the Lamb to give thee leave among the rest to bid battel to the seed and remainder of his handmaid and to give up their blood to the pleasure of thy Swords during the thousand two hundred and sixty the dayes of relegation but when those two and forty moneths shall be expir'd thou shalt lay downe thy proud waves and he that is highest shall set thee alive in judgement and the earth shall accuse thee of deceit the Heavens of blasphemy and thou shalt be divided and cut out in pieces for thou hast troubled the meek and him that pursued peace hast loved lyers destroyed the true and fruitfull branch and overthrowne the walls of such as mourn'd and did thee no harme And in that day thy Crownes shall be turn'd to baldnesse thy silke to nakednesse thy sweet and pleasing voices to houling thy lights to darknesse and the blood of his servants shall he weigh before thee and value it unto thee and thy parts shall burne untill thou pay the price thereof And that judgement may even now begin to take hold of thy bones it shall be shewed thee this day what manner of men they are which heare and doe the Commandements of God their bredth their length their heigth their depth their name and their countenance shall be laid before thee and thou thy Prophets and Children shall see and wonder and die All are learned all have knowledge and the covenant of death was written in our hearts when wee were yet but tender lodged and sleeping in the loins of Adam wrapt us up in our sins and transgressions like as the Spider in his toile the silly Flie against the day of slaughter But he that is highest pittying the world which he loved so in the riches of his benignity devised a way to set free againe the work of his hand which law through sin had imbondaged to death and made a testament of life and peace in the blood and mediation of his Son the price and redemption of that which was lost and wrote inheritors of his mercifull Covenant all and as many as beleeved in the Mediator thereof And unto Adam his lost Child gave it he saying The seede of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head and all the Children of Promise tooke hold thereon imbracing the seed which by the death of death delivered the sinner And unto Abraham his Servant renewed he his Covenants Cast me out Agar with her Sonne quoth he for that which is borne after flesh is bond and shall not inherite with the free And remembring his mercy promised in his time to visite Sara and to raise unto him a seed which should be the joy of many Nations and Abraham beleeved and got a grave and honourable name above all his Brethren namely to be the Father of all those many Nations that were to inherite the Covenant and Testament of promise And by the hand of Moses his faithfull calling Israel unto him in the Wildernesse before the fearfull Mount gave unto them the Covenant of captivity once for all written downe by the hand of his Angell in two Tables of stone commanding it to be set up in the eye of Israel that they might see and read their wounds and transgressions which had subdued them to death and calling to mind his Testament of mercy wherein from beginning his soule delighted promised by the same Moses to raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto him and every soule that would inherite his favour and Covenant of promise should heare him And Moses calling Israel together testified unto them that day heaven and earth bearing witnesse he had set life and death curse and blessing to wit the Covenants of works and faith of Law and grace before them But Israels heart was fat and understood not all these things and seeking the inheritance by the Law of works which had concluded them being yet unborne under curse and reproofe fell out and lost the way which led to the blessing and land of the Fathers covenanted by promise but by David his Boy whom his heart approved calleth them back againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 giving them to understand the table of Sina whereon they thought to save themselves justified to their face all their doings were abominable as it is written The Lord looked downe from heaven upon the Sons of men to see if there were any that understood and sought after God But behold they are all gone astray all are become abominable there is not one that doth good no not one There is not a godly to be found on earth not a righteous amongst the sons of men all lie in wait for blood and every man hunteth his neighbour as with a net he that is best is but a bryer and he that is most righteous as a thorne And ever and anon remembring his mercy testified by the same David that if they would attaine the Land and Inheritance promised the Fathers they should not offer him his beasts or his birds to eate but unharden their hearts and heare his voyce that day that then it should come to passe they should enter into his repose and Canaan spirituall into the which their Fathers could not for their unbeliefe All the Prophets bearing witnesse thereunto that looke how high the heavens were distant from the earth so far were his offerings differing from theirs for all their wayes and thoughts were spotted like to the garment of a Tyger transgressors of his fiery Covenant which he strake with their Fathers in Horeb as it is written And the testament which I gave them they kept not and my soule despised them saith the Lord And still and evermore remembring his mercy commended unto them the day to come wherein he would strike a new and an everlasting Commandement with the house of Israel not like to that he covenanted in the Wildernesse which neither they nor their Fathers were able to beare but his new Covenant should be a Covenant of mercy and love and no man should be able t' attaine it by rending his Garment by Rams or streams of Oyle but by rending his heart by hearing and beleeving the redemption which should be set in Sion for he had said and would not repent for ever The just shall live by faith But Israel was hard and evermore in heart turned back into the Wildernesse chusing rather to be the Sons of Agar inhabitants of Sina which ingendereth to death then children of promise Citizens of Jerusalem from above which begetteth to life refused his Law and Testament of grace so often covenanted and commended unto them which he notwithstanding in fulnesse of time performed unto Jacob sending downe out of his bosome the Mediator thereof apparrelled in blood mounted on his little hill in his city of peace with promise that every sinner should be deliver'd from shame that putteth trust in him And when the time came was found walking in the stâ—eets of
