people which are a while without the Sun no sooner have a sight thereof but leap and clap their hands for joy as having now their light and life and comforts restored to them So long as men are under Tyranny and oppression which will be till the vial-plagues be gone what have they but night and darkness sorrows and vexations continually Now Christ rising in judgement removes these heavy yokes and burdens and plants peace and righteousness in the Earth Hence not only will the righteous shout for joy but the Lord every where praysed by all sorts of people even the whole Creation Fourthly 4. Iâ— being at rest and satisfied when he hath executed his judgments upon Apostates As no people by their sins do so much press and burden the Lord as back-sliders and luke-warm Professors so he is not at rest and satisfied until he have throughly executed his judgment upon them For this we have an example in the old Apostate Israel when they fell into the hands of their enemies were plundred and spoyl'd had their children ston'd and tumbled in blood their City and Temple burnt to ashes and all their power glory and greatness layd in the dust then God caused his fury to rest his jealousie to depart then was he quiet and still and angry no more The Lord seems to be troubled and unquiet before his judgment is executed but when that is once done especially upon an Hypocritical Nation then he is at rest pacified and comforted e Ezek. 5.13 Thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be COMFORTED and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal when I have accomplished my fury in them Again f Hos 10.10 It is my desire that I should chastise them As a man that longs for a thing is unsatisfied and restless till he have it so the Lord seeing them grown desperately wicked g IsI 1.24 Will ease himself with their just punishment Before Ionah had judgment past upon him h Jon. 1.4 15. There was a great wind and a mighty tempest in the sea the Lords displeasure and anger was up and let out but when Ionah was cast into the sea when justice was done upon him it is said the sea ceased from her raging God is quiet first then the waters So when judgment was executed upon Achan the Text saith i Josh 7.2.6 The Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger Again when judgment was executed upon the bloody house of Saul k 2 Sam. 21.14 After that God was intreated for the Land Till that was done the Lord was not at rest his jealousie and wrath ceased not The Lord threatens to bring the Assyrian upon the Iews who should take away their fair Jewels strip them and leave them naked and bare burn their houses and thrust them thorow with the sword and what then l Ezek. 16.42 So will I make my fury towards thee to rest and my jealousie shall depart from thee and I will be quiet and will be no more angry m Isa 10.25 The indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction as if he should say when I have destroyed them and layd all waste then I shall have ease my anger and fury will cease n Esth 7.10 They hanged Haman upon the gallows and then was the Kings wrath pacified And as the Lord is not quiet and satisfied till he have executed judgment upon Apostates neither is he at ease until he have done the like upon Luke-warm Professors o Rev. 3.16 Because thou art neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth When a man hath something upon his stomack which he cannot brook but it is loathsome to him he hath no ease or quiet till he have cast it up They that are not hot having not the power of Godliness nor cold having yet the form they are a burden and trouble to Jesus Christ till he have by some judgment quitted himself of them For conclusion I have a few things to propound to the earth-thriving Professors of this age who are at ease in their fat places 1. Whether the Lord be not more prest and burdened with the sins of Revolters and luke-warm professors then with the sins of any other people 2. Whether any people since the rise of the Beast have made a greater revolt from God or have been more Luke-warm all things considered then the present English Revolters 3. Whether the latter Apostacie mentioned by Paul 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3. be not in every particular to the life fulfilled in them 4. Whether the Lord can be at rest satisfied and comforted till he have throughly executed his judgment upon such enemies of his Glory Cause and Kingdom 5. Seeing it is not the Dragon but his Tail that * Rev. 12.4 drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven and did cast them to the Earth I query 1. Who is meant by the Tail of the Dragon 2. Who are the fallen Stars 3. Unto which of the Apostacies do they belong for to one they must if not to both Seventhly 7. Because men