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
Christ in his kingdome and rights m Psal 9.16 The Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth and till then his Name is not feared his truth and cause denyed and his honour is laid in the dust But when the Lord by destroying the enemies of his Glory shall put a Crown upon his GOOD OLD CAUSE then it shall be said n Psa 58.11 Verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth And o Isa 46.9 there is none else And p Deut. 33.29 the enemies as Lawyers Priests Souldiers and Apostate-professors shall be found lyars q Eze. 6.14 I will stretch out my hand upon them and make the Land desolate yea more desolate then the wilderness toward Diblath in all their habitations But what will the Lord get by this And they shall know that I am the Lord. As if he should say Their loss shall be my gaine their fall my rising for whereas by their Covenant-breaking and horrible Apostacie they have brought my Name and Glory under reproach I will recover all again upon their mine Was not the Lord eminently known in this Nation when he executed judgment upon the King and Prelates and that party To my knowledge r Esth 8.17 the fear of Gods people fell upon the Nations about us and they confest the Lord had done great things for us and began to enquire after our good cause and had honourable thoughts of it But true it is since this unblessed Apostacie came up occasioned by professours they judge otherwise both of us and it As for the English professours they call them A pack of dissemblers their profession falshood and craft and the good old Cause so signally own'd by the Lord they spurn at it nay more and truly I mourn as I wite it by reason of the gross miscarriages of some Professours the very Name of Religion is become so odious that they have made Ballads and Songs against it and they are sung by base fellows up and down the Nation and what is the Burden of their Song No Cheater like the Professour But though this be so yet when the Lord shall execute judgment upon those men who have brought such dishonour and reproach to him and so build the old wast places and be called The repairer of the breach and restorer of paths to dwell in Then he will recover the glory of his great Name and be more admired of the Nations then before When the Scribes and Pharisees had put Christ to death what ado they made to have kept him in the grave and that he might not rise again â— but Å¿ Psa 2.1 they imagined a vain thing It was not the great stone which they rolled before the door of the Sepulchre nor their sealing it nor setting Souldiers to watch that could do it but he rose in the spight of them all t Rom. 1.4 and declared himself to be the Son of God Since they crucified the Lords Cause what hath been their work but how to keep it from rising Truly little else hath been thought of or lookt after the help that is called for from this party and the other it is onely to strengthen the hands of the wicked Now as the Lord will not easily part with his glory so I think it will not be recovered without executing judgement upon the enemies of it and reviving his glorious work and cause again but in what case then are Revolters for if God in this way be glorified they must needs be asham'd If the Lord do magnifie his great Name by lifting up the interest of Christ and his people it must be to the shame and confusion of their faces who have brought it under foot As those that have been whores to great men being cast off or their masters dead every body points at them and scorns them there goes one that was such a mans whore fie upon her no less detested will they be who have served the unclean interest of men The time I am perswaded is nigh that they shall not shew their heads abroad but men women and children will point at them saying LOE THERE WALKS ONE A PROFESSOR A CHURCH-MEMBER WHO FOR A SALARY A PLACE AN OFFICE A MONOPOLY PROSTITUTED HIS HONESTY FAITH CONSCIENCE COUNTRY TO THE LUST AND WILL OF MEN. 3. By being glorifyed of some because others are punished Thirdly The Lord not granting a time of finding unto some but leaving them to perish under wrath is glorified of many by it I have been thinking sometimes what might be the cause that in pouring out the seven last plagues we finde nor any u Rev. 11.13 to give glory to the God of Heaven but when the seven thousand were slain in the Earth-quake Now my opinion is in the destruction of the Last Apostacy under the first vial Gods Justice Holiness wisdome c. will occasion some extraordinary glory to be given to him For whereas he begins with a professing people and spares them not this will be more to the prayse of his Justice then when his wrath afterwards fals upon Idolaters and such as know not God And hence it is that the Mourners in Zion cry day and night with a loud voyce to him that sits on the Cloud x Rev. 14.15 Thrust in thy sickle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the Earth-Apostacy is ripe Not that they fret at the prosperity of evil doers or are impatient under their oppressions or delight in blood but because of the exceeding great glory they know Jesus Christ will have by it When weeds overtop the corn bryars and thorns are grown great and thick high above the vine unless they are cut down there will be no harvest no vintage y Isa 26.9 When thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness When the thorns and bryars which are grown great and high among us are pluckt up by the roots then will this Nation learn righteousness then shall the Lord have a glorious harvest and vintage even sweet and blessed fruit then there will be a generation of Professors sincere single hearted faithful to God and faithful with men whereas now too many are a 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4. Lovers of themselves Covetous Boasters Proud Blasphemers Vnthank-ful Vnholy Truce-breakers Traytors c. Having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof Howsoever it be true b Job 21.30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction yet this day and destruction is c Pro. 16.4 For God's own glory but when they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath how is he then glorified Truly in nothing more then when others seeing the vengeance not only justifie it but are instructed and kiss the Son and stand in awe and sin not d Psa 97.8 Zion heareth and rejoyceth and glad are the daughters of Iudah because of thy judgments Jehovah Those