travell and guard and watch him day night behold and learne his end he that is wise will marke his deliverance and happy man that can tell his teares and sit and sorrow with him To this man maketh God answer early or late delivereth him and how much the longer withholdeth his countenance retyring as it were his pitty from him so much the more entendeth t' advance his love and mercy towards him to make him great and a pillar in his house a comforter of the weake and broken knees of others and in his time sendeth downe his promise the rich and hidden treasure which from the beginning dwelled with himselfe and with his holy one who day by day laboureth washeth and bindeth up this broken one not leaving t' apply unto his stripe untill he have wrought and shaped in him a full and perfect assurance that God hath given him unto his Sonne in him and through him forgiven and covered all those his transgressions which cryed our so justly against his bloud and whereas in the day of his trespasse was a stranger and an enemy now in his Son and for his sake is reconciled and beloved and is unto him as a sonne and he to him a Father the treasure which his soule in the great day of his trouble so unspeakeably desired and therewithall commandeth him to beare written up in the apple of his eye night and day to read and consider what great things have been done for him This man is now so assured his â—innes are forgiven him as sure and perswaded that his Lord and Redeemer was once dead now liveth never dyeth more what Register may record the sinnes of him whose transgressions God forgetteth what power may discover the nakednesse of him whose shame and offence God covereth who shall be able to cast away whom God approveth or lay to the charge of him whom God chooseth may sinne wherein he was conceived may trespasse and filthinesse wherein his youth delighted may the bold and bloudy offences which his age hath committed may flesh and infirmities wherewith he is clothed may powers and blasphemies wherewith he is compassed nay this man is at rest fully perswaded God being with him nothing may prevaile against him as it is written God justifying who may condemne This man is now so assured God loveth him as that he is sure and fully perswaded neither fire nor sword neither death nor life neither Angels nor powers nor principalities neither things present nor things to come neither natures above nor depths below nor any creature other whatsoever may separate him from the love which God beareth him in Christ Jesus his Lord. And this is the saith of Abraham and of Abrahams posterity which reacheth justice to the sinner and life unto the just as it is written But the just shall live by faith And this is the faith whereof th' holy Ghost pronounceth by the mouth of his servant Paul in a place saying Being justified therefore by faith wee have peace with God in Christ Jesus our Lord. For he is truly justified whose sinnes are forgiven as it is written Blessed is the man whose sinnes are forgiven and whose transgressions are covered And he is truly at peace and one with God that is beloved of him and all this grace is reacht unto him in Christ and through him as it is written For death and bondage was given by Moses but grace and truth by Christ Jesus And this is the rest and peace from above the birth and baptisme of the holy Ghost the fire that purgeth the sonnes of men transforming them from sinners into the sonnes of God and no man shall see it or have his part therein that cannot sing the song of the little children which sat in the market place crying and calling one t'another We have mourned and yee have not sorrowed Murtherers stand forth tell me may you compare your beleefe with this mans saith behold thou beleevest one onely God Father Almighty of whom are all things and one Lord Jesus Christ his onely Sonne for whom and by whom are all things and one Spirit God holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne the power the life and quickner of all things and thou beleevest that the Sonne in the fulnesse of time descended from the bosom of his Father came into the world was made flesh conceived by the holy Ghost borne of a Virgin and that he dyed and rose againe for the redemption of all that beleeve in his holy name and thou beleevest those that beleeve in him are his Church chosen and gathered from all the winds a Company undefiled a holy Universitie as he is holy that hath chosen them and thou beleevest they wayle and weep and joy together and thou beleevest their Lord is mounted up into the heavens seated on the right hand of God all power in heaven and in earth subdued unto him and thou beleevest all flesh shall rise and stand before him every man to receive according to his thoughts And all these things beleevest thou thou doest well thy father the Devill beleeveth them also and it is so farre that this faith may save either thee or him as that it shall encrease both your stripes for unto whom much is committed of him much shall be required and he that knoweth and doth not shall be beaten with many rods And better it were thou hadst never been borne then to have heard and beleeved all these things and not to have sorrowed with the Mourner And this was the faith of Simon Magus one of your first-borne who hearing Philip preaching th'Incarnation Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and forgivenesse of sinnes in his holy name and seeing the great and wonderfull works wrought by the same beleeved the promise and revelation of life and was baptized as it is written And Simon also beleeved and was baptized and yet was neither begotten by water nor by the holy Ghost he beleev'd as did the lyar his father of whom he learnt his jugling to plane the creatures of God and was reborne by water from below not able to beget the sinner a new for it is impossible that bloud of beasts or water of fountaines may either purge or prepare the sinner And therefore Peter comming to Samaria to purge those sinners whom Philip had prepared by water from above laid his finger to the wound fellow quoth he thou hast no part nor fellowship with us nor in this administration and shewed him the cause why namely his unrepentance giving him t' understand it was not possible for his soule to be purg'd of that gall and bitternesse wherein it lay because his heart was not prepared by water And this was the faith of the Traytor thy predecessor Balaam who sold the truth and life everlasting for the reward of iniquitie like unto thee he knew and beleeved as thou doest that the bloud of his Master was innocent bloud and was baptized with the selfe same baptisme
