God that they stumble into heathenisme and prophanes then are they that fear the Lord to take to heart the great dishonour the name of God suffers by this abomination and speak a gainst it also 4 Do they see inhabitants of professing Syon that seem to be great worshippers of God and zealous for the service of the Lord and the good of his people n Mal. 1.13 snuffing at that part of the worship of God at doing that peice of the will of God that suits not with their worldly interest of gaining this evil world with the Goods thereof crying out what a weariness is it something we would do for God but that the Lord now cals for is a wearisome burden to us it wil quite undoe us oh what a weariness is it this is an hard saying who can hear it then ought they that fear the Lord to think upon the dishonoured and despised name of God and speak against this abomination also 5 Do they behold men in professing Syon o Verse 14 Vowing a vow unto the Lord and in a capacity to perform that Vow having that Male in his flock and yet sacrifice unto the Lord a corrupt thing blinde and lame performances then also are they that fear the Lord to think on the name of God how greatly it is dishonoured and bear a ful testimony against that loathsom hypocrisie of him letting him know he is cursed who dareth so to trample under foot the name of the great King whose name is dreadful among the Heathen 6 Matters of a civil nature and as if the Prophet intended to stop the mouth of the objection of these dayes he brings in the evils of this nature in the last place that his THEN might clearly appeare to have special and direct relation to those things 1 When the proud professors in Syon that behave themselves proudly and contemptuously towards their God and their Brethren are accounted p Mal. 3.15 the happy men as those that would make the Nation happy by the wayes of their devising called happy congratulated and applauded as the men whom the Lord hath owned and made happy by his providence and blessing then are they that fear the Lord to think how the name of God is dishonoured by this evil and bear their testimony against it 2 When the wicked workers in professing Zion q Verse 15 the workers of wickedness are set up Children of strangers of a strange spirit and principle r Isai 3.6 contrary to the Spirit of our Lord the holy and righteous Spirit of true Syon and the work of God those whose delight is not in the law of the Lord but in wayes of their own inventions suitable to their degenerated and base interest who break the law continually working wickedness indeed although they cal it and would have what they do accounted righteousness and to defend these men in their wickednes s Verse 9 Horses and Chariots a powerful Militia is fixed as a wal about them when such men are set up over the people and such things done oppressing vilifying and persecuting the people of the Lord and the true interest of the Son of God our Lord Jesus among his people and in the world then are they that fear the Lord to be sensible of the dishonour and reproach is cast upon the name of God by this evil and bear their testimony against this wickedness also 3 When they see this evil in professing Syon t Mal. 3 15 they that tempt God are even delivered while the Altar of the Lord is covered with the tears weeping and crying out of the oppressed those who by their provoking hypocritical loathsome wickedness tempt the Lord to put an end to his long-sufferance and execute his vengeance before the appointed time are even delivered their heads are lifted up and their faces made to shine through the benigne aspect of those who should and ought to be a terror to them they are even delivered from their fears of receiving the desert of their wayes and actions by a stream of Justice and righteousness and are set up to work wickedness against God in oppressions and cruelty covering the Altar of the Lord with the tears sighs and groans of his people then are they that fear the Lord to think upon the great name of their God how unworthily it is dishonoured and trampled under foot and bear their testimony against this wickednesse also 4 When the Rulers of professing Syon beâ—â—â— and act like the Rulers of Sodom rebel against the Lord go away backward apostatise from God oppress the people of the land yet cover all with a cloak of religious performances and outward holines good aims and ends for the work of the Lord and the good of the Church of Christ with these coverings hiding their evils and wickednesses from the vulgar sight then are they that fear the Lord not to hold their peace but to cry aloud and bear their testimony for God against this abomination also and of of the fruit of this their doing shal they eat and it shal be wel with them in that day wherein he wil judge those men Qu Possibly it may be askt why wil the Lord have those that fear him thus industriously engaged against the evils and wickedness of Rulers and people at this day Answ The Answer is because his great name that was so glorious and dreadful among the Heathen is so exceedingly dishonoured therefore are they that fear the Lord to think upon the name of God and speak in its vindication this is an apostacy in Syon delivered out of Babilon though many of Babilons evils cleave yet close to them for whom the Lord hath done great and wonderful things freed them from the slavery and