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
as if they saw Death Hell and Judgment and all ready to take hold of them VVhen news was brought unto Lewis of the death of his Mother perceiving by the countenance of the messengers that they were ready to tell him something that would afflict his heart Let me pray first saith he and then speak what ye have to say A man may be sure it is a time of finding when he can experience not onely present fears remov'd but his spirit brought up into such a gracious frame as he can quietly hear any thing without dishonouring God through murmuring and sinful passions either in his thoughts speech or action Secondly It is a time of finding 2. It is a time of finding when the Spirit faints not but is kept lively up in the duty of seeking when the Lords people faint not in their SEEKING but are kept up and have life and power given them to persist and persevere to the end As fresh Oyl poured often into the Lamp preserves the light from going out so their groanings and cries cease not day nor night through fresh supplies of the Spirit o Isa 40.29 30 31. He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint The meaning is whereas proud Hypocries p Psa 20.8 33.16 52.7 trusting to their own strength power parts gifts lose what they have and make Ship-wrack of all On the other side such as are poor and q 1 Cor. 1.27 28. despised things of the world r 2 Cor. 12.9 God makes his power to appear in their weakness For though Å¿ Joh. 15.5 of themselves they can do nothing yet he enables them t Phil. 4.13 to do any thing And when they seem u 2 Cor. 8 9 utterly spent they have a new supply of strength to enable them to bear up and hold out and thus x Phil. 1.6 he perfecteth the good work begun in them And indeed this is a gracious return of prayer when the soul is not onely strengthened and enabled to hold out but is sweetly raised and enlarged in the work Though we have not the thing we ask yet if we can sigh more and weep more for it then we did Here is a time of finding yea such a FINDING as it is much better sometimes to be kept up by fresh supplies of the Spirit in sighs and tears then to have presently what is ask'd As the Husbandman the more seed he sows the larger is his Crop at harvest Doth the Lord keep thee sowing in tears doth he supply thee with precious seed Oh it is a blessing of blessings thy reaping y Gal. 6.9.10 in due season shall be accordingly I know Satan and Hypocrites are ready to reproach us with the little profit we have by our mournings You have been say they these three or four years in tears nothing but sighing crying out against Self-seekers Oppressors Covenant-breakers but what hearing-time have ye had a Mal. 3.14 What profit is it that ye have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts To this we answer Whereas we have not fainted but have been kept up in the work all this time yea have had such fresh springs of encouragement and enlargement that our tears and sighing the last to be more then the first Hence we are satisfied that the ears of the Lord of Sabboth have been open to our prayers Many and great were the discouragements which b Mat. 15.21 22. c. the woman of Canaan met with when she besought Christ for her daughter 1. Christ goes away from her as if he would not hear her when she had followed him and gotten a word from him what was it truly a hard saying He is not sent unto such as she Well she faints not neither is weary but continues her cry Lord Lord have mercy upon me VVhat follows next that her request was unseemly unreasonable viz. To cast Childrens bread to Dogs A man would think whilst Christ carried himself thus towards her it was no time of finding whereas in truth she found him all the while I say all this time that these discouragements and temptations lay upon her it was A TIME OF FINDING But you will say How I answer both in keeping up her soul that she fainted not and in making way for the discovery of that great faith which he gave her So that it was better for the woman that she was defer'd a while and strengthened in the work then to have had her request sooner granted To you therefore my Brethren and Companions in Tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ this I would humbly send to you whereas the Lord hath strengthned you in mourning and crying against the Abominations of the last Apostacie it is not onely matter of comfort to assure you that there hath been a time of finding but also and note it well there is a blessing in it and much divine love Oh it is love indeed unspeakable when the Lord draws from us abundance of tears and groans and enables us to wait long before he gives the blessing A word likewise to our DISSENTING-BRETHREN whose mourning of late is turned into laughter and their heaviness to joy Josephs afflictions are no more remembred neither the oppression and cry of the poor and needy c Eccl. 7.4 Their heart is not now in the house of mourning but in the house of mirth As if they were placed in the earth as Leviathan in the Sea only to take their sport and pastime therein Here lies the difference between you and your Brethren you laugh and are more merry then you used to be because of the advantages you have by these corrupt times whereas your poor Brethren are more in tears and in bitterness of Soul these 3. or 4. yeers then they us'd to be for the great dishonor scandal and reproach which you have brought to the name of God and profession of Religion by assisting and justifying of mens INTEREST against the interest of Christ and his people hear what the Lord saith to both d Luk. 6.21 Blessed are ye that weep NOW for ye shall laugh e Ver. 25. Woe unto you that laugh NOW for ye shall mourn and weep 3. A time of finding when Saints rest fully satisfied in the things they ask Thirdly When Mourners have such a return of prayer as they rest fully satisfied therein My meaning is the Lord perswades their hearts that he will so answer the travel of their Souls as all things shall work together to his Glory and their comfort and content and thus had Paul a time of finding when the Lord told
of Religion to stink among the Nations It pleased the Lord through his Grace to inable me to hold forth a publick Testimony against the Prelats but never was the great Name of God his Gospel and Kingdom so much concern'd in that Controversie I mean between the Non-conformists and Conformists as it is at this day between the Lords VVitnesses and the Second Apostacy The higher a thing is lifted up and then hurled down the more it is wrong'd and hurt thereby The Bishops never lifted â—p the work of REFORMATION in Church or State they were Professors that did it and to shew their spight to it and that they might wound it and wrong it the more when they had raised up the Good Cause of God and the interest of the Nation as high as they thought would serve their OWN TVRN down they threw it with both hands hoping it should never rise again It is but a little which I have said to that I beleeve will be said for indeed the bottome of the Apostacy will not be touch'd till things be put more home as Nathan did to David THOU ART THE MAN that is particularly to name them and to set down their falshood and treachery and what wages and hire some have had for serving the lusts of men It was a crime laid to Silicius Victoria per avaritiam faedata he discredited his victory by his Covetousness this needs little application Alas what credit have they now by opposing the Prelates doe not the people generally say and not without cause it was to have the Bishops power in their own hands and having gotten it are as insolent and proud and for covetousness a thousand times worse then they The sordid covetousness of these men caused one to deride them thus Whitlock Observ p. 358 359. Our Protestant Jesuites care not for converting the Indians that have no gold they know how to interweave the pretence of Gods interest with their own and therewith to advance all their designes Indeed these Jesuites carry not the Gospel into any beggerly Region spring a mine and then if you will set up a pulpit and shew them gold there they will barter salvation otherwise no penny no pater-noster Again Our Fishers angle for no fish but such as have money in their mouths they will only fish for such as contribute to their superfluities Bad times saith he when he that will not be a knave must be a fool Fourthly When I consider what famous testimonies the LORDS-WORTHIES have left behind them of their faithfulness and great zeal unto the glorious cause of Christ not only speaking against the corruptions and abuses of their times For had they done no more what had we known