For may Israel dwel safe and the kings of th' East not know it Nay verily they shall arise and Dan. 12. 12. Ezek. 39. come downe like a storme and like a cloud shall cover the earth and compasse round the tents of the Saints and the beloved City till fire descend from God out of Rev. 20. 9. heaven as it is written and devoure them And in those days shall be finished the mistery of God fore-declared to his servants the Prophets and witnessed by the mighty Angel which came down from heaven stood upon the sea and upon the earth and raised up his hand and voice to heaven and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold it is come and it is Rev 10. Ezek. 39. done saith the Lord this is the day whereof I have spoken For the hope of which day the stones of Syon dye day by day tho little â—steeming seven thousand deaths in regard of the precious assurance ingraven in their breasts that they shall then and in that day behold the L. that hath so mercifully gathered them from among the Nations That hath so wonderfully preserved them from the sorcery of Babylon which hath destroyed all the earth That daily leadeth them in and out before the scorners the covetous and foolish wise of this world so prudently and so invisibly that they seeing are not seen and living are not known That hath bestowed on them a thousand treasures more then these so secretly as no man suspecteth but they that have them That hath so surely and fully perswaded them that tho they now goe on their way weeping yet they shall then returne againe with joy and bring their sheafes with them and all the earth shall then know which now is hid how much the Lord their Redeemer loved them and night and day shall praise and magnifie the just judgement and mercy of him that â—ath done all these things for them Which day in due time He that is Highest shall manifest to all He that is Prince and Lord above all who onely hath immortalitie and dwelleth in the light which none can attain unto whom no man ever saw nor can see unto whom be all honour and power everlasting Amen Zach. 2. 7. Save thy selfe O Zion thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babel ANd thus my Lord at length I am come a shoar delivered from a dangerous scopulous sea as any is in all the Ocean of the scripture praying if I have made too bold t' impart my voyage to your Lordship you would be pleased to ascribe it to the common humour of Travailers who cannot chuse but tell what adventures they have passed and what wonders they have seen Strange and long were it to tell your Honour all I saw and I fear in respect of your hours I have been too long to tell so much too much doubtlesse in regard of my Pen which is so sad and so uncourtly as were it not for that naturall engraven Noble courtesie wherewith your Honour is beautified above all comparison your Honour might not endure her plaine and carelesse apparition And thus most humbly commending my service to your Honours disposing take a shorter leave then else I would because I am setting forth to sea againe in hope God willing if bread and water fail me not to discover the Revelation and to make knowne to my gracious Soveraigne Princesse that I also among the rest may be bold to speake though I care not to be known FINIS A BREIFE EXPOSITION OF THE XI XII and XIII Chapters of THE REVELATION WHEREIN MOST OF THE GREATEST MYSTERIES conteined in the whole Book are unfolded The Contents are in the next Page LONDON Printed by M Simmons in Alderse-gate-Street 1651. The Contents of these Three CHAPTERS TH' estate of the Primitive Church before her dispersion The Churches first persecution by the Heathen Emperours The Flight of the Church into the Wildernesse The two Witnesses The rising of Antichrist his seven heads and ten hornes The second Beast and his two hornes The practise of Antichrist and his Clergy against the Church The Image of the Beast The Marke of the Beast The Name and Number of the Beast The End of the Beast and destruction of his City The yeare of th' End of the World discovered by th' Author TO His dread and Soveraigne Lord JAMES the first of England Scotland France and Ireland King c. Grace and Peace HOw many there are most Noble King that have aimed at the unfolding of this divine and hidden Prophecy would require the skill and vertue of a Prophet to refer 'T sufficeth to know they have all left the mark very faire and open for others to hit Wherein howsoever their Zeale by priviledge of charity may find excuse yet their ignorance and errour within these cases â—â— no lesse hurtfull to the Reader then dangerous to the Writer may not find the like grace What I have seen or dreamt I feare not to offer to the