of Religion to stink among the Nations It pleased the Lord through his Grace to inable me to hold forth a publick Testimony against the Prelats but never was the great Name of God his Gospel and Kingdom so much concern'd in that Controversie I mean between the Non-conformists and Conformists as it is at this day between the Lords VVitnesses and the Second Apostacy The higher a thing is lifted up and then hurled down the more it is wrong'd and hurt thereby The Bishops never lifted â—p the work of REFORMATION in Church or State they were Professors that did it and to shew their spight to it and that they might wound it and wrong it the more when they had raised up the Good Cause of God and the interest of the Nation as high as they thought would serve their OWN TVRN down they threw it with both hands hoping it should never rise again It is but a little which I have said to that I beleeve will be said for indeed the bottome of the Apostacy will not be touch'd till things be put more home as Nathan did to David THOU ART THE MAN that is particularly to name them and to set down their falshood and treachery and what wages and hire some have had for serving the lusts of men It was a crime laid to Silicius Victoria per avaritiam faedata he discredited his victory by his Covetousness this needs little application Alas what credit have they now by opposing the Prelates doe not the people generally say and not without cause it was to have the Bishops power in their own hands and having gotten it are as insolent and proud and for covetousness a thousand times worse then they The sordid covetousness of these men caused one to deride them thus Whitlock Observ p. 358 359. Our Protestant Jesuites care not for converting the Indians that have no gold they know how to interweave the pretence of Gods interest with their own and therewith to advance all their designes Indeed these Jesuites carry not the Gospel into any beggerly Region spring a mine and then if you will set up a pulpit and shew them gold there they will barter salvation otherwise no penny no pater-noster Again Our Fishers angle for no fish but such as have money in their mouths they will only fish for such as contribute to their superfluities Bad times saith he when he that will not be a knave must be a fool Fourthly When I consider what famous testimonies the LORDS-WORTHIES have left behind them of their faithfulness and great zeal unto the glorious cause of Christ not only speaking against the corruptions and abuses of their times For had they done no more what had we known now of the Hypocrisie and Apostacy of Professors then but have left behinde them in white and black as we say Living Monuments of their Love to God and his people Truly this takes very much with me and exceedingly condemns the neglect and backwardness of this age I am thinking many times when an AFTER-GENERATION shall hear of this Second Apostacy and how far it exceeds the former in breaking Oaths Vows and Ingagements and the name of God and Religion more dishonored by Church-members and Church-Officers and other Professors then ever before in any age how strange it would be to them and admir'd if nothing should come to their hands from us as there doth to our hands from the Witnesses before us Besides I am now an old man and expect every day to lay down this earthly Tabernable it will be therefore some comfort to me whensoever my changeing coms that I have left a PUBLICK TESTIMONY against this present Apostacy as formerly I did against the other and howsoever I bless the Lord that hath kept my feet out of the SNARE of both yet this I shall leave behind me under my hand i. e. The Free Grace and Goodness of God hath more abundantly appeared towards me in preserving me a poor worm from this Last Apostacy then from the former not onely because of the two I take the Last to be the worst but because the later hath in it much more of the depths of Satan then the former had As for their jeerings and reproachful speeches I pass them by such things are not new with me the Bishops and their Creatures used them yet thus much I must say for the Bishops which I cannot say for them so far they shewed us FAIR PLAY not to imprison us nor banish us till they had told us the cause and heard what we could say for our selves yea and would seem to be very pious and charitable in taking great paines with some of us to bring us out of our errours as they cal'd it but I have found no such piety or charity with these men for I have been banished now almost two years but never to this day knew the cause of it neither hath there been any thing laid to my charge I shall not speak of the sad calamity which they have brought since upon my Family by the death of my dear wife and daughter Again for the Bishops this I may say further for many of them I think the most part when they banished any of us or cast us into prison for Non-conformity they thought they did well and did God good service in it Thus they were like Saul before his conversion they did things ignorantly in unbelief But for men to persecute the people of God for no other cause but because they reprove them for their hypocrisie and falshood and they know in their own consciences what is spoken is very true of such men we cannot have the charity which we had of the Bishops Indeed they are like Saul too but it is another Saul i. e. that Saul which persecuted David ONE who knew he did not well in it but acted against his light and conscience Fiftly But one word more to you Mourners in Zion I am very sensible that many of the Lords people have other thoughts of the TIME then I have and do think I am mistaken concerning the period of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years Indeed to know what I do in respect of so many good men dissenting from me would very much discourage me from ingaging again in the same thing but that I have more encouragement TO HOLD FAST then I think meet to express I know whom I have believed in him I trust and will trust and do know I shall not be ashamed of my hope What David prayed for is a great strengthning to me Be surety for thy Servant for good let not the proud oppress me Humbly be it spoken I do believe he will answer for me and defend me Psa 91.14 Because he hath set his love upon therefore will I deliver him Lastly I desire in the Spirit of meekness to commend these few things to all the faithful of the Land 1. Howsoever I shall discourage none but rather encourage them
present hear and see among the Antichristians But Blasphemy rayling lying murthers sorceries c. nothing in truth but what tends to the dishonor of his Great Name but were the whole Kingdome of the Beast destroyed then would the Lord have glory and prayse for being found of his people What man would not have a filthy stink remov'd that a sweet persume might be in the place thereof so long as Hypocrites reign and Tyrants rule the Nations their sins like dung will stink in the nostrils of the Lord but when they are removed he will smell a sweet savor of praise and thanksgiving Besides the Saints do often use it in prayer as an argument for a time of finding namely the praises he shall have of them g Psa 9.13 4. Have mercy upon me O Lord consider my trouble c. That I may shew forth all thy prayse in the gates of the daughters of Zion Again h Psal 79.11 12 13. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee c. Preserve those that are appointed to dy and render to our neighbors seven fold into their bosome c. So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever we will shew forth thy praise to all Generations So then do any desire to know why the Lords little remnant at this day are so earnest in prayer against the enemies of Gods glory Why they would have the i Isa 33.14 sinners in Zion afrayd and fearfulness to surprise the Hypocrites That such as k Psa 125.5 are turned aside to their crooked ways may have their faces filled with shame and confounded in all their counsels and designs It is for this end that the Lord alone may have prayse It is reported of Nero when he had banished any good Common-wealths men or put them to death he would keep a day of thanksgiving that is thank his gods for his great deliverance It is true the faithful doe abhor such kind of thanksgiving and leave Nero's exsample to be follow'd by corrupt men and such as he was They dare not prayse God because Hypocrites reign but on the contrary when they see the Lord doth punish them for their wickedness then they will praise him with their whole heart But 2. 2. Because of his great Name Should Saints forget their duty of thanksgiving yet would the Lord be a Gainer that there is a time of finding in respect of his great Name l Josh 7.9 What wilt thou do saith Joshua unto thy great Name So Moses m Exod. 32.12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say For mischief did he bring them out That is though thou hast matter enough against this people to consume them as one man and to withdraw thy presence from them yet remember thine own Concernments to wit how deeply thy Glory Power and Faithfulness will suffer if thou appear not again for them When Hanun the son of Nahash had most unworthily n 2 Sam. 10 4. abused Davids Messengers it was David principally that was wronged neither could he in point of honor and justice put it up without taking severe revenge upon the enemy for it It is Jesus Christ who at this day is the greatest sufferer in his Cause Name and Kingdom and therefore should he not in judgment come forth against the despiteful abusers of him what would become of his Glory would not an evil and adulterous generation conclude o Eze. 8.12 9.9 Isa 29.18 The Lord sees them not neither regards he good or evil When the Israelites were in great distress at the Red-Sea p Exod 14.15 Moses cryed unto the Lord It is true they had then a time of finding but why was it q Psa 106.8 He saved them for his Name sake that he might make his mighty power to be known There is much comfort in the words if well considered Many honest hearts looking on their tears sighs and groans are discouraged to think what poor and weak things they are what is all our weeping say they and mourning before the Lord Shall we have a Time of finding for such low things Do you stick here pretious ones But consider there is more in the Lords eye why he will be found of his people then their cryes and tears he will hear them for his Name sake that his Power Justice Mercy Faithfulness c. may be known So then though you should question whether the Lord in regard of your poor prayers and groanings will arise against Evil doers yet methinks it is not possible you should doubt but he will doe it r Neh. 9.31 1 Kin. 8.41 Jer. 14.7 21. FOR HIS NAME SAKE Å¿ Psa 115.1 Not unto us Iehovah not unto us but unto thy Name give the glory for thy mercy for thy truth I cannot but think we are nigh THE TIME OF FINDING because Christs little flock have Gods glory so much upon their hearts As a servant in the field