themselves from Ezra 9.2 The holy 〈◊〉 have mingled themselves with the people of those Lands yea the hand of the Princes and Rulers hath been chief in this trespasse and when I heard this thing I rent my garment And this was the great sin of that time and contrary to the Work of God in that day 2. After that a publick and solemn Testimony has been born among us through much bloud and difficulties and the same as eminently owned of God by a series of deliverances against the great oppressive interests that were upon us to wit the Law in the present constitution and administration of it Monarchy as a thing unnecessary burthensome and dangerous a Court as the spring head of oppression pride and filthiness with many other things that might be named to lay these heavy yoaks again upon the necks of our Brethren under which we our selves groaned not long ago and thereby to sell the Lords People with their dear bought power and freedom the people of the Land with their just rights and liberties and the Cause it self so much contended for into the hands of the new Lords standing upon the old foundation and acting in most points after the old corrupt fashion of things as formerly this is a great sin of the times for which the Lord cals upon his People to mourn and be humbled and by withdrawing themselves as much as may be from such things to bear a seasonable and faithful Testimony against them The Nobles and Rulers of Judah after they were delivered out of bondage in Babylon oppressed their Brethren and laid heavy yoaks upon them this was a special sin of that time and the Lord stirred up the spirit of Nehemiah against them Neh. 5.8 And I said unto them we after our abilitie have redeemed our Brethren the Iews which were sold unto the Heathens and will you even sell your brethren or shall they be sold unto us Also I said it is not good that ye do ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies When God is breaking the yoaks of his People to be then laying yoaks upon them is a special sin of the time 3. Many among us have sinned in taking the accursed thing the meaning whereof both in the Old and New Testament imports a thing that is ordained of God to destruction a People or things of Gods Curse shut out of God protection and the prayers of his People Now observe what things they were among us that Gods People did formerly cast out of their heares and prayers that God did cast out from under his visible Dispensations of Mercy that lay under his frowns and terrible dints of his displeasure as things opposite to his Glory the work of Reformation and the prosperity and peace of his People the mingling again with these things is a taking the accursed thing and one of the sins of the times Ier. 7 16. Pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them We may remember what the Lords choice and faithful Servants among us did formerly leave out as things they could not pray for what constitutions and interests in the State what pomp covetousness and excess among men in eminent place What mixtures and formalitie in worship and what Idols and humane Statues in Gods House and are not these things and that old Spirit that acted them revived again whereby the Lord has been provoked to bring a cloud upon us and upon that day of Mercies and wonderful appearances whereby his Work was carried on among us So then observe what things they are that the Lords more peculiar and praying People formerly or at this day under their more enlightened holy and zealous frame could not or do not pray for but leave out and separate themselves from and they are that cursed thing which we ought to come out of and avoid 4. The putting back of that blessed Work that was in such a hopeful way to be carried on among us is a great sin of the times when I consider what an edge was upon the Spirits of good men how quick and powerful were proceedings what a spirit for high and great Work a reforming spirit for Reforming work a spirit of Judgment for the work of Justice a spirit of Prayer for the breaking of all yoaks and deliverance of Sion the whole Church of God and what a seal Providence it self put upon all this in a series of wonderful successes and further that these things were come to that height that the People of God begun to meditate and expect great things men of low and common spirits were laid aside the old spotted and wrinkled face of things unholiness and formality in Religion in the State Monarchy its Friends and Paramouts with all its limbs and branches and paintings begun to blush and hide it self I say when I look back at these things and consider how all this Work is desorted and laid aside covered under reproach and buried out of sight and mind and only a few left to keep it upon the heart I cannot but sadly reflect upon that word Hosea 9.1 Rejoyce not O Israel for joy as other people for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God thou hast loved a reward upon every corn floor There is a nick of time a special season wherein God cals and employes and spirits people for his Work if this time be not observed both the Work and opportunity for it is lost and things will go backward When Saul slipped in the Work God had called him unto he lost the Spirit of the Lord and the work of his day also So when Israels faith failed in the matter of the Spies and in their hearts gave back from following the Lord the Work was put back for forty years in like manner let it be considered what a door was opened by the mighty Works of God among us to have let in a season of Mercies to have proceeded to a full and thorow Reformation to have removed all lets and obstructions and to have set the highest and most publick Interests and