the Sign of the Son of Man as will beyond any Contradiction expound it self and verify such a Prediction of our Blessed Lord before Angels and Men. 4. It must be understood as a Sign that will be deeply affecting and work in an extraordinary way on Mens Spirits to cause so great and universal a Mourning which will not be as som have understood a Mourning from Horror but what will be a Result not only of the Greatness and Certainty of the Sign but of an extraordinary Concurrence of the Spirit of God herewith to answer that eminent Design of Grace with a peculiar respect to the Jewish race as may be clearly seen Zach. 12. 12. And herein I humbly judge as in the first times of the Gospel the Jews did require a Sign from Heaven to engage them to the Christian Faith as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 1. 22. so that this way now in the last times both with an eminent Rebuke to their Infidelity and marvelous Condescendence of Grace he will yet in such a manner appear 5. But it must still be according to what the Scripture expresses a Sign and not the thing signified or personal Appearance of our Blessed Lord in his humane Nature whom the Heavens must contain until the full Restitution of all things wherein I must differ from the Judgment of such great Interpreters who take it in the other Sense though this will assuredly be such a Sign as is then to have some extraordinary Impress and Signature upon it to be demonstrative to the World and the Jews more peculiarly of the Humanity of our Blessed Redeemer 6. But whatever may be the Glory and Splendor of so extraordinary an Appearance it must be still reckoned such as the state of Mortality can bear since that Vision that he gave to his beloved Disciple John of himself in his glorified State Rev. 1. was so overpowering as he who had sometimes leaned on his Bosom whilst he was on the Earth did then fall as dead at his Feet and except it were supposed that he should put a Veil on his Glory in such a visible and immediate Appearance of his humane Nature it is not conceivable how even the Saints on the Earth much more the residue of the World could bear a sign of that Nature And herein my Soul doth rest with Assurance as to the Sense and Intent of the Scripture about that much desired Sign after serious and humble enquiry about the same Though I must crave leave to add this further with a special Confidence that this Sign which is to be the greatest is to be given in a Monitory way gof his Second coming is now surely on a near Approach as being both that great Signal of Grace to the poor Jewish World and of its being very near to a perfecting of the Work of time and his coming to judge the World yea since the finishing of the times of the Gentiles and that great Tide and Effusion of the Spirit which will then bring a Resurrection therewith from the Dead to the Jews does contemporate together the promissory Evidences of the near Approach hereof are such as I hope many of this Generation now in the Earth may be made Witnesses thereto 9. I know it is reckoned usually that the accomplishing of these great Designs of Providence which are yet to take place now in the last Ages of the World and the Exhibition of this wonderful Sign of the Son of Man may be at a great distance of time as to the Event thereof upon which I have had the same Thoughts until a more deep enquiry and search about the Counsel of God herein hath brought me under a constraint of Light to see how the work of time in all its Intents is nearer to a final close than seems to be apprehended by most and that we are now surely near to an entring on the last Watch of that long Night of the Churches Militant State when her Warfare shall for ever be accomplished and there will be no more such long Stages in the Course and Procedure of Providence as hath formerly been but when the last part of Scripture Prophesie is once come to the Birth and full height of Accomplishment then i'ts to be hoped that a few Years will bring forth more than hath been formerly attained in some Ages yea to this doth the Spirit speak expresly with respect to that great and wonderful Revolution in the last times by the incalling of the Jews and final Destruction of Antichrist that then he will cut short his Work in Righteousness and finish the same because a short Work will the Lord make upon the Earth Rom. 9. 