sowing seed he doth it not to have the crop but for his masters profit so the Saints up and down the Nation are t Psa 126.5 sowing in tears and crying day and night to the Lord that he will arise and have mercy upon Zion u Dan. 2.44 Breake in pieces and consume the fourth Monarchy and render double vengeance upon Babylon But for whom is this sowing Not unto us O Lord not unto us x Psa 83.17 18. Let thine enemies be confounded and troubled for ever yea let them be put to shame and perish That men may know that thou whose Name alone is JEHOVAH art the most high over all the Earth I know well enough what the faithful are charged with for witnessing against the unrighteousness of men viz. That that they would have others down to have all power and greatness themselves and that they allow of no Ministry or Magistracy For Answ 1. The Lord who seacheth the hearts knows all this to be false y Josh 22.22 If it be rebellion or if in transgression against the Lord save us not this day 2. The Accusers themselves know it to be false For would some men for worldly Advantages corrupt their consciences they have had not a little profered them of Esau's Pottage and Balaams Reward But 3. This is true we pray against the Antichristian Ministery and Magistracy that the Lord would pluck them up Root and Branch and cast them as unsavory Salt to the Dunghil And this we do not being against all Magistracy and Ministery but to have a Isa 1.26 Judges restored â—s at the first b Jer. 3.15 and Pastors according â—o the Lords own heart and so Christ â—he c 1 Tim. 6.15 ONELY POTENTATE Lastly it is our Opinion until the last Apostacie be destroyed d Psa 67.2 God's way will not be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations for it is THIS THAT LETTETH the ruine of Babylon and the Gathering
him f 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness as if he should say Though I will not remove suddenly this wicked Angel from thee yet I will so fortifie thee with my grace against all his fiery darts that thou shalt be more then a conqueror and get the victory over him and the greater thy assaults and temptations are and the weaker thou art by reason of infirmities the stronger my Grace shall be in supporting thee in all assaults of temptations As a loving mother whilst the childe cries she takes him on her lap wipes off the tears from his eyes and kisseth him often and suffers him not to goe away till he laughs again of the content and satisfaction which he hath In such a way deals our Heavenly Father with his Mourning children as their cheeks are running down with tears he takes them in his arms and kisseth them with the kisses of his mouth and speaks so comfortably to the heart as they goe away with their g Psa 126.2 mouths filled with laughter and their tongues with singing And such a time of finding David often had we find him in the Psalms to make very sad complaints by reason of the great afflictions and troubles which lay upon him nevertheless in the close h Psal 7.17 13.6 42.11 rejoyceth and giveth thanks to God signifying no doubt he had received Issachar's portion i Deut. 33.23 satisfied with favor and full with the blessing of the Lord. For howsoever he was not certain of the time of his deliverance neither how and in what manner he should be delivered yet this he knew and by the Spirit it was confirm'd to him that it should go wel with him and what was best for him he should have and every thing promis'd him should be made good That saying of Solomon may have place here k Pro. 13.25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his Soul but the belly of the wicked shall want these sentences are both true applyed to sincere Christians and Hypocrites in respect of Soul-satisfaction The former are brought into l Song 2. the banquetting house and have m Son 7.6 Loves for delights n Isa 25.6 fat things full of marrow and wines on the lees well refined what can a man have more at a feast then content and satisfied in whatsoever he desires such a FILLING have those at the throne of Grace it is a LOVE-FEAST where Christ and the Soul banquet and rejoyce together yea sometimes there is such an overflowing-fulness as they are constrained to say It is enough Lord it is enough I am satisfied with the fulness of joy and pleasures at thy right hand But the Hypocrites belly shall want did he finde no more satisfaction in his falshood and craft then in fasting and praying he would soon give up the trade or starve If a man being extream hungry instead of wholsome meat should take some poysonous thing his misery and pain would be greater then before That which Hypocrites and Apostates suck from duties is spider-like only poyson for their unbeleef and fears do rise and they are afterward more unquiet and restless then before and hence it is that after they have fasted and prayed they have usually in hand one pestilent design or other Quest But doe not Hypocrites and Apostates finde Soul-satisfaction in fasting praying and other Ordinances Answ 1. Imaginary they may but truly and really they doe not for here that is made good o Mal. 2.2 The Lord of Hosts curseth their blessings Besides what Soul-satisfaction can there be had in things which p Isa 1.14 Amos. 5.21 God hates and despiseth and q Pro. 15.8 are an abomination to him As a man in his sleep dreames he eats and drinks largely but when he awakes findes himself almost dead for hunger or like little children sucking a stick or finger in their mouths are satisfied with it though they draw no sweetness out So Hypocrites as r Jude 8. filthy dreamers fancy a feeding and please themselves like children with nothing it being the will of God that they should be hardned and ripened for judgment in such a way But 2. There is a satisfaction which Hypocrites and Apostates have by fasting and praying for hereby they doe deceive others and the more easily carry on their own designs As I have heard of a GREAT HYPOCRITE who having by his weeping prevailed with some honest men to think better of his actions then they did before no sooner were their backs turned but he laughed at them and cal'd them fools that they should believe any more or trust him for his tears Thus they are like the Magician which had the enchanted Egg howsoever being broken there was nothing but wind in it yet many bewitched by him thought it had a world of happiness A weeping Hypocrite knows well enough were his prayers and tears discovered there is nothing but JVGLING in them they are all wind lies and falshood nevertheless by a kind of enchantment the simple are made to believe there is a world of truth and love to the good old cause under the Egg-shell of a r Mat. 8.16 dis-figured Jesuitical face But leaving Hypocrites to the great day of discovery For those who walk uprightly times of finding must needs be satisfactory of the experience they have of Divine Love If the Bride knows she is taken up in the Heart-love of her Friend though he should say nothing to her of what he would do for her yet she is sure he will look after her and provide for her that she wants nothing So a Saint taken into the bowels of Jesus needs nothing more for here he sees all things Å¿ 1 Cor. 3.22 Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are his And so much he sweetly experienceth 4. A time of finding when Saints have the things granted done for them which they asked to a full content of his soul Fourthly It is a time of finding when mourners in Zion have the things given them and done for them which they asked As the Fish is caught while the Fisher is angling for her so is the promise t Isa 65.23 While they are yet speaking I will hear Again u Isa 58.9 30.19 Thou shalt call and the Lord shall answer thou shalt cry and he shall say Here I am Such a time of finding had x Gen. 32.28 Jacob y Num. 14.20 Moses a 2 Chr. 20.11 12. Jehoshaphat b 2 Ki. 20.5 Hezekiah c 1 Kin. 18.37 38. Elias d Dan. 9.20 10.12 Daniel c. Neither hath the Lords hand been shortned or his ear heavy in this very thing toward his present mourners for many of the great things which they have sought with tears he hath given them in according
had established The evil of this is told him again and againe But no admonition will take place For he grows so wicked that he causeth the Prophet who reprov'd him to be stond even his sonn who had set him on the Throne But what followed oh sad things and that suddenly first upon the Land that was made the seat of war spoyld and plunderd afterward a sore punishment upon himself by the hand both of God and man The like befel Amaziah his son b 2 Chr. 25.25 26 27. I know saith the Prophet to him God hath determined to destroy thee because thou hast done this and hast not hearkened to my Counsel The which thing came to pass soon after Again it is said of Eli's children c 1 Sam. 2.25 They harkned not to the voyce of their father because the Lord would slay them That is he gave them not grace to repent but did more and more forsake them gave them in his justice over to a reprobate mind to their own ruin and destruction Which also d cap. 4.11 came to pass When Ahab hearkned to his false Prophets not to Michaiah Gods Judgment soon reacht him Was there ever a Generation of men that did cast off the threatnings of God against their sinnes with more contempt and scorne than some do now For unless he be an Ahitophel a Machiavel a Subtil Serpent tush they care not for any mans Counsel a rush But is not this some notable signe of the Times Yes surely e When it is evening ye say it will be fair wether Mat. 16. For the skie is red And in the morning it will be foul weather to day For the skie is red and and lowring Such is my confidence in the Truth of the Scripture as from the Premises I can sooner beleeve that there is some great judgment very nigh the dispisers of good Counsell than conclude fair or foul weather from such signes in the face of the sky That the work 's upon reviving This also shews it neer in my apprehension did Time look so like midnight as now Night it hath been some years together But no Midnight till of late If sleep hath not seiz'd on the Virgins Wise as Foolish yet truly a great slumbering doth for there is not methinkes that activeness that life and soule to the great Cause of God as some times there was Several wayes people may fall a sleep And children very often sing themselves asleep And are there not some of the Lords sweet Babes fallen now into some slumbering as to THE DAY WORKE by their own pleasant Singing I should be a great deale more affected and dissatisfied with this late slumbring of the Virgins but that I consider the Scripture must be fulfil'd f Isa 63.5 I looked saith the Lord and there was none to help g Amos 7.2 By whom shall Jacob arise for he is smal small indeed For if the wise Virgins fall asleep who then are left Though this be so yet herein am I comforted The Midnight-time being upon us It declares that the womb of providence is opening and the Crie nigh h Mat. 25.15.16 Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out and meet him Yea and it is a mercie seeing the Midnight Time is upon us that there is a Voice kept up to awaken such as are asleep 7. Reader mark this Such men as by engagement ought to joyn with the Interest of Christ his people if they neglect their duty here joyn with the Lords Enemies against him and his Cause there is certainly some great judgement nigh them It was Midians duty i Deut. 23.4 to have met Israel with bread with water in the way when they came forth out of Egypt That is they should have refreshed assisted their Brethren in their travels towards Canaan but in stead of doing so Midian hired a Wizard a Witch to curse the Lords people But what is his punishment for it He shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord for ever Israel must never seek his peace nor prosperity Many Reasons there were why Achitophel should have stood faithfull to David and his Righteous Cause But like an unthankfull wretch he went with Absalom in that unnatural Rebellion But how sped he k 2 Sam. 17.23 When he saw his counsell was not followed he went home and hanged himself Again whose part should Judas have taken in point of Reason Religion and Conscience Doutless his Masters but he falls in with the Scribes and Pharisees to take away his Masters life What his end was and how he was rewarded for it It is recorded g Ma. 27.5 He went and hanged himself h Act. 1.18 And falling headlong burst asunder in the midst and his bowels gushed out Are there any such in our Time who in respect of many Engagements should assist and help the Lords people stand up with them for Righteousnesse and Truth And do they like Midian Achitophel Judas side take part with Wizards Rebels Pharisees and marked Slaves of the Beast I say are there such If so then I question not but Providence ere long will shew some notable work uppon them l Psal 46.8 Come and behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth Lastly And which is not the least that perswades me the good old Cause is ready to rise I do observe that the Lords people every where are expecting it Now what means this k singing of the Birds if the spring be not nigh Is it possible that it should lye with so much weight upon the Spirits of all the little remnant that the Lord is coming sorth to take vengeance on his adversaries and to comfort Zion And nothing should be in it I cannot think so neither is there any reason for it Indeed l Pro. 4.19 The way of the wicked is darknesse they know not at what they stumble m v. 18. But the way of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more to the perfect day Thus Reader thou seest the Reasons why I think the WORK is at the Birth I shall offer a little more to thee And no more I hope then what is according to Truth and with supplications the Lord hath led me From the Creation to the Flood according to the best account that I have seen were 1657. yeeres And so many yeeres we reckon past since Jesus Christ was born In this yeare viz 1657. doth period the 42. Months and 1260. dayes in which the Beast was to reigne and the Saints to suffer Mr. Tilling hast of Pretious memorie beginning at the Head of the account i. e. at the rise of the Beast brings down the two Numbers to the yeare 1657. I have done something by inquiring at the foot to wit the last three years and an half of the Account and here we do agree as to the Time of the End That is whereas
altogether at nought as being glad he had met with such a BARGAIN and sped so well Verily I think that blood is not more like blood then Esau and the Revolters of this age are like one another Neither since Esau's time till now have any generation of men so MATCHT HIM in prophaness and this I shall plainly demonstrate by the Parallel First Let it be considered what they have sold such a Glorious Cause as never was I think in the hands of men before Not Civil-Rights and Liberties alone but the GREAT CAVSE of God the Interest of Christ and of his Kingdom Laws People m Psal 84.10 David thought it was honor enough if a man might sit at the threshold of Gods house that is be in the lowest placeâ— and meanest service In the late wars he that was but a common-soldier to fight against Tyranny and Idolatry truly his place and service was very honorable then how much more a General Colonel Capt. c. besides the Lord was pleased to honor them with the Birth-right they were the first-born I say the first to have brought the King home and to set the Crown upon his Head What could have been done more to men But Secondly What have they sold their Birth-right for Oh It grieves my soul to think of it that ever such a thing should be told in Gath and published in the streets of Askelon that it should be said among the Heathen EMINENT PROFESSORS OF RELIGION AND MEN PRETENDING GREAT THINGS FOR CHRIST AND ZION HAVE SOLD THE GOOD OLD CAUSE FOR A MORSEL OF BREAD n Jer. 2.10 11. Consider diligently and see if there be such a thing Hath any Nation changed their gods which are yet no gods But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit We think those foolish in their trades that should lose many peeces of gold to have a little bad coyn Let them look over their Bargain what have they sold and what they have for it Alas their Courts Titles Parks Pleasures c. are all bad coyn Lentils meer vanity and lies o Pro. 11.4 things that will not profit in the day of wrath But the Cause and work of God which they unworthily have given up had they been faithful to it would have been better to them then gold yea then fine gold all the things that men desire not to be compared to it It is reported that those wicked Spirits commonly called Fairies having stolen the true child out of the cradle do secretly convey and place in the stead thereof somâ— changeling of their own what truth iâ— in it I know not but this I know tâ— be true the Devil hath dealt so witâ— Apostates by a cunning sleight hâ— hath taken the true Child from them that is THE GOOD OLD CAVSE and hath left in the room of it a poâ—starv'd changeling here the buyer mâ—â— wel say It is naught it is naught 3. Are they sorry for what they have done do they repent of it p Jer. 6.15 Nay they are not at all ashamed neither can they blush but rejoyce feast and sing having made such a Bargain Iudas after he had betrayed Christ took little pleasure in the money which he had for the Treason q Mat. 27.3 45. He brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and Elders saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood And he cast down the peeces of silver into the Temple and departed c. But these men have not yet so much remorse on their conscience for what they have done but the Courts Castles Titles Power c. the Money they had for the Innocent Cause are the things they glory in and brag of I might have mentioned the greediness of Esau's appetite to the dish that red that red there Gen. 25.20 The doubling of the word is to shew his hast and gluttonous desire the color and tast seem'd so pleasing and entising unto him Whether they have not been â—ike a Lyon greedy of his prey Psal 17.12 Like greedy dogs which cannot have enough Isa 56.11 let their own practise be witness But there is one thing wherein Esau is more to be excus'd if there may be any excuse made for him then some now he lay under some necessity r Gen. 25.32 I am saith he at the point of death and what profit shall this Birth-right doe to me But these men could not plead Esau's necessity they were not ready to starve but had enough and therefore their sin was the more prophaneness it may be call'd to sell such a Blessed Cause not only for so LITTLE but having no need so to do The Conclusion is If Esau for his prophaneness were denyed a Time of Finding others then following his steps and being as prophane or more may not expect to find it better in their own case 2. No time of finding for old Hypocrites whose bones are full of the sins of their youth Secondly There will be no Time of Finding for old Hypocrites whose Å¿ Job 20.11 bones are full of the sins of their youth and do continually seek to hide and cover them under religious pretences as fasting praying weeping c. A old Hypocrite is like a child born crooked no earthly medicines can make him right and straight or like to old cloth which being rotten will not bear the needle and thred and therefore not to be mended Some men through their long hypocrisie are become as rotten as dirt no hope of mending for they have so accustomed themselves to play the hypocrites by weeping praying c. as t Jer. 13.23 the Blackmore may sooner change his skin and the Leopard his spots then they cease from dissembling and mocking God in religious duties They who from their infancy are accustomed to take poyson in small quantities do inable their stomacks to digest more till by long custome and increasing the quantity it becometh so familiar to their stomacks that instead of poysoning of them they are nourished by it Thus it is with such men who from their youth have used themselves to hypocrisie and falshood and risen by degrees at length specially when they come to be old their hearts are so hardned and conâ—ciences seared as their hypocrisie is no poyson no trouble to them but it turns to their nourishment it feeds them like meat and drink and they cannot live without it It was a great sin in Iudas to deliver his Master up into the hands of his enemies the Scribes and Pharisees but the sin of Iudas had not been half so bad if he had not so hypocritically betrayd Christ u Mat. 26.49 He came to Iesus and said Hail Master and kissed him So for any man to deliver up Christ in his truth and Cause into the hands of his bloody enemies viz. Priests Lawyers Papists c. under a pretence of Religion and the honor of God this comes neer