now of the Hypocrisie and Apostacy of Professors then but have left behinde them in white and black as we say Living Monuments of their Love to God and his people Truly this takes very much with me and exceedingly condemns the neglect and backwardness of this age I am thinking many times when an AFTER-GENERATION shall hear of this Second Apostacy and how far it exceeds the former in breaking Oaths Vows and Ingagements and the name of God and Religion more dishonored by Church-members and Church-Officers and other Professors then ever before in any age how strange it would be to them and admir'd if nothing should come to their hands from us as there doth to our hands from the Witnesses before us Besides I am now an old man and expect every day to lay down this earthly Tabernable it will be therefore some comfort to me whensoever my changeing coms that I have left a PUBLICK TESTIMONY against this present Apostacy as formerly I did against the other and howsoever I bless the Lord that hath kept my feet out of the SNARE of both yet this I shall leave behind me under my hand i. e. The Free Grace and Goodness of God hath more abundantly appeared towards me in preserving me a poor worm from this Last Apostacy then from the former not onely because of the two I take the Last to be the worst but because the later hath in it much more of the depths of Satan then the former had As for their jeerings and reproachful speeches I pass them by such things are not new with me the Bishops and their Creatures used them yet thus much I must say for the Bishops which I cannot say for them so far they shewed us FAIR PLAY not to imprison us nor banish us till they had told us the cause and heard what we could say for our selves yea and would seem to be very pious and charitable in taking great paines with some of us to bring us out of our errours as they cal'd it but I have found no such piety or charity with these men for I have been banished now almost two years but never to this day knew the cause of it neither hath there been any thing laid to my charge I shall not speak of the sad calamity which they have brought since upon my Family by the death of my dear wife and daughter Again for the Bishops this I may say further for many of them I think the most part when they banished any of us or cast us into prison for Non-conformity they thought they did well and did God good service in it Thus they were like Saul before his conversion they did things ignorantly in unbelief But for men to persecute the people of God for no other cause but because they reprove them for their hypocrisie and falshood and they know in their own consciences what is spoken is very true of such men we cannot have the charity which we had of the Bishops Indeed they are like Saul too but it is another Saul i. e. that Saul which persecuted David ONE who knew he did not well in it but acted against his light and conscience Fiftly But one word more to you Mourners in Zion I am very sensible that many of the Lords people have other thoughts of the TIME then I have and do think I am mistaken concerning the period of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years Indeed to know what I do in respect of so many good men dissenting from me would very much discourage me from ingaging again in the same thing but that I have more encouragement TO HOLD FAST then I think meet to express I know whom I have believed in him I trust and will trust and do know I shall not be ashamed of my hope What David prayed for is a great strengthning to me Be surety for thy Servant for good let not the proud oppress me Humbly be it spoken I do believe he will answer for me and defend me Psa 91.14 Because he hath set his love upon therefore will I deliver him Lastly I desire in the Spirit of meekness to commend these few things to all the faithful of the Land 1. Howsoever I shall discourage none but rather encourage them
help saith David Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce That the Lord heard us in the late wars and was found c Gen. 22.14 JEHOVAH-JIREH a God seen in the mount We can pray now against all the Hypocritical enemies of his Cause and Kingdom more earnestly d Jam. 1.6 In faith nothing wavering which is greatly to his Glory The bramble would have e Judg. 9.15 all the trees put their trust in his shadow Indeed Tyrants would be trusted though there be neither trust nor Truth in them I have read the story how Dominique dreamt the Church of Rome was falling and that he upheld it with his shoulders Have we never heard the like fable In what sore distress the Church and State were both ready to split had not a Minion Idol been devis'd like Dominique's shoulders to keep them up The Tryers probably will apply this because it is like that Shameful thing for all the world But to proceed Did not David very much honor the Lord by trusting in him when he went forth against Goliah But what caused David by beleeving to doe so he tels you f 1 Sam. 17.37 The Lord that delivered me out of the Paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine I know there were many complaints and heart-groans poured out against the King and Bishops for their Tyranny and Idolatry but this I can truly say For twenty years and more in which I suffered under them the Lord did not draw out my heart to so much mourning and sighings as I have done within these three or four years against the GREAT BETRAYERS of the interest of Christ and his people And this I finde as a burning fire shut up in my bones that I cannot hold my peace day nor night Besides Howsoever I am a poor worm and the least in my Father's house yet herein I can give glory to God I do beleeve the Lord that delivered his afflicted people out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear King and Bishops he will deliver them from all PROVD PHILISTIMS that defie the Israel of God yea and that speedily Fifthly 5. Do him more work and better service Times of finding ingage the Lords people to do him more work and better service afterwards If Beasts the larger allowance they have will doe their master the more service Surely then the better Christ is to his children the more they will strive to doe his will in every thing g Psa 116.8 9. Thou hast delivered my Soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling I will walk on before the Lord in the land of the living That is Seeing I have had a Time of finding I will so improve this great mercy as the Lord shall have much glory and honor by it Methinks it is at this day with some honest hearts as it was with the h Mat. 20.3 4. Laborers which stood idle in the market-place Should they be askt why they are not at work What would they say We are calling upon the Lord for imployment we would willingly be at work for it grieves our very Souls to stand thus idle Now hath not a master more profit that his servants are at work then standing still When the Great TIME OF FINDING comes then will Zions children be at work indeed for now they may be said to be idle comparatively to their work THEN Then some shall be the i Rev. 14.6 Angel To preach the Everlasting Gospel Others the k Rev. 15.1 Angels to pour out the seven last plagues Some l Psa 149.8 to bind their Kings in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron Others m Rev. 18.5 to execute vengeance upon Babylon Come Lord Jesus When the Lord made use of Moses and Aaron to pour out vials full of wrath upon Pharaoh and Egypt and of Elias to destroy the Prophets of Baal and of Ioshua to cast out the Canaanites Was he not in those things very much glorified If so then much more when he shall answer the prayers of his people concerning his Son and Zion and the destruction of Babylon and all Tyrants Which is better and more for the honor of a King that Theeves Murderers and Rebels do spoyl and destroy the good people or to be taken and punished What is it that Saints pray for and desire a Time of finding Truly this That Hypocrites and Apostates n Psa 104 35. be consum'd out of the earth and bloody Tyrants be no more That o Rev. 11.15 all the Kingdoms of the world may be Christs p Eze. 21 27 whose right it is And in order hereunto they are to ready to follow the Lamb in his work wheresoever he shall lead them But howsoever some men by Times of finding are the better yet many are the worse Here Jesus Christ may say r Psa 109.4 For my Love they are my Adversaries That is for the Deliverances Victories Preferments which I gave them I am the more wrong'd by them in my Great Name Cause and Kingdom And truly I think never a generation of men more sinn'd against kindness then some of this generation * Isa 1.2 Hear ye Heavens and give ear O Earth