do Iniquity shall be cast immediately thereupon into a Furnance of Fire and then the boldest worker thereof would fear tremble and refrain He could stir up those terrible ones from under the Earth Devils and infernal Spirits the Executioners of his VVrath who should over-awe poor Mortals all one as a mighty King with his Armies doth now make them do this or that thing at his pleasure For hath he not the same power as Man to whom he gave being and hath before committed unto him the Power of doing whatever he doth Cannot he who sitteth upon the Circle of the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers do as much or rather more than any two-footed Creature that now walks thereon Cannot the High and Lofty One who sitteth upon his Throne and commandeth over the Armies in Heaven who are greater in power and might as that wide place above is bigger than this spot of ground here where we dwell send forth his Authority and execute the same here Is this too far off when it is his Footstool for he filleth all places and all things even those under the Earth with his presence If I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there Psal 139. 8. Even now he sends sorth his Lightning unto the Ends of the Earth and his Arrows go throughout the World But because God doth not yet manifest his Power and shew forth all his Might a thought doth arise in them who know not God as if he cannot do this They who have a little more knowledge are sometimes apt to imagine That because he acts here by outward means which are but little and small that by reason of them is the Defect and they are unable to atchieve such great and mighty things whereas his infinite Wisdom and Glory are here to be seen in ordaining strength out of weakness VVho first made he will also enable them to perform what he would have them to do He can send forth his Angels or other Instruments whom we have not known nor heard of as yet A Temptation doth arise that though God can yet he will not do thus for so we have heard in Old Time and in our days over and over and yet all things continue as they were since the Creation But the Apostle in 2 Pet. 3. 5 6. answers this by what God did of Old both by Creation of and Drowning the VVorld For this they are willingly ignorant of That by the Word of God the Heavens were of Old and the Earth stamding out of the Water and in the Water whereby the World that then was being overflowed with Water perished But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the day of Judgment and perdition of Vngodly Men. That same VVord which spake them first into Being acquainted Noah Gen 6. of the intended Flood and afterwards this same word brought the VVaters for God Commanded them The same VVord hath likewise said that it shall be thus in the latter days to which we now haste Thus it is determined upon all those who in the mean time have been Ungodly or are or shall hereafter not give regard to the great God above or are disobedient to him for all such are ungodly without God in the VVorld who do not live in sense of Submission and Duty under him These might even now conceive that as in the beginning the Lord laid the Foundations of the Earth and it abideth as they find by moving and dwelling thereon As they see the gathering of the VVaters which is called Sea and as we behold the Heavens upheld and the Stars in their Courses and Places So surely doth the threatning lye against such and will be fulfilled when these things shall be so changed as we are further foretold of As before it was observed of the stedfastness and immutability of the Promise from Isa 45. So from 2 Pet. 3. it may be gathered of the utmost certainty of the Evil and Good things there spoken of They seem therefore to be out of sight and to come to prove how we in the mean while will be concerned and affected towards them There is a little imperfect Good in the One at present and a lesser Evil and Harm in the other but God will so add further that the one shall be perfected in Reward and Happiness the other shall end in Punishment and Misery My Son forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandments for Length of Days and long Life and Peace shall they add unto you Prov. 3. 1 2. and when the first is ended there shall succeed Immortality and Glory And the Peace here shall go out in Ravishment Extasie and unutterable Rejoycing So again Sin which now hurts for a moment doth bring on Torment for ever What occasions Sorrow and Vexation doth deliver over to the VVorm which shall never die VVhat occasions Sickness and Pain doth likewise bring forth Death and the Vengeance of Eternal Fire All that is seen or had here is but an earnest of like and worse things to come The less do fore-run and give notice of the greater And as in the former case by the comfort and satisfaction of the one we should much more desire and pray after that which exceedeth So by the sensible inconvenience and trouble of the latter way we should much more abhor and dread the End thereof which is Death As we now taste and feel it is thus so we may believe and be fully assured it shall be so hereafter as the faithful and true VVitness saith Behold I have told you before By the real Good of one way we may well depend further upon the substance of things hoped for By the hurt and deceitfulness of the other we may be sufficiently forewarned of the Destruction and Misery in that way The Nature of Rewards and Punishments Exhortation and Dehortation Promises and Threatnings do denote that Man is left to his Liberty and Freedom All these do inform and acquaint him how things stand pertaining to him That he might partake of the Good and avoid the Evil. God hath thus established the Connexion and Order of things They are set before Mankind and placed so near that they are become as closely appendant to him as his Flesh and Spirit so they must have the one or the other His trial is appointed in things absolutely necessary which he cannot be without as Meat Drink and Rayment to the Body and in Thoughts as to the Soul which are the very Essence of it for the Soul will cease to be when it shall cease to think And lest the Soul should degenerate into Sloth and Bruitishness of that we are rouzed up to take heed by the Parable of the unprofitable Servant whose Doom was Cast him into outer Darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth VVho would not receive and ascend up towards the Light but walked all his days in
