without sin There is no man will prosecute a business for another so fully as he that is tenderly affected with the case The troubles and distresses which are now upon Gods people for poor Zion are upon the heart of Christ yea and much more upon his heart then theirs and therefore doubtless he will press home their SUITS in Heaven Besides that which Adonijah said to Bathsheba is most true of Christ p 1 Kin. 2.17 The Father will not say him nay q Psa 2.8 Ask of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession A man will be the more willing to help another if he see himself concern'd in the thing and that it is his own good that is desired For whom doe the faithfull sigh and groan Is it not for Christ as the Prophet saith r Psa 72.15 Prayer shall be made for him continually When they pray against Babylon Tyrants Tryers Lawyers Soldiers Is not this to pray for Christ viz. That his enemies may be made his footstoole Å¿ Heb. 10.13 as he expecteth and t Rev. 11.15 all the Kingdoms of the world become his u Ezek. 21 27. whose right it is And what may we learn hence Surely Christ will look after the tears and cryes of Mourners because they are poured forth for his own righteous cause Lastly That Believers should come unto God by Christ the holy Ghost giveth this reason x Heb. 7.25 Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them y Zech. 1.5 Your Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever How often comes it to pass that there is not a Moses to stand in the breach a Ezek. 22.30 not a man to he found Is it not now our sad complaint b Psa 74.9 We see not our Signs there is no more any Prophet neither is there among us any that knoweth how long Nevertheless Jesus Christ our great High-Priest LIVETH FOR EVER and ceaseth not to plead Zions Cause or his own Cause rather before the Throne c Isa 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer thy Name is from everlasting And here it falls in our way to discover the great presumption of Christs Enemies d Luk. 19.27 which will not that he should reign over them But instead of exalting him seek to exalt themselves It is much they are not affraid to take Christs Name in their mouth For unto whom may they be likened To a company of Usurpers who keeping an honest man out of his lawful possession will yet go to him and entreat him to assist him against himself Surely he cannot but think they mock him most grosly I leave the application to such as will not that e Rev. 11.17 Christ should take to him his great power and reign yet say Lord Lord. Sixthly 6. Because they seek him with the groanings of the Spirit Because they seek the face of God with the groanings of the Spirit And this is to f Jude 20. pray in the Holy Ghost i. e. when the Spirit works all our sighings wrestlings and strong cries As the Master holding the Childs hand what is so written is done by him and he cannot but like it because it is his own Act Thus in our sincere Mournings before the Lord they must needs be accepted because they are g Isa 26.12 the work of his own Hand not our sighings and prayers but as David said h 1 Chron 29.14 Of thine own have we given thee When the Heavens and the Earth were finished and all the hosts of them it is said i Gen. 1.31 And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good It could not but be lovely fair and excellent being his own work-manship Are our Mournings the work of the Spirit Surely then as God sees them they are very good And this is matter of singular comfort and incouragement unto all Mourners in Zion What though their sighs and cryes as lookt on by Enemies are slighted and scorn'd k Neh. 4.1 2 3. What do those feeble Jews Fifth Monarchy-men will they fortify themselves do they think by their weeping to build Zion Will they revive the stones of the heaps of the rubbish which are burnt Ah ah say they poor deceived people that which they build by their praying and fasting if a fox go up he shall even break down their stone wall It is true thus are our tears and cryes to God mockt and despis'd but let us not be discouraged for all this remember what was said they are not our groanings but the Spirit 's and in that regard l Psal 65.5 by terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us O God of our salvation m Rom. 8.26 17. The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groans which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God That is we being weak and prayer a great work the Spirit helps us to carry the Burden with us and for us and supplyes our want of knowledge by prompting as it were our lesson unto us to ask such things and in that manner as God requireth and alloweth Parents many times hear their children sob and groan but not knowing the cause thereof cannot help them But the Lord knows the mind of the Spirit Though we doe but n Isa 38.13 Chatter like a Crane or swallow and mourn as a Dove o 1 Sam. 1.13 Speak onely in our hearts like Hannah and no voyce is heard This before the Lord p Psa 142.2 is as incense an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice Quest But how may we know the Groanings of the Spirit from our own Answ 1. Nothing will quiet the Spirit as to cease groaning but satisfaction in the thing groaned for Though Elkanah spake comfortably to his wife when he said q 1 Sam. 1 8 Am not I better to thee then ten sons yet that would not help she was in bitterness of Soul before the Lord for a childe and nothing but a childe will comfort her As Rachel said r Gen. 30.1 Give me children or else I dy Thus it is with Saints groaning in the Spirit for Zion and the Great Name of God and against the abominable Falshood and Hypocrisie of men Their Souls Å¿ Psa 77.2 refuse to be comforted until the Lord gratiously answer them here I have seen children cry and roar after a piece of mony but no sooner hath a counter or bable been put into their hand but they had done crying and all is quiet and well again