bondage of a sore captivity under the Babilonish power blessed them with prosperous success in building their City that in spite of the Tobiahs and Sanballats of all their enemies that had maintenance from the Kings Palace were maintained by a wretched Kingly Interest they became a Common-wealth a free people by which they had opportunity and liberty to serve the Lord in doing his whole Wil and pleasure in doing these great things far beyond the thoughts and expectations of the greatest worldly wise men for this people the Lord had gotten himself a great name dreadful among the Heathen how did the wicked world tremble at the thoughts of it and now for this people to draw back even to Babilon to apostatise from the Lord in matter and manner hath been treated of is none other but a wicked ravishing and deflouring the honour of the Virgin name of God he had so lately gotten to himself by doing such wonders for this unworthy people As our Lord said of his day in the flesh that if those Disciples that spake for him and blest him should hold their peace the stones would immediatly cry out so may it truly be said of this time also if they that fear
This Witnesse or Testimony whereof we are speaking from John 7.7 is not the witnesse of a man a mortall man but the witnesse of God the witnesse of one who is God and man and so it is most Authentick And how often Doth our Lord in his Ministry and Testimony inculcate this upon his hearers That he spake nothing of himself but as the Father gave him Commandement John 12.49 50. And again John 8.38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father So that when the Lord Jesus testified it was the highest Testimony which could have been given to the truth His Testimony was an unquestionable Testimony a righteous Testimony a witnesse which will carry the cause against the whole world for Let God be true but every man a lyar as it is written that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings The sayings of Christ from the father concerning this present evill world and the wicked works thereof will be made good at the last day Let no powers on earth think or hope to enervate his Testimony in the least by any pretences excuses or distinctions whatsoever Now as Christ Himselfe was in the world so ought those who are Christs Ministers and Witnesses to be in the world likewise Those whom he sendeth were born and anointed to this end viz. to bear witnesse to the truth in his sted and on his behalf and let the Princes of the world and the people of the world assure themselves The Lord never did nor ever will leave himselfe without witnesse Some of his Servants shall be stirred up by his Spirit to plead the Cause of their Lord against his adversaries altho they know before hand that through the hatred of the world they shall be exposed to a thousand dangers distresses deaths for the truths sake The Dragon the beast the scarlet Whore the false Prophet the Kings of the earth although by a complication of interests they are desperately ingaged and inraged against the Lamb and his followers against the Lord and his witnesses neverthelesse the wrath of God hath been and now is revealed from heaven to their very faces against all their ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse by those witnesses which he hath raised up and furnished with Heroick spirits to contend with the whole earth and that wrath so revealed by his Servants the Prophets shall be executed likewise for The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy which the true Church is never destitute of altogether So that I am perswaded and I believe many others that Matters are carried at this day betwixt the Servants and Spirit of Christ and the Servants and Spirit of Antichrist as they were carried in those dayes betwixt the Spirit person of Christ and the Spirit and persons of the Priests and powers of the earth It is not to be expected that his Highnesses Court Chaplaines who are fed at his Table should lift up their heel against their Good Lord and Master in testifying openly that his Counsells are evill that his Instrument is an ugly Idol and an Image of Jealousie that his Government is evill that his workes in imprisoning the Servants of Christ without Just Cause are evil that his Extortion and Rapine in Imposing and gathering in all his Taxes by an Arbitrary power contrary to the Law of God and the Land is evill that his devouring whole families in sending thousands to the ends of the earth and multitudes against their wills upon a base and beggerly Designe that stinkes in the nostrills of God and good men is evill and abominable And which of his City and Country Clergymen fed and Cloathed by his Tyrannicall execution of the Popes Cannon Law will declare against him for maintaining the Relicts and Remainders of Popery and for his setting up New-Carnall spirituall Courts of Prelaticall Tryers or Comissioners to reigne over the Parish Ministers in the Byshops stead Which of those Inslaved Preachers Lecturers and Augmentation-Men who come cap in hand to their Inferiors or equalls for their Approbation and a box full of Orthodox Orders to preach in such or such a steeple House and to receive the ancient profits and perquisites of the parish for their paines dare to turn head upon their Ecclesiasticall Lords and joyn with Christ and his spirit to testify against