for the Lord speaketh I have nourished and brought up or made great and exalted children but they have revolted from me It is a pitiful fight to see a poor Bird kill'd with the feathers pluckt from her They are not only contented to feather their nest with the interest of Christ and his people but with those feathers i. e. power places Offices and preferment which they have pluckt from it shoot at her and murder her most unworthily * Deut. 32.6 Doe ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is all forgotten What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psal 116.12 CHAP. IIII. Reasons Why there will be a Time of Finding in respect of Gods people Reasons in respect of mourners 1. Of the revilings of the proud First BEcause of the scornings and revilings of the proud as reproaching the Godly for their mourning and tears Had not the Lord been found of Hezekiah he had not been able in a little while to have born Rabshakehs and Sennacheribs blasphemies That which caused Hannah to be in bitterness of Soul before the Lord and no doubt moved the Lord to take pity on her it was the extream Å¿ 1 Sam. 1.6 provoking of her adversary for to make her fret because the Lord had shut up her womb Our Adversaries are fallen upon Rabshakehs work and seek to provoke us by the like scornful reproaches Where is the fruit say they of your tears and cries You may see the Lord cares not for your weeping fasting and praying did he regard them he would have helpt you ere now
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
dayly complaint Oh that the Lord would take the plaister off remove the yoke from our necks spoyl the spoyers and them that have dealt treacherously call forth his sanctified ones to execute the judgment written But what saith the Lord My dear children be patient quiet contented I am wiser then you and know best what is to be done there is some corrupt matter some rottenness which must be purged before I can grant your desire I must first bring away your covetousness spiritual-pride censoriousness passion c. then will I arise for Zion and restore comfort to her mourners The sins of the Amorites were full at the end of the 430. years then came in d Gen. 15.16 the fourth generation yet it was forty years after before they came into the Promised Land For howsoever the time as I said was expired as to the Iniquity of the Enemies that is they were * Numb 14.9 ripe for judgment yet the Lords people not being prepared for the promised blessing fell short of it many yeers The like may be said of things now the time and times and dividing of time which according to e Dan. 7.25 Daniel the Little Horn is to have may be already expired and his iniquity full and so ripe for cutting down nevertheless the Saints of the Most High not being prepared to take away his Dominion and possess the Kingdom there may be some yeers after the three years and an half are expired before he be destroy'd and his body given to the burning flames not but that * Namely in June laâ— the time may be ended viz. the three years half the little Horn ripe for judgment but the Saints are not PREPARED for such a dispensation We read that in all Iehoshaphats reign f 2 Chron. 20.33 the high places were not taken away and the reason is given for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers as if he should say As other abuses and corruptions were removed so had these high places been also but that the people were not enough humble holy sincere to receive such a mercy the like may be said of the high places remaining with us as the carnal-ministry Tythes Tryers the corrupt Law c. these Gillulim filthy things would soon be taken away were Saints prepared to meet their God in his judgments See Psal 81.13 14 15 16. It is with Christ and a soul seeking him as between the load-stone and iron if there be any dust or filth that sticks to the iron the stone refuseth to close with it she will not be touch'd nor touch where there is foulness but take off the filth and let the iron be clean then they sweetly close together so is the Lords heart open and his arms abroad to take into his bosome such as are pure and clean in heart have no defilements upon them are pure vessels g 2 Tim. 2.21 meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work here the Lord will command the blessing even the blessed TIME OF FINDING 2. When the Saints have nothing left them for help but God Secondly It is a Time of Finding When the Faithful have nothing left them for help but the Lord only MANS EXTREMITY IS GODS OPPORTVNITY The Tide you know turns when the water is lowest would yee know the time of the Lords turning and returning to his Church and people It is at low water h Deut. 32.36 when he seeth that their power is gon and there is none shut up or left i Psal 107.27 28. see also v. 3 â— 5 12 13. when their soul is melted because of trouble and are at their wits end Then crying unto the Lord he bringeth them out of their distresses he maketh the storm a calm and bringeth them to their desired haven Among men to plead poverty and want experience shews it signifies very little should a poor man goe to a merchant and tell him nothing but of his nakedness and misery this would not prevail with him for clothing and other relief but with the Lord no better argument to speed then to spread miseries and wants before him Hence the Saints usually in their prayers have mentioned their DISTRESS as a great reason to move the Lord unto pity thus did Iehoshaphat k 2 Chron. 20.12 O our God wilt thou not judge them FOR we have no might neither know we what to do So David l Psa 6.2 Have mercy upon me O God FOR I am weak O Lord heal me FOR my bones are vexed Again m Psa 8â— 2 109.22 23. Bow down thine ear O Lord hear me for I am poor and needy And for our encouragement herein the Lord hath promised that it shall be A TIME OF FINDING when n Psa 50.15 in trouble we call upon him o Psa 9.9 He will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in times of trouble p Psa 102.17 he will regard the prayer of the destitute or naked shrub and will not despise their prayer Isa 41.7 When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them The poor woman that had the issue of blood twelve yeers and in that time r Mark 5.26 27 had spent all that she had on physicians when she came to Christ in that extremity was it not a time of finding the Text saith Straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague And indeed her case is much like Ours she came not to Christ till all was spent As long as we had a Parliament a Councel of State an Army a General c. we too much rested on them as our Saviors and Deliverers it is therefore well for us that Iehovah hath broken these Egyptian reeds and that we have at present none in Heaven nor in Earth but Jesus Christ to trust in for now we may confidently expect A TIME OF FINDING When Christ saw that those who had continued three days with him in the wilderness f Mat. 15.32 had nothing left he took compassion on them and fed them by a miracle Again when he was at Nazareth preaching in the Synagogue he needed not to have been led from thence t Luk. 4.29 unto the brow or edg of the hill he might have escaped long before but he would suffer the enemy to go so far to shew that it is his time to work deliverance for his people when they seem to be in the greatest danger Is there nothing left no Parliament Councel Army Navy General Have u Lam. 1.2 all Zions friends dealt treacherously with her and become her Enemies Is the GOOD OLD CAVSE brought to the brow of the hill Then lift up your heads ye naked shrubs every
