And then fo 〈…〉 our Judges and Priests did not the oâ—â— judge for reward and the other teach fo 〈…〉 hire Mic. 3. 11. And then for the lesse 〈…〉 Lawyers and Journy-men Priests hoâ—… fast would the one ride and the other run 〈…〉 the one to cheat you in temporals the other in spirituals Then the Constables Church-wardens and Overseers if yoâ—â— come not to Church to hear their refinâ—â— Masse then they give in your names to thâ—â— Chancellor and Proctor and by vertue of a Spiritual warrant from their reverend Lord and Master the Apparitor must be imployed to summon you to appeare before them and if they have no witnesses against you then you must take an oath to accuse your self and then the very meanest Officer as the Clark Sexton and Tithingman if there be ever a Puritan or Round-head in the whole Parish they will mischief him as much as in them lies But the measure of their iniquity being full and their day of calamity dawning these men are in part â—…lready laid aside and shortly will be fully rejected both of God and man And the Kingdom and the Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdom under the whole heavens shall be given to the Saints of the most High whose Kingdome is an everlastâ—…ng Kingdome and then the Nations shall â—…ecome the Nations of Christ and the goâ—…ernment shall be in the hands of the Saints and the Nations and Kingdomes that will not serve thee to wit Christ in the Saints shall perish Isa 60. 12. 17 18. For brasse I will bring gold and for iron I will bring silver and for wood brasse and for stones iron I will also make thine officers peace and thine exactors righteousnesse violence shall no more be heard in thy land wasting nor destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise Jer. 30. 21. And their Nobles shall be of themselves and their Governors shall proceed cut of the midst of them and so the Lord will punish all those that oppresse you Even now is the Lord begining to restore Magistracie and Ministery to itâ—… primitive institution This work is begun in England Ireland and Scotland will followâ—… and if I mistake not France Holland and Spain will come after and so all other parts untill that be fulfilled Dan. 2. 35. Dan. 7. 27. Rev. 11. 15. In Dan. 2. we read of a little stone cut out of the mountaines without hands and it became so big as to fill the whole earth And that in Dan. 7. 27. The greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints Rev. 11. 15. And the kingdomes of this world shall become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and so all his enemies shall be made his foot stool The houre of temptation is begun and will not end till it hath gone over all the earth O England England thou was first in misery thou shalt also be first in thy delivery Oh that thou didst now know what thou shalt shortly enjoy Thou hast been rough-hewed already thou wantest nothing but plaining and so thou wilt be made fit for the spiritual building thou hast been rough-hewed by the open prophane but now thou shalt be plained by the most zealous Pharisees those that will fast twice a week and give tythe of all they possesse and pray in the corners of the streets and say Lo here is Christ In a word the greatest formall professors will be thy greatest persecuters herein is the devils last and most subtle design he will now come with fair words and specious pretences and if you look upon his habit he is in sheeps cloathing and if he hath feet like a beast he will have hornes like a lamb and although under another garb he will execute the power of the first beast in persecuting thee as Rev. 13. 12. But God will bring these proud opposers down unto the dust See Isa 24. 19 20 21 22 23. Then the Lord God shall reign in mount Sion and in Jerusalem gloriously Therefore with Peter let us expect a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 13. Behold I create â—…ew heavens and a new earth Isa 65. 17. And you shall sing for joy of heart and that whiles your enemies doe weep for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit Isa 65. 1â—… 〈◊〉 14. For the Lord is now turning to his people a pure language and they shall shoâ—…tly serve him with one consent Zeph. 3. 9. The eyes of the blinde begin to be opened and the ears of the deaf to be unstopped the lame man begins to leap as an Hart and the tongue of the dumb to sing for in the wildernesse do waters break out anâ—… streams in the desart The brightnesse of Christ doth begin to appear which doth not onely discover but also destroy Antichrist 2 Thess 2. 8. Yea unto all you that fear his name is the Son of righteousnesse arising with healing in his wings Mal. 4. 2. The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold Isa 30. 26. And so he will destroy iâ—… this mountain the face of the covering cast over people and the vail that is spread over all nations and the rebuke of his people he will take away Isa 25. 