care of his Church and of his Promise to Abraham even when he seems to have Utterly Abandon'd them The same Graciousness that had sent Prophets to them all along their Revolt and a Promise of the Messiah at the same time their Rejection was foretold Isa 7. 8. within 65 Y. of its comming to pass That the Lord would not quite cast off the House of David till a Virgin have born a Son and he to be God in our Nature v. 14. and this Son to be Born in Bethelem One that should tread down all the Churches Enemies and be her Peace c. Micah 5. 1 2 3 4 5. yet would be War to the Assyrians in sending Lyons among them as before all which doth show That this Antient People of the Ten Tribes are not altogether Abandon'd and Abolish'd but God reserves this Honour for them to Vouchsafe them a Call to the Participation of Christ but more of that in New-Testament-times Ezek. 37. 16 19. Jer. 3. 12 13. c. Isa 11. 12 13. Obad. 20. Rom. 11. 15 26. The Seventeenth Plot against the CHURCH in Judah Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XVII WHen the Devil saw how successful he had been in Debauching and Destroying the Ten Tribes of Israel He falls upon his 17th Plot against the Kingdom of Judah which yet Ruled with God and was Faithful with the Saints Hos 11. 12. God was sincerely served amongst them and they Held fast their first integrity the True Religion was Publickly Professed and the True Worship of God was Purely Preserved in the Temple at Jerusalem This made Abijah the next to Rehoboam though none of the best to boast so boldly and therefore prevailed 2 Chro. 13. 10 17. Israels Apostacy was not onely Aggravated but also Vanquished by Judahs Integrity yea and Judah was Kind Courteous and Communicative to those good Souls that left the Ten Tribes and came thither to Injoy the Pure and Publick Worship of God This the Envious One espying and Envying Endeavours to Corrupt Jerusalem as he had done Samaria that so Aholah and Aholibah might be both Alike nay the latter to be worse than the former as afterwards Ezek. 16. 2 45 48. and 23. 4 11. Yea that Prince of the Ayr the Devil never gave over his stormy Blasts with his stinking Breath until he had Blown out that Lamp which God had promis'd to give David in Jerusalem 1 Kin. 15. 4. at the last which did fall out about the 3420 Y. of the World in the 11th Y. of Zedekiah when Ezekiels 390 Y. mentioned Ezek. 4. 5. were exactly accomplish'd in that fatal Fall of Jerusalem for which Jeremy Writt his Book of Lamentations to Condole the sad Condition of the Church because the Crown was faln from her Head Lam. 5. 15 16. and her Light or Lamp was Extinct by the Devils Extinguisher then was she brought into darkness and not into light Lam. 3. 2. and removed into dark places as they that be dead v. 6. so put into the Dark Graves of Babylon until the Time of their Opening came Ezek. 37. 12. c. Now to Reduce the Church to this faln and Extinct Estate The Devil Designs against her many Maladies and 't is remarkable God sent her as many Remedies in Raising up a good King for a bad a good King for a bad almost all-along whereas those of Israel were all bad Universally until they had sinned themselves beyond the Reach of all Remedies Prov. 22. 1. 2 Chro. 36. 16. Oh Dreadful and Direful Divine Sentence Satans first Blast against the Lamp of the Church in this 17th Plot was in Rehoboam who at 41 Y. old was Childish and Simple 2 Chro. 12. 13. with 13. 7. but of an Haughty and Hard-oppressing Spirit so prooved himself a very Fool Eccles 2. 19. though he were the Son of so Wise a Father a very fit Tool for the Devil and though for 3 Y. he did Well 2 Chron. 11. 17. yet after he did Evil and Judah with him which brought up Shishak K. of Aegypt to Plunder Jerusalem 1 Kin. 14. 22 23 24. Upon this the Devil got the Golden Shields of Solomon changed into Brazen ones v. 27. as he had made the faithful City now to become an Harlot No Wonder therefore that her Silver was become Dross and her Gold turned into Brass Isa 1. 