true Believer after he begins to follow the Lamb he never leaves following him but followeth him whithersoever he goeth Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall Tribulation or Distresse or Persecution or Famine or Nakednesse or Perill or Sword For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Oh beloved he doth not follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth that follows the Lord earnestly for a while but afterward forsaketh him when a storme riseth Yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended Math. 13.21 Nor he that followes the Lamb in some things and the Beast in other things They feared the Lord and served their own gods after the manner of the Nations Nor he that followeth the Lord in a dull heavy manner and a luke-warm temper I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot Chap. 3.15 Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the fountaine of living waters and hewed them out Gisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water Jer. 2.12 13. Oh this is not a following the Lamb They that follow the Lord fully abide in the Lord and cleave to the Lord and continue constantly in Gods ways to the end of their dayes The righteous holds on his way Job 17.9 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. Hosea 6.3 The righteous man holds on his way he followes the Lamb whithersoever he goeth First Speedily Secondly Truly Thirdly Undividedly Fourthly Zealously Fifthly Humbly Sixthly Chearfully Seaventhly Diligently Eightly Constantly Ninthly Faithfully Tenthly Transcendently Now this is following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Now I shall shew you why Believers follow the Lamb. First Because they are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. He paid a price for our redemption that so he might discharge the debt of our sins And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Rev. 5.9 There are three things called precious in the Scriptures First Faith is called precious 2 Pet. 1.1 Secondly The promises are called precious vers 4. Thirdly The blood of Christ is called precious 1 Pet. 1.19 O his blood hath redeemed us from six Enemies First From the World Galathians 1.4 Rev. 14.4 Secondly From the Curse Galathians 3.13 Thirdly From Sin Rom. 6 18 22. Fourthly From the Devil Heb. 2.18 Acts 26.17 18. Fifthly From the sting of Death 1 Cor. 15.55 56. Sixthly From Hell 1 Thes 1.10 Rev. 2.12 O his blood is precious blood his blood hath slaine our Enemies he hath purchased by his blood Reconciliation with the Father Union with the Son and Communion with the Holy Ghost Ye that were sometimes afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 16. Secondly They follow the Lamb because they are washed in the blood of the Lamb. He hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood Rev. 1.5 These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sinne 1 John 1.7 Christs blood washeth away our bloody sins I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live Ezek. 16. For as soon as we are united with Christ our sins are upon him and his righteousness upon us It is Christ that gives us life and puts excellent Ornaments upon us to cover our nakednesse and decketh us with Jewels and Gems of Gold So we become beautiful in his sight Isa 6â— 10 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle nor any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 Thirdly Believers follow the Lamb because they are risen with the Lamb. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ siteth on the right hand of God Coloss 3.1 Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should wark in newness of life Rom. 6.4 Every man besides a Believer is a dead man Dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 Therefore they are exhorted to rise from the dead Eph. 5.4 They must rise from evil to good from Earthly-mindednesse to Heavenly-mindedness but now Believers by faith are risen from darkness to light For ye were sometimes darkness but new are ye light in the Lord Walk as Children of light Eph. 5.8 Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Isa 60.1 When the Lord shined forth upon his people in glorious discoveries of himself he calls them away from their former condition When the Lord discovered himself in a Gospel dispensation his people were no longer to sit under dark clouds of legal Ceremonies but to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Fourthly They follow the Lamb because they are enlightned by the Lamb. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 Yea doubtlesse and I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ Phil. 3.8 Divine and Heavenly knowledge brings a man near to God it gives a man the clearest and the fullest sight of God and the nearer any man comes to God the clearer vision he hath of God and the more communion with God The reason why others doe not follow the Lamb is because they see not the worth and want of the Lamb Having the understanding darkned being alienated from the living God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts Ephes 4.18