What great mourning was there some few yeers since in Churches and among professors after righteousness and judgment and to have all heavy yokes broken but now the Abby-key being found and the fish caught that is great places Offices and preferment gotten we hear no more crying out against oppression all is quiet now and well again now they can hold their peace though the time be worse then before in respect of the interest of Christ and his People and the publick good of the Nations But what may we gather hence They were not the Lords Remembrancers Their tears and groans were their own and for their own interest not the Spirit 's and for the things of Christ for had the Spirit set them on work had they been the Spirit 's sighs and sobs for Zion t Isa 62.6 7. they would not have held their peace day nor night nor given the Lord rest VNTIL he had made Jerusalem a Prayse in the Earth u 1 Joh. 2.19 If they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us 2. If they are the Groanings of the Spirit nothing will be askt but what is x Rom. 8 27 according to the will of God y Luk. 22 42. Not my will saith Christ but thine be done So again a Act. 21.14 The will of the Lord be done As a man that is doing somthing for a friend will indeavor to doe it so as the party for whom he doth it may like it and have content thus it is with us when the Spirit helpeth us with groanings which cannot be uttered We are all for pleasing God we would not speak nor have our hearts move or think of any thing but what the Lord should take pleasure and delight in It is true Hypocrites can groan and like Esau will beg blessings with tears but observe this it is to serve themselves upon the Lâ—â—d and to have their will done whetheâ— it be Gods will or no thus they will have the Lord to bless their Counsels and designs though they are against Himself his Son and Zion so when they have b Isa 28.15 made a Covenant with death and with hell are at an agreement then must Priests and People be call'd together to fast and pray that it may prosper 3. Spirit-Groanings are like c 2 King 2.11 Elias chariot and horses of fire carry the Soul into Heaven It is the Glory of God which now is onely eyed As the Mariners needle always trembles and shakes till her point be towards the Pole so it is with right Mourners they are not satisfied in weeping and sobbing before the Lord unless they have the sight of his glory then they are quiet seeing the mark they look after When the sun is risen we see not a star in the Firmament Reader note it What is it when thou art in bitterness of Soul that vanisheth Is it SELF Seest thou no Honour Credit Preferment Relations nor any other worldly Respects Seest thou the great Name of God dearer to thee then thy soul And for afflicted d Lam. 1.16 Zion thou weepest thine eye thine eye runneth down with Tears Blâ—â—sed art thou that thus mournest e Isa 57.1 P. the Lord shall restore comfort to thee 4. A man never sees more emptiness unworthiness and poverty in himself then when he is under the strongest groanings of the Spirit neither is his heart at any time more broken then at the woful sight thereof f Isa 6.5 Wo is me I am undon c. For mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts The Spirit in our mournings is g 2 Pet. 1.19 as a light that shineth in a dark place We did not think to have found such nakedness and baseness as we do Again the Spirit-Groanings are like fire in the Soul such may the fire be as it melts down Iron breaks Rocks and Stones asunder It is a good sign a man is under the Mournings of the Spirit when findes his corruptions and lusts hard as flint to melt and break in pieces and by the power of the Spirit consum'd and brought to nothing The groaning of Hypocrites is like the drawing of a Curtain whereby things are hid and covered The more they weep fast and pray the less fight have they of their sins For what is the reason some men see not so much evil in their wayes now as they did some yeers past I answer in their fasting and praying ever since they have been drawing curtains over their filthy sores Not but that they are far worse then they were but they see it not because of their hypocritical Tears 5. The Spirits Groanings leave two things especially upon the Soul 1. Refreshment as when a man hath eaten well he findes his spirits strengthned and comforted But this is not so with unsound hearts It is reported of Witches when they have eaten and drunk of the best and to their thinking largely they find themselves presently in a condition ready to starve Should some men speak their experiences they could not but confess when they have been some hours in prayer and sighed often they have been afterward no other then like Pharaoh's lean and ill-favoured kine not had any soul-strengthning or feeling refreshing at all 2. The Soul is left in a sweet and blessed frame as Wax that is soft is fit to take any impression so is a Saint wrought up wholy for God his will affections desires run out with Paul h Act. 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do That is I am ready to receive any truth and to deny my self in every thing so that I may follow thee and serve my Generation It is a common saying and I have heard it often when some men talk of fasting and prayer Now say they beware there is some Plot or other in hand And usually it is so For after the Formality of the work is over their doings are worse then ever so far from i Isa 58.3 4 5 6. loosing the bonds of wickedness and letting the oppressed go free and breaking every yoke c. as on the contrary they smite with the fist of wickedness their fellow-servants and cast out their Brethren more cruelly then before But what saith Solomon k Pro. 1.3 To do Justice and Judgment is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice l Hos 6.6 I will have mercy and not sacrifice Seventhly Because the Lord is teaching Zions Mourners the ART OF SEEKING Because the Lord is teaching the art of seeking You know by long practise and use a man becoms expert and skilful in a trade especially having a good master This benefit through Grace some of the Lords people have received since the Apostacy came up namely they have been learning the Art of Prayer for not onely of late yeers have they been more frequent in the practice but have gotten more experience of the thing then ever they had before