28. by which the way and manner of the course of Providence is clearly expressed as it will be in the evening of time from what it hath been formerly the Word there in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew that as the work of God which he hath upon the Earth is the alone Product and Accomplishment of his Word so when the Administration of Providence is drawing near to its last Period and Close then will he cut it short and hasten the same in some extraordinary way yea allot more to a Day or Year than he did to many Years before in the ordinary course of his working and as the first bringing forth of the Creation was a short Work and a swift course that Omnipotency took herein so may the last Consummation and Close of the great Work of Providence be expected to make no Delay I am sure the Holy Ghost speaks expresly for this end in that aforecited Scripture besides other Passages of Sacred Truth which give Light and Confirmation thereto but in what Sense the cutting short of the Work of God in the last times and his making a short Work in the Earth is to be understood I must humbly offer what I am in Faith persuaded hereof as agreeable to the Intent of that Scripture 1. How it is to be a short Work and a very swift Motion that shall be then in the Churches Increase and in gathering of the Elect as what will be answerable to that great extent of the Church Vniversal when it is made up both of Jews and Gentiles and in such a day of Power as the Dew of his Youth shall be as the Womb of the morning Psal 110. 3. For though it be clear that the last Triumph of Christ's visible Kingdom and the Glory of his Grace in order to Conversion must assuredly have a great Harvest therewith for in-bringing of the Saints and filling up of that large Room which is yet void in the Church Triumphant in the whole appointed measure thereof yea may be judged such as shall bear a Resemblance to that Progress of Grace and wonderful Product of its Efficacy in the first times of the Gospel so is it to be expected that this last Tide of the Effusion of the Spirit of God shall be so strong and
manner did he bear Testimony to the Divinity of Christ in his Sufferings by such a tremendous Earthquake as an immediate and supernatural Sign in which sense through the Scripture as it is ever given as an extraordinary appearance of God for some special end so it 's unquestionable the greatest Commenter we have on the Scripture is that which is writ by the Finger of God himself in his Work 3. It is with an undeniable Evidence we see a supernatural Influence and Causality in such a Providence hath in all Ages been matter of solemn Observation upon these remarkable Events have followed such a Sign so as in the most judicious Records of History we do rarely find the one mentioned without respect to the other Thus Josephus does most punctually relate these Earthquakes that did so nearly preside the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Expiration of the judaical State as they were predicted by our Lord himself Matth. 24. 7. 4. Yea it 's beyond question how sometimes such Earthquakes fall out with these tremendous Circumstances and clear Evidence of an immediate divine Appearance as serves a Constraint herewith on a natural Conscience to see and acknowledge a supernatural Cause and that they have some extraordinary Commission so as it 's not possible then for the worst of Men to keep off the Terror and Impression of an invisible God And we see little what Interest the Ministry of the Angels hath herein who have surely a more peculiar Delegation and Service in such extraordinary Acts of Providence 5. As it 's needful to understand the Rule of Providence e're we can discern aright the Seals appended thereto so is it evident that a great and stupendous Earthquake is foretold to be one of the strange Events of the last Trumpet which must assuredly take place in these last times and have a literal Accomplishment And though its Appearance then will be something we may judge of an extraordinary kind with some astonishing Marks of Judgment yet is the intent of that Prediction clear herein that when there is any appearance of God this way it calls the World to a very solemn and awful regard of the same and for some Correspondent acts of Reverence and Homage as is suitable to a Providence whereon he does put so signal an Impress of his Terror and Greatness But it were well if Mens Spirits were more prepared and inclinable not only to entertain any such Intimation with Reverence and Fear of the Divine Majesty but to improve the same for a greater strengthning of their own Faith of his glorious Being and of the Divinity of his Word when it is also directed for such an end A Second Enquiry upon this Subject and of great Use is what may be more specially judged as the Grounds of any such extraordinary Warnings and Signs to a Nation where God hath clearly revealed his Counsels and Judgments by his Word and of his making use thereof Though here the Soveraignty of his Will should both silence and subject our Spirits in such a case yet there can be no Darkness therein to any of a serious and judicious Spirit when they see 1. Such a suitable Congruity therewith to that Tenderness which the Son of God hath to Mankind and to Kingdoms and Nations in his Government of the World that he will not only speak by his Word but go to the utmost by more extraordinary Warnings