Hypocrites v. 5 10. and the Church Increased by that Defection of the Two Botches from the Body and â—y many mighty Miracles of Mercy as well as this of Judgement wrought even by the shaddow of Peter Act. 5. 6 11 to 16. Hereupon Satan fills the Sadducees c. again with Indignation v. 17. the Council now casts the Apopostles into the common Prison among the worst of their Malefactors v. 18. but in the Night an Angel of the Lord opens the Prison Doors and releas'd those whom their Adversaries of themselves had released before with a Command to go Preach boldly in the Temple though the Sanedrim sat there upon which Affront they were Convented again before the Council but by the Grave Counsel of Gamaliel Pauls Tutor who Diswades them by Historical Instances from Fighting against God they were Dismissed again with their Lives yet not without Blows then they went away rejoycing that they were so Highly Graced by being thus Disgraced for Christ v. 19 20 21 23 28 34 35 38 to 4â— The Wonderful release of the Apostles not by Magick Art or by Bribeing the Keeper or by breaking the Prison but by the Power of an Angel sent as an Officer from God to let them out of Prison without the Keepers consent Startl'd those proud Priests v. 23. but Converts them not Yet afterwards so much Conviction shone upon them seeing no Counsel nor might and malice of Man can prevail against God and his Truth Prov. 21. 30. Isa 46. 10. all the Rage of both Rulers and Ruled though never so Vnruly were but Vain fruitless and frustrate Psal 2. 1 4. and as Gamaliel told them Ye cannot overthrow the Counsel of God neither you nor Kings and Tyrants to help you so one Antient Greek-Coppy readeth Act. 5. 39. The Gospel gaining ground notwithstanding all the gain-saying of Governours amongst Grecians as well as Hebrews Act. 6. 1. 't is said expresly A great Company of the Priests were Obedient to the Faith v. 7. We read in Ezra 2. 36 to 40. that 4289 Priests c. Return'd from Babylon and that number might well be Increased in Judea now therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great Company may well enough be fixed on them and on no other and 't was a mighty Testimony from Heaven that so many of those ever most Implacable Enemies and most Active Adversaries of the Gospel should be Converted to the Faith and Truth of the Gospel ☞ I would to God he may give us this Divine Testimony in our day We should not Dispair of the Worst God hath his time to call even a Persecuting Saul and to change him into a Praying and a Preaching Paul This Increase of the Word and of the Number of Disciples v. 7. Enrages the Devil to make the 3d. Assault beholding also Steven so full of Faith and Power whereby he wrought many mighty Wonders among the People v. 8. Hereupon Satan Incenses the Libertines which in the common Notion of the Word are always most Desperate Despisers and Destroyers of Truth as it Condemns Licentiousness to Oppose Steven v. 9. and when they found themselves over-powr'd by Argument they Convent him before the Sanedrim and Suborn'd Witnesses against him a Lesson they had Learnt from their Master the Devil Joh. 8. 44. who as they had Instructed them accus'd him for Vilisying Moses the Law the Holy City and Temple v. 10 11 13. ☞ Where 't is enough to Accuse even the Hâ—ly Child Jesus Escapes not as Innocent notwithstanding their matchless malice against Steven yet 1 before his Apology he is miraculously Vindicated from Heaven by that Angelical Splendour and Majesty as that of Moses Exod. 34. 30. Seated in his Countenance v. 15. which was a most Convinceing Evidence 1. of the Goodness of His Cause 2. of the Greatness of his Courage 3. of the Clearness of his Conscience 2 After his Apology which was full of Wisdom and of the Holy Ghost in every Distinct Answer and wherein he cuts them to the Heart by telling them their Killing Christ made them Worse than their fore-Fathers who onely had Killed his Prophets and that they were Substantial about Circumstantials given only by Moses but Circumstantial about those Substantials given of God himself by the Disposition of Angels Hereupon they in a furious Out-rage Stone Steven who then had his 2d Vindication to wit 1 a clear Vision of Heaven through a great Showr of Stones and 2 of his Dear Redeemer in a Standing Posture as if Rouzed up from his Sitting on the Throne at the Right Hand of His Father and just ready to Revenge the Injury done to his Servant yea and 3 Steven Dyes Dignifi'd with a Double Honour 1 in his place as Proto-Martyr standing first in the Catalogue of all those that wore the Crown of Martyrdom He was the Prince and Bel-weather of the Flock that went to Heaven by that Bloody way in Gospel-times 2 In his Prayer the prevalency whereof might Contribute much to Pauls Conversion in as much as Sauls Sin in Consenting to Stevens Death was not laid to his Charge for his Utter Confusion However this was Honourable at his Death He stood while he pray'd for himself this shew'd the Greatness of his Piety but he Kneel'd down when he Pray'd for his Enemies no less will serve for the greatness of their Impiety he is more concern'd for their Riot than for his own Ruine The Devils 4th Assault was in the great Persecution that followed Stevens Death which the people quietly suffered and as soon as Satan and his Savage Instruments saw the Silence and Tameness of the Multitude which had Hitherto Awed them from executing all Extremities The Fear of the People so oft expressed being now evidently Allay'd they fall foul not upon the Apostles onely as before but upon the whole Church Act. 8. 1. so that they were all Scatter'd abroad and Satan had Saul a fit Tool to effect this by who 1 was Consenting to Stevens Death ☞ 't is all one to hold the Sack and to fill it to do evil or to consent to it a mind to do evil is sin in the Seed which time and warm Temptation may bring forth to Fruit Jam. 1. 14 15. there is Heart-Adultery Matth. 5. 28. and Heart-Murder Matth. 5. 22. Joh. 8. 44. Thus the Cursed Jews became Guilty of all the Bloodshed from Abel to Christ by their Allowance and Consent Matth. 23. 35. So Saul Allowing of Stevens Death made himself guilty of it by his Allowance and that which is more according to the Syriack reading he was both Desirous of it before and Delighted in it after 2 This same Saul was Schollar to Gamaliel Act. 22. 3. President of the Sanhedrim and likely the more Active in Dancing after the Devils Pipe upon that account for his Master Gamaliel notwithstanding his plausible Speech by which he dismissed both the Assembly the Accusers and the Apostles the Accused Act. 5. 34 to 41. Lived and Dyed
and wearing Arms against God and so Exposing themselves to his Wrath Matth. 28. 4. and 't was the Trembling of the Earth that now had Possession of Christ who proved too Hot a Mouthful for it to swallow Act. 2. 24. together with the Apparition of a Glorious Angel Rouling away the great Stone from the Mouth of the Sepulchre and sitting down upon it in Despight of the Guard as a Conquerour which made the Watch Tremble the stoutest of the Devils Champions shrink and shrivel away when Christ begins to Display his Glory Neither the Weight of the great Stone nor the Watch of the Stout Souldiers nor yet the Bands of Death stronger than all so strong as to hold fast many Millions of Men from Adam to this Day under the power of Death could Hold the Dead Body of Christ from Rising beyond his own time To all those Three Impeding Maladies God found out and Applyed as many even Three most Effectual Remedies for 1. The great Stone that was laid upon the Tomb by Man was Roul'd away by an Angel 2. The Earth-quake makes an Heart-quake in the Watch insomuch that they though Sixty of them according to Theophylact are all Affrighted away And 3 the Deity of Christ Losed or Broke the Bands of Death Act 2. 24. for Chist being Life Essential it was not possible he should be Holden of them therefore he Swallowed up Death in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. His Resurrection was to be the Demonstration of His Divine Nature Rom. 1. 4. and the Foundation of our Faith and Perseverance 1 Cor. 15. 14. notwithstanding their malicious Wresting of Christs words Destroy this Temple of my Body yet I will Raise it again the Third Day Joh 2. 