universal but rather a State Earth-quake in one Nation although the effect of it will be wonderful even to the shaking and overturning of all the powers of this world Moreover as in Scripture we find many times part taken for the whole so in Prophesies as appears Act. 2.16 17. with Joel 2.28 c. Though there be but a part of a Prophesie fulfilled yet Peter expresseth all True it is in all Prophesies that which is done last will be more full and perfect then the former yet so as we must remember they have their morning or dawning as their noon day It is said of the Angel the Earth was lightned with his glory Rev. 18.1 not at first nor all at once but by degrees it will be so at last It is said the ten Horns upon the Beast shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17.16 now this shall not be done by all of them for some of these Horns will never forsake the whore but shall go into perdition with her Rev. 18.9 10. and 19.18 To be short whosoever would inform himself in the prophesies of the last times let him observe these 5 things 1. The Lord will begin his work his strangework amongst that people where Religion is most eminently profest Jer. 25.18 28. Ezek. 9.6 1 Pet. 4.18 2. Though he shake Earth and Heaven together and at one time yet the Earth first As a man lays first the foundation and afterward builds upon it so the Lord will have righteousness and justice first established in the Earth and then men shall fear the Lord that is worship him in spirit and truth Isa 28.13 with Mat. 15.9 as long as the Sun and Moon endure thorow all generations Psal 72.1 2 3 4 5. 3. There must be a diligent and watchful eye to observe the first appearance of Scripture-Prophesies that is how any Providential Dispensation gives forth the matter of the Prophesie For this is certain if we see the Lord hath begun a work in order to the fulfilling of his Counsel and Decree contained in any vision or Prophesie though there may seem to be some obstruction or a death upon it notwithstanding he will carry it on in spight of all opposition men and Devils Exod. 5.1 2 20 21. and 5.1 and 12.30 31. When I begin I will also make an end 1 Sam. 3.12 And truly I am of the opinion which the Army was of before their Apostacie That the late King was one of the ten Horns Rev. 17. And whereas he and his Monarchy were pluckt up by the root and a Commonwealth established here I take it was a fulfilling of a Scripture-Prophesie I mean a beginning of that good promise Rev. 17.14 where it is said The Lamb shall overcome the ten Kings And whereas there hath been a THING lately set up I know not what to call it for it is neither formally a Monarchy nor a Common-wealth but tohu and bohu without form and void To me it signifies no more then the house of the foolish builder built upon the sand the wind and floods nigh at hand will blow and beat upon it and if so it must fall and great will be the fall of it But the Lord as I said will go forward to fulfil and perfect the rest of that Prophesie so that it is neither the house of the Stewarts nor the corrupt interest of any other man that shall frustrate the Counsel of God concerning the Government of this Nation but the good old Cause shall rise again and be more glorious then ever it was before 4. The Prophesies of the last times as to their accomplishment at first they will be very dark and dubious Truly I think without special enlightning by the Spirit few of the Lords people will have a clear sight and knowledge of what God doth till a great deal be done And one great Reason is because many think the slaying of the witnesses and their rising the Reign of the Little Horn the last Apostacy and Earth-quake will make such a noise in the world as the deafest and blindest amongst the sons of men will be able to hear and see such things But I cannot find in the word of God any footing for such an opinion but rather that darkness shall cover the Earth and gross darkness the people even then when Zions light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon her Isa 60.1 2. 5. Beware lest thou stumble here with the multitude that is to think such and such Prophesies are not fulfilled because thou canst not satisfie thy self when where and how they were fulfilled That saying in the Prophet holds true here Thy way is in the sea and thy path in the great waters and thy footsteps are not known Psal 77.19 A man that shall see the Sun at noon-day though he were asleep when it rose will he conclude it is not the Sun because he saw it not at its rising Reader if thou shalt see the Earthquake whereby the Power of this Apostacie is broken the good old Cause on foot again and righteousness exalted in the Nation such as have basely betrayed the Rights and Liberties of the people deservedly punished and so a way prepared for the 144000 to do the rest of the Lords work of higher and greater concernment I think thou mayest very well conclude that the reign of the bottomless Beast the Little Horn the slaying of the witnesses and their rising all these things are past though thou slepst when they were doing Now for the Text. 1. By Earth and Heaven here is meant States and Policies the first what is Civil and Temporal the other Ecclesiastical and Religious By Shaking is meant alteration and change that is removing and taking away all forms and kinds of Government which now stand Isa 2.19 and 13.13 Joel 2.16 Hag. 2.6 7. Rev. 21.1 Isa 65.17 I know by others this is otherwise interpreted i. e. a Shaking of the material Earth and Heavens with all the Inhabitants thereof Angels and men But under favour there is nothing in the Prophet nor in the Hebrews that hath any reference to the judgment of the great day and therefore this Shaking cannot be applied to that time but must be before 2. By once more I understand two things 1. A State or Government changed yet so as there is something afterward set up in the same Nation so displeasing unto God as THAT also shall be be destroyed That those things which cannot be shaken may remain What the things are which shall remain after a twofold shaking is shewed in Daniel And in the days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed the Kingdom shall not be left to other people but it shall break in peeces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Chap. 2.44 By once more is signified the great difference between