among al the Sons of women there was none found his grâ—ater because whoso is not first prepared by the ministry of John who was appointed the minister of the baptism of water shal never be purged by his Lord which comes after who sanctifieth by the ministry of the Baptisme of fire I doe not meane the fire of this world nor yet the Element so called for it 's imipossible for any such fires to purge to sanctifie or to refine the sinner But the fire of this birth is a heavenly power and finger from above which writeth in the heart prepared by water and in no other Tables the indeleble Covenant of mercy and love which before all worlds in the precious blood of the Mediator thereof God made with Abraham and his Sons for ever namely that he would remember their sins and their iniquities no more and that he would be to them a God To 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and a Father and they to him a people Sonnes and Daughters And this is the word and ingraving of God which being written in a molten heart and blowne downe with water refineth it to the sey of Rom. 10. 8. Deut. 30. 12. the gold of Ophyr And this is the birth and purgation of fire called in Scripture the Baptisme of the holy Ghost the life the justice the promise and felicity of God as holy David describeth saying Blessed is the man whose sins are covered and whose God is the Lord Psalme 32. 2. 33. 12. JEHOVAH And this is the Tree and first beginning of the wisedome and counsell of God and hee that cannot attaine thereto shall never see the raigne and prosperity of Israel according to the eternall decree proceeded out of the mouth of the highest never to be repented of or called back againe Vnlesse a man be John 3. 5. begotten by water and by the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God The fruit of this Tree of life spreadeth it selfe into foure branches and as the Heavens by immutable ordinance shut up the course and labour of the yeare in foure seasons so hath the Scriptures complected the whole voyage and travell of this sanctified and new begotten servant in these foure Peace Patience Hope and Love I doe not meane the peace betweene Amon and Moab that is to say the smooth the Civill and dissembling truce of the Kings and Councellors of this world but a peace which passeth their affairs a peace which is heavenly and from above even the peace and reconciliation betweene God and the sanctified in the price and mediation of the Lord of the Covenant for what power what preparation what terror or what else may feare him in whose heart the finger of God hath once engraven a full and perswaded assurance that neither fire nor sword nor death nor life nor powers nor principallities nor things present nor things to come nor natures above nor depths below nor any creature other whatsoever may separate him from the love which God beareth him in Christ Jesus his Lord May the sin wherein he was conceived or the follies and offences wherein his youth delighted or the bold and bloody treasons which his age hath committed or flesh and blasphemies wherewith he is intrenched nay this man is at rest fully perswaded God being with him nothing may prevail against him as it is written If God justifie who can condemnâ— Isa 50. Rom. 8. And this is the peace which the world cannot give nor take away from any to whom it is given the peace which the Holy one the Redeemer of Israel speaketh of in a certaine place saying Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you but not as the world giveth let not your hearts therefore be troubled nor feare John 14. 27. And forasmuch as to be at peace and one with God is to be at war and odds with sin and with all her pleasures this man in wonderfull patience prepareth and armeth himselfe to meet the enemy And tho his flesh with all her desires like multitudes of Armies incompasse his soule be sieging pursuing tormenting it day and night as it is written Wee are Ps 44. given up like sheep to be eaten and for thy sake O Lord we are slaine all the day long yet in silence and quietnesse he endureth all sustained by the Word which saith In patience possesse your soules Looking assuredly for the promise of good things to come and that with such a Luke 21. 19. stable and full perswaded expectation as no power in Heaven above or in the earth below may shame or confound his hope fully perswaded that tho now he live closed in flesh as in a City of transgression like righteous Lot in Sodome scorn'd of Angels despis'd of men hated of the world and pursued of his owne yet that his mourning shall tarry but till morning 〈◊〉 for then his life shall be revealed which now lyeth hid laid up in the bosome of his Lord and Redeemeâ— and shall be declared and given him even in that morning when he shall come to judge the world with righteous judgement rendring to every man just and truly according to the wayes wherein his heart hath walked And in the exercise of these three consisteth the death to sin called in Scripture by the names of Mortification the great affliction the Dust the Tears the shame and oppression of Sion Happy man that hath his part therein for he shall live to see the raigne Rev. 7. 14 15 16 17. wherein the Sun shall not burne him by day nor fire by night any more and wherein he shall not hunger nor thirst nor want nor weep any more The fourth and last branch of this Tree of life is Love the light and perfection of the whole estate and travell of a Christian for can a City built upon a hill hide her face from the passer by or may a Sacrifice salted convey his seasoning from the mouth of the taster may the Sun shine and not shew his beauty or may a Candle burne and not bewray her light And tho these creatures could forget their natures yet cannot the plant in whose heart the eternall Covenant of Love is once engraven forget to burne with like affection first toward God then toward men I meane not those alone which have received like part and fellowship with him but towards those also that are his enemies which love is commended to us by the names of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is called in Scripture the love of God because it is not learnt of flesh nor after the will and wisedome of flesh but by the sample and patterne of that love wherewith God first loved us Who being fellowed in glory with the highest as testifieth the Prophet Zach. 13. 7. disrobed himselfe of all his beauty and came downe into the world and was fonnd in dishonour in weaknesse in flesh and shape of a servant obedient to the shame and