told them o Num. 14.9 Their defence is departed from them That is the Lord would protect them no longer But why is their shaddow Covert now gone doubtlesse he hath respect to the time of the end As if he should say the 430 years given to â—he Amorites being expired and so their iniquity full the Lord will deliver them into our hands if we are fitted for the work From which place this I would gather That the reign of the Beast may expire in 1657. and the enemies of God THEN ripe for judgement yet the instruments not being prepared for execution In this respect little or nothing for the present may be done Quest When the 430. years were expired the Israelites came out of Egypt p Exo. 12.40.42 the same day So from Babyâ—on assoon as the 70. years ended Why then should not the Witnesses rise and the little-horn and beast be slain immediatly at the ending of the 1260 dayes Answ 1. Howsoever it be so concerning their comming out of Egypt and Babylon yet there was sometime before they came to Canaan and Jerusalem So in order to the rising of Witnesses No sooner are the three years and a half ended but the work begins q Rev. 11.11 The spirit of life from God enters into it The wheeles of Providence are set running But there must be some time to have it perfected as it was in the case of the Israelites But 2 Israels case and this here are not alike For as they were people i. e. Men women children So nothing could be done to their enlargement but it must needs be obvious and visible But this about the Witnesses c hath much in it which is spiritual and mysticall And therefore a work as to the rising and growing of it not so plainly to be observed and discerned as was the other especially at first Neither 3. doe I find the promises alike for it seems to me by promise they were to be in Egypt but 430 years And in Babylon 70. and no longer But it is not said the witnesses shall stand upon their feet assoon as the three years and half are ended Indeed the Text saith r Rev. 11.11 And after three dayes and an half the spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet That is such a time being expired the Lord will revive his work and good old cause again But how long after it is not said only this is in the promise From that very time it shall not lie dead as before but the Lord will be forming it for its birth in the womb of providence 4. The businesse of Egypt and Babylon was such that untill the people came out the first part of the promise was not performed But here it is not so for the work may be begun go forward and much done according the Scripture and yet not seen or â—â—lieved scarse by any As water â—ns a great while under ground beâ—â—re it comes out at the Spring head â—o after the 1260. years are expired â—efore the work will openly appear 〈◊〉 setting the Witnesses upon their feet 〈◊〉 taking the little horns Dominion from â—im it will be as water under ground Å¿ Psal 139.15 wrought in the lowest parts of the â—arth Quest But how can the 1260 years â—e ended seeing it is the opinion of many â—ood men that the VVitnesses are not â—â—ain neither hath the little-horn yet â—een nor the second Beast risen out of the earth besides many other things not â—et fulfill'd which must be before the 42. months do expire Answ Because there are many men and some whom I know and honour of this judgement I do intend by the good hand of God assisting me to publish very shortly a particular Answer to this Objection And to give my Reasons grounds why I think there is nothing foretold in Scripture which should come to pass in the 1260 years but hath had its due accomplishment Question If the Work be so nigh râ—viving How and in what manner wiâ—â— the Lord by Providence bring it forth Answer I hope the God of truth bâ— his word and good spirit will so graciously guide me here That I shalâ— not intrude into those things whicâ— I have not seen But give my judgâ—ment as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithfull Thaâ— I may be in this great point the better understood howsoever I thinke wheâ— the Lord shall bring this work on again in the Vials it will be t Mat. 24.27 as the lightning which commeth out of the east and shineth even unto the west Namely with great swiftness and brightnesse the whole world over Nevertheless at first it will break forth as the dawning of the day but in one part or Country And I think some what to this purpose 1. Neere or about the visible reviving of the worke u Rev. 14.2 A voyce will be heard from heaven as the voyce of many waters and as the voice of a great Thunder Waters are from beneath Thunder from above So then by the Voyce of these Waters I understand a terrible Appearance and standing up of much â—eople or Common-wealths men for â—ivil Rights Crying JVSTICE â—VSTICE against oppressours and â—rong doers Neither will they be fiâ—enced or quieted no more then waâ—ers till they have recovered their â—reedom and Liberties 2. Thunder as I said is from above â—nd here may be meant Fift Monarchy â—en speaking very high for the â—ights of Jesus Christ his kingdome â—rown and dignity And howsoever â—t is but one Thunder and the Waters many yet it will not onely make a â—ouder sound and be Farther heard â—ut likewise be more dreadfull and â—errible wheresoever it comes x Jer. 50.14 Put â—our selves in aray against Babilon round â—bout all ye that bend the bow shoot at her spare no arrowes down with her down with her in all her Abominations In her Tythes and Triers as the rest of her whordomes and Fornications 3. That the Waters are set before the Thunder It may import that the worke will begin at least by most ownd upon a Civil Account As the lesser wedge makes way for the greater So in CLEAVING the kingdomâ— of the Beast The controversie will bâ— first about lesser things as the Poweâ— Freedome and Priviledges of thâ— people and so rise higher and higheâ—â— untill the OLD BLOCK Babylon bâ— made Chips for the Fire 4. There is y Rev. 14.2 a Voice of Harperâ— Harping with their Harpes This may signifie how lively chearfull resolved they are to ingage for the GOOD OLD CAVSE z 2 King 3.15 And it came tâ— passe when the Minstrel played the hanâ— of the Lord came upon him Formerly there was a death upon them a basâ— fear and Cowardliness But now thâ— spirit of life from God is entred into them and they stand upon their feet Now they look with Lion like faces and quit themselves like men
Though Peter shrunke and drew back a Mat. 26.69 at the speech of a poor wench yet when he had received power from on high He feard no coulers he could then b Act. 4.13 look with Boldnes any Tyrant in the face So howsoever before they had not life and courage yet when the Harpers Harpe such will be the hand of God upon them that they will not regard what their Enemies can doe either by fraud or force c Zech. 12.4 He that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them 5. d Rev. 11.11 And great fear fel upon them that saw them Though there be nothing yet done but a more lively owning of the Lords cause than before and declaring publickly for it yet this strikes a terrible astonishment and trembling among the Adversaries e Act. 5.24 As doubting whereunto this will grow And their amazement is the more to heare how the number daily increaseth in all parts Saying f Jer. 31.23 The Lord blesse theâ— habitation of Justice and mountain of holiness We will have g Isa 26.2 the gates open that the righteous Nation which keepeth the truth may enter in Besides they see no meanes or way how to keep the peoples Liberties and rights any longer from them h Psa 76.5 The stout hearted are spoiled and none of the men of might have found their hands that is they are as if they had no hands they are not able to make the least resistance or defence 6. Whiles the adversaries are thus in confusion and fear a happy union and accord will be made between the Waters and Thunder So much I think is meant by the VVitnesses ascending up to heaven in a cloud It is but one cloud that hath them both Hence about this time I do exspect a great uniting of the Common-wealth men fifth Monarchy men upon good righteous Principles Unanimously agreeing to cary on the Lords work i Zep. 39. With one consent or Soulder k Isa 11.13 Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim But the Lord will l Eze. 37.17 joyne them one by another into one stick they shall become one in his hand This blessed agreement of the People instrumentally will be made by some eminent and choise Christians men that m 1 Chr. 12.32 Have understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do And this I take to be the n Rev. 11.12 great voyce from Heaven saying unto them come up higher 7. Union being made and all in Heaven here o Isa 13.4 the Lord of Hostes mustereth the host of the battel and p Rev. 19.14 the armies of heaven here he cloathes the Vial Angels q Rev. 15.6 in pure and white linnen having their breasts girded with a golden girdle This is Zion * Psa 110.2 out of which the Lord will send the rod of his strength the Mount Zion where r Rev. 14.1 the hundred forty and four thousand stand with the Lamb. Here he fits his people for the work and appoints them their work So that my opinion is for any people to go forth with the material Sword against Babylon or the Kings of the earth or to set up the visible Kingdome of Christ before the Lord hath brought them to this Heaven into the Temple to Zion and Mount Zion yea and to some good accord among themselves They will not be upon the Lords work as to the pouring out of any vial 8. Howsoever the Lords Sanctified ones in heaven are not smiting the Image yet it s said Å¿ Rev. 11 12 Their enemies behold them As how Terrible as an army with Banners Lifting up an ensign to the Nations and publishing warr against Babylon t Isa 52.12 Ye shall not go out in hast nor go by flight For the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your rereward i. e. Seeing God hath taken away all their Feares and given them great faith made them one in the work and fitted them for it and withall experiencing the powerfull presence of God among them and how he hath left the enemy to feares darknesse division destruction c. The Dragon and the Beast shall behold what they do They need not fear these men for secret plots and treason they scorn it they need no such shifts What they do shall be in the sight of the Sun u Isa 47.12 Stand now with thy inchantments and with the multitude of thy sorceries wherein thouhast laboured from thy youth if so be thou shalt be able to profit if so be thou mayest prevaile So will these say to their Enemies bring forth the falsehood and lies ye trusted in Now see if your hypocrisie and craft will help you any more Now run to your Souldiers Lawyers Priests c. trie what they can do for you 9. The Lord having x Isa 13.3 called his mighty ones for his anger Next he brings them forth y Ps 149.8 9 10. With the high praises of God in their mouthes and a two edged sword in their hands to execute the judgement written z Rev. 11.13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake Here I understand begins the Vial work And the earth-quake to be the a Rev. 16.2 pouring out of the first Vial upon the earth The same with b Rev. 14.16.17 18. the reaping of the harvest of the earth and Clusters Only with this distinction The first Vial hath two parts or two effects which you will The first in the earth-quake The other in the sickle And the tenth part of the City fell The earth-quake reacheth but a tenth part the other nine are reserved for the Sickle As there are two Apostacies and they have each a distinct Head So they are set forth in this book by two Cities the one is called the Great Citie And alwayes so when the first Apostacy is meant The other hath not the word Great given to it because the Latter City or Apostacy shall not be so large big strong and populous neither of that antiquity and continuance as the former Understanding what this City is i. e. The last Apostacy It wil be easier to know the rest And in the earthquake were slaine of men seven thousand The Greek hath 7000 Names of men In Scripture persons that are famous renowned for Power Wealth Wisdome c. are called c Gen. 6.4 Num. 18.2 Men of Name On the contrary men without credit and respect in the d Job 30.8 world Children without name In this last Apostacy who are Men of name yea would be thought and counted the onely men of name If not Church-members and Church-officers those that are in the Congregational way as they call it As for the Cavileer Church that hath no name and the