these New invented Babylonish Abominations Alas poor wretches they have no heart no spirit for the Interest of Christ they are ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and of us his prisoners who by the most powerfull Illapses and influences of his spirit are inabled and Constrayned to bid Defyance to the scarlet coloured Beast and to all his 7 heads of Blasphemy and to all his ten homs of persecution to all the Kings of the earth which commit fornication with the mother of Harlots and with all her danghters But because these Men thus lamentably yoaked by their new Lords Spirituall and Temporall dare not particularly and couragiously in the power of the Spirit bear their Testimony for Christ against the world or world like Church that their deeds are evill therefore the Lord will raise up others to supply this defect And be it known to all the Kings and Princes which oppresse and persecute the Children of the free woman that the Lord will furnish himself with a sufficient Number of faithfull Servants who shall in his strength maintain that Conflict and Combate which is needful till the great of the Battel of the Almighty God As Christ told the Chief Priests and Scribes who were displeased that the Children cryed Hosanna to the Son of David If these should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out so I say in words of truth and sobernesse seeing the Chief Preachers Pastors and Teachers are dumb and connive at the present Apostacy Hypocrisie Oppression Tyrannicall Government and going back to AEgypt the Lord is as it were compelled to furnish himself from among the private Christians and the weakest and meanest of the Brethren to bear a Testimony against this wicked Generation of Backsliders and if they likewise should hold their peace altogether the stones of the streetes and the very bruite Creatures would immediatly cry out for the Lord will not altogether and utterly leave himselfe without witnes This Insuing Treatise was not Composed by any of the University-scarlet Doctors nor by any Batchelour of Divinity or Master of Arts and sciences I am perswaded their Acadenicall Vnction will teach them to practice complyance and to sing Placebo But surely this is some Honest Sool who observing the Common Clergy to be as mute as Fishes when they should have cryed aloud and have lifted up their voyces as a Trumpet to shew the Apostatized Christians their transgressions and the Hypocrites their sins hath so far layed their Abominations to heart that he cannot for bear to speak a word for God against such an adulterous Generation and to encourage that little Remnant which speak often one to another and think upon Jehovah's
Southsayers like the Philistines notwithstanding all their glorious hypocritical professions and outside worship that men cannot discern what they are without digging very deep yet they are guilty of some of the wicked and provoking abominations of their predecessors whom the Lord drave out before them 2 Because n Verse 7. their Land is ful of silver and gold neither is there any end of their treasure their time is spent in getting and their hearts run a whoring after the riches of this world as it was in the dayes of Noah so it is now they are wallowing in the delights and pleasures of this world they are so swallowed up in the love of the fading glory of this miserable world that they cannot find their rest but there is no end of their treasures they wil never with the rich man say it is enough soul take thy rest so insatiable are they that the treasures of the world are not able to satiate their boundless lusts there is no end of their desires the more they get the more they would have there is no end of their treasure their Coffers wil never be filled so long as any thing is behind that may be gotten by any way or means 3 Their o Verse 7. land is ful of Horses neither is there any end of their Chariots and they please themselves in the children of strangers to secure themselves in the enjoyment of their carnal and unworthy pleasures they erect a Mercenary and powerful Militia a thing of such a wicked and destructive tendency to the good and wel fare of the people that the Lord doth expresly command that man whom he shal chuse to be Ruler over his people that p Deut. 17.16 he shal not multiply horses to himself and the wickedness of its tendency is exprest in this that it causeth the people to return to Egypt into an Egyptian bondage and slavery when the Lord hath said Ye shall henceforth return no more that way the Lord knew ful wel that man though a holy man of the Lords own chusing qualified according to the mind and wil of God so as that he wil chuse him before all others yet man so qualified man in the highest state of grace while this old World standeth would not be able to bear up against the temptations of the evil one and his own heart vvhen once he hath gotten a multitude of Horses and chariots a powerful mercenary Militia at his ownvvil and devotion David that upright heart after he vvas grown great by many Conquests could not withstand a Temptation of this nature numbring the people and such a power vvil necessarily cause the people to return to Egypt that is into bondage and slavery for it is the high way to oppression and injustice To make this Militia wholly his own to serve his interest to be for him him against all his enemies he