Jerusalem his steps beautifull as are the steps of God the flames and Angells of heaven ascending and descending at his commandement and it was fulfiled which was spoken In Jury is God knowne great is his name in Israel and opening his mouth taught them and marvellous gracious and true were the words which proceeded from him told them their Fathers were wonderfully indeed fed and cloathed in the Wildernesse and yet were dead because they were not fed nor cloathed with him who feedeth and arayeth to life everlasting and the food and rayment which he gave was his blood and they that are fed and apparrelled therewith are those that beleeve in him commanded them not to work as did their Fathers in the Wildernesse but as did Abraham whose Children they pretended to be and were not for he beleeved in him being yet but promised whom they refused now performed and witnessed plainly in their eares that day there were no other works but these alone that led from the rod of th' oppressor to the Land of promise saying This is to doe the work and commandement of God to believe in him whom God hath sent Which thing your Fathers the Pharisees denying to doe evermore seeking after their hard and brazen progenitors t' establish a righteousnesse and justice of their owne to work the works and Commandements of God according to their way and meaning by doing refusing the justice appointed by God to work his works and Commandements according to his way meaning by beleeving rushed against the square approved precious stone which was set up in Sion and were bruised and broken to death everlasting And doest thou know Balaam what it is to beleeve in him whom God hath sent We speak the things we know and testifie what we have seen and learnt That which is borne from below is flesh subdued unto sin imbondaged to death and cannot see th' inheritance and Kingdome of God wherefore it was requisite a new birth to be established subduing the flesh unto the spirit delivering from the power of sin and breaking the chaines of death Without the which vaine and impossible is the Commandement to believe in him whom God hath sent as it is written Vnlesse a man be begotten by water and by the holy Ghost he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God So many Baalists heapt on another at your conspiracy heâ—d at Trent against God and his anointed and knew not what it is to be borne of water and of the holy Ghost have ye indeed so planed the câ—â—atures of God wrought in them a beliefe ye are successors and dispensers in heavenly things and understand not earthly There was a man sent from God his name was John your Fathers ran out in troops to see him a strange and sour fellow was not lodg'd like a Prince nor cloathed like a Courtier neither wine nor water dranke he no other drinke but â—ears and in his mouth never entered bread Murderers how chanceth it that hanging up his dead body in your Courts and Caves drawing it through your streets once a yeare at the least denying it the naturall courtesie of buriall you have not considered that he was appointed from heaven the Minister of the Baptisme of water as of himselfe he testifieth in a place saying He that sent me to baptize with water said unto me on whom thou seest the Spirit discend and tarry he it is that baptizeth with the holy Ghost Doe yee know wherefore his Lord gave him that honourable testimony namely that he was more then a Prophet and that among all the sons of women there was none to be found his greater because who so is not prepared by him which was appointed the Minister of the baptisme of water shall never be purged by his Lord which comes after who sanctifieth with fire and with the holy Ghost for this was the Angell appointed to goe before the face of the great Dominator and teach the Children that sat in Prison in darknesse and shadow of death that if they would be Sons of the Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob they should prepare their hearts by water as did the Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob. And therefore his Lord in parable calleth him the Mourner wot ye why because who so sorroweth not with him shall never rejoyce with the Bridegroome shall never see the birth of the holy Ghost the faith which beleeveth in him which God hath sent The poor woman which entred into the house of Simon the Pharisee where her Lord was at meat and falling downwashed kissed his feet how commeth it to passe ye wise that nayling up her dead body in your Groves and Temples to the view ye have not considered her tears and her love preaching and crying so many hundred years the birth of water of the holy Ghost but yee say when Elias commeth he shall restore all Murderers and doe ye indeed lie in wait for another Elias behold the first came and had not his God delivered him from your hands by wonder sending downe his Chariot and Horsemen of fire ye had slaine him with the rest of his Prophets for ye sought his life also and the second came a righteous and holy man and behold as innocent as ye pretend to be his righteous blood shall be found in your Courts and his holy head in one of your vessells and doe ye yet more attend a third Elias like to your stiffe reprooved brethren which walke stinking in your streets to day gaping the comming of a second Messias wherefore thus saith the truth there shall no Elias come and he that reading considereth the dwelling the fare and rayment of the second Elias how read and swolne were his eyes with tears how dry his lips with sighs and doth not weep and wayle with him if seven thousand Mourners should rise from the dead they cannot make that man to sorrow This was the voyce who in the dayes of his flesh called unto Israel from out of the Wildernesse crying that if the would be sons and daughters of God they should not look up unto their paâ—entage boasting their pedegree â—etcht from the loins of Abraham but should take up the true and perfect sorrow for their sin and th' unspeakable deâ—iâ—e to be reconciled to God as did his servant Abraham that then the God of Abraham would turne to thâ— Children aâ— he did unto the Fathers write his Laws â—n their hearts cover their offences and be unto them a God and a Father and they to him sons and daughters and every one which was to receive the light that followed in whose hand was the power to make of a â—â—nner a Son unto God hearkened to the Mourner of Israel sate downe and sorrowed with him And he that sorrowed sorrowed indeed his eye refused sleep his mouth dened t'eate lost and dead was his cheere his mirth was tâ—â—n'd to sadnesse and if an asked what ill he had seight and could not speake so great was his sorrow