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
where now pray pray pray you are come to the Finding time and the mount where God will be seen Thirdly It is a Time of Finding 3. When the Enemies of Zion are at the highest When the enemies of Zion are at the highest that is Tryumph and insult as if all were theirs and that they shall see sorrow no more x Psa 10.3 the wicked boasteth of his hearts desire that is perceiving his designs and actions to prosper by hypocrisie apostacy falshood c. he glories in it and thinks now that neither God nor man can reach him y Psa 119.119 Thou puttest away saith David all the wicked of the earth like dross the scum or dross when it is upmost and covers the liquor then it is taken off and thrown away so when tyrants and persecutors have Saints under them make account to wear them out by cruel usage and cry victory victory then coms the revenging hand of God upon them treads them as dung under his feet Thus was the Lord found of good Hezekiah note a Isa 36.13 14 15. chap. 37.10 the message which Rabshakeh brought to him from his master and what was in the letter which Sennacherib sent him Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee hath any of the gods of the Nations delivered his land out of the hand of the King of Assyria Oh the height of this filthy scum but how did the Lord meet with him not onely in giving a wonderful deliverance to his people but by destroying his Army and the blasphemer also Thus likewise it was with b Exod. 15.9 10. Pharaoh c Esth 5.6 Haman d Act. 12. Herod c. and in our time with the King and Bishops when they were highest in pride pomp and insolent practises against the Lord his cause and people he cut them off with a witness and the like may we expect upon those who domineer hold up their heads and look big e Exo. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should obey his voyce f Isa 51.23 Bow down that we may go over g Dan. 3. Whoso falleth not down and worshippeth the golden Image shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace But whereunto may I liken such men and others following their steps to nothing fitter then to a boil or botch when it is swoln big and risen high then it breaks and what follows rottenness and stink Are they swoln big and risen high in power titles places c. it is a sign they will break the sooner and as the waves of the sea after their lifting up and roaring a while leave behind them nothing but mire and dirt so when the Lord shall cut them off what then will remain but the infamous memory of their former Apostacy hypocrisie and lies It is truly my opinion were Gods people as fit for mercy as their enemies are for judgment were they as lowâ— humiliation and Reformation as the other are high in pride blasphemy atheism we should soon see a vial powâ—ed out upon them That place h Jer. 12.1 2 3. in the Prophet me thinks notably agrees with our time They are all happy that deal very treacherously But how doth he describâ— them Thou art neer in their mouth buâ— far from their reins As the water-maâ— in his boat rows one way and looks another so these profess great things and talk much of God and his ways but in their practises and actions are most vile and wicked what follows Prepare them for the day of slaughter When the beast is fat and ful flesht then the butcher knocks him down We know now well enough why the Lord hath suffered the Apostates to enjoy such faâ— pasture viz. the very pastures or places which fatted other beasts before them it was as i Hos 13.6 the Prophet saith that they might be filled and their heart exalted and so made fat and fit for slaughter k Psal 119.126 It is time for thee O Lord to work for they have made voyd thy Law He doth not say It is time c. because they speak against thy â—aw slight it and regard it not but â—ave made it voyd signifying when â—en are grown to such a height of wicâ—edness as the Laws of Christ are deâ—troyed by them his cause and interest â—hrown down to raise themselves righeousness and truth made voyd to set up oppression and falshood then indeed it is high time for the Lord to work yea and then is the TIME in which he wil be FOVND of his faithful ones hungring and thirsting after righteousness Fourthly It is a Time of finding 4. When Saints make Jesus Christ their all When SEEKERS make Iesus Christ their ALL all their hope stay and trust and can truly say with the prophet l Ps 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee If we discern such as will not trust in us but love to stand upon their own ground we leave them to themselves to shift as they can as on the contrary the more we see our selves trusted to the more we take care for them When the Lord sees a poor soul gives up ALL to him leaves hiâ— case wholy with him depends altogetheâ— upon his power goodness faithfulness as he delights to see his children in such a frame so they may be sure he will take care for them and it shall go well with them m Psa 18.6 In my distress saith David I called upon the Lord and cryed unto my God he heard my voyce out of his temple and my cry came before him even into his ear But when did David cry and found the Lord thus good to him n ver 2. after he had made him his rock and his fortress his strength his buckler the horn of his salvation and his high tower A man that stands upon a rock when he hears the sea roar and the waves violently beating against the rock all this puts him not into any fear for he knows where he is to wit out of danger so it is with every gracious Saint he is beyond the reach of men and Devils no adversary power can hurt him I do remember what I was once told by a good old man a * Mr. Pateman dwelling at Mosley neer Brimmingham Nonconformist-Minister dwelling nigh me a neighbor of his being in prison for witch-craft he went to visit him this wretched man confest to him that he had hated him a long time and fought to do him mischief and for this end there was a compact between the Devil and him to destroy him the witch spoke often to the devil for to hasten their design now the devil told him he had several times attempted it but could not effect any thing and gave this for the reason because he found him still either in prayer and communion with God or had
on the rest If a father be spoken unto concerning a rebellious child and counselled to cast him off what saith he Ah! I am his father I cannot do it I must yet try some other means and exercise longer patience towards him Indeed we have not as the Lord hath Fatherly bowels towards Christs sheep going astray our passion is such we would sometimes have them cast off and lookt no more after but what saith the Lord I cannot doe so I am their Father I must wait yet that I may be gracious to them If there be but a little corn among a great deal of chaff the husbandman will have that forth before he burns the chaff For conclusion Let us earnestly seek the Lord that he will pluck all Zions sons out of Babylon and plant their feet in the pleasant paths of Christ this being done I say the wheat being separated the tares straightwayes will be cast into the lake of fire where will be no Time of finding CHAP. III. Certain grounds and reasons wherefore there will be A TIME OF FINDING 1. In respect of God himself 2. In respect of his people 3. In respect of the Cause or Things they seek him for Reasons why there will be a time of finding both in respect of God his people and Cause 1. In respect 〈◊〉 himself Because he is good and his tender mercies are fâ—â—ever THe Lord will be found in respecâ— of himself First Because he iâ— good and his mercy endureth for ever p Psa 25.6 Remember O Lord saith David thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old You cannot touch a man so soft and easie upon the apple of his eye but he will feel it What are the tears groanings and sighings of Saints but as the touch of a finger upon the apple of Gods eyes there is nothing we can doe whereof the Lord is more sensible and hath more feeling then of Soul-travelling sobs and pangs It is usual in the Prophets when they are exhorting people to seek the Lord by fasting and prayer for their encouragement to mention how pitiful and full of bowels the Lord is q Joel 2.12 13. Turn ye unto me saith the Lord with all your hearts with fasting and with weeping with mourning rent your hearts not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God Now observe the reason or motive to it For he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil As if he should say r 2 Sam. 24 14. You fall not into the hand of man but into the hands of the Lord whose mercies are exceeding great and will Å¿ Psal 103.13 pity you as a father pitieth his children So in another Prophet * Mic. 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy he will turn again and have compassion upon us c. Note one passage here He delighteth in mercy If it be a thing a man well likes and takes great pleasure in it you need not press him very much to it he will be free and forward enough of himself to doe it for you It is true when the Lord is to afflict his people here he seems to be t Lam. 3.33 VNWILLING it is not from his heart as the Hebrew reads he delights not in it but it causeth him to fetch a groan or sigh u Isa 1.24 Ah! woe is me x Hos 6.4 11.8 How shall I give thee up my heart is turned within me c. But to be found of his children and to heap blessings upon them here is his delight in this his Soul is well pleased y Psa 12.5 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord. If you mark the word NOW it makes the sence thus As if the Lord should say I cannot see my oppressed ones in tears any longer before me my bowels so yearn at their groanings that I must forthwith arise against their proud and cruel enemies If men who are evil having pity and compassion in them cannot but regard the sighs and cries of poor distressed creatures and their hearts will be drawn out to relieve them a Luk. 18.7 8. And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him I tell you that he will avenge them speedily It was a proverb among those of Genoa when any was injured to say unto him that had done the wrong If you will not right me my Lord Marshal will with more certainty may Christs persecuted members say to Tyrants and proud Hypocrites Whereas we are imprisoned by you and spoyled of our goods our God will right us though you do not to your confusion If Benhadab had ground of hope that Ahab would shew him favor because b 1 King 20.31 The Kings of the house of Israel were merciful Kings with what full assurance then may the present mourners in Zion expect a Time of finding he being the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort unto whom they make supplications and prayers Secondly The Lord will be found because of his word and promise sake Reas 2. He wil be found for his promise sake Among men there are some who will not break their promise for any thing Ruth having told her mother in law what Boaz had promised to do for her what saith Naomi to it c Rut. 3.18 Sit still my daughter until thou know how the matter will fall for the man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing this day Is there so much heed and conscience in man a poor worm to be faithful to his ingagement what may we think of God d Tit. 1.2 That cannot lie e Jam. 1.17 with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning but alwayes speaketh in faithfulness and truth Now we read in Holy Scripture that the Lord promiseth there shall be a TIME OF FINDING f Psa 50.15 Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee Observe how he speaks here like himself like a God as one that hath all power in his hands and can doe whatsoever he pleaseth I WILL DELIVER THEE If a poor man come to us for relief such may his case be as we cannot promise to help him but tell him we will do our best and help him if we can But the Lord speaks not by iffs and may be but promiseth certain deliverance g Mat. 8.3 I will be thou clean The like in Isaiah h Isa 45.19 I said not to the seed of Iacob Seek ye me in vain I the Lord speak righteousness I declare things that are right Suppose a beggar should have an ingagement under the hand of
not having A Time of Finding Thirdly 3. Because they are his friends and servants Because they are the Lords People his Iewels Servants Children and Friends t Psa 119.125 I am thy Servant saith holy David give ME understanding If another mans Childe or Servant should ask something of you you might in all reason especially if Enemies bid them go to their own Father and Master why do they come to you It is very true such as as are the servants of Antichrist and do serve the base lusts of Tyrants yea and are Tyrants themselves The Lord may justly say unto them when they Call upon him as the Prophet did to the King of Israel u 2 Kin. 3.13 What have I to do with thee Get thee to the Prophets of thy Father and to the Prophets of thy Mother So may the Lord say to REVOLTERS Why come ye now to me have ye not rejected me and cast me off in my Son Zion Cause and Kingdom broken your Vowes and Covenants with me Therefore get ye unto the Head of the Last Apostacie and the Great Whore the Head of the First Apostacie whom ye have honored more then me And it seems to me David in the Spirit foretels this very thing x Psa 18.41 They cry'd out but there was none to save unto IEHOVAH but he answered them not A Prophesie to be fulfil'd in the Last Dayes as I take it upon APOSTATE PROFESSORS But howsoever the Lord will thus deal with his enemies for their Crooked ways yet with his Friends and faithful Servants who y Luk. 22.28 continued with him in his temptations Suffered banishment imprisonment spoyling of their goods c. rather then to forsake THE GOOD OLD CAVSE These a Isa 58.9 shall call and the Lord shall answer They shall cry and he shall say Here I am b Isa 49.15 Can a Mother forget her sucking child c. If a child be crying in the streets and multitudes of people should passe by without taking notice of the child yet no sooner doth the mother hear it cry but runs to it kisseth it and carrieth him home in her bosome What though prophane people and proud carnal professors that are at ease regard not the Mourners in Zion but reproach their very sighings and groanings laugh and deride their prayers yet they have a father that hears them and c Psa 57.18 puts all their tears into his bottle and in due time d Psal 30.11 will put off their sackcloth and gird them with gladness Fourthly Because in seeking him 4. Because in seeking him they seek onely his glory they seek only his Glory As a shooter hath one eye close and with the other sees nothing save the mark at which he shoots thus it is now with the Little Remnant their eyes are shut from all Self-respects they look not upon any worldly advantage neither ask any thing of God but what may be to the glory of his Great Name If they ask health Liberty food c. it is that God may be glorified in the right improvement of them if they pray against Apostates and Covenant-breakers it is that e Isa 2.17 the Lord alone may be exalted f Phil. 1.21 To me to live is Christ and to die is gain that is so Christ may be glorified I am willing to live and if glorified I am willing to dy it is all one to me whether I live or dy so Jesus Christ by it may have glory Could a father see a child at his foot crying to him with tears that he might know his will and upon no other account then to honor him in the doing of it I say could a father see all this and not be found g 1 Cor. 4.3 For mens judgment we pass it by as a very small thing the Lord knows it is true viz. That there is a Seed of God at this day in bitterness of Soul to know what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God and for no other end then to serve the Lord and not as Turn-coats and Revolters do to serve themselves upon him The Lord was well pleased with Solomon h 1 Kin. 3.10 11. Because he asked not for himself long life nor riches nor the life of his Enemies but understanding to discern judgment that is he asked that thing whereby he might most honor God and the Lord gave him his request and more too Never had Saints more cause then now to beleeve a time of finding is nigh and that all their tears and sighings will be speedily answered seeing they go not unto the Lord as Hypocrites do i. Hos 7.14 For corn and wine and rebel against him but for this end that k Mat. 6.9 the Lords name may be hallowed But this corrupt men cannot do It is not Gods Counsel they desire to know nor his good Cause to carry on but that their own wicked devises might prosper that the Lord would give his glory to them As the rainbow never appears but is in opposition to the Sun so some men if they appear publickly or privately in fasting and prayer they are never in that side of the world where Gods Glory is but quite in opposition to it I have read of a certain Soldier having done great service for the State was bid to ask some reward for himself to which he answered For himself he would ask nothing but had a Petition for the Church and People of God I hope there is such a frame of Spirit among the Mourners every where they have layd aside their own concernments and are seeking the things of Christ and Zion if so then hold up your heads The time of finding is come Fifthly 5. Because Jesus Christ moves and intercedes for them Because the prayers of Saints are not only l Rev. 8.3 4. by Jesus Christ presented to the Father and by him made a sweet sacrifice but likewise he himself moves and intercedes in their behalf Thus Christ in Heaven is as a Favorite at Court takes our Petitions and speaks to them So saith Paul m Rom. 8.34 He is at the right hand of God making intercession for us The Text carries it that he is in Heaven with his stripes wounds blood death setting them before the eyes of his Father and all for Zion Some men after their exaltation and preferment forget their poor Brethren and old friends as Pharaohs Butler forgot Joseph but Christ doth not so we are n Son 8.6 as a seal set upon his heart there he wears us and keeps us not only for an ornament and to shew how pretious he accounts us but that we might be always in his sight and remembrance The incouragement given us to come boldly to the Throne of Grace is o Heb. 4.5 For we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted yet
have wrought and not receive a full reward I have thought sometimes of Ioabs case after he had fought many Battels yea the Lords Battels ah that his gray hairs should go to the grave under so much scandal and dishonour But more sad is their case who having opposed the Prelates and fought valiantly for the truth yea some of them left their Country for the Gospels sake should now for looking back k Eze. 13.9 Not be in the Assembly of Gods people neither written in the writing of the House of Israel neither enter into the Land of Israel nor be mourned for as the prophets were Oh my Father my Father l Jer. 22.18 19. ah his Glory But 2. And this I wish that they would seriously lay to heart viz. how the dishonour of Gods great Name occasioned by this late Apostacie lies principally at their door Our holy profession had never been rendred so odious as it is if Professours and Church-Members had not been Hence it is when some have been told of breaking their promises and eâ—gagements and casting off the Lords work and setting up their own interest to name such and such professours and Church-Officers who went along with them as if they did nothing without their counsel and encouragement The old Non-conformists were wont to say of the Conformable Ministers that The best were the worst meaning those who subscribed to the Prelates and used the Service and Ceremonies of the Church though otherwise good men did more hinder the work of Reformation and harden ignorant people in Errour and Superstition then then all the ignorant and scandalous Priests of the Nation And questionless it was so And what may we say of the present Conformists The best are the worst For howsoever in many things they walk better then the rest and we hope better things of them as to their Soul-state Yet considering how they have left the Lords work and are fallen in with a worldly interest and what evil Instruments they have been in obstructing the good old cause in these respects and such like it may be fairly asserted The best are the worst I say the professor worse then the prophane and Church-Officers worse then the ignorant and scandalous parish-Priest especially if it be minded how many Simple hearts in City and Country have been deceiv'd by these men and hindred from being faithful to Jesus Christ in their Generation-work I shall conclude in Pauls words m 1 Cor. 3.13 15. Every mans work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it Because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is c. If any mans work shall be burnt he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire What this fire means is worthy of Consideration Thirdly No time of finding because n Isa 1.15 59.2 their hands are full of Blood 3. Because their hands are full of blood The Hebrew hath Bloods signifying how the Priests and False-prophets by their flatteries and lies destroyed the Souls of the people and the Rulers their bodies and estates by oppression and cruelty But the Allusion which the prophet here useth notably sets forth the impudent boldness of these men It is taken from a Murtherer who having wash'd his hands in innocent Blood comes and shews them to the Judge as taking delight to have them seen in that Bloody colour Much blood precious blood was spilt in the