21 22. Shishak prompted to this Enterprize by Jeroboam who had lived in the Court of Aegypt and as some say Married a Wife of the Blood-Royal easily prevaileth through the Pusillanimity and Effeminacy of Rehoboam but especially because Judah had Transgressed against the Lord 2 Chron. 12. 2. His Prevalency could not have happened without the Church's Prevarication Notwithstanding at the Preaching of the Prophet Shemaiah which was a great Divine favour both Princes and People Humbled themselves v. 5 6. which was a greater Divine favour but the greatest of all was that God did not then pour out his whole Wrath but granted them some Deliverance v. 7 8. So that things went well in Judah v. 12. The Devils 2d Blast against Davids promised Lamp was in the Reign of Rehoboams Son call'd Abijah 2 Chron. 12. 16. so his Father named him signifying The Lord is my Father with Respect to that Promise made to David 2 Sam. 7. 14. but because he Walked not in the ways of David therefore is Abijah called Abijam 1 Kin. 15. 1. which signifies My Father is a Sea Indeed his Father was as Inconstant in good as the Fluctuating Sea because he Prepared not his Heart to seek the Lord 2 Chro. 12. 24. he had only some slashy and fleeting Resolutions in his aforesaid Humblings but he did not draw them out into Execution because they Sprang not from his Heart that right Spring of all True goodness so they were soon off again and he wavering like a wave of the Sea Jam. 1.6 was driven by the Wind of Temptation to do Evil and so Dyes leaving a Diminish'd and Impoverish'd Kingdom to his Son Abijah or Abijam who did Evil like his Father Though the Book of Chronicles layeth no Wickedness to his Charge so joyns Jah the Name of God to his name Abijah yet the Book of Kings Chargeth him with the Wickedness of his Fathers ways and therefore calls him Abijam as above 1 Kin. 15. 3. Though at first when he went out to War against Jeroboams vast Army he seemed to be good pretending to and pleading hard for Religion 2 Chron. 13. 5 10 12. and praying to God in his Distress v. 14. and believing in God v. 18. but being puffed up with this great Victory he falls away and shew'd himself in his Colours treading in the same Dirty steps of his Idolatrous Father who when he Recover'd Bethel from Jeroboam 2 Chron. 13. 19. did not Destroy the Calf and Idolatry there for which cause 't is probable God shorten'd both his Reign and his Life Oh what a sad Aspect had the Church in that Day when not onely Israel Worship'd Jeroboams
Prospect of his 5th Plot as to its success but still the mischief of it was he Reckon'd without his Host even the Lord of Hosts that Man of War Exod. 15. 3. who giveth Victory not as the Devil but as himself pleaseth For though the Lord permitteth Amalek to oppose Israel for the Chastizement of their Murmurings yet had he other Designs then onely to Chastize his Church whom he had allur'd into the Wilderness He must also Speak Comfortably to her Heart Hos 2. 14. Amalek must Fall and therein the Devils Project before the People of his Promise and they must not onely be Encouraged by their Victory over the Amalekites as they had been with that over the Aegyptians but also Enriched with their Spoils and Furnished with their Arms and Ammunition God hath in his Design not onely the want of Innocency in his People to Chastize with Rods but also the Guilt of Insolency in his Enemies to Scourge with Scorpions Amalek indeed comes forth to meet Israel but it was to meet his own ruine and to fetch in his own destruction which Moses Precando by Praying and Joshua Praeliando by Fighting brought upon him Moses in the Mount lifts up the Rod to God as a Standard against Amalek and Joshua in the Valley Engages them and Moses Prayers gave most-effectual Pushes as well as Joshua's Pikes against the Enemy Moses Orat Vincit Cessat Vincitur v. 12. While Moses Devotion goes down Amaleks Courage gets up and prevaileth but when it goes up and keeps up being sustained upon Christ the Stone of Israel then Amalek is discomfitted v. 13. And being the first Nation that Warr'd against the Church after her deliverance from Aegypt Gods Hand is upon his Throne Swearing That he will have a perpetual War with Amalek and wipe out the Remembrance of them from under Heaven v. 14 16. Amaleks Hand had been lifted up against Gods Throne his Church so call'd Jerem. 