God's Will for himself is more than all the Generations of Mankind and so more than all that are now living He is more than ten thousand times ten thousand kind of Creatures which are any where in the World above the Firmament or in the vast and spacious Air in the habitable parts of the Earth or any where underneath and without the visible World for all things were created by him whether Visible or Invisible Thrones or Dominions Principalities and Powers Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Matt. 6. 10. So it is more Universally as Heaven is greater than Earth which is but a part and next to nothing The Innumerable Company of Angels Heb. 12. 22. Those many sorts of Creatures whether Animate or Inanimate Those ten thousand of his Saints whereof Enoch prophesieth Jude 14. The hundred and fourty four thousand of all the Tribes of the Children of Israel and that great Multitude which no Man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues Rev. 7. 4 9. All these obey and fulfil the Word of God and they do his Pleasure And those are many more than all those Rebels now living upon the Earth or those Generations of sinful Men since the World began Whom the Lord hath carried away as with a Flood Psal 90. 5. to be delivered over to the Lake of filth and stink or like the Grass which in the Evening is cut down and withereth Verse 6. and is to be burnt with unquenchable Fire And so it will be of all those which are yet to succeed until there be an End made of Transgression and the Sinners be consumed out of the Earth and the Wicked be no more Psal 104. 35. A little after the Creation All Flesh had corrupted its way upon the Earth Gen. 6. 12. which caused the Flood whereby the World that then was being over-flowed with Water perished But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Vngodly Men 2 Pet. 3. 6 7. As certainly as the Flood came upon those in the days of Noah so certainly shall the whole World be consumed by Fire The Punishment and Vengeance of God are executed by Fire and Water which do drown and consume many as well as few And Death that consigns them over unto it hath reigned from Adam ever since Hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure and their Glory and their Multitude and their Pomp and he that rejoyceth shall descend into it Isa 5. 14. which hath been and continues unto this day to be fulfilled So it is a vain Shelter and foolish Safety to think to escape with the Many for God can and doth as easily deal with them as with few We sensibly know that within seventy or eighty Years within the compass of the Age of a Man he doth quite empty the Earth of all its Inhabitants and causeth others to spring up in their stead whom again he takes away in his own order And though now they assemble themselves in Companies to commit Wickedness and gather by Troops to do Mischief Yet they drop away one by one into the Bars of the Pit and he scatters them that they fall severally until they all die away and come to nothing He doth now give his express Command by his Servant Moses Thou shalt not follow a Multitude to do Evil Exod. 23. 2. and forewarns us by the Son of his Love whom he sent to Redeem and Preserve us from it Wide is the Gate and Broad is the Way which leadeth unto Destruction and many there be which go in thereat Matt. 7. 13. So that who is for being amongst the Multitude He will be amongst them also and so he will miss of that narrow way which leadeth unto Life Nor will he be one of those few who find it Indeed there is an Inclination in Man to do as the rest of his Brethren do but then he hath some seeming Reason for it or he is void of Understanding as to have no set and inward Principle of Action and then he can just conceive what others do and order himself to do according Example is a sensible and visible thing and thereupon it hath such a strong Prevalency over most and it is yet stronger over those who know not what it is to live by Faith nor act by hope of unseen things But they are most led on thereby who least think within themselves A Multitude is made up of several distinct Persons which conspire in one thing or near the same But it was received of one or few before it is made known unto and embraced by many and then the like Disadvantage lay against it as now they conceive on the other side But it is said now it hath the more general Acceptation Why the most do swallow it without Examination And who admit thereof must have some Rule Then which God hath given none other unto Men besides his Word which is to try Good and Evil Duty and Transgression as also what may be discerned from the Truth and Reality of things There is no other way under Heaven whereby we may be Happy but this only Now every one desires to be Happy that is To enjoy what Good he can and to avoid Evil. Even those have that Wish and Intention who turn aside every one to his own Way Who live as their Neighbours and Acquaintance and as the rest of the World do why this hath a shew of Peace and Good Will and they do hereby avoid the odious thing of Singularity and the Irksomness of Reproach But they should do well to consider in the first place of Glory to God in the Highest How is that annexed to their kind of Peace on Earth and Good Will towards Men. Their Hearts should be lifted up with Angels and the Heavenly Host towards him who sitteth above and remaineth King for ever And how is he honoured by such a kind of Life as the Inhabitants of the Earth lead which is made up of Forgetfulness of their Maker Sin and Sloth How are his Statutes kept and his Laws observed Are Peace and Truth met together as in the days of Hezekiah see Isa 39. 8. Or is it like the Hills of the Robbers the Assemblies of the Ungodly and Wicked an Agreement together to preserve their old accustomed Ignorance Corruption and Error And then those who would teach Knowledge and guide into Truth shall be reputed Enemies to Civil Society and Troublers of Israel the Church of God And what is the commonly called Good Will but to let every one do what is right in his own Eyes Not to meddle with their Sins and Transgressions To avoid Sound Doctrine Reproof Correction Instruction in Righteousness for all this hath a shew of Disturbance It is said to spoil Family-Peace and good Neighbourhood Even in this Antichristian Age wherein things are