late wars the which some men by their falshood and breach of promise have not onely contracted to themselves but bring their bloody hands to the Altar lifting them up before the Lord Angels and men as glorying it seems there lies the guilt of so much blood upon them I cannot forget Davids example when they brought unto him the water of the well of Bethlem o 2 Sam. 23.16 17. He would not drink thereof but poured it out unto the Lord saying Be it far from me O Lord that I should do this is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardie of their lives therefore he would not drink of it It were well if some mens hearts would smite them as Davids did Davids worthies only jeoparded their lives no blood was spilt but many of the Lords worthies in the late wars did more then jeopard their lives for they lost them in the high-places of the field But hath their Blood been poured out to the Lord as David did the water I ask againe Hath it or rather have not some men drunk it themselves And with this blood purchase Courts Titles Superiority with this blood clothe themselves and families like the Glutton p Lu. 16.19 in purple and fine linen and fare sumptuously every day Do they not with this BLOOD persecute the very cause and interest of Christ for which it was spilt yea more do they not with this BLOOD build again that cursed Ierico by which it was overthrown q Hab. 2.12 Wo to him that buildeth a Town wâ—th blood and stablisheth a Citie by iniquity r Nah. 3.1 Wo to the bloody City it is full of lies and robberie and the prey departeth not As such men are unlike David so like Nero and Iulian the Apostate for all the world The first having kil'd his own mother perswaded the people publica fortuna extinctam that she was put to death for the publick good of the State The other when he opened the temples of the Pagan gods and repaired their Altar it was securitas reipublicae for the safety of the Commonwealth have there been none since having murther'd the Common-wealth in her Laws Liberties Priviledges c. and re-established old Popish Idols would make the Simple believe all is done for the publick good and safety of the people r Psal 120.3 What shall be done unto thee thou false tongue But to return to our Prophet howsoever both Priests and Princes have their hands full of blood yet they Å¿ Isa 1.18 make many prayers multiply prayer saith the margin Hence observe 1. No people are t Mica 6.6 7. more forward in outward services then Hypocrites and Apostates for when they have cast off the power of Godliness they will be the more busie about the form 2. Whilst mens hands are full of blood there is no Time of finding though they multiply prayer This later is plain in Davids case u Psal 32.2 3. c. All the while he kept silence and acknowledged not his sin which doubtless was blood his x Psal 51.8 Bones were broken and waxed old and his moisture was turned into the drought of summer that is he could hear of no joy and gladness but lay roaring under pangs of conscience having the strength of body and soul consum'd through grief and mourning if it were thus with David for one mans blood what may we think of their case who by power and policy shall
jest at his judgments as things that never shall come to pass and be effected As Agag when he saw he was not cut off with the rest of the Amalekites concludes o 1 Sam. 15.32 Surely the bitterness of death is past So because they were not swept away in such a month or such a yeer what say they now p Eze. 12.22 The dayes are prolonged and every vision faileth Because they do not immediately see the whole Prophesies accomplished concerning the Little Horn the Last Apostacy and the Beast which ascendeth out of the bottomless pit they contemn them and laugh at them as though they should never be fulfill'd and say q Jer. 7.10 We are delivered to do all these abominations Though we have done such things sworn falsely and betrayed the interest of Christ and his people and have been grievously threatned for the same yet we are delivered from their THREATNING TESTIMONY and are well safe and without fear or danger and shall go on and prosper still yea and which is more they r Amos 5.18 Desire the day of the Lord In a profane boldness provoke and dare the Lord to bring that once to pass which he hath so long threatned Where are his Å¿ Jer. 51.20 Battle-axes the t Rev 15.1 vial-Angels u Isa 27.1 his sore great and strong sword x Isa 8.19 Let him make speed and hasten his work that we may see it and let the Counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come that we may know it 2. Iudgment not being speedily executed What is the evil that their heart is full of y Luk. 14.14 We will not have this man to reign over us The war now is like that of the Old Gyants against Heaven against God and Christ how to a Psal 2.3 Break their bonds asunder and cast their cords from them As Herod no sooner heard b Mat. 2.2 13. of one born King of the Jewes but immediately he sought the young Child's life to destroy him The very rumor of Christs coming forth to reign and to break all corrupt powers makes Tyrants mad and it is their greatest care and study how to prevent him But 3. And let it be heeded when men are emboldned and made worse because judgment is delayed this shews not only that c Jer. 5.14 15. Divine wrath is very nigh at hand but it shall rest and abide upon them d Isa 5.25 till they are consum'd to ashes as fire doth wood No time of finding e Amos 5.21 Jer. 7.16 for their prayers cries and tears the Lord hates and despiseth Sixthly 6. God is many ways glorified when corrupt men have not a time of finding It is much to the prayse and Glory of God when Apostates Hypocrites and other corrupt people have not a time of finding Quest. Wherein is the Lord honored not being found of his people Answ 1. In vindicating his Justice Providence and Great Name 1. In vindicating his providence and great Name When God is silent and spares Hypocrites f Psa 50.2 i. They thinke him like themselves altogether as they are As the Tyrant having a safe passage homeward thought the gods well pleased with his robbery Thus do wicked men if they prosper in unrighteous ways or see others prosper therein g Psa 119.70 Their heart is as fat as grease and are ready to say h Zeph. 1.12 The Lord will not do good neither will he do evil nay they begin to call in question his Justice and Providence i Mat. 2.17 Every one that doth evil is good in the sight of the Lord and he delighteth in them that is accepteth and approveth of the wicked justifies them yea more takes pleasure in them How many in these late years by their Atheistical conceits and blasphemous speeches have wearied and vexed the Lord and whence hath it risen k Ibid. Where is the God of Judgment As if there were no Providence no God that did judge and govern things upon earth because he doth not presently punish the workers of iniquity As one not long since most blasphemously sayd If he be a God why doth he not shew his judgment upon such a one I could name both Now howsoever many reasons might be given for the prosperity of the wicked and their impunity yet doubtless the glory of God is exceedingly manifested in his Government and Administration when he breaks the power of the proud and makes them like ashes under the soles of his feet l Rev. 15.4 Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name c. for thy judgments are made manifest By that revenging stroke from Heaven which reach'd Iulian the Apostate many who formerly had spoken wickedly of Christ repented and acknowledged their blasphemie and gave glory to him In some such way I am perswaded will the Lord vindicate his Providence and Justice namely by making SOME MEN publick Examples of his wrath such I mean who by their false-swearing and horrible hypocrisie and prospering a while therein have occasioned many to have had hard thoughts of God WHERE IS THE GOD OF JVDGMENT Memorable is that story of Amurath at the battle of Varna when he saw the slaughter of his men and all things brought into extreame danger he pluckt out of his bosom the writing wherein the late League was comprised and holding it up in his hand with his eyes lift up to heaven said Behold thou crucified Christ this is the League thy Christians in thy name made with me and they have without cause violated Now if thou be God as they say thou art and as we dream revenge the wrong now done unto thy Name and me and shew thy power upon thy perjurious people who in their deeds deny thee their God VVas a Turk heard against Idolaters for Covenant-breaking And will not the Lord much more bow his ear to the strong cries of his children holding up in their hands the Protestations Vows and solemn Ingagements not of Papists but of great professors which they publickly have broken with God and men when they shall say as still they do Behold Lord see here these are the Oaths Attestations and promises which thy great professors have made with thee and for the interest of thy Son and Zion and without any cause but to satisfie their own lusts they have violated Now therefore as thou art a jealous God and tender of thy great Name Glory Providence so shew thy great Power upon these false and dissembling people who in their works deny thee their God 2. By making himself known in his truth cause Secondly By making himself gloriously known in his truth and cause That Saul had no time of finding but was left of God in the day of distress this made way for Davids kingdome So when Tyrants are broken in their power and Government it is in order to the exalting of Jesus