14. 21. Now Gods Hand is lifted up upon his own Throne in taking this Solemn Oath That he would wage War against Amalek for ever This present Discomsiture was but a praelibamen or Pledge of this perpetual War As a lasting Monument of Gods great Mercy to Israel in this first Victory Moses Builds an Altar and calls it Jehovah Nissi that is The Lord is my Banner under whose Standard he had got the Victory And as a lasting Memorial of Gods great Wrath against Amalek in this first Opposition Moses must Record this of them either in the Book of the Wars of the Lord Numb 21. 14. which is latent or in the Pentatuch which he was then Writing and now Extant That they should utterly be destroyed This Saul should have done 1 Sam. 15.7 c. destroying onely some David destroyed more 2 Sam. 8. 12. Such as escaped those Destructions were destroyed by the Simeonites in Hezekiah's time 1 Chron. 4. 41 42 43. Lastly Haman and his Ten Sons were slips of this cursed Stock and Hanging was their end and the end of that Race of Rebels being the last that we read of to be Rooted out Oh how dangerous it is to Anger the Antient of Days his Forbearance for many Hundred Years is no Forgiveness 'T was 400 Y. after when God gave Command to destroy them utterly 1 Sam. 15. 2. and long after that God made a War against them and at last did Root them out Root and Branch thus Amalek Hebrew signifying Populus Lingâ—us a Licking People that had licked up the Hindmost of Israel the Wrath of God licked them all up as Fire doth Stubble who can stand before Everlasting burnings Isa 33. 14. The Church's Protestaâ—â—â— is Consuming fire to them Hebr. 12. last who not onely Laughs but Burns not onely their Plots but their Persons to nothing A Man had better Anger all the Witches in the World Yea all the Devils in Hell as Anger this One Jealous God the Heat of whose Wrath lasts longer and Burns deeper than the Coals of Juniper Psal 120. 4. His Judgements are severe and durable never Rots in the Sky 'T was this Divine Wrath that waged War against Amalek from one Generation to another until it came at last to an utter Extirpation Haman the Agagite of the Blood-Royal of Amalek descending from Agag their King whom Saul spared is Hanged no more of that Rebellious Race that Warr'd against Israel without Cause or Provocation do we Read of the Wicked are forgotten Eccles 8. 10. Yea the Devil that set them on work is Chain'd and Defeated The Church by her Champions help abides for ever The Sixth Plot against the Church in the Wilderness Defeated by GOD. CHAP. VI. 'T Is said Luk. 4. 13. That Satan Departed from Christ onely for a Season no more doth he depart from his Church he will have his Returns to do her all the ill turns he can Thus doth he here to the Church in the Wilderness that almost as close did he Dogg her behind as the Pillar of Glory did Conduct her before and though Christ whom she Tempted there 1 Cor. 10. 9. suffered her thus to be Proved and Tryed yet it was always to do her Good at the latter end Deut. 8. 16. The 6th Plot against the Church which was the 2d in her Wilderness-State was the Tempter tempting Israel to Set up the Golden-Calf Exod. 32. 1. which the Devil knew well would make God disown Discard and Discovenant his People This is one of Satans Grand Wiles that when he cannot play his Game upon the open Stage of the World by an Extrinsick Adversary as by Amalek then he trys his Skill by an Imrinsick-Engine Screwing himself into the Minds of Israel this piece of Ingenuity he taught the Jesuits and being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lover of Idol-Worship as being Devil-Worship 1 Cor. 10. 20 21. he puts them upon making an Idol to make God cast them off and destroy them for such a God-provoking Sin v. 22. as provoked God to Jealousie The Advantage Satan took for promoting this his Project was Moses Absence Non-Residents do little consider this though Moses had Warrant for his Absence both from God and his People for 1st God call'd him up into the Mount Exod. 24. 