of some great and unusual Stroak of Judgment e're it come so as nothing may be wanting either to reclaim or render such a People unexcusable And it hath a most sad and fatal Aspect if this hath no suitable Impression in the present day 2. This can be no dark or strange thing when the times we are in are such that the Honour and Glory of the Godhead is interested to appear in some unusual manner before Men when no Application of Light to the Judgment either from his Words or Works in an ordinary way does prevail when his Name is in so visible a way blasphemed and all wherein he has placed his Name of so low a regard with this Generation 3. Yea may not yet some more strange and immediate Appearance to this Generation be expected when such a visible Tendency now is to sacrifice to natural Causes whatever hath the greatest Evidence to bring near an affecting Sense of the Deity unto Mens Conscience and to account it a small thing to arraign and subject the greatest of his Works to the Comprehension of their dark and limited Reason and that their Wisdom hath such a Dominion and Influence on future Events as they can give Law to Providence and lay Wagers on what the next day is to bring forth Oh! may not some unusual Application be yet more than expected to let Men know they are under the Dominion of that God who can in a Moment break the most promising Means and Measures taken by Human Counsel by one touch of his Hand and what hath been thought most infallible in the course of Humane Affairs 4. And may it not be feared that when these are so rare who tremble at the Word and Threatnings of an invisible God they should meet with such awakening Signs as cause the Earth to tremble beneath which in the very Nature thereof is suited to beget an awful and trembling posture of Spirit and let us see how every Moment it is dependant on Heaven and in the Reverence thereof that the Earth does not rent and swallow Men up But it is clear also that extraordinary Appearances of God not only in Judgment but in the way of Grace have been most discernable when things have come to an Extremity in the Tryals of Christians and when their Faith and Patience have been ready to be overset by Disappointments and contrary Appearances answerable to that of Isa Now will I arise now will I be exalted now will I lift up my self saith the Lord. A Third Enquiry That I humbly judge is of Concern here is what suitable and safe Application may be made of such extraordinary Providences to the present Day and Place we are in since it is requisite that any Impression of Fear on such an account be fixed on solid and rational Grounds and we be not affrighted with Shadows but according to that Evidence they bear of being supernatural Signs and Forewarnings to have an answerable Sense thereof on which account as to a clear and applicatory Judgment in such a case I shall yet further offer a few things to be considered for this end 1. That when something astonishing and unusal above any Influence of natural Causes is given to be a premonitory Sign to a Nation or People and hath an extraordinary Call with it it does surely speak there is some more than ordinary Piece of the Work of God than in bringing forth there and on a near Approach yea that it is on some great and important Ground when the Lord does this way appear 2. It is of
prevalent as to attain the Work of an Age formerly in a very short time and verify that Scripture to the Amazement of the World Isa 66. 10. how a Nation and People should be Born and formed to the Lord in a day But I must herewith speak to a sad Mistake that I humbly judge many are upon as to the measure of that Prophetick Millennium and highest Glory of Christs visible Reign herein as if that definite time of a Thousand Years should be understood extensively of such a precise number of Years and of so long a Duration when the Intent of the Holy Ghost herein seems so clear and evident that it 's rather intensively to be taken in the Value and Splendor thereof when the Light of one day will be as of seven in one and the Work of God in a short measure of time then will virtually amount to a Thousand Years I know it 's accknowledged by all and clearly understood as David speaks Psal 90. and the Apostle 2 Pet. 2. how a Thousand years with the Lord is but as a day yet seems the Sense of this to be little apprehended by most how a day before the Lord may be as a Thousand years And how it 's intended there to shew his ing such a Value and Glory thereon as it may amount to the Product of a Thousand years formerly in the ordinary course of Providence 2. It is in this respect also that the Lords making a short work in the Earth in the last times of the Church may be understood by a more swift course than usual in order to the perfecting of the Saints who then are on the Earth and ripening of them for Heaven so that answerable to their Attainments