the Lord troubles them with no more of his Messengers only there is a company of honest hearts that fear the Lord speaking often one to another about these things but their language is such as is neither understood nor hearkned to by that Generation indeed it 's said the Lord hearkned and heard but not a man minds it as we read of in this particular also is this one Tribe a Tipe and it s of no smal concernment to us at this day In this time of apostacy it was that our Prophet Malachy delivered his heavenly Message before I can enter into the mistery of those words the opening of which is my chief designe there lies a necessity upon me somewhat to minde the Prophecy in general In this Prophecie there are three special remarkable times to be minded 1 A day or time of Apostacy wherein the Lord spake these words by the mouth of his servant Malachy 2 A day or time of purging and purifying Syon in the 3 Chap. 3 A day or time of judging desiroying the wicked in the 4 Chap That this day of Judgement that shal burn like an Oven is one and the same with the time of Dauiels stones smiting the great Image is clear to me upon this double ground 1. Because I find the same work done in this day the stone doth in that Dan 2.35 and 44. Then was the iron the clay the brass the Silver and the gold broken to peices together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors and the winde carried them away that no place was found for them it shal break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms Mal 41.3 For behold the day cometh that shal burn as an Oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shal be stubble and the day that cometh shal burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch and yee shall tread down the wicked for they shall be ashes under the soles os your feet 2 Because I find the same growth and prosperity the same blessing following the performance of the work in both places Dan 2.25 And the stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled the whole earth Mal 4.2 The Son of Righteousness shal arise with healing in his wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as Calves of the stall There is only this difference Daniel speaks of the Powers Authorities and great ones of this wicked world and Malachy speak of the wicked in general both smal and great root and branch Daniel speaks of the stones executing the wrath and vengeance of God upon his enemies and Malachy speaks not only of that but also of that subjection the wicked shal then be in to every individual Saint of that number they shal be ashes under the soles of your feet Daniel speaks of the prosperity of the stone as a body compact together the stone became a great mountain and Malachy speaks of the prosperity and advantage of particular Saints ye shal grow up as Calves of the stall yet both have reference to the same work and time That the Lord might prepare and fit his people for the great work of this terrible day he wil purge and purifie them which is the work of the 2d day or time mentioned in the Third Ch. of this Prophecie To prevent some objections which perhaps might be thrown in the way of that further use I must make of this Prophecie in its due place I desire you to take notice of two things 1. That this Prophecie hath special relation to the Gentiles in this Gospel-day which is apparent by that partial fulfilling of this Prophecy our Lord himself attributes to the beginning of the Gospel-day even his dayes in the flesh as wil be evident it you compare with this Prophecie Math. 11.10 Mark 1.2 3. Luke 7.27 and Mat 3.11 12. 2 That it hath not yet been fulfilled either to Jew or Gentile this purifying here treated of is a Reformation wrought after an Apostacy for in the day of the most wicked and loathed apostacy ever Israel was guilty of the Prophet speaks of it as that which is to come and sueh a reformation it is as is a reducing the people to their first and pristine glory and beauty they had in the day of their Espousals as the 4th verse intimates to us Then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the dayes of old as in antient years as the margent of some Bibles hath it the excellent glory and Heavenliness of this beauty was such as the Lord seems to glory in it Jer 2. 2 3 I remember thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thine espousals Israel was holiness unto the Lord it 's deseribed at large Ezek 16. from the 8th to the 15th verse and our Lord himself seems to hint at such a Reformation in that speech of his Mat. 19.8 But from the beginning it was not so intimating to us that things ought to be reduced to their first inslitâ—tion their beginning state it is that which the Church of Ephesus must return to otherwise she must bear her punishment Rev 2.4 5. This hath not yet been fulfilled to the Jews for at our Lord first coming they were so far from being reduced by him to their former love reformed to their first glory as that they were cast away Rom 11.15 and the day of the espousals of the G miles came and since that dismal time to them have they not been as a people driven out from the presence of the Lord Neither have the Gentiles possest the fulness thereof for can any man shew us any time or season wherein any part of the professing Gospel-Church hath after any of her backslidings and apostacies been adorned with the glory of her marriage-marriage-day the excellency of her first love in the dayes of her youth that the Lord could say unto her Thy offerings are pleasant unto me as in the dayes of old as in antient years but so much it is the Lord hath said in this Prophecy he wil do for his chosen and this glory it is the Lord wil clothe his Zion with in due time We are now returned to the first day or time mentioned which is a day of great Apostacy and by this time I hope I have gained some ground to make good with demonstration to the understandings of men the truth and certainty of the following discourse This day of Apostacy after the building of the second Temple that time of Reformation being the lâ—st state and condition of that one Tribe as a Nation and that wherein our Lord Jesus came and found them to their cost and sorrow It was a Tipe of the state and condition of some part of the professing Gospel-Church at that time wherein our Lord shal visit it with c Isai 4.4 the spirit os Judgement and the spirit of burning That we
again though you may be saved because of the grace and love of your father which is unchangeable yet it will be as by fire and the dreadfulnesse of that dispensation is such as deliverance from it is worth a world of Gems Look back upon the dread and terrour of the day of the Lord of hosts and if you believe the word of the Lord you will be of my opinion in this matter 2. That all that pelf drosse and dung this worlds good which now blindes your eyes and stops your mouths that you cannot stand up for the dishonoured name and interest of your Lord and Saviour at this day will stand you in no stead in the day of the Lord that will come upon Syon you will then be forced to throw away all those foolish Idols of gold and silver with which you now commit folly 3. That your sacrifices and offerings your worship and religious performances at this day are hatefull to the Lord as very dung unto him i Mal. 2.3 The dung of your solemne feasts they are a trouble to him and he is weary to bare them because of that hypocritical Apostatising guilt that cleaves to them Think on that word of the Lord k Is 66.3 He that killeth an Oxe is as if he slew a man he that sacrificeth a Lambe as if he cut of a Dogs neck he that offereth an oblation as if he offered swines blood he that burneth incense as if he blessed an Idoll Here are glorious outward performances but behold how abominable and loathsome your offerings are to the great Jehovah What 's the matter Why it s the offering of an hypocriticall spirit * The sense of the Prophet in this 5. verse prove this That oppresse and persecute those that tremble at the word of the Lord yet can tell