THE TIME OF FINDING Shewing When the Lord will be FOUND and by whom and when there will be NO TIME of Finding also the Persons are describ'd who shall not finde the Lord though they seek him with tears Likewise Some Reasons why the Lord hath suffered his work and GOOD OLD CAUSE to be stopt and how it shall certainly be REVIV'D again Also Something is here shewed about the manner how it shall be reviv'd and the Time when By JOHN CANNE Numb 23.21 23. Jehovah his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel What hath God wrought London Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes head-Alley 1658. To the Faithful of the Land every where Mourning and waiting for the APPOINTED TIME OF FINDING under the name of FIFTH-MONARCHY-MEN and COMMON-VVEALTHS-MEN PRECIOUS WITNESSES for your God and Country THe neerer I am still the Throne of Grace the more is your present condition upon my heart and truly this I can say it hath been very seldome since I began this WORK but poor Zion a Jer. 30.17 Whom no man seeketh after hath been all along in my eye It is b Isa 62.1 for Zions sake I cannot hold my peace c Isa 60.1 untill the glory of the Lord be risen upon her Now is the time that d Mal. 3.16 they who fear the Lord should speak often one to another and strengthen the hands which hang down and feeble knees I shall not say any thing of the THING it self what is of God shall stand only a few words what hath mov'd me to send THIS as a LOVE-TOKEN to all the Friends of the Bridegroom First I have observ'd of late that the Interest of Christ and his People the GOOD OLD CAUSE is not methinks so lively and HEARTY upon some mens spirits as formerly it was but either some disappointment of time Mat. 25.5 or the Bridegroom 's tarrying long hath occasioned a little deadness and faintness in some Choyce Ones Now that I may speak to the heart of these Wherefore should there be any CASTING DOWN Isa 40.2 Is not your warfare accomplished and the day of the Lamb come Therefore O ye worthies g Psal 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen your hearts wait I say on the Lord. If a traveller by reason of a long journey be almost tyr'd yet when he coms neer the place where he would be and sees it hard by this will put new strength into him again I have in this Treatise not only exprest my opinion that the Lord is REVIVING HIS WORK but have given some reasons for it what incouragement and refreshing the Lords people shall have by it a little time will shew For I am very confident as the Lord will suddenly check and blast all ways of falshood and deceitful pretenders to his Holy Secrets so he will shew a TOKEN OF GOOD to what is his own and is given forth by his Spirit concerning the Kingdom and Time Secondly As I know h Prou. 14.34 Righteousness exalteth a Nation and i Prov. 29.2 When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoyce so my desire and prayer to God is that every yoke may be broken the oppressed go free and violence be heard no more in our Land Indeed we did expect before now to have seen better days and were in a hopeful way to have had England k Isa 1.26 call'd the City of Righteousness the faithful City by having Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Now I do not doubt but we shall have our Civil Rights Liberties and Priviledges more full and free and better then ever any men had since England was a Nation Is any thing too hard for God to do cannot he raise up a Generation of faithful men and l Pro. 31.8 open their mouths for the dumb and in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction that is for him that hath not ability to speak for himself by reason of his simplicity unfitness or impediment in his speech or dare not speak for fear of his Potent Adversary I finde in our Chronicles how a Cardinal told the Pope * Speed Hen. 3. p. 624. That England was to the Pope as BALAAMS ASS which being so often wrong'd and cudgel'd it was no marvel if at length she open'd her mouth to complain What though * Here Gods judgment is a great deep that England should be the Beast or Asse on which must ride the Balaams or Heads of both Apostasies England have been an ASS and dumb a long while yet who can tell but after so often wrong'd and cudgeld she may speak and complain at last But more seriously that England hath been a while dumb I do not take the cause to be at least principally of any power or policy in men or fearfulness which hath surpriz'd the Nation but in order to the fulfilling of some Decree and Counsel of God and Scripture-Prophesies which were to be accomplished at this time the which time being expired such multitudes will stand up for their freedom and Civil-Rights that were the Enemies ten times more and stronger then they are they would signifie nothing Hence take notice of the blindness and folly of some men for if the time of Englands deliverance be not come there needs not such gathering of horse and foot together For I am confident the Lovers of ENGLANDS-LIBERTIE will be no secret plotters they scorn it neither will they move till the Lord by some signal Providence plainly shews that the time is come and when that is vain will be the help of man to frustrate the good purpose and work of God That Doctrine then which the Army us'd to preach to the Long Parliament will be often repeated by the people To punish only instruments St. Albans Declarat No. 16. 1648. p. 50. and let the head by whose power and in whose interest all hath been done not only go free but stand in perpetual priviledge and impunity to head such instruments again as oft as he can find opportunity and get any to serve him is a way so far far from security as it leads indeed to endless trouble and hazard or to perfect loss of all Again in point of Justice with what Conscience inferior ministers can be punished and the principal set free FOR OUR PARTS VVE UNDERSTAND NOT NEITHER DOE VVE KNOVV ANY GROUND OR REASON TO EXEMPT KINGS FROM HUMANE JUSTICE It is a maxime in the Civil Law Si quis ff quod quisque Juris c. That of right every man should be judg'd by such Laws as himself hath practised against others Thirdly What I have spoken about Professors I have plain enough exprest my meaning I only intend Backsliders who by their Covenant-breaking Hypocrisie and Falshood have made the Profession