of Grace in a more extraordinary growth herein their Translation to Glory will be the more hastned and the Measure of the Work and Services of their time more quickly perfected This with humble Sobriety I have sometimes and do still judge that the Lords cutting short his work then may be no less remarkable in the short Period and Duration which the Saints shall have on the Earth after their Calling than that long Measure which was allotted to Men in the first entry of time as congruous to this design of Grace to make a short work then and hasten the full Translation of the Church to its Triumphant State 3. It is to be judged in this respect also will appear that cuting short of the Work of God in the last times by bringing forth the great designs of Providence which are then to have their full Accomplishment with so extraordinary a gale of Divine Power and swift course thereof as will admit no Halting or Delay but shall attain that in a very short time which to our Thoughts would seem great for an Age to bring forth We can see now with full evidence for what great ends the Service and Vse of time hath been from the first entry thereof and what designs the Blessed Author of the same hath had on the Ages past But when we look forward to the last Intent and Work thereof there seems to be very dark and strange Thoughts hereof by many though the Spirit of God by Divine Revelation is clear and express about the same as to what must be yet filled up of the Work and Administration of Providence before the end The Testimony of Christ which is the Spirit of Prophesie was most specially directed under the Old Testament upon his Priestly Office but now is the Glory of this Testimony as to the Prophesies under the New Testament in a peculiar way settled on his Kingly Office in the whole Progress and Gradations of his visible Kingdom until the close of Time and it 's in a Twofold respect that the Spirit of Prophesie does reveal the great designs of Providence which are yet to be perfected before the end of time The first is as to a breaking down and final Overthrow of the Kingdom of Antichrist under the last Vials yea as to the Methods of Providence and the manner hereof is also express and clear that when the time is once come for this great and magnificent Act of Judgment on that City and Seat of the Beast by the Fifth Vial it will then make a strange and unusual dispatch and be an amazing Surprizal as the Scripture speaks Rev. 18. 7 8. when she says I sit as a Queen and shall see no Sorrow then in one day shall her Plagues come for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Nor can this be more marvelous in our Eyes when it comes than what we have seen of the degrees of Wrath and Judgment that are already fulfilled on this Adversary so as I must judge by Scripture Evidence this will be a work of short time as it will bear an extraordinary and immediate Appearance of God therewith But there is one great design further in that way of breaking down and overturning which must yet take place in the final Judgment of the Mahumetan Empire both as to Turks and Persians which as it may be clearly understood by the Sixth Vial and does with great evidence relate to what is foretold of this Adversary Rev. 9. 14. under the Sixth Trumpet so as to the manner hereof in that Allusion of drying up the River of Euphrates when formerly we see how these Angels were let loose for Destruction who were bound thereat We may see how the same Allusion does speak such a work of Judgment as will be strange sudden and surprizing as the drying up of Euphrates by Diversion of that River did in one Night make way to finish the Babylonish Empire in the time of Cyrus and now some prelude and remarkable Steps of Judgment as to the fall of that Empire have been of late very obvious But yet in a Concurrence herewith there is one great design of Providence to be accomplished before the end which is for building up and a restoring work on that great and long Ruin of the scattered Jews and thus for gathering together in one in the Dispensation of the fulness of time all things in Christ even in him Eph. 1. 10. which Scripture I must humbly judge speaks peculiarly to that last uniting work about the Church Vniversal both of the Jews and Gentiles When the times of the Gentiles are once Accomplished which as I have a little touched before then will it be understood in the Event how the Value and Interest of a day may be by the Lord in that manner heightned as to sum up and abridge therein what had not been attained in a Thousand years before It was in the first times of the Gospel that the Effusion of the Spirit of God and Out-goings of his Power was so wonderful and strong as in Forty years the extent of the Christian Church after the Ascention of Christ was then greater in the World than it seems to be at this day which I do not question shall yet once