12. and 2d The People consented that he should be as an Ambassadour and Mediator 'twixt them and God Exod. 20. 19. Moses the 40 Days faster staid longer with God in the Mount than the People expected though all the while he was Negotiating their Weal in bringing the Two Tables of the Decalogue both of Gods Writing and Workman-ship Exod. 31. 18. and 32. 16. The Heavenly Pattern of the Tabernacle with all the Ordinances concerning Legal Worship to them They grew Impatient of Moses delay The Devil no doubt did suggest to the Worser sort That he was torn of Wild Beasts and to the Better sort That as Enoch was he was Translated into Heaven as Josephus saith Or That he had deserted his Charge and mocked them as some
Singing for their last Victory as well as for their Deliverance from the fiery Serpents and for their Sanedrims or 70 Elders causing Wells to spring up in the Dry Wilderness by the stroke of their Staves as Moses had done with the stroke of his Rod v. 8. 9 17. This Enraged him again 2. to Stir up Sihon King of the Amorites against Israel v. 21.23 Deut. 2. 30. Judg. 11. 20. But behold the Issue Sihon comes forth at the Devils Instigation and it was to fetch his own Destruction as King Arad and others had done Gods Judgments need not go to find Wicked Men they do come out to meet it the better half way Jehovah the God of Israel Smote him and his Complices Numb 21.24 Deut. 2.33 Though their Height was like the height of Cedars and they as strong as Oaks Amos 2. 9. Psal 135. 10 11. with 136. 17 18 19. The Glory of this Victory in Defeating the Devil and his Imps is Attributed to the God of Israel And mark a Marvellous good Providence towards Israel who was forbidden of God to meddle with Moabs Land Deut. 2. 9. Yet Sihon had taken this part from Moab Numb 21.26 God takes it from him making him a Proverb or By-word v. 27. Deut. 28. 17. and Gives it to Israel Thus they Lost not but Gain'd by it herein The Ninth Plot against the CHURCH Defeated by GOD. CHAP. IX BUt the Sorest Thrust and most Fiery Dart of the Devil against this Wilderness-Church was that of the Moabites with their Assistants the Midianites which was Vltimus Diaboli Crepitus the last Gun-Shot of the Wicked one against Israel as to External or Outward Engines before they Entred Canaan yet proved it by the Over-ruling Providence of God but the Shot of a Pot-Gun a Dintless Dart and an Unsuccessful Thrust in the Issue No Weapon that is formed against the Church shall prosper Isai 54. 17. This Divine Promise did blunt the Point and Spoil'd the Purpose of all both Humane or Diabolical Projects Yea of this last which was the worst of all Morsus Morientum sunt Maximè Mortiferi The last Bite of Dying Beasts are most Deadly no less was this last of the Serpent to Interrupt the Church in her Passage out of the Wilderness to Canaan Take a Particular View of Two Things 1st of the Church's Danger and 2dly Of the Church's Deliverance God Requires a Due Commemoration hereof Micah 6. 5. where he saith Oh my People Remember now what Balak King of Moab Consulted and what Balaam the Son of Beor Answered from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the Righteousness of the Lord The Compellation Oh my People doth plainly Demonstrate That the sinfulness of Gods People doth not Destroy Gods Claim to and his Interest in them They are his by Creation by Redemption and by the Covenant of Grace 'T is True by the Old Covenant God might Write Lo-Ammi and Lo-Ruhamah upon his Sinful Church but the Free-Grace of this New-Covenant Rides Triumphingly over all the Incapacities and Unworthinesses of his People and when they are not in themselves Worthy yet their Gracious God will Account them Worthy Luk. 21.36 when he cannot own them as his Jewels Mal. 3. 17. for their sakes yet then will he own them for his own sake Ezek. 36. 22 32. No Love like Gods love that Loves thus Freely Hos 14. 4. Though all the World disclaim them yet must God lay his Claim to them Oh my People How can he Disclaim them So he tells us in his 4. such How 's as are not to be parallel'd in the whole Book of God Hos 11.8 How shall I give thee up Ephraim c. I cannot find in my heart to do it What will the Aegyptians say Exod. 32. 