to keep close to all Christs Appointments yet to be watchful that their affections run not out after any form or particular judgment but that the great cause of Christ and Zion may still if possible have most weight upon their hearts 2. You that know what it is to watch now double your watch Hab. 2.1 stand with the prophet upon the Tower and go not off day nor night If there be any noise or stir in the night who first hath knowledge of it not such as are gone to bed or fallen asleep but are up and waking and watching to hear what is doing Methinks I hear the sound of a going in the tops of the Mulberry-trees 2 Sam. 5.24 There is something already stirring A sound of abundance of rain 1 King 18.41 Now the Lord keep us watching one hour the vision is speaking and the wise shall understand 3. Where you se most of God most plainness truth faithfulness and endeared love to the interest of Christ and his people rather close there then upon the account of one-ness in some opinion or judgment You will see shortly that some will be lay'd aside notwithstanding their opinions when others will be chosen and taken for the abundance of their integrity and singleness of heart 4. Labour to experience the power and leading of the Spirit it is very dangerous to rest in any thing that comes from the Creature till you have the witness of the Spirit which is not fleshly heady or empty but powerful inward and abides and settles the soul Psal 36.9 In thy light shall we see light and no where else let them pretend never so high Attainments 5. There is a path which no fowl knoweth Job 28.7 8. and which the vultures eye hath not seen The Lyons whelps have not troden it nor the fierce Lyon passed by it Why may not this be the way of which the Lord speaks Isa 42.16 I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not I will lead them in pathes that they have not known Surely Gods leading his friends into his COVNCEL-CAHMBER where he shews them great and mighty things which they knew not Jer. 33.3 is an untrodden path A Soul may be in the Chamber of presence yet not be in the COVNCEL-CHAMBER We may experience much divine love and taste sweetly and largely of Free-Grace and yet not be brought where his great secrets are broken open But I shall not speak of this for it is too wonderful But who think ye are the persons whom Jehovah leads into his COVNCEL-CHAMBER verily the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind such as he gathers up in the high-ways and hedges a people lying at his foot stark naked have no parts no abilities no understanding or judgment altogether and every way helpless so that if they have any light it is from the Lord for in themselves they are sure is nothing but darkness That which I aym at is to perswade Christ 's Little Flock in all places to renounce their own reason judgment and understanding and to be poor blinde and naked worms in the high ways and hedges for such now will be taught of God in things appertaining to the Times and Kingdom Mat. 16.17 Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven I shall say no more But PRAY PRAY for this poor worm that I may finish my course with joy Indeed this I earnestly beg of all the Saints every where who am through grace preserv'd to be Your Brother and Companion in tears for Zion beleeving the day of her inlargement is BREAKING JOHN CANNE Reader THere are the more faults because the Author saw very little of the Book until it was printed Besides others thou art desired to correct these Page 22. l. 20. f◠theirs read their answer p. 58. l. 27. onely save out p. 65. l. 16. for say they r. they say p. 101. l. 4. for him r. them p. 143. l. 16. for his people r. such people p. 153. l. 13. for begon r. begin p. 169. l. 26. for neer r. never p. 175. for more r. man p. 195. l. 13. for thumming r. múmming 244. marg for Truth with Time r. Time of the End p. 252. l. 23. for would r. wilt p. 294. for stokels r. sicles p. 296. l. 8. strong r. stranger The Time of Finding Psalm 32.6 For this shall every gracious Saint pray unto thee at the time of finding CHAP. I. At what Time the Lord will be found of his Praying-Saints First The Times of finding 1. When Saints are prepared for mercie IT is a Time of finding When the Lords people are prepared for mercy that is thorowly humbled reformed shaken off their dust and have cleansed themselves of all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit The a 1 Sam. 7.2 Israelites were twenty yeers lamenting after the Lord. In this long time no doubt they prayed and fasted often yet was not the Lord found neither had they found him afterward had not Samuel took them off from a cold formal halting and half seeking of him to a right humbling and reforming indeed The vessel must be very pure and clean be-before we will pow◠precious liquor into it See Iam. 4.8 9 10. when had Manasseh a Time of finding b 2 Chron. 33.12 13. the Text saith when he humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers What is the reason that many pray cry weep c. and yet no time of finding the Lord sees they are not humbled enough and so not fit enough for mercy And in truth it is a singular favor of God not to give men the great things they ask before they are prepared for them for should they have them before they are truly humbled and purely purged from all their dross and tin they would make very il improvement therof As suppose a father should put a great estate into the hands of a little childe what pitiful work would he make in the mispending of it I have thought many times what mercy it was that in the time of the Little Parliament the Lord gave us not the things which we then desired for had we received them they had been in our hands before we were meet for them and so instead of honoring God we should as Iames c Jam. 4.3 saith have consum'd them on our own lusts When I consider what Gods people are at least many of them and yet what they would have I cannot better liken them then to a man that hath a plaister or salve at his side because he feels it smart and puts him to sore pain he intreats the Physician to take it off but what saith the Physician my friend you must be patient there is a great deal of corruption and rottenness behinde which must be fetch'd out before the plaister can be remov'd What is now our cry and