7. And so we shall all know him from the least to the greatest Jer. 31. 34. And the Lord shall be one and his name one and as for 〈◊〉 we shall all have one heart and one way Jer. 32. 39. Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. And this he will do for light is sown for the righteous and gladnesse â—…or the upright in heart Therefore rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and give thanks at the rememâ—â—ance of hiâ—… holinesse Gird up the loyns of youâ—… â—…inde be sober and hope to the end for the grace â—â—at is to be brought unto you at the revelation of â—…esus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 13. Now above half of the sons and daughâ—…ers of men are of a contrary judgement â—…aying of these and the like Scriptures â—…hat they be either fulfilled already or else â—…ay they there is some other meaning in â—…hese Scriptures which might be easily anâ—…wered Then for those men that do see â—…learly that these things are yet to be fulâ—â—lled they do vary and differ in their judgements 1. The first saith It is true glorious â—…imes are at hand Sathan shall be chained â—â—p and Christ shall reign personally on the earth for a thousand years Rev. 20. 2 3 4 5 6 7. 2. A second party of men stands up opposing the first saying It is true Christ shall reign upon the earth in the midst of his people but when not till after the judgement is past and this old earth burnt up and then he will create a new heaven and a new earth when the first heaven and the first earth
a child because thoâ—… dost speak as a man must he see by thy eyes oâ—… else wilt thou say he doth not see at all Thoâ—… that dost think thou standest take heed lest thou dost fall Think not of thy self above what thou art Ro. 12. 3. Remember thy sister-Church Rev. 3. 17. Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with heavenly enjoyments gracious discoveries and unspeakable manifestations and art perfect and compleat and come to the fulnesse of Christ and hast need of nothing neither Ordinance or Administration helps nor governments Dost thou think thus of thy selfe why so did that Church of Laodiceans Rev. 3. 17. which was the most barren and unfruitful of all the seven Churches of Asia Reason thus with thy self Was that Church so exceedingly deceived then why not I 7. Consider that in the last age of the Church and in the most glorious times of that age when both Jewes and Gentiles shall have one Shepheard and one sheepfold when knowledge shall cover the earth as the waters the sea when the Law shall be written in our hearts and Babylon fallen and the mountain of the Lords house established upon the top of the mountaines Even in these most glorious dayes of light and knowledge freedome and liberty shall the Saints wait upon God in the use of Ordinances and call one upon another so to do Isa 2. 2. 3. Mic. 4. 1 2. Again if there shall be Ordinances in thâ—… most glorious times that are to come wheâ—… there shall be a full pouring out of the Spâ—…rit of God upon the children of men theâ—… certainly they are to remain now And you look upon the last of Isa Jer 3. Zac. 1â—… or upon other Scriptures where mentioâ—… is made of the most glorious times that anâ—… yet to come ye shall find that there is meâ—…tion also made of Ordinances in thoâ—… times Let us look into Rev. 11. 15. Tâ—â— seventh Angel sounded and there were greâ—â— voices in Heaven saying The kingdomes of thâ—… world are become the kingdomes of our Lord anâ—… of his Christs and he shall reign for ever and eveâ—… Here are plainly the glorious times spokeâ—… of that are yet to come Well shall there bâ—… any Ordinances then Yes for v. 19. Anâ—… the temple of the Lord was opened in heaven anâ—… there was seen in his â—…emple the Ark of his Testâ—…ment What is this but Ordinances Thâ—… Ark the visible signe of the presence of Goâ—… in way of Ordinances and the Temple opened though it was shut before 8. Consider if the ministration of thâ—… Gospel be still to continue then surelâ—… the Ordinances of Christ are still to abidâ—… 2 Cor. 3. 11. For if that which is done away wâ—… glorious much more that which remains is gloriouâ—… The Apostle here makes this difference be 〈◊〉 â—…he ministration of the Gospel and 〈◊〉 â—…he Law that the one is to be done 〈…〉 d the other to remain Now if the 〈◊〉 were not to continue what 〈…〉 rence would there be as concerning â—…his matter between the ministration of Moses and the ministration of the Gospel â—…ut the Apo 〈…〉 here plainly speaks that â—…his is the â—â—erence The ministration of â—…he one is to be done away the ministration â—…f the other doth still continue Therefore â—…he Ordinances of the Gospel doe still reâ—…naine 9. Consider if that the word of the new â—…estament as commanding to believe and â—…romising to give the Spirit I say if this Word