censure of time the discoverer of error and Mother of truâ—h appointed from above th' only indubitate touch stone of all divine and Propheticall enterprises And although your Highnesse may doubt of my bold and hardy direction in this dangerous and scopulous sea wherein so many great and learned Pilots have overshot the Cape as one that feareth all Physitians for that he hath fallen into the hands of so many unskillfull yet forasmuch as the Church is sicke and the physick of this prophesie needfull I could not chuse but speak the things I know leaving to your Princely gust to iudge whether the Needle of my Compasse bee truer toucht then theirs And for this prophesie was directed chiefly unto Kings unto a King I have the rather presumed to recommend the same and unto You most noble King before all other whofe fame of wisedome Justice and goodnesse hath advanc'd your name and Scepter higher then any power of greatnesse can doe And although it bee presented by one awaked out of time yet if it may find but litle protection under your gracious favour for a season yeares and age I doubt not will give it aâ—â—â—iration and honour enough 〈◊〉 hope of which grace most humbly I reverence your most Princely hands commending all their labours to the God of Heaven who hath exalted your arme so high and made you so honourable throughout his world CHAP. XI 1. The regenerate Christians only are the Church and heritage of God 3. The residue are outcasts and refused 7. Of the two testifiers and preservers of truth 13. Antichrist killeth them but the Lord restoreth them life againe 15. Great dissention ariseth thereupon the day of judgement is foreshewed VERS 1. And there was given me a reed like unto a mete yard and the Angel that stood by me said Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that adore therein AS in a common field a good Surveyor doth measureout
the Familists when I alledg'd St. Paul's words 1 Cor. 15. 19 If onely in this life we have hope in Christ we are of all Men most miserable to prove the Resurrection and his assured hope of Salvation in the world to come he denied it in hearing of divers saying that the Apostles meaning was if we had only hope in this life not the thing hoped for we were most miserable but now saith he we have both the hope the thing hoped for the promise the thing promised al that may be expected we have in this life as he affirmed agreeable to the rest of their blasphemous Principles Familists then to receive and enjoy eternal rest an Inheritance amongst Gods Elect the faithful Iews Gentiles in that Land promised the Fathers I say commending his writings as a most inestimable Treasure to all sober Christians hoping that themselvs may see and find that they are undoubtedly the very truth as in due time will appear desiring them as they tender and value their own everlasting peace and happiness as they must certainly answer it at the great Day of the coming of Christ Resurrection of the dead that they would above all things take heed of and avoid the horrible infatuations the pernicious poisonous Doctrines Principles of the shameless blasphemous Familists so directly contrary to so wholy absolutely inconsistent with the grace of God and state of Salvation I take my leave and rest their Christian Friend J. W. Lond. Apr. 15. 1661. A VOYCE Out of the WILDERNES CRYING With many Tears and strong perswasions to the World for REPENTANCE Proving by undenyable Grounds from the Word of God that the great Day of his righteous Judgement shall certainly be in this present Age before 61. Years after this present Yeare 1651. shall be expired And unfolding many great and wonderfull Mysteries of God forespoken in his word to come to passe and be fulfilled from the rising of Julius Caesar first Emperour of ROME to this present time and from hence to that Great Day of the Lord. Things that were never discovered by any Writer before this knowne and such as greatly concerne the Church and Chosen of God in this last time Exprest in a very high Propheticall stile and clear evidence of the Spirit and of Power from above which the judicious Christian Reader may well perceive LONDON Printed by M. S. 1651. TO THE CHURCH OF ROME MANY and sundry voices have beene heard out of the Wildernesse in these latter dayes whereunto had wee given good and diligent eare we had perhaps discerned the time of our visitation neverthelesse he that writeth testifieth the Kingdom of God is at hand WHat neighbour or friend is he who seeing his next or beloved in danger doth not cry â—ake heed and though such one may be found yet â—annot we hold our peace Generations sinfull and â—dulterous why should we feare or shame to speake