Commonwealth as now established without a King or House of Lords And this Ingagement was generally taken by such as were then counted well-affected Object Though it cannot be denyed but this was a most eminent Shaking yet how is it proved that in the Change of the English-Monarchy to a Commonwealth a Scripture-Prophesie was fulfill'd and particularly Heb. 12.26 27 Answ If it be granted it was a SHAKING and an eminent one too it will easily be proved being in England a Scripture-Prophesie was fulfill'd and particularly Heb. 12. For the Scripture-Prophesies of the last times concern the Churches and people of God and where these are there may we expect will come to pass what things are foretold in the word of God there are many changes and alterations of States and Policies in the world at this time of which nothing in Scripture is foretold nevertheless where Gods people are and Jesus Christ is truly worshipped there cannot be any such shaking I speak according to that light I have in the things of God but in order to the fulfilling of some Prophesie What thou seest write in a Book and send unto the seven Churches in Asia Rev. 1.11 2. If England be one of the ten Kingdoms in Dan. 7.7 and Rev. 17.12 as it is generally held yea the first that constituted it self a free and absolute State when the Romane Empire was broken to peeces then I think it may certainly be concluded that the Holy Ghost in Heb. 12. hath reference to the shaking of which we speak my reason is this What was revealed to Daniel John and Paul was by one Spirit and concerned one thing as to the shaking of the ten Kingdoms 3. That the first shaking was by a VOICE I think there is very much in it as I have hinted before Truly more VOICE then PROMISE My meaning is that many people in their rising against Monarchy and Episcopacy were carried forth beyond their own principles A VOICE there was that is God mightily appear'd in them and by them but no Promise that is they had no Scripture-light for what they did but only followed Providence opportunity victory self-interest Reader mistake me not I do not say there was not Scripture-ground for putting down Monarchy and Episcopacie I beleeve there was but this I say many who had a great hand therein did it not upon that account for there are many at this day and some I know who were as active and forward as any in the thing and gave their Vote against the King the Bishops and House of Lords yet now none more earnest for a King and House of Lords then they yea and for Episcopacie too if it fall in with their Interest 4. Whereas it was Gods voice that shook the first Earth I hope none will be offended neither Independent Presbyterian or Baptiz'd if we say such as account themselves the Lords Embassadours Angels of Churches the Ministers of Jesus Christ c. are the persons by whom the Lord chiefly speaks and his VOICE as John was in the Wilderness This being so by whose voice then was the Earth shaken I answer By no voice so effectually as that voice which came out of the Temple Oh! how did this VOICE ring thorow the Nation calling upon the good people every where in their Sermons and Writings to come forth and help the Lord against the mighty never did this VOICE cease but was still crying in the ears of the Parliament and Army SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE till they had shaken King and Bishops out of the three Nations It is very requisite as we have mentioned the Voice from the Temple so to give some instances how shaking it was to have the late King cut off I will begin with Mr. Burroughs because I suppose what he wrote was the VOICE of all his Independent Brethren in that particular Thus he tels us You must observe That every one is subject to the Higher Powers Mark it is not to man first but it is to the Power Let every soul be subject to the Higher Power where-ever this Power lieth It is not to the will of man that hath Power but it is to the Power of the man Now the Power the Authority is that THAT A MAN HATH IN A LEGAL WAY Again in another place There is saith he no Authority we are subject to now but according to the Laws and Constitutions of the Country where we live When things are brought into a Law and be according to the Agreements and Covenants of the place and Country wherein we live c. then the power of God is in it But we must enquire whether it be a Power On Hos Chap. 1. Lect. 6. p. 157. and Lect. 4. pag. 111. and Lect. 3. pag. 65. Mr. Bridge his Voice shall be next in his answer to Doctor Fern thus Did not Athaliah remain as a conqueress six yeers and who knows not that she was lawfully thrust from the Throne again by a stronger hand then her own Meer conquest being nothing else but an unjust usurpation And if the Conquerer rule the whole Kingdom keep them under by conquest only WHY MAY NOT THE SUBJECT RISE AND TAKE UP ARMS TO DELIVER THEMSELVES FROM THAT SLAVERY Mr. Bridge against Dr. Fern Sect. 4. pag. 42. But one thing is remarkable what searching Books there was and citing the opinion of men Truly I think there was scarce a learned man whether Papist or Protestant if he had written against Usurpers Tyrants violalating the Laws Rights and Liberties of the People but he was brought forth by those who defended the Parliaments cause against the King To omit many how often is Alstedius quoted for saying A Tyr an t without Title who is an Invader every private person may and ought to remove for he is not a King but a private man who doth invade the Country as an Enemy Alsted Cas Con. cap. 16. Reg. 8. p. 341. So Chamier All Citizens or free Subjects have a right or warrant to rise up against Tyrants who by open force possess the Kingdom Tom. 2. Lib. 15. cap. 12. Sect. 19. Again Dr. Willet Where the Kingdom is usurped without any right as by Athaliah or where the land is oppressed by Invaders as in the time of the Macchabees in these Cases there is less question to be made of resistance by the general consent of the States On Rom. 13. pag. 592. Neither is King James left out The publick Laws saith he make it lawful and free for any private person to enterprise against an usurper of the Kingdom Every man saith Tertullian is a Soldier enrolled to bear arms against all Traytors and publick Enemies In his Remonstr pag. 216. I shall not name any more cited by them Touching this Temple-Voice wherein Mr. John Goodwin was louder then most of his fellows there are 5 things to be seen in their writing when they stood with the Parliament against the King as their State Principles 1. That an Usurper hath no
