my fathers lyeth waste and the Gates thereof are consumed with fire Nehem. 2.2 3. How can Sions Sons be rejoycing when their Mother is mourning Though they were the Jews Desolation yet they were Jeremies Lamentation How can such rejoyce in her standing that do not mourn for her falling When the Churches Adversaries make long furrows upon her back we should cast in the seed of tears Remember them that are in bonds as being bound with them and them which suffer adversitie as being your selves also in the body Heb. 13.3 Sympathising with others makes an estate that is joyful more happy and an estate that is doleful less heavy The righteous perish and no man layeth it to heart Isa 5.7 We may draw up that charge against many now Amos 6.46 They lye upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon Couches and eat the Lambs out of the flock and the Calves out of the midst of the stall that drink wine in bowls and anoint them selves with the chief Ointments but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph O that there were not too many such now adays that eat the fat and drink the sweet and are not troubled for Sions troubles Instead of sympathising with them in their misery they are censuring of them for their misery But the true Servants of God are tender and broken-hearted they weep and mourn and wring their hands for Sions sins for Sions Breaches for Sions Calamities for Sions Deliverance and thus they do and will do till they see Sion on Mount Sion with the Lamb to be Tenthly the Lambs followers are known by their love to Christ and sufferings for Christ they chuse the worst of sorrows before they will commit the least of sins For thy sake are we killed all the day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter Psa 44. Rom. 8.36 And ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake Mat. 10 22. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Mat. 5.10 Love can walk on the water without drowning and lye in the fire without burning How shall we land at the Haven of rest if we are not tossed upon the Sea of trouble A believer should live above the love of life and the fear of death Though we cannot live without afflictions yet let us live above afflictions None are so welcome to that spiritual Canaan as those that swim to it through the Red Sea of their own bloud In suffering the offence is done to us in sinning the offence is done to God In suffering we lose the favour of men in sinning we lose the favour of God Therefore Daniel chose the Den of the Lion rather than he would forsake the Cause of the Lamb Dan. 6. And the three Chrildren chose rather to suffer sadly than to sin foully Dan. 3. And Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11. â—5 It is better to be a Martyr than a Monarch it is better to be a prisoner for Christ than to be a Prince without Christ or against Christ O how precious how glorious how lovely and how sweet is Jesus Christ to believers O they love him entirely uprightly they love his glorious person and the beauty of his holinesse and his Name his Honour his Cause and his Members they will suffer for him and die for him because he suffered and died for them Rev. 12.11 And they loved not their lives unto the Death Now by this all men may know the Lambs followers from the Beasts followers viz. by their sorrowes and sufferings for Christ for Truth for Righteousness and for Conscience sake Heb. 10.34 And they took joyfully the spoyling of their goods Heb. 11.35 Eleventhly The Lambs followers are known by this They seek the publick good of others above the private good of themselves I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart for I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren my Kinsmen according to the flesh Rom. 9.2.3 And now O Father glorifie thy son that thy son may glorifie thee Joh. 17.1 He prayed for glory more for the Fathers sake that bestowed it than for his own sake that received it A true Christian doth not desire grace only for this end that God may glorifie him but he desires grace for this end that he may glorifie God For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich 2 Cor. 8.9 O that the Lord Jesus should not only in pitty save us but in love dye for us And David after he had served his own Generation by the Will of God fell on sleep Acts 13.36 His Generation did not serve him but he served his Generation not the Generation that was before him for they were dead before he was living nor the Generation that was behind him for they were living after he was dead but his own Generation and not by his own will but by the Will of God Old Ely mourned more for the lose of his Religion than for the lose of his Relation 1 Sam. 4.18 So Moses Exo. 32.10 Now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them and I wil make of thee a great Nation He was no self-seeker but a life preserver Grace doth not only make a man carry it like a man to God but to carry it like a God to man Reason makes a man a man but grace makes a man a Christian Every gracious spirit is publick though every publick spirit is not gracious As we are not born by our selves so we are not born for our selves But the Beasts followers and Babylons Merchants are for themselves and seek themselves Yea they are greedy Dogs which can never have enough and they are shepherds that cannot undorstand they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his Quarter Isa 56.11 And teaching things they ought not for filthy lucres sake Tit. 1.11 Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees for ye devoure widdows houses and for a pretence make long prayers therefore ye shall receive the great damnation Mat. 23. These make not gain to stoop to Godlinesse but Godlinesse to stoop to gain Twelfthly and Lastly The Lambs followers may be known from the Beasts followers by this They are more for power than form for heart than Art for matter than method for substance than shew Having a form of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turn away 2 Tim 3.5 As they who have the power of Godliness cannot deny the form so they who have the form of Godliness should not deny the power Alas what is hearing without doing and praying without practising and preaching without reforming God loves to see the plants of
