect of the Divine Providence which affords us several Arguments to judge it present at this Day 1. From the Universality of the Suffering of Protestants who are under the Roman Beasts Jurisdiction Some killed some fled some Apostatized some Absconded the Authority of some whole Nations and Provinces brought under in acknowledgment to the Papal Power and Profession of its Religion all this is visible in the Savoy and French Persecution in the prevailing of Popery in Poland and Hungary in a Popish Person being made Prince Palatine and another was King of Brittain and Ireland through all the Streets of this great City Babylon according to the degree of her Power has Persecution been meted out to Protestants 2. From the Bitterness and the grievousness of the Persecution Daniel says it shall be such a time of Trouble as never was since there was a Nation The Text represents it under the Emblem of Dead Carkasses lying in the Street and in the 14th Chap. 13th Verse Death is said to be a State preferrable to it It is not a State of Universal Temporal Death for Faith and Patience remains their Duty neither is a Resurrection so suddenly supposeable from that kind of Death nor could the Enemies bear the sight of so many Carkasses so long but an Universal Temporal Death of the Witnesses being excepted no bitterer Persecution can be expected than has been of late some in England and Scotland where only Drops of that Shower fell begged no greater Mercy at their Enemies Hands than the tolerable Death of a Malefactor but the Torments and Temptations of the Sufferers in France has filled Volumes and may more 3. From the apparent Death both upon the Cause and Hearts of Protestants some years ago they could taste an Earnest of that Prophesie of smiting the Earth with Plagues as often as they will but now they can work no Deliverance in the Earth formerly a Harmony of Confessions was an easie and pleasant work but now there is Breach upon Breach formerly there was a Spirit of Life in all kinds of Worship but now Deadness and Formality are Epidemical Distempers but when the Witnesses rise a Spirit of Life from God will enter into them and they shall be called up to Heaven 4. The present Consederate Armies seems to be a Comment on that mixture of Tongues Kindreds and Professions ver 9. that will not suffer these Dead to be Buried nor Publick Affairs to lye in this prostrate Condition under these Papal Feet and Toes a Person Dead and Unburied in the Eastern Mystical Style to which this Book is very Conform is a Symbol of a low and sickly but yet hopeful and recoverable Condition 5. From the apparent Decay of the Turkish Empire the sixth Trumpet and second Woe are evidently the same and it s generally agreed they do both represent the Turks Invasion of the Eastern Empire the Thirteenth Hundred Year of our Lord begins the Ottoman Aera and their Successful Invasion of the Roman Territories There is but then wanting four or five years to the passing away of the second Woe for the whole Period of the sixth Trumpet is but an Hour and a Day and a Month and a Year that is Three Hundred Ninety six years and the passing away of this VVoe ver 14. is immediately consequential to the rising of the Witnesses I do not enlarge upon periods of Time 1. Being not useful in Popular Sermons 2. Because a Piece of great Pains is to be Publish'd on them quickly The third Two are two States the State of the Witnesses before Death and after the Resurrection Christs Witnesses appear in this state like Joshua in filthy Garments but in the future with a fair Mitre on his Head and change of Raiment Zech. 3. They are here in Dust and Ashes hereafter in Heaven and Paradise here in Sackcloth there in Glory This Two admits of a subdivision into Four 1. The state of Sackcloth 2. The state of Death 3. The state of Resurrection to Life The 4. Of Ascension to Heaven All which I shall only explain by some Doctrinal Propositions The First state is contained in the third fourth fifth and sixth Verses from which I observe 1. V. 3 That what we obtain thorough the most visible influence of second Causes is yet Gods Gift Industry and Diligence are most necessary means of Knowledge and Utterance yet to Prophesie he gives Power 2. God doth not only fore-know but determine the Times of every State For 1260 years the terrible Beast with his Ten Horns Blasphemous Mouth and Train of Gentiles cannot stop their Mouth from Prophesying nor can they or all their Friends or their Interest in Heaven change their Raiment they shall Prophesie 1260 years and they shall Prophesie in Sackcloth Acts 17.26 He hath determined the Times before appointed 3. Prodigality in Protestants before the Resurrection is an Hainous Crime 1. It is an attempt against Providence God says ye shall not get out of a Sackcloth condition but you will try it if by any means Money can be had therefore God looses the Beasts Chain to Rob them of it as a Priest told a French Lady This Persecution is to Humble your Pride but the next Judgment will utterly ruin Us. 2. It is a shameless Breach of Divine Precept 1 Tim. 2.9 Modesty and Cheapness are the two measures for Furniture and Apparel 3. It is out of Fashion Unseasonable There are two Rules to know what is seasonable by the one from Heaven who makes all things Beautiful in their Season and appoints the Brides Ornaments and the Sufferers Sackcloth the Times to mourn and to rejoice The other from Hell Eph. 2.2 that is to follow the Course of the World and be like my Neighbours Now the time of the Worlds Rejoicing and Feasting is the time of the Saints Death and Suffering ver 8 9. And è contra the Saints take their Fashion and Figure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Gods Providential dealing with them When our Husband puts a Bill of Divorce in our Hands and our Father threatens to disinherit us VVhen the Spirit of the Lord has forsaken our Assemblies and the Ministration of the Gospel become a Savour of Death shall we be pleasant and merry and put on fine Attire when Antichrist prevails and the Interest of our Lord seems to lose ground Isa 5.12 and 22.12 VVhen the Lord calls to weeping and girding with Sackcloth shall we not regard the operation of his Hands 4. It is unsuitable to our Brethren in a Day of Affliction God leaves some rich to relieve them that are poor 1 Tim. 6.17 And to be rich in good Works But how many as the rich Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.2 rather shame them that have not than relieve them The Pomp and Splendor of some Men in their Stately Palaces vast Revenues Epicurean Tables Lordly Trains and Attendants without