Arrows of Heaven into the pâ—ace from whence they come or to meete the whirle-winde comming in his strength like a King his men of Armes and Fifers by his side and shoulder him out of his point into another it shall be easier for thee I say to doe all these things then t'answer the voices which shall be heard against thee And I thy Brother am in Babylon mourning over thee and it and there will tarry notwithstanding the rage and violence of all thy Spades thy Speares and Arcu buzadoes this day and tomorrow and the third will pay my vows Amen ESAY Bell is fallen Nebo is smitten down whose Images were burthens for the Beasts and Cattel of the field to overcharge and weary them FINIS AN ADVERTISEMENT TO Q. Elizabeth Presented to her Majestie by the Author thereof First Printed in Anno Dom. 1589. And sundry times since TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT SOVERAIGNE PRINCESSE Queene Elizabeth IF it be impertinent and out of season in regard of your other pleasures to advertise these few words let truth be blamed for I your servant cannot but speake the things I know and testifie that which I have seen and heard what though I be no Minister nor Sonne of a Minister Shepheards and Clownes have beene Divines sometimes and why not I I doe not advertise you concerning the wisdome of a Princesse of this World how to relieve your people if they be oppressed nor how to curb them if fullnesse make them wanton nor how to raise a little weale to great nor how to uphold it from falling downe againe for all these things may you doe and perish but I advertise you concerning a wisdome from above which if you understand and doe thereafter then shall your Scepter be a Scepter of continuance and you a Princesse and a Queene for ever not like to Babylon nor Monarch of the East nor like the rakehell rout of Emperors and Kaisers of this world which for a season flourish and then goe downe to hell but like unto his Servant David who in the dayes of his flesh performed the duties of a King of this world and yet remaineth a King for ever for he observed the counsell and wisdome from above which made him so faire in situation like to Mount Sion never to remove And this wisedome which we speake is a Law not that of fearfull Sinai a Law of condemnation a Statute of execution a Covenant of death condemning the transgressor to everlasting captivity But it is a Law proceeding out of Sion a Law of pardon a Statute of deliverance a Covenant of life redeeming the sinner from the wrath of the day to come And therefore this wisedome is called in Scripture the new Covenant the Covenant of Levi the everlasting ordinance the truth the light the life the reward the promise the power the salvation the redemption the sanctification the justice the counsell the correction the hidden purpose the secret intent the mysterie and Kingdome of God And one in a certaine place calleth it the wisdome from above because it is not a vertue ingendred or in begotten by any grace or benefit of nature growing to perfection by long studie and large experience Iam. 3. 17. but a mysterie and secret from above which God determined before all worlds and hath revealed it to the glory of those whom he hath chosen and this is the wisdome whose nature we advertise not in the teaâ—mes and eloquence of the Theologall discourses of this age but in the power and strength of God able to raise from death to life the soule that understandeth it The whole nature and work of this heavenly wisdome is perfectly set out and declared unto us in these two First in her Tree next in the fruit thereof Her Tree in Scripture is disciphered by the names of cleansing or washing or purging and sometimes expressed by a borrowed word as a new making a new birth a birth from above a re-begetting and is so called not in a naturall but in a spirituall meaning not because it reduceth us into our parents calling us out of their bowells againe but by comparation way of similitude that like as by our naturall and fleshly generation we are borne servants and sons of wrath which sometimes we were not so by this spirituall generation and birth from above wee are borne free and made the sons of God which by nature wee are not for that which is of nature is flesh subdued unto sin imbondaged to death and cannot see the inheritance and Kingdome of God but that which is born from above is Spirit redeemed from the captivity of sin and of death and chosen to inherite the Kingdome and promise of God And this birth and propagation from above is wrought and brought to passe by these two to wit by water and by fire whereof this purgeth the other prepareth I doe not meane the water of Jordane nor any waters from below for it is impossible for the water of fountaines to breake to mollifie or to prepare the sinner but the water of this birth is a force and vertue from above which turneth and as it were transhapeth the hard and stony heart of the sinner into tears preparing it by this kind of water to receive the promise and redemption of God And therefore the Scripture compareth the man that is begotten by water to a Mount that is become a Valley unto a Cedar now become a Plant to a rough and crooked way that is become a plaine unto a wise and prudent one but now become a babe unto a stone transformed to flesh and to a substance hard as Diamond translated to a nature as soft as water by these and such like speeches describing the man whose heart is turned from all the joyes and contentments of sin into a feare and sorrow for them and from all her temporary and false pleasing lusts into a restlesse and indicible desire to be restored to grace and reconciled to God again For the hill doth not more differ from the Valley the Cedar from the plant the crooked from the plaine the discreetly aged from the little child the hardnesse of flint from the softnesse of flesh the substance of Diamond from the nature of water these I say differ not each from other more then this man now from that he was And this is the birth and preparative of water called in Scripture the Baptisme of John Whose ministry was ordained as testifieth the Prophet to prepare the way before the great Redeemer and Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. 4. 6. by turning the hearts of the Children into water like to the hearts of their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob that God might also turne unto them in mercy and love as hee did unto those their Fathers And therefore his Lord in a certaine Scripture gave him in regard of his ministry that honourable testimony namely that he was more then a Prophet Mat 11 9. 11. and that