how to cloak their doings over with aims at the glory of God crying out Let the Lord be glorified but the Lord shall appear to their joy and you shall be ashamed Again * Amos 5.22 23 I hate I dispise your feast dayes and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies though yee offer me burnt-offerings and your meat-offering I will not accept them neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs for I will not hear the melody of thy Viols Who are these whose worship and service is thus rejected by the Lord verse 18. they are such as in a high profession desire the day of the Lord Why what 's the matter the guilt of an hypocriticall Apostacy cleaves to them notwithstanding all their glorious outward performances and their large professions yet they want those more weighty things as is implyed in the 24 v. Judgment and righteousnesse chap 4.1 they oppresse the poore and crush the needy Your silent by standing makes you abettors and guilty Heare what our Lord himself saith p Mat. 12 30. He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me seattereth abroad your Lord admits of no moderate indifferent medium of spirit in this matter your sacrifices are not offered up in righteousnesse therefore are they not pleasant unto the Lord And because of this he will cast you into a Furnace that you may learn to offer up an offering in righteousnesse that your offerings may be pleasant unto him as in the daies of old as in aneient years So that 4. The best and purest standing any of you can brag of under this Apostacy will not abide the trial but the day that cometh will throw you off your ground the Earth quake shall rend it up that it shall not be found Who shall be able to stand in that day None no not one and if it be so what will become of those oppressing stations many who I hope have grate in their hearts run their feet into out of too much love to gold and silver the Idols of the age 5. As a natural consequent of the rest behold your exceeding folly that for love of your ceiled houses the convenient accommodations of this life you forsake the interest of the name and honour of your Lord and connive at and cleave to the evils and apostacies of this your day and time Have you not left and forsaken your discipleship Our Lord saith that except a man take up his crosse and follow him he cannot be his disciple every disciple of Christ carries his crosse at his back now where is your crosse have you not lost it in your too eagen pursuit after the profits and pleasures of this present evil world and what will this unchilde-like carriage of yours cost you the refiners fire and fullers sope will be your portion God will call thy terrors about thee as in a solemne day that in the day of the Lords angen none may escape terrors by reason the sword shall come upon thee Lam. 2.22 compared with Ezek. 21.12 Quest If it should be askt wherein our times are thus guilty of back-sliding and Apostacy as in charged upon them Answ Look upon our dayes through the glasse of these Prophecies of Malachy and Isaiah with the interpretation given which I am perswaded will be found according to truth and you will behold them of the same countenance and colour those times were of Isaiah pointed at and in which the Prophet Malachy gave forth his Prophecy differing in nothing but in many aggravating circumstances Obj. But perhaps some may object you hint to us that the state of the Jewish Church was a type and representation of professing Zion in England and truly you seem to me to put a restriction upon the text which it will not boor For put the case the paralel be true that that time of Apostacy in the Jewish Church Malachy Prophecied in was a type and representation of the state of this Professing Gospel-Church imediately before our Lords coming why may it not as well have relation to any other part or to the whole professing-Gospel-Church as to that part of the professing Gospel-Church in England and as that was the state of the Jewish Church imediately before our Lords first coming in the flesh so may it not rather be a tipe of the state of the Professing-Gospell-Church imediately before our Lords coming again in person Answ I conceive a due weighing what hath been already said would sufficiently answer all objections but for their sakes who have not the patience to take that paines I shall offer some further satisfaction This Objection consists of several parts and requires a distinct Answer to each 1. I conceive that this cannot have relation to the time imediately before our Lords coming againe but must relate to the time wherein it hath been already fixed 1. Because I finde the Prophet speaks not of the personal comming of Christ the second time but of a dispensation of the Lord wherein he will be as Fullers sope and as a refiner and purifier of
this particular think upon what hath been already said in the beginning of this discourse 3. THAT IT HATH SPECIAL AND PECULIAR RELATION TO THE PROFESSING-GOSPEL-CHURCH IN ENGLAND WITH ITS TERRITORIES AND DOMINIONS will plainly appear if we consider First That the Lord hath done these things for ENGLAND and for none other that answer and are equivolent to what he did for that one Tribe of old He hath delivered them from under the Antichristian tyranical power of Babilon given them Liberty Power Authority and Opportunity to BUILD THE TEMPLE to returne to their first Love to their God and Father and their Brethren to the purity and glory of the day of their espousals as it was IN THE DAYES OF OLD AS IN ANTIENT YEARES in their Offerings to the Lord in the Worship and Ordinances of the Lord Jesus And the CITTY JERUSALEM to do and carry on the Lords worke to the praise and glory of his holy name in this their day and time And Secondly ENGLAND hath followed her Tipe step by step in all her Deviations and Apostacies Building CEILED HOUSES getting large Possessions the curious Mansions and Honours of this world for themselves and letting the HOUSE OF GODLY WAST neglecting the present worke of God Apostatising from that blessed worke of his they once engaged in and falling to work of their own insuring to themselves CEILED HOUSES their large and honorable acquisitions of the Mammon of this world Instead of exalting the Lord alone rendering him those honours due unto him for so many matchlesse expressions of an infinite love they exalt themselves and seek their own honour to get a great name of renowne in the world Yea she is gone back even to Babilon again to this the new inventions of the times bear witnesse and were it not that the faithful God hath engaged his Word his Promise him self all his glorious Attributes z Mich. 4 10. that at this time Syon being in this condition he will now deliver his true seed from the hand of their enemies they would be surrounded again and brought under the Iron yoke by a Babilonish power And Thirdly she comes not behinde her Tipe neither in devout and religious hypocrisies All her doings though never so unworthy must be cloaked over with the service of God carrying on the worke of the Lord and the glory of God and the honour of God and the good of the Lords people and a multitude of Sacrifices must be offered and somtimes they will walke mournfully before the Lord But because they smite with the fist of wickednesse hidden under these coverings these their Sacrifices are iniquity in the sight of the Lord he cannot away with them his soule hateth them they are a trouble to him he is really a weary to bear them and he will be a swift witnesse against them These things are all written in very faire characters in ENGLANDS forehead at this day and look round the world and see if you can read them in any other forehead I cannot think they will be found any where but here And if so and at such a time of the day as this about the ending time of Babilons forty two monthes which here I shall take for granted and refer you for the proof of it to those elaborate discourses already extant upon that subject it is to me an infallible argument that these prophesies