â—mongst yee your number and hath it not been alwayes the complaint of the holy Ghost in the dayes of the Prophets Apostles and to this houre Lord who hath beleeved our sayings and to whom is thy arm revealed your nostrils whose power is breath not to be counted of nay we are not only ready to give up our bodies but our souls to be sacrificed in witnesse of the cause pleaded before yee this day or should our voyce be ashamed of her preparation behold yee scorners like as a mighty wind that pasâ—eth your eare and bloweth not upon yee so shall yee heare great things to day and not be moved â—herewith and poore and slight and simple as she goeth she hath authority to give joy to the living and life unto the dead Amongst whom liest thou buried rotten and past rising up againe thou that siâ—test carelesse like a Queen in pleasure and glorifien thâ— selâ—e saying in thy heart I am alone and besides me is no other I may not be widow or desolate for ever aâ—d like a foole hast not considered th'older thou art the nigher to thy grave But thou sayest tush am I not great Where dwelleth then the power that may doe all these things Wherefore thus saith the truth although thou be now so high as that the word forespoken is fullfilled in thee And who is like unto the beast or who may war with him behold the day hasteth and is at hand wherein thâ—u shalt be made so little that thy name and remnant shall not be found upon the earth and all thy many hornes and multitude of Witches whose arme and counsell have been thy help and treasure from thy youth shall fall and perish as fire consumeâ—h straw and not be able to deliver thee any more for thy dayes are numbred and yet two Moneths two Weekes two dayes and a halfe and thy number six hundred sixty six shall be fullfilled Happy man that liveth to see that day and behold there be living that shall see it And Tyre and Sydon with all thy Cedars though now they surfet in wealth in pride and pleasure shall then lie comfortlesse and wring their hands for Babylon their Lord is dead And thy death shall be the life of Israel but his light may not long indure as testâ—fieth the Prophet And then and in those dayes shall be fullfiâ—â—'d the great mystery of God prophâ—â—ied by the mighty Angell who set his right foot on the Sea and left upon the Land and lifting up his stroâ—gest arme to Heaven swore by him that liveth for ever and eâ—er There shall be time no more He that blasphemeth let him blaspheme still and he that liveth at ease take his pleasure still neverthelesse the speciall day is at the doore to give to every one according to his wayes And yet thou sayest I am his house his sanctuary and place of his dwelling wherefore Discoursers 〈◊〉 once shall be wrought in your eye to day all the gateâ— of his City shall be laid open before yee and none of yee shall enter into it All are wise and every one shall give account according to that he hath received I aske then and have not all received yes verily the voice of God is written up and placed in th' eyes or heaâ—ts of all as it is wirtten Their sound is gone forth over all the earth and their words unto the worlds end But all have nor obeyed as testâ—fieth the Prophet and therefore the Kingdome of Heaven is likened to a Field containing Corne and Weedes to a Net enclosing fish of all sorts good and bad to a Wedding whereunto all were bidden those that refused those that came prepared and those that came and were 〈◊〉 apparrelled to Servants good diligent faithfull bad slow and unprofitable to Virgins some wise whose lamps did watch while they slept 〈◊〉 foolish whose lamps did sleep with them to a house of great and large receitâ— garnished with vâ—ssells of gold and silver of wood and clay then and in that day to be imployed
are Caesars and unto God the things which are Gods Which many blind and fleshly humours not considering have laboured and brought forth such errour and distraction as we see every where this day Some so drunken with the primacies and prerogatives of Caesar as that they feare not to revile the freedome appertaining to the Kingdome of God Others so headlong carried with a false pretended liberty and freedome of a Christian as that they care not to deny the lawful sword and authority of Caesar so that amongst so many so few from time to time are found that can discerne how Saints are free and yet subject to Caesar But God loveth Sion and hath chosen it for in her is truth without confusion And this is the generation of the counsell and wisedome of God and the true description of all her children which if you understand and doe thereafter then shall you discerne those reprobate times and save your selfe from the visitation