do continue then the Ordinances of Christ are still to continue if the Ordinances of Christ be not still to continue â—…hen the Word of the New Testament as â—…he commandment of believing and the promise of giving the Spirit doe not continue There is the same reason for the one â—…s for the other You say you are bound to believe How prove you that Why Christ hath commanded me say you But 〈◊〉 answer you with your own answer You â—…ue to wait upon God in the use of Ordinances How prove you that I answâ—â— Christ hath commanded you If Sathan 〈◊〉 get us to lay down but one Ordinance 〈◊〉 the Gospel he will never leave tugging an pulling till he hath brought us out of loâ—â— with all Ordinances and then he wâ—â— teach us to deny the Scriptures and then 〈◊〉 deny God and last of all we shall be denieâ—… of God and so fitted for destruction The Commonwealth of England doth 〈◊〉 bound of two sorts of men and women and both in extremes The first will have no Ordinances at alâ—… The second doe rest upon Ordinanceâ—… or idolize them The first will have no Ordinances at alâ—… call the Ordinances of Christ dead form beggerly and those that wait upon God in them Legalists Heaven-drivers Formalists and Duty-mongers And foâ—… themselves they are taught of God we have nâ—… need of the teachings of men we be rich and fâ—… and want nothing not knowing they be pooâ—… blind miserable and naked Secondly there be another party that dâ—… rest upon Ordinances and they be not a fewâ—… you shall know them by their fruits Dâ—… not you hear them crying and pleading iâ—… City and Country Give us Ordinances or eâ—◠〈◊〉 die And this they plead for unto and â—…ongst a Congregation of people which 〈◊〉 not capable of it but for one Ordinance â—â—d that is to stand under the droppings of the â—â—spel and the powerful preachings thereof the â—â—eanes appointed by Christ to work faith 〈◊〉 their soules Rom. 10. 17. For untill this â—…ord doth come to them in power they 〈◊〉 not fitted for Fellowships and Commuâ—…ons they must see their union with God â—â—fore they can have true communion with â—â—s people The Ordinances or at least â—…any of them be Childrens bread and must â—â—t be given to Swine Those Ordinances â—â—at be ordained for Conversion and Reâ—â—neration are to be held forth to all to the â—â—d as many as be ordained to eternal life may â—â—lieve All other Ordinances belong to â—…hildren and they have right to them as â—â—ible members of that body whereof Christ â—â—the head He who was the Son of God came the Son of man that we who be the these things were well considered meâ—â—inks it should abate the practice both of â—â—inister and People in City and Country â—â—ho for many of them yet being in the â—â—d man and having spent their dayes in the â—â—vice of Sathan yet forsooth they would known by the name of Christians or least Apostle-imitators though they cannâ—â— bu know they want the power yet thâ—â— will cry up the form of godlinesse Now wheâ—… the Ministers of our times or at least soâ—… of them have gathered a parcel of thâ—… Rabble-rout together I do not stile thâ—… so because they be the poorest no no sâ—… they be such a people as David speaks 〈◊〉 they flourish as the green bay-tree their eyes stâ—â— out with fatnesse they go cloathed in the choice array and be the most honorable men in thâ—… Parish and they want
thee aâ—â— not to faile thee nor forsake thee For I dâ—… know no precept but hath its promisâ—… though not alwayes in the same chapter 〈◊〉 verse 4. For our more careful practising 〈◊〉 â—â—g and observing all the commands of our God consider these three things 1. As he hath promised to enable thee 2. So he hath promised to reward thee â—…or doing thy duty so that to every preâ—â—pt there is two promises the one to enâ—â—le thee the other to reward thee and â—…oth to encourage thee 3. And in case of slothfulnesse and negâ—…gence in leaving undone what we ought â—…nd might have done 1. The Lord complains on us 2. He exhorts us Be not slothfull in busines â—â—t servent in spirit serving the Lord. 3. He threatens us saying Because I have â—â—lled and you have refused you shall call and I â—…ill not answer 4. He tels us that we have forsaken our own â—…ercy He put a price into our hands but â—…e as fools had no heart to it and so our â—â—struction is of our selves O Israel thou â—…ast destroyed thy self Oh then that all the Lords inheritance â—…aints by calling Sons of Sion would take â—â—e Lords advice in these and the like comâ—…ands yea in all the will of God! Phil. 2. â—…2 Wherefore my beloved as you have alwayes â—…eyed not only in my presence but now much more 〈◊〉 my absence work out your own salvation witle â—â—ar trembling Q. How shall I do that thou wilt say A. Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost shewes thee and me how we maâ—… do it 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 c. And besides this givâ—â— all diligence adde to your faith vertue and 〈◊〉 vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and tâ—… brotherly kindnesse charity For if these things bâ—… in you and abound they make you that you shaâ—â— neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledâ—â— of our Lord Iesus Christ but he that lacketh theâ—â— things is blind and cannot see afar off Whereforâ—… give all diligence to make your calling and electâ—â— sure for so an entrance shall be ministred unto yoâ—… abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of 〈◊〉 Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Wherefore I will imploy my power saith Peter vers 12. I will not be negligen 〈◊〉 put you alwayes in remembrance of these thing yea I think it meet aslong as I am in this tabernâ—…â—…le to stir you up by putting you in remembrancâ—… Now if Peter had no spiritual strength hoâ—… could he stir them up to spiritual things and if the people to whom he spake had nâ—… power how could they be doing the thing commanded Now thou O most excellent peece of aâ—… Gods workmanship Man and Woman whosoever thou art that readest these lines â—â—deavour to know thy own strength that â—…ou mayest imploy and improve it for him â—…at gave it Study thy self examine what 〈◊〉 I able to doe by vertue of that power â—…hich I have received from God Surely I â—…ave left many things undone for this very â—â—ason I was unable to do it It is true I saw â—…n the one hand that I could of my self do â—…othing but I did not see on the other and that I could do all things through â—…hrist enabling me It is a blessed thing to improve the power â—â—ceived in making use of the present opâ—…ortunity and it is a dangerous case to â—…eglect it 1. Because it may be thou mayest not â—…ave another opportunity Prov. 1. 24. 26. â—…at 23. 37 38. 2. Because if he give another opportuâ—…ity thou art not sure to live to see it 3. Because if he doth give another opâ—…ortunity and thou live to see it yet thou â—…aving sleighted the Spirit at first thou art most like to do so still Heb. 3. 13. Act. 7. 51. 〈◊〉 Tim. 3. 8. 4. Because if the Lord doth give thee anâ—…ther opportunity and thou live to see it â—…nd imbrace it yet thou hast hindred thy self exceedingly and hast lost thy sight oâ—… Christ for many dayes Joh. 20. 24 25 A man that knowes not his own strength is like unto a man that hath a great summâ—… of mony that lieth in a corner and he dotâ—… not improve it and so gets nothing by it for he knows not of it he hath a Talenâ—… but it is hid in a napkin and buried in thâ—… earth 1. I do but ask thee O man whosoeveâ—… thou art that readest these lines dost thoâ—â— not think in thine own conscience thaâ—… there is many a man and woman belonginâ—… to the Election of grace that do die in dâ—…spair as it were and without assurance iâ—… point of manifestation that might have râ—…signed up their souls to God in full assurance if they had obeyed God in giving 〈◊〉 diligence to make their calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. 2. Again let me ask thee whether thoâ—… dost not think in thy conscience that moâ—â— men and women with Martha are trouble about many things whereas they might witâ—… Mary choose the better part Luk. 10. 41 42. 3. Again I do but ask thee whether thoâ—… dost not deprive thy self of thy comfortablâ—… well-being here in this life by thy not looking more narrowly to thy conversation 2 Cor. 1. 12. Many things more might be here recited 〈◊〉 the confirmation of this truth That â—â—re is a power natural and a power spiritual â—â—d the neglect of the improvement of each is sinâ—â—ll But at present I shall be silent to make â—…y further progresse therein only I shall â—â—deavour to answer some objections that â—â—ply may arise against it and then I shall â—…e you a few reasons why I have written â—…is and shew you the necessity that we have 〈◊〉 knowing this power by the danger of â—â—t knowing it First I shall endeavour to answer a few â—…bjections that haply may arise in the â—…oughts of some against it and so much â—…e rather because I know that we live in 〈◊〉 age wherein some men make it the great 〈◊〉 peace of their Religion to lie at catch â—â—d to esteem very highly of themselves and â—â—eir own judgments and undervalue oâ—…ers as the proud Pharisee Luk. 18. 11 12. â—â—d quite contrary to the command of â—…od Phil. 2. Let each esteem others better then â—â—emselves But to proceed Ob. 1. If there be a natural power in all â—â—d a spiritual power in some by vertue â—…hereof they can act and do act then I â—…umbly conceive that you must either by â—…olding this dostrâ—…y Free-grace or else hold â—…ree-will A. I answer In all that I have said 〈◊〉 done concerning the natural or spirituâ—â— power I have endeavoured to fail bâ—…tweâ—â— these two rocks that I might not deny tâ—â— one nor hold the other for if my 〈◊〉 should sail against either of these two rocâ—â— all hopes of coming safe to land would 〈◊〉 taken from mine eyes First I have not destroyed Free-graâ—â— neither undervalued it in