hitherto hidden from some because they would not search the Scriptures for there they might have found it so and accordingly have prepared to have given up their Accounts The good may be hence quickned to do more to take hold of every Opportunity to lay up a greater Foundation against the Time to come to seek and do the Work of the Lord diligently and to improve every Talent to the utmost And the evil might presently have ceased to do wickedly turn and be more zealous in the other Way Faith apprehends so of things future as Memory and Recollection is to the past Herein appears the Excellency of the Understanding and reasonable Soul that she sees things afar off and remembers those behind But those things here are scarce worth our Remembrance but what things we are further told of they are all Wonder and Astonishment because they are so exceeding great and enduring Which will fill the Soul though opened wide and to the utmost and satisfie every Wish and Desire and these things are always to remain When these things shall be present before us we shall admire and be vexed within our selves that we did not more towards the obtaining them Even thus it will be of those who considered and did most that usually Men do Our Fathers received the Promises and saw them afar off they now stand more abundantly confirmed unto us being so indubitably made known that we are more fully perswaded of them and do embrace them So the Exhortation runs yet more forcible to cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God and to do all things that we may be found accepted of him at the last Day Even thus much we may discern at present that the Lord sitteth above all his Creatures He hath revealed how we the Inhabitants of the Earth are to behave our selves towards him He hath prepared his Seat for Judgment and his Kingdom ruleth over all neither is any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight But all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do We cannot know him as he knoweth us for he seeth us and all our Ways clearly but we now see thro' a Glass darkly And as we are mere Creatures who have nothing but what we have received so we know nothing but what he first made known and revealed unto us Our Saviour abode on the Earth Forty Days after his Passion on the Cross and Resurrection from the Grave speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Acts 1. 3. very few of which are recorded And though many things are written which he made known in the Course of his Ministry yet the beloved Disciple John saith Many other things truly did Jesus in the Presence of his Disciples which are not written in this Book John 20. 30. So before his coming into the World God discovered his Will by Prophets and holy Men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And there have been since further Manifestations of divine Knowledge and Truth And yet still the Skies will be more opened and Righteousness shall be poured down Drop down ye Heavens from above and let the Skies pour down Righteousness Let the Earth open and let them bring forth Salvation and let Righteousness spring up together I the Lord have created it Isa 45. 8. He shall come down like Rain upon the mowen Grass as Showers that water the Earth Psal 72. 6. Truth shall spring out of the Eorth Psal 85. 11. Both as to the Element it self and also as to the Inhabitants thereof Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee Then shall the Earth yield her Increase and God even our own God shall bless us Psal 67. 5 6. He shall make known those Arts and Means that the Earth shall yield her Increase so abundantly that there shall be no hungry and empty Soul but there shall be more than sufficient for every Creature whatever He shall give such a plentiful Fleece on the Sheep and may discover those other Ways for cloathing as to cover all the naked in our Land Bring ye all the Tithes into the Store-House that there may be Meat in mine House and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of Hosts If I will not open the Windows of Heaven and pour ye out a Blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it Mal. 3. 10. Mankind hath been hitherto proved wihther they will obey and trust in their God The poor hath been a long while suffered among them to see whether they will will provide for and do them good and they have not yet been so obedient and trusted unto him as they should But let them once do so let all the People praise him and then prove him whether he will not do those great things for us Whether he will not deal yet more bountifully even in those things for the sake of which People now transgress against him The Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof Psal 24. 1. The Silver is mine and the Gold is mine saith the Lord of Hosts Hag. 2. 8. so he can disclose it whensoever he will perhaps more than hath been yet seen and talked of And I will give thee the Treasures of Darkness and hidden Riches of secret Places Isa 45. 3. He can shew us where are the several rich Mines and some way bring to our Knowledge whatever Worth and Excellency lies hid at present in the Bowels of the Earth So there may be sufficient yea and abundance for all And there may be such exceeding Plenty even of the formerly beloved Mammon that they shall even loath and not esteem it because there is no such intrinsick Goodness in it as was supposed And things will be as readily done without as heretofore they were greedy and eager after it The Nature and End of every thing relating to us shall be perfectly understood and how they conduce to our real Good and Happiness As things shall be fully made known which tend to the Use Well-being and Delight of the Body so the same will be discerned concerning the Soul The hidden Man of the Heart will come forth and as that even now doth clearly appear in the Sight of God so it will be yet more manifested to our View that we may also know what is in Man as we see his outward Face The Thoughts of many Hearts shall be revealed so we may as evidently perceive them as we behold the working of their Hands or their goings up and down upon bodily Feet The Lord saith behold all Souls are mine Ezek. 18. 4. He challengeth a peculiar Property in them and yet he hath sent forth a peremptory Decree The Soul that sinneth it shall die The Soul hath a Knowledge of this which cannot be shaken off so imprinted that though it may be somewhat defaced yet it cannot be worn out The Desire and Tendency