attended for her at length lay hold upon her Behold saith he thus saith the truth in the year which shall be 1666. the judgement pronounced shall lay hands on thee And as all thy fearful wings and feathers be already descended and blown down so before that day which is so nigh at hand the Tyranny of thy malicious Heads cruel Claws shall be consumed brought to nought And in that day thy vain Body shall be burnt with fire and shall be so clean cut off from the Land of the living that neither Son nor Nephew as the Prophet speaketh nor branch nor remnant of thy name shall be found upon the Earth For as it is purposed so shall it come to passe as it is consulted it shall stand Isaiah c. 14. v. 22. 24. 25. After th' Abomination of Rome is past there will be but a few years namely 45. to th' end of this present evil corrupt World as Daniel foretold Chap. 12. Dan. 12. 11 12 13. from the time that the daily sacrifice shal be taken away and th' abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be a 1290. dayes Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the 1335. days But go thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand up in the lot at the end of the days viz. of the 1335 days above mention'd that is in the general Resurrection end of this world when Daniel and all the dead must rise as it is at large else where Rom. Ru. c. 6. declared And then at length will the Lord return to raign with his Servants the holy Patriarks Prophets Apostles and all the Elect both of Jews and Gentiles â—hat were in all ages of the world as it is written The Lord will give him the Throne of his Father David and he shall raign over the house of Jacob forever and of his Dominion there shall be no end According as he had spoken by all the holy Prophets as it is Psal 2. Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen Psal 2. 8. for thine Inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession Psal 72. He shall have Dominion also Psa 72. 8. seq from Sea to Sea from the River to th' ends of the earth They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him his Enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Saba shall offer gifts Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him His name shall endure for ever his name shall be continued as long as the Sun and men shal be blessed in him all Nations shall call him blessed Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel who only doth wondrous things blessed be his glorious name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen Amen And then all Israel shall be saved as St. Paul saith Rom. 11. And blessed and happy only Rom. 11. 26. happy are they that are regenerate here and born again and overcome their corrupt and evil desires and are mortify'd to this sinful world and live unto God by faith which is the first Resurrection blessed holy Apoc. 20. 6 Psal 37. 18. 19. are they that have part therein for on such the second death hath no power for they are made unto God Kings and Priests and shall raign upon the earth and dwell therein forever with their Lord and Redeemer in that world which is to come when all things upon which the curse came shall be restored renewed wherein righteousness peace shall dwel flourish for ever as it was foretold and declared by all the Prophets and Apostles 26. But that time between the Ruine of Rome and end of the World which will not exceed 45. years although it will be joyful to the faithful and chosen of God in respect of the neer approach of the Lord of those graces comforts which God will give them to enjoy yet it will be very toublesome heavy upon the world upon all the dwellers upon earth who have their conversation below especially in respect of outward troubles fears the more Northern parts of the world for then viz. about 30. years after the fall of Rome as may be gathered from the Scriptures will Gog and Magog with their numerous Armies viz. the Turks Tartars Armenians Persians Arabians and other barbarous Nations spread themselves upon the Mountains of Israel i. e. wil come down in great vast multitudes upon the plains of Germany and other parts of the Empire with intent to swallow up overwhelm the Christians and endeavour to extirpate and blot out the name of Christ from under heaven and subject all Europe to the Ottoman yoak and blasphemous Law of Mahomet And will thus continne war upon them till fire from God out of heaven devour them as it is written Apoc. 20. and as the Lord by Ezekiel doth declare saying And I will rain upon him upon his bands and Apoc. 20. 9 upon the many people that are with him an overflowing rain and great hailstones fire and brimstone Ezek. 30. 22. 27. To conclude as concerning this Authors name we have at present nothing of certainty more then from himself in that Treatise to Q. Eliz. p. 52 where he thus writeth J. T. L. testifie those things with my own â—and in sober humbleness commending them to your Majesty only in Advertis to Q. Eliz. p 52. regard of my duty and for no other reward Give your promotions to those sons of Beor that rise so early sâ—dle their Asses to post after them For I your Servant haue bread water enough thanks be to my God am therewith as well content as if my Lands were as larg as are the Roialties of the little Bird that possesseth all the Fields over which it flyeth Finally The premises being considered I make bold and am no whit ashamed to affirm though the world will not bear it that this Author was a most choice special Servant of God immediately guided directed by his holy ever blessed Spirit as the holy Prophets Apostles were raised up by God in this last Age to shew these great things th' end of this World to this Generation to call for exhort to Repentance 120. years before hand as Noah was to foreshew th' end of the old World by the Flood exhort the Nations to Repentance 120. years before it came Therefore commending his writings so many of them as could be found here presented together in the following Treatise to all well disposed humble Christians who have their hope not only in this 1 Cor. 15. 19. life but in that which is to come for so are the Apostles words to be understood contrary to the false Atheistical gloss of the Note Reader that in discourse with a chief Rabby amongst