of Jesus Christ in the doctrine of Free-grace more fully then in former dayes he hath given you liberty to worship him in his owne way and established your liberty by a Law both spiritual and temporal He hath manifested his care of you in answering all your prayers and granting all your requests that you heretofore have or now doe put up to him in faith so that it is but aske and have seek and finde and yet all this is but the beginnings of mercies to you these be but the dawnings of the day and the first fruits of what is ripening Your eies have not yet seen your ears have not heard your hearts have not yet understood what glorious things are comming you may now say to all the proud opposers yet remaining as once was said to Haman Hest 6. 12. If Mordecai be of the seed of the Iews before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevaile against him but surely fall before him If those that hereto fore you called Puritans and now Separatists be of the seed of Abraham the father of the faithfull before whom ye have begun to fall you shall not prevaile against them but surely fall before them Assemble your selves together against these people you will be broken in pieces take councel together it will not stand continue your Plots one after another as fast as you can it will be discovered take councel of Achitophel and it will be turned into foolishnisse lift up your voices with Herod like a god the Worms will destroy you and that immediately Speak with the tongue of men and angels you want love and you are but as sounding brasse and tinkling Cimbals Rejoice O Sion thy day is dawning Howle O Babylon thy day is ending and thy plagues are comming The most glorious dayes that ever we read of in Scripture doe begin to dawn although very few doe see it and the most doleful times that ever appeared is almost come against the enemies of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus for all that they have hitherto undergone is but the beginnings of sorrows the first wo is past the second is â—…omming see Revel 18. 2. Babylon is fallen 〈◊〉 fallen v. 8. Her plagues are come in one day â—â—eath and mourning and famine and she shall be â—…tterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord who â—â—dgeth her Silence thy thoughts and listen 〈◊〉 little and thou shalt heare that voice â—…poken of Rev. 9. 10. 15 16 19. Oh what weeping and wailing is there mongst the Great ones the Kings and â—…rinces and Merchants and mighty ones â—…f the earth Why what is the matter â—…hy Babylon is on fire I cannot come neer â—…er I am fain to stand afar off Alas alas â—â—at great City that is cloathed in fine linnen and â—…urple and scarlet and decked with gold and preâ—…ious stones and pearls in an houre is so great â—â—easures come to nought Well what follows â—…hereupon v. 20. Rejoice O ye servants of the â—…ord for I am now avenging you on your enemies Their day of mirth and carnal pleasure is â—â—ding and their plagues beginning but â—…our day of perfecution is almost over Ye â—…hall rejoice but they shall mourn ye shall 〈…〉 ng for ioy of heart but they shall weep for â—…orrow of heart and howl for vexation of â—…pirit Your enemies have already received â—…heir good things with the rich man and â—â—re now to receive the bad Luk. 16. 25. But â—…ou have been with Lazarus in misery and received your bad things and now you arâ—… to receive your good you shall be comâ—…forted but they shall be tormented Luk. 16 24 25. Give eare a little silence your owâ—â— thoughts listen Methinks I heare Chriâ—â— saying to his people as in Luk. 24. 17. whaâ—… manner of communication is this that yoâ—â— have one to another as you walk and aâ—â— sad what sad you had never so greaâ—… cause to rejoice v. 25. O fooles and slow oâ—… heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken If ever these words were seasonable to them it is also seasonable to us and it is written for our learning O fools and slow of hearâ—… to believe all that the Prophets have said to believe all that Christ hath said and thaâ—… all his Apostles have said No marvel yoâ—… have communication together as you walâ—… and are sad You do not believe the Prophets you do not believe Christ you dâ—… not believe the Apostles for if you did you could not be sad forall these do testifie abundantly that there is none undeâ—… the heavens have so great cause to triumpâ—â— and rejoice as you for as all things worâ—… for the glory of God so they turn to youâ—… good All things work together for good to them that fear God Let not us then be fools slow of heart believe all that the Prophets have said Why what have the Prophets said â—…he Prophets speak of the state of the â—…hurch in their dayes and also they proâ—â—esied of the state of the Church in the yes of Christs incarnation and lastly they â—â—ophesied of the state of the Church of â—…hrist in the latter dayes before his coming 〈◊〉 judgment Now all is written for our â—…arning but that which doth most neerly â—â—ncern us is to know what state we are â—â—der and what God is now doing and â—…hat we are now to expect First then the Lord is even now beginâ—â—g for the time is at hand to bring in the â—â—ws and that will be of great advantage 〈◊〉 all the elect Gentiles as you may see â—…om 11. 