Knowledge of the Truth Whatever is dictated to any and is tending to good the same is to be complied with and actually done and so on whatever can be reached further or apprehended more Nothing is created in vain nor yet should lye still and remain to no Purpose but the same should answer the very Ends for which each thing was made and ordained This is to be observ'd not only in natural and common things but necessarily and more especially in eternal and spiritual things and so we should press unto the Mark of the high calling God hath created and left us in such a State as to prove whether we will do that to which he hath already enabled us and doth require If we do not it is at our Fault and Peril and we shall be subject unto Loss and Misery But yet the Eyes which were made to see should and may see the Ears to hear and who have Hearts and Understandings given to perceive they may perceive Deut. 29. 4. As Men profess themselves to be Servants of the most high God so they should do his revealed Will and perform what he hath said in his standing and written Word by which he now speaketh from Heaven all one as if we heard outwardly his Voice And then they should take hold of the Skirt of their Neighbours and cause them to go and hear the Word of the Lord. Using the like Endeavour and Perswasion drawn only from divine Arguments and Considerations as the wicked and Companions in Sin do entice one another by their Arts and Means Yea and they should so lay hold of them that they shall not go back unless they rent some Piece of their Garments that they may as it were be compelled Luke 14. 25. to their own Good and Salvation that if they will still refuse and give back it may be with greater Difficulty and Striving And if they do resist the first or second Importunity yet by continual asking and putting in Mind the ungodly and wicked may be wearied Luke 18. 5. till they first hear and then they will come to receive and yield unto the Words of eternal Life Then the Eyes of the Blind shall be opened and the Ears of the Deaf shall be unstopped Isa 35. 5. They also that erred in Spirit shall come to Vnderstanding and they that murmured shall learn Doctrine Isa 29. 24. However at first this may be esteemed uncivil and troublesome to the Neighbourhood and Community yet is very consistent and agreeable with the Welfare and Happiness of Mankind for many to joyn together and severally that it may be no strange nor singular thing to endeavour in all good Conscience and the greatest Earnestness to bring People off from Ignorance Sloth and Deadness in Sin to Knowledge be doing good and the spiritual Life that coming out of carnal Security they may discern and follow the things which belong to their Peace and thence lead them up to the holy Hill It can be no Harm to rescue any from the Place of Torment to pull him though never so much against his Will like a Brand out of the Fire Ye that make Mention of the Lord keep not Silence And give him no Rest till he make Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth Isa 62. 6 7. So we are to do the like and endeavour what we can to gather the People and make them meet and ready a People prepared for the Lord. Each Master of a Family may order the Word of Exhortation and Instruction to be read unto his whole House Or where he is backward or negligent then the Wife of his Bosom or a Son or a Servant who is rightly disposed towards God they ought to give the House no Rest but be urgent and importunate till it be made known unto and understood by them That as our God hath given Precept upon Precept Precept upon Precept Line upon Line Line upon Line here a little and there a little Isa 28. 10. It being doubly ranked and several times enforced yea and repeated over and over So it is to be continually inculcated till it hath gotten the Victory over all rebellious and stubborn Hearts And when this or the like Method is used as the Spirit shall direct or incline in our own Nation and every Part thereof we may assuredly gather Acts 16. 10. that God hath called us to preach the Gospel unto others Surely the Isles shall wait for me and the Ships of Tarshish first to bring thy Sons from far their Silver and Gold with them unto the Name of the Lord thy God And to the holy one of Israel because he hath glorified thee And the Sons of Strangers shall build up thy Walls and their Kings shall minister unto thee Isa 60. 9 10. It hath been the Way and Method of God's gracious dealing towards the Children of Men to help towards their Good by little and little to bring them on from less to greater and still to make beter and increase Psal 115. 14. their Condition Who first laid the Foundations of the Earth and ordained the gathering together of Waters who settled the habitable Parts of the Earth and divided Country from Country by Rivers Seas and Rocks he could have made it all one Continent and Plain Who gave Life and Motion in such a Degree as now the doth he might have raised it to what Pitch of Activity and Speed he pleased By the same Power we might have been made to walk on the Waters or to ride on an Horse through the Deep But he hath established things in wonderful Wisdom and Counsel for great and excellent Ends even in those which seem ordinary and common Seeing many things but thou observest not Isa 42. 20. As God made every thing so he gave Man that Skill and Knowledge to build Boats and Vessels for the Water and to send forth from one Place to another Now consider the utmost End and Design of Navigation whether to keep Intercourse and Correspondence with other Nations Desire of Gain and their Commodities or to maintain the busie Nature of Man in Employment Yet there is one thing greater than all that is to bring down God from above by the Word of Faith which we preach that People may be more acquainted with him to give them Knowledge of Salvation and tell them of the greater Communion and gathering together of his People which shortly will be more than hath been ever since the World began and in the mean while all things are to be done which may hasten and make ready towards the Accomplishment thereof To make known the things which belong to their Peace and their eternal Exaltation and Happiness which is more than all the Gold of Ophir To assure them that they shall and tell them the Way how they may live blessed for ever which is more than the best temporal Livelihood This is the best Use and End of Navigation If we did look up and could see the Heavens opened