19. the meaning of which they Invert and made it a matter of Accusation against him at his Arraignment Matth. 26. 61. but after his Interrment they take up his Right meaning and made Advantage of it for Secureing him fast in his Sepulchre calling the Faithful and True Witness Revel 1. 5. and 3. 7. this Cheat or Deceiver Matth. 27. 63. yet the Lord turns all their Wicked Counsel into Folly 2 Sam. 15. 31. 1 Cor. 1. 19 25. c. and in the sight and Despight of Sixty Weaponed Witnesses After the Sun of Righteousness had been sett in the Grave Six and Thirty Hours just so long as the Sun in the Firmament had his Course stop'd on Joshuahs long Day Josh 10. 13. Then did Christ Break the Bonds of Death as easily as Samson did his Green Wit hs Judg. 16.7 and Rose up on the first Day to bring Life and Immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. upon the same Day that God had drawn out of that Abhorred Estate of Nothing and brought the first Light out of Original Darkness by his Almighty Word Gen. 1. 2 5. The Twenty-Fifth Plot in the New-Testament against the Church in Apostles Defeated by God CHAP. XXV AFter a few Days that Christ was Risen out of his Grave he Rode up to Heaven as a Conquerour in his Triumphant Chariot over Sin Death Hell and Devil leading Captivity Captive that is Captivating all those Four who had held us in Captivity 2 Tim. 2. 26. Just as in the Roman-Triumphs the Great Conquerour Rode up to the Capitol in a Chariot of State and all their Prisoners following behind with their Hands bound behind them He Throwing certain pieces of Coin abroad all along as he Ascended to be pick'd up by the People Even so our Lord Christ that Mighty Conquerour in the Day of his Solemn Coronation or Inauguration into his Heavenly Kingdom Triumphed over all those Spiritual Adversaries of his Church making a shew of them openly Col. 2. 15. as Tamberlain did the Great Turk Bajazet whom he carried about all Asia shut up in an Iron-Cage to be seen of all Spectators on every side for Scorn and Derision And Christ likewise that the Grandeur of his Glorious Conquest might be more magnificently Celebrated gave great Gifts to Men 'T is said he Received those Gifts before in the Old Testament Psal 68. 18. and he Gave them now in the New Ephes 4. 8. He Received them that he might Give them he therefore Receives them with one Hand and Gives them with the other Accounting it more Honourable to give than to receive Act. 20. 35. Now the Gifts Christ gave to his Church were both Ordinary and Extraordinary to wit Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastours Teachers All Gifted by God for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry and for the Edifying of the Body of Christ Ephes 4. 8 11 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is for the right Joynting of what ever the Devil may Disjoynt even to the End of the World v. 13. before which a compleat comming up into an Vnity of the Faith and unto that full Measure of the Stature of Christ even a Perfection of Grace cannot be expected Hence Christ Insists upon this point that his going from his Disciples was as Expedient as his comming to them Joh. 16. 7. He came to them that he might Converse with them in the Flesh but he must Depart from them that he might Conferr upon them his Spirit Christ had often promis'd to send the Spirit or Comforter to them in his Life time John 14. 16 26. and 15. 26. and 16. 7. that they might once observe it as an unparallel Priviledge to have the Spirit which is the best of all things powred down upon all Flesh the worst of all things Hos 8. 13. Joel 2. 28. Christ tells them that this Spirit whom he calls Another Comforter whereof they would stand in need during his Departure in an Evil World should be as his Vicar-General with whom he would leave them in a dark forlorn World and by whom he would be with them and with their Successors even to the End of the World Mat. 28. 20. Now after his Resurrection He Breath'd on them saying Receive ye the Holy Ghost Joh. 20. 22. as Adam received Life by Gods Breathing upon him so the Disciples received a power of Life and Death of Remission of Sin and Execution of Judgment as Act. 5. 5. 10. by Christs Breathing upon them or at least this Breathing was a prefiguring-preparation for their further and fuller Reception of the Spirit upon the Day of Pentecost which Christ had Promised Luk. 24. 49. and did perform over and over again Act. 2. 2 3 4. and 4. 31 33. whereby they were Enabled as Christ had told them to do greater Works than he did Joh. 14. 12. not for the Manner they doing all in Christs Name not in their own nor as Equal with God but for matter greater as 1 Converting Three Thousand Souls at one Sermon alas now not one Soul scarce is Converted by Three Thousand Sermons Act. 2. 41. 2 Curcing the Diseased not onely by a Word speaking or an Hand touching but also by the shaddow of Peter passing by Act. 5.
the same means an Expiation of Sin was made where as it was first committed Thus God overshoots Satan in his own 〈◊〉 and the Devil goes off from his first Plot with a broken-Head by the Womans Seed which makes him weaker in his Projects ever after The Second Plot against the Church in ABEL Defeated by GOD. CHAP. II. WHen Satan saw his first Plot Defeated in as much as Man did not dye immediately nor was made as miserable as himself and that in despight of the Devil God would have his Church in the World to make up that Breach withal in the City of God which Lucifer and his Apostate Angels had made therein he takes other Measures and projects a New Plot by his Serpentine subtilty to wit seeing he could not Hinder the Being of the Church he next Endeavours to Divide it into a True and False Church that at least he might thereby hinder the Well-being of it if he could not make the False Church Destroy the True One. This is held forth in Cain and Abel both whom our first Parents had Religiously Trained up in the Worship of God by Sacrifice they were both Worshippers of the True God Cain as well as Abel Cain did not offer his Oblation to an Idol but it was Mincha la Jehovah an Offering to the Lord Gen. 4. 3. and we do not find that God blamed Cain either for the Matter Time or Place of his Worship Cain Rectè obtulit non Rectè Divisit offered right but did not Divide aright betwixt God and himself he should have given God first Se and then de Suis first Personam and then opus Personae Himself and then of his Substance as Abel did according to Gods Demand My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23. 26. he dealt Fraudulently therefore with God and so became the Head of the False Church as Abel was of the True or as August de Civit. Dei lib. 15. cap. 1. expresseth it Cain was the Author of the City of the World both as he was Born first of faln Man and was called Cain which signifies Possession so he made the World his Possession and that first City which he Built therein yea and as he Plots against his Brother Abel who was chosen out of the World Born second and call'd Abel i. e. Vanity because he look'd upon the World in all its Pomps and Possessions as Vanity and he is called the Author of the City of God and therefore is he driven out of the World by an Untimely Death so early came Martyrdom into the World upon the True Church which Abel represented by the False One Cain As the first Beast that Dyed in the World Dyed for a Sacrifice Figuring Christ the True Sacrifice for Sin ut Suprà so the first Man that dyed in the World dyed for Religion 1 Joh. 3. 12. The first Righteous Man that went to Heaven must swim thither in a River of his own Blood Matth. 23. 35. The City of the World which at the best onely professes Religion will persecute the City of God which both professes and possesses the power and purity of Godliness Or as the Holy Scripture better then Augustin expresseth it Cain was the Head or top of the Seed of the Serpent who was the first begotten of Adam in his faln Estate And as Rab. Menachem saith was conceived of the Filth and Seed that the Serpent had conveyed into Eve However Gods Word speaks Infallibly That Eve was much mistaken at Cain's Birth saying She had got a Man from the Lord Gen. 4. 7. or that Famous Man The Lord as if she had brought forth that promised Seed of the Woman Gen. 3. 