to come What man is he that travelling by desart places and seeing the day at his going downe hasteth not to recover his Inne for feare lest the night leave him in distresse Hasten then after the counsell and correction of God whilst yet the day lasteth for behold the night commeth And these are all which I advertise you few as they be and simple as they goe yet if truth deceive me not their right understanding is far finer gold then is your Scepter and much more honourable then your Fathers house And this shall be for a signe that I speake not of my self Behold the Mountain which you fear so much I mean the Beast the Man of sin Lucifer Son of the morning the Horne that hath so many hundred years blaphemed heaven and oppressed earth behold I say tho now he be so great as that the makes the earth to Isai tremble and shake with a word only the very roots of Kingdoms the â—ime hasteth and is at hand â—herein he shall be made so little as neither name nor remnant of him nor son nor sons son shall be found upon the earth For his days are numbred signed and sealed up in the bâ—ok of God and yet seventy and seven days and his number 666. shall be fulfilled And all his Princes his Sorcerers and multitudes of people which now rejoyce and â—lap their hands drunken with the whoredoms and prosperity of Babel shall then lie comfortles and wring their hands as fast for Beltis their God is dead And the death of Babylon shall be the life of Sion but her light may not long endure as testifieth the Prophet and then and in those dayes shall be finished the secret knowne to the Lord alone even the great mystery and redemption of God forespoken of by the Dan. 12. 22. mighty Angel who stood upon Sea and Land and swore by him that liveth for ever and ever That time should be no more And when these things shall come to passe as Revel 10. 6. verily in their appointed time they shall then shal they kâ—ow that in the days of their rebellion there was a voyce of a servant of God heard amongst them 1 T. L. restifie these things with mine owne hand in sober humbleneâ—â—e commending them to your Majestie onely in regard of my duty and for no other reward Give your promotions to those sons of Beor that rise so early â—nd saddle their Asses to post after them for I your servant have bread and water enough thanks be to my God and am therewith as well content as if my Lands were as large as are the royalties of the little bird who possesseth all the fields over which it flyeth Proverb 1. Because ye have despised all my counsell and refused my corrections I will also laugh at your destruction and mock when your feare commeth FINIS BABYLON IS FALLEN OR A Prophesie that had lain hid above two thousand years Foreshewing The rising continuance and fall of the Empire and Supremacie of Rome with all matters of moment that were to come to passe during the reigne of the Emperours and Popes The last being the vanishing of the Germane Empire lately fullfilled The next the dividing of the Kingdome of France by the Sword of Spaine The third that of Spaine by the Sword of other Nations The fourth the destruction of Rome and desolation of her Church in the yeare 1666. The fifth the descending of the Kings of the East and of the whole world unto the battell of the great day of God Almighty The first title was onely Babylon is Fallen with these words of the Prophet For I heard the railings of many and how they watch for my halting saying it may be that he is deceived Jer. 20. 10. LONDON Printed by M. S. 1651. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT Lord DEVOREUX Earle of Essex REading of late my Lord a Chapter of Esdras folding up in a mysticall and dark discourse a living Representation of a long time whereof the most is past and some little to come â— thought it no lost labour to take my Pen and unfold the same that therein wee may behold which naturally all desire to see as well the issues of things to come as what is past or now in being and thereafter to qualifie and moderate our hopes and call our troubled thoughts which otherwise run with reins on Neck within the Circle and limitation bounded and drawn from above And finding this Prophesie written by a Man greatly beloved of God and thereto which rare is a Princes Favourite high in grace with a King of Persia I presumed the rather to present this my Labour to your Hon. Lordship as upon whom God hath vouchsafed like great and rare graces ' Tsufficeth that your Honour read it greater favour Esdras seeketh not He Labours not to praise or please which now a dayes finds many friends but to admonish and forewarne which fataly finds none till 't be too late He fears not the Noble and Learned