now live is continually hastning towards its Period so we should at all times make Provision against this shall fail to be received up into the other that we may there continually partake of somewhat which we have done here Indeed the Fruits of the Earth do spring up and are ripe at such certain Seasons of the Year according to the Climate or Countrey but still the Husbandman hath some Employment all the Year round The Kingdom of God over the Souls of Men is not confined to Times and Seasons as in such an Age or Part of Life to such a Month or Day of the Year But this Work may be carrying on at all Times and Seasons The Word may be preached in Season and out of Season at Summer or VVinter Spring or Autumn Sabbath or VVeek-day in the Day-time or at Mid-night as they are journeying or sitting still in the Closet Family or Congregation Truth shall spring out of the Earth Psal 85. 11. at what time it shall please the Lord to open the Fountains of the great Depth And as the VVind bloweth when and where it listeth so he shall give his Spirit to search it out So again Righteousness shall look down from Heaven when the Lord shall pour down his Spirit from on high which as he hath done several Times already so it may acquaint us further of the things there He may instruct his Servants as those of old in what Disposition of Body and Soul they must be in for to receive it To get the foregoing Qualifications of Faith Knowledge Love of God Obedience Holiness Humility convenient Retirement and separating from their Brethren that they may the more approach unto God These things do not so much depend upon the outward Circumstances of set and definite Times of the Year but they come to pass at what Time pleaseth the Father and we receive the Grace and use the Means to be Partakers thereof Known unto God are the great things he will do for his Church for they are fixed in his eternal Purpose and Determination it is not for us to know the Times and Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power Acts 1. 7. Perhaps the very Reason why these are not clearly revealed and manifested unto us is least in the mean while we should neglect our own Concern Our Minds might so run upon what things are to be done in the Generations following that we should leave undone what ought to be done in this Generation wherein we now live As the VVoman of Samaria saith When the Messias is come he will tell us all things John 8. 25. so we might be apt to apprehend it as to refuse to learn any thing in the mean while And when it is promised The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. VVe might content our selves with our former Ignorance and reject any further Knowledge and Instruction in the mean while Even those great things of old time have been transacted by outward Means and we ought still to use those Means which are in our Power to put them forth with all our Skill and Might and then let the Lord do what seemeth him good We know not at first what a Blessing and Success he may give unto them but we may somewhat perceive it afterwards Then things may rise up beyond our Expectations when in the Beginning we are apt to distrust and faint in our Mind Had our selves done nothing or after we had undertaken it then let it fall then it was our own Refusal that we were not Instruments in carrying on the Work of the Lord or he might take it from us and make choice of and give it unto others who should throughly perform his Will If the Way is shewed unto us and we are put in such a Capacity we have also an Impulse and Pressing of Mind to the same and the VVork is right and good as appears evidently from his VVord and the Examples of old there we may and indeed ought to walk in that VVay and actually do according to the Power given us and also comply with the Dictates of a rectified and truly informed Conscience If God may be glorified by such an Action and Good may be done unto others this should be indeed performed And seeing it should be done by some one why not by thee to whom he hath given the Knowledge thereof endued with Ability and is stirring thee up by his Spirit We may learn from Exodus 4. 10 11 12 13. that God is not pleased with Excuses or Delays or with alledging our own Imperfections for he made us at first and can also mend and increase what he hath begun He sent forth further Strength and Ability according as the thing requires The stammering Lips may at length speak plain as in the Beginning of Speech The Voice which was hasty and confused may become clear and distinct And who acquaints at first in general with the Errand that he should go to such a Place and do such a thing will afterwards according to his own divine Method in Acts 9. 6. teach particularly what he shall say And put the very Words into our Mouth a little before or in the very same Hour Mat. 10. 19. just as they are to be uttered forth Remembring still that we are but Instruments in the Hands of God We are to receive the Thoughts he puts into our Heart and to speak them out with our Lips but we can say no more nor think of pertaining to him than what he suggests and puts into our Mind We are to execute what he puts into the Power of our Hands but we can do no more Our God doth not require more than he hath given Those Talents are to be exercised and traded withal which he hath committed unto us but he will never call us to Account for more than we have received So we are to use Diligence and Labour according to what we can In the first Place we should pray unto God O learn me true Vnderstanding and Knowledge that I may keep thy Commandments Now these are either things to be abstained from or things to be done The first are properly Prohibitions or Forbiddings but the Word Commandment imports Duty which is to be done That must be discerned and known before it can be begun and because there may be Hindrances and Oppositions those also are to be seen and overcome that it may be accomplished In the Way to Heaven there are many Turnings aside which we are to be acquainted withal and avoid that we may keep on still in the right Way for if we go out there is so much Time and Labour lost to no purpose which might have set so far on The best Use hereof is to be more careful for the future to keep on right In every worldly Business and Design there are such foregoing Means And if they do at first hit upon those which are