commited himself into the Lords hand This I mention because I had it from the mans own mouth and what may we learn from it how safe and happy they are who make Christ their ALL It is not Satan nor any of his cursed imps and instruments that can harm them o Rom. 8.31 If God be with us who can be against us That people trusting in God shall have A TIME OF FINDING appears in the example of the p 1 Chron. 5.20 Reubenites q 2 Chron. 14.11 12. Asa r 2 Chron. 20.12 17. Iehoshaphat Å¿ Jer. 39.17 Ebed-melech so t Psa 17.7 91.2 3 12 13 14 David asserts it often But what was the reason that the Lord would not be found of Saul u 1 Sam. 28.6 neither by Dreams nor by Vrim nor by Prophets He had rejected the Lord and would not depend upon him but would do what seemed right in his own eyes hence being left of God he runs to a witch to the Devil to any thing How comes it to pass that some men make Soldiers their Saviors their dependence is on the arm of flesh viz. Ahitophels Machiavels Cardinals Atheists doubtless they see the Lord God hath forsaken them for their abominable hypocrisie and therefore being left of God they are necessitated to make the best shift they can In a sore famine when wholsome meat cannot be had people will eat dogs and cats rats and mice yea and worse things too rather then starve many at this time are under a great famine the Lord they cannot finde and therefore to keep themselves from starving they will make use of any unclean thing steal murder swear falsly and make lies of all sorts and sizes their refuge David saith x Psal 73.28 It is good for me to draw neer to God and he gives the reason I have put my trust in the Lord God that is I may be assured by seeking to find him having made him my hope and confidence alone but saith he y ver 27. Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee What is it to go a whoring from God I answer To cast off his work and cause turn with the dog to the vomit and trust in lying vanities I have read of a Tyrant by his cruelties had so displeased the people as he would not trust himself with men but committed the guard of his body to dogs some men by their SPIRITVAL WICKEDNES IN HIGH PLACES do bring themselves into such a Case God nor good men they dare not trust having so highly displeased both but rather confide in dogs swine foxes wolves as the Scripture terms wicked men 5. When the enemies of God are plotting mischief against Christ his interest and people Fifthly It is a Time of Finding When the enemies of God are plotting mischief against Iesus Christ his interest and people Thus the Israelites found him when Pharaoh sayd a Exod. 1.10 2 23 24. Come let us deal wisely with them So afterwards when Haman took crafty counsel against them you know how the proud tyrant was taken in the pit he had dig'd for others so again when b Act. 12.1 2 3. Herod had design'd the taking away of Peters life the Lord so graciously answered the prayers of the Church as Peter is not only inlarged but the bloody wretch a little after miserably perisheth under Divine wrath According to that saying c Prov. 11.8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble and the wicked cometh in his stead As some fishes are taken whilst they are making snares and in the very traps and gins which they lay for others so persecutors very oft as they are plotting mischief and at work are trapt in their own wickedness Iulian the Apostate had a design at his return from the Persian wars to have sacrificed the blood of Christians to his Idol gods The like plot had the Constable of France after the taking of St. Quintin he vowed to destroy Geneva now howsoever their designs took no effect yet the Lord 's did against them for he gave them their own blood to drink and so sav'd his people He that moves the week of candle with his finger mends the light but burns and blacks his fingers certain it is the crafty plots of Gods enemies have very much profited the Saints though it have been to their own ruine And many of Christs little flock can speak it by experience since the Last plotters came up the Lord hath been very good to them and they have found him more sweetly and heart-feelingly then ever in their lives before It was the speech of an honest man being pitied that he had so bad a wife Oh said he she is a good wife for me she brings me often upon my knees and to sighings and mourning before the Lord. In such a sence may many of the Lords people say Whereas hypocrites reign truly it is good for us we should not be so often with our God and pour out tears day and night nor have such times of finding did not these d Psal 129.3 plowers plow upon our back and make long their furrows In great mens kitchins there are certain scullions to rub spits and make clean the dishes and howsoever they are black and foul themselves yet they are of necessary use to have the vessels meet for service what a great deal of filth and dirt hath the Lord lately remov'd from his little remnant by his kitchin-drudges of a truth they were not half so fair pure and lovely some few years past as they are now e Psa 52.1 Why boastest thou thy self in mischief O mighty man This may serve to take down the pride of Tyrants and insulting hypocrites for what are they though Emperors Kings Princes Protectors c. if they persecute the witnesses of Iesus for speaking against their wicked ways but as Christs SKVLLIONS and DISH-CLOVTS to wipe off the dust and filth from the Saints that they may be meet for the Masters use When it was told David that Ahitophel was amongst the Conspirators with Absalom he knew then there would be deep and devilish plotting against him and therefore presently cries out f 2 Sam. 15.31 O Lord I pray thee turn the counsel of Ahitophel into foolishness and here David had a time of finding g 2 Sam. 17 14 32. For Ahitophels design is not only frustrated but the traytor himself as a just reward for his villany for very shame hangs himself from hence this may be gathered when we understand there are any wicked designs set on foot against the Kingdome of Christ whereof Davids Kingdom was a type we must pray earnestly to God for the confusion thereof it being then a TIME OF FINDING Sixtly It is a time of Finding 6. When Saints are importunate beggars and will take no nay at Gods hand When Saints are BOLD-BEGGARS and will take no nay or denyal at the
altogether at nought as being glad he had met with such a BARGAIN and sped so well Verily I think that blood is not more like blood then Esau and the Revolters of this age are like one another Neither since Esau's time till now have any generation of men so MATCHT HIM in prophaness and this I shall plainly demonstrate by the Parallel First Let it be considered what they have sold such a Glorious Cause as never was I think in the hands of men before Not Civil-Rights and Liberties alone but the GREAT CAVSE of God the Interest of Christ and of his Kingdom Laws People m Psal 84.10 David thought it was honor enough if a man might sit at the threshold of Gods house that is be in the lowest placeâ— and meanest service In the late wars he that was but a common-soldier to fight against Tyranny and Idolatry truly his place and service was very honorable then how much more a General Colonel Capt. c. besides the Lord was pleased to honor them with the Birth-right they were the first-born I say the first to have brought the King home and to set the Crown upon his Head What could have been done more to men But Secondly What have they sold their Birth-right for Oh It grieves my soul to think of it that ever such a thing should be told in Gath and published in the streets of Askelon that it should be said among the Heathen EMINENT PROFESSORS OF RELIGION AND MEN PRETENDING GREAT THINGS FOR CHRIST AND ZION HAVE SOLD THE GOOD OLD CAUSE FOR A MORSEL OF BREAD n Jer. 2.10 11. Consider diligently and see if there be such a thing Hath any Nation changed their gods which are yet no gods But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit We think those foolish in their trades that should lose many peeces of gold to have a little bad coyn Let them look over their Bargain what have they sold and what they have for it Alas their Courts Titles Parks Pleasures c. are all bad coyn Lentils meer vanity and lies o Pro. 11.4 things that will not profit in the day of wrath But the Cause and work of God which they unworthily have given up had they been faithful to it would have been better to them then gold yea then fine gold all the things that men desire not to be compared to it It is reported that those wicked Spirits commonly called Fairies having stolen the true child out of the cradle do secretly convey and place in the stead thereof somâ— changeling of their own what truth iâ— in it I know not but this I know tâ— be true the Devil hath dealt so witâ— Apostates by a cunning sleight hâ— hath taken the true Child from them that is THE GOOD OLD CAVSE and hath left in the room of it a poâ—starv'd changeling here the buyer mâ—â— wel say It is naught it is naught 3. Are they sorry for what they have done do they repent of it p Jer. 6.15 Nay they are not at all ashamed neither can they blush but rejoyce feast and sing having made such a Bargain Iudas after he had betrayed Christ took little pleasure in the money which he had for the Treason q Mat. 27.3 45. He brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and Elders saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood And he cast down the peeces of silver into the Temple and departed c. But these men have not yet so much remorse on their conscience for what they have done but the Courts Castles Titles Power c. the Money they had for the Innocent Cause are the things they glory in and brag of I might have