Reprover of supposed Predictions for he hath heard him honour the Prophesies of Holy Writ wherein himselfe hath no less honour gotten then given His other Enemies have wisht me to conceal and tâ— reserve them to a more open hearing But Esdras is at thâ— next leaf my Lord and craves your Honours patience for an Hour BABYLON IS FALLEN ESDRAS 4. Chap. II. Vers 1. Then I saw a Dreame AFter this the Prophet saw a Vision concerning the beginning continuance and fall of th' Empire and supremacie of Rome And this Vision was shewed him in the dayes of Artaxerxes King of Persia About four hundred years before the first stone of Julius Caesar her Empire was laid And behold there arose from the Sea an Eagle And there arose among the Nations the fierce and fearfull Kingdome and Empire of Rome seene in Vision by the Prophet Daniel some few years before Which had twelve fethered wings Wherein should arise and raigne twelve Emperours which should spread their Power like wings
he Id. in Apoc. 17. writes Cum liber signatus puta Apocalypsis sit prophetia de futuris in fine mundi c. Seeing the Book of the Revelation is a prophesie of things to be done in th' end of the world under Antichrist it follows that these things are to be understood of the City of Rome which shall be towards th' end of the world consequently saith he Rome must return to her pristine splendor Idolatry c. And further Hii odient fornicariam c. these shal hate the Whore that is Babylon i. e. Rome saith this Jesuite To them subscribes Suarez and confirms it in these words Sub Suar. T. 2. Qu. 59 Disput 56. Sect. 2. aenigmate purpuratae Meretricis Apoc. 17. exprimitur Roma c. Vnder the figure of Babylon Apoc. 17. is represented Rome as 't is manifest from the last words of the Chapter And the woman that thou sawest is the great City that raigns over the Kings of the earth for no other City had then universal dominion besides Rome And concerning her ruine thus he Idem contra Praef. monit Doctis Regis Jacobi l. 5. c. 7. writes Desolatio Romae quae praedicitur Apoc. 18. erit sempiterna c. The desolation of Rome foretold Apoc. 18. will be perpetual therefore 't is certain that this prophesie was not fulfill'd in any of the former destructions or calamities that befell Rome Thus Suarez one of the chiefest late Writers of that side To these I might add Lessius Salmeron Tirinus Estius Malvenda Alcasar with their two Cardinals Baronius their Annalist and Bellarmine their Goliaâ— to make up the Jury full who all unanimously agree and give up their verdict that Rome is signified and figur'd under the name of Babylon yea and divers of them affirm that she being guilty of the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus must be burnt with fire and made desolate by the Kings of the Earth who formerly had given their power strength unto the Beast before th' end of the world But their words at present I omit and refer the Reader to their Writings and Commentaries on the Thess Apoc. and other Scriptures relating to this particular or to the Treatise entituled Romae Ruina finalis An. D. 1666. c. 4. where he may finde them and others with their words and judgements in this matter cited and produced at large And now I submit it to the judgement of the Reader to determine whether of the twain have delt more fair and honest in this particular the deluded Jesuits or blasphemous horrible Familists and resume the consideration of this excellent Author his incomparable writings 21. After he had laid before Q Eliz. the absolute necessity of Repentance and shewed what graces she must attain and way she must walk in to obtain that everlasting Crown and Inheritance promised the Fathers and all their faithful Seed he thus Advert to Q. Eliz. p. 51. 52. concludeth And this is the generation of the Counsel wisedome of God the true description of all her Children which if you understand and do thereafter then shall you discern those reprobate times and save your self from the visitation to come What man is he that travelling by desert places and seeing the day at his going down hasteth not to recover his Inn for fear leâ—t the night leave him in distresse Hasten then after the Counsel and Correction of God while yet the Day lasteth for behold the Night commeth And these are all which I advertise you few as they be and simple as they go yet if truth deceive me not their right understanding is far finer Gold then is your Scepter and much more honouraâ—le then your Fathers House And this shall be for a SIGN that I speak not of my self Behold the Mountain which you fear so much I mean the Beast the Man of sin Lucifer son of the morning the Horn that hath so many hundred years blasphemed