must be bountiful and liberal to them bestow great gifts upon them and having not of his own so to do he must rob and oppress the pople this course Saul took 1 Sam 8.14 15 and 17 verses And he wil take your fields and your Vineyards and your Olive-yards even the best of them and give them to his servants and he wil take the tenth of your seed and of your Vineyards and give to his Officers and to his servants he wil take the tenth of your sheep and ye shal be his servants And least any should have better thoughts of Saul and think this might be meant of some other read what himself saith Chap 22.7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him hear now yee Benjamites will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and Vineyards and make you all Captains of thousands and Captains of hundreds implying as strongly that he had done so as that David could not nor would not do so O the deep gulf of wickedness and misery the horrid Temptations that mans heart vvil hurry him into who fals down to commit adultery vvith this filthy Idol But these men wil multiply horses and Chariots to themselves that they may be a sure defence to them in their ways of vvickedness yea they so dote upon this Idol that they never think they have enough of her there is no end of their Chariots horse upon horse Chariot upon chariot force upon force there is no end of them they never think themselves strong enough and great enough and this brings a necessity for Oppression upon oppression without end for these must have their feilds and their Vineyards and their Olive-yards and their tenth part of the seed great possessions and riches otherwise there is no life in this defence without this Oyl the chariot-wheels vvil not run and they please themselves in the Children of strangers men of a strange degenerated spirit that chuse to serve the Wil and lust of the Prince before the true interest of their countries good the vvelfare of the people men of so strange a spirit and principle that they truly deserve the name of strangers and not Natives of the good Land of such a degenerared unworthy principle that teaches them obedience to the Imperious wil and unlawful commands of their Prince although with Doeg the Edomite they fal foul on the servants of the Lord in such Children of strangers do these men take pleasure and with them is their delight and therefore wil the Lord arise to shake terribly the earth and bringing down the lofty looks of these proudmen save his righteous remnant and get himself a name excellent in all the earth These wickednesses are guilty of such aggravations that they so provoke the eyes of Gods glory as he wil not forgive them by no means wil he pass them by but wil deal with them in that dreadful manner spoken of But this is not all the Prophet in the 16 verse of this 3d. Chapter comes with a MOREOVER Moreover the Lord saith because the daughters of Syon are haughty and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes walking and mincing as shey go and making a tinckling with their feet therefore the Lord wil smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Syon and the Lord wil discover their secret parts in that day wil the Lord take away the bravery of their tinkling Ornaments about their feet and their Cauls and their round tires like the Moon the chains and the bracelets and the muflers the honnets and the ornaments tf the leggs and the headbands and the tablets and the ear-rings the Rings and the Nose jewels and the changeable suits of apparel and the mantles and the wimples and the crisping pins the glasses and the fine linnen and the hoods and the vails and it shal come to pass that in stead of sweet smel there shall be stink and instead of a girdle a rent and instead of wel-set hair baldness and in stead of a stomacher a girding with sackcloth and burning
shal she be clothed with all the the defence promised and not til then the promise is to a washed and purified State not to a State defiled with filth tho of Zion not poluted with blood though of Jerusalem that which is most like true holiness and purity and is not that vvhich the Lord wil defend is nothing but glory the Image and impress of himself upon all the glory shal be a defence nothing beneath the glory of Zion thus vvashed and purified by a spirit of Judgment and a spirit of burning wil the Lord defend at this rate and after this manner but Syon clothed upon with the glory of her Bridegroom and Lord e Cant. 9 5 Who is this that cometh up from the Wilderness leaning upon her beloved shal be defended by a continual assistance of the creating power of God so that they shal not be tempted by any necessities whatsoever to make use of the same unrighteous politick wayes and courses the Rulers of the world have hitherto made use of to defend themselves they shal not make use of the worlds unrighteousnes to fence and guard their righteousness from the rape and spoils of their enemies but there shal a creating power such an extraordinary providence at tend them bringing down their enemiesunder their feet upon all occasions at all times that the Lord shal be so eminently seen in those wonderful occurrences of his providence and power that he shal have the praise and the glory of all Glory to God in the highest wil then be the burden of the song at that day 20 Vntil the Lord hath purged and purified Zion he