with the interpretation given of them fall directly upon these miserable Islands And to shut up this part of the Answer that VERY MUCH the Lord speaks in his Word concerning THE ISLANDS as an introduction to the comming forth of his great worke in the world is no small confirmation of the truth of the assertion Obj It may be further Objected that it doth not appear that England is delivered from under Babilons power as you affirm for is not England at present in a far worse state and condition as is the censure of the most prudent wise considerate Judgements than it was in at least under three or four of the last of her antichristian Kings whether we look upon her in her civil or Religious state Ans I Answer It is true that the course of England at present steers wil undoubtedly lead her into the midst of Babilon both Civil and Religious it wil hurry her into a civil bondage and Religious slavery irrecoverable this wil be the inevitable effect of her wayes if an Almighty providence prevent not but yet this makes nothing against the position that once she had Babilons yoke broken from off her neck and was delivered from under the Tyrannical power thereof did enjoy that never to be too much valued liberty those blessed opporrunities to become everlastingly happy by following her Lord whithersoever he would lead her that she wil never enjoy again until the Lord hath made bare the arm of a creating power to redeem her from the hand of her enemies even those her unnatural Children who have suckt the milk of her breasts whom she hath tenderly nourisht and brought up that now inhumanly would pul her very Vitals out of the midst of her body and leave her dead carkase a continual Feast for the Birds of Prey to feed upon And although our condition be thus sad and calamitous at present we are running a pace back again into Egypt and Babilon yet I conceive we are not yet entred the Lists of Babilons borders though we are gone back even to Babilon become very Babilonish yet into Babilon I trust the Lord wil not suffer us to enter but according to his promise wil visit and deliver his people for his own names sake Qu But if any honest heart should ask how may I get clear of the danger I am in of possessing the sorrows of this day of the Lord Ans I Answer Learn that great and good lesson of self denial taking up your Cross and following your Lord get to be of the number of those that fear the Lord that speak often one to another bearing their testimony for the name of God and the inter st of their Lord against the evils and wickednesses of the Times then shal you possess the gratious promises they are under of the sparing love of your Father which belongs to none of those though never so good and righteous in the esteem of the professing world who are guilty of and defiled with the evils of the Times saith the Lord to Isaiah Say unto the righteous that it shal be wel with him for they shal eat the fruit of their doings But woe unto the wicked it shal be ill with him for the reward of his hands shal be given him and the Lord wil spare those that think upon his name and speak often one to another about the concernments of his glory and interest as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him vvhile their brethren are burning in the Refiners fire and smarting under the Fullers sope In the last place somewhat I would
They are so heartily and throughly sensible of the sufferings of the name and honour of their God that their care for that swalloweth up all other cares they minde not so much their own sufferings under the oppressions of these workers of wickedness as the sufferings of the name and interest of their dear Lord under that dishonour and shame these wicked tho refined hypocrites throw upon it their careful thoughts are solely taken up about the concernments of the name of their God They thought upon his name yet notwithstanding these excellencies they are not per-sect But 3 They are subject to many insirmities for they stand in need of the sparing mercy of their God and Father and I wil spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him 2 The work it self which these sincere hearts exercise themselves in as the great duty incumbent upon them in this their day is Consultation about the concernments of the great name and cause of the Lord at this time They think and they speak both parts of counsel they thought upon his name they consult in their own own hearts and thoughts about the name and interest of God and they speak often one to another about it they are often enquiring of and communicating their light to each other that if possible by such communications they may be able to find out something of the mind of their God and Father they could not by their more private consultations in their hearts and thoughts the subject of these their so serious consultations is the name of their God they thought upon his name their care is not how shal we get from under the unsupportable oppressions of these workers of wickedness that are set up nor how shall we free our selves and our Posterity from the bondage and slavery of these sons of violence nor so much how shal we bring down these proud and lofty men that speak such proud and stout words against the Lord his name and honour though possibly that may be more remotely in their thoughts too but all their cares are dissolved into a godly and holy carefulness for the name and honour of their dear Lord they thought upon his name how that was dishonoured the Lord had gotten himself a great name by delivering his people out of Babilon rearing up the glorious structure of his Temple and building up the ruined wals of Jerusalem setting up his true Worship again there in despight of all those great oppositions of his enemies round about and these backsliders dispise and dishonour this great name of the Lord of hosts doing what in them lies to bury it in Oblivion now these lovers of the Name of God think on this are very solicitous what they should do at this juncture of time to wipe off that dishonour is cast upon this great and glorious name in the view of the whole world O say they what shall we do for the name of our God wherewith shall we honour it what course shal we take to exalt and magnifie it in the eyes of the world before whom it hath been thus dishinored here 's the Center of all their thoughts and consultations They thought upon his Name 3 Let us see how exceeding kindly the Lord takes this at their hands 1 The Lord by two eminent acts manifests his great acceptance of them how is the heart of God taken with this blessed work The Lord hearkned and heard it as it implie the lowness weakness of the voice of these holy consultations that the Lord must hearken and listen to speak after the manner of men before he can hear it so it also implies great intensness of spirit with delight he hearkned the Lord is so wel-pleased with these blessed consultations that rather than miss hearing their voice he will hearken and listen with the greatest intenseness of minde the Lord hearkned as if the Lord had said stand aside Sathan cease thy accusing clamours in mine ears silence you exalters of wicked workers You are of your Father the devil and the lusts of your Father ye w ll do he was a lyar from the beginning and so are ye wrongfully charging the innocent with things they know nor peace ye waiward froward children through the noise and din of your peevish wranglings nothing can be heard be stil all I wil hear what these my Beloved ones say that stand up for my name and honour in such a day as this what though they discover much weakness and infirmity in the management of their work yet I delight in them and love to hear their voice The Lord hearkned and heard it he hearkens til he hears all and he takes special notice of what he hears let 's nothing slip and so delightful and pleasing to him is that he hears that as if he were distrustful of his memory A book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name here is the Lambs book wherein he sets