wherewith thou art baptized and yet was neither begotten by water nor by the holy Ghost for it was not possible for him to be purg'd with Peter his heart unbroken hard and cruell râ—fusing to sorrow with the Mourner And this was the faith of Julian thy Pastor I touch your mysterie now Sir Balaam whose broad seale and subscription hangeth even this day unto thy letters Pattens confirming thy Throne and Vicardome to thee and thy posterity was baptized with the selfe-same baptisme where-with thou art baptized and begotten by the selfe-same faith which thou beleevest and yet th'uncleane spirit re-entred his house prepared and swept and his blasphemous end is knowne to yee all this day to be worse then his beginning but had he been begotten by the faith which Abraham beleeved th' enemy at the returne with his seven thousand powers had found his house guarded by the stronger the watchman of Israel had defended his gates and kept his walls from ruine but it was not possible for him to be clensed with Abraham his heart not prepared with water like unto Abrahams for his soule was found among the stiffe uncircumcised children which would not regard their fellowes crying Wee have mourned and ye have not sorrowed But I will leave thy penance thy beliefe with all and every point of thy Doctrine to him that commeth after behold a voyce shall rise against thee discover thy blasphemies contained in thy conspiracy held at Trent against the holy one of Israel and Jacob his chosen and strike thee so with the two witnesses of God out of whose mouth comes fire to destroy the gainesayer that all thy Magicians all thy false reformed Prophets shall not be able to recover thee to life againe and returne unto the man who once laboured and was lost but now refreshed and is found againe whose warre and woes are turned to such a peace and joy as the world can neither give nor take away from him and let us make research into his life beholding how he worketh he that is wise will marke his steps and follow where he goeth Like as the good and fruitfull Tree planted by the river side bringeth forth her fruit in time and due season so fruitfull now is this branch become and after the two noble parts of his faith spreadeth out his root to moistnesse and bringeth forth a double fruit Th' assurance of mercy and forgivenesse of his sinne worketh in him such a true and perfect hatred of sinne as no man knoweth but he that is baptized in Silo with him and this hatred dwelleth not idle hidden up and sleeping in him but as a Citie built upon a hill sheweth his bastions and beauty to the passers by so breaketh forth this fire within him making knowne to all his members the power and strength thereof retiring them from their old and wonted wayes remembring unto him with what a precious bath and price he is washt and bought from th'uncleane and vaine conversation wherein once he walked now and ever after to be holy as he is holy that hath chosen him What fountaines may yeeld water enough to bewaile the state of this man for in his members he findeth a law bidding and commanding unrighteousnesse intising to regard his pleasures past maintaining to be bold to returne againe casting before him day and night the vomit which now his soule hath cast up and bleedeth to see or to remember more and in his spirit findeth another law remembring unto him the day of his trouble when feare and judgement led him chained to death and how he followed weeping and had nothing to say for himselfe how then and in that day he pittyed and delivered him with charge to remember with what a great and precious charge he was redeemed and recovered againe commanding him therefore not to dare to look backe or grieve the seed of God the holy one that hath done all these things for him Ah poore and miserable soule who shall deliver him from his body of sinne for to the law of his spirit consenteth he loveth and faine would doe thereafter but cannot for he dwelleth in a house of rebellion not contented alone to pursue him by day as it is written All the day long am I punished and chastised every morning but while the night lendeth the little ease unto his heavie eye his members watch to sinne Like righteous Lot in Sodome so dwelleth he closed in a Citie whose buildings are transgressions whose streets are wayes of error whose bulwarkes are the strength of death whose gates doe leade to hell dying daily tormented daily crying daily to be delivered from sinne or from the body thereof and in a great and strong patience though now of all creatures most miserable scorned of Angels disdained of men hated of the world pursued of his owne unspeakeably endureth all hoping with a hope which cannot be confounded for the revelation of his life laid up in the bosom of his Lord and Redeemer then and in that houre to be declared and given him when he shall come to judge the world with a righteous judgement rendring to every man just and truly according to the wayes wherein his heart hath walked And this is the death to sinne the great affliction happy man that hath his part therein for he shall see the day wherein he shall hunger no more nor thirst any more wherein the Sunne shall not burne him by day nor fire by night any more for the Lambe that loveth him shall feed and cover him and lead him to the fountaines of water of life and satisfie him and deliver his eye from teares and he shall weepe no more Th' other branch of his faith namely th' assurance that God loveth him worketh in him of the contrary part such a love of God and of his Lord and Redeemer as no man knoweth but he that hath it and this hidden and secret name resteth not idle covered or sleeping in him but as a Sacrifice salted doth prove it selfe seasoned to the mouth of the taster so breaketh forth this hidden light and sheweth her beams unto the Worlds end according to the Commandement He that loveth God loveth his brother also not him alone with whom he prayeth weepeth rejoyceth daily which love is commended unto him by the names of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but now loveth he every man as his brother knowledging every man his neighbour on whom he may have mercy every man his brother whom he may love which love is commended unto him by the names of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and called in Scripture the love of God Because it is not learnt of flesh nor after the will of flesh but of God and by his example who being fellowed in glory with the highest disrobed himselfe of his beauty came downe into the world was found amongst us in weaknesse in flesh and shape of a servant obedient to death even to the