is taken containeth six principal things First A Lovely Description of Jesus Christ and he is described by the similitude of a Lamb Lo a Lamb stood upon Mount Sion vers 1. And behold the Lamb of God Joh. 1.19 He is called a Lamb in a double respect First In respect of his innocency 1 Pet. 1.19 Secondly In respect of his meekness and patience Acts 8.32 Secondly A Lively Description of the Church the Lambs wife and that from vers 1. to vers 5. Thirdly A glorious Description of the Churches Ministers As the Church is in this book called Heaven so her Ministers are called Angels And I saw another Angel flying in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel ver 6. And there followed another Angel saying Babylon is fallen vers 8. And the third Angell followed him saying with a loud voyce c. Vers 9. Fourthly Here is set down the Doctrine which these Angels preach and publish The first Angell published the free Grace of God in Jesus Christ openly against all the inventions of men Saying with a loud voice fear God and give Glory to him and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of waters vers 7. Namely That men should once fear God and worship him and give all glory to him none to Creatures none to Images none to Antichrist he that worshipeth the Beast worshipeth the Dragon and the Divel Chap. 13. The second Angell proclaimed the utter ruine of Babylon and the destruction thereof over the world saying Babylon is fallen is fallen that great City because she hath made all Nations drink of the wive of the wrath of her fornication vers 8. The third Angel doth seriously and solemnly give warning to all those who shall yet adhere to the Beast shewing the danger and misery of it If any man worship the heast and his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb vers 19.20 Fifthly A sweet word of heavenly consolation to the Saints and People of God And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth they rest from their labours and their works do follow them vers 13. Sixthly The Judgments and vengeance which shall be executed upon the false Church the Spirit doth set it forth by a double similitude the one by rending the other by gathering and that from vers 15. to the end God will as it were rain Hell out of Heaven upon Babylon he hath fire and brimstone for this spirituall Sodome judgement without mercy and fury without compassion I shall now come to the words of my Text These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth This text is one of the Golden Characters of the hundred forty and four thousand which stood with the Lamb upon Mount Sion In these words are three things First the Subjects these Secondly the Act follow Thirdly the Object The Lamb whithersoever he goeth I shall gather this Observation from the words That it is the sweet temper and frame of soules truly gracious to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth In the handling of this point I shall shew you five things First What it is to follow the Lamb Secondly Why they follow the Lamb. Thirdly The Excellency of following the Lamb. Fourthly The Misery of them that follow not the Lamb. Fifthly How the Lambs followers may be known from the beasts followers First To follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth is to follow him in four things First In his Commandements If you love me keep my Commandements John 14.15 Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you Chap. 15.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life Rev. 22.4 Oh Beloved we cannot follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes unless we follow him in his commands Then shall I not be ashamed saith David when I have respect to all thy Commandments Psal 119.6 Christians should take as much delight in those precepts that enjoyne holinesse as in those promises that assure happiness Secondly In his teachings My Sheep hear my Voyce and I know them and they follow me John 10.27 A stranger they will not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voyce of strangers Vers 5. Thirdly In his Providences through all afflictions all straits all discouragements and sorrows whatsoever though it be a way of blood We must forsake all to follow a crucified Christ a condemned in bloody paths of sufferings if he call us to it Ye though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Psal 23.4 For saith Paul I am ready not to be bound only but also to dye at Jerusalam for the name of the Lord Jesus We must be willing to venture the loss of all for him Liberty Estate Relations and Life it self We have forsaken all and followed thee Math. 19.27 Fourthly In his Example For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you Joh. 13.5 that Because Christ hath suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 22. So that to follow Christs steps is to take him for an example We must walk in the same spirit in the same steps and in the same obedience VVe must not follow wicked mens Examples who walk in the broad way that leads to death and are of their father the Devil and his work they do John 8.11 But we must follow our Head Christ who went up and down doing good Acts 10.38 Now this is to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth In his Commands In his Teachings In his Providence In his Example Secondly To follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth is to follow him truly without hypocrisie and constantly without apostacy First Truly without hypocrisie Many follow the Lord as Beggars follow a man onely for an Almes they prize the wages of Religion above the work of Religion You seek me not because of the miracles but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled John 6.26 Oh Beloved God abhors an Hypocrite more then a Sodomite and Hell is provided on purpose for Hypocrites Mat. 24.51 My Beloved following the Lamb fully is to have the heart sixed and resolved for God My soul followes hard after thee said David Psalm 63.8 And as the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God All the faculties of his soule are working after God My soul and all that is within me praise the Lord saith holy David Secondly Constantly without Apostacy A