15. the Holy Child Jesus These were Verba Spei non Rei her Hoping was better than her Having for Cain was a Wicked One and of the Wikced One 1 Joh. 3. 10 12. Joh. 8. 44. so was the Root of all the Reprobates in the World but Abel was the Root of the Righteous as Christ himself reckons him Matth. 23. 35. And therefore the Devil Cain's Father Joh. 8. 44. complotts with Cain to Root out Abel by Killing him and in him all future Hope of the True Church That Tree cannot grow whose Root is Destroyed This Head of the Black-Line Cain Clubbing wits with the Head of the Serpent Satan whose Head was already Broken or Bruised by the Promise of Christ Essays the 2d Plot against Abel the Head of the White-Line to break his Head with his Club and to Brain him therewith yet even this Plot that came from the Devils Broken Head prov'd in the Issue but a Broken Plot God over-shooting him in his Bow The preparation to this 2d Plot was This Lucifer that was come down from Heaven in great Rage Rev. 12. 12. enrages Cain touching him with a live Coal from Hell as the Angel did the Prophets with one from Heaven Isai 6. 5. and sets his Heart on Fire of Hell Jam. 3. 6. This made him Hot and Burn in Indignation as the Word Charah Gen. 4. 5. signifies for of all the Eight Hebrew Words which signifies Anger This Word Charah is the most Vehement Cain's hot Displeasure was first Inflamed against God as being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Respecter of Persons in sending Fire from Heaven in Token of Accepting Abels Bloody Sacrifice and yet rejecting his un-bloody Meat-Offering Thus Cain's Eye was Evil because God's was Good Matth. 20. 15. Yea and such was his Rage against God that when he not only told him If thou dost well shall thou not be accepted v. 7. but also asks him Where is Abel thy Brother v. 9. Cain Angerly Answers and bids God Go look as if God had ask'd him an Impertinent Question and as if he had put an Office upon him which belong'd not to him yet he that disdain'd to be his Brothers Keeper disdain'd not to be his Brothers Executioner and the Wrath of Man that never speaks the Righteousness of God much less works it Jam. 1. 20. transported Cain so far as to tell the God of Truth a loud Lye in his saying I know not where he is Thinking by this frivolous Evasion to blind the Eyes of the All-knowing God as the God of this World had blinded his Eyes and hardned his Heart too and hereby he declared himself to be immediately descended from the Devil who was both a Lyar and a Murderer from the beginning Joh. 8. 44. 2dly His Rage against Abel for though his Rage was great against God insomuch that he could have found in his heart to have pull'd God out of Heaven Omne peccatum est Deicidium all sin is a kind of God-Murther for his partiality but God was out of his Reach yea and of the Devil 's too that set him on work The Borrowing power can never match the Lending power The Creature can never be too strong for the Creator Howbeit Abel was within his Reach and he will Wound the Master in his Servant The
an honorable Interrment and now opens its Mouth again in not yielding him its strength in a clamorous petition for Vengeance against him As the cursed Fig-Tree lost its Vigour and Withered Mark 11. 21. So a Fruitful Land is made barren for the Wickedness of its owners and Occupiers Psal 107. 34. The 3d. Means God uses to Defeat the Devils Design is He Excommunicates Cain Satans prime Patriark out of the Church who would have Excommunicated the Church out of the World in God's proto Martyr Abel and that with the greater Excommunication v. 12. A Vagrant and a Vagabond shalt thou be Thus his Doom Rises higher and falls heavier upon him Psa 59. 12. and 109. 10. Cain the first Apostate went out from the Presence of the Lord and dwelt in the Land of Nod which signifies Wandring v. 14. 16. So that he was a Vagrant from the Church from his Fathers Family and Fellowship as well as a Vagabond upon Earth God would come and Talk with him no more nor Vouchsafe one Gracious Glance towards him nor Accept any one Oblation from him at any time 4thly God sets a Brand upon him v. 15. and thereby as it were Burns him in the Hand and Stigmatizes him for a Rogue This mark was not an Horn in his Forehead as the Jews feign but 't was an Hornet in his Conscience as Exod. 23. 28. stinging him with horrible Conviction and Compunction for his Murder The words of the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Sighing and Trembling as if God's Mark upon him had been probably a Trembling not onely of his Hands and Head but also of his Heart and whole Body which made all People pitty him Some Rabbins say Cain was continually Dogged with Abel's Dog but Assuredly he was Haunted with his own Evil Ghost which made him look with a most ghastly Countenance having Horror in his Heart and a very Hell in his Conscience This might make him Tremble every where and fear every Bush he saw was a Bayliff to Arrest him and every Man he met a Devil to Torment him So that a longer Lease of his Life was no better than a lingring Death nay such a Life under the Guilt of such a sin and under the sense of such a Curse was far worse then a Temporal Death Therefore God Dooms him to Live and not immediately to Dye that he might be a Land-Mark of Shame and a Living-Monument against Murder and Murderers 5thly His Death after a Woful Life was Woful also as humane Testimony Reports for though he us'd some Carnal Anodynes to Allay the unbearable pangs of his wounded Spirit and to drown the horrible noise of his self-condemning Conscience he falls upon Building a City and call'd it Enoch that his Son might be call'd Lord Enoch of Enoch v. 17. Yet Vengeance would not suffer him to live Act. 28. 4. Nor to Live out half his Days Psal 55. 23. Nor to go down to the Grave in peace 2 Kin. 2. 5. That he Dyed an Untimely death all Historians concurr about the Year 131. the manner how is Variously Reported some say It was by the Fall of an House which he was Building in his New City Others say He was slain by his Grand-child Lamech who being a Blind Archer was led to shoot him by a wicked Boy Take it either way and his Sin is Writ upon his Punishment for either as he that Designed to pull down Gods House the Church so his own House which he was rearing up falls down upon him and knocks him down dead on the place as he had done his Brother Abel or As he Disdain'd to be his Brothers Keeper but not to be his Executioner Lives to beget a Son whose Son became his Grand-Fathers Executioner Thus when God makes Inquisition for Blood Psal 9. 12. shall not he Search it out Psal 44. 21. Yea he will and wound the Hairy Scalp of such as go on in their Iniquity Psal 68. 21. 6thly Neither doth Divine Vengeance upon him End here in his Untimely and Violent Death but his last Doom is the most Woful of all Dooms Cain must not onely be doom'd out of the Church and out of the World but also he must be Doom'd to Hell whither all wicked Men are turned and all the People though there be whole Nations of them that forget God as Cain did Psa 9. 17. Especially Murderers who are abhorred of the Lord Psal 5. 6. He that sat upon the Throne hath himself said it Rev. 21. 8. Murderers shall have their Lot in the Lake that Burneth with Fire and Brimstone more especially such as Murder Gods Image in his Servants who have his Image upon them in a double manner both by Generation Gen. 9. 6. And also by Regeneration Eph. 4. 24. God will of all others avenge their Blood Rev 6. 10. and that speedily Luk 18. 7. Thus Cain was a wicked One was of the wicked One and went to the wicked One in Hell at last But the last Means whereby God Defeated the Devil's 2d Plot was In raising up a Seth to Stand up in Abel's Stead according to the Signification of his Name Seth Hebr. Posuit placed in his Brothers place for Upholding the Church Sic Vno avulso non Deficit Alter Aureus Though one Branch Abel was lop'd off from the Tree of Mankind Adam yet another Springs up and that a Golden One in his Stead And out of the Ashes of the Dying Phoenix another Phoenix Ariseth to Continue its Kind in the World Thus Seth or Sheth signifies not onely Posuit but Reposuit layd up as his Godly Mother believingly Acknowledged That the Church was layd up in him and that he was the Foundation of it a Type of Christ Isa 28. 16. 1 Cor. 3. 11. out of whom Christ Sprung Luk. 3. last Gen. 4. 25. and though Adam had many other Sons Gen. 5. 4. yet none are Named savely onely Seth as being the only Professor of the True Religion and Foundation of the Church Now when the Devil and his Agents had got Abel out of the Way and World and saw Adam for an 130 Y. without an other in his stead Gen. 5. 3. Oh what Rejoycing was there and sending of Gifts amongst them as Rev. 11. 10. But God Cut their Coxcombs and Confuted their Confidences in Raising up Seth by whose Means with God's Blessing the Devil lost and the Church won Ground for then 't is said Men began to call upon the Name of the Lord Gen. 4. 26. That is Publickly and in Solemn Assemblies making an Open Profession which hitherto had been but Privately done The Third Plot against the Church in SETH Defeated by GOD. CHAP. III. WHen Satan saw his 2d Plot Defeated and Laugh'd to Nothing by the Lord that Seth must Live and have many Children though Abel was Dead and that Childless Gen. 5. 7. Numb 24. 17. And the Church not onely Maintained but Advanced by them This Restless Adversary Projects a 3d. Plot