mentioned the greediness of Esau's appetite to the dish that red that red there Gen. 25.20 The doubling of the word is to shew his hast and gluttonous desire the color and tast seem'd so pleasing and entising unto him Whether they have not been â—ike a Lyon greedy of his prey Psal 17.12 Like greedy dogs which cannot have enough Isa 56.11 let their own practise be witness But there is one thing wherein Esau is more to be excus'd if there may be any excuse made for him then some now he lay under some necessity r Gen. 25.32 I am saith he at the point of death and what profit shall this Birth-right doe to me But these men could not plead Esau's necessity they were not ready to starve but had enough and therefore their sin was the more prophaneness it may be call'd to sell such a Blessed Cause not only for so LITTLE but having no need so to do The Conclusion is If Esau for his prophaneness were denyed a Time of Finding others then following his steps and being as prophane or more may not expect to find it better in their own case 2. No time of finding for old Hypocrites whose bones are full of the sins of their youth Secondly There will be no Time of Finding for old Hypocrites whose Å¿ Job 20.11 bones are full of the sins of their youth and do continually seek to hide and cover them under religious pretences as fasting praying weeping c. A old Hypocrite is like a child born crooked no earthly medicines can make him right and straight or like to old cloth which being rotten will not bear the needle and thred and therefore not to be mended Some men through their long hypocrisie are become as rotten as dirt no hope of mending for they have so accustomed themselves to play the hypocrites by weeping praying c. as t Jer. 13.23 the Blackmore may sooner change his skin and the Leopard his spots then they cease from dissembling and mocking God in religious duties They who from their infancy are accustomed to take poyson in small quantities do inable their stomacks to digest more till by long custome and increasing the quantity it becometh so familiar to their stomacks that instead of poysoning of them they are nourished by it Thus it is with such men who from their youth have used themselves to hypocrisie and falshood and risen by degrees at length specially when they come to be old their hearts are so hardned and conâ—ciences seared as their hypocrisie is no poyson no trouble to them but it turns to their nourishment it feeds them like meat and drink and they cannot live without it It was a great sin in Iudas to deliver his Master up into the hands of his enemies the Scribes and Pharisees but the sin of Iudas had not been half so bad if he had not so hypocritically betrayd Christ u Mat. 26.49 He came to Iesus and said Hail Master and kissed him So for any man to deliver up Christ in his truth and Cause into the hands of his bloody enemies viz. Priests Lawyers Papists c. under a pretence of Religion and the honor of God this comes neer
pray before the Lord and yet in their actions not make conscience of any thing 4. There hath been such unheard-of impietie committed under a shew of Religion that it is now a common saying among Cavileers when they hear of any base thing done I warrant you say they it is some Professor hath done it As informer time when any Libel came from Rome presently Parsons was thought to be the Author and the more vile the more Parson-like I mourn because I cannot mourn enough wherefore came I out of the womb to such a day Ah! That the enemies of the Gospel should have so much cause given them as to think the worse the action is the more likely to to be done by Professing people 5. Such an Apostacy is seised on Churches especially in the Officers as none do more obstruct and hinder the Lords work of the day then some of them In the time of the Prelates if a good man out of Conscience opposed the Priests and held forth a publick testimony against their corrupt wayes he was presently rayl'd at counted factious and cast out of their Synagogue And is it not so now I could give many instances that the old Priests hardly shewed more bitterness against the Lords-witnesses then some Church-Officers do at this day against honest men for being faithful in the work of their Generation But to proceed 2. A Professing people causing scandal by their evil walking the Lord will soon take a course with when we see children rebellious and disobedient we are ready to say It is a shame to their parents to suffer them so to do what say profane men now Looking upon the actions of Professors Oh say they these call God Father and they would have us think none are his children but they if he be rheir Father how is it that he suffers such horrible lying falshood oath-breaking and self-seeking in them p Ezek. 36.23 I will sanctifie my Name which was prophaned among the Heathen which YE have prophaned in the midst of them and the Heathen shall know that I am the Lord saith the Lord God They were Professors of whom the Lord complains q Amos 2.13 Behold I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves The sins of Non-Professors are a burden but Professors sins are more then a burden and therefore not so long to be born They were a backsliding people as ours are of whom the Lord speaks r Isa 1.13 14. That their Oblations Solemn meetings and their appointed feasts were a trouble to him and he was weary to bear them How can a man that is weary of a burden have ease if he cast it not off they are the Professors of the last Times which the Prophet mentioneth Å¿ Isa 65.5 These are a smoak in my nose Smoak continueth not long it soon vanisheth signifying that the Back-sliders of this age are short liv'd 3. That judgment doth begin at the house of God it will be for the silencing of them that are without when their day shall come t Jer. 25.29 Lo I begin to bring evil on the City which is called by my Name and should ye be utterly unpunished ye shall not be unpunished 4. It is a Professing people which have made the Last Apostacy the subject I conceive of the first vial 4. When men glory in their shame Fourthly Such will have no Time of Finding Who glory in their shame and think it their Grace that they are graceless As David said of Doeg do u Psa 52.1 boast themselves in mischief for having done as wickedly as they can they rejoyce in and bless themselves in it x Dan. 4.30 Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my Majesty Is not this the wealth the power and greatness which I have gotten by craft deceit c. I have seen children when they have purposely made their hands and fingers black and foul have held them up and laugh'd to see what they had done Is there not a Generation of men who have made themselves foul and black within and without no Leper more foul nevertheless how do they glory in it boast of it and laugh to see so much blackness upon their fingers Among the Indians he is taken for the gallantest fellow that can make himself most ilfavored and is it not so among some Christians so call'd Is not He the None-such who by Hypocrisie and double-dealing can deform himself most and of all men is the VGLIEST to look on y Ezek. 30.2 Wo worth the day Quest But where is it proved when men take delight in their sins they shall have no Time of finding Answ In Gods Holy Book often 1. The Prophet a Ezek. 18.17 18. Ezekiel plainly tels us so Hast thou seen this O son of man is it a light thing to the house of Iudah that they commit the abominations which they commit here for they have filled the Land with violence and have RETVRNED to provoke me to anger and lo they put the Branch to their nose Therefore will I also deal in fury mine eyes shall not spare neither will I have pity and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voyce yet will I not hear them It was the manner of the Heathen and probably practised now by the Jewes to carry Branches with them to their sacrifices and to put them to the Idol and there to sprinkle them either with the blood of their Idolatrous sacrifice or to sweeten them with some Idolatrous perfume then to put them to their nostrils and kiss them shewing thereby how greatly they approved what was don so that the meaning is when men not onely do base things as break their oathes and Covenants set up Tyranny Idolatry persecute the Interest of Christ his people but likewise take pleasure therein and rejoyce in the wickedness they have done such in the day of trouble shall have no TIME OF FINDING Again as we read in b Isa 3.9 Jer. 3.3 6.15 8.15 Eze. 24.7 8. the Prophets of men that had Whores-foreheads refused to be ashamed and could not blush would discover their sins like Sodom and hide them not and set their blood meaning cruelties and oppression upon the top of a rock to be seen of all the world so we find in the same places that the Lord would not spare them but cut them off and not regard their cries in the day of trouble I have read it somewhere that in Cumena a wide mouth is in fashion and what is more in fashion now then a WIDE MOVTH He that hath the Impudence and Boldness to defend hypocrisie and falshood and to justifie oppression and Tyranny hath the Fore-head to plead for wicked persons and things he shall have Balaams wages and promotion and be c Mic. 1.11 the Prophet of