wil not defend it against the rage and injuries of her enemies when the Lord shal have washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion and purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof then and not before wil he create upon all its glory such a defence as shal be a shadow from the heat a refuge from the storm and a covert from the rain such as shal be sufficient for all times and seasons night and day 21 When Syon is thus purged and purified become Gods holy hil of Zion a holy generation such a stamp of holiness set upon them that they shal be CALLED HOLY then will the Lord make use of her in his glorious work in the way of his Judgements upon the prophane antichristian and hypocritical world then wil they know how and be fit to burn up the wicked treading them as ashes under their feet But 22 Before that day comes that shal burn as an Oven wherein the stone shal smite the great Image and break it in peices the Lord will bring his remnant and his Jewels into one entire body and poure down his Spirit upon them a spirit of discerning such a degree of the Spirit as shal sufficiently qualifie and fit them for his work and service saith the Lord when I have made up my Jewels then shal ye all return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not for the day then cometh that shal burn as an Oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shal be stubble and the day that cometh shal burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shal leave them neither root nor branch 23 Observe the work of the remnant at this day of apostacy and falling away it consists of two parts 1 Bearing their testimony against the apostacies and evils of the times they spake often one to another if Jerusalem loose the kindness of her youth and the love of her Espousals Jeremy must be f Jer. 1.18 a defenced City and an iron pillar and brasen walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah and the Princes thereof against the Priests thereof and against the people of the Land If the house of Israel turn aside from God grow impudent and hard hearted stopping their ears against the word of the Lord Ezekiel must have g Ezek. 3.8 9 a strong face against their faces and a strong forehead harder than an adamant against their foreheads if the house of Jacob get into an hypocritical strain of outward holiness would make the world believe they keep a fast a day unto the Lord when they indeed fast to smite with the fist of wickednes and would cover their fulfilling the wil of their lusts under a cloak of doing God service Isaiah must h Isai 58.1 cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their transsions and the house of Jacob their sins in the performance of which service i Jer. 1.17 they must not be afraid lest they be confounded Qu If any should ask what those evils are that they that fear the Lord should bear their testimony against Ans The Prophet makes answer to this question by his significant THEN in the 16 Verse of his Third Chapter THEN they that feared the Lord spake often one to another then when they heard and saw things at that pass the Prophet had spoken of before they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and it doth not only point out the time when they spake but I conceive it also signifies to us the things against which they spake for the Prophets then hath relation and alludes to all the enormities and evils of the Times enumerated before and they are of a double nature matters of Religion and matters of a civil concernment 1 Of Religious matters And 1 If they behold men in professing Syon denying God k Mal. 1.6 that honour and that fear due unto him despising his great name robbing the Lord of those dues they ought to render to him then are they that fear the Lord to be sensible of the dishonour that comes to the name of God thereby and speak against that evil 2 If they behold Inhabitants of professing Syon a people that are l Isai 1. from the 2. verse to the 14 rebebellious children a sinful Nation laden with iniquity a seed of evil doers corrupters that have forsaken the Lord and gone away backward having their hands ful of blood mens hands may be filled with blood divers wayes that they are become to the Lord as Rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah provoking the holy one of Israel unto anger when they see this people in hypocrisie filling the Lord with a multitude of sacrifices and Offerings Oblations New Moons and oppointed feasts cloaking over their apostatising wickednesses with many religious performances to cozen their consciences and the professing world then ought they that fear the Lord to be sensible of the great dishonour the name of God suffers by this abomination and speak against that evil also 3 When they see men in professing Syon m Mal. 2.8 depart out of the way of the Lord apostatise causing many to stumble fal taking such offence at the Law the wayes of
