I say all the Disciples did is not a Law for our Imitation that of assembling was good and our Pattern we are not here to forsake Assemblies of Saints as Heb. 10. 25. But in their fear if sinful we are not to follow them all it shews is the Jews were opposite and to avoid what in them lay being obnoxious to their Envy or Fury they shut the Doors either weakly or warily for a cause of cautious fear there was they had killed their Master and would not surely spare the Disciples 't was meet to hold them fast without he that was Lord of the Sabbath being rose and to change it to first day on this day comes among them allays fears speaks peace and commissions them with Power and after we find them in every house but more in the Temple and Synagogues telling of his Resurrection as Acts 1. 13. 2. 1. 3. 1. 4. 1. and even after an escape again in the Temple ch 5. 25. Being now got above all Fears Worshippers may be hid in their Duty but the opener that Gospel-worship is the better though in Perils To cure Ministers Fears the Story of one Mr. James Faber of Piccardy is very pregnant who being fled for the Gospel at a Dinner with some Scripture fulfilled p. 460. of note weeping suddenly gives this reason That his sin was great that being 100 years old and had so long preacht the Gospel to others who had suffered for it he as an unconstant Doctor should now flee and shed many tears a little after said the Master called for him made his Will instancly and shortly laid him asleep and died Now to end this head let us only note the care that in particular God shows of his Worship partly securing his Witnesses partly the Assemblies For the 1st as Scriptures give Instances in Jeremy so in Paul Acts 19. 30. Here Paul devoted a Martyr is by Disciples preserved from the Theatre I note they using Gods means did well for Paul's safety 't is laudable in the Godly to be cary of the Lifes and Uses of God's Witnesses and so he escap't also Aretas his fury in Damascus by a Basket they letting him down over the Wall as 2 Cor. 11. 33. There his Conversion and Ministry began there Acts. 9. 20 23. the Jews lay wait to kill him to escape the Assassinates and Souldiers he flees All flight is not sinful and God had work for him abroad they were his Rescuers A Senator of Hala gave Brentius advice that some conspired his death and bids Fuge fuge Brenti cito c. O Brent flee go quickly So an Angel in an Old Man's Form came to an Inn where several were in Company and gave notice of the Emperours Order at hand to secure one Gryneus he is no sooner gone but in comes the Officer but found him not So Mr. T. H. of N. E. coming down as the Officer came up askt him if Mr. H. be above said H. yes he was but now in that Room so God blinds Malice often and hides his own in the hollow of his hand as 't is Isai 51. 16. and so will it ever be with us as with our Lord till our hour appointed of God as Christ was still preserved so are his Witnesses till as Lambs they be fit for the Altar 2dly Nor less care shows the Lord in a Covert spread on Assemblies 'T is next to a wonder in nature that Lions Wolves Foxes are so few and yet bring forth Cubbs by 4 or 5 at once but Sheep that breed only at Spring and seldom above one or two are increast dayly by Flocks though cut off for Sacrifices often and Food dayly quartered fleeced flayed on every Shambles And yet 't is a far greater wonder that Wolvish Men and their Puppets more ten to one especially on persecuting days than be the Saints should not long ago have utterly extirpated all the Seed of God but still to increase the wonder the Race of Gods Seekers the Affections and Assemblies both are dayly increased even in Times and Places of the greatest Rage and Voracity What higher reason is to be rendred than the sure Promise of God made to Assemblies Isaiah 4. 4 5. on Mount Zion Read it and note 1. The subject of the Promise to whom made 2. The Circumstances how it is performed 1. I confess it is not made to all as some need not to Gods covert so others as little care for it having Law and Force on their Part all Power Civil Military Ministerial backing and beating in all their Placits tam verbis quam verberibus with Temples railed Altars and Ornatures in grandeur and state alamode but those to whom this is promised are the Purged JADIACH 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. cum abluerit sorde◠when v. 4. The Filth of the Daughter of Zion is purged eth zoath the Ordure in the Hebr. i. e. when the Excrements of man's wanton brain is washt out of her holy Garments and her Dung is swept out of God's House and when fire has burnt out the spots that all the waters of Affliction could not rinse or rubb out then it follows he will defend every dwelling-Place that very House of Obed-Edom shall be blest and preserved as his was that