there is one thing I desirously desire the Reader to observe especially if he be a Member of this Parliament in all their late Addresses we do not find that a Parliament is so much as nam'd or once desired Hence it may appear who were the contrivers and promoters of them and for what end they came forth not to have any oppression or heavy burdens taken off not that the Peoples Rights and Liberties might be restored the several grievances in the Nation might be look'd into and remedied not that corrupt men lately crept into places might be removed and better chosen No such things were aymed at for had they not intended to keep up the grievous corruptions in the Nation they would not have discovered as they did by their silence such a slighting and disregarding of Parliaments Having given many Reasons that this Earth-Power will be shaken The next thing is to shew how in this shaking a Scripture-Prophesie is fulfill'd and particularly Heb. 12.27 Here I must re-mind the Reader of what was said before That Scripture-Prophesies do especially concern the Church and people of God and it is for them to heed and observe how the Lord in his Providential Dispensations brings them to pass whether it be in beginning proceeding or ending Our first Argument is thus Whatsoever Earth-shaking coms not within the verge of the Text Heb. 12. yet that Earth-government doth namely which shall not only be first shaken but also whereby a way is made and prepared for the Lord to proceed to the shaking of Earth-Powers in other Nations But such is this Earth-power or present Government Ergo. I shall only endeavor to prove that part of the Argument which is questionable that is how this shaking asserted will be the first and make way for the rest foretold Heb. 12. 1. If the Lord begin a work and something stop it his manner is to remove that stop and there to take up the work again and proceed thus it was in the building of the second Temple after there was some good progress made in the work Ezr. 3. by Artaxerxes command the people ceased Ez. 4.23 24. But the Lord whose counsel shall stand took off by Darius that stop and so they went forward with the building Ezr. 6. I have shewed before that Gods work began concerning the overcoming of the ten Kings and preparing the way for the glorious and visible Kingdom of Jesus Christ when the Old Parliament ras'd down Kingly-Government and constituted a Commonwealth that there was a stop made it is true and we know who were the occasion of it Truly so wonderfully did the Lord of Hosts go forth then with our Parliament and Army as among the Heathen they began to say The Lord hath done great things for them Psa 126.2 Not only were the Nations awakened about us and began to consider whether the day of the Lamb and his great power were not come but likewise the Enemies amongst us began to give Glory to God and would often confess that God was with us and against them What shall I say ah these things cannot be remembred without great thoughts of heart by all that are truly godly That blessed cause of truth and righteousness did so prosper both at home and abroad that had there not been an unhappy stop put to it through the hypocrisie and falshood of some men it would have been ere this time in other Nations conquering and to conquer yea probably before now more of the ten Horns had been cut off For we were as a Beacon upon a hill all people looking on to see what would be the event of this Act this strange Act in England This puts me in mind of the Philistims when they were smitten with Emerods they take counsel to know whether the God of Israel had done it or no having therefore put the Ark of the Lord upon a new cart and sent it away thus they speak one to another If it go up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh then he hath done us that great evil But if not then we shall know it was not his hand that smote us it was a thing that happened to us 1 Sam. 6.9 Whilst the nations abroad and the Enemies at home were musing about the great cause we had in hand what it should mean If it had gone directly forward as the kine took the strait way to the way of Bethshemesh and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left v. 12. in all likelihood there would have remained by this time no more doubtings concerning the work but they would have been fully satisfied as the Philistims were that it was the Lords doing but when they saw the work went not the strait way but there was a grievous turning aside no less then building again the things which were destroyed and destroying what was built this took them quite off and so blinded them as now they can see nothing of God in the thing but cry out It was a Chance neither was the Lord more with the Parliament then with the King but all is now It was the Fortune of War Thus have the Apostates by casting the Lords work behind their back and setting up their own interest occasioned many thousands far and neer not only to speak evil of the Good Cause it self but to deprive the Lord of his due Glory and praise for that honour vvhich men vvould have given to the Lord and it was even upon their hearts and in their mouths to do it is now by this turning aside denyed him and given to Idol-Fortune Besides vvhat dread and fear vvas there somwhile since upon the hearts of Cavaleers no other then a kind of convincement that to vote or fight against our good Cause vvas to vote and fight against God but since this late Revolt brake forth that fear I beleeve is over So that now if there be a door open for them in Parliament or Army they will as readily vote and fight against the interest of Christ and his people as ever they did before O wretched Apostacy 2. The Lord vvill begin to shake the Earth the second time vvhere he sees it is first ripe As a husbandman that hath much corn to reap cuts it not down all at once but vvhere the ripest is there he begins Now among the Regions of the Earth that Field is neerest the sickle vvhere Religion Conscience and the vvorship of God are made cloaks for fin and wickedness SIN may be confidered as single or double if it have Religious hypocrisie mixt with it it is a double sin and so ripens the sinner and hastens his judgment the sooner Had the Scribes and Pharisees which devoured widows houses under a shew of long prayer Luk. 20.47 pickt these poor womens pockets or cut their purses their sin and condemnation had not been so great as to cheat them in the vvay they did It is said of Herod He sent and Beheaded John in