the sin x Hebr. 10.26 for which there is no sacrifice But of all Hypocrites beware of the WEEPING HYPOCRITE as the most dangerous Such a one was Ishmael y Jer. 41.5 6 7. who by his Religious weeping deceived fourscore men and murdred them all as they were going with their offerings to the house of the Lord. This Weeping Hypocrite is like the strumpet Phryne for this cause named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if you would say Weep-laugh because commonly she did both together havin◠in the midst of laughter tears at command As the silly fish swallows the hook because of the bait that hides it so many ignorant people are catch'd snared by the Tears of Hypocrites but howsoever by their weeping they may deceive men yet God they cannot neither cares he for their Tears We read often in the Prophets the reason why the Lord would not be found of the Jewes when distresses and troubles were upon them a Jer. 7.16 Isa 1.11 12 it was they had dissembled with him been old Hypocrites sought to hide their falshood lying Covenant-breaking Oppression c. b Mal. 2.13 By covering the Altar of the Lord with tears with weeping and crying out I cannot better resemble men accustomed to Hypocrisie then to that old Traytor Tyrone his manner was to send pictures to Queen Elizabeth in which he would lie weeping at her foot but still in rebellion against her the Queen hereat was extreamly displeased saying We will have no more of his Pictures but the head of the Traytor What may these men think of themselves when they lie weeping at the feet of God If they continue rebels against him do they expect a Time of finding How can that be Doth he not see their Hypocrisie surely yes and will speedily take vengeance on them for it Thirdly 3. When men are so obstinate in their sins as nothing will reclaim them There will be no Time of Finding For such persons who are so obstinate in their sins as no admonition or reproof can reclaim them As clay under the shining Sun growes harder and stiffer so the more they are told of their hypocrisie pride falshood oppression c. the worse they are Theeves whilst they have liberty none are bolder nor will they regard any thing that is spoken against their wicked course of life all good counsel is rejected and scorn'd but when trouble comes when they are brought to the bar then down upon their knees Good my Lord pardon pardon but then no pardon is to be had And as it is thus with little Theeves so it will be one day with the Great Theeves and Great Murderers c Pro. 1.24 25 c. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded But ye have set at nought my Counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not FIND ME. Again d Zech. 7.11 12 13. They refused to hearken and pulled away their shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear yea they made their hearts as an Adamant-stone lest they should hear the Law and the words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former Prophets Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts therefore it is come to pass that as he cryed and they would not hear so they cryed and I would not hear saith the Lord of Hosts but I scattered them with a whirl-wind among all the Nations whom they knew not It may not be thought that all those of whom the Prophet here speaks were Reprobates for without doubt as to life and glory many of them were saved nevertheless he will not hear them as to spare them from the common judgment In this respect though Gods chosen ones they shall have no more Time of finding then others partakers in sin partakers in punishment A father though he do not disinherit his childe and quite cast him off yet he may and justly too severely chastise him for some gross miscarriages e Pro. 19.18 And not let his soul spare for his crying as the wise-man hath it What means the Lord in saying f Rev. 18.4 Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues the words are plain enough those that abide in Babylon notwithstanding again and again call'd upon to come out may suffer Babylons plagues that is fall and perish with the wicked as to their bodies and estates howsoever saved in the day of Christ g 1 Pet. 4.17 Iudgment must begin at the house of God and h Eze. 9.6 at his Sanctuary The i Jer. 25.18 29. wine-cup of fury is to be given first to Jerusalem and the Cities of Judah afterwards all the Nations of the earth must have it k Hag. 2.6 The Lord of hosts will shake the Heavens and the Earth First Heaven then Earth therefore let Churches and Church-Officers now look about them l Mic. 6.2 The Lord hath a controversie with HIS people and he will plead with Israel and what follows m ver 9. Hear YE the rod and who hath appointed it That the Lord will begin with Churches and with a professing people there are many reasons for it 1. Because the Hypocrisie Pride Self-seeking deceit unfaithfulness c. of a Professing people more dishonors God and scandals the Gospel then the evils and sins of any other people n Rom. 2.24 The Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through YOU As a servant in the family by his ill carriage more disgraceth the house then hundreds or thousands who are not of it But to speak home No people I think upon the face of the earth have brought more dishonor to God and reproach to the truth then the back sliding-Churches and professors of our time For 1. Who had a hand in the late REBELLION more then they o Neh. 9.17 To appoint a CAPTAIN to return to Bondage whereby not onely to build again the things which they had destroyed but to bring the sin and guilt of all the blood shed in the three Nations upon the interest of Christ and his people and so to justifie and acquit the Cavaleers 2. Who manageth and maintains the oppressions and heavy burdens which lie upon the Souls and Bodies of good people every where No King or Bishop but a Professing people yea Saints as they would be thought 3. The gross Hypocrisie and Falshood of some PROFESSORS hath of late so clearly broken forth as it hath caused many to become Atheists at least to think in their heart there is no God Neither may this be thought strange for what can lead men sooner unto Atheism then to see Professors often weep fast and