Contempt and cast them into a bottomless Pit to suffer the Vegeance of eternal Fire In God is first contained and from him is derived every good and perfect thing even what is enjoyed or can be further desired by the Sons of Men. O Lord the Hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall be ashamed and they that depart from me shall be written in the Earth because they have forsaken the Lord the fountain of living waters Jer. 17. 13. God sendeth Rain upon the just and the unjust He giveth common Mercies promiscuously and indifferently to all but there is somewhat more and greater in being the Hope of Israel Somewhat is hidden and reserved there only for those who come unto him as again who forsake him miss thereof And when this shall be opened and actually given then Shame Vexation and Anguish will possess those who by their former demerits and provocation have lost their share and portion in this matter They that depart from me shall be written in the Earth When they have left and gone aside from him above they must cleave unto and pursue after somewhat And they cannot follow after any thing but what is in this place where they live And seeing they have chosen the Earth either the Men or Things therein let them make the most thereof But what will they do when the Earth and all the Works thereof shall be burnt up When themselves and others who inhabit here shall die And if they thought themselves well enough because tho' the things herein are perishing yet themselves are perishing likewise and they serve for their Time Nevertheless they must remain elsewhere for they have immortal Souls and returning Bodies And what shall they do throughout the Length and Space of Eternity when all the things wherein they before trusted are utterly gone and removed from them Even the Men of this World which have their Portion in this Life Psal 17. 14. might thus know and conclude As they thought it worth their while to secure this Place and Time who were for getting the best and fattest things that they might live happily and comfortably who were for the greatest and wisest Company in the whole Country of their Abode they might have looked up and have learned to be acquainted with thee O King of Nations for as much as among all the wise Men of the Earth and in all their Kingdoms there is none like unto thee They might understand and seek after the Lord whose is not only the Earth but the whole World and all that is therein for he made Heaven and Earth and all things Who whilst they lived did bless their own Soul Psal 49. 18. did so hug themselves with the Comforts and Conveniencies of this short Time they might much more hope for and endeavour after the good things of Eternity and take a more diligent and greater Care how themselves might live blessed for ever They might have further trusted unto him who as they experimentally found did good giving them Rain from Heaven filling their Souls with Food and Gladness So the Lord will perfect that wich concerneth them Psal 138. 8. Those perishing and fading Comforts were an Earnest and Assurance that he would give the true and enduring Happiness for such who should endeavour to be found worthy for to receive the same If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your Trust the true Riches Luke 16. 11. As he provided them with the meat which perisheth which was had by Labour Dressing and other forgoing Means and that did preserve Health and Life for the Time so likewise he afforded the Meat which endureth unto everlasting Life which also was to he had by using such Means of Grace And as many as did receive and comply with the Workings of that Grace they shall be crowned and actually invested with the other to which it did tend and grow up As he is the God of the Earth so of the Heavens also And as he hath determined our Dwelling and Abode here for a Space so he will take us up unto the Heavens for evermore Here we have no continuing City but now we desire that which would continue and that must be an heavenly Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City Heb. 11. 16. which like himself must remain for ever He took us out of our Mothers Womb and doth hold us up from the Cradle unto the Grave In the mean while he reneweth his Mercies and Preservation every Morning and there is still something more than all this Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with Benefits even the God of our Salvation He that is our God is the God of Salvation and unto God the Lord belong the Issues from Death Psal 68. 19 20. In that Word Salvation is comprised more than can be possibly had in this World Salvation imports to be free from all Evil Fear and Danger which none is in this World For consider of those who are in the most safe Condition and think themselves so yet the last Enemy waits for them which is Death and thence is Fear and Doubt But we have Assurance from our God who brought us into Being who carrieth us thro' here who is Lord of Life and hath Power over Death that he will give a Rising and Deliverance from that Now we have the most doubtful Apprehensions concerning Death and the future State For though on this Earth we are encompassed about with Fear Pit and the Snare yet we know what is the utmost of things here and what usually happens unto others So we are contented and freed from Terror and Amazement But further on if we did consider rightly we have more Hope and Security from the Lord being our Hope and the God of our Salvation And there he declares beforehand that neither he nor we shall be ashamed For hereby he will do more for us than we can ask or conceive and we shall find it to be infinitely more than we could expect and which will make an abundant Compensation for whatever Difficulty Loss or Trouble we did sustain in coming to be Partaker thereof And though our God shall cause us to inherit high Places Isa 58. 12. yet we shall not be in the least Danger or Suspicion of falling Thou shalt be far from Terror for it shall not come near thee Isa 54. 11. We shall be more strongly secured from every Evil or Misery and be wholly exempt from the Thought and Apprehension thereof as we shall be let into the Possession and Enjoyment of all Good and Excellency so the Continuance thereof to everlasting that we shall never lose nor be deprived of it will be made so sure and ratified unto us as they are certain of that Moment wherein they have it or as we are at present sensible that we live and breath or that we have what we grasp at this Instant