a King wherein he promiseth to do so and so for him it were no presumption in this poor man having access to the Prince if he should mention it shew it to him humbly desire the performance of it neither would the other though a King be offended at it but bid him rest content for he would not be worse then his word Though the disproportion is far greater between the Creator and the Creature then between the greatest Monarch of the world and the poorest beggar on earth yet have the Lords people many times remembred him of his promise and spread it before his face and besought him earnestly to look thereon and not forget it Thus did Moses Exod. 32 13. i Remember Abraham Isaac and Israel thy servants to whom thou swarest by thine own self c. So David k Psal 119.49 Remember thy word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope And Solomon likewise l 1 Kin. 8.25 26. Therefore now O Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my Father that thou promisest him Again Let thy word I pray thee be verified which thou spakest unto thy servant David my Father So Jeremie m Jer. 14.21 Remember break not thy Covenant Neither was the Lord offended with them that they did put him thus in remembrance much less did he answer them as some men use to do when they are minded of their Oaths Vows and Solemn Appeals to God that they would do such and such things for Christ and his people and the good of the Nations Ho say they Those Promises and ingagements were but pro Tempore that is as their practice shews they never meant to keep their word but as it should make for their own interest and advantage But our God n Psa 5.6 abhorreth such deceitful men and all such execrable Hypocrisie For o Mal. 3.6 He changeth not p 2 Cor. 1.20 All his promises are yea and Amen Yea so far is the Lord from breaking Covenant that he hears the cryes and prayers of his people for his promise sake q Exo. 2.24 And God heard their groaning and God remembred his Covenant with Abraham with Isaak and with Jacob. So a little after r Chap. 6.5 I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage and I have remembred my Covenant When Doves sigh and mourn in clifts and secret holes it doth presage say they that destruction is nigh the Birds of prey not to speak of Pharaoh Haman Herod a little before the fall of the Bishops and the King the Lord 's hidden ones were in bitterness of Soul and poured out mournful complaints day and night against their persecutors but much more have they sighed and groaned before the Lord since this sad Revolt broke forth in regard of the scandal and reproach brought to the Gospel by it And what doth this signifie That the Lord will suddenly take away this image of jealousie and revive his work in the midst of the Nations But to proceed That the Lord forgets not what he promised might be shewed in many other places Å¿ Psal 105.8 He hath remembred his Covenant for ever the word which he commanded to a thousand Generations And in the same Psalm t ver 42. He remembred his holy promise and Abraham his servant Again u Psa 106 44 45. Nevertheless he regarded their afflictions when he heard their cry and he remembred for them his Covenant See 2 Sam. 7.21 Here we may not omit how far the Lords wayes and some mens ways are unlike the Lord takes it well to be * 1 Chron. 17.23 remembred of his Covenant and promises and would have his children to mention them before him whereas you cannot more grieve and vex certain NEW LORDS then to tell them of their ingagements should any but shew them the Oaths and Vows published under their hands what they protested in such a yeer at such a place for the interest of Christ and his people their asseverations and imprecations the curses and judgments they wish'd to light upon themselves and posterity if they did not such things add hereunto their frequent tears hands laid on their breasts and eyes lifted up to Heaven calling God to witness as to the plainness and singleness of their hearts should this I say be told them what would they say x 2 Kin. 11 14. Treason Treason y 1 Kin. 22 27. Put this fellow into prison c. In all the reign of Caligula if a man did but name a Goat it was a crime of Laesae Majestatis against the Imperial person this was of his hairy body A very strange thing that a man could not say Goat but he must mean the Emperor Can you say Covenant-breaker self-seeker deceiver of the people but the Lawyer cryes out y Luk. 11.45 Master thus saying thou reproachest us also Thirdly It must needs be That there will be A TIME OF FINDING 3. Because the Lord will be honored many wayes by it because the Lord hereby will be honored and glorified many ways There is nothing that a man will sooner regard and hearken to then when his own profit and advantage is propounded To speak soberly and no more but what the Scriptures hold forth It is good for the Lord himself That there be a time of finding Quest What Good hath the Lord by it Answ 1. By this means the Saints will bless him and the high prayses of God will be in their mouth Now a By haâ—ing the â—igh prayâ—â—s of his â—eople Psa 50.3 whoso offereth praise glorifies him Was not the Lord glorified when he answered the groanings of his people in Egypt plagued the Egyptians and destroyed Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea b Exod. 15. â— 11. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah c. Who is like unto thee O Jehovah among the gods who is like thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders When Babylon shall lie under wrath d Rev. 18. â— 1. sunk like a great milstone cast into the Sea and shall be found no more at all What immediatefollows d Rev. 19.1 I heard a great voyce of much people in Heaven saying Hallelujah Salvation and glory and honor and power unto the Lord our God e ver 3. And again they said HALLELVJAH and a little after another f ver 6. great multitude saying HALLELUJAH for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth As when a judge hath done some notable and eminent act of justice upon a notorious offender he is highly commended for it so will the Lord have unspeakable praise from his people every where when he hath judged the Great Whore destroyed the false Church Ministery Worship and Government pluckt her up root and branch with all her props and Lovers HALLELV-JAH and again HALLELV-IAH What doth the Lord at
his former doctrine turning his tale as if there were no providence at all but every thing went by hap It is too probable by some late Turnings many are turned Atheists And therefore questionlesse God will revive his work again For otherwise how can the great reproach and dishonour be taken off from his Providence and Government So 2. Is Religion the true profession of the Gospell which never will have the Credite Glory Beauty it had formerly if the interest of Christ and his People be not revived Nothing better heals the sting of Vipers than to apply their own flesh to the disease The dust of a Toad put to its venomous biting takes away the poison It is much upon my heart by some such APPLICATION the Lord will heal those fearfull wounds and bitings which are upon the truth Though men have not regarded the Credit and Honour of it yet Christ doth and will recover it and revive it again by destroying the fond glosses and covetuous practises of corrupt men and raising up faithfull ones to preach the everlasting Gospell Eusebius writes of Peregrinus the Philosopher having gotten a great estate by feigning himself a Christian that he might consume it the more freely on his lusts revolted to Gentilisme It is plain enough to see why some men have left the Lords work and this people It was that they might be at liberty to spend what they had gotten in excesse pride riot lasciviousness They well knew should they have kept close to Christ and his interest they could not have fulfilled the desires of the flesh and walked after their own lusts And therefore thought it better to turn Heathens again For so doing they knew they should have elbow-room enough might do whatsoever seemd good in their own eyes But what of all this let such