as if they saw Death Hell and Judgment and all ready to take hold of them VVhen news was brought unto Lewis of the death of his Mother perceiving by the countenance of the messengers that they were ready to tell him something that would afflict his heart Let me pray first saith he and then speak what ye have to say A man may be sure it is a time of finding when he can experience not onely present fears remov'd but his spirit brought up into such a gracious frame as he can quietly hear any thing without dishonouring God through murmuring and sinful passions either in his thoughts speech or action Secondly It is a time of finding 2. It is a time of finding when the Spirit faints not but is kept lively up in the duty of seeking when the Lords people faint not in their SEEKING but are kept up and have life and power given them to persist and persevere to the end As fresh Oyl poured often into the Lamp preserves the light from going out so their groanings and cries cease not day nor night through fresh supplies of the Spirit o Isa 40.29 30 31. He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint The meaning is whereas proud Hypocries p Psa 20.8 33.16 52.7 trusting to their own strength power parts gifts lose what they have and make Ship-wrack of all On the other side such as are poor and q 1 Cor. 1.27 28. despised things of the world r 2 Cor. 12.9 God makes his power to appear in their weakness For though Å¿ Joh. 15.5 of themselves they can do nothing yet he enables them t Phil. 4.13 to do any thing And when they seem u 2 Cor. 8 9 utterly spent they have a new supply of strength to enable them to bear up and hold out and thus x Phil. 1.6 he perfecteth the good work begun in them And indeed this is a gracious return of prayer when the soul is not onely strengthened and enabled to hold out but is sweetly raised and enlarged in the work Though we have not the thing we ask yet if we can sigh more and weep more for it then we did Here is a time of finding yea such a FINDING as it is much better sometimes to be kept up by fresh supplies of the Spirit in sighs and tears then to have presently what is ask'd As the Husbandman the more seed he sows the larger is his Crop at harvest Doth the Lord keep thee sowing in tears doth he supply thee with precious seed Oh it is a blessing of blessings thy reaping y Gal. 6.9.10 in due season shall be accordingly I know Satan and Hypocrites are ready to reproach us with the little profit we have by our mournings You have been say they these three or four years in tears nothing but sighing crying out against Self-seekers Oppressors Covenant-breakers but what hearing-time have ye had a Mal. 3.14 What profit is it that ye have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts To this we answer Whereas we have not fainted but have been kept up in the work all this time yea have had such fresh springs of encouragement and enlargement that our tears and sighing the last to be more then the first Hence we are satisfied that the ears of the Lord of Sabboth have been open to our prayers Many and great were the discouragements which b Mat. 15.21 22. c. the woman of Canaan met with when she besought Christ for her daughter 1. Christ goes away from her as if he would not hear her when she had followed him and gotten a word from him what was it truly a hard saying He is not sent unto such as she Well she faints not neither is weary but continues her cry Lord Lord have mercy upon me VVhat follows next that her request was unseemly unreasonable viz. To cast Childrens bread to Dogs A man would think whilst Christ carried himself thus towards her it was no time of finding whereas in truth she found him all the while I say all this time that these discouragements and temptations lay upon her it was A TIME OF FINDING But you will say How I answer both in keeping up her soul that she fainted not and in making way for the discovery of that great faith which he gave her So that it was better for the woman that she was defer'd a while and strengthened in the work then to have had her request sooner granted To you therefore my Brethren and Companions in Tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ this I would humbly send to you whereas the Lord hath strengthned you in mourning and crying against the Abominations of the last Apostacie it is not onely matter of comfort to assure you that there hath been a time of finding but also and note it well there is a blessing in it and much divine love Oh it is love indeed unspeakable when the Lord draws from us abundance of tears and groans and enables us to wait long before he gives the blessing A word likewise to our DISSENTING-BRETHREN whose mourning of late is turned into laughter and their heaviness to joy Josephs afflictions are no more remembred neither the oppression and cry of the poor and needy c Eccl. 7.4 Their heart is not now in the house of mourning but in the house of mirth As if they were placed in the earth as Leviathan in the Sea only to take their sport and pastime therein Here lies the difference between you and your Brethren you laugh and are more merry then you used to be because of the advantages you have by these corrupt times whereas your poor Brethren are more in tears and in bitterness of Soul these 3. or 4. yeers then they us'd to be for the great dishonor scandal and reproach which you have brought to the name of God and profession of Religion by assisting and justifying of mens INTEREST against the interest of Christ and his people hear what the Lord saith to both d Luk. 6.21 Blessed are ye that weep NOW for ye shall laugh e Ver. 25. Woe unto you that laugh NOW for ye shall mourn and weep 3. A time of finding when Saints rest fully satisfied in the things they ask Thirdly When Mourners have such a return of prayer as they rest fully satisfied therein My meaning is the Lord perswades their hearts that he will so answer the travel of their Souls as all things shall work together to his Glory and their comfort and content and thus had Paul a time of finding when the Lord told