had now scarcely wiped their Mouths of the late Transgression assuredly there had never been so much Idolatry Infidelity and Mutiny amongst them What could make them Wicked if all these would Denominate them Holy No doubt but the Devil had a fair prospect of his Plot and Design when he had raised up a Grand Ring-leader of Rebellion and not onely so but when this One Man v. 22. the Great Wheel the Primus Motor or Primum Mobile thereof had by his Instigation Twisted to himself such Two considerable Interests of 250 Princes and of so many People yet the Great God who is higher then the Highest Eccles 5. 8. Laughs all this to Nothing for Moses well tells them v. 11. That this their Rising was against the Lord as the Lord told Saul after Saul Saul why Persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. Who ever hardened himself aegainst God and prospered Job 9. 4. Nor they then for 1st Moses Retorts upon those Rebels the same they had falsly reflected upon him and Aaron v. 7. Ye take too much upon you ye Sons of Levi as doth Elias upon Ahab 1 Kin. 18. 17 18. and to Hide pride from them Job 33. 17. he minds them not to look up at those few Priests that were above them so much as look down at the many Myriads of People that were below them Their Thankful-Contentedness with their Advancement as Levites above all the People should have kept them from all Repining Discontentedness at the few Priests that were above them But those sturdy Rebels were Uncounsellable Incorrigible and their Envy and Ambition are restless and Unsatisfiable Hence they say We will not come up v. 12. Preferring the Land of Aegypt their House of Bondage and their Iron Furnace Deut. 4.20 most Ungratefully and Maliciously before that of Gods most Gracious Promise v. 13.14 Hereupon 2d Moses referrs this Controversie betwixt the Church Malignant and the True Church Militant to a Divine Decision 1st in Praying that God would not respect their Offering v. 15. and thereby maintain his Honest Cause and Holy Calling against those Invaders thereof they had forgot Gods Judgements upon Nadab and Abihu Levit. 10. 1. which should have made their Hands Tremble insomuch as Handling strange Incense and Censors which they had ready provided when first they Combined to Usurp the Priests Office and now stood stouting it out in the very Face of God but he had no Respect to their Offering when he came to make known who were his as v. 5. Though he Answer'd by Fire from Heaven it was to Burn themselves but not their Sacrifice 2dly In Predicting Gods Miraculous Judgement upon those Rebels v. 28. 29 30. wherein Moses Engageth the Truth and Honour of his Cause upon a Miracle Immediately comming to pass At last 3dly both the Plot and all the Plotters Perished Jude v. 11. Some one way and some another as the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies none of them dying a common Death God Created Two New Destructions for them Some were Swallowed up of the Earth so Buryed Quick the worst of Deaths because their Mouths had been open Sepulchres to swallow up Gods Servants and Others were Burnt to Death with Fire from Heaven having sinned by Fire in their Censors and Incense As for Korah the Captain of the Conspiracy and the Ring-leader of the Rebellion the main Wheel of this Malicious Mutiny the Scripture seems to doom him to a double Death as his Sin was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Twice-dip'd Scarlet Sin and of a double dye As if he were not onely Buryed Quick in that Dismal and Universal Grave but also Burned with those that Offer'd strange Incense as if the Mouth of the Earth below him and Fire from Heaven above him had both Conspir'd together to Stigmatize and Brand that Arch-Rebel who had been the Original of all For 1st That he was Swallowed up of the Earth Appears 1. Inasmuch as the People were bidden to Seperate from the Tents of Korah as well as of Dathan and Abiram Numb 16. 24. and accordingly they did so v. 27. 2. The Words v. 30. If the Lord Create a New Thing and the Earth open her mouth and Swallow Them up seems to referr unto all the Three 3. The Earth did Swallow up all the Men that appertaineth unto Korah v. 32. And 4. 't is Expresly said That the Earth did Devour Korah himself Numb 26. 10. 2dly That he was burned by Fire from Heaven Inasmuch as Korah being a Levite 1. was one of those that offered such Incense as God Respected not 2. Korah joyning with them in the same Sin was also joyn'd with them in the same Punishment They all sinn'd together by Fire and they were all Punish'd together by Fire and that Immediately after their burning Incense 3. Those that were thus burnt are call'd Korah and his Company ver 40. 4. Korah's Censer was among those Censers which were to be Plates for the Altar as a Caveat to succeeding Ages That none should Invade the Priest-hood as Korah and his Company had done Numb 16. 6 17 38 39 40. However he was Burned in Hell both he and his whole Tribe of Traitors Thus the Sheol v. 30. taken either strictly or largely for Hell or Grave Swallow'd up both this Plot and all the Plotters Yea and the Wise God here beats Satan and batters his Kingdom with his own Weapon and strikes him thorough with Arrows out of his own Quiver in his Reserving Korah's Children alive The Sons of Korah Dyed not Numb 26. 11. who some say were born up Pendulous in the Air by Divine Power while the Earth had Swallowed up their Wicked Father being either Innocent of their Fathers Sin or Penitent at Moses Admonition Numb 16.5 And those became as eminently Serviceable as their Father had been notoriously Destructive to the Church Of them descended Samuel 1 Chro. 6. 33 34. with 1 Sam. 1. 20. They were singers in the House of the Lord v. 31. and many Psalms have them in their Titles as Psal 42 44 45 c. Thus God can gather Grapes from Thorns and Figgs from Thistles And as one saith can make White Paper even of Dung-Hill Raggs An Holy Off-Spring Extracted out of an Vnholy Root Thus Satan loses Ground by this Plot and the Church winns Aaron's Priest-Hood so opposed is Confirm'd by a Miracle Aaron's Rod alone Budded Numb 17. And the Church marches on towards Canaan The Eighth Plot against the CHURCH Defeated by GOD. CHAP. VIII THe 8th Plot is as a Rope of the Devils making wherewith he Designs to draw back the Church not onely from Canaan when they were come to the very South-point of it Numb 21. 1. but also farther off into the Wilderness yea if possible into Aegypt again And in Order hereunto whereas the Scripture saith A 3-fold Cord is not easily broken Eccl. 4. 12. To make it stronger Satan Twists his Rope here of 4 Cords to make it a 4-fold one that it might make