three Nations who knows but this Earth-quake will raze the foundation of our new Nobility reach the Tryers Lawyers Sessers Addressers Excise-men Custome-house-men Corporations c. in a word all the devouring vermine in the Land such as have taken away mens goods contrary to Law Isa 33.1 2. To shew when the Lord will raise up instruments against this Apostacie they shall prevail notwithstanding all Ahitophels and Machiavels in spight of Hell and all powers of darkness It is an Earth-quake Stand now with thine inchantments and with the multitude of thy sorceries wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth if so be thou shalt be able to profit if so be thou mayest prevail Let now the Astrologers the Star-gazers the Monthly-Prognosticators stand up aad save thee from these things that shall come upon thee Isa 47.12 13. 3. It may denote the cause of the shaking that this State-Apostacie is removed it is that oppression and tyranny may cease and all people have their rights Now howsoever this be a good work and ought to be done yet it riseth no higher then Earth and therefore fitly called an Earth-quake 4. That the infamous memory of this last Apostacie and the happy downfall of it may continue to all future Generations Such desolations and ruines as formerly were made by Earth-quakes we find them recorded in Histories both Divine and Humane Amos 1.1 Zech. 14.5 to the end that such things might not be forgotten It is true many National Earth-quakes hath this Island suffered viz. by the Romans Saxons Danes Normans c. Besides several Earth-quakes among our selves by Parliaments and Civil Wars Nevertheless I am very confident that the memory of none of them will so long last as the rembrance of this present Apostacie and that SEASONABLE GOOD-EARTH-QUAKE which not only shaked it but swallowed it up My Reason is because the honour of Gods great Name the Cause of Religion and the interest of Christ and his people have more suffered by this present Apostacie in four or five yeers then ever they suffered under the Romans Saxons Danes Normans put them all together and all their time too Some report the prints of Pharaohs Charriot-wheels did remain in the sand of the shore at the Red-Sea and was to be seen many hundred yeers after I shall not stand to the truth of that but this is a truth and I shall abide by it That the print of this Apostacie is so deep in Church and Common-wealth made by self-seeking covetousness hypocrisie Covenant-breaking treachery c. that it will remain to be seen many ages hereafter 5. To shew that the Apostacie was such a BURDEN as the Earth could no longer bear it but must needs quake under it and so shake it out The land is defiled therefore do I visit the iniquity thereof upon it and the land it self vomiteth out her inhabitants Lev. 18.25 The earth is utterly broken down the Earth is clean dissolved the Earth is removed exceedingly The Earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard and shall be removed like a cottage The transgression of it shall be heavy upon it and it shall fall and not rise again Isa 24.19 20. 6. To answer an ancient Type in the old Testament For in the Rebellion of Korah Dathan and Abiram was clearly shadowed out the last Apostacie Amongst many other parallels which might be noted take these few 1. That Rebellion was made a little after the Lord had given a wonderful deliverance to his Church and when they should have passed over Jordan to the Promised Land 2. The occasion of it was ambition and love of pre-eminence in some persons not contented with that form of Government which the Lord a little before had appointed 3. Howsoever the Action was wicked no less then high Treason yet the chief Authors of it are said to be famous in the Congregation and men of renown 4. That this Apostacie might the more effectually be carried on the Liberty and Freedom of the people was pretended and that Moses and Aaron had taken too much upon them 5. Howsoever few at first had a hand in this Rebellion by the Hebrew Text it seems to be only Korah yet thorow the hypocrisie and falshood of these few many afterwards were ensnared 6. The Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up An Earth-quake indeed yet a just reward for such Rebellion and Treason Reader The Sentence is left to thee only be honest did not this Apostacie rise assoon as the Lord had delivered us out of the hands of our Enemies and when in duty and Conscience we should have gone forward in his work And was it not through the base pride of some men to have all power in their own hands that the Government of the Nation was changed from a Commonwealth which the Lord had own'd and blest to a THING which we cannot tell what it is Again though by three Acts of Parliament it was made Treason to promote any person to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or Ireland without consent of Parliament Yet this was done But by whom Men famous in the Congregation and of great renown And that they might the more prevail in their Rebellion was not Liberty promised and taking off the grievances of the People Is not this very true likewise that this State-Apostacie was first set on foot by a few some say seven or eight but more probably it was but one yet afterwards Multitudes multitudes fell into the sin and snare In conclusion then wherein agrees not the Anti-type with the Type but that the Earth-quake is not executed upon the later Rebellion Consider of it take advice and speak your minds Judg. 19.30 Quest It is said in the Text The tenth part of the City fell and in the Earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand c. What is meant by it Answ 1. As there are two Apostacies foretold in Scripture so I find two Cities mentioned in the Revelation First the GREAT CITY signifying the whole Dominion and jurisdiction of the Papal Beast that is all States and Policies Civil and Religious under the See of Rome and acknowledging the Pope Head of the Church And note when ever this Kingdom or State is meant by the word City it is always exprest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That great City Rev. 11.8 18.8 and 16.19 and 17.18 and 18.10 16 18 19. and 21.10 By which we are to understand the first Apostacie As for the second Apostacie is called a City likewise but the word GREAT is left out and there is great Reason for it For 1. This later Apostacie shall not be so large as the former in spreading it self over all peoples and Nations and Tongues All the world wondred after the first Beast Neither 2. shall the later Apostacie have that honour and homage done to it as had the former For the Kings of the Earth shall give their Kingdoms unto the first Beast Rev. 17.17 3. The first Apostacie is