the Lord should hold their peace and not speak and plead for the name of their God the stones the dumb Creation would bear a Testimony for God against mans wickedness if none else wil the stone shal cry out of the wall and the beam out of the timber shal answer it The name of God which had been clouded for a long time began now to be glorious and excellent in all the earth upon which the heart of God is fixed and their going about to ravish this honor provokes the eyes of Gods glory stirs up his Jealousie least it should be given to others what overturning work doth the Lord of hosts say he wil make in professing Syon and doth this move the Lord himself and wil he not think we have those that fear him moved also wil he act thus like a man of War and blood to vindicate his honour and wil he not have them to speak for it surely yea so that we see there is great reason why they that fear the Lord should be of this temper of spirit at this day 2 A second part of the work of the Remnant at this day is a sincere and hearty solicitousness after what other duty may be encumbent upon them the performance whereof may in any measure vinvindicate the honor and glorifie the name of their God who is so much dishonored and whose name is so vilely trampled under foot by the hypocriticall wickednesses of this day they thought upon his name What shall we do for thy great name 24. Behold the blessednesse of those who sincerely exercise themselves in the work of the Lord at this day They shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him such blessednesse will they possesse as their portion from their God and Father as none but themselves shall be made happy with in that day Many other usefull lessons might be observed to be taught us from these scriptures but I shall satisfie my self with what is already written And to conclude this discourse give me leave to addresse my self in a few words to those three sorts of men concerned in it 1. To the Leaders of this apostacy Yee a Isa 1.10 Mal. 2.19 Rulers of Sodome and ye base and contemptible Priests of the land the Lord hath made you contemptible and base before all the people because of your corruptions Hear how Isaiah complaineth of you calling the heavens and the earth to witnesse against you and see Malachy turning aside the skirts of your coverings discovering all your hypocritical rottennesse to the view of those who are not quite blinded by Satans wiles and your disguises behold how your wickednesses have provoked the eyes of Gods glory Wo wo wo be unto you if ye repent not it s a certain truth the Lord will visite his Syon be a swift witness against you and come neer to you to judgment his purging and purifying Sion wil be your destruction the Lord of hosts who cannot lye who is faithfull and hath power to bring it to passe hath said it O therefore if possible turn away the anger and wrath of the Lord of hosts by a timely repentance ch 3.7 Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of hosts O that this Pharisaical Answer might not be yours Wherein shall wee return But Isa 1.16 17 18.19 20. Wash yee make you clean put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evill learn to do well seek judgment relieve the oppressed judge the fatherlesse pleade for the Widdow if yee be willing and obedient yee shall eate of the good of the land but if yee refuse and rebell yee shall be devoured with the sword for the month of the Lord hath spoken it Imbrace the invitation hearken to the Counsell of these Prophets for why will yee dy O yee sons of men There 's no way of salvation from that Pit of destruction your own wayes and doings have digged for you but that the Prophets have chalked out before you misse that and you are irrecoverably lost without remedy you complain of the harsh words and rough speeches of a company of men that tell you of your evils and would have the world to look upon them as the onely pest of the land the desturbers of the Publike weale the onely hinderers of good dayes thus you cloath them in the Bear-skin that the Dogs may tear them But do you not know That Isai 1.9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant we should have been ere now as Sodome and we should have been like Gomorrah Know that notwithstanding their fretting vexing and tormenting you so much they are your best friends for it 's they that stand in the gap and were it not for them an inundation of wrath and vengeance would quickly over-run you when the Lord draws them into their hyding Chambers those mansions of his peculiar sparing love then will your e Pro. 1.27 destruction come upon you as a whirle-wind and then at that time when your fear commeth as desolation f v. 28. though you call upon the Lord he will not answer and though you seek him early you shall not finde him Why what 's the reason saith the Lord it is because verse 25. ye have set at naught all my counsell and would none of my reproof Even the counsell and reproof of God wisdomes words in the mouth of these his servants that fear his name v. 20.21 who utter their voice in the streets and in the chief place of concourse 2. I have somewhat to say to those Members of professing Syon who though they are not ring-leaders in this wickednesse yet defile their garments with the pollutions of the Apostacy Behold in what a dreadfull manner the Lord will deal with you he will make up his Jewels from among you and consume the rest as drosse and tin Cast your eyes back upon the refiners fire and fullers Soape and that day of the Lord which will come upon you and reflect upon your selves and consider whether you are prepared to meet the Lord of hosts in such a day as that is surely if your examination be taken by a right rule and you passe a righteous sentence upon your selves you will see you are not you are not able to abide and sland in that day when the Lords jealousie will burn like fire wherein he will giue to apostatizing professing Sion blood in fury and jealousie being clad with zeale as with a cloak What anxious troubles and pangs will be your portion in that day I intreat you to take notice of these things 1. That the defilements of this Apostacy that cleaveth to you makes you so much unlike to your father that no lesse than a Refiners fire and fullers sope must passe over you to bring you into your old glory