overturn both the Many and the Mighty of them and Rescue his Little Ones out of all their Hands Zech. 13. 7. Isa 25. 11. none shall Pluck them out of Christs and His Fathers Hands Joh. 10. 28. 29. The Thirteenth Plot against the CHURCH in Canaan Defeated by GOD. CHAP. XIII THe Church's Restless Wretched Adversary Satan seeing he cannot still Hinder the Being of God's Church Trys again his 13th Experiment against the Well-Being of it and that once more before Israels Aristocracy was chang'd into Monarchy to wit in the time of Eli and Samuel the Two last Judges of Israel yet such was the Over-ruling Providence of God above the Devil that whatever Ground he Won upon the Church in Old Eli's Male-Administration he Lost it All again in Young Samuel's Godly Reformation So that here again Divine Dispensations towards the Church concerning Sorrows and Joys were most beautifully Chequered with Interchangeable Colours Magistracy is what the Pole is to the Hop or the Tree to the Ivy or the Wall to the Vine the former gives Support to the latter which cannot stand alone without something to Sustain them The Church's Word to the State is Te Stante Virebo While thou Stands I Flourish This Blessed Nail as Eliakim that Godly Magistrate Keeps all the Vessels of the Lord stedfastly and Holds them from falling to the Ground Isa 22. 24. This the Devil knew well and therefore play'd his Pranks against the Church in that Interval of Magistracy betwixt Joshuah and the Judges in which Interspace Satan wrought and brought down Israel to that gross Idolatry Impiety and Apostacy mentioned in the Five last Chapters of the Book of Judges The Stories whereof there Related that the History of the following Judges might be continued without any Interruption as before did all Befall Israel soon after Joshuah and some 100's of Y. before Sampson whom this Eli immediately succeeded unless we make Phinehas mentioned in Iudg. 20. 28. to live far beyond Moses term Psal 90. 10. even above 300 Y. who was at Mans estate at his Killing Zimri and Cozbi in the Wilderness and therefore could not out-live Samson 'T is said expresly in those Five last Chapters no less than Three times to wit Iudg. 17. 6. and 18. 1. and 21. 25. In those Days there was no King in Israel that is not a King in its proper Sense for so Israel never had a King in any of those Days until Saul's time but no Judge or supream Magistrate to keep Israel in Awe and Order This time of Israels Anarchy before their Aristocracy the Devil Improv'd as his Golden Opportunity wherein to propose and promote his Hellish Projects and to bring All to an Horrible Confusion when there was no publick Power to controul or restrain their Extravagancies Yea this Daring Devil though over-Witted and over-Powered by the onely Wise and Almighty God even upon that Advantage-Ground Durst Attempt the Church when under the Protection of Her Godly Governours as under Sampson of whom 't is said He shall onely Begin to Deliver Israel Iudg. 13. 5. He made some essays to save them from the Oppressing Philistines yet that Oppression lasted 40 Y. v. 1. to wit During the Days of Samson and of Eli his next Successor though Samson was Destroying them all his life and Destroyed more at his Death Iudg. 16. 20. wherein he was a Type of Christ who by his Death overcame Death and him who had the power of Death the Devil Hebr. 2. 14. yet did he onely Begin and kept Doing at the Church's Deliverance both all his Life and at his Death the Perfecting whereof was Reserved for David the Father and Figure of Christ who is both the Founder and Finisher of Faith and Salvation Hebr. 2. 10. and 12. 2. So under Eli who undoubtedly was a Godly Man as is Apparent 1 by his Godly Prayers whereby he made her Amends for his Uncharitable Censure for Disconsolate Hannah The God of Israel Grant thee thy Petition 1 Sam. 1. 17. He having a particular Faith that God would grant her Request if she compos'd her self and cast her Burden or Petition upon the Lord Psal 55. 22. promises his own Prayers for that purpose and hids her Go in Peace which she did taking the High-Priest's Answer for an Oracle being Comforted with this Comfort and having Pray'd down her Discomfort as David oft did 2 by his Humble and Hearty Submission to the Will of God when Declared to him 1. by the Mouth of the Man of God 1 Sam. 2. 27. and 2ly by the Mouth of his Young Minister Samuel Chap. 3. 11. 17. Eli said upon the Hearing thereof v. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good id est His Holy Will be done I and my House have Deserved All God hath Just cause to punish but not I to murmur I must patiently bear what God pleases to Inflict He is too kind to do me harm too just to do me wrong he will turn Temporal evil to my Everlasting good 3 by his Trembling for the Ark of God Chap. 4. 13. out of his Zeal for God's Glory and the Church's Good lest Israel should lose and Philistines get the Sign of God's Presence He loved his Spirituals better then his Temporals he could hear with patience of the loss of some Thousands and of the loss of his Two Sons but when he heard of the loss of the Ark this goes like a Dagger to his Heart and 't is a Question whether his Neck or his Heart were first Broken v. 18. Like a godly Man he cannot live without the Ark of God no Sword of the Uncircumcised could have given him a more Mortal Blow than the Report of this Loss that struck him down into a deadly swound Yet was he not Driven away in his Wickedness as is a Wicked Man but he had Hope in his Death as a Righteous One Prov. 14. 32. He that could not Live without the Ark of God how could he Dye without the God of the Ark The Sins of his Sons Displeas'd his godly Soul and he Reproov'd them for it yet more Mildly than was meet hence God Writ his Sin upon his Punishment He that minded not in time to Break the stiff Neck of his stubborn Sons while Young Prov. 19. 18. had now his own Neck broken And though he was not a good Father to his Sons yet was he Himself a good Son to God and his Memory is Blessed among all the other Godly Judges saith Wisdom or Eedus Chap. 46. 11. in the Apocrypha Although Eli was a Godly Man and both Judge over Civil and High-Priest over Ecclesiastick Affairs and so had a most Precious Price put into his Hands for promoting the Church's Weal yet the Devil made a Fool of him so that he hath no Heart to it Prov. 17. 10. and this Satan did Accomplish 1. by Prompting him to too much Indulgency towards his Dissolute Sons 2ly by Tempting him to a too much Neglect of
Spake and the Mighty Works he Wrought Weaken'd both theirs and the Devils Kingdom therefore they all along sought to Kill Christ as before but Durst not do it for fear of the People Now the Devil of Discontent Entred into Judas missing his Fat Morsel the price of the precious Oyntment which he would have put into his Bagg Joh. 12. 4 6. so here was the Devil in the Priests Conspiring with the Devil in Iudas therefore the Contract about this Horrid Treason was like enough to Comply Hereupon Iudas Undertakes to take the Thorn out of the Priests Heel the fear of a Tumult and to Deliver his Master up to them though at the Feast yet Quietly enough to wit In the Absence of the People from that time he sought Opportunity to Betray him Matth. 26. 16. both for time and place he promis'd to do it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without any Tumult from the People Luk. 22. 6. This Iudas by the Devil his Liege-Lords Direction soon effected to wit in the Night when Christ was with the Disciples onely in the Garden at Gethsemane without the City Matth. 26. 36. Mark 14. 32. Luk. 22. 39. ☞ Mark here 1 the Confidence 2 the Contumacy 3 the Craftiness of this Devil in Iudas 1. his Confidence Oh what a dareing Devil was this Frontless Traytor that after he had Contriv'd and Contracted that prodigious Villany of Shedding his Lords Blood he should Dare thus Boldly and Impudently to Intrude himself into the presence of his Omniscient as well as Innocent Master at His Lords Passeover Matth. 26. 20 21 c. 2. his Contumacy the Innocent Life of his Lord Christ could not but Dart most powerful Convictions upon the Conscience of this Traiterous Villain yet Conspires he his Murder not out of any sudden pang of passion or by any surprizing Incogitancy but all he did was done in Cold Blood and upon Mature Deliberation therefore 't is said from the time of his makeing this Damnable Bargain with the Priests he sought Opportunity c. and all without any save Satan in him to Solicit him to it for Two Days and Nights together 3. his Craftiness in Watching this Opportunity not in the Day-time least his Deed of Darkness should be Discern'd and Detested nor in the City least some good Citizens should make a Rescue but his monstrous and matchless Villany must be done in the Night-time least it should blush to behold the Light and without the City in a Solitary place Iudas knew Christ's Haunts as Saul did Davids 1 Sam. 23. 