in honour of his people Gothia or after his owne name Ataulpha which counsell and purpose of his had it beene effected Sir Antichrist with all his primacies and supremacies had bid us good night long ago and all his gainfull enâ—erludes of Fides vestra and Ne deficiat fides tua and Pasce oves and Tibi dabo claves and Quorum remiseritis with all his pestilent painted traine of succession had been dasht in repeating before ever they had come on stage But to the end this recovery might be the plague sore of the earth his deadly wound was healed as the Spirit saith But the wound of his death was cured For by the pleasing prayers and subtile intercessions of the Emperours fister Placidia whose beauty and body was espoused to Ataulphus for such a time his fury was averted and his designe dissolved and himselfe not onely content at her amorous mediation to grant the City of Rome pardon for her name but also to leave her eclipsed and dying honour with all her Italy to her stupified Honorius who for feare was crept into his earth at Ravenna and taking his Spouâ—e Placidia with such dower as himselfe listed departed Italy and pitched his Tabernacle in France then one of the chiefest Provinces of the West Empire And to this Plaister the Spirit pointeth in saying But the wound of his death was cured And the holy Ghost foreseing the greatnesse of the Beasts power to come which was yet but like unto his sin and how that Satan his creator who had formed him after the image and perfection of his owne wickednesse should afford him such letters commendatory to all the world which naturally loveth wicked inventions that the primacie of his Church and supremacie of his person should overspread all and obtaine the praise of â—he earth concludeth of him in this manner And all the earth was in admiration of the Beast VERS 4. And they adored the Dragon which gave power to the Beast and they adored the Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast or who may war with him ANd the children of misheliefe ascribed to the Dragon inhibited honours decking his heathenish Christianisme with names of holy and most holy titles due to God alone and they adored his execrable inventions and doctrines of divels worshipping and divifying his uncircumcised train of Caesars who had granted unto Antichristsuch power incomparable and uncontrollable jurisdiction which the Spirit anatomizeth in these words And they adored the Dragon which gave power to the Beast And as in evil there is no meane so these children of unbeliefe went on and bestowed like titles and magnifications upon this base and vile Antichrist who as the Prophet long agoe foretold us by policie should prosper and by peace destroy many and strike Dan. 8. his adorers with such a spirituall drunkennesse that they should not onely hang their gold but their faith also upon him and verily beleeve that this vile and despicable Antichrist Delegate to Romulus and Deputie to Caesar was Vicar to the Lamb and successor to Peter And thus rejoycing over the errour of their owne fantasie should with Pigmalion admire and dote upon the idol of their owne carving and falling downe should adore and â—rie with that drunken King Great art thou O Bell and in thee is no deceit which occasioneth the Spirit in detestation of their madnesse to disclose their shame saying And they adored the Beast and said who is like unto the Beast or who may war with him VERS 5. And there was given to it a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given to it to worke fourty two moneths ANd as the Dragon did bequeath unto Antichrist his throne and his power in so large and ample manner that his priestly key was in cutting and killing so like the Dragons sword that he that is wise may easily perceive one craftsman made them both so Satan the Master and seducer of them both endowed his Antichrist with mouth and lips so like his own that whoso hears him open may truly say Quam similes habent labra lactucas like lips like lettice at which the Spirit pointeth in saying And there was given to it a mouth and proveth it by an argument drawne from the fruit of his lips speaking great things Dan. 7. and blasphemies Whereof the Prophet Daniel also inditeth him foreâ—elling that he should open his execrable mouth and speake words against the most High of which presumptuous and blasphemous magniloquence the holy Ghost arraigneth him more particularly in the verse following And the Prophet also forther reporteth that times and laws and great power should be given into his hand for Dan. â— a time and times and the dividing of a time butting and bounding his tyrannous reigne and government within the self-same circle and period as here the Spirit doth by another like propheticalâ— construction saying And power was given unto it to worke forty two moneths VERS 6. And he opened his mouth unto blasphemie against God to blaspheâ—â—e his name and Tabernacle and those which dwell in heaven IN dâ—scovering the blasphemous mouth of Antichrist the holy Ghost doth first and principally challenge him for presuming to lay hand upon his divine and spirituall sword and to weare the name and title of Vicar to the Lamb which title name and honour is onely due to the Spirit of the Lamb the onely moderator comforter commander of all the Lambs affaires and forces in heaven and in earth and of tâ—is principall blasphemy the Apostle condemneth him in saying And he opened his mouth unto blasphemy against God Next the Lord challengeth him for presuming to blaspheme the word of God superadvancing his whorish Church above the divine eternall testimony in and by which the Son of God is named and knowne which contumely offered to his most holy word the Lord accounteth as done to himselfe and his most holy name for so the holy Ghost speaking of that Lord that is faithfull and true who with justice judgeth and fighteth saith that he was cloâ—â—hed with a garment sprinkled with blood and his name is called The Word of God The pourtraiture of which divine and essentiall word is the ingraven Scripture of his most holy and written word and of this blasphemy the Spirit inditeth him in these words To blaspheme his name Lesse marvell then if like a raging â—lood down bearing all before him and over flowing all banks of obedience towards God he dare extoll his cursed head above all that is called or named God that is to say all magistracie authority and power secular which by Gods owne ordinance and commandement is the onely true lively and immediate representation of his owne person justice and government here on earth in and over all temporall causes and persons as well Ecclesiasticall as civill of which high treason one Apostle also convinceth him 2 Thess 2. No marvell then if thus daring to blaâ—pheme the Lord of the house and