Heaven and oppressed Earth behold I say though now he be so great as that he makes the Earth to tremble and shake with a word only the very roots of Kingdomes the time hasteth and is at hand wherein he shall be made so little as neither name nor remnant of him nor son nor sons son shall be found upon the Earth For his days are numbred sign'd and seal'd up in the Book of God and yet Seaventy and seven Viz. 77. years which added to 1589. the year wherein this Author writ that Treatise reacheth to the year 1666. days and his number 666. shall be fulfilled And all his Princes his Sorcerers and multitudes of People which now rejoyce and clap their hands drunken with the whordoms and prosperity of Babel shall then lie comfortlesse and wring their hands as fast for Beltis their God is dead And the death of Babylon shall be the life of Sion c. 22. In which passage this is remarkeable that he gives this for a SIGN that he speaks not of himself namely the destruction of Rome in 1666. By which 't is clear that he puts the credit and truth of those other great and weighty matters throughout his writings concerning the Principles of the doctrine of Christ regeneration way to salvation so much now questioned and gainsaid upon this conclusion that is to say to be receiv'd as the very truth if that come to passe but rejected if not as if he had said If iâ— come not to passe that Rome the Seat of Antichrist be destroyed and burnt with fire by the Kings of the earth that formerly had given their power and strength to the Beast at th' end of 77 years after this viz. in the year Apoc. 17. 666. then look upon my writings as no other then my own private conclusions But if you see the judgement foretold executed on that great City in that year 666. then receive what I have writ as the truth concerning those other things far more excellent of greater concernment then this But hitherto his writings have bin by all sober discerning Christians that have seen them receiv'd and imbrac'd as a great Treasure containing in them most spiritual and heavenly truths consonant and agreeable to the doctrine of Christ his Prophets and Apostles And p. 32. To the Church of Rome he saith And this is the high and holy one To the Church of Rome p. 32. that beareth record with his poor Servant that wrote these things and we know that his record is true thereunto bearing witnesse thousand sighs and tears And that it might be confirmed under three the love of God diffused in his heart the garment dipt in the blood of the Lamb cryeth out uuto you testifying with him these things are true And p. 19. he asks his Adversaries Which of you reproveth him that writeth of a lie And yet none of them ever answer'd or convinc'd him of a lie though divers whereof some now living have in vain attempted it to their
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
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
be long free from like retaliation but as the truth fore-saith He that divideth with the sword shall perish by the sword For how may Esdr 4. 12. the sword for ever escape him whom heaven hateth and earth doth persecute and of whom may be truly said which was spoken of Ismael Manus eorum contra omnes omnium contra illos And thus shall these heads perish and hast the faster to their end because the judgement of the beast is nigh in the very next verses attending to come in Vers 36. Then I heard a voice which said look before thee and consider the things which thou seest Vers 37. So I saw and behold as it were a Lyon came hastily out of the wood roaring And I saw that he sent out a mans voice unto the Eagle and spake saying Vers 38 Hear thou and I shall tell thee what the most High doth say unto thee The roaring of the Lion is the breath of the Highest which shall rebuke th' Eagle for her unrighteousnes and cast before her all her spoyls and set her alive in judgement and with the spirit of his mouth rise up against her and lay unto her charge as in the text following Ver. 39. Art not thou he which of the 4 Beasts remainest whom I made to reigne in my world that by them the end of things might come Vers 40. And the fourth is come and hath overcome all the beasts that were past and obtained power over the world with great fearfulnes and over the whole compasse of the earth with extream oppression and hath possessed so long time all the world with deceit Ver. 41. For thou hast not judged the earth with truth Ver. 42. But hast troubled the meck and hurt the peacefull and thou hast loved lyers and destroyed the dwellings of them which brought forth fruit and hast cast down the wals of such as did thee no harme Ver. 43. So as thy unjust dealing is ascended to