know the Lord will make That Holy Profession of his Name Gospel Kingdome glorious and honourable again Though they have made it vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world m Ezek. 36.23 I will sanctifie my great Name which was prophaned among the Gentiles which ye have prophaned in the midst of them 3. Such were the wonderfull actings and appearances of God for and with this Cause as it is not possible it should come to nothing vanish away like smoak which yet will be so unlesse it be quickned and raised again n Judg. 13.23 If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us all these things Let no man think that he would so eminently have shewed his power justice and wrath against the late King for his Tyrany and Arbitrary Government So a-against the Bishops for their pride and humane inventions but that he means to destroy the like wickednesse in others if afterward they shall take it up o 1 Sam. 3.12 When I begin I will also make an end Though it be a judgment and to be executed upon his own people yet he will perfect the work And will he not do so and more p Lam. 3.33 willingly when it is to have mercy upon Zion 4. In reviving this work he will q Isa 57.18 Restore Comfort to his Mourners r Ps 85.6 would not thou revive us again that thy people may rejoyce in thee That is when thou shalt take that which letteth out of the way and bring us again upon thy work Our mourning will cease and thy power faithfulnes goodnes justice will be soul-refreshing unto us I know some men can take pleasure in beholding beastly and filthy things So is oppression falshood and deceit to a time-server turn-coat a most pleasant sight As Hanibal when he saw a pit full of mans blood O formosum spectaculum and the Scots Queen seeing her Subjects lie dead and stripped on the earth cryed out The goodliest Tapestry that ever she beheld The cryes and groans of the poor under their oppressions and heavy burthens what sweet musick makes this in the ears of Self-seekers Now their pay comes in their salary and their so much per annum But the joy of good men riseth otherwise Å¿ Pro. 29.2 When the wicked beareth rule they mourn t Pro. 11.10 and when wicked Rulers perish they shout for joy So that untill this work be revived Saints may expect little joy as to outward and publick Affaires 5. This Cause will surely be revived because it is not mans but the Lords For 1. Are not u Ps 110.12 Christs Enemies to be made his foot-stool and x Psal 2 6. he to sit upon the holy hill of Zion 2. Is not all oppression to cease and y Isa 60.18 Violence to be heard no more in the Land The first and second Apostasies both to be destroyed 3. Must not a Ps 85.11 Truth spring out of the earth and Righteousnesse look down from Heaven And b Dan. 7.22 the Saints possess the Kingdom But can these things be and not the work revived that is impossible When it is night and dark whence do ye expect to have light again in this visible world Is it not by the rising of the Sun So these great things which we are waiting for concerning Jesus Christ and his Kingdome the coming in and accomplishment of them will be by the Lords reviving his work and Cause again Quest But is there not something for the Lords people to do in order to the reviving of the Work Ans Yes surely For 1. Howsoever Achan was the TROVBLER and had caused the STOP yet c Jos 7.11 Israel had sinned also d Jer. 5.55 Your Iniquities saith the Prophet have turned away these things and your sins have withholden good things from you When the clouds are scattered which hide the Sun from us then we behold his shining face again So the Lord e Ps 85.1 2 he forgives the iniquity of his people f Isa 44.22 Blots out their transgressions and sins as a thick cloud and then he will be favourable to his land and bring back the Captivity of Jacob. So that it is the duty of every Saint waiting for the great Promises of the Father to be at the foot of God exceedingly bewailing his Own and his Brethrens great miscarriages And as there is hope our Deliverance is nigh so our hearts should be the more broken and in bitternesse and our tears and sighings encrease now we should rise at midnight and cry g Iâ—el 2 17. Spare thy people h Hos 14.2 Lord take away all iniquity receive us graciously so will we render the calves of our lips We must not so look upon Achans Troublers abroad without as not to see the Achans and Troublers at home in our own hearts Though some have been i Num. 3.3 55. pricks in the eyes of the Lords work and the good old Cause and k Iosh 23.13 Scourges and Thornes in the sides of his people yet must we confess the righteousnesse of
the Woman must be n Rev. 12.6 in the wilderness 1260 dayes and o Rev. 13.5 ' Power was given to the Beast to continue 42. Moneths Both these Numbers signifying indeed all one time do end in the aforesaid yeare 1657. This humblie do I conceive I know what will be here objected If this were so we should see some change as either to the rising of the witnesses or fear among the enemies or something done upon Babylon But things stand as they did before The Dragon Beast Little Horne both Apostacies as Rampant as ever yea rather of late grown greater are at the rising hand than otherwise Ans This being a hard knot I trust the Lord will the more help me to unty it so to take this Stumbling block out of the way of his people 1. I would say as the Lord said to Job p Job 28.22.28 29. Hast thou entred into the treasures of the snow or hast thou seen the treasures of the haile Hath the rain a father or who hath begotten the drops of dew out of whose womb came the ice and the hoarie frost of Heaven who hath gendered it Hath the Lord a Treasure for snow and hail a Father to beget the rain and drops of dew and a womb wherein the ice hoarie frost are gendered and afterwards brings them forth as he thinks good to use and spend them Then much more a Treasure a Father a Wombe for higher things greater workes wherein his name glory kingdom people are especially concernd Is not this laid up in store with me Deu. 32.34 and sealed up among my treasures Again though it may not be questioned But q Isa 48.14 The Lord will do all his pleasure upon Babylon Nothing shall faile of his threatnings against the Dragon Beast Little Hornet Yet the ordering managing and governing thereof that only and wholly belongeth to him both when to begin and how to do it Hence I humbly conceive if we should see nothing done in the year 1657. as to the rising of the Witnesses or ruine of the Bottomlesse Beast and last Apostacie It will not therefore follow that the 1260. Yeares ended not in that year No more reason Then because the Childe is not Born Ergo not conceived in the womb 2. Christs words must be remembred r Luke 17.20 The Kingdome of God cometh not with observation that is not in such manner at first that it can be taken notice of by things done Observe it is not said the kingdome shall have no Observation But Cometh not Shewing how at first little will be seen to demonstrate that such a kingdome is come But afterward it shall be visible and plain enough to be observ'd And to this purpose speakes the Prophet Å¿ Isa 26.11 Lord though thy hand be lifted up yet they see it not But they shall see it This was the great Stumbling block which lay in the way of the Jewes when Christ came in the flesh Because he came not as they exspected before hand as it is in the comming of worldly Princes in great state and outward Pomp they would not believe in him nor receive him for the true Mesias And why may not the like be the Case of people now Because they see not as they expected WONDERS in 57. Some extraordinary power and presence of God with his people and great overturnings and breakings of Nations hence conclude it was not the Time of the End But let such know the Scripture favours no such Conclusion Question But shall the forty two moneths given to the beast end without observation Answ Howsoever immediately upon the period of the 1260. yeares there will not be I think actions of much Observation either in respect of Zion or Babilon yet the Time of the End cometh not without Observation some other way For 1. The serious Observation of the Prophesies and Visions of the holy Scriptures relating to the last dayes will lead a heart if it hath nothing in it but truth and uprightnesse and the glory of God to the knowledge of the Times 2. There is the Observation of the Spirit u 1 Joh. 2 20 The unction from the holy one and here we do observe how the Holy Ghost opens our understanding and not onely so but those great things which he reveals to his Babes and Sucklings he confirms them therein whiles they are in tears and weeping before the Throne 3. The Observation of Providence which hath brought â—orth the Persons and Things which were according to the Prophesies of the Scripture to finish and end the 1260. years But 3. Did not some men do like one who whiles he is striving to have a great gripe comes off with nothing in his hand They might see that 57. hath not altogether been without OBSERVATION For howsoever x Psal 36.6 Gods judgements are a great deep y Rom. 11.33 and unsearchable a Rev. 15.3 Great and marvellous are his workes b Ps 77.19 and his footsteps not known I say howsoever his Counsel Government Administrations and the manner of proceeding is beyond all searching into yet if matters soberly be considred by wisedomes Eye Fifty seaven hath shewed c Ps 86.17 some token for good and that d Is 63.3 the day of the Lords redeemed is come e Isa 34.8 ' and the year of recompences for the controversie of Zion For 1. VVhat may be meant by that Government which was set up December 16. 