set before them his excellency and glory let them know who your beloved and who your friend is this practice wil prove exceeding serviceable to your Lord do you but give the daughters of Jerusalem to understand the glory of the object of your souls love which drew you to those harsh incounters with the Watchmen and the keepers of the wals and they wil presently become followers of you as you are followers of your beloved Whither is thy beloved gone O thou fairest among Women whither is thy beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee 4 Labour with all your might after union seek out uniting principles upon which an honourable union upon the right foundation may be wrought Union union union before the Syon of God can become a fit instrument to carry on that work of the Lord in and upon the rebellious World your hearts are so much fixed upon this glorious work of union must be perfected in her when Syon is become a holy hill a body united and compact together then is she a fit seat for her Lord to sit upon as King yet have I set my King upon my HOLY HILL of Syon before Syon wil be enabled by a sufficiency of light and power to tread down the wicked as ashes under her feet and burn them up both root and branch there must be a union as hath been already hinted between the Jewels of the Lord and that remnant of his that fearing his name keep their garments clean from the defilements of the day to provoke you unto this blessed union let me perswade you seriously to consider these few motives thereunto 1 This union is that which our Lord Jesus prayeth so earnestly for the accomplishment of Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one John 17.20 21. as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they all may be one c. surely it is of no smal concernment to Jesus Christ but of absolute necessity his chosen should be thus united his heart is so entirely fixed upon it he intercedes so particularly to his Father for it 2 This union is that the accomplishment of which is the end wherefore Jesus Christ bestows the same glory his Father gave him upon his people And the glory which thou gavest me Vers 22. I have given them that they may be one even as we are one it seems our Lord values this union at a very high rate he gives so great a price as his glory to purchase it 3 This union is exceeding excellent and glorious and therefore deserves seeking after with the greatest earnestness and diligence therefore must it needs be glorious because it is the fruit of glory And the glory which thou gavest me Verse 23. I have given them that they may be one even as we are one the giving of glory to them brings forth this union among them as it 's natural fruit 4 This union is the way to perfection that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one c. Would you become perfect with the perfection of your Heavenly Father endeavour then after this union 5 By this union you wil convince the world that Jesus Christ your Lord is the Messiah of the Father Verse 2â— That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that the world may believe that thou hast sent me the exceeding glory of this union wil convince both Jew and Gentile in a day wherein there are false Christs and false Prophets shewing great signs and wonders if it were possible to deceive the very Elect that you Lord you make profession of is the true Messiah the true Christ sent from the Father 6 By this union you wil not only convince the world that your Lord is he that was sent from the Father and so consequently that the truth you plead for is the truth the promise of the Father to your Lord but that you are the beloved of the Father loved w th the same love he loves your Lord with Verse 23. That they may be one even as we are one that they may be made perfect in one that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast l ved them as thou hast loved me the perfection of this union wil put such an excellent glory upon you above all other glories as that the World shal be convinced in their consciences that if the Lord hath fixed his love upon any company of men in the World you are the people and be forced to report that God is in you of a truth 7 This union wil make you 1 Exceeding glorious in the eyes of your Beloved and of all that look upon you Cant. 6 9 My Dove my undefiled is but one saith the Lord Jesus here is the union pleaded for behold how he commends it how amiable it is in his eye She is the onlie one of her Mother she is the choice one of her that bare her of all the children she hath brought sorth this is the ONLY ONE the best beloved of all the states and conditions the Spouse hath been brought into this is the most excellent the most glorious the choice one yea you wil be the subject of the praises of all that shal behold you The daughters saw her and blessed her the Queens and