12. And what will become of my Great Name Josh 7. 9. The very Banks of Blasphemy will be broken down when God cannot behold Innocency in his people as before yet will he prevent the Insolency of their Enemies Deut. 32. 27. Psal 140. 8. The Commemoration Holds forth Three Things 1st The Plot or Danger as the Church in the Wilderness had a Balak and a Balaam against her So the Church evermore in her Wilderness-State hath Force and Fraud Power and Policy against her 2. The Issue and Deliverance God Deliver'd the Church out of their Hands Josh 24. 10. and brought her from Shittim the place of their Sin of Baal-Peor to Gilgal where he Renew'd his Covenant 3. The End to Proclaim Gods Praise The other Plots before this was a Complication of lesser Plots but this last External is a Plot of Plots the Devil Employing his Grandest Engines at this Onsett against the Church As 1st Balak Hires Balaam to come and secretly Curse them Numb 22. 4. 2. He Draws out all his Armies in Battel-Array against them to Suppress them by Open Power Numb 22. 5. Josh 24. 9. as soon as Balaam had Cursed them 3. When this would not do than by Wiles and Private Policy according to the Counsel of Balaam he Seduces them to Fornication and Idolatry Numb 25. 1 2 3. In the Management of this last and worst Plot Observe Three things 1. The Ground or Occasion 2. The Manner 3. The Matter thereof 1. The Ground it was indeed a groundless quarrel for Moses fretted against Israel to see them upon their Plains just ready to set foot upon the Land of Promise Numb 22. 3. though Moab was Allyed to Israel eased by them of a Troublesome Incroaching Neighbour Sihon King of the Amorites that had taken some part of their Land from them Numb 21. 26. and 3 Assur'd by Israel that they would not meddle with them or molest them because they were of the Posterity of Lot Deut. 2. 9. So it was a Causeless Quarrel as Satan moved God against Job without Cause Job 2. 3. So they were Acted and Agitated by the Devil without cause on Israels part they being of a Differing Religion were carried on with Satanical malice and sought their Ruine Thus Rome at this Day seeks the ruine of those of the Reform'd Religion and Devises Deceitful matters against them that are Quiet in the Land Psal 35. 20. Their Quarrel is Causeless 2ly The Manner Threefold 1. Secret and Undermining Moab sent no open Desiance by sound of Drum or Trumpet it was close as the Plot of Rome against us at this Day 2. It was Earnest Importunate and Irreconcileable for Balak was a restless Adversary and would not give over till some Mischief were done as Rome doth at this Day 3. Sumptuous or Costly Balak spares no Cost either in proffering Honours or in Building of Altars and offering Sacrifices Paul Persecuted out of Ignorance 1 Tim. 1. 13. so was easily Check'd Act. 9. 4. but Balak out of Malice as Rome does and spares no cost in her Malice 3ly The Matter of the Plot. 1 Balak Hires Balaam to Curse Israel Numb 22. 6. Balak was a politick and potent Prince not more Valiant than Vigilant
Saints and Convey a Blessing to both and then the Lord shall Bless saying Blessed be Aegypt my People a New and Honourable Title to them and Assyria the Work of my Hands as Created anew in Christ Eph. 2. 10. and Israel my Inheritance Isa 19. 23 25. Thus we see Gods Care of his Church in Babylon and in Aegypt too Defeating all the Devils Designs which were to Destroy it every where as well as any-where Now let us view the same Divine Care and Kindness to his Church when Removed to Persia at the Destruction of Babylon out of which she Fled Isa 48. 23. and 52. 11. and Jer. 50. 8. and 51. 6 45. Zech. 2. 6. Revel 18. 4. For it was Devoted to Destruction by Darius the Persian God had Reserv'd an Holy Remnant for Royal Use even in Persia for not half of the Jews Returned to Jerusalem at Cyrus Proclamation whatever Josephus saith to the Contrary who makes the Returners to be above Four Millions whereas Ezra makes them onely Forty and two Thousand Ezra 2. 