22. to vvit in the Garden where he had his Agony and where he began to Expiate that first Sin Adam had committed in a Garden of Gethsemane which signifies the Valley of Fatness there this unparallel'd Impiety must be perpetrated this place was over the Brook Kidron Joh. 18. 1 2. and neer the Mount of Olives Luk. 22. 39. Mark 14. 32. Here was Christ 1 Apprehended hence was he Hurry'd to be 2 Arraigned in the Spiritual-Court before a full Council of Corrupt-Churchmen Matth. 26. 57. with a great deal of Injustice and Subornation ver 59.60 being Resolv'd to have his Blood right or wrong then is he 3 Condemned in their Court for a Blasphemer v. 65 66. then was he 4 Spitted on in token of Contempt Numb 12. 14. Deut. 25. 9. 5 He was Buffeted v. 67. as if he had been their Slave 6 Blindfolded Luk. 22. 94. Insulting over him with their mad Mockings as if he had been but a Mock-Prophet 7 they Binded his Hands behind him as is done to the Condemned and is sent away by the Consistory of Priests to be put to Death by the Secular or Civil Power Matth. 27. 2. Joh. 18. 12. 8 the Roman-Magistrate dooms him to be Crucified after the Roman manner at the Wicked Iews Instigation Matth. 27.22 23 26. then 9 was he Striped v. 26. that by his Stripes we might be Healed Isa 53. 5. 10 he was Stripped v. 28. that we might be Clothed Ezek. 16. 10. so was led away to Dye the most Ignominious Death as a Traitour to Coesar and as the Vilest of Men to expiate Adams Sin who would have been as Wise as God Lastly When Dead he was Buryed and his Sepulchre made sure and secure both with Seal and Watch and a great Stone upon it Matth. 27. 64 65 66. 't is a common saying Mortui non Mordent Dead Men Bite not but here Christ though Dead and Buried Bites and beats Hard upon those evil Mens Consciences they could not Rest all the Night before ver 62. for fear Christ should get out of his Grave some way or other and so Create them more and further Trouble And they that had forgot all Christs other sweet savoury and saving Sayings Writing them all in the Sand could remember but for a Wicked Purpose that which his own Disciples could not so Readiâ—y call to mind for their own good Comfort no nor Understand it when plainly told them Mark 9. 31 32. Those mad Men remember what he had said about his Resurrection onely because they would gladly have kept Christ in the Grave still where now they had him that they might securely Dance upon his Grave and that they might think themselves sufficiently Cock-sure of him ☞ Oh that we could do all this to the Cursed Body of Sin what those Cursed Priests did to the Blessed Body of Christ would we be of the Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 5. made so by Christ unto God Revel 1. 6. Exod. 19. 6. Then must we do to the Body of Sin all these things 1 Apprehend it 2 Arraign it 3 Condemn it 4 Spit in its Face 5 Buffet it Black and Blew 6 Blindfold it 7 Bind it Hand and Foot 8 Stripe it 9 Stripp it 10 Crucifie it Lastly Bury it in a sure Grave that Peccata non Redeant never Rise or Return our Sin may any more neither in this World to our Temporal or Spiritual Confusion or in the World to come to our Utter and Eternal Condemnation All these Actions are but manifest Duties in Scripture as 1 Cor. 9. 27. Gal. 5. 24. Rom. 8. 13. and 6. 4 11 c. Now when Christ was Buryed thus surely the Devil no doubt Danced for Company upon His Grave having made all firm and fast as he thought for ever and a Day But He that sat in Heaven saying Yet have I set my King upon my Holy Hill of Sion Psal 2. 4 6 c. Laughed at this and all this to Nothing Jehovah had them in Derision Behold how God over-shoots Satan in his own Bow Divine Providence makes use of those very Means the Devils Malice used to obscure Christs Glory to Render Christs Resurrection more Glorious and much less Obnoxious to any Just Exception That very Watch which was set to keep Christ Under-Ground and in his Grave are made Nolens Volens the Trembling Witnesses of his to them frightful Resurrection they were struck half Dead for bearing
15 16. or by an Handkerchief onely touching Paul though at a Distance Act. 19. 12. both these had a Soveraign Miraculous yet neither of them any Inhaerent power to Cure Diseases and to Cast out Devils 3 Conversing with all Nations in all their several Languages Act. 2. 4 8 to 11. which they never Studied to learn them at Home nor ever Travel'd Abroad to gain them 4 Conferring Corporal Plagues Act. 13. 11. and Spiritual 1 Cor. 5. 5. Yea Death it self Act. 5. 5 9 10. upon Opposers and Disgracers of the Gospel Christ never Hurt any by his Miracles but Healed all 5 Conquering a great part of the World Reduceing it to the Obedience of Christ they being the White Horses on which the Gospel Rode abroad and about the World Conquering and to Conquer Revel 6. 2. 6 Contracting no Harm by Drinking Deadly Poyson Mark 16. 17 18. as John the Apostle Barsabas and others did according to Eusebius and other Ecclesiastick-Histories Yea and Sacred Scripture doth better Confirm that the Viper about Pauls Hand did not Hurt him Act. 28. 3 4 5. no Doubt but the Devils design here was to have Destroyed him by that Viper but he was as in all his other Plots deceived and Defeated by Vertue of that Promise of Christ Mark 16. 18. Isa 11. 8. The same God that shut the Mouths of the Lyons for Daniels safety Dan. 6. 22. did also shut the mouth of thâ—s Venomous Beast for Pauls Preservation and so shut it as the Devil could not remove the Muzzle for his Destruction see Psa 91. 13. and Luk. 10. 19. Now the Devil beholding the Gospel carry'd throughout the World upon those Stupendious Miracles as upon so many Eagles or rather Angels Wings the Apostles Working greater Works by the power of Christs Spirit Poured out upon them Joh. 7. 39. now in his state of Exaltation than ever Christ personally wrought in his state of Humiliation This made the Devil and with malice to see the Gospel Dart it self as Eusebius saith like a Sun-Beam through the World rejoycing like a Gyant to run its Race Psal 19. 5. and to feel himself fall like lightening from Heaven down to Hell thereby Luk. 10. 18. Upon this High Provocation Satan begins to bestir himself and to make many Assaults upon the New Test Church in the Apostles c. both while they kept together and when they parted asunder the Issue of all was this That Satan the Strong Man was basely Baffl'd by Christ the Stronger Man at every Turn Luk. 11. 21 22. and was constrained to cast down his Arms. The Devils 1st Assault and Opposition against the Gospel was when Peter and John had Cured a Cripple at the Temple-Gate and thereby their 3000 Converted by the first Sermon were by a second made 5000 Act. 2. 4. and 4. 4. Satan Incenses the Sadducees who Deny'd the Resurrection Luk. 20. 27. Matth. 22. 23. Act. 23. 8. that Two Unknown and Illiterate Men haveing no Call from the Consistory of the Priests should preach in the Temple the Resurrection of Jesus to the seduceing of so many Thousand Souls this was Insufferable especially to those Sadducees for then their Cause and Controversie with the Pharisees about the Resurrection would quite be lost Hereupon they Incense the Priests who were all also grieved or Sick of the Devils Disease that the Innocent Blood of Christ should be layd at their Doors they complain to the Captain of the Temple-Garrison part whereof was the Watch at Christs Sepulchre Matth. 27. 65. They all conspire to lay those very Hands which had been lately Gored with the Blood of Christ upon his Two Apostles and put them in Hold Act. 4. 1 2 3. * Here mark how marvelously the now Exalted Messiah Master'd the Malice of the Devil and the Malignity of his Instruments This was the first Cross Christs Followers took up as Christ had told them Luk. 9. 23. and he orders it to be but a light one they were put 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Custodiam into the Serjeants Ward not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Carcerâ—m into the Goal or Dungeon Christ will not have those Tyrones or Fresh-Men young Pupils Tempted above what they are able â— Cor. 10. 