down all the service his servants do for him that he may give them a suitable and ful reward when he comes into his Kingdom that possession his Father hath decreed to give him the Lord is so taken with what he hears that he wil book it all down set it all upon Record not a thought nor an expression not a word nor a sillable wil he loose the heart of God is so taken with these breathings that he writes a Book of Remembrance that when those Heavenly Records are read he may remember to do them honour then who thus honour him now by their loyalty and faithfulness cloathing them with his own Robes his own glory Thus shal it be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour 2 The Lords acceptation of the work of these blessed souls appears by those rich promises he makes to them which are 1 Such as concern reward for work done As 1 They shal be mine saith the Lord of hosts this is a note of special peculiarity for as it hath relation to other persons it s put in opposition unto my Jewels in the next words saith the Lord of hosts there is a day a coming wherein I wil make up my jewels gather up my treasure and in that day they shal be mine mine in a more special and peculiar way and manner than my Jewels shal be as at the first when the children of Israel were in Egypt there were two Mines my people and my first born as as the first-born in whose stead the Tribe of Levi was chosen were Gods in a more special and peculiar manner then the rest of Gods people of Israel they were those whom he chose to be alwaies in his presence to serve before him continually his favorites to whom he manifested his glory and by whom he revealed his mind and Wil to the rest of their Brethren so here are TWO MINES too mine and my Jewels and this mine being put in opposition to my Jewels
Southsayers like the Philistines notwithstanding all their glorious hypocritical professions and outside worship that men cannot discern what they are without digging very deep yet they are guilty of some of the wicked and provoking abominations of their predecessors whom the Lord drave out before them 2 Because n Verse 7. their Land is ful of silver and gold neither is there any end of their treasure their time is spent in getting and their hearts run a whoring after the riches of this world as it was in the dayes of Noah so it is now they are wallowing in the delights and pleasures of this world they are so swallowed up in the love of the fading glory of this miserable world that they cannot find their rest but there is no end of their treasures they wil never with the rich man say it is enough soul take thy rest so insatiable are they that the treasures of the world are not able to satiate their boundless lusts there is no end of their desires the more they get the more they would have there is no end of their treasure their Coffers wil never be filled so long as any thing is behind that may be gotten by any way or means 3 Their o Verse 7. land is ful of Horses neither is there any end of their Chariots and they please themselves in the children of strangers to secure themselves in the enjoyment of their carnal and unworthy pleasures they erect a Mercenary and powerful Militia a thing of such a wicked and destructive tendency to the good and wel fare of the people that the Lord doth expresly command that man whom he shal chuse to be Ruler over his people that p Deut. 17.16 he shal not multiply horses to himself and the wickedness of its tendency is exprest in this that it causeth the people to return to Egypt into an Egyptian bondage and slavery when the Lord hath said Ye shall henceforth return no more that way the Lord knew ful wel that man though a holy man of the Lords own chusing qualified according to the mind and wil of God so as that he wil chuse him before all others yet man so qualified man in the highest state of grace while this old World standeth would not be able to bear up against the temptations of the evil one and his own heart vvhen once he hath gotten a multitude of Horses and chariots a powerful mercenary Militia at his ownvvil and devotion David that upright heart after he vvas grown great by many Conquests could not withstand a Temptation of this nature numbring the people and such a power vvil necessarily cause the people to return to Egypt that is into bondage and slavery for it is the high way to oppression and injustice To make this Militia wholly his own to serve his interest to be for him him against all his enemies he must be bountiful and liberal to them bestow great gifts upon them and having not of his own so to do he must rob and oppress the pople this course Saul took 1 Sam 8.14 15 and 17 verses And he wil take your fields and your Vineyards and your Olive-yards even the best of them and give them to his servants and he wil take the tenth of your seed and of your Vineyards and give to his Officers and to his servants he wil take the tenth of your sheep and ye shal be his servants And least any should have better thoughts of Saul and think this might be meant of some other read what himself saith Chap 22.7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him hear now yee Benjamites will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and Vineyards and make you all Captains of thousands and Captains of hundreds implying as strongly that he had done so as that David could not nor would not do so O the deep gulf of wickedness and misery the horrid Temptations that mans heart vvil hurry him into who fals down to commit adultery vvith this filthy Idol But these men wil multiply horses and Chariots to themselves that they may be a sure defence to them in their ways of vvickedness yea they so dote upon this Idol that they never think they have enough of her there is no end of their Chariots horse upon horse Chariot upon chariot force upon force there is no end of them they never think themselves strong enough and great enough and this brings a necessity for Oppression upon oppression without end for these must have their feilds and their Vineyards and their Olive-yards and their tenth part of the seed great possessions and riches otherwise there is no life in this defence without this Oyl the chariot-wheels vvil not run and they please themselves in the Children of strangers men of a strange degenerated spirit that chuse to serve the Wil and lust of the Prince before the true interest of their countries good the vvelfare of the people men of so strange a spirit and principle that they truly deserve the name of strangers and not Natives of the good Land of such a degenerared unworthy principle that teaches them obedience to the Imperious wil and unlawful commands of their Prince although with Doeg the Edomite they fal foul on the servants of the Lord in such Children of strangers do these men take pleasure and with them is their delight and therefore wil the Lord arise to shake terribly the earth and bringing down the lofty looks of these proudmen save his righteous remnant and get himself a name excellent in all the earth These wickednesses are guilty of such aggravations that they so provoke the eyes of Gods glory as he wil not forgive them by no means wil he pass them by but wil deal with them in that dreadful manner spoken of But this is not all the Prophet in the 16 verse of this 3d. Chapter comes with a MOREOVER Moreover the Lord saith because the daughters of Syon are haughty and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes walking and mincing as shey go and making a tinckling with their feet therefore the Lord wil smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Syon and the Lord wil discover their secret parts in that day wil the Lord take away the bravery of their tinkling Ornaments about their feet and their Cauls and their round tires like the Moon the chains and the bracelets and the muflers the honnets and the ornaments tf the leggs and the headbands and the tablets and the ear-rings the Rings and the Nose jewels and the changeable suits of apparel and the mantles and the wimples and the crisping pins the glasses and the fine linnen and the hoods and the vails and it shal come to pass that in stead of sweet smel there shall be stink and instead of a girdle a rent and instead of wel-set hair baldness and in stead of a stomacher a girding with sackcloth and burning