weep for the punishment of their sins but not for their sins causing the punishment Because men mourn and weep for the punishment of their sins but not for their sins which caused the punishment As the Dog under the whip howls and cries for the pain but not for the fault and cause of his beating Thus did the old Jews when the Amorites came out against them and chased them as Bees do and destroyed them in Seir even unto Hormah p Deut. 1.44 45. They returned and wept before the Lord but the Lord would not hearken unto their voyce And why so because they lamented the loss of their Brethren but not their sins not their Apostacie Rebellion Vnbelief which provoked the Lord to smite them When news came that the English were kil'd like so many Flies in Hispaniola so shamefully destroyed as I think never the like dishonour and shame befel the Nation before the Lord by the judgment signally shewing his displeasure against them It is true there was fasting and mourning but why as the old Jews did Because their brethen were slain But was there any repenting of the Cause was there any sincere acknowledgment of the sins which had provoked the Lord so extreamly against them who like David spake then to the Lord * 1 Chron. 21.17 and said Is it not I that commanded the people to to be numbred even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed But as for these sheep what have they done Let thine hand I pray thee O Lord my God be on me and on my fathers house but not on thy people that they should be plagued David had a weeping heart besides weeping eyes and was no Hypocrite But the Crocodile as some write having devoured a man weeps
help saith David Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce That the Lord heard us in the late wars and was found c Gen. 22.14 JEHOVAH-JIREH a God seen in the mount We can pray now against all the Hypocritical enemies of his Cause and Kingdom more earnestly d Jam. 1.6 In faith nothing wavering which is greatly to his Glory The bramble would have e Judg. 9.15 all the trees put their trust in his shadow Indeed Tyrants would be trusted though there be neither trust nor Truth in them I have read the story how Dominique dreamt the Church of Rome was falling and that he upheld it with his shoulders Have we never heard the like fable In what sore distress the Church and State were both ready to split had not a Minion Idol been devis'd like Dominique's shoulders to keep them up The Tryers probably will apply this because it is like that Shameful thing for all the world But to proceed Did not David very much honor the Lord by trusting in him when he went forth against Goliah But what caused David by beleeving to doe so he tels you f 1 Sam. 17.37 The Lord that delivered me out of the Paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine I know there were many complaints and heart-groans poured out against the King and Bishops for their Tyranny and Idolatry but this I can truly say For twenty years and more in which I suffered under them the Lord did not draw out my heart to so much mourning and sighings as I have done within these three or four years against the GREAT BETRAYERS of the interest of Christ and his people And this I finde as a burning fire shut up in my bones that I cannot hold my peace day nor night Besides Howsoever I am a poor worm and the least in my Father's house yet herein I can give glory to God I do beleeve the Lord that delivered his afflicted people out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear King and Bishops he will deliver them from all PROVD PHILISTIMS that defie the Israel of God yea and that speedily Fifthly 5. Do him more work and better service Times of finding ingage the Lords people to do him more work and better service afterwards If Beasts the larger allowance they have will doe their master the more service Surely then the better Christ is to his children the more they will strive to doe his will in every thing g Psa 116.8 9. Thou hast delivered my Soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling I will walk on before the Lord in the land of the living That is Seeing I have had a Time of finding I will so improve this great mercy as the Lord shall have much glory and honor by it Methinks it is at this day with some honest hearts as it was with the h Mat. 20.3 4. Laborers which stood idle in the market-place Should they be askt why they are not at work What would they say We are calling upon the Lord for imployment we would willingly be at work for it grieves our very Souls to stand thus idle Now hath not a master more profit that his servants are at work then standing still When the Great TIME OF FINDING comes then will Zions children be at work indeed for now they may be said to be idle comparatively to their