when the City was sadly ruined by Earthquake that part where a poor man was praying was preserved and every calling together or Meeting as the word Miqraejah from a root that signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 to call 2 to meet together 3 to Preach 4 or to read This is the end or design of the two first On the holy Meetings erit Protectio a Covert or Defence shall be Kabod-Chuppah such a Covert or Canopy as the Jews had by which two that were espoused were covered Quo Sponsus cum Sponsá abdebat in Honour and then came out to view to note Assemblies are the Lords espousing Times 2. The Manner or Circumstances how this is done Bara he 'll create it i. e. ex nihilo without any assistance humane or perexsisting matter yea maugre all resistance he 'll create a defence and it is done by Judgment and a Spirit of burning the Nature of fire being to sever dross from and so make pure metal this is of a word that Taberah comes from it is a Spirit that is spiritual burning or of God's Spirit kindling the fire of true zeal to consume all Dross and Tinn in holy Duties the mode of this Shelter is exprest by allusion to that Pillar of Cloud that from Aegypt to Canaan bespread bedewed and guided yea guarded them through the Desert to that Rest which was 1. A Blind to Aegypt that pursued them close 2. A Flame for Light and leading in the Dark 3. A terrour to Lions and Beasts that fear Fire 4. A Baptisme or cool misty Cloud by day to cover from heat as v. 6. of the Sun 5. A sheltering Cloud to secure in Perils and I presume not without Mannah
Partus sequitur ventrem The Sons of Beor may hunt the Gain of Oppression the Namb. 22. 5. Deut. 23. 5. Joshua 24. 9. Wages of Unrighteousness and overtake it by cursing the Israel of God but how ends it Nor could Baalam curse nor Israel be cursed without God's leave He that has said Bless and Curse not Rom. 12. 14. knows how to avert the Curse causeless and to repell it to the Nest whence it took flight Prov. 26. 2. And though some of Gods Flock may be driven from the Fields of their Pasture and pusht out nay Pinfolded shorn and shut in Prisons yet has not God promised the evil Beasts shall cease and that he will bless them that bless us and curse them that curse us Ezek. 34. 25. Gen. 12. 3. 7. Suppose a Prince to make probation of his Subjects decree as once an Emperour did to try the constancy of Christians that all should for-go Command that would not quit Christianity and bow to Paganisme and many did so to keep their Places he quickly cashiered them alledging they were unworthy to serve a Prince that were unfaithfull to their God Kings hearts are deep and Interests vary and if a Nights unrest so contiguous an accident Esther 6. 1. caused such a turn in the Persian Court and Law judged unalterable Who can tell what Providences lye in the Womb of a day Henry VII by Act helpt Dudly and Empson to do Violence on Peoples Rights and he as sadly repented it on his death And in Henry VIII time they were hanged for executing a Law against Property for the Ruine of the Poor for summum Jus may prove summa Injuria 8. The Plea of Dissenters has obtained in all places as the like has done of old abroad In what Court Church or Countrey has it not At Rome in Pagan-Nero's time Paul is though in Bonds permitted to dwell and preach in his own hired house and to receive all that came to him none forbidding him Acts 28. 30 31. And were Pagan-Roman Officers civiller to a Prisoner that preacht down their Gods as false than Protestants are to them that own and invocate the same true God as they do In France it obtained even with Henry III. one of Kather. d' Medices Breed and teaching an utter foe to a hater and betrayer of Protestants but a most impotent Prince and not to be convinct till James Clement a Monk had opened his Bowels by a fatal stab and then to his Commanders he gives charge to obey the King of Navar though a Protestant and know saith he that Religion instill'd into Souls by God cannot be enforc't by man It has also obtained in the Low Countries so that now 't is the Spaniards Interest to allow them and the Emperours too to preserve the Ballance of Europe though once they were under Spain and are yet though reduced poor Republicans It hath been pleaded with Fathers such as Augustine Ambrose that when Bishop Ithacius of a turbulent Spirit caused Priscillian the Heretick to be put to death with others he was condemned first by Theognistus and after by Ambrose who at Tryers met with some of the Bishops partakers in that blood and refused Communion with him and them By the way note They are not to be communicated with that are of Trasonical Spirits and Truculent Courses To come home the Plea of Dissenters has by the Providence of God in all times past obtained in Britain I only touch what is of late