13. but Inures them Gradually to the bearing of the Cross Crux est Evangelij Genius the Cross is the Ghost that continually Haunts the Gospel Act. 14. 22. and 2 Tim. 3. 12. the first Ghost must not therefore be over Affrightful The restless malice of the Adversary calls a Council which had the prescription of 1500 Y. Authority as Aarons Successors and which was countenanc'd by all their Kindred the more to confirm their Conspiracy against the Gospel together with Annas the same Old-Man no Changeling from his Condemning Christ This Convention summons the Two Apostles to appear before them in the next Morning they laying but one Night in their Sergeants-House calls them to Confess whether by God's or the Devil's Power whether in Christs Name or by the Black-Art they had Healed the Cripple that was Born Lame Act. 4. 3 to 7. The Apostles Apology by the Help of the Holy-Ghost was so Convinceing v. 8 c. that the Council had nothing to say in Contradiction v. 14. This Conviction brought them to a Conference v. 15. and that to a Confession that all the Countrey Rang of that notable Miracle v. 16. Now they have no power to Punish them yet to maintain their own Credit against the light of their own Consciences they Consult to keep the People in Ignorance command the Apostles to Preach no more of Christ they could not find a face to do any thing though their Fingers Itch'd to do something against them for Fear of the People save onely to Dismiss them with a few formal Threatnings which the Apostles returning to their own Company spread before the Lord that Great Master Controuler whom they praised for Disappointing the Devil and his Agents in their Plotting and Plowing Mischief to the Church Job 4. 8. and for Advancing the Gospel by this Opposition Augmenting the number of Believers v. 4. and Dropping down great Grace upon them all as it were out of Heaven v. 33. and the shakeing v. 31. shewed they were Christs young Trees whom he had as the Planter doth shaken them a little to settle them the more The 2d Assault Satan made was after he had filled the Hearts of Ananias and Sapphirah Two forward Professours having an Holy motion at first to sell their possession for Relief of the Needy Brethren but Beelzebub soon Fly-blow'd it in makeing them Vilifie and Belye the Holy-Ghost which the Apostles had receiv'd by purloyning part of the Price as if Gods Spirit in the Apostles could not have discern'd the Affront Act. 5. 1 2 3. ☞ The Devils Design herein was to Blast the Credit of this new Profession by the Lyes of those Two Rotten Professours but was Defeated herein by the dreadful and sudden Death of those Two
of Reverence to the Passeover while he had none at all to Gods Sixth Command Thou shalt do no Murder In the mean time the Church was hard at Work in Earnest and Vncessant Prayer v. 5. This set the Prayer-Hearing God at Work yet not till Peter was at the Pits-brink v. 6. He sends his Angel Awakes Peter who had cast himself into Gods Arms in his Sleep strikes off his Chains opens the Iron-Gates conveys him out in Despight of his Guards Peter lives to do the Church much Service and soon after the Tyrant Dyes of a Lowzy Disease by the Churches-Prayer ver 7 8 10 21 23. to which Peters Release who was Return'd to them in their very Work and Herods Dreadful Destruction in the midst of his Glittering Glory was a Signal Answer The Twenty-Sixth Plot in the New-Testament against the Church in the Apostles Defeated by God CHAP. XXVI THe last and longest Liver of all the Apostles was John the Divine who is well called the Daniel of the New Test as Daniel is call'd the John of the Old for as Daniel Wrote not onely an History of the Church what it was in his Day but also a Prophecy what it would be after to Christs first Comming so John Wrote 1st an History of the Church what it was in his Day in the Three first Chapters of his Revelation then 2ly a Prophecy what it would be from his time to the Second Comming of Christ in all the following Chapters of that Book from the 6th to the last the 4th alluding to the Old Test and the 5th alluding to the New being but a Preludium or Preface to his Seal Trumpet and Vial-Prophecy concerning Things that must after come to pass This Apostle the Envious One Satan Envy'd above all 1. because he was Beloved above all he was as Daniel Ishchamudoth a Man of Desires and Delights greatly Beloved Dan. 9. 23. Hence is he called the Disciple whom Jesus loved Joh. 19. 26. and 20. 2. and 21. 7 20. Christ loved all his Disciples Joh. 13. 1. but Iohn more singularly and signally therefore did he lean on his Bosom v. 23. and Christ committed his dear Mother to his peculiar charge for this he was the more Hated by the Devil and 2 for his being a Boanerges a Son of Thunder Mark 3. 17. a most powerful Preacher whereby he did Thunder down the Devils Kingdom 3. for his joyning in Commission with Peter in Cureing the Cripple Act 3. and in Confirming the Samaritans and Conferring upon them the Gifts of the Spirit yea and Confounding Satans Grand Sorcerer there Act. 8. 4. for his out-Living all the Apostles as Christ Intimates Ioh. 21. 22 23 24. who Lived to 120 Y. old and so Succesâ—fully Watering those Churches in Asia the less which Paul had Planted he after Pauls Death comes from Ierusalem thither and takes them for his Province and Diocess Hereupon the Devil makes his 8th Assault upon him so begins his 26th Plot against the Church 1. Satan stirrs up Domitian to cast Iohn into a Vessel of Boyling Oyl out of which he came out Vnhurt as the Antients tell us however the Scripture of Truth truly lays 2 that he was Banish'd by Domitian at the Devils Instigation into the Isle Pathmos Revel 1. 9. that he might Preach no more he having none to Preach unto in that Desart-place 3 The Devil sets upon those Golden-Candle sticks and Corrupts them most Horribly in this Apostles Absence insomuch as 1. the Church of Smyrna was Pester'd with a Synagogue of Satan to wit the Unbelieving Iews Rev. 2. 9. but 2 more especially Pergamus where their Divelish Maliciousness is stiled the very Throne or Seat of Satan v. 13. and where Attalus the Devils Agent had Martyr'd Antipas 3 False Apostles had Worm'd themselves in among them pretending Apostolick Power and perhaps practiceing Magick to make themselves look more Apostolical like Revel 2. 2. Those troubled the Church at Ephesus but they were Tryed and found Lyars there 4 other Seducers crept in by the Devils Craft though not by the Magick Miracles of Devils as the others did yet by the Doctrines of Devils as that of the Nico Laitans Rev. 2. 14. and 6. teaching Community of Wives and that things Sacrificed to Idols might be Eaten 5 a Jezabel either of her Name or Nature or both was foisted into Thyatira by Satan both a Whore and a Witch therefore she and her Children to wit Disciples are Threatned to be Destroyed Revel 2. 20 23. 6 Formality and Hypocrisie had Leavened Sardis Revel 3. 1. and 7 Lukewarmness was on Laodicea ver 15 16. so to be Spu'd out But mark how God Bassles the Devil in ali this by laying limits upon him Rather than fail Satan himself will execute the Office of a Justice Rev. 2. 10. Behold the Devil will cast some of you into Prison c. either he acts thus in Person or at least by a Proxy to wit by his Imps and Instruments yet all Satans Actings in the Children of Disobedience by whom he Works Eph. 2. 2. are under a Divine Limitation as 1. 't is but some of them and not all of them 2. into Prison not into Hell 3. 't is onely to Try them not to Destroy them 4. 't is for Ten Days onely not for Ever and though the Devil got John the A postle cast into a Vessel of Boyling Oyl yet he came out thence without harm as before And though Domition the Emperor of Rome Banish'd him to Pathmos yet there he Wrote those Seven Epistles to the Seven Churches which were not un-Churched with all those Corruptions but are Written to as Churches still and as Golden-Candlesticks in those Epistles wherein sweet Cordials and Comforts are Intermingled with sundry sad Corrasives and Cordoliums as 1 God threatens the Removal of the Candlesticks id est to another place not the quite Extinguishing of the Light set up thereon Rev. 2. 5. 2 Christ stemms himself from that Removal because he saw some Goodness in the Church v. 6. because thou Hatest c. ☞ God may do so to England c. 3 Deus minatur ut non puniat Ambrose God Threatens that he may not Strike he hath set his Bow in the Clouds but there is never an Arrow in it and the Bent of that Bow is towards Heaven not towards Earth or us 4 Christ saith Fear none of those things ver 10. promising withal a Crown of Life 5 He promiseth also the Hidden Manna and the White Stone with the New Name to wit Absolution as well as Assurance v. 17. 6 not to lay any other Burden than what they already suffer'd v. 2. ☞ Oh! that God may say so to his Churches in this great City and Nation 7 that They shall walk with him in White Revel 3. 4. to wit in pure Ordinances in a better Day and Dispensation 8 and have an open Door v. 8. yea and 9 Good Counsel v. 18. to shew they were not Incorrigible and