such great outward likelyhood and probability that it will ever be so What thy People shall be all Righteous when now not more than One in an Hundred are strictly and universally so And for the Sinners to be consumed out of the Earth and for the Wicked to be no more How can this be when all places are now full of them But yet as the Waters of Noah did once cover the Earth and so a common Flood doth now cover several parts thereof and the lower Grounds which goes off again So that Deluge of Sin and Ungodliness which hath so long for many Years and Generations overspread the face of all Nations will at length quite go off and never return again An Inlet and preparatory to this glorious day of Righteousness and Holiness throughout the Earth will be when People shall once begin to leave off living by Examples but they shall live according to the Word of God and the Dictates of the Spirit Tho Satan's Kingdom hath stood a long time yet it hath been all along upheld as it were by Threads or as the Spider's Web or as Brittle Glass I mean that it hath been erected upon so slender a Foundation and holden up by such weak Props that if any thing had touched and beat vehemently upon it it would have fallen in that part thereof for as soon as it had been touched or grappled with it would have presently broken and snapped asunder And when when it was made up again it was as Thread or Tow tied together or like a Spider's Web made over again or as the broken pieces of Glass set together again which was somewhat weaker than the former To these and such-like Similitudes all those Thoughts and Imaginations in Men and Women may be compared by which the infernal and unseen Spirit did work in the Children of Disobedience for it was all either Evil or Falshood And whensoever Grace and Truth had also an entrance into their Minds and did once begin to close and grapple therewith it did put it all to flight and overcame the Temptations and Suggestions of the Evil one which he would bring on again after the aforesaid manner As heretofore observed almost all Satan's Temptation is comprized in that which he used to our Grandmother Eve And when the Woman saw that the Tree was good for Food and that it was pleasant to the Eyes and a Tree to be desired to make one Wise she took of the Fruit thereof and did Eat Gen. 3. 6. So that Goodness Pleasure Desirableness which last may be also expressed by conveniency or Expediency are the three Baits which the Serpent who is more Subtle than any Beast of the Field doth make use of to fish for and catch the Souls of Men and VVomen and where he also tempteth them to any Sin or act of Disobedience which doth not seem either Good or Pleasant or Desirable But it is either Humour or Frowardness or VVillfulness or they know not what reason they have for it but they do it for all There commonly it is Company and Example of others like natural brute Beasts Oxen or Sheep which go on with the Drove and as they see others before them not knowing where or wherefore To do as others do seems convenient or expedient which comes under one of those three Heads of Goodness Pleasure and Desireableness for it is thought Safe and also it prevents that Hatred and Ill-will which is commonly annexed to Singularity VVho do not in all their Actions seek to please God yet commonly these same Persons endeavour to please other Men or their own selves that is Their own Lust and VVill or the sinful Desires of the Flesh By which is shewn forth that Principle ingrafted in them by the God who formed them of Pleasing some one which should be terminated and arise up to their Maker and Creator only but with them it is turn'd aside to their Fellow-Creatures or to themselves Casting down Imaginations in the Margent it is Reasonings and every high thing that exalteth it self against the Knowledge of God and bringing into Captivity every thought to the Obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 5. To express sorth these several Imaginations and every Thought would swell this Treatise to a prodigious bulk And indeed many of the Thoughts of Men are so vain and trivial that they are not worthy to be spoken out or to be set down in Ink and Paper But for those Imaginations which carry a shew of Reasoning with them if the Reader would narrowly and attentively observe how each of them is answered and cast down by the like words of Truth as that is effected any other new Imagination as it shall arise may in the same or like manner be answered and cast down also The Metaphor of casting down is I suppose in allusion to Wrestling at the Olympick Games which were in use among the Corinthians and there sometimes a Tall Boasting Fellow would come into the Ring whom another less Man who had more Skill though not equal in outward Appearance would oftentimes gives the Foil unto and cast him down And so for bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ This is also a Similitude in which the Holy Ghost delights Hos 12. 10. taken from Warriors where both the Adverse Parties contend and fight together and they try with all their Strength and Skill who can kill or take one another Captive There is a very near resemblance between things Visible and Invisible for so it is likewise as we may see with the Eyes of our Vnderstanding being enlightned between the Thoughts of Good and Truth and the Suggestions of Satan and the Dictates of Evil and Falshood All these are contrary one to the other and they do fight and contend together in the Soul of Man They strive there for Mastery which shall prevail which the Man shall be lead and governed by And according as this is so is the Discrimination to be made of Godly and Vngodly Righteous and Wicked they that serve God and they that serve him not for the Godly and Righteous and the Servants of God are ever or for the most part led and governed by the Words of his Grace and Truth And when there is a War and Contest in their Souls whether they shall overcome or the Temptation of the World the Flesh and the Devil the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life Their Faith in the unseen God and their Knowledge and Fear of him and the sense of his Law written in their Hearts do constantly or at least most commonly overcome all the other Assaults of the Evil one Whereas the Ungodly and the Wicked and Rebels have indeed a faint remembrance and a small sense of that Obedience they owe unto God and his Law But in all these Temptations or for the most part they shew themselves to be Servants of Sin and Evil By consenting unto and doing the