12 13. and Isa 60. 3. 5. 66. â—…1 12. So that will be brought to passe â—â—a 2. 1 2 3. The mountain of the Lords house all be established on the top of the mountains â—…nd exalted above the hills and all Nations shall â—…ow unto it So the Law shall go forth of 〈…〉 ion and the Almighty will have a gloriâ—…us kingdom in the spirits of his people â—…nd this is the Name of Christ upon earth â—…nd the New heaven we read of In a word â—…e will in and by his Saints rule the world See Dan. 7. 27. The kingdom and the dominioâ—… and the greatnesse of the kingdome under tâ—â— whole heaven shall be given to the Saints the most High whose kingdome is an everlastinâ—… kingdome and all dominions shall serve and ob 〈…〉 them Oh what a blessed day will this b 〈…〉 when the Power both supreme and suâ—… ordinate shall be in the hands of the Sainâ—… of the most High The government haâ—â— for a long time been in the hands of tâ—â— basest of men as in Dan. 4. 17. and setteâ—â— up over it the basest of men Look back little and consider what kind of Magisteriâ—â— power we had begin at the Head was noâ—… vice advanced purity derided on whoâ—… Justice that hath no respect of persons hath been executed Next unto him wâ—â— any man fit for a Lord unlesse he was railing persecuting Bishop
are past away Rev. 21. 1. 2 Pet. 3. 13. 3. Then there be a third sort of sober Christians that do look for and expect these glorious times and yet they do deny that Christ shall reign personally he shall reign it is true say they but how Christ will come in the spirit and have a glorious Kingdome in the spirits of his people and they shall by the power of Christ in them reign over the world and this is the new heaven and the new earth And for my part I do affirm that this is the glorious state that is now comming Isa 66. 22. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Rev. 21. 1. And these are the times of restitution so frequently spoken unto in the Scripture Rom. 8. 19 20 21 22 23. Act. 3. 20 21 22 23. Oh what a glorious time will this be when Magistracie shall be restored to its primitive institution to countenance those that do well and punish evill doers Rom. 13. 3. Dan. 7. 27. Isa 2. 3. Isa 1. 26. O what a joyful time shall this be when Ministery shall be restored to its primitive Institution Jer. 3. 18. Jer. 24. 4. O what a blessed time will this be when our God shall undeceive the people that have been deceived by the Priests the Dragon shall be cast out of heaven and his Chaplains out of the Church God will take away the nature of wicked men that â—…lthough they remain wolves lions and â—…ruits still yet they shall not hurt nor deâ—â—roy in all this holy mountain For the â—â—arth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea Hab. 2. 14. Wherefore most noble overcoming Saints â—…ook for great alterations and mighty â—…hanges see what dissolutions God is making in the earth and look for the Lord â—…o be revâ—…aled from heaven who will be mighty in his dispensation and glorious â—…n revelation and strong and powerful in operation and he will bring to passe his determination which will be to the confounding of all things that are in opposition against him Oh then taste and see that the Lord is gracious it 's life to know him it is heaven to behold him it is melody to hear him it is endlesse happinesse to enjoy him And as you like the end that the Almighty aims at so approve of the way which he acts in and wait with patience for the accomplishment thereof There be glorious Deliverances for the Saints as hath been said but the Saints are too sudden in expecting these deliverances WHen our first Parents were fallen there was a promise made to them of a recovery by the second Adam in these words The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpents head And as soon as Eve had conceived and brought forth a son Gen. 4. 1. saith she I have got a man from the Lord for so some of our Translations render it And seeing this was not he when she brought forth her second sonne she calls him Abel which signifies vanity Seeing she was deceived in the first she calls the second vanity Now our mother was just as we are too sudden in our expectation of deliverances So if we look into that of Moses Exo. 5. ult Neither hast thou delivered thy people at all saith precious Moses Why Moses thou art a little too quick Have not these people prayed and hath not the Lord heard the cry and sent thee to bring them out of Egypt and am not I now upon delivering them and yet are they not delivered at all â—…oses thou art a little too sudden in exâ—…ecting deliverances So it was with the Apostles Act. 1. 