Arguments that the work is no Embrio but curiously wrought and coming forth out of the womb of Providence at the h Rom. 12.5 Man-child to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron Ans As this is a great Question so I shall modestly speak to it from that light â— have received Indeed I cannot decline my former opinion But do think the work as an unformed substance begun about June And that it is now covered with skin and flesh full wrought and coming forth It seems so to me for these reasons 1. I do observe that the Spirit of the Lord is so full and mighty with some of his hidden ones as they cannot cease fâ—om crying to him day and night i Rev. 14.15 Thrust in the sickle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe Not now for a discovery of the Apostacy for that is apparent enough Nor so much now for Separation as to have the judgement written speedily executed It is doubtless a truth when the Lord shall spirit a people though very few and bring them forth as his Jobs Samuels and Daniels to stand before him and withall gives them k Mat. 17.20 a grain of that faith of which Christ speaks Whatsoever they ask in that FAITH shall be given them A little time will shew by whose LEADING and MOTION I write thus Namely That the Lords work is reviving and will suddenly appear in the destroying of the last Apostacy and this done by that Faith which some poor wormes have received to which all things are possible 2. I think Providence is opening the womb Because some men like Jehu drive too furiously to hold out long Blood-suckers when they are ready to burst draw strongest Thus it was with Pharoah Absolom Haman when they begun to pull hard they streightway perished No otherwise than like Rats and Mise and other Vermin whilst they are pulling hard at the bait down falls the Trap and so are taken So Geese many times break their own neck with biting and pulling hard the root which they hold in their Bill What the Bait is and the Root which some men are pulling at most do know But what is the Trap Verily Providence And you shall see when they come to their strongest Pulls to pull with BOTH HANDS down falls the Snare and the Vermins crusht to pieces 3. Because the Controversie riseth high between the Lords Witnesses the Lords Enemies When we see a woman big with Child we conclude she hath not long to go Can the controversie be higher Is it not about the Title of the Crown Kingdome Government yea and who shall Reign and be King Whether Jesus Christ in his Lawes or proud flesh in his Lusts Methinks by the greatnesse and swelling of the womb there is hope of a speedy birth It was so in the Case between Moses and the Magicians Elias and the Priests of Baal So the Scots and the Prelates When the difference and controversie grew high on all sides What immediatly followed Breaking work m Ps 11.6 Upon the wicked he rained snares fire and brimstone and an horrible Tempest This was the portion of their Cup. When we shall see the contest at that height either men must move for their Lives Lawes and Liberties or be absolute Slaves Suffer their witnesses to be put in graves or stand up for their Rising Then will the Lords worke come forth in quickening and spiriting a dead people and n Zach. 2.7 Zion shall deliver her self that dwelt with the daughter of Babylon 4. o Ecc. 3.11 The Lord hath made every thing beautifull in his season That is the worke of divine providence is the more comely and excellent in respect of the Season in which it comes forth Thus it is in natural things The Spring Summer Autumne VVinter every thing in his season oh how lovely and faire it is So in all the works of God about his Children VVhither p Ps 111.3 it be the punishing of the wicked for their sakes or their own deliverance He will make the worke honourable and glorious in respect of q Act. 1.7 That Season and Time he brings it forth Hence I am perswaded the Good old Cause is reviving Because methinks it is now such a Season as will put upon it the Beautie of holiness 5. VVhen I consider r Gen. 1.16 the wheele in the midst of a wheele Å¿ Ezek. 10.12 and the wheeles full of eyes And withall observe many late providences this likwise much confirmes me You may easily know which way a man means to shoot by his holding of his musket or Bow Against whom of late hath the Lord held the mouth of his Canon The Head of the Arrow of his VVrath and the point of his great and strong Sword Truely he must be very ignorant in publick affaires that cannot point at them And what may we gather hence That he will discharge his whole Cannons among them make his Arrows drunk in their Blood and they shall not escape his drawn sword and this suddenly too In warr usually there are some light skirmishes before the main Bodies do Engage So before a great rain and storme little dropping The Lord hath been skirmishing with them both by land and sea and shamefully beaten them everywhere and terrible drops have fallen upon them like haile-stones So that now he is comming against them with the Bodie of his Armie And t Ps 83.15 to persecute them with his Tempest u Ps 50.22 Now consider this ye that forget God x 2 Pet. 2.15 VVhich have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse y Deut. 32.41 42. If I whet my glittering word and mine hand take hold on judgement I will render vengeance to mine enemies and will reward them that hate me I will make mine arrows drunk with bloud and my sword shall devour flesh that with the bloud of the slaine and of the Captaines from the beginning of the revenges upon the enemie 6. Judgement is at the birth against a professing people when the Counsel of the Lord in all his Servants is rejected and they are hearkning to flatterers lyers Wizards who will humour them in their lusts and encourage them in every sinfull Action This is plain in the Cause of Joash a 2 Chr. 24. from 16. to 26. After the death of Jehoiada came the Princes of Judah and made obeysance to the King then the King hearkned unto them These Princes were the old malignant Courtiers in the reigne of Jehoram Ahaziah Athaliah The thing that he hearkned to was to destroy that good Reformation which himself had made a little before that is to set up again the Idolatry and Tyrany which he had throwne down and to cast out the just and righteous things which he himselfe lately