the fifth Kingdom I conceive then these do remain in Heaven or the Temple Rev. 15.6 for I take it to be one thing until the Earth-quake be made by the Common-wealths-men as making way for the seven last plagues I desire I may not be mistaken in mentioning fifth Monarchy-men and Commonwealth-men distinct I do it not as if they were not one people and their work all one in respect of pulling down and building up but in reference to the manner and way how these things shall be done The Earthquake will be as I said before the vials for these Reasons 1. Howsoever there are many differences among the Lords people as what is Babylon and so to be destroyed yet in this they are all satisfied and do unanimously accord That all heavy burdens should be broken Tyrants new as well as old removed the just Liberties of the people restored Righteousness setled in the Nation and the good old Cause up again conquering and to conquer Now as the Lord in these things hath made his people of one mind so he will have them joyn together in the prosecution of them for things farther off as about the vials they shall likewise have light in them Rev. 18.1 and accord in the work when the time coms to put them in execution Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing Phil. 3.16 2. It seems to me that this Earthquake will be before the Vials because the Earth-quake is under the second wo Rev. 11.13 14. but all the vials as I conceive fall under the third wo which is the last therefore are said to be the seven last plagues Rev. 15.1 3. If the Scriptures be heeded which treat of the fifth Kingdom it will appear that the great work which the Lord will bring to pass for his Son and Zion in the last days will begin at righteousness among men that is to destroy oppression and Tyranny in every kind all corrupt Laws and wicked Orders and Customs and to have things so setled as every man may have his due and just Rights Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins Isa 11.5 A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy Kingdom Heb. 1.6 There is a voice of many waters before the voice of a great thunder Rev. 14.2 Waters are below thunder above the work begins below at the waters let us therefore take heed that we miss not the proper work of the day in not beginning where we should 4. As God is a God of order not of confusion so I think the great work of the times will be carried on in a beautiful and comly order It is said The stone was cut out of the mountain Dan. 2.45 Observe it is CUT so that it is not without form it hath some comliness fashion and order in it I see no obstruction why all that is written concerning the execution of vengeance upon Babylon or what is to be done by Saints as Saints of publick concernment till Christ personally appear but may very well stand with good order For example Is it not possible that a Government may be rightly established and such Governours chosen as the tenderest conscience may safely act under it It is said The ten horns shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17.16 I do understand this of a State or Government let it be part of the fifth Kingdom and the meaning to be this when the Lamb hath overcome any Nation there shall be that Government erected and such Governours set up who will proclaim open war against the great whore and raise up forces to reward her double for the blood she had shed and other abominable wickedness This being so it must needs follow that the Earth-quake will be before the vials for it is not to be imagined that the Representatives of a Nation if they are wise and sober will meddle with Babylon abroad untill they have made a good Reformation and things well setled at home 5. If God have a voice in humane affairs and to be hearkned to and followed then I conceive this Earth-quake will be next that is a purging out of the dross and filthiness amongst us that righteousness may dwell in the Land this indeed we may now expect for the harvest of the later Apostacie is ripe and the Lord seems to have prepared some sharp sickles for the cutting down of it But for any other publick work at present I do not see the like fitness either in things or persons I have spoken the more of this to the end that whilst we are looking at things further off we do not forget our duty and work in things neerer home I have read somewhere of an Admiral when he should have gone presently in with the rest of the fleet to fight the Enemy he turned aside and wheel'd about so far that he never came in to give a stroke If we take not heed our darling conceits will turn us aside and cause us to wheel off from the fight i. e. our present Generation-work If so whosoever the Lord shall honour in following him to the Battle and for his faithfulness in it we for our parts can expect nothing but shame and dishonour Quest What is meant by the Earthquake in the Text Answ The Representatives of the people assembled in Parliament by whom the later State-Apostacie shall be put down So I take it But 1. I do not restrain this Earthquake to our Nation I have shewed before that one Prophesie may be often fulfilled Thus for ought I see to the contrary the slaying of the witnesses and their rising may be done over and over one while in one Country and sometimes in another in respect of time persons and place But what people soever are left out of these Prophesies we are not For there is none of them which concern the Gentile Saints in the last times but they will have some accomplishment here yea many of them more eminently here then elsewhere especially at first But of this I have spoken before Neither 2. do I fix any time when this Earth-quake shall be For howsoever I have strong perswasions that the work will begin at the sitting of this present Parliament yet I am not so certain that the Lord will honour them in so noble and glorious a Cause for their poor country as I am confident he will do it by others if they neglect their duty For the needy shall not always be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever Psal 9.18 Quest But why is the laying aside of the present State-Apostacie and bringing the Nation to a Common-wealth again set forth by an Earth-quake Answ 1. Because in all likelihood before it be over it will make a dreadful and terrible shaking Wo wo wo to the inhabitants of the