returned from the Slaughter of the Kings But when God shall do that last and great Act as to cause that Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 2. 4. VVhich Scripture hath not been as yet fulfilled But is to be fulfilled according to that Divine Method and Dispensation The Word and things of God shall be fulfilled in their Season Luke 1. 20. Then the Lord bringeth forth the Chariot-Horse the Army and the Power They shall lye down together they shall not rise they ore Extinct they are quenched as Tow Isa 43. 17. God will bring them forth to shew only and not for Use and Service That this righteous and peaceable Generacion may just see what kinds of Instruments their Fore-Fathers a Rebellious and stubborn Generation did make use of to kill and destroy which they who shall feed like Lambs after their manner Isa 5. 17. will hardly believe without seeing them that ever so much Violence and Mischief should be in the Hearts of Men or that such Instruments of Cruelty and Destruction should be found in their Habitations But as the Lord commanded that a Pot full of Manna should be laid up before the Lord in their Generations that they may see the Bread wherewith I have fed you in the Wilderness when I brought you forth from the Land of Egypt Exod. 16. 32 33 34. So it is convenient and requisite that some of each sort of those Weapons and devices of VVar should be kept for a Testimony that the Generations following may just see how it was with the Earth when God Created the Smith that bloweth the Coals in the Fire and that bringeth forth an Instrument for his Work and that had created the Waster to destroy Isa 54. 16. When at thy Rebuke O God of Jacob the Chariot and Horse are cast into a dead Sleep Psal 76. 6. Never to awake out of it again For it is before said The stout hearted are spoiled they have slept their Sleep they are bereaved and stript of those Engines wherewith they did execute their Revenge and Terror in the Land of the Living And now they have slept their sleep they have done all their do which they must never do again What they did then do was as much at random and uncertainty from the true and proper ends of Man's Life which was intended for Preservation and not for the Destruction of others and at last of themselves by so doing as Sleep is now different from Waking for in Sleep we Dream and think confusedly without the use of Reason and Knowledge But they shall lye down together they shall not rise There is an utter end of all that they are extinct as Tow the Wrath of Man which did heretofore kindle all this God shall restrain Surely the Wrath of Man shall Praise thee the remainder of Wrath shalt thou restrain Psal 76. 10. So as it shall go no further and then it will sink and come to nothing of it self They are quenched as Tow. If it would begin to smoak again God will take care to put it out that it shall burn no more Where his Prophet uses these kind of pertinent and significative Phrases he immediately adds Remember ye not the former things neither consider the things of old Behold I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth shall ye not know it Isa 43. 18 19. This is as much as if God should say Ye may just see and think of those former things but they are not worthy of your Remembrance and Consideration in comparison to that new thing which God will do which shall be both more pleasant Entertainment to the Minds of his Creatures and it shall be infinitely more satisfactory for them to be employ'd therein than heretofore in making Preparations for War or hearing tidings from the Camp I will even make a way in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert The Holy Ghost seems here to allude unto the March of an Army with their Power who being to pass through a Wilderness or Desarts send those before them to make way as by cutting down the Woods and Briars and making rough places plain and removing great Stones or Rubbish As also to guide and conduct them in the intricate way As also to seek out Forage Food and Water for Man and for Beast if they can find out Springs and Rivers in the Desert wherein is least likelihood of any and therein is most want of them But God will supply all this to his Creatures or make up unto them what is signified thereby The Beasts of the Field shall Honour me the Dragons and the Owls Because I give Waters in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert to give drink to my People my chosen V. 20. Besides that Satisfaction and Content which without doubt is in the irrational but sensible Creatures upon Gods being their Creator and Maker and also for his providing all things necessary and convenient for them Hereby also may be signified That when those ungodly Men and Women who have been transformed after the manner of Beasts and have those inward Qualities and likeness unto Dragons and Owls as to love Destruction and hate the Light do come to see and know what God doth for his Elect People They will come to Honour and have an inward reverential Esteem of him also This People have I formed for my self They shall shew forth my Praise Ver. 21. Here is the drift and design the End and Consummation of all that as God made Men and Women They should even now as in the latter days they shall be purely formed for himself They shall shew forth his Praise That is They shall have no other End but God and to lay out themselves for him and God shall be their All in All and nothing shall be heard amongst them but Praises Praises to the Lord. Then the World will be as it should be CHAP. VII There will be an End of all manner of Persecuting the Servants of God WHen the Earth shall be reformed and become Righteous this effect will also be seen and perceived There shall be no more Hatred of and Persecution against the Servants of God They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain for the Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. It hath been always and in all places found That where is most of the Knowledge of the Lord that is such Knowledge as is true Saving and Sanctifying there hath been least Persecution as again where hath been most Ignorance and Darkness there the Persecuting work hath gone forward and abounded But when the World shall be thus universally replenished with the Knowledge of the Lord there will not be the least degree nor manner of it not so much as to hurt Body or Soul as to lay any hardship or restraint upon the first nor yet to tempt or cause the