6. â—…ord said they wilt thou at this time restore â—…e kingdome to Israel The Apostles were too â—…dden this was not to be done till many â—…undred years afterwards Methinks I see â—…he people of England yea many of the Lords â—…wn Lambs some of them in Egypt under â—…haraohs hard task-masters murmuring and â—…omplaining at other Saints as they did at Moses and Aaron And I see some others â—…rought to the Red-sea but in great fears before and behind as they were and some â—…re got over the sea and seen all their eneâ—…ies drowned as they were pursuing them â—…nd so begin to sing and many be marched â—…nto the midst of the wildernesse where they see great miracles waters flow out of â—…he Rocks and raining Manna from heaven and yet notwithstanding the people begin to murmure and desire to go back again to Egypt Oh here is the state of the English Nation they say it is better to go back again to Egypt to King Pharaoh or if he be dead to his young Sonne that he may reign over us where we may enjoy our old Discipline and eat our wonted food the onions and the garlicks and the leeks But some are of a more choise spiriâ—… and have sent unto Canaan to spie out thâ—… land Well there were twelve men seâ—â— ten of them bring up a false report of thâ—… land onely two of them were of anotheâ—… spirit and speak the truth the greateâ—â— part say it is a barren land the lesser paâ—â— say it is a fruitful land The people werâ—… divided and some fall to murmuring anâ—… so are destroyed in the wildernesse Well a few are gotten to Canaan the enemy flieâ—… before them they possesse their habitations and having all things at the full they soon forget their God Is not this all along our state at this day Some are travelling from Egypt to Canaan and some are journeying from Canaan to Babylon and some are walking from Babylon to Sion Q. Methinks I hear many saying If there be such glorious times at hand and that God doth intend good to us why is it thus and thus with us A. It is true there be many external and internal burdens lying upon us that we would be glad to have removed But consider a little first the fountain from whence these come Gods love secondly the end of them for thy good this will cause the â—â—ule to rejoyce in tribulation for to you is given not onely to believe but to suffer â—â—r his sake must Job the justest man that 〈◊〉 alive be fought against with the terrours â—…f the Lord Job 6. 4. Must David a man after â—â—ds own heart have no rest in his bones â—…ecause of his sins and be so wasted with â—â—e grief of his heart that his moisture is â—â—rned to the drought of Summer Psal 32. â—â—rs 3 4. Must Hezeâ—…iah who walked before the â—…ord in truth and with a perfect heart â—…ave the anger of the Almighty break his â—…ones like a Lion Isai 38. 13. Nay must the Sonne of God himself lie â—…leeding upon the crosse and cry out in â—…he bitternesse of his soule My God my God â—…hy hast thou for saken me and shall we think â—…o be altogether free from chastisement was â—…ot Abel murthered by his brother Noah â—…ocked by his son Job scoffed by his wife â—…lie slain by his sons See
the hardships that â—…acob a man chosen of God went through â—…e is threatened by his brother banished â—â—om his Father abused by his Uncle â—…efrauded of his Wife in the day he is â—…corched with heat in the night troubled â—…ith frost as you may see at large Gen. 31. â—…ers 40. Then see the divisions between his twâ—… Wives two Sisters baulling for one Husbanâ—… after this they both went from their Fatheâ—… and now see a fresh pursuit behinde hiâ—… Laban follows Jacob with a Hue and Cry before him Esau is marching up to him wiâ—â— four hundred men so to go forward were intollerable to go backward unâ—…vailable Well after the Almighty had dâ—…livered him and he marched into his owâ—… Country his Wife Rachel dieth his daughter Dinah is ravished his Son Reuben lie with his Concubines then his most beloved Son Joseph they report is dead theâ—… soon after this arose a Famine and another of his Sons in prison and nothing can redeem him but his onely Benjamine here is the losse of son after son Gen. 42. 36 And Jacob said unto them Me have ye bereaveâ—… of my children Joseph is not and Simeon 〈◊〉 not and you will take Benjamin away 〈◊〉 these things be against me But there was 〈◊〉 time then drawing neer that Jacob should bâ—… delivered from his troubles and enjoy the company of all his Sons again The way to true happinesse is through many difficulties you must suffer a while before you shall be established strengthened and setled God is unstripping thee of thy riches and righteousnesse as he did Job that he may give thee twice as much and ten times better in its room the Vision is yet for an appointed time Hab. 2. 