Resigns his Throne and Power to the Beast which did his Masters work throughly Ch. 13. till the Lamb conquer'd and cast him into the Lake Chap. 19. Till then the Dragon was not onely a Spectator but also an Instigator Hissing on the Beast to his Beastly Work till he got his Beastly Wages Slaughter at last Now after the Judgement of the Beast comes that of the Dragon the Master of his Misrule 3 As the 5th Vial is Reassumed to declare the Ruine of Rome more fully after Ch. 17. 18. and the 6th Vial that of the Beast after that Ch. 19. So this 7th that of the Dragon who set them on work Ch. 20. for it would be Improper to relate so largely the Ruine of the Instruments and to say nothing of the Principal Agent Our Michael hath something to say to and do with the Devil as well as to and with Antichrist to wit 1 Something before the 1000 Y. when a gradual Doom is Executed upon him as 1st Christ in fury Arrests the same Dragon whom he had cast into the Earth before Rev. 12. 9. 2ly He Chains him up as Men do mad Mastives for a long time 3ly He claps him close Prisoner in the Abyss which before he feared Luk. 8. 31. and 4ly He set a Seal upon him as Dan. 6. 17. and Matth. 27. last that his Range abroad might not Molest Christs Reign for a 1000 Y. Rev. 20. 1 2 3. ☞ Where the Church hath as good Security for a long-lasting Tranquillity as Christ who keeps the Ensureing Office can possibly give her 2 Something after the 1000 Y. when he was loosed for a little season v. 3.7 to Engage Gog and Magog or all covert and overt Enemies in a War against the Church v. 8 9. then Fire from Heaven falls upon the Devils Army and consumes them in the very Attempt and the Devil himself is Arrested the 2d time and then cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone whither the Beast and False Prophet were cast before there to be Tormented for ever whence he shall never any more be loosed to Torment the Church after this Thus as the Plots against the Church did begin in the Devil Ch. the 1st of this Church-History so they all End in and with the Devil in this The Gates of Hell cannot prevail against Her When Pope Turk and Devil are all gone and in Torments The Church that New Jerusalem consisting of the Converted Jews and Fullness of the Gentiles remains after All in a Flourishing State and is Marry'd as a Bride to the Lamb Rev. 21.7 22. where the Triumphant Estate of the Church after her Militant Estate at the Destruction of all her Enemies is ended is most Graphically Described 1st Generally 1. by things seen as a New 1 Heaven 2 New Earth Ch. 21. 1. 3 New Jerusalem Descending from Heaven v. 2. and 10. 2. By things Heard as 1 of Gods Presence with Men v. 3. 2d of removing all fears and tears v. 4. 3d. of making all things new v. 5. 2ly More particularly the Transcendent Glory of the Church hath a most Exact and Special Delineation as 1st her Advancement above all Hills ver 9. 10 11. Isa 2. 2 2ly her Dimensions of Longitude and Latitude c. v. 12 to 17. 3ly her rich Materials of Gold and Jewels v. 9 to 22. 4ly The Confluence of the Gentiles to this New Jerusalem v. 24 26. Isa 60. 3 c. 5ly The Affluence and plenty of all things that may make the Church-State Happy Typify'd 1 by the River of living Water Ch. 22. 1. 2 by the Tree of Life a Type of Christ that beareth Fruit every Month v. 2. 6ly The Perpetuity of this Happy Estate which is Illustrated 1st by a freedom from all Evil not only from Sorrow Death c. Ch. 21.4 but also 1. from Danger v. 25. 2. from Sin v. 27. and 3. from the Curse Ch. 22. 3. and 2ly by a Fruition of all Good as 1. an Immediate Communion with God and Christ who will be 1. a Temple 2. a Light Ch. 21.22 23. 3. A Throne Ch. 22. 1 3. to this Holy City 2. A Beatifical Vision of both They shall see the face c. v. 4. As the former Evils had disturb'd so those Good Priviledges will Preserve the Churches peace to perpetuity 3. yea Reign for Ever ver 5. Finally Those few Remarks shall shut up the Whole ☞ The 1st is The marvelous Manifestation of Christs love to his Church in Revealing to her the Fata Ecelesiae all that should befall her in all Ages to the end of the World this he doth as her Prophet and Mediator Ch. 22. 16. 2ly That what Christ Revealed herein should be Written Litera Scripta Manet for the Churches Comfort at Christs command Chap. 21. 5. and 14. 13. and 19.9 The Spouse hath the Heart-love of Christ with her better then Dalilah had Samsons Judg. 16. 15. and therefore she shall know even out of his Fathers Bosom Joh. 1. 18. all that is in his Heart and have it also Under his Hand upon Record as Her Cordial alway 3ly That this Writing must not be Shut up or Sealed as Daniels was Dan. 8. 26. and 12. 4 9. till 300 Y. after for Sealing is concealing but here John is bid Not to Seal this Prophecy as he had the Seven Thunders Revel 10. 4. Chap 22. 10. because the Time was at Hand and All this he must not Monopolize to himself but Shew them to Christ's Servants Rev. 1. 1. 4ly This Prophecy is Faithful and True in all its parts Ch. 22. 6. as much as the History from Genesis to this Revelation is and as sure as the former part of this Prophecy in the Seals and Trumpets is performed already so sure shall the latter part of the Vials and of the Brides Marriage be Accomplish'd also The Scripture-Testimony of it self is true 5ly This Prophecy Symbolizeth with that of Ezekiel who in his latter End hath a Resurrection Ezek. 37. a Gog and Magog Chap. 38 and 39. and a New Jerusalem Ch. 40 and forward So in the latter end of the Revelation There is a Resurrection Ch. 20. 5. a Gog and Magog v. 8. and a New Ierusalem Ch. 21 and 22. And as sure as that was fulfill'd in part by Ezra c. so shall this be 6ly This Book as it was last Writ so it contains a Revelation of the whole will of God concerning the Riches of the Church as well as the Ruine of all her Enemies as 't is said of the latter It is Done Rev. 16.17 All the Churches Foes are Vndone by the 7th Vial So of the former It is Done Ch. 21.6 As to the Riches and Reward of the Righteous Christ Swore that Time should be no longer Ch. 10.6 7. to wit of Delaying beyond the 7th Trumpet the Execution of those Divine Mysteries 1 the Call of the Iews Rom. 11.25 2 the Fullness of the Gentiles Eph. 3.3 4 6. 3 the Kingdom of the Saints Dan. 7.18 Rev. 20.4 22.5 4 All Kingdoms of the World become Christs Ch. 11.15 7ly As we are not to expect any New Revelation no more than any New Gospel so we ought onely to believe and pray for the Accomplishment of all that is revealed being assured from Truth it self Rev. 1.5 that 1 â—he who was the Alpha to confound the 1st Plot Gen. 3. will be the Omega to conquer the last Rev. 22.13 2 the Kings of the Earth that gave their power to the Beast shall bring their Glory to the Church Rev. 17.13 and 21.24 3 The Brides Feast and Felicity shall be either in Heaven as Piscator or on Earth as Alsted or in both as Perkins say 't is good in either place Refer that to God making a Common and Constant Cry Come Lord Jesus come quickly to Accomplish all that is Vnaccomplished 1 Thes 1.10 Rev. 22.20 21. FINIS BOOKS Published BY THE AVTHOR 1. THe Crown and Glory of a Christian 2. A Christian's Walk and Work on Earth till he come to Heaven 3. A Protestant-Antidote against the Poyson of Popery 4. A Chrystal Mirrour or Christian-Looking-Glass discovering the Treason and Treachery of the Heart 5. A Distinct Discourse and Discovery of the Person and Period of Antichrist 6. This Compleat and Compendious Church-History