memory It once obtained a proclaimed Indulgence and if there be no probability for that again I say Why what has been may be again if the Interest be as pungent as was then Wisdom and Moderation may stir the heart soon to the same calm course if some say it was in pity to the Roman Cause that I do not know nor dare not say it is more Charity to say it was a favour to the Dissenters but who dare judge the ends of it or deny that the thing is good 't was then so and being so repeated many will be content and thankful It has obtained in Parliaments Votes that to prosecute the Law against us was unsafe to the King and Kingdom and a promoting the Plot though one has most inpudently in Print opposed his Opinion to the Judgment of a House of Commons in that It has obtained in Charters and Municipal Fundamental Laws if that Maxim hold That any Law against Gods Word is ipso jure void and deemed null Of that more anon It has gained with great Nobles Pears and Counsellors that as they once advised to let Worshippers go free Exod. 10. 7. so have many since It is said of Francis I. of France being about to persecute the Protestants of Merindol and Cabriers he is informed by Lord Langay Governour of that Province they were Harmless Men Just Laborious Loyal to their Prince to the Poor Charitable in Prayers frequent as Cardinal Sadolet was also convinc't So at present he forbore till Minerius a turbulent fellow informs the King that 15000 of them were up in Arms So they were cut off Among Papists this though for their own ends has got ground witness the candid and brave Thuanus that going in Paris Streets on that Massacre day it forc't tears from him to see the barbarous usage of Protestants there And others said the like of the Waldenses And for this City since Sir Sa. St. Mayoralty when the contest was hottest with Dissenters how has God pleaded their Cause and increast their numbers vindicated their Innocency against all Sham-plots and protected them from Violence and Tieachery till this late and present storm fell 9. This Zeal is more hot than wise good men may affect heats but 't is not well and the Scriptures call the Zealots for Persecution to advert Joshua crys out against Eldad and Medad prophesying in the Camp and not among the Seventy Elders with Moses Numb 11. v. 26. This at first sight seemed a sinful Separation from God's Tent what says Moses Meek Soul says he v. 29. Dost thou envy for my Sake Would God all the People were Prophets and God would put of his Spirit on them q. d. So far am I from forbidding that I do approve V. 30. And so he did in both his Plea for them and after presence with them in the Camp Here is a self-denying Spirit and call to mind again what I slipt before but close this and clasp both with that some of the Clergy as late Bishop Worth Crafts and two more of lower rank but no less note have in Naked Truth some Sermons for Moderation and in four parts of a Plea for Nonconformists by a grave ingenious Conformist given us a taste of Moses his Spirit their Mildness a witness against Violence and do herein deserve my hearty thanks 2d Script is Mark 9. 38. 39. and it is in Luke too Luk. 9. 49. Young John complains to Christ of one that did Christ's work Cast out Devils but
of Christ the Fall of Antichrist and return of Prayers come all streaming at once in a full tyde of Mercy to the devout and Wrath upon all Atheists and Antichristians and the Times with their Wrath hastens it One Author more I cite T. P. his sober Guess pag. 187. at the end of that little Book where he hints the ruine of that Idolatrous Age that wasted the Church afore and the appearance of our Ark that is of Jesus and so he ends with three Notes 1. That Sorrows steal not on us without the foresight counsel and Predetermination of God 2. That the end and measure of them is set of God though Force and Violence may lett true Religion 't is but for a Time Antiochus Swines Flesh the two Witnesses lying dead Our Lords abode as Jonah's and the Church's two or three days in the Sepulcre Hos 6. 2. are all limited to about the same length as Elijah's three Years and six months and then our dead revive again pag. 188. 3. In all Oppressions of the Saints they never are void of his Presence and a promise of a Deliverance with Faith in its accomplishment and hope that the time is nigh expiration p. 189. So he concludes with one Drs. Saying Viz. Dr. More 's Mystery of Godliness lib. 5. c. 17. of the use of Apolyptical Visions Who affirms A. D. 1660. The scene of things will soon alter for the better in Christendom the time of the Churches appearing purely Apostolical in Life and Doctrine is near by computation of Prophesies when the Witnesses shall arise and the Woman come out of the Wilderness and all the Kingdoms become our Lords to rule for ever Nor is Stability in Kingdoms to be had till the new City is raised whose Walls Foundation Gates and whole Content is but the Replication of twelve i. e. all Apostolick in Doctrine Worship c. Which hope should shake off that Lethargy on us as if it would never be better and it comes not by Rapine and Violence but by Increase of Righteousness And though the time is deferred and many Concussions precede the Conclusion yet are we to wait for it nay to solace our Souls in the frightful signs Preceding it as our Lord bids us to look up in the hope of this Redemption approaching for the Lords roaring out of Zion Joel 3. 