in a good forwardnesse toward an accomplishment I could tell you of much more in this kinde out of Astronomers and Divines who speak strangely of the Climactericall year of the Beast and the hornes upon the head of the Beast as also of those glorious times approaching but this would ask larger compasse then the time will beare or a Sermon will containe Wherefore now I suppose I may encourage you as the Apostle did the believing Jewes Heb. 10. 23. 25. Let us sayes he to them hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering and so much the more as you see the day approaching What day That day in which your faith shall be confirmed in the Doctrine which I have Preached which is the abolition of the Priesthood of which he had spoken before and the legall Ceremonies for nothing could adde a greater confirmation to their faith which were beleeving Jewes then to see the desolation of the Temple of which Christ had prophesied and of the whole Religion of the Jewes as touching Ceremonies foretold by the Prophets So also may be understood v. 35. 37. of the same chap. Cast not away your confidence c. For yet a little while hee that shall come will come and shall not tarry What hee is this but even he that Daniel had prophesied of 9. 26. The people of the Prince that shall come shall destroy the City and the Sanctuary That is T. Vespasian the R. Emperour that was to come I confesse others interpret the day spoken of of the day of judgement but without any colour of truth Now as the Apostle did encourage the believing Jewes from the time approaching in which they should see the end of Daniels 70. weeks and the legall Sanctuary abolished and so by that they might know the Messias was come So I may encourage you from this that the time is very nigh in which you shall see the utter abolition of the stability and glory of the Romish Religion and State the time is nigh as may be conjectured the expiring set forth in the 42 Months and 1260. dayes and the three years and a halfe and in the mysticall language of a time times and halfe a time Since it is so the same words may be spoken to you as David spake to his Son Solomon when he was to build the materiall Temple which was but a Type of this about which you are employed 1 Chron. 22. 11. 12. 13. I come now to a Use of direction in which with all humility and submission I shall endeavour to lay down some Rules 1. Remember that those are Carpenters that are employed in this great work Therefore you must doe as they that are to build you must alwayes go by rule and by line and plummet you must be most exact in the businesse and have a care to goe by rule your selves to keep close to Law and cause others to walk by rule and measure and steare by compasse those that forsake rule they may perhaps be said to build but as those spoken of Micah 3. 9. 10. they build up Sion with blood and Ierusalem with iniquity 2. Prepare choice materials for the house of God you must doe what lies in you for it here must be no hay nor stubble no humane inventions in this frame they must be all cast out and kept out 3. Seek out wise master builders choyce instruments which must be more immediately imployed in the service and rearing up the Tabernacle of Iacob lest in stead of a uniforme building you have a Babel Those that build with untempered morter they doe but patch and dawb but they doe not build you must have a speciall care to set up lamps and you must see that they be furnished with store of oyle chuse Aholiabs and Bezuâ—ls men throughly furnished to every good work 4 Take heed of doing the Lords work negligently and by halfs It is a terrible word that was spoken Jer. 48. 10. Remember what was said Ezr. 7. 23. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven for why should there be wrath against the Realm of the King and his Sons Consider that Saul did the work almost but for that he was altogether rejected of God 1 Sam. 15. 9. 26. therefore goe you thorough with your work the King of Israel being bid to smite upon the ground by the Prophet Elisha he smote but thrice but the man of God was angry with him and told him he should have smitten five or six times and then he should have smitten Syria till he had consumed it but now he should smite it but thrice 2 King 18. 19. What ever hornes stand in the way smite them till you have knocked them off The King of Israel paid deare for sparing when he was to have destroyed 1 King 20. 42. his life went for that life of him whom he spared and the King of Israels people for his people The Law concerning Oxen that push with the hornes and goare is set down Exod. 21. 28. 