work THEN Then some shall be the i Rev. 14.6 Angel To preach the Everlasting Gospel Others the k Rev. 15.1 Angels to pour out the seven last plagues Some l Psa 149.8 to bind their Kings in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron Others m Rev. 18.5 to execute vengeance upon Babylon Come Lord Jesus When the Lord made use of Moses and Aaron to pour out vials full of wrath upon Pharaoh and Egypt and of Elias to destroy the Prophets of Baal and of Ioshua to cast out the Canaanites Was he not in those things very much glorified If so then much more when he shall answer the prayers of his people concerning his Son and Zion and the destruction of Babylon and all Tyrants Which is better and more for the honor of a King that Theeves Murderers and Rebels do spoyl and destroy the good people or to be taken and punished What is it that Saints pray for and desire a Time of finding Truly this That Hypocrites and Apostates n Psa 104 35. be consum'd out of the earth and bloody Tyrants be no more That o Rev. 11.15 all the Kingdoms of the world may be Christs p Eze. 21 27 whose right it is And in order hereunto they are to ready to follow the Lamb in his work wheresoever he shall lead them But howsoever some men by Times of finding are the better yet many are the worse Here Jesus Christ may say r Psa 109.4 For my Love they are my Adversaries That is for the Deliverances Victories Preferments which I gave them I am the more wrong'd by them in my Great Name Cause and Kingdom And truly I think never a generation of men more sinn'd against kindness then some of this generation * Isa 1.2 Hear ye Heavens and give ear O Earth for the Lord speaketh I have nourished and brought up or made great and exalted children but they have revolted from me It is a pitiful fight to see a poor Bird kill'd with the feathers pluckt from her They are not only contented to feather their nest with the interest of Christ and his people but with those feathers i. e. power places Offices and preferment which they have pluckt from it shoot at her and murder her most unworthily * Deut. 32.6 Doe ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is all forgotten What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psal 116.12 CHAP. IIII. Reasons Why there will be a Time of Finding in respect of Gods people Reasons in respect of mourners 1. Of the revilings of the proud First BEcause of the scornings and revilings of the proud as reproaching the Godly for their mourning and tears Had not the Lord been found of Hezekiah he had not been able in a little while to have born Rabshakehs and Sennacheribs blasphemies That which caused Hannah to be in bitterness of Soul before the Lord and no doubt moved the Lord to take pity on her it was the extream Å¿ 1 Sam. 1.6 provoking of her adversary for to make her fret because the Lord had shut up her womb Our Adversaries are fallen upon Rabshakehs work and seek to provoke us by the like scornful reproaches Where is the fruit say they of your tears and cries You may see the Lord cares not for your weeping fasting and praying did he regard them he would have helpt you ere now
his former doctrine turning his tale as if there were no providence at all but every thing went by hap It is too probable by some late Turnings many are turned Atheists And therefore questionlesse God will revive his work again For otherwise how can the great reproach and dishonour be taken off from his Providence and Government So 2. Is Religion the true profession of the Gospell which never will have the Credite Glory Beauty it had formerly if the interest of Christ and his People be not revived Nothing better heals the sting of Vipers than to apply their own flesh to the disease The dust of a Toad put to its venomous biting takes away the poison It is much upon my heart by some such APPLICATION the Lord will heal those fearfull wounds and bitings which are upon the truth Though men have not regarded the Credit and Honour of it yet Christ doth and will recover it and revive it again by destroying the fond glosses and covetuous practises of corrupt men and raising up faithfull ones to preach the everlasting Gospell Eusebius writes of Peregrinus the Philosopher having gotten a great estate by feigning himself a Christian that he might consume it the more freely on his lusts revolted to Gentilisme It is plain enough to see why some men have left the Lords work and this people It was that they might be at liberty to spend what they had gotten in excesse pride riot lasciviousness They well knew should they have kept close to Christ and his interest they could not have fulfilled the desires of the flesh and walked after their own lusts And therefore thought it better to turn Heathens again For so doing they knew they should