to continue 1260 years but the later not above three yeers and an half till the Lord doth begin to strike it with a Consumption So that the word GREAT seems to be left out here to distinguish between the two Cities or two Apostacies and this in the Text is to be understood of the later State-Apostacie Moreover we have some light here how to understand that place Rev. 11.8 where it is said of the witnesses their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great City it is well observed by many that the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. a broad or spatious place doth not signifie any place Market-place or broad place within the walls of the great City but it is without the great City as no part of the building Hence we may conclude two things 1. The two Witnesses are not slain in their Testimony by any Civil Powers that hold the Pope Head of the Church neither lie their dead bodies in any Country formally subject to the See of Rome For their slaying and lying dead must be without the walls of the great City Indeed the blood of the Martyrs will be charged upon the first Apostacie but the slaying of the witnesses upon the second Apostacie Therefore let Church-Members and Church-Officers and other Professors of Religion look to it For to speak soberly and in the fear of God this is my opinion and I think grounded upon Scripture and practice The blood of the witnesses will be required at their hands for never had the bottomless Beast murdred so blessed a Cause and so glorious a Testimony for Christ and his Kingdom as was in this Nation had they stood faithful to the good old Cause 2. Though the Power by which the witnesses are slain is not from the great City yet it is for it that is it doth more strengthen and support the great whore then any State or Government properly the whores Where lies now the stop that the Lords work goes not forward to remove oppressions and heavie burdens and to establish righteousness among men Not in Rome Spain Germany France the stop is neerer home remove this Apostacie and you shall soon see the good Cause reviv'd again and the hearts of all good people reviv'd with it 2. Whereas it is said The tenth part of the City fell and the remnant gave glory to God this cannot be meant of the great City for that sinks every whit like a great milstone to the bottom of the Sea Besides I do not read of any giving glory to God in the great City when her plagues are upon her But contrary it is expresly said they repented not to give glory to God but blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their pains and their sores Rev. 16.9 11. Now the Reason is because the Lord will bring his people out of the great City Babylon as he did Lot from Sodom before he burns her to ashes I will not say among that huge heap of chaff there will be no corn yet I think if any of Gods elect shall perish as to the outward man in that common destruction they will be very few yea in those few no repenting and giving glory to God visibly will appear Rev. 18.4 Jer. 51.6 But the Case here is otherwise for howsoever the whole Apostacie will fall yet in the Earth-quake all will not be slain that are found in the Apostacie When Absalom made that unnatural Rebellion against his father it is said two hundred followed him in the simplicitie of their hearts and knew not any thing 2 Sam. 15.11 that is they were ignorant of the wicked plot he had in hand namely under pretence of devotion and conscience to destroy his own father and make himself king or Chief Magistrate No doubt many two hundreds thousands I may say through the dissimulation and lying of their Leaders and Teachers have fallen in with the Apostacie simply and ignorantly knew nothing of their design that is how under a cloke of Religion and the safety of the godly party the mother Commonwealth was to be murthered and an Absalom-like interest to be set up Therefore by the Remnant here I understand these ignorant and simple ones not the OLD SERPENT the seducers and ringleaders who thought they had done their Country and themselves good service when they sought to destroy the lives and Liberties of the people 3. Whereas it is said In the Earthquake was slain of men 7000. the Greek hath names of men meaning men of note renown famous Gen. 6.4 contrary hereto is men without Name Job 30.8 alluding to the Rebellion of Korah c. Num. 16.2 two things seem to be held forth 1. This Earth-quake that is the Representatives of the people shall be men of courage and of publick spirits such as shall have Lion-like hearts fear no mans face nor respect any mans person but will cut down Cedars assoon as shrubs if there be cause for it Indeed no people in the world formerly have been more honoured then the English for men of resolution and of high and noble spirits in standing up for their freedom and Rights against intrusion and usurpation of all sorts and sizes But How is the faithful City become an harlot it was full of judgment righteousness lodged in it but now murderers Thy silver is become dross thy wine mixt with water Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of theeves every one loveth gifts and follow after reward they judge not the fatherless neither doth the cause of the widdow come unto them Isa 1.21 22 23. Oh! that it should be said ICHABOD The glory is departed from England For have not men of late shewed themselves to be of low base and servile spirits in preferring their own particular interest before the publick good of the Nation And in stead of contending for our Birth-right which but a little before was recovered with the Blood and Treasure of the Nation to give it up or rather sold it Esau-like for a mess of Pottage But God will raise up a better Generation of men and why may not we hope it is now who will recover the Glory of the English nation again by exalting truth and righteousness among us 2. By names of men is not meant the old names of note renown and famous in the days of the King and Bishops for they concern not the later Apostacie but the new names that is Lords Knights Esquires c. of the last edition Those who were poor the other day and have made their families great by hypocrisie and lies and betraying their Country must expect to fall by this Earth-quake For the number seven thousand it is probable before the Earth-quake be done not fewer will be shaken for it must go round the Nation and follow the Apostacie from end to end And I hope the appearance of it will be suddenly we are waiting for it and praying for it So come Lord Jesus Amen Amen Reasons Why it may be