3. and at the end it will come wait for it nay it will surely come it will not tarry It may be thou and I have heard That the mountain of the Lords house shal be established upon the top of the mountains well it shall come to passe but the Vision is for an appointed time Hath the Lord promised that knowledge shall cover the Earth as the waters the Sea and that we shall all know him from the least to the greatest Wel God is faithful it shall come to passe but the Vision is for an appointed time Doest thou not read in Dan. 2. that there was a stone cut out without hands and became a great mountain and filled the whole Earth well the Vision is for an appointed time wait for it for it will surely come it will not tarry Hath the Lord indeed promised to take away thy filthy garments as once he did from Joshua Josh 3. 3 4. the Vision is for an appointed time it will speak and not tarry Hath he promised indeed that sorrow and sighing shall fly away and that all tears shall be wiped from thine eyes and thou shall have no more pain and sorrow why hâ—â—s faithful that hath promised onely the Vision is for an appointed time it will speedily speak it will not tarry Do the Scriptures speak of the calling of the Jews and of the bringing in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles and of the restauration of all things the Vision is for an appointed time it will speak and not tarry Hath the Lord indeed promised that the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shal be seven-fold the Vision is for an appointed time it will speak it will not tarry Hath he said by his servant Isaiah c. 25. 7. And he will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people and rend the vaile that is spread over all nations He is faithfull so that one tittle shall not passe till all be fulfilled onely it shall be done in its appointed time How shall hope and patience be exercised if he should not make us wait and how shall we say as in Isai 24. 9. This is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation say not with Moses Neither hast thou delivered us at all Exod. 5. last vers but say with Paul 2 Cor. 1. 10. Who hath delivered us who doth deliver us in whom we trust he will yet still deliver us â—…e thankfull then for what is already done and believe and wait for what is â—…ow a doing I see the Saints saying with Abraham Gen. 15. 2. Lord what wilt thou give â—…e c. But methinks you should rather be saying with David Psal 116. 12. What shall I give thee for all thy benesits to me Again we read in the book of the Revelation of seven Seals and seven Vials and seven Trumpets If we compare these Seales Vials and Trumpets together I suppose we shall finde them hold forth one and the same thing And then if we consider what Seale is now opening what Trumpet is now sounding what Vial is now pouring forth thou wilt see what state the Church of Christ s now under and what the Almighty â—…s now doing for her deliverance Is not â—…he seventh Seal now opening is not the â—…eventh Vial now pouring forth Is not â—…he seventh Trumpet now sounding and â—…ome of the Saints begining to lift up their voices Rev. 11. 15. And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and â—…e shall reign for evermore Rejoice O Sion â—…hy day is dawning Howle O Babylon thy plagues are comming he is gathering his wheat into the barn but he will burn the chaffe with an unquenchable fire It iâ—… true the Saints may be shaken once more as in Heb. 12. 26 27. that those things that may be shaken may be taken away and those and only those that cannot be shaken may remain But Babylon shall be shaken down to the earth and ground to powder and cast into the bottomlesse pit there to continue for ever Oh then lift up your hearts w th your hands unto our God in the heavens Oh lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees Take the two wings the one of Faith the other of Love and flie into the aire of Comfort where thy treasure is saying Come Lord Jesus come quickly take possession of that which is thine own I had many things more in my heart and mind to present unto thy consideration whosoever thou art that readest these words I will here but name them unto thee but in another Treatise shortly present them before thee which being done I shall apply those words of Solomon Eccles 12. 12 13. 1. Beware of extremes Men be very apt in this age either to cry up all Clergy-men or cry down all Clergy-men whereas we should endeavour the plucking up and rooting out all false pretended Ministers for they be the worst of men the Scripture calls them Dogs and Wolves and Cheaters and Deceivers