of honesty and liberty but you shall hear them bitterly exclaim against some persons for their falshood Covenant-breaking seeking themselves and opposing the work of God yea now and then a discontented houshold-servant will be twitting his Master publickly at his nose for casting off the interest of Christ and his people and complying with the Malignant party What said Nabals servants of him to their Mistress e 1 Sam. 25 17. He is such a son of Belial that a man cannot speak to him Belial signifies one without yoak or lawless as if they should say There is not a man alive worse then our Master he cares not what he says nor what he does nor who he wrongs his will is a Law and ordinarily they who have done him most good as David for example he is most spightful and malicious against and if any man do but speak to him of his covetousness cruelty unthankfulness or seem to cross him in his pride and wilfulness he will stamp and stare and curse like a mad-man or devil and do him what mischief he can Therefore certainly evil is determined against our Master and against all his houshold Reader take notice when thou hearest some SERVANTS to call their Master a son of Belial that is one that will be under no yoke no Law or Government one that is an enemy to good people and cares for none but such as wil be servants to his lusts and will this is a great return of prayer for howsoever some servants have not the grace nor honesty to leave such a Nabal nevertheless speaking so openly against his wickedness as they condemn their own sinful standing so they justifie all other servants which have cast off such a SON OF BELIAL Lastly There is another sort who like their places as ill as their Masters and have not a good word for either onely the old Serpent hath taught them a trick to cozen their own souls which is to keep their places in hope to serve their Country the better if a turn or change should come Mock on we know well enough did not these men love themselves a great deal better then they do their Country they would not support oppression as they do for their base pay hire But an ill-favoured face needs painting Fourthly the Lord hath been earnestly cal'd upon that howsoever the Witnesses should be slain f Rev. 11.9 Rev. 12.17 yet not suffered to be burnt but that a remnant of the womans seed might be preserved to keep up the memory of the work and cause of Christ Now truly I think the Father of Mercies hath not in any one thing more clearly answered the Soul-Groanings of his people then in this For 1. Consider how grievously Gods people have been tried and tempted these three or four years not onely by great poverty and outward wants but by the entisements baits of worldly advantages as riches honor promotion pleasure h Mat. 4.9 all these things will I give thee IF THOU WILT c. A man that should stand before the mouth of a Cannon going off or walk upon the ridge or pinacle of a Tower or sail among most dangerous rocks and sands it would be thought very strange if he should escape all danger Some of Gods people lately have had a more wonderful deliverance if the snares be minded which the Lord hath broken for them i Psa 107.8 O let them confess to Jehovah his mercy and his marvelous works 2. Howsoever the love of many is grown cold and they are turn'd with Demas and with the Dog to the world and their vomit again yet hath the Lord preserv'd a litte flock Rev. 3.4 a few names which have not defiled their garments by partaking with the last Apostacy but through grace l Jam. 1.27 have kept themselves unspotted from the world When Gideons Army of 32000 came to be 300. then indeed it was excellent and glorious Judg. 7.7 and meet for the Lord to work Israels deliverance by it Though the followers of Christ are very few in number to the worshippers of the Beast yet this I may say as the prophet saith of the Figs they are n Jer. 24.2 very good the Lord having by their many temptations trials purified them unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works CHAP. VIII FIftly It is A Time of Finding when there is no staggering at the Promise But the things asked are by Faith obtained A Time of Finding when the things asked are seen and received by Faith So certain as if they were already in our own hands Thus o Sam. 1.18 Hannah was sure of the Child as if he had been in her armes So p Exod. 14 13 14. Moses at the Red Sea saw Pharoah and his hoste drown'd before ever they went into the water In dividing the Land of Canaan not onely did Joshua and the people by lot lay out the Inheritance of every Tribe in the Countreys which they had conquered But likewise all other parts of the Land which at present they possessed not And this they did believing what was not yet in their hands it should be theirs so sure as the parts and places already taken No lesse confident and certain are Saints now i. e. as some of the Canaanites are cast out Moncks Fryers Arch-Bishops Bishops So q Lev. 18.28 the Land ere long shall spue out the rest of r Dan. 7.27 them And it shall be given to the Saints of the most high Though the Israelites after they came out of Egypt had a stop for forty years in the wilderness yet God gave them the peaceable possession of Canaan according to his promise So Jerusalem and the Temple were built Howsoever thorough the malice of the Enemy there was some stop put to the worke awhile True it is the worke of God THE GOOD OLD CAVSE hath met with A TROVBLER an ACHAN for through the falshood and hypocrisie of some men it hath been killed and layen in the street like the dead bodies of the Witnesses howsoever not suffered to be put in graves But what of all this so mercifully hath the Lord answered the Cries and Tears of this people as by faith they see it risen and like a Conquerour standing on its feet to the Terror Shame and Ruin of the Adversaries Quest But wherefore hath the Lord suffered his work to be stopped and to lie as it were under a death Ans Howsoever neither men nor Devils could have stopped it had he pleased not to have had it so Yet he would have it stopp'd a while for these Reasons 1. To dismisse from the worke some Regiments of prophane Esau's and worldly Demasses who followed it not for love but loaves Such Hypocrites and rotten hearts the Lord could not endure to see in his work and therefore brought his Army out of the Field to disband them and to Å¿ Ps 125.5 lead them forth with the