29. It is not said his hornes shall bee sawne off but he must be stoned and if the owner had warning of the beast and would not take a course with the beast that hee should hurt none he was to be put to death you have to doe with horned beasts and they have pushed and killed and you have had warning I say no more These very beasts are much more outragious like a Stagge that is wounded or a Bull that hath received a knock at the Shambles will make him that shot or strook them the object of their fury if they can certainly the very worst use is made of suspensions and delayes according to that Eccles 8. 11. Because sentence against an evill work is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to doe evill Remember likewise that there is a stigma and a brand of infamy set upon those Kings that did not goe thorough with the businesse of Reformation 2 King 14. 4. 15. 4. 5. Take heed of building upon an old frame that must bee all plucked down to the ground take heed of playstering when you should bee pulling down now it is apparent that the old house built up by the faction of Antichrist is leprous the plague of leprosie hath appeared in every part thereof it has been scraped and the stones plucked out and plaistered up againe and yet the leprosie breaks forth therefore according to the Law of leprosie Lev. 14. 44 45. it must be pulled down and you must not make use of the materials of it but according to the Law they were to bee cast out into an uncleane place what ever we have had from Rome to patch up a Church withall you must take care that it be cast out of the Church let them be cast back to Rome which is Sodom a beastly uncleane sink from whence we had them
under the last times of the Gospel to you you may find to have fallen upon those that built the Temple of Ierusalem who were your Type and you shall finde that notwithstanding all discouragements the building went on which certainly must needs animate and quicken you when you finde the parallel to be sutable It is said that the businesse is very sad and mournfull Ans It is true there is cause of mourning but there is cause of rejoycing too Ezra 3. 12. at the laying of the foundation of the Temple there was weeping I confesse upon another stile and there was rejoycing to because the foundation was laid that there was some pregnant hopes of a building towards which they might hope would come to an accomplishment in due time Secondly we are scandalized and reproched and the work vilified and scorned Answ Ezr. 4. 12. there you have an invective and Neh. 2. 19. when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem heard of it they laughed us to scorne and despised us and said What is this thing that yee doe will yee rebell against the K. but take notice of the pious answer ver 20. Again Neh. 4. 1. 2. 3. You shall finde reproaches full of venome and indignation against the building and the builders but yet for all this the building went on Thirdly we are not only reproached but the Adversary is in Armes against us Answ This was the case of the builders of Ierusalem for when the enemies saw they could not laugh and scorne them from the work they then levied forces to beat them from the work Neh. 4. 8. but yet the work went on and by that meanes it went on see v. 9. But if it be so how can it be expected that we should both defend and build Answ How did the builders of Ierusalem they fought and built at once Neh. 4. 16. 17. 18. and they did prosper and goe on Nay such was their constant opposition that they were compelled to watch so constantly and diligently That they did not put off their clothes saving for washing ver 23. Fourthly the businesse is now grown to that passe that it is so heavie and so chargeable that there is a great cry and clamour of the people by reason of taxations and by reason of continuall watching and labouring at the works men are constrained to leave their Trades and Trade decaying men now spend upon the stock nay many a mans stock is already spent so that they are compelled to borrow upon use whereupon there be many murmurings and repinings amongst us Answ This was just the case of them that built Jerusalem Neh. 5. 1. 2. 3. 〈◊〉 the very selfe-same words that were then spoken are now taken up and there is much like the same reasons and grounds But observe the wisdome and zeale of Nehemiah in this case how he behaved himselfe in the verses following from the 6th to the 12th and consider the issue most happy in the verses after Fifthly but the people of the land are disaffected both to us and the work Answ Ez. 4. 4. 5. The people of the land weakned the hands of the people of Iudah and troubled them in building and hired Counsellours against them c. Sixthly our Adveriaries lay their designes deep they work under ground Answ So it was with them anciently Neh. 4. 11. their Adversaries said They shall not know neither see till we come in the midst among them and slay them and cause the work to cease Seventhly many great ones draw back the Nobles many of them will not put their hand to the work Answ So it was anciently Neh. 3. 