hoped that the present Parliament will begin the Earth-quake or Second Shaking of the Earth FRom the late experience we have had of some mens unfaithfulness and falshood and seriously weighing what a pitiful choice some have made this could not but altogether discourage me of Hope were not my eyes upon the Mighty Creator and so better bottom'd then to put confidence in man What my Reasons are I shall here set down and so leave it to the Readers judgment Whether from such grounds there may not be Hope of reviving the Good old Cause by this Parliament Reas 1. The Lord taking away that HEAD-STOP lately from us seems to speak much good in it to all Lovers of Righteousness in the Nation Arise and take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel for they are dead which sought the young childs life Mat. 2.20 What otherwise was the Lord voice in that Signal Providence but aâ— if he should say to the Representatives of the People Arise take the Mother Commonwealth and her young child i. e. her Rights Priviledges c. and go into London i. e. let things be setled and established as before for they are dead which sought to devour Mother and Child so that there is no fear in returning to the good old work and Cause again Thou brakest the heads of Leviathan in peeces gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness Psal 74.14 The meaning is Gods revenging hand upon Pharaoh was to nourish and strengthen Israel afterward as to beleeve the Lord would not have done that great thing for them had he not meant to bring them to the Promised Land Truly that Stroak to me hath been meat in the wilderness and I cannot but think as it was the Lords doing so it was done that the three Nations might the sooner enjoy their just Rights again It is the opinion of many that in Saul and David as to their Kingdoms is shadowed out two States to be in the last days when Saul was dead the great Block in Davids way it is said Abner the son of Ner Captain of Sauls host took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and made him King 2 Sam. 2.8 9. Note three things in this business 1. What Abner did herein was contrary to his light for he knew well enough that God had appointed anoother man to reign only his relation to the house of Saul for he was Sauls unkle and his own base interest made him do what he did against knowledge and conscience 2 Sam. 3.17 18. 2. It appears by the Text that this Ishbosheth which is by interpretation A MAN OF SHAME and his end proved so was a fellow of a low fearful and weak spirit not like his father Saul neither for valour nor policie meerly set to serve a Court-interest and that a company of corrupt men might serve themselves upon him as not liking David and his way for they knew David was a man more honest and conscientious then to suffer such locusts caterpillars to spoil devour the Commonwealth 2 Sam. 3.11 3. Not only in the end is this mock-King left of his RAISERS but hath his head taken off by two of his own Captains a just reward for him and for all such who will take upon them the power and Government of Nations against the manifest appointment of God What may be in the application time will shew In the mean time take notice if the time be come That the Kingdoms of this world are to be the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 and that righteousness is to be exalted in the Nations then none of the House of Saul shall long reign but the House of David will grow stronger and stronger and carry it in spight of all opposition Reas 2. Methinks it cannot be but there is a wheel in the wheel and the Lords hand moving to the shaking the Earth the second time in that I see of late a spirit of prayer and supplication poured out upon many choice Christians whereby they are enabled to wrestle with the Lord in prayer day and night for the publick good of the Nation more earnestly then they did before I have observed for these four or five yeers that it hath not been upon the hearts of the faithful to expect any good from Parliaments and therefore most of their praying hath been and no doubt by the Holy Spirit led thereto that the Lord would blast them and break them to peeces that the stout-hearted might be spoiled and none of the men of might find their hands But I find it otherwise now for the Lord of late hath put it upon their hearts with much weight to be dayly groaning at the throne of Grace that all those who like good Nehemiah Come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel and to repair the breaches of the Commonwealth may through God do valiantly No doubt honest Hushai prospered the better when he sought to frustrate the wicked counsel of Ahitophel that he had Davids prayers for him and with him And David said O Lord I pray thee turn the counsel of Ahitophel to foolishness 2 Sam. 15.31 Let such know who are our Hushai's at this time and seek to break the designs of Ahitophels and all such as would keep up a corrupt interest against the publick good of the Commonwealth there are many tears and prayers poured out for them And I am confident they will experience the fruit and benefit of them all along upon their endeavours for the righteous Cause Reas 3. I have the more ground of hope considering some persons now sitting were not only Members of the long Parliament and sought to extirpate things that stood in the way of a thorow Reformation but have not since warped and deflected from their former righteous principles Now how can such good Patriots of their Countrey but remember the days of old and the wonderful works of the Lord how visibly and powerfully his presence was with them when they contested against the Court party and how he delivered them from the Lion and the Bear King and Bishops and so have it with much assurance upon their hearts that he will help them still whilst they open their mouth for the dumb and plead the cause of the poor and needy If a man see Beasts in his field devouring the corn which himself had sown he cannot suffer it but will drive them out It may be said in a good sence it was the old Parliament that sowed this Commonwealth with much good seed in order to the freedom safety and welfare of the Nation I hope therefore such men will stand up again in the good old way and seek to repair those grievous breaches which have been made since by a company of corrupt and deceitful men Should such a man as I flee Neh. 6.11 When Nehemiah upon his return to Jerusalem saw what great evil had been done in his absence