When I have brought you to cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils by letting you see through the glass of experience that he is not at all to be accounted of when you can cease vvholly from man that you care for and look at no man any otherwise than in me and trust to and rely upon me alone 6 and lastly THEN when you know the way to exalt me alone to give all the honour and the glory of the vvonders I bring to pass in the world to me vvithout any competitor though of the best of men for I wil be exalted alone in that day THEN shal ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not and the day shal come wherein you shall be delivered out of the hands of your enemies and you shal tread them as ashes under your feet and burn them up leaving them neither root nor branch and in your going forth in the performance of this vvork ye shal grow up as Calves of the stall be ful fed with the love and fulness of your Lord and Saviour HAving opened the words and supposing it in sufficiently evident that the interpretation given is according to truth let us with a truly religious sericusness observe the lessons the Holy Ghost would teach us from them 1 That the time of the Lords arising to work DELIVERANCE for his people is a dark day yea a black midnight of apostacy then wil the Lord come to his Zion as a Refiner to purifie it vvhen the professing vvorld are running back again even to Babilon then and there shal deliverance be vvrought for the true seed Mic 4.10 Thou shalt go even to Babilon there shalt thou be delivered there the Lord shal redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies this is the state and condition of Sion immediatly before the time vvhen the Lord wil make her horns iron and her hoofes brass wherein she shal thresh and beat in peices many people consecrating their gain unto the Lord. In the e Mat. 29 midnight of the Virgins sleep shal the cry be heard the Bridegroom the King the Lord of hosts is coming when professing Zion comes into a Laodicean Church-state Rev. 3.20 then the coming of our Lord is at hand he is f at the door The apostacy here is so universal and so gross notwithstanding all their curious coverings to hide it from the eyes of men yet the Lord sees it that the Magistracy the Rulers are Rulers of g Isaiah 1.10 Sodom h Mal. 3.15 proud workers of Wickedness the Princes are i Isaiah 1.23 rebellious and companions of Theeves every one loveth gifts and followeth after reward they judge not the Fatherless neither doth the cause of the Widdow come unto them the Ministry the Priests k Mark 2.8 depart out of the way of the Lord corrupt the Covevenant of Levi to the causing many to stumble at the law the Worship and commands of God become l Verse 9 contemptible and base before all the people because of their straying from the wayes of God by an irreligious partiality in the law or accepting of Faces as the margent of some Bibles hath it making the Law by their uncouth forced and private interpretations to seem to countenance the designe of those whose designs are not suitable to the design of God but are against the Lord and guilty of so much hypocritical unrighteousness to the provoking the eyes of his glory that he wil not forgive them seeking their own interest not the interest and honour of him whom they profess to be their Lord and master Jesus Christ and the multitude of this professing people grow up prophanely wicked snuffing m Mal. 1 13 at the Ordinances of the Lord as at a wearisom burden behold what a weariness is it the true Worship of God true Religion becomes a weariuess to these outside professors who n Isai 1.11 13 14. fil the Lord with the multitude of their sacrifices and weary him with their new Moons and their appointed Feasts their Sabboths and calling of Assemblies with their Fasts they o Mal. 1.14 polute the Altar of the Lord the Worship of God with their blinde and sick and torn and lame and corrupt performances their cursed deceit yea they are Idolaters in the sight of God p Isai 2.9 the mean man boweth down and the great man humbleth himself to their Idols that they are become to God as q Mal. 3.5 Sorcerers an adulterous Generation in this sad day of apostacy wil the Lord come to his Sion as a refiner and purifier of silver and as Fullers sope now wil the day of the Lord of hosts come upon professing Zion and lay all low before him teaching them by a smart and dreadful dispensation the way to exalt the Lord alone in this day wil the Lord come as a swift Witness against and avenge himself on his adversaries in Zion those vvho are profest friends members of professing Zion but in deed and in truth are his real enemies enemies to the righteous and holy designs of God and deliver his remnant and pick out his Jewels from amongst the professing rubbish of defiled Zton 2 That notwithstanding the gross wickedness of this day yet Sathan transforms himself into an Angel of light clothing his Children and followers in his best livery they have notable coverings to hide it whereby they deceive the multitude of the professing world and themselves to boot so that they dare not only assert their innocency in putting the Prophet to prove his charge against them but when the Prophet preaches to them the long-sufferance and tenderness of the heart of God towards them the grace and love of God in that promise r Mal. 3.7 Return unto me and I wil return unto you saith the Lord of hosts they scorning to acknowledge their guilt throw it back in his face with a wherein shal we return impudently asserting their righteousness to be such as they know not nor none can tel them wherein they should return and do better 3 That the leaders of this apostacy that cause the people to err notwithstanding their curious outside coverings of religious performances and good aims and ends for the good of the Church people and glory of God wil be the subject of the sore displeasure and wrath of the Lord of hosts the Lord wil be a s Verse 5. swift Witness against them and come neer to them to Judgement t Heb. 6.4 5 6 If those who were once inlightned and have tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come fall away it is impossible to renew them again to repentance at the hand of this hypocritical oppressing and persecuting Generation wil God require the blood of his Prophets and Witnesses that hath been shed u Isai 1 24. Ah saith the Lord I will ease me of
not merit or desert but pure love vvil teach them another and a better lesson Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day a thing which never yet was done in any of the dayes this old World ever saw 12 Behold somewhat of the way and course the Lord wil take to do this great and marvellous work he wil cause the fire to break out from among themselves that shal consume them this Earthquake arises from the rending vvind pent up vvithin the concavities of its own earth as the scope and tendency of the Third Chap intimates and herein consists somewhat of the Wonder that a State defended vvith such a Force Cedars and Oaks Mountains and Hils Towers and fenced wals Ships and pleasant things even the mighty man and the man of War the Judge and the Prophet the Prudent and the Antient the Honourable man and the Counsellor the cunning Artificer and the Eloquent Oratour should be brought down and laid in the dust the Lord so impoverishes those of the excellent gifts and qualities they once had that being enfatuated they become as Children Babes and Women this alteration in the superior orbs begets another as dangerous in the lower regions the Lord stops the fountains of this professing earth and for want of those cooling waters that had vvont to keep things in some tolerable poise the fiery element prevails and breaking out