workers of iniquity A good Riddance A Dogg that followeth two men is not known to which of them he belongeth till the way part Then indeed you shall see Howsoever we knew not plain and honest hearts from dissemblers so long as the Interest of Christ and worldly profit kept together Yet the Lord by this STOP hath made a marvellous discovery of both A good separation 2. That the Scriptures might 〈◊〉 fulfilled For by this STOP came in the perillous Times of which Paul gave warning t 2 Tim. 10.3.1 in Timothy meaning the second Apostacy How the Characters set down there by the Apostle paralell with the Backsliders of this age I have largely * A Book entituled Truth with Time elsewhere shewed In some Fenny Countries where people are troubled with GNATS they use to hang dung in the midst of a room as a bait for the Gnats to fly to and so catch them as a snare provided for that purpose Why would the Lord have a STOP to the work and by that STOP bring up the Apostacy It is plain enough that it might be a Pit and a Snare dung indeed to catch all the GNATS of the three Nations For I verily believe there is not a worldly minded Professor whether Church-member or Church-Officer or otherwise but he is fallen into this Trap. u Job 18.5.8 9 10 The light of the wicked shall be put out and the sparke of his fire shall not shine For be is cast into a net by his own feet and his own counsel shall cast him down The gin shall take him by the heel and the robâ—â—â— shall prevail against him The snare is laid for him in the ground and a trap for him in the way x Rev. 15.3 Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty 3. As the Lord made a Proof or Tryall of Abrahams faith love and obedience by his willingnesse to offer his sonne Isaac So this STOP hath been viz. y Cor. 11.19 that they which are approved may be made manifest If a Maid that she might be such a mans Wise should refuse a great Estate and live very poorly with him would not this argue she married him for Love and nothing else There are many since this Apostasie came up for the love and affection which they bear to the GOOD OLD CAVSE have refused great places high promotion and honour and sufferd Banishment Imprisonment cruel mockings and spoyling of their goods And what doth this signifie a Gen. 22.12 Now I know said the Angell to Abraham that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy sonne thine onely son from me Surely a man sheweth great affection and faithfulnesse unto Jesus Christ when riches preferments and great mens favours are rejected and his poor despised betrayed and crucified Cause is boldly owned of him 4. That b Rom. 11.28 the Lord may make a short work upon the earth when his work shall be revived again As a man intending to shew his skill by leaping farre goes backward first a little So the Lord intending more than an ordinary speed quick dispatch of the seven last plagues seemeth first to go backwards c Rev. 11. â—4 Behold the third woe cometh quickly Thus it was with Israel in Egypt After Moses and Aaron had been with Pharoah they had d Exod. 5.9 more work laid upon them and their bondage greater than before But when the Lord revived that work How fast went it forward then In less than thirty days all the ten plagues were poured out upon Egypt So after the forty years when the Lords work came on again the Land of Canaan is presently conquered e Josh 12.24 one and thirty Kings put to death How soon was the Lords House built when the work was revived in four years at most And so I take it here the Lord means by this Stop HAST HAST afterward 5. To strike the greater dread and horrour upon wicked men f Rev. 11. at the rising of the work Herod thinking Christ to be John Baptist he thought likewise John being risen he came with more strength and power than he had before and this tormented him That the Cause and Interest of Christ thought to be dead and buried should be raised again No marvel the sinners in Zion will be afraid and fearfulness surprize the hypocrites they know it comes forth in Power Glory and Majesty to take vengeance on them for their falshood and unrighteousnesse 6. There is a STOP that ungodly men in this Time may fill up the measure of their sinnes so be fatted for the slaughter g Jer. 51.13 Thine end is come and the measure of thy Covetousness that is when Babilons Covetousnesse is full and ripe then come the vials of wrath to be poured out upon her Among the Egyptians it was a custome when any man was condemned for some notorious crime to feast him and fat him that he might undergo the greater Torment I think no man will deny but some men of late are fatted to purpose h Ps 119.70 Their heart is as fat as grease But it was not thus before the STOP For their Coveteousness Pride Lightnesse Luxury was nothing in measure and height to what it is now A sad stop wofull places offices promotion maintenance c. that prepares men like Sheep for the day of slaughter 7. For the praise of his great power Christ was able to have kept Lazarus from death and the grave but he would not and why i Joh. 11.4 That the son of man might be gloried And indeed I think there was no miracle which our Saviour wrought more to his glory than this Not onely is Lazarus dead and buried but supposed to stink having been three days buried And for all this to raise him up what a wonderfull work is this Though it be true as was said the Lord could have prevented all STOPS yet he would not But he will have his Cause slain and buried and in the opinion of the Enemy to rot and stink no fear of rising again And then will he k Ps 78.65 awake as one out of sleep break the heavens and come down shake the mountains and raise up his friend Lazarus to the glory of his power the joy of his people and the confusion of his Enemies Amen Amen Quest But what reasons have you to believe that the good old Cause will be revived again Answer 1. Because the honour of God is much concerned in it since the STOP What say the Scoffers l Luk. 14.30 This man began to build but was not able to finish it As if some by their craft and policy had over-reached Jesus Christ As long as Pompey stood and flourished Cato stoutly maintained a Providence But when he fled into Egypt and was slaine of a base fellow and lay upon the shoare without any honour of Burial when Cato also was beset with Caesars army He fell from
dayly complaint Oh that the Lord would take the plaister off remove the yoke from our necks spoyl the spoyers and them that have dealt treacherously call forth his sanctified ones to execute the judgment written But what saith the Lord My dear children be patient quiet contented I am wiser then you and know best what is to be done there is some corrupt matter some rottenness which must be purged before I can grant your desire I must first bring away your covetousness spiritual-pride censoriousness passion c. then will I arise for Zion and restore comfort to her mourners The sins of the Amorites were full at the end of the 430. years then came in d Gen. 15.16 the fourth generation yet it was forty years after before they came into the Promised Land For howsoever the time as I said was expired as to the Iniquity of the Enemies that is they were * Numb 14.9 ripe for judgment yet the Lords people not being prepared for the promised blessing fell short of it many yeers The like may be said of things now the time and times and dividing of time which according to e Dan. 7.25 Daniel the Little Horn is to have may be already expired and his iniquity full and so ripe for cutting down nevertheless the Saints of the Most High not being prepared to take away his Dominion and possess the Kingdom there may be some yeers after the three years and an half are expired before he be destroy'd and his body given to the burning flames not but that * Namely in June laâ— the time may be ended viz. the three years half the little Horn ripe for judgment but the Saints are not PREPARED for such a dispensation We read that in all Iehoshaphats reign f 2 Chron. 20.33 the high places were not taken away and the reason is given for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers as if he should say As other abuses and corruptions were removed so had these high places been also but that the people were not enough humble holy sincere to receive such a mercy the like may be said of the high places remaining with us as the carnal-ministry Tythes Tryers the corrupt Law c. these Gillulim filthy things would soon be taken away were Saints prepared to meet their God in his judgments See Psal 81.13 14 15 16. It is with Christ and a soul seeking him as between the load-stone and iron if there be any dust or filth that sticks to the iron the stone refuseth to close with it she will not be touch'd nor touch where there is foulness but take off the filth and let the iron be clean then they sweetly close together so is the Lords heart open and his arms abroad to take into his bosome such as are pure and clean in heart have no defilements upon them are pure vessels g 2 Tim. 2.21 meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work here the Lord will command the blessing even the blessed TIME OF FINDING 2. When the Saints have nothing left them for help but God Secondly It is a Time of Finding When the Faithful have nothing left them for help but the Lord only MANS EXTREMITY IS GODS OPPORTVNITY The Tide you know turns when the water is lowest would yee know the time of the Lords turning and returning to his Church and people It is at low water h Deut. 32.36 when he seeth that their power is gon and there is none shut up or left i Psal 107.27 28. see also v. 3 â— 5 12 13. when their soul is melted because of trouble and are at their wits end Then crying unto the Lord he bringeth them out of their distresses he maketh the storm a calm and bringeth them to their desired haven Among men to plead poverty and want experience shews it signifies very little should a poor man goe to a merchant and tell him nothing but of his nakedness and misery this would not prevail with him for clothing and other relief but with the Lord no better argument to speed then to spread miseries and wants before him Hence the Saints usually in their prayers have mentioned their DISTRESS as a great reason to move the Lord unto pity thus did Iehoshaphat k 2 Chron. 20.12 O our God wilt thou not judge them FOR we have no might neither know we what to do So David l Psa 6.2 Have mercy upon me O God FOR I am weak O Lord heal me FOR my bones are vexed Again m Psa 8â— 2 109.22 23. Bow down thine ear O Lord hear me for I am poor and needy And for our encouragement herein the Lord hath promised that it shall be A TIME OF FINDING when n Psa 50.15 in trouble we call upon him o Psa 9.9 He will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in times of trouble p Psa 102.17 he will regard the prayer of the destitute or naked shrub and will not despise their prayer Isa 41.7 When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them The poor woman that had the issue of blood twelve yeers and in that time r Mark 5.26 27 had spent all that she had on physicians when she came to Christ in that extremity was it not a time of finding the Text saith Straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague And indeed her case is much like Ours she came not to Christ till all was spent As long as we had a Parliament a Councel of State an Army a General c. we too much rested on them as our Saviors and Deliverers it is therefore well for us that Iehovah hath broken these Egyptian reeds and that we have at present none in Heaven nor in Earth but Jesus Christ to trust in for now we may confidently expect A TIME OF FINDING When Christ saw that those who had continued three days with him in the wilderness f Mat. 15.32 had nothing left he took compassion on them and fed them by a miracle Again when he was at Nazareth preaching in the Synagogue he needed not to have been led from thence t Luk. 4.29 unto the brow or edg of the hill he might have escaped long before but he would suffer the enemy to go so far to shew that it is his time to work deliverance for his people when they seem to be in the greatest danger Is there nothing left no Parliament Councel Army Navy General Have u Lam. 1.2 all Zions friends dealt treacherously with her and become her Enemies Is the GOOD OLD CAVSE brought to the brow of the hill Then lift up your heads ye naked shrubs every