greatest Affairs upon another a better bast and foundation then they had stood upon before whereon the Interest of Christ his Saints his Word as the Law and Rule might have been eminently owned and exercised among us the Promises that the Saints shall take the Kingdom and the Kingdom shall not be left to another People calling upon all Gods People to have respect unto this as the great Interest to be above all other contended after but they who had this price formerly in their hand and an heare unto it have let their opportunity slip and that Spirit they had for this Work is departed the work is gone many degrees back and because of their and our sins the good things that were in the birth are kept from us When Israel desired a King one might have pleaded for them and said they think no evil they do but desire another form of Government as more expedient for them then that of Judges Nay but sayes the Lord They have rejected me that I should nor reign over them 1 Sam 8.7 They rejected the Dispensation it self they were under as too holy and divine this was their sin they said Now make us a King to judge us like all the Nations they would not be a separate people they would look like the Nations Wise men do not look upon the change of persons and names and form of Government that has been among us so much as that the Dispensation we were under in the very nature of it as it was more holy and spiritual and refined is rejected not the formality only of the Work among us is altered but the matter of it is gone and another thing set up in its place this is a sin of the times we ought to mourn over and avoid 5. To name no more the heart of the people of that part of the People that were forward and active in the Work is withered and sunk into a low and unsensible frame an impotent low and unworthy spirit is fallen upon many willing to fit at ease though in a low and slavish state that can look upon the despised deserted Cause and Interest of Christ without any trouble of heart or a cry or a prayer for it there are but a few who have in them at this day those workings and yearnings of heart in looking upon a crucified Cause as Mary and the Disciples had over their crucified Friend the Lord Jesus When any eminent work was to be done in Israel the Lord first set it upon the hearts of some and stirred up the spirit of the people unto it Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth The deliverance of the Church in the Revelations chap. 14.2 begins with a voice from the waters the spirits of the people are stirred up to stand up with the Lamb on Mount Sion When there was a raising and stirring in the spirits of many in our dayes unto the work of Justice and Reformation how great things were brought forth in that day But now that pressing and stirring work in the hearts of most and the good things it tended to is cast off and gone the lesse thereof is so farre from working any due resentment among us as that where any remainders of that good old Spirit are yet breathing in any they are laid aside and cast into corners as the fire-brands and troublers of the times though it is only against the corruptions of the times that they do appear and that from their love to Christ and holiness These are some of the sins of the times from which we are to come out of and be separate FINIS
out of the horns of Antichrist How the Stone has been at work among us whereby that whole Church and State with the pomp power and greatness of it was overturned What Parties and Instruments were laid aside as being short of spirit for the business of that day and what Laws Constitutions and Customs were cast off as Antichristian and opposite to the work then in hand Add to all these what a mighty Witness of God unto all these proceedings in a continued series of Salvations and Victories over all that rose up against us and then may we not conclude That the things that were then on foot among us were the first fruits and earnests of those precious Promises and not as too much cause has of late been given to say the productions of policy headiness or delusion to say nothing what most deep and sweet impressions were upon our hearts from the word of promise concerning the Kingdom of Christ and downfal of Babylon we have had two observable signs that the time or the Promise wherein the Lord will do great things is at hand the one is a most peculiar and distinguishing presence of the Lord by inward Refreshings of Spirit and outward Dispensations of Mercy which was with us whilst our hearts went after the Lord and our Principles and Proceedings were in a subserviency to his Cause and Kingdom when others whose aims and ends were more National and mixt with worldly interest were laid aside left in the dark and under visible rebukes So great a difference has the Lord made between these who sat down in a meer civil and worldly Reformation and others who pressed after better hopes viz the fulfilling of Promises and a full subjection of all things to the Word and Spirit must needs be taken for a singular Evidence to give light unto us which way the work and design of the Lord lies at this day The other sign is the sad clouds of displeasure that are now upon us that gracious and lively presence that brought us out from our former Egyptian darkness and slavery and by a strong hand led us through many dark and difficult paths in the beginning of the day is much departed from off our Councils Camp solemn Assemblies Laws are given unto us that are not good and Statutes whereby we cannot live our Rulers are many of them such as know not Joseph the faithful Servants of Christ such as had no heart unto or communion with that great Affair and Interest of Christ once on foot the Military Power which was as a new sharp threshing Instrument against us Babylon is now become a prey to the Heathen or as Hirelings under a forreign Prince the cause and truth once so dear and highly owned now as to any visible progress of it under a sentence of death so that we may say we have sown much and bring in little we looked for much and lo it comes to little the Lord hath blown upon it because his House lies wast Haggai proved to Israel That the visible discountenance that was upon all their publick and private concernments from the Lord was a sign That the time was come that the Lords House should be built even so clouds of displeasure from God returning again after such a morning of successes and blessings as has been upon us ought to be a sign unto us that the Lord hath great things yet to do among us and that it is time for us to awake and go on with the Work that has been begun among us Now let us enquire what Works the Lord is about and wherein his Saints should be found waiting upon him at this day there are some Rules which in this Point have given light unto the Church of God in former Ages and lately in our time and may be further useful to us in this day for our satisfaction herein First Rule The Word upon which we were made to hope in the day of our greatest difficulties and straits and in the strength and comfort wherein we suffered so many things when God sets it upon the heart of his People to wait for some word some spiritual Promise to be made good and to undergo many things for the obtaining thereof that is the Work of that day God made a Promise to Abraham four hundred and fifty years afore it came to passe when the time of the Promise drew nigh God put it upon Moses heart after him upon Joshuah to go up and possess the good Land David had a Word that he should be King he bore up himself upon this word through a long series of conflicts and troubles till the things was done In the late Warrs those who bare the burden and heat of that day had a Word whereupon they leaned which consisted of many Promises shewing a more full and glorious Reformation to be set up in the World wherein Jesus Christ in all his Offices Laws and Commands should be more visibly owned and exalted and Babylon in all her interests thrown down This was that Word that was a Guide and a Strength to many among us in the troubles and perplexities of that day and not the Policy and Power of this World Second Rule Observe of what nature were these breathings of the Spirit and the impressions that were wrought thereby upon the most enlightened faithful and praying part of the People while we were following God in the way of his Judgements among us the Work God is about begins in the heart of his People for if the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him when a People are in the Work of God following Jesus Christ through many sore Tryals and hardships then observe what things in that day lay with most weight upon their hearts and what the stirrings and movings of the Spirit with the Word were then amongst them and there the Work of God her Psalm 102.13 14. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come for thy Servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof When God begins to awake the spirit of his People to call them out of their darkness security and carnal interests and puts upon them a gracious sense of the condition of Sion and to look and long and cry to the Lord for her building up then is the time at hand 1 Chron. 11. When the Lord would turn the Kingdom from the House of Saul unto David then he stirred up all Israel to come and make David King It may be observed whilst the Spirit of the Lord remained in the lively and fresh gales and actings of it upon our publick Instruments and Camp Council and Assemblies there was such a sense upon their hearts that the Kingdom of Christ might be promoted both in Civils and Spirituals and the remaining posts and pillars all the limbs and branches of Antichristianisme might be broke to pieces and carried them with a lively zeal and
their own duty and as would be led out through that confusion at this day among us of contrary principles affections and interests unto a right Judgement therein it being to be rationally concluded that if all things are to continue as they were and no new thing to be done that then those high Interests lately contended for and all wayes and means put in practise for the obtaining thereof are to be condemned as which had a tendencie to introduce a new state of things and the present course into which things are since put is rather to be justified as tending to reduce us unto the old as on the other hand if the Lord has not yet brought forth that which he intended in his mighty Works among us and has further things to do this may be a foundation of encouragement unto all the Friends and Followers of Christ to proceed in their former Faith Fervency Prayer and in all suitable wayes and means for the help and furtherance thereof notwithstanding the unbelief opposition and advantage of present visible proceedings contrary thereunto The grounds we have to hold out for our belief and hope in this thing that God hath been and is in these dayes doing some new and extraordinary things are First A freshness of spirit that hath been among us Zech. 4.6 Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts The experience of former and latter Ages may tell us that God has had his times of going away and returning to his Place leaving his People and the World without any visible tokens or eminent appearances of his Power in such seasons the Spirit has run low and faint only in such a measure as might preserve his People in a life of conflict and warfare and his times of coming forth again out of his Place when he has had some new work to do and then has he alwayes given a new and fresh Spirit suitable to the work he had in hand It is said 1 Sam. 16.13 14. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward but the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him The like was seen in our dayes While the Lord took away his Spirit from many Wise Mighty and Noble among us and sent darkness famine and withering into their hearts and confusion upon their counsels at the same time he put a Spirit of Faith and Power upon a despised sort of men which was as marrow and fatness to their bones There is a word in Isaiah 10.27 The yoak shall be destroyed because of the anointing The principal end and effect of the divers and sundry Dispensations of Spirit which God has renewed to former Generations at least in later times has been to regain unto Christ and his Church out of the hands of Antichrist some of those rights and concernments which during the long time of darkness and tyranny have been concealed or forcibly detained from them The like effect had that Spirit that was put upon a People among us Many pretious Truths and Priviledges the light and comfort whereof was denyed to our fore-fathers were discovered and many heavy yokes of spiritual and civil bondage long continued upon their necks were broken and destroyed by that Spirit that remained among us Oh what blessedness did this Spirit bring with it if it be but remembred what light and certainty it gave of the presence of God with us what discerning of the time what a strong savour and rellish of spiritual things and what earnest longings and pressings after a better state of things built upon the foundations of Righteousness and Truth The clear shining forth of new Covenant light out of the former mists of Antichristian obscurity was that which begot this Spirit in the hearts of many the setting up of Christ in the more full and unlimited exercise of his Kingly Power and Authority over all things both in Church and Nation was that end it pressed after the taking out of the way all Parties and Interests that had or might hinder the obtaining of this end was that work it was with much zeal and success exercised about Such a freshness of spirit was never nor can it be conceived was of late given forth but in order to the ushering in some new and further work into the World Secondly The works of Providence drawn out in a continued line and series of deliverances unto a praying People next unto those inward impressions of the quickening Spirit are a signal testimony unto us that God is doing some new and better thing in the World When the Works of God in a Nation grow up to that height and eminency as like a tide to bear down all before them then they are to be observed and heeded as signes and tokens as the Voice of God unto that people signifying what are his present Counsels and Works he is determined to do It is said in the Psalm 105.26 27 28. He sent Moses his servant and Aaron whom he had chosen they shewed his signes among them and wonders in the Land of Ham He sent darkness and made it dark and they rebelled not against his Word The Signs God wrought for Israel upon Egypt and his Appearances for them in the Wilderness did shew that the time of their Redemption was come that he would bring them to the promised Rest Once it was that the Lord kept us under a low condition of spirit faith and courage and as to the outward Man under a state of subjection and suffering under the heavy yoaks of the Antichristian Task-masters and for a long time held his peace leaving us without any signes and tokens in a visible way then was a time for us to sit still things being dark while the Lord was silent but having been since raised up into hopes and expectations that a day and time of great things was at hand and this not the work of fancies but of the Spirit of Faith and Prayer upon the foundation of glorious Promises and God also having gone before us in many eminent appearances one upon another all tending to make way for the bringing in some better thing then yet is seen This is unto us one among other the sober and good grounds we have to proceed in prayer and waitings for that Excellent State of things to break forth whereof some former tastes and glimpses we have had already the present interruption and stop put upon the work to the contrary notwithstanding Isaiah saith Chap. 43.3 I gave Egypt for thee Ethiopia and Sheba for thee May it not be said that the Lord gave whole Nations into our hands and all those parties that rose up one after another upon this account because they set themselves against a Cause and People that God had among us Let us but observe who all those that have appeared in evill will and designs against this Cause have been sadly left of God unto