Sodom and Egypt Chap. 11.8 That is in Antichrists Kingdoms and Dominions The Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Chap. 17.18 She is called Sodom for her filthiness and wickedness and Egypt for her cruelty and oppression Chap. 17.4 The true Servants of God and Members of Jesus Christ that bear witnesse for him against the evils of the Beast and against the evils of the world are here called two witnesses 1. Because of the fewnesse of them 2. Because two is a number sufficient to bear a witness John 8.17 3. Because Antichrists Beasts are called two Chap. 13. 4. They are called witnesses for Six Reasons First Because their work is to bear witness for Christ and his truth against the world the Flesh and the Devill A true believer is to bear a threefold testimony to and for Christ a word-testimony to and for Christ a word-testimony a life-testimony and a blood testimony Heb. 12. John 5.33 Secondly Christs Members are called witnesses because they stand up for Christ to maintaine his name his honour his cause his truth his worship his Glory in the world Dan. 3.16 17 18 and Chap. 6. And ye killed the Prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead whereof we are witnesses Act. 3.15 Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole Acts 4.10 11 12. Thirdly The Lambs followers are called witnesses because they keep the testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 12.17 Chap. 6.9 a testimony to all the Offices works and Kingdom of Jesus Christ as King of Saints and King of Nations Fourthly Gods chosen and precious ones are called witnesses because they doe appear boldly and openly for his truth they own it they love it they love it they publish it they hold it fast and suffer for it who through the teachings of the Spirit in the word and by the power of the same spirit are found in the practise of Christs Appointments they cannot deny the truth which is a Testimony to it Acts 24.14 Fifthly The true VVorshippers of God are called witnesses because they do bear witness against the beast and all the whole mistery of iniquity against the whore of Babylon who hath committed fornication with the Kings of the earth and made her self drunk with the blood of the Saints Rev. 17.6 Christs faithful witnesses bear an eminent Testimony against all her abominations and filthiness and wickedness against the Pope his Government his clergy his Doctrine his worship his Religion and all his abominable proceedings Rev. 19.7 Sixthly Christs redeemed ones are called witnesses because in dying they bear witnesse for him for to dye for the truth is a living standing testimony to it He who for Christs sake loves not his life unto the death dyes a most glorious witnesse of Christ Chap. 12.11 And they loved not their lives unto the death And the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pit made war against him and overcame them and killed them Chap. 11.7.9 Antichrist riseth in a double beast In his civil power and his Ecclesiastical power First In his civil power so he makes up one beast with the ten Kings Chap. 17.12 And this is that Beast that rise up out of the Sea which hath seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his heads the name of blasphemy And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leaper and his feet was as the feet of a Bear and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon and the Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority Chap. 13.1 2. Secondly In his Ecclesiasticall power so he makes up another beast with the Clergy and this is that beast that rise up out of the Earth He hath two horns like a Lamb and he speaks like a Dragon vers 11. Now these two monstrous beasts Antichrists Magistrates and Ministers slay the faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ and rejoyce over their dead bodies and make merry and send gifts one to another Chap. 11.10 Oh how do graceless faithless Christless men rejoyce at the afflictions and calamities of Gods people saying where is now your God and Christ your King Psal 42.10 As touching the nature of the VVitnesses death we are not to conceive thereof as though the same were to be a corporeall killing or slaying but a civill killing or slaying not so much their bodies as their testimonies deprive and strip them of their Liberty Worship Ordinances Religion and the free exercise of their Gifts suffering not a Servant of Jesus Christs to bear an open testimony against the abominations of the beast nor against their National wickedness but make Laws against them and lye in wait for them stoping their mouths and imprisoning their bodies hating and hunting them up and down afflicting and tormenting them and taking possession of their possessions Killing and slaying them all the day long and account them as sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.33 This is to be broken in the place of Dragons and covered with the shadow of death Psal 44.19 This is to be killed all the day long And upon this account the witnesses are said to be slain And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them Chap. 11.11 A spirit of boldnesse and courage zeale and undauntednesse and resolution to appear for Christ and his cause against Antichrist and the whole brood Therefore rejoyce all ye Saints and be glad all ye of upright heart though the witnesses be dead they will not alwayes be dead but rise again 3. After the slaying time the true Church is with the Lamb on Mount Sion Chap. 14.1 And I looked and lo a Lamb stood on Mount Sion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads which notes a fixed state Those which trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be moved Psal 12.5 before the slaying time the Church is very low but under the slaying time lower but after the slaying time the Church is very high she is rejoycing shining and triumphing on Mount Sion And they sung as it were a new song before the throne and before the four beasts and the Elders and no man could learn that song but the hundred forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth The true Church having gotten the glorious presence of the Lamb in the midst of her and having gotten some victory over the beast they do rejoyce mightily And I heard a voice of Harpers harping with their Harps but this is not till after the resurrection of the witnesses are risen the Church is exceeding joyful This chapter out of which my Text