of the earth begets its own likeness a fiery blaze in the fountains also as of old fire came out from Abimelech and devoured the men of Shechem fire came out from Shechem devoured Abimelech so here is fire against fire which continues burning til c Isai 3. â— Jerusalem be ruined and Judah be fallen in this fire wil the Lord avenge himself on his friend-like enemies those to whom the professing world give the right hand of fellowship as true Cittizens of Zion free denizens of the holy City in the management of this fiery work causing one fire to overcome the other consuming its own nature and over-ruling it to the carrying on his own design and work wil the Lord manifest such an exceeding glory above all former manifestations that the best of men shal enter into the rock and hide themselves in the dust for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty and he alone shal be exalted in that day 13 That the Prophets Isaiah and Malachy do not give us any ground as I can perceive to think the Lord wil make use of that beloved remnant of his that fear his name and speak often one to another about his name and honour at this day in this great work of his judging professing Zion in the manner treated of Malachy tels us The Lord wil spare them in that day and Isai saith it shal be well with them in that day but not a word do we read of any active condition they are in any otherwise than by the word of their testimony at that day I rather conceive that the state and condition of the remnant mentioned Isaiah 26.20 21. Come my people enter thou into thy Chambers and and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be over past for behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity the earth also shal disclose her blood and shal no more cover her slain 14 That none are under the saving influences of those rich promises made to the blessed remnant at this day but those who not only speak often one to another against the apostacies and evils of the times but think on the name of God have this as the moving cause in all their motions a holy carefulness for the interest and name of God for them and for them only is there a Book of remembrance written and they and they only shal be mine saith the Lord in that day and they and they only wil the Lord spare in that day when he makes up his Jewels and then shal they return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not 15 Here is a holy directory to guide and an unerring touchstone to try all our waies and actions by at this day that in all our motions against the apostacies and evils of the times the honour and interest of the great name of God move us if that be not our frame and temper of Spirit we are none of the number in whom the Lord so much delights and our work of counsel is not that which the Lord so earnestly lissens and hearkens after til he hears all noting it down in his book of remembrance and we have nothing to do with those high expressions of the Lords matchless love in his promises no if the name of God be not solely in our eye and the exalting the Lord alone be not all our aime and end in what we do in stead of Gods peculiars in that day of the Lord it wil be unto us d Amos 5.18 19. darkness and not light as if a man fled from a Lyon and a Bear met him or went into a house and leaned his hand on the wal and a Serpent bit him 16 That he high attainments the graces and excellencies the remnant have attained to at this day is far short of the glory of the Lord is about to reveal when it comes forth they wil be glad to run to their shelter the sparing love of their Father they themselves shal then be laid in the dust before the Lord and the glorious Lord alone shal be exalted and magnified 17 That the great designe of God upon professing Zion at this day is to purge and purifie wash and cleanse it from all its filth dross and tin that they may become a holy Generation a peculiar people formed for himself to shew forth his praise able to offer up an Offering in righteousness pleasant unto the Lord. 18 Behold the way and course the Lord wil take to purge and purifie his Zion at this day he wil do it by the spirit of Judgement and the spirit of burning by such a trying dispensation of fiery judgement as shal not only burn up their dross but their tin also that which now looks so like and goes for good silver for that which is acceptable in the sight of God 19 Syon thus purged and purified shal have the creating power of God to assist her as her defence upon all this glory the Lord hath now cloathed her with shal be a desence it is not poluted and impure Zion the Lord wil thus defend but it is that glory of holiness the counterpaine or image of Gods own holiness vvhich wil be upon Zion when the Lord shal have washed away the filth from the daughter of Zion and shal have purged away the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof then
shal she be clothed with all the the defence promised and not til then the promise is to a washed and purified State not to a State defiled with filth tho of Zion not poluted with blood though of Jerusalem that which is most like true holiness and purity and is not that vvhich the Lord wil defend is nothing but glory the Image and impress of himself upon all the glory shal be a defence nothing beneath the glory of Zion thus vvashed and purified by a spirit of Judgment and a spirit of burning wil the Lord defend at this rate and after this manner but Syon clothed upon with the glory of her Bridegroom and Lord e Cant. 9 5 Who is this that cometh up from the Wilderness leaning upon her beloved shal be defended by a continual assistance of the creating power of God so that they shal not be tempted by any necessities whatsoever to make use of the same unrighteous politick wayes and courses the Rulers of the world have hitherto made use of to defend themselves they shal not make use of the worlds unrighteousnes to fence and guard their righteousness from the rape and spoils of their enemies but there shal a creating power such an extraordinary providence at tend them bringing down their enemiesunder their feet upon all occasions at all times that the Lord shal be so eminently seen in those wonderful occurrences of his providence and power that he shal have the praise and the glory of all Glory to God in the highest wil then be the burden of the song at that day 20 Vntil the Lord hath purged and purified Zion he wil not defend it against the rage and injuries of her enemies when the Lord shal have washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion and purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof then and not before wil he create upon all its glory such a defence as shal be a shadow from the heat a refuge from the storm and a covert from the rain such as shal be sufficient for all times and seasons night and day 21 When Syon is thus purged and purified become Gods holy hil of Zion a holy generation such a stamp of holiness set upon them that they shal be CALLED HOLY then will the Lord make use of her in his glorious work in the way of his Judgements upon the prophane antichristian and hypocritical world then wil they know how and be fit to burn up the wicked treading them as ashes under their feet But 22 Before that day comes that shal burn as an Oven wherein the stone shal smite the great Image and break it in peices the Lord will bring his remnant and his Jewels into one entire body and poure down his Spirit upon them a spirit of discerning such a degree of the Spirit as shal sufficiently qualifie and fit them for his work and service saith the Lord when I have made up my Jewels then shal ye all return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not for the day then cometh that shal burn as an Oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shal be stubble and the day that cometh shal burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shal leave them neither root nor branch 23 Observe the work of the remnant at this day of apostacy and falling away it