5. The Nobles put not their neck to the work of the Lord. Eightly we are dealt withall by way of treaty and friendly accommodation places of meeting are proposed and the truth is their traines of love are trains of powder to blow us up Answ So it was with Nehemiah 6. 2. he was sent to by Sanballat and Geshem saying Come let us meet together in some one of the Villages in the plaine of Ono but they thought to doe me a mischiefe Whether the case at a Town not farre off be not much like this and whether mischiefe were not intended let the event speak but observe what answer Nehemiah made v. 3. Nay they sent to him foure times but he gave them the same answer He had a great work in hand so that I cannot come down c. I will not undertake to prescribe what answer you should give Ninthly we have open Declarations against us and the world is told that we rebell and that we think upon strong matters such things as never entred into our hearts Answ Just so it was with Nehemiah c. 6. v. 5. 6. they send an open letter to them to that purpose it might be known to the world and that they might affright them with that terrible word of Rebellion Nay it is said that they employed Prophets to Preach their Rebellious intentions that they might be communicated more easily and effectually to the people this was said then v. 7. and let the same answer that Nehemiah made be now made also ver 8. Tenthly we had those that are set on purpose to draw and entice us into unwarrantable courses that so there might be a just matter of acculation against us some have been tempted on purpose for that end that so we might lie open to their imputations Answ This was Nehemiahs case c. 6. v. 10. hee was allured by Shemaiah to goe with him into the house of God pretending it was not safe for Nehemiah to be in the City now this would have engaged Nehemiah in a dishonourable act to flie into the Temple this might have favoured of feare and then others might have been disheartned and therefore he entertaines the offer with indignation and said Should such a man as I flee v. 11. Secondly it would have engaged Nehemiah in an unlawfull act for Iunius and Tremelius observe that it was not lawfull for him to go into the Temple and to that purpose they urge that Law Numb 3. 38. and Nehemiah seems to intimate the unlawfulnesse of the thing v. 12. he sayes and loe I perceived that God had not sent him but that he was hired to make him afraid and sinne v. 13. Eleventhly but we have those that do entertain commerce and entercourse with our Adversaries Answ So it was antiently Neh. 6. 17. It is said in those dayes the Nobles of Iudah sent many letters unto Tobiah and the letters of Tobiah came unto them It seems the Nobles were rotten in those dayes some of them nay more many of them in Iudah some were sworn to Tobiah because he was the Sonne-in-Law of Shecaniah it should seeme he was well allyed ver 18. in the 19. ver you may see the end of the letters why they were sent and why they told the proceedings of Nehemiah to his Adversaries Twelfthly the people of the Land are unprepared and are
not stand long after for ch 47. 1. God sayes Come down and sit in the dust c dost thou think to stand when thy gods be down So Ier. 50. 2. speaking of Babylons destruction it is said Bel is confounded Merodach is broken in pieces her Idols are confounded her Images are broken in pieces And Ier. 51. 44. God sayes I will punish Bel in Babylon then it followes the wall in Babylon shall fall and ch 48. 7. speaking of Moabs captivity hee sayes Chemosh shall goe forth into captivity with his Priests Chemosh was the Idol of the Moabites Thy gods O Rome are captivated banished scorned Rome look to thy selfe thou canst not stand long the gods are 〈◊〉 out of their strong holds spoken of Dan. 11. 39. i. e. out of the Temples which are the Ecclesisticall holds dedicated to the true God and the Mahuzzims Deo Sanctis as Master Mede very well expounds it in his Apostasie of the latter Times Now we see that the very names of Saints set up with God and assigned to dayes and places are almost cast off and the Images of Saints which are strong a Crosses have been esteemed Fortresses and Ammunition whence that usuall expression among the Antients munire signo crucis And Constantius Maâ—ssa inveâ—giling against 〈◊〉 for demolishing Images 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 atâ— muniâ—ones veâ—giosâ— cultus holds too are broken down Wherefore as L. Florus said concerning the taking of Carthage after Carthage none need bee ashamed to be conquered b L. 2. c. 7 Post Cart 〈…〉 c. So I say after the Conquest and captivity of the gods of Rome Rome need not blush to follow The very Heathens when they besieged a City c 〈◊〉 sets down the Charme used against 〈◊〉 l. 