64. Ten or Twelve Thousand whereof might probably be of the Ten Tribes that were first carryed Captive who together with Benjamin and Judah make up the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Twelve Tribes which the Apostle speaks of Act. 26. 7. Instantly Serving God Night and Day Hoping to come to Heaven which plainly Intimates how God carefully keeps his Covenant in preserving his Church among them Now I say this People having lived a long season safely in a Fat though a Forraign Countrey there they had lived in Peace enjoy'd their Religion gathered Riches and had Favourites at Court so were loth to trouble themselves with removing into their own Countrey where they were sure to meet with much opposition and many Enemies the Samaritans and others Hereupon many of them remained in Babylonia and Persia as before yet God Delivers them not over to the Devil to do what he would with them but Defeats his Design even there also As the Devil had his Wicked Haman to contrive the Churches Destruction in Persia so God had his Holy Mordecai there for her preservation before whom Haman Fails and the Devils Plot in him Now come we to the most Eminent Evidence and most pregnant Proof of Divine Providence in Preserving the Church of God against the Devils most powerful Plot Recorded in Scripture And in discoursing upon it I shall not meddle with the Timeing of it which some Critical observers of Chronology do place betwixt Cyrus and Darius's Decrees for re-Building the Temple but shall take it as it is placed in Canonical Scripture the very last Book that Describes the History of the Church in the Old Testament to wit the Book of Esther wherein though the Name God be not found yet most Eminently the Hand of God is found there in Capital Characters And herein Observe Two Principal parts 1. The Churches Danger and 2. The Churches Deliverance both exceedingly Eminent even in Shushan the Head-City of Persia wherein God had a great People reserved and preserved there and scatter'd about in many other places as will appear by the Sequel First The Churches Danger in it Three particulars are observable 1. The Occasion of the Danger to wit Holy Mordecai's refusal of Bowing the knee to proud Haman that cursed Amalekite a deadly Enemy of the Church and the Kings great Favourite both before he had obtained the Royal Decree against the Church and afterwards also 2ly The Persons who were in this Eminent Danger to wit not Mordecai alone for he thought him alone too mean a Sacrifice below his Revengeful Rage but also all the Godly Jews every-where Dispersed Esth 3. 6. and 3ly The Danger it self to wit not personal onely as that of Dan. 3. 20. and Dan. 6. 14. but an Universal and Utter Destruction maliciously Intended by a Decree obtained upon false Informations that the Jews did not keep the Kings Laws v. 8. Thus Haman cloak'd his private Malice with publique pretences Oh what a likely Tool had the Devil now got to Work the Churches Ruine withal to wit the Adversary and Enemy Wicked Haman Esth 7. 6. where he is painted in his proper Colours The Man-Adversary or Hebr. Satan the Church hath her Man-Adversary as well as Devil-Adversary a Man of might and a great Favourite at Court an Vtter Enemy a Sworn Sword-man of Satan that old Man-slayer from whom Haman had drawn this Antient Enmity Gen. 3. 15. and from cursed Amalek Exod. 17. 8. He is as pious Queen Esther Brands him our Angustiator or Oppressor and ready to do all Hostile Acts against us 'T is this Wicked Haman a Man of Mischief and the Worst of Mankind even Wickedness it self no better than a Breathing Devil so prodigiously and peerlesly profligate in his Plots and Projects against the Church Now the Devil begins his Plot by this sit Instrument as soon as he had set him alost upon the pinacle of highest Preferment and the King had commanded all his Courtiers to Bow to him Esth 3. 1 2. 