the Woman must be n Rev. 12.6 in the wilderness 1260 dayes and o Rev. 13.5 ' Power was given to the Beast to continue 42. Moneths Both these Numbers signifying indeed all one time do end in the aforesaid yeare 1657. This humblie do I conceive I know what will be here objected If this were so we should see some change as either to the rising of the witnesses or fear among the enemies or something done upon Babylon But things stand as they did before The Dragon Beast Little Horne both Apostacies as Rampant as ever yea rather of late grown greater are at the rising hand than otherwise Ans This being a hard knot I trust the Lord will the more help me to unty it so to take this Stumbling block out of the way of his people 1. I would say as the Lord said to Job p Job 28.22.28 29. Hast thou entred into the treasures of the snow or hast thou seen the treasures of the haile Hath the rain a father or who hath begotten the drops of dew out of whose womb came the ice and the hoarie frost of Heaven who hath gendered it Hath the Lord a Treasure for snow and hail a Father to beget the rain and drops of dew and a womb wherein the ice hoarie frost are gendered and afterwards brings them forth as he thinks good to use and spend them Then much more a Treasure a Father a Wombe for higher things greater workes wherein his name glory kingdom people are especially concernd Is not this laid up in store with me Deu. 32.34 and sealed up among my treasures Again though it may not be questioned But q Isa 48.14 The Lord will do all his pleasure upon Babylon Nothing shall faile of his threatnings against the Dragon Beast Little Hornet Yet the ordering managing and governing thereof that only and wholly belongeth to him both when to begin and how to do it Hence I humbly conceive if we should see nothing done in the year 1657. as to the rising of the Witnesses or ruine of the Bottomlesse Beast and last Apostacie It will not therefore follow that the 1260. Yeares ended not in that year No more reason Then because the Childe is not Born Ergo not conceived in the womb 2. Christs words must be remembred r Luke 17.20 The Kingdome of God cometh not with observation that is not in such manner at first that it can be taken notice of by things done Observe it is not said the kingdome shall have no Observation But Cometh not Shewing how at first little will be seen to demonstrate that such a kingdome is come But afterward it shall be visible and plain enough to be observ'd And to this purpose speakes the Prophet Å¿ Isa 26.11 Lord though thy hand be lifted up yet they see it not But they shall see it This was the great Stumbling block which lay in the way of the Jewes when Christ came in the flesh Because he came not as they exspected before hand as it is in the comming of worldly Princes in great state and outward Pomp they would not believe in him nor receive him for the true Mesias And why may not the like be the Case of people now Because they see not as they expected WONDERS in 57. Some extraordinary power and presence of God with his people and great overturnings and breakings of Nations hence conclude it was not the Time of the End But let such know the Scripture favours no such Conclusion Question But shall the forty two moneths given to the beast end without observation Answ Howsoever immediately upon the period of the 1260. yeares there will not be I think actions of much Observation either in respect of Zion or Babilon yet the Time of the End cometh not without Observation some other way For 1. The serious Observation of the Prophesies and Visions of the holy Scriptures relating to the last dayes will lead a heart if it hath nothing in it but truth and uprightnesse and the glory of God to the knowledge of the Times 2. There is the Observation of the Spirit u 1 Joh. 2 20 The unction from the holy one and here we do observe how the Holy Ghost opens our understanding and not onely so but those great things which he reveals to his Babes and Sucklings he confirms them therein whiles they are in tears and weeping before the Throne 3. The Observation of Providence which hath brought â—orth the Persons and Things which were according to the Prophesies of the Scripture to finish and end the 1260. years But 3. Did not some men do like one who whiles he is striving to have a great gripe comes off with nothing in his hand They might see that 57. hath not altogether been without OBSERVATION For howsoever x Psal 36.6 Gods judgements are a great deep y Rom. 11.33 and unsearchable a Rev. 15.3 Great and marvellous are his workes b Ps 77.19 and his footsteps not known I say howsoever his Counsel Government Administrations and the manner of proceeding is beyond all searching into yet if matters soberly be considred by wisedomes Eye Fifty seaven hath shewed c Ps 86.17 some token for good and that d Is 63.3 the day of the Lords redeemed is come e Isa 34.8 ' and the year of recompences for the controversie of Zion For 1. VVhat may be meant by that Government which was set up December 16. 1653. and laid aside again June 26. 1657. It stood f Dan. 7.25 a Time and Times and the dividing of Times that is three years and an half almost to a day Oh the depth of Gods wayes Ashur shall fulfill his decree and counsel g Isa 10.7 Howbeit he meaneth not so neither doth his heart think so 2. VVhat things have been done and how mannaged and what success hath followed in 57. it is so well known to many mens cost as I need not mention it But what may we gather hence I mean from the Lords Acting and appearing already against some men That the National affairs in their hands is like the Fig-tree under the curse h Mat. 21 19. Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever 3. VVhen Agag thought i Sam. 15.32 the bitterness of death was past then came sudden destruction upon him Fifty seaven is not yet ended k Prov. 27 1. Boast not thy self of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Though the man-child in June were but l Job 10.10 poured out as milk and curdled like cheese to use the holy language yet who knows what in nine Moneths the womb of Providence may bring forth m Luk. 12.19.20 VVhilst the FOOL is thinking of building his Barnes greater death ceaseth on him n Act. 1 25. That he might go to his own place 4. VVhen Caleb encouraged his brethren to fight the Canaanites He