1653. and laid aside again June 26. 1657. It stood f Dan. 7.25 a Time and Times and the dividing of Times that is three years and an half almost to a day Oh the depth of Gods wayes Ashur shall fulfill his decree and counsel g Isa 10.7 Howbeit he meaneth not so neither doth his heart think so 2. VVhat things have been done and how mannaged and what success hath followed in 57. it is so well known to many mens cost as I need not mention it But what may we gather hence I mean from the Lords Acting and appearing already against some men That the National affairs in their hands is like the Fig-tree under the curse h Mat. 21 19. Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever 3. VVhen Agag thought i Sam. 15.32 the bitterness of death was past then came sudden destruction upon him Fifty seaven is not yet ended k Prov. 27 1. Boast not thy self of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Though the man-child in June were but l Job 10.10 poured out as milk and curdled like cheese to use the holy language yet who knows what in nine Moneths the womb of Providence may bring forth m Luk. 12.19.20 VVhilst the FOOL is thinking of building his Barnes greater death ceaseth on him n Act. 1 25. That he might go to his own place 4. VVhen Caleb encouraged his brethren to fight the Canaanites He
told them o Num. 14.9 Their defence is departed from them That is the Lord would protect them no longer But why is their shaddow Covert now gone doubtlesse he hath respect to the time of the end As if he should say the 430 years given to â—he Amorites being expired and so their iniquity full the Lord will deliver them into our hands if we are fitted for the work From which place this I would gather That the reign of the Beast may expire in 1657. and the enemies of God THEN ripe for judgement yet the instruments not being prepared for execution In this respect little or nothing for the present may be done Quest When the 430. years were expired the Israelites came out of Egypt p Exo. 12.40.42 the same day So from Babyâ—on assoon as the 70. years ended Why then should not the Witnesses rise and the little-horn and beast be slain immediatly at the ending of the 1260 dayes Answ 1. Howsoever it be so concerning their comming out of Egypt and Babylon yet there was sometime before they came to Canaan and Jerusalem So in order to the rising of Witnesses No sooner are the three years and a half ended but the work begins q Rev. 11.11 The spirit of life from God enters into it The wheeles of Providence are set running But there must be some time to have it perfected as it was in the case of the Israelites But 2 Israels case and this here are not alike For as they were people i. e. Men women children So nothing could be done to their enlargement but it must needs be obvious and visible But this about the Witnesses c hath much in it which is spiritual and mysticall And therefore a work as to the rising and growing of it not so plainly to be observed and discerned as was the other especially at first Neither 3. doe I find the promises alike for it seems to me by promise they were to be in Egypt but 430 years And in Babylon 70. and no longer But it is not said the witnesses shall stand upon their feet assoon as the three years and half are ended Indeed the Text saith r Rev. 11.11 And after three dayes and an half the spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet That is such a time being expired the Lord will revive his work and good old cause again But how long after it is not said only this is in the promise From that very time it shall not lie dead as before but the Lord will be forming it for its birth in the womb of providence 4. The businesse of Egypt and Babylon was such that untill the people came out the first part of the promise was not performed But here it is not so for the work may be begun go forward and much done according the Scripture and yet not seen or â—â—lieved scarse by any As water â—ns a great while under ground beâ—â—re it comes out at the Spring head â—o after the 1260. years are expired â—efore the work will openly appear 〈◊〉 setting the Witnesses upon their feet 〈◊〉 taking the little horns Dominion from â—im it will be as water under ground Å¿ Psal 139.15 wrought in the lowest parts of the â—arth Quest But how can the 1260 years â—e ended seeing it is the opinion of many â—ood men that the VVitnesses are not â—â—ain neither hath the little-horn yet â—een nor the second Beast risen out of the earth besides many other things not â—et fulfill'd which must be before the 42. months do expire Answ Because there are many men and some whom I know and honour of this judgement I do intend by the good hand of God assisting me to publish very shortly a particular Answer to this Objection And to give my Reasons grounds why I think there is nothing foretold in Scripture which should come to pass in the 1260 years but hath had its due accomplishment Question If the Work be so nigh râ—viving How and in what manner wiâ—â— the Lord by Providence bring it forth Answer I hope the God of truth bâ— his word and good spirit will so graciously guide me here That I shalâ— not intrude into those things whicâ— I have not seen But give my judgâ—ment as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithfull Thaâ— I may be in this great point the better understood howsoever I thinke wheâ— the Lord shall bring this work on again in the Vials it will be t Mat. 24.27 as the lightning which commeth out of the east and shineth even unto the west Namely with great swiftness and brightnesse the whole world over Nevertheless at first it will break forth as the dawning of the day but in one part or Country And I think some what to this purpose 1. Neere or about the visible reviving of the worke u Rev. 14.2 A voyce will be heard from heaven as the voyce of many waters and as the voice of a great Thunder Waters are from beneath Thunder from above So then by the Voyce of these Waters I understand a terrible Appearance and standing up of much â—eople or Common-wealths men for â—ivil Rights Crying JVSTICE â—VSTICE against oppressours and â—rong doers Neither will they be fiâ—enced or quieted no more then waâ—ers till they have recovered their â—reedom and Liberties 2. Thunder as I said is from above â—nd here may be meant Fift Monarchy â—en speaking very high for the â—ights of Jesus Christ his kingdome â—rown and dignity And howsoever â—t is but one Thunder and the Waters many yet it will not onely make a â—ouder sound and be Farther heard â—ut likewise be more dreadfull and â—errible wheresoever it comes x Jer. 50.14 Put â—our selves in aray against Babilon round â—bout all ye that bend the bow shoot at her spare no arrowes down with her down with her in all her Abominations In her Tythes and Triers as the rest of her whordomes and Fornications 3. That the Waters are set before the Thunder It may import that the worke will begin at least by most ownd upon a Civil Account As the lesser wedge makes way for the greater So in CLEAVING the kingdomâ— of the Beast The controversie will bâ— first about lesser things as the Poweâ— Freedome and Priviledges of thâ— people and so rise higher and higheâ—â— untill the OLD BLOCK Babylon bâ— made Chips for the Fire 4. There is y Rev. 14.2 a Voice of Harperâ— Harping with their Harpes This may signifie how lively chearfull resolved they are to ingage for the GOOD OLD CAVSE z 2 King 3.15 And it came tâ— passe when the Minstrel played the hanâ— of the Lord came upon him Formerly there was a death upon them a basâ— fear and Cowardliness But now thâ— spirit of life from God is entred into them and they stand upon their feet Now they look with Lion like faces and quit themselves like men