Scripture is a Rule before us to shew us where we must go the Spirit is a word behind us to enable us to go according to the Directions of that word The Word of God is a Compass by which we are to Ship our Course the Spirit is the great Pilot that steers us in this course We have no eyes to see the Word till the Spirit enlighten them we have no ears to hear the Word till the Spirit open them we have no hearts to obey the Word till the Spirit bow and encline them By the Word of God we know the mind of the Spirit and and by the efficacy of the spirit we feel the efficacy of the Word The Word of God shews us the way and the Spirit of God leads us in that way which the WOrd points out The Spirit of God is able to expound the Word of God and to make it plain to our understanding The Holy Ghost is the Churches Interpreter he gives the Scripture and he can reveal unto us the sense and meaning of the Scripture The word is Gods Counsellour to discover the path in which we are to walk the Spirit is the Counsel of God that teacheth us how to walk in that path The word is a Chrystall-Glass which shewes us our duty the Spirit gives us sight to see our duty If God had not put his Spirit into our hearts as well as his word into our mouths we should never have arrived at the fair Haven of peace Austin calls the Scriptures The Epistle of God to the Creatures by which we understand the very heart of God God Almighty hath in the secret Scriptures as it were unbowelled himself and unfolded all his Counsel to the Creatures as far as it is necessary to be known for their direction and guidance to everlasting life There be many that walke by false Rules First Some by Opinions Secondly Some by Customes Thirdly Some by Providence Fourthly Some by Conscience Fifthly Some by their own Reason Sixthly Some by mens examples Seventhly Some by their Lusts But O my dear friends let me beseech you to walke by none of these false Rules but keep close to the word and spirit of God VII Seventhly Be faithfull and fruitful Therefore my beloved brethren Be ye stedfast and unmoveble alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know your labour is not in vain 1 Cor. 15.58 Every Tree that beareth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire Christians must be fruitfull and not slothful See that you bring forth good fruit and much fruit First Sincerity which is not a single Grace but the soul of all Graces Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts Psal 51 6. Secondly Humility A Grace most prevailing with God for the obtaining of all Graces Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls Thirdly Prudence The patient Christian is the best for waiting but the prudent Christian is the best for working Be ye wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves Mat. 10.16 We must have innocency with our wisdome else our wisedome is but craftinesse and we must have wisdome with our innocency else our innocency is but weakness we must have the harmlesnesse of the Dove that we may not wrong others and we must have the prudence of the Serpent that others may not abuse and circumvent us Not to wrong the truth by silence here is the innocency of the Dove not to betray our selves by rashnesse here is the wisdome of the Serpent Fourthly Patience Here is the Patience of the Saints Rev. 13.10 Rev. 14.12 The way to bring the world under us is for us to be patient under them Fifthly Self-denyal If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his crosse and follow me Math. 16.24 Be faithful in your promises in your purposes by faithful to the wayes of God and cause of God O do not begin with the Lamb and end with the Beast but be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life Rev. 2.20 Keep your Lights burning your Lamps shining your Loyns girded your Consciences wakned your Garments unstained and your Spirituall Armour constantly on and closely girt VIII Eightly Have a care of reporting and believing the worlds reports of the people of God Those that have a good conscience have not alwayes a good name The people of God in this life are called the troublers of Israel seditious rebellious and what not An old device of that old serpent to perswade the troublers of Israel upon Elijah the Charret of Israel 1 Kings 18.17 2 Kings 2 12. Jeremiah for speaking against their sins and wickednesses and denouncing Gods judgements against them is judged worthy of death Jerem. 26.8.9 So Jerem. 38.4 The wicked Nobles petition the King to murder him under the pretence that he sought not the good of the people but the hurt So Amos for speaking against the Abominations of the Kings Court is charged with treason against the Kings person Amos 7.10.13 So Paul and Silas for preaching up the Kingly power of Jesus Christ are accused by the envious Jewes and rude multitude for turning the world upside down and breaking the decrees of Caesar Yea Christ himself had this laid to his Charge mark what the Jewes say of him And they began to accuse him saying We found this Fellow perverting the Nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar saying that he himselfe is Christ a King Luke 23.2 Math. 72.18 And for this have the servants of God in all Ages been accused and persecuted killed and stoned Math. 27 37. Acts 7.52 Now if they did so to the green Tree no wonder if they do it to the dry If the Lord and Master was called an enemy to Caesar no wonder if those of his houshold be called so Our integrity will not secure us from infamy The choicest of Professors have had black marks in the worlds Kalender It is usuall for those who live in treason and rebellion against the King of Heaven to slander his servants with treason and rebellion against the Kings of the Earth But my dear Brethren take heed of this for as the death of the Saints is precious so the names of the Saints are precious in Gods account The world will father a hundred Lyes upon the Lords people Men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake Math. 5.11 2 Tim. 2.9 Wicked men hate them most that God loves most But God will roul away the reproaches of his people he will cause their innocency and righteousness to break forth as the Sun at noon day and their names shall be in everlasting remembrance Yea at that great day God will clear their innocency before men and Angels and all the world IX Ninthly Keep in with God now men are out with