darkness and wasting in their spirits counsels and proceedings the very report whereof put a fear upon the Nations about while lie owned and blessed and comforted his People by a glorious leading Presence among them What is the meaning of these things Is there not a far other more Excellent State of things signified and intended hereby then the present frame of things of late set up under which worldly pomp and policy the old oppressive and corrupt Interests of former worldly States and Governments with a too general defection of many from their first light love and purity is springing and growing up again in the Land The changes that of late have passed over us are a further Testimony from God unto us that he is doing some new thing in the Earth It is said Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come The first coming of our Saviour was ushered in by a change upon all Nations the Romans possessing themselves of the Kingdome of David and of the Government of the whole World Joel saith chap. 2.30 31. I will shew wonders in the Heavens and in the Earth bloud and fire and pillars of smoak the Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into bloud before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come We are to know the second coming of the Lord Jesus to set up his Kingdom on Earth draws near when we see changes coming upon the whole frame of things both in Church and State This Nation a Nation wherein Profession is reformed unto the greatest degree of Light and Purity of any Nation in the World yet how has it been turned upside down How have the Heavens of our more reformed as well as the Earth of our more loose corrupted Church-state been shaken How has the Sun of Monarchy Kings and Nobles been darkened and the Moon of our Civil State been turned into bloud How have formes of Government and Authorities hastily risen up one after another and have as fast dissolved in weakness and confusion Revel 21.1 I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed away and there was no more Sea When the Governments Kingdoms and Common-wealths throughout both the Antichristian and the more Reformed Nations become unsettled shaken and falling in pieces it is a sign they are grown old in sin and guilt and as fit for no more use are ready to be done away The time for the fulfilling of that Prophesie seems at the very door Revel 14.15 Thrust in thy sickle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe Who ever saw the Nations round about us in such a posture of warr and wrath as at this day so fitted for destruction What Earthquakes Eclipses Comets raining of Bloud and raging Pestilences have there been of late How is the whole Creation sensible of the drawing near of the Lord Jesus whose coming in the Spirit of Grace and Glory in his People and in Wrath and Judgements against his Enemies is that which causeth all these changes which have been and are yet to be in the World It is well known to many that both the spiritual and visible Interest of Christ hath begun to shine forth more of late in this Nation and God hath given more visible testimonies in a way of owning of it here then in any other Nations besides So soon as this Interest and Cause was placed among us what a series of changes did presently flow in upon us What commotions were stirred up against us from abroad and how are all the Nations about us since put into a flame Nations long settled upon their lees of Antichristian blindness and corruption when God begins to empty such from vessel to vessel to bring upon them one breach and change after another it is a sign he has some new and special thing to do with such People Oh that we might see the Lord Jesus as he comes forth through these things and lifts up himself still more and more by them The Refinings that have attended our changes have a fresh significancy with us that God is about some new and extraordinary things among us every change was as a fire purifying the succeeding parties into a more refined Spirit and Principles then those that were before as new work and new difficulties were presented while many went off their hearts failing them through darkness weariness or fear a new Spirit was put upon others in a fresh supply of light and strength giving a more piercing sight into the excellency of the interest and cause in hand and further Resolution to presse forwards towards it Principles in the beginning of the day were dim and weak both in the Civil and Military Instruments carrying them forth a little higher then unto the Interest of meer civil right and freedome against the Arbitrarines and excess of Monarchy and Prelatical Church state these Generations being most of them laid aside a choicer People were raised up in their place of clearer Principles and higher Aymes calling for Impartial Justice removal of burdens dethroning of Kingly Power abolition of Worldly Pomps and Splendour a Religious Magistracy a Spiritual Ministry liberty of Worship c. they had so much light as to discern the present frame of things to be exceedingly corrupted with Antichristian mixture and to see there was a better state of things to be had framed and acted not according to Humane Reason and Prudentials of State in the hands of men as men but according to the Decrees and Laws of Christ in the hands of men as spiritual and Saints Further changes so far heightened this Principle as that the Interest and Right of Jesus Christ to exercise a Kingly Authority over the Kingdomes of men was publickly and solemnly owned for a reason among us let it be observed how the Lord winnowed and purged one party after another how the said old dark and corrupt fashion of things was a going away and a new face of things began to appear with a new lustre both upon Church and State upon Doctrine and Worship garments of mourning and bondage formerly upon the People of God changed into a state of liberty and gladness a loose and worldly Church reformed first to the letter after to a degree of spirituality the contest begun for a civil Interest refined into a contest for spiritual Faith Prayer and expectations in many rising higher and higher first for civil liberty then for a spiritual after for the Kingdom and Government of Jesus Christ And here that word may not unseasonably be minded Psal 68.13 14. Though ye have lain among the pots yet shall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold when the Almighty scattered Kings in it it was white as snow in Salmon When the time came that the Lord would