〈◊〉 c 8. in the first place they charmed the gods of the place and then they doubted not of the City The gods of Babylon are charmed and therefore it cannot be imagined that Babylon should hold out long 7 The Propheticall Calander in which the time of the ruine of Babylon and the building of Sion is foretold seemes to intimate that the time is neare approaching both for the one and the other For there is the same measure of time the same synchronismes of the 1 woman i. e. the Church of God living in the wildernesse which is for a time times and halfe a time And 2 of the seaven-headed beast i. e. Rome which should reigne 42. months And 3 of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth 1260. dayes Rev. 11. 3. 12. 6. Rev. 13. 5. Then 4 there is the same measure of time of the treading under foot of the Court and the holy City by the Gentiles Rev. 11. 2. As for time times Mr. â—rightman in Apoc. and halfe a time it is expounded c. 12. v. 6. compared with 14. to be three years and a halfe And three yeares and a halfe containe Mr Mede in 〈…〉 42. Months and likewise in three years and a halfe there be 12â—0 dayes Now it is frequent in Prophesies to set down a day for a year so then by that account the witnesses sufferings under the Beast and the Churches persecution by the Whore and the tyranny of Antichrist reckoning a day for a yeare must be 1260. yeares which is just so many yeares as Christ Preached dayes as is conjectured Now some take the beginning of this account from Hildebrand for then Antichrist was very high Anno 6â—6 according to the number of the beast Rev. 13. 18. I will not undertake Mr. Mason in a Prof. to his Histo to determine when we should begin and when to end the account but it is cleare that there is the same beginning and the same ending However take your levell where you will there cannot be many yeares remaining of 1260. not many weeks of the three yeares and a halfe not many dayes of the 42. Months I may adde to this that the Vialls that are poured forth already upon Babylon and the evident Declinations of the Papall state are as so many steps to ruine the deadly wounds given to the Whore-ridden Beast are so many prologues to the Tragedy of Rome It would be too long to go over all the particulars severally 8 I might adde the Predictions of Astrologers and those that study the Almanack of Heaven written in visible Characters * Nuntius Prophet It were worthy to bee considered who they are that he charges with Rebellion and Treason and Murthers and Thefts c. whom also he cals by that opprobrious name of Caâ—uli Calinarii pag. 28. there is one that is so farre from favouring your proceedings that he hath most unworthily reproached you in a book set forth by him in which he hath collected some choice observations give him his due out of the most learned Astronomers which seeme to give great light to all that I drive at a Alsted Spec. Mundi insert Chronol in Encyclop absolatâ Septimâ hâc revolutione Plaâ—ctae redeunt ad sua initia unde finis regnorum Mundi à peâ—itis rei Astronomicae codigitur Encyclop pag. 46. fol. edit 1630. in Chron. b Sabbatismi quandam oâ—cultam rationem obtinet speaking of this seventh revolution prae caeteris peculiare magni momenti quid denuntiat Tych. Brahe Alsted and he out of Tycho Brahe sayes that from the yeare 1603. to 1642. the world will receive great mutations because in those 40. yeares comes to a period the seventh revolution of the Planets besides the numbers in Daniel and the Apocalyps confirme the same a Tycho Brahe sayes that this seventh revolution hath somewhat peculiar and singular above all the former hee speaks as if it pointed at a Sabbatime and that by this meanes a preparation or protasis were made to the Apocalypticall thousand yeares Alsted speaks peremptorily concerning the conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter in Aries in February last 1642. portendit sayes he novi alicujus imperii revolutionem It is remarkable what Kepler said concerning the influence and effects of that portentuous starre in Serpente which appeared in Octob. 1604. and vanished in Febr. 1606. a Kepl. de Stella Serpent p. 6. Haec particula respâ—â—â—t forâ—an concâ— â—ordrectanum 148. sessionâ—u celebratum 618. Magnum 〈◊〉 Angâ—c quâ—m 〈◊〉 conventuâ— praesenti hoc anno 1642. he sayes that Ecclesiasticall Discipline shall be restored by a publike Councell the Church shall be reformed licentiousnesse of youth shall bee cleane taken away and the madnesse of the people shall be restrained and an Aristocracy Collegiorum which may be capable of more constructions shall prevaile The Author of Nunt. Prophet sayes that he may ayme either at the Synod of Dort 1618. or laugh not Nuntius The Assembly of Divines now called Keplers Prediction is very strange and is yet to be fulfilled and although some scorn that it should be meant of this Assembly yet even they if vengeance suffer them to live may see the businesse