the two-shakings For howsoever the Lord doth both and in the first shaking there was great expectation and hope of much good by it yet through the hypocrisie and falshood of some men things proved altogether otherwise He looked for judgment but behold oppression for righteousness but behold a cry Isa 5.7 Now howsoever the Lord was pleased to suffer such corrupt men to carry on their wicked design and to set up themselves against his Son and Zion that the Scripture might be fulfilled yet after the second shaking it shall not be so but the work of Reformation begun shall go forward and prosper yea and in spight of all Apostates and Hypocrites under what profession and form soever truth and righteousness shall rise and flourish for ever Now indeed here lay the occasion of a former mistake generally among the Lords people we thought when the King and Bishops were taken away and the form of Government changed from Monarchy to a Commonwealth that we should presently have seen good days and that tyranny and persecution would have ceased but we did not consider the word here YET ONCE MORE i. e. there must be two shakings So that the good days or the days of the Son of man spoken of in Scripture do not belong to the first shaking neither may any that truly fear the Lord and keep the commandments of God and have the Testimo-of Jesus Christ expect any better time till after the second shaking when this yet once more is over then coms in the time that the Lord will not be wroth with his people any more violence shall be no more heard in the Land nor destruction within thy borders Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate He will break all bonds and strangers shall no more serve themselves of thee Then the house of Israel shall go no more astray neither be polluted any more with their transgressions The Lord will no more make his people a reproach among the Heathen neither shall the wicked any more pass over thee but be utterly cut off Isa 54.9 60.18 62.4 Jer. 30.8 Ezek. 14.11 Joel 2.19 Nah. 1.15 precious Promises Oh how should we desire this ONCE MORE Come Lord Jesus come quickly 3. By Voice I understand the Instruments which the Lord hath raised up and brought together to shake the Earth and his powerful presence with them enabling them effectually to perform the good work he calls them to Methinks there is something here though it lie like gold close in the Earth very observable There are two shakings but the word VOICE is but once mentioned and joyned with the first the later brings a promise with it As if the Lord in this later shaking would be more ingaged for the interest of Christ and his people then he was before Though a man do something freely and of his own accord yet where he stands bound by promise there he takes the more care to have the thing done This may serve for our comfort and encouragement the Lord will not fail us in this second shaking He seems to give us more then we had before I say more ground and reason to hope that this present Apostacie in Church and State shall be shaken then we had formerly to beleeve the shaking of the King and Bishops But seeing our business at present lies not so much in explanation as application I shall therefore come now to set down what I humbly conceive may be from the forenamed Scripture rightly gathered Not restraining the Text to our present time or only to that which is here asserted for as I have said so I say again both this Prophesie and others may be fulfilled over and over But that which I take the Holy Ghost hath some respect to in this Prophesie foretels should come to pass is this The first shaking was when the Long Parliament voted down Kingly Government and pluckt up Monarchy root and branch and constituted a Commonwealth and enacted that the Supream Authority of the Nation should be in a Parliament without a King and House of Lords Add to this as proper to the same shaking the extirpation of the Government of the Church by Archbishops Bishops c. The shaking which is yet ONCE MORE is the utter abolishing of that THING which now stands Reader thou must bear with me for truly I know not what to call it except the LATE STATE-APOSTACIE neither that THING which is managed by the Tryers unless I should say it is one of the names of blasphemy which the great whore carries upon her forehead Rev. 17. as I am perswaded it is yet it hath no proper name But to proceed these two things call them what you will being as it were the two present States and Policies of the Nation the one Civil the other Religious these both will the Lord shake I say Overturn overturn overturn Reader let me request this of thee forbear thy censure till thou hast perused my Reasons for what hath been asserted I hope thou shalt see I am not like the Apostates of this age to give rayling for Reason 1. It is without dispute that among all Nations professing Religion there hath not been the liker State-shaking as was a while since in England For not only was he who was acknowledged by many LAWFUL PARLIAMENTS the Supream Magistrate brought as a Delinquent before a High Court of Justice but had sentence of Death pass'd upon him the which was soon after put in execution yea more to the end that Monarchy might for ever cease in the Nation and the very name of it forgotten there were four Acts of Parliament all standing yet in force for ought I know which make it high Treason for any man to take upon him the name of a King or Supream Magistrate without consent of Parliament The first Act saith thus Be it enacted and ordained that whosoever shall declare publish or any way promote any person to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or Ireland c. without consent of Parliament shall be judged and deemed a TRAYTOR to the Commonwealth and shall suffer pains of Death and such other punishments as belong to the Crimes of high Treason Act of Parl. January 30. 1648. The like Act was made March 17. 1648. and May 14. 1649. Again July 17. 1649. It was enacted That if any person shall maliciously or advisedly publish by writing printing or open declaring c. That the Commons in Parliament are not the Supreme Authority of this Nation or shall plot contrive or endeavor to stir up or raise force c. that every such offence shall be taken deemed and adjudged by the Authority of this Parliament to be high Treason But there is more yet there was an Ingagement which was drawn up and sent out by the Parliament for all the Nation to sign which went thus I do hereby declare and promise to be true and faithful to the