consists of two parts 1 Bearing their testimony against the apostacies and evils of the times they spake often one to another if Jerusalem loose the kindness of her youth and the love of her Espousals Jeremy must be f Jer. 1.18 a defenced City and an iron pillar and brasen walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah and the Princes thereof against the Priests thereof and against the people of the Land If the house of Israel turn aside from God grow impudent and hard hearted stopping their ears against the word of the Lord Ezekiel must have g Ezek. 3.8 9 a strong face against their faces and a strong forehead harder than an adamant against their foreheads if the house of Jacob get into an hypocritical strain of outward holiness would make the world believe they keep a fast a day unto the Lord when they indeed fast to smite with the fist of wickednes and would cover their fulfilling the wil of their lusts under a cloak of doing God service Isaiah must h Isai 58.1 cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their transsions and the house of Jacob their sins in the performance of which service i Jer. 1.17 they must not be afraid lest they be confounded Qu If any should ask what those evils are that they that fear the Lord should bear their testimony against Ans The Prophet makes answer to this question by his significant THEN in the 16 Verse of his Third Chapter THEN they that feared the Lord spake often one to another then when they heard and saw things at that pass the Prophet had spoken of before they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and it doth not only point out the time when they spake but I conceive it also signifies to us the things against which they spake for the Prophets then hath relation and alludes to all the enormities and evils of the Times enumerated before and they are of a double nature matters of Religion and matters of a civil concernment 1 Of Religious matters And 1 If they behold men in professing Syon denying God k Mal. 1.6 that honour and that fear due unto him despising his great name robbing the Lord of those dues they ought to render to him then are they that fear the Lord to be sensible of the dishonour that comes to the name of God thereby and speak against that evil 2 If they behold Inhabitants of professing Syon a people that are l Isai 1. from the 2. verse to the 14 rebebellious children a sinful Nation laden with iniquity a seed of evil doers corrupters that have forsaken the Lord and gone away backward having their hands ful of blood mens hands may be filled with blood divers wayes that they are become to the Lord as Rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah provoking the holy one of Israel unto anger when they see this people in hypocrisie filling the Lord with a multitude of sacrifices and Offerings Oblations New Moons and oppointed feasts cloaking over their apostatising wickednesses with many religious performances to cozen their consciences and the professing world then ought they that fear the Lord to be sensible of the great dishonour the name of God suffers by this abomination and speak against that evil also 3 When they see men in professing Syon m Mal. 2.8 depart out of the way of the Lord apostatise causing many to stumble fal taking such offence at the Law the wayes of
the Lord should hold their peace and not speak and plead for the name of their God the stones the dumb Creation would bear a Testimony for God against mans wickedness if none else wil the stone shal cry out of the wall and the beam out of the timber shal answer it The name of God which had been clouded for a long time began now to be glorious and excellent in all the earth upon which the heart of God is fixed and their going about to ravish this honor provokes the eyes of Gods glory stirs up his Jealousie least it should be given to others what overturning work doth the Lord of hosts say he wil make in professing Syon and doth this move the Lord himself and wil he not think we have those that fear him moved also wil he act thus like a man of War and blood to vindicate his honour and wil he not have them to speak for it surely yea so that we see there is great reason why they that fear the Lord should be of this temper of spirit at this day 2 A second part of the work of the Remnant at this day is a sincere and hearty solicitousness after what other duty may be encumbent upon them the performance whereof may in any measure vinvindicate the honor and glorifie the name of their God who is so much dishonored and whose name is so vilely trampled under foot by the hypocriticall wickednesses of this day they thought upon his name What shall we do for thy great name 24. Behold the blessednesse of those who sincerely exercise themselves in the work of the Lord at this day They shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him such blessednesse will they possesse as their portion from their God and Father as none but themselves shall be made happy with in that day Many other usefull lessons might be observed to be taught us from these scriptures but I shall satisfie my self with what is already written And to conclude this discourse give me leave to addresse my self in a few words to those three sorts of men concerned in it 1. To the Leaders of this apostacy Yee a Isa 1.10 Mal. 2.19 Rulers of Sodome and ye base and contemptible Priests of the land the Lord hath made you contemptible and base before all the people because of your corruptions Hear how Isaiah complaineth of you calling the heavens and the earth to witnesse against you and see Malachy turning aside the skirts of your coverings discovering all your hypocritical rottennesse to the view of those who are not quite blinded by Satans wiles and your disguises behold how your wickednesses have provoked the eyes of Gods glory Wo wo wo be unto you if ye repent not it s a certain truth the Lord will visite his Syon be a swift witness against you and come neer to you to judgment his purging and purifying Sion wil be your destruction the Lord of hosts who cannot lye who is faithfull and hath power to bring it to passe hath said it O therefore if possible turn away the anger and wrath of the Lord of hosts by a timely repentance ch 3.7 Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of hosts O that this Pharisaical Answer might not be yours Wherein shall wee return But Isa 1.16 17 18.19 20. Wash yee make you clean put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evill learn to do well seek judgment relieve the oppressed judge the fatherlesse pleade for the Widdow if yee be willing and obedient yee shall eate of the good of the land but if yee refuse and rebell yee shall be devoured with the sword for the month of the Lord hath spoken it Imbrace the invitation hearken to the Counsell of these Prophets for why will yee dy O yee sons of men There 's no way of salvation from that Pit of destruction your own wayes and doings have digged for you but that the Prophets have chalked out before you misse that and you are irrecoverably lost without remedy you complain of the harsh words and rough speeches of a company of men that tell you of your evils and would have the world to look upon them as the onely pest of the land the desturbers of the Publike weale the onely hinderers of good dayes thus you cloath them in the Bear-skin that the Dogs may tear them But do you not know That Isai 1.9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant we should have been ere now as Sodome and we should have been like Gomorrah Know that notwithstanding their fretting vexing and tormenting you so much they are your best friends for it 's they that stand in the gap and were it not for them an inundation of wrath and vengeance would quickly over-run you when the Lord draws them into their hyding Chambers those mansions of his peculiar sparing love then will your e Pro. 1.27 destruction come upon you as a whirle-wind and then at that time when your fear commeth as desolation f v. 28. though you call upon