the most High and thy pride unto the Mighty Ver. 44. And therefore he that is Highest hath beheld the proud times and behold they are ended and their abominations are finished And if thou plead not guilty hereunto behold a thousand witnesses shall rise up against thee and prove the inditement true that the just judgement which hath so long attended for thee may at the length be pronounced against thee in form as in the text followeth Vers 45. Therefore appeare no more thou Eagle nor thy fearfull wings nor thy wicked fethers nor thy malitious heads nor thy cruel claws nor thy vaine body And least in thy drunkennes thou maist think thy sin may over-shoot this judgement to come and in thy madnes glorifie thy selfe as thou hast ever done perswading thy selfe thou shalt ever be because thou hast been long and like a fool hast not considered the more thy yeares the nigher thy grave behold thus saith the truth In the year which shall be 1666. this Rev. 13. 18. judgement here pronounced shall lay hands on thee And as all thy fearfull wings and fethers be already descended and blown down so before that day which is so nigh at hand the tyranny of thy malitious heads and cruel claws shall be consumed and brought to nought And in that day thy vaine body shall be burnt with fire and shall so cleane be cut off from the land of the living that neither son nor nephew as the Prophet Esay 14. 22 Esay 14. 24 saith nor branch nor remnant of thy name shall be found upon the earth For as it is purposed so shall it come to passe and as it is consulted it shall stand Go to now take counsell of thy Seers and call thy inchanters about thee build thy devices as high as heaven and lay their foundations low as hell yet shall they not deliver thee from the day appointed but as Salmanazar destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battel wherein the mother with the children was dasht in peeces or like the milstone which the mighty Angel did cast into the Sea with such violence shalt thou be thrown down and be found no more And all hell shall be moved at thy comming and prepare it self and raise up all her dead against that day to meet thee and all the Princes and Kings of Nations whom thou hast slaine with the cup of thy fornication shal rise out of their torments against thy coming and at thy fight shall wonder and cry and Esay 44. 10 say unto thee Art thou become weak also as we art thou become like one of us Is thy pomp bowed down unto the grave and are thy pleasures departed like ours and is the worm spread under thee and do the wormes cover thee also how art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer son of the morning which hast cast lâ—ts upon the Nations and saidst in thine heart I will ascend into heaven and exalt my throne above besides the stars of God and I will sit upon the mount even the holy mount of his Sanctuary and Congregation I will ascend above the height of the clouds and will be like the most High And all hell which once did wonder worship and kisse thy feet beholding now thy nakednes thy shame and judgement shall die for grief of mind and dying shall say Is this the man that made the earth to tremble and Esay 14. with his word did shake the Kingdoms that made the world a wildernes and a wast of the Cities thereof Then shalt thou lying in tormenâ— death gnawing on thee answer them and say We have erred from the way of truth and the light of righteousnes hath not shined upon us nor hath the Wisd 5. Son of understanding risen over us we have wearied onr selves in the ways of wickednes and we have gone through dangerous paths but the way of the Lord we have not known What hath pride profited us or what profit hath the pomp of riches brought ns all these things are vanished like ashadow and as a Post that passeth by And casting up thy eye to heaven shalt see the righteous stand in great boldnesse before thee and before the face of such as tormented them and took away their labors and thou shalt fear exceedingly at the sight of them and be amazed at their wonderfull deliverance and dye for grief of mind and dying shalt say These are they whom we sometimes had in derisron and in a parable of reproach we fools thought their life madnesse Wisd 5. and their end without honour But how are they counted among the children of God and their portion among the Saints Vers 46. That all the earth may be refreshed and come again as one delivered from thy violence that she may hope for the iudgement and mercy of him that made her And thy death shall comfort and refresh the earth and deliver Sion from her great and violent oppressions but their prosperities may not long endure as testifieth the Prophet Daniel