have elbow-room enough might do whatsoever seemd good in their own eyes But what of all this let such know the Lord will make That Holy Profession of his Name Gospel Kingdome glorious and honourable again Though they have made it vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world m Ezek. 36.23 I will sanctifie my great Name which was prophaned among the Gentiles which ye have prophaned in the midst of them 3. Such were the wonderfull actings and appearances of God for and with this Cause as it is not possible it should come to nothing vanish away like smoak which yet will be so unlesse it be quickned and raised again n Judg. 13.23 If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us all these things Let no man think that he would so eminently have shewed his power justice and wrath against the late King for his Tyrany and Arbitrary Government So a-against the Bishops for their pride and humane inventions but that he means to destroy the like wickednesse in others if afterward they shall take it up o 1 Sam. 3.12 When I begin I will also make an end Though it be a judgment and to be executed upon his own people yet he will perfect the work And will he not do so and more p Lam. 3.33 willingly when it is to have mercy upon Zion 4. In reviving this work he will q Isa 57.18 Restore Comfort to his Mourners r Ps 85.6 would not thou revive us again that thy people may rejoyce in thee That is when thou shalt take that which letteth out of the way and bring us again upon thy work Our mourning will cease and thy power faithfulnes goodnes justice will be soul-refreshing unto us I know some men can take pleasure in beholding beastly and filthy things So is oppression falshood and deceit to a time-server turn-coat a most pleasant sight As Hanibal when he saw a pit full of mans blood O formosum spectaculum and the Scots Queen seeing her Subjects lie dead and stripped on the earth cryed out The goodliest Tapestry that ever she beheld The cryes and groans of the poor under their oppressions and heavy burthens what sweet musick makes this in the ears of Self-seekers Now their pay comes in their salary and their so much per annum But the joy of good men riseth otherwise Å¿ Pro. 29.2 When the wicked beareth rule they mourn t Pro. 11.10 and when wicked Rulers perish they shout for joy So that untill this work be revived Saints may expect little joy as to outward and publick Affaires 5. This Cause will surely be revived because it is not mans but the Lords For 1. Are not u Ps 110.12 Christs Enemies to be made his foot-stool and x Psal 2 6. he to sit upon the holy hill of Zion 2. Is not all oppression to cease and y Isa 60.18 Violence to be heard no more in the Land The first and second Apostasies both to be destroyed 3. Must not a Ps 85.11 Truth spring out of the earth and Righteousnesse look down from Heaven And b Dan. 7.22 the Saints possess the Kingdom But can these things be and not the work revived that is impossible When it is night and dark whence do ye expect to have light again in this visible world Is it not by the rising of the Sun So these great things which we are waiting for concerning Jesus Christ and his Kingdome the coming in and accomplishment of them will be by the Lords reviving his work and Cause again Quest But is there not something for the Lords people to do in order to the reviving of the Work Ans Yes surely For 1. Howsoever Achan was the TROVBLER and had caused the STOP yet c Jos 7.11 Israel had sinned also d Jer. 5.55 Your Iniquities saith the Prophet have turned away these things and your sins have withholden good things from you When the clouds are scattered which hide the Sun from us then we behold his shining face again So the Lord e Ps 85.1 2 he forgives the iniquity of his people f Isa 44.22 Blots out their transgressions and sins as a thick cloud and then he will be favourable to his land and bring back the Captivity of Jacob. So that it is the duty of every Saint waiting for the great Promises of the Father to be at the foot of God exceedingly bewailing his Own and his Brethrens great miscarriages And as there is hope our Deliverance is nigh so our hearts should be the more broken and in bitternesse and our tears and sighings encrease now we should rise at midnight and cry g Iâ—el 2 17. Spare thy people h Hos 14.2 Lord take away all iniquity receive us graciously so will we render the calves of our lips We must not so look upon Achans Troublers abroad without as not to see the Achans and Troublers at home in our own hearts Though some have been i Num. 3.3 55. pricks in the eyes of the Lords work and the good old Cause and k Iosh 23.13 Scourges and Thornes in the sides of his people yet must we confess the righteousnesse of
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