1st In Hamans madness against Mordecai for his being so stiff in the Ham as not to bend to Great Prince Haman with the Cringing Courtiers at the Kings command ☞ That was enough for them right or wrong and so 't is in our Day with Herodians that will be of King Herod's or King Harry's Religion whatever it be many matters it not so it have a Royal Sanction it must be done though they themselves be Vndone for ever for so doing this Godly Mordecai could not do not onely because Haman was a cursed Amalekite whom God would have Israel not to Honour but to Destroy Exod. 17. 14. Deut. 25. 19. 1 Sam. 15. 3. but also because this kind of Bowing had a Divine Devotion in it due to God onely and not due to any mortal Man quite contrary to the Law of his God Deut. 6. 13. and 10. 20. Matth. 4. 9 10. Dan. 6. 13. It was not therefore a proud self-willedness that made Mordecai so stiff notwithstanding the Allurements and Affrightments of the Courtiers but Fear of Sin and Conscience of Duty and he would rather offend all the World than God and his own Conscience This enraged Haman to be sleighted by a Captive-Jew whom the Free-born Persians Honour'd and Adored Insomuch as he Swell'd like a Toad and Glowed like a Devil 1 in designing his Destruction and the rather because he was a Jew whom he Naturally Hated as Josephus saith seeing they had Antiently destroyed the Amalekites his Country-men Esth 3. 3 4 5. 2ly His Designing to cut off all his People as well as Mordecai it being below his haughty Heart and too narrow for his Revengeful Mind to be confined within the Compass of Killing one Captive-Slave onely but the Fire of his Rage will Burn up all the Jews that lay in his way v. 6. 1. In order hereunto he cast Lots to find a lucky day wherein to Accomplish his Wickedness which by an over-ruling
longer bear his Burdens One would think England e're this should be so Awakened and made Wiser than ever to become the Popes Asse any more A 2d Remark is Those Princes who have Trusted God with their Lives and Lands and kept Rome c. at Distance and Defiance hath Speeded the Best and Flourish'd the most and the longest in their large Dominions Q. Elizabeth is a pregnant Instance hereof who could never be perswaded to Favour the Papists though she was to Disfavour the Puritans but she ever kept a Vigilant Eye over the former as being rightly Informed that they and not the latter were the worst Enemies to Royal Power and God Wonderfully Preserv'd this Heroick Lady from all the Romish Bulls Interdicts Poysonings Assassinations c. as before A 3d. Remark is Such Princes as Relyed upon their own politick Projects in Conniving at if not Complying with the Romish Interest for their personal preservation have ever fared the Worst to omit K. James who though not blown up yet was so Shaken as some say How True I know not with the Powder-Plot that his naturally Timerous Spirit was drawn into some Connivences c. point-Blank against Arch-Bp Abbot's Advice and not long after he was taken out of the way by whose Hands God onely knows But Henry the 4th of France is a clear Instance who being bred up a Protestant Turn'd Papist upon politick Grounds and being Disuaded by a great Duke from re-Admitting the Jesuits which justly had been Banish'd the Realm he Angrily Answered Give me then Security for my Life Hereupon he not onely Restoreth them but Demolisheth the Pillar Erected in Paris as a Standing Monument of their Treasons against their Soveraigns yea received them into his Bosome giving them his Pallace for their Colledge and in a publick Speech saying That they were Timothys in the House Chrysostoms in the Chair and Augustins in the Schools c. But what was the Issue Those Timothys proved Judas's those Chrysostoms Cataline's and those Augustins Assassins one of those Slaughter-Slaves Stabb'd him in the Mouth another in the Heart Thus things Men Fear come upon them by trusting their own Politicks more than Gods Providence Lastly Other Nations that have seen so little of their Wiles and Wickedness have seen enough as not to trust them as China it self God forbid that We who have Felt so much should See so little as now to be Cheated with them especially after such a Chain of Providence link'd together on which we may Hang our Hope for prevention thereof In a Word Gods Word is his Will and his Will is his Work and neither Man nor Devil can Disappoint