the Lord he will not answer and though you seek him early you shall not finde him Why what 's the reason saith the Lord it is because verse 25. ye have set at naught all my counsell and would none of my reproof Even the counsell and reproof of God wisdomes words in the mouth of these his servants that fear his name v. 20.21 who utter their voice in the streets and in the chief place of concourse 2. I have somewhat to say to those Members of professing Syon who though they are not ring-leaders in this wickednesse yet defile their garments with the pollutions of the Apostacy Behold in what a dreadfull manner the Lord will deal with you he will make up his Jewels from among you and consume the rest as drosse and tin Cast your eyes back upon the refiners fire and fullers Soape and that day of the Lord which will come upon you and reflect upon your selves and consider whether you are prepared to meet the Lord of hosts in such a day as that is surely if your examination be taken by a right rule and you passe a righteous sentence upon your selves you will see you are not you are not able to abide and sland in that day when the Lords jealousie will burn like fire wherein he will giue to apostatizing professing Sion blood in fury and jealousie being clad with zeale as with a cloak What anxious troubles and pangs will be your portion in that day I intreat you to take notice of these things 1. That the defilements of this Apostacy that cleaveth to you makes you so much unlike to your father that no lesse than a Refiners fire and fullers sope must passe over you to bring you into your old glory
one it imports thus much that it is the oneness of the Spouse that makes her so Dove-like and undefiled unless you endeavour after this union which the Apostle cals The unitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace you wil not walk worthy of your vocation wherewith ye are called Ephes 4.3 compared with the iv while Ephraim envies Judah and Judah vexes Ephraim defiling dirt and dust wil be thrown about and stick to your garments when the Lord hath by his Refining dispensation united his Jewels and his Remnant into one upon his own foundation then wil they be pleasantness to the Lord his Dove undefiled then wil such a glory rest upon them as the Lord wil create a defence upon it as hath been already suggested in this discourse my Dove my undefiled is but one 9 This union is the very Image of that glorious union between the Father and the Son our Lord makes the union between him and his Father the pattern of that union he intercedes for that they may all be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee again that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they be made perfect in one this union is a lively representation of the glorious union between the Father and the Son and what an exceeding glory must that needs be my thinks the glory of it should even ravish your hearts and make your souls like to the Chariots of Aminadab in an eager pursuit of it til you have attained So that by this time I hope you may be in love with union who can but be in love with it the glory of it is so exceeding like the glory of your Lord who is the chiefest of ten thousand but I would not be mistaken by any It was in the heart of that blessed servant of the Lord dear Tillinghast had he had alonger day to have wrought in to have presented you with some principses of this glorious union O that the Lord would anoint some other with the same Spirit that some healing balsom might be poured into the bleeding wounds of distressed Syon this union I so earnestly press after is not dissonant to but may wel stand with that holy separation from the unclean thing the Saints are exhorted and it is their duty to seperate from but again a truly Christian pursuit after this union wil glorifie a right and a holy separation pursue this holy principle of Union and I perswade my self you wil leave very few or none that have but a grain of sincerity cleaving to the uncleanthing if the glory of this Union be so powerful as to convince the wicked World how much more than think you wil it draw that heart that hath but the least grace in it O the inexpressible advantage this union of parts brings to the whole body one part possesseth wisdom and counsel another spirit and life another part agility and swiftess in motion now while they are not in conjunction tho the one may have wisdom and counsel yet it may want the spirit and life of the other and though that other may have excellent spirit and life yet it may want wisdom to direct and guide the agile faculty in a regular motion but when there is a union of parts the whole body partakes off whatsoever wisdom of whatsoever excellency of Spirit and Life and of whatsoever other noble gift is in any part thereof which must needs be exceeding glorious to behold of much advantage to the cause and work of your Lord. O my Brethren If there be therefore any consolation in Christ Phil. 2.1 2 3.4 5. if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels of mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde let nothing be done through strife or vain glorie but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus 5 Take heed and beware of a selfish spirit a self-exalting spirit dread and shun this monster as the greatest precipice of danger your Souls can possibly fall into at such a time as this This frame and temper of spirit the Lord wil contend against and bow down in that dreadful day of his which is hastning upon us For the day of the Lord of hosts shal be upon every one that is proud and loftie and upon every one that is lifted up and he shal be brought low yea the Lord wil not endure the least degree of it not so much as a losty look Isai 2.11 12 The loftie looks of man shal be humbled and the haughtiness of men shal be bowed down it is necessary it should be so and the reason why the Lord wil have it so is that the Lord alone may be exalted in that day it is the great design of the Lord in this notable day of his that he is bringing upon Syon to exalt himself alone and til this selfish frame of spirit be bowed down and brought low the Lord cannot accomplish his design he cannot be alone exalted this is the reason why the dreadful day of the Lord wil come upon the Cedars the materials of his Temple because they are high and lifted up but one fragment of this temper of spirit is one of the 7 things that are hateful an abomination unto the Lord a proud look or haughtie eyes Prov 6.17 as the margent of some Bibles hath it O therefore my brethren if we would be partakers of the rich Promises of the sparing love of our Father and not fal under the scourging hand of an angry God in this day of the Lord that is coming upon us let us dread and flee a self-exalting spirit Lastly Seeing it is the designe of the Lord at this day to bring his Syon into her first state into the purity of the day of her Espousals let us in the name of the Lord with heart and hand joyn with one accord to further this glorious design of God O that we would n deavour every one to mend one and in love help to mend each other would you be serviceable in the work of the Lord I know you would why this is the ready way the high way to carry on the great and glorious design of God upon the world when Syon is so reformed by the power of God as that she can offer up Offerings in righteousness that are peasant unto the Lord as in the daies of old as in antient Years THEN shal she tread down the Wicked as ashes under her feet THEN will the Lord raise up thy Sons O Syon Zack 9.13.14 15. against thy Sons O Greece and make thee as the sword of a Mighty man and the Lord shal be seen over them and his arrow shall go forth as the lightening and the Lord God shal blow the Trumpet and shal go with whirlwinds of the South the Lord of hosts shall defend them and they shal devour and subdue with sling stones and they shal drink and make a noise as through Wine and they shall be filled like bowls and as the corners of the Altar THE END