Another Vial is poured out upon the Sun that is Princes and Magistrates Vers 8. Fifthly Another Vial also upon the Seat that is Rome it self the throne of the Beast Vers 10. So that all that worship the Beast and receive his Mark and belong to him whether they be high or low rich or poor if they do not come off from him they shall share with him in all his plagues Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins that ye receive not of her plagues Rev. 18.4 The second misery of them that follow the Beast is they shall cry to the Rocks and to the Mountains of the Earth And the great men and rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men and every Bondman and every Freeman hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains and said to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Rev. 6.15 16 17. They that are here cloathed in Silk and Velvet shall wish for the mountains to cover them which would be but a poor shelter for the Mountains melt at the presence of the Lord and the Rocks rend asunder when he is angry They that made others fly away from them as innocent Lambs from devouring wolves shall be afraid of the wrath of the Lamb that sitteth on the throne Oh how will those great men dare to appear before his Tribunal that have stained the Sword of Authority with the blood of innocency by turning its back against the vicious and whetting its edge against the righteous Many an unjust Judge that now sits confidently upon the Bench shall then stand trembling at the Bar. Oh how will they be able to lift up their heads before Christ who have lifted up their hands against Christ The Kings of the earth stood up and the Rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ Act. 4.26 Rev. 17.14 Instead of helping the Lord against the Mighty they help the Mighty against the Lord Psal 2.2 Oh how many great men are there that make no other use of their greatnesse but to be great in wickednesse great Swearers great Drunkards great Sabbath-breakers great Persecutors great Adulterers great Atheists who instead of denying or forsaking the Devil and all his works follow the Devil and all his works who sin with content and are content with their sins Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of Thieves Isa 1.23 But the great God against whom they sin is greater than the greatest before whom all the Nations of the world are but as a drop of a Bucket and as the small dust of the Ballance Isa 40.15 Who will not fear thee O King of Nations forasmuch as there is none like unto thee O Lord Thou art great and thy name is great and thy power is great Jer. 10.6 He toucheth the mountains and they smoak before whom the Devils fear tremble Therefore wo wo be to them that forsake him and follow the Beast they shall cry and call for help but there will be none to help them The third misery of those that follow the Beast is They shall be cast into a Lake of fire with the Beast And the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beast and them that worshipped his Image these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Rev. 19.20 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. Oh what a dreadful thing is it to lye under the wrath of God! to lye in burning flames and for ever to be banished from the presence of God and his holy Angels This will be the portion of the Beasts followers Oh will they not wish then that they had never been born and that they might be turned into stocks and stones but alas all their wishes will do them no good Christ will say to them then Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 42 43. O ye Rulers and great Ones of the Earth It will be no dishonour to your Honours to lay your honour at his feet in whose presence the Angels vail their faces and before whose Throne the Elders cast their Crowns Isa 6. Rev. 4.10 O is it not better then with patience to suffer with Sion and the Churches party a while rather than joyn with the Romish party and be ruined with them in the end Rev. 14.12 Here is the patience of the Saints Ye shall suffer a while and be troden down by them and you must stay for the full accomplishment of this promise for your deliverance But I will surely come and will recompence all your patience And therefore be not discouraged and faint in your minds let not your hearts turn back unto Egypt and hanker after Rome those remnants of Baal which God will surely destroy Fifthly I shall shew you now how the Lambes Followers may be known from the Beasts followers First You may know them by their number They are in number the fewest Many are called but few are chosen Mat. 20.16 Though all Israel be as the sand of the Sea yet but a remnant shall be saved Rom. 9.27 And Christ calls his flock a little flock Luke 12.32 And truly Beloved they are but a few that follow the Lamb and believe in him The Heathens follow the Devil the Turks follow Mahomet the Jews follow Moses the Papists follow the Pope and loose Protestants and carnal Professors they follow the world the flesh and the Devil and false Teachers false Doctrine and false Worships And all the world wondred after the Beast Rev. 13.3 The waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues Chap. 17.15 Believers though their natures are the sweetest yet their number is the smallest In Heaven are the best but in Hell are the most O dear Christians there are but few upright Christians there are many Thorns but few Lillies Secondly By their Characters you may know them You have nine lovely Characters of them in this fourteenth Chapter First they stand with the Lamb upon the Mount Sion Secondly They have their Fathers name written in their foreheads Thirdly They sing a new Song which none can learn but onely the hundred forty and four thousand Fourthly They are such as are redeemed from the Earth Fifthly They are Virgin-Saints not defiled with women Sixthly They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Seventhly