16. is but as a Preface to the Hope and Strength that he gives to his and his shaking of all things Hag. 2. 7. is but to establish that Kingdom that shall remain Heb. 12. 28. Never was a glorious reviving of hopes without a grievous Sentence of death Ezek. 37. 10. 2 Cor. 1. 2. The very wild Irish may teach us that on the most stormy day we may lift up our heads as they on the Hills and joy in hope the next is fair Weather by turn Polanus observes that Sesostris King of Aegypt observing one of his Kings drawing of his On Ezek. 1. Chariot ey'd the Wheel ask't the cause he answered that he saw that part that earst was up now was low vice versà on which he made the Moral and applyed it so loosed them from that Slavery For Promotion comes not from East or West but God pulls down one and exalts another Psal 75. 6. Or as in Job setteth on high them that be low Joh. 5. 11. Or as Mary sung exalts them of low degree Luk. 1. 52. Fear not then ye Sons of Zion your King comes meek yet mighty riding on the Ass Zach. 9. 9. that subjects to any burthen Though now you are banisht from the Ark submit and say Here I am 2 Sam. 15. 26. in hope he will yet bring you again For in the days of these Kings 't is by Dan. 2. 44. predicted the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom that shall not be shaken or given to others And if any ask How that Text v. 34. 45. and it was the Dream of a King shows you Eben di al Bijdian ascissus lapis qui in manibus non est sine manibus Which notes not only that 't is out of the reach of humane hands to prevent that Kingdom the time being come for its commencement but above the help of secular means or hands to advance it I conclude this as one does a Book with warning to Princes to submit to the Redeemer and prevent the shower of Vengeance impending for six Changes are past in the World already and says he a seventh will be Sabbatical giving rest from all your Pride and Ambition And this takes the last place and turn but proves of the greatest extent And I add as the Course and Conjunctions of the caelestial Bodies and also of terrestial do all configure and concenter in this kingdom so the Councels of men and Contests about publick Affairs concur and contribute to it and all contrary Wheels that seem to have a counter motion in the way shal at last center in the same blessed Ends Viz. The sound of the last Trump an Alarm to Babel-Romes Fall whose Waters are now a drying up the pouring out of the last Vial that leaves not Air for her Tyranny to breath in And as that late Dr. says Dr. T. G. in Apoc. pag. 190. The nearer this Kingdom is as a Gulf to swallow all Time the greater Changes will Christ make and to see no Preparations to it may not discourage our Faith since of things extraordinary there needs none being the Efforts of divine hands 3dly And last of all there springs up a Well of Support to devout and constant Souls from the Providence of God that like the eye scouts out to and fro and prevides Perils provides Preservatives and stands armed on Sentinel to secure the main Guard and rescue his Men and Matters assaulted Now this is the Wheel full of Eyes that Christ's Chariot of Love runs upon and is often swift seldom stands never runs idly by Rote or blind Chance and Casualty far less retrogade or to overturn them that are in it for Christ doth guide it Sirs could we take right Measures of Gods Providences in former or latter days instead of a Quarrel we should take up that admiring word Ezek. 10. 13. and say Oh Wheel But 't is hard to see both sides of things at once for often Providences have a dark side at first view presenting to our terrour and after a bright side is seen as that Cloud betwixt Israel and Aegypt had of old but the Lord turned the dark side to the Aegyptian Host and the bright to Israel by Night Exod. 14. 20 24 25. So they were preserved the other bemisted their Wheels took off and they troubled No Fate or Fortune rules in the smallest or most contingent accident a Sparrow or a Hair's Fall to the Ground is under the Eye and Care of the All-seeing Providence And if he inspects so small Trifles will he slight far greater and suffer his Servants to fall in his Work unregarded Now in two