it The good Lord give still more Evinceing Proofs of his Providence The Scripture-Prophecy Shewing how the Church shall be Preserved to the End of the World CHAP. XXXIV HAving shown How it hath been with the Church from the Beginning of the World to this present time let me now make a short-Inspection How it shall be with Her Until Time shall be no more but turned into Eternity A Narrative hereof cannot be Deduced out of any Chronicle or History either Civil or Sacred but out of the Apocalypse or Revelation which Book is a Manifestation of many Mysteries by the Mediatour to John who had the Mind of Christ shew'd to him that he might shew it to the Church what things should shortly come to pass Revel 1. 1 19 20. and 4. 1. and 1 Cor. 2. 16. The Divine Project of John therein is a Contiguous and Continued Prophecy of the Churches Progress through all Times after Christ to his 2d Comming as that of Daniel was before Christ to his 1st Comming both of them Divinely Declaring how God would preserve his Church in the Worst Times of Apostacy both under Antiochus before Christ and under Antichrist after Him as is aforesaid and that in no Age shall ever the Gates of Hell prevail against the Church Matth. 16. 18. on which both their Books be a Conspicuous Comment I have already shewn how John's Seal-Prophecy and his Trumpet-Prophecy hath had their Exact Accomplishment in our fore-going Ages and how Time the best Expounder of Dark Prophecies hath turned those abstruse Misteries into plain and legible Histories Now I come unto the Book-Prophecy that Ushers in the 7th Trumpet Revel 10. 2 7. and 11. 15. and the Seven Vials having the Seven last Plagues which are the several parts of that 7th Trumpet Chap. 15. 1 7. Here for brevity's sake take those following Famous Remarks The 1st is The Church of God is always under some special Prophecy Promise and Providence and therefore is her State so stedfast and Unmoveable as the Mountains of Brass Zech. 6.1 neither Men nor Devils can remove her Psal 125. 1 2. The 2d Remark is The Book which made John Weep is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Book of some Bulk and bigness while it had all the Seven Seals upon it and the great Concerns of the Six Trumpets within it Rev. 5. 2. But now when the Seal-Prophecy was Accomplish'd in its Events as likewise Six parts of the Trumpet-Prophecy 't is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word is a double Diminutive signifying a little little Book or a very little Book containing onely the Seven last Plagues whereby Gods last Wrath should be filled up on the Antichristian-State and Time should be no longer for him Rev. 10. 2 6 7. and 11. 15. and 15. 1. The 3d. Famous Remark is such is Christs Compassion to his Church and Chosen that in the worst of times he leaves her not comfortless Joh. 14. 18. but Secures her from Swounding with Soveraign Cordials as 1st He gave the Comforts of the Fifth Seal and the Intercession of Christ giving Acceptance to that Prayer Rev. 6. 10. Ch. 8. 3. under the Evils of the former and following Seals 2ly While the Church lay under the Wo-Trumpets Christ gave the comforting Vision of Revel the 10th where the Churches Redeemer is Represented as supream Lord of Sea and Land and that he sets his Feet as a Conquerour upon the Neck of that Double-Beast the Political Rising out of the Earth and the Ecclesiastical Rising out of the Sea Limiting the Time and Finishing the Lease of that Mystery of Iniquity and in the mean time Christ keeps his Right foot upon Antichrists Clergy and his Left foot upon his Layity so that all their Exploits are what Christ not what Antichrist Willeth 3ly Under the 3d. Wo-Trumpet where there is a Recounting of the Churches Evils both by the Beast and by the Dragon Chap. 11. and 12. and 13. yet some Allays of Comfort are Annexed Chap. 11. 14. c and Ch. 14 2 3 12 13. and Ch. 15. 3. The 4th Remark is The little little Book in the Hand of Christ sheweth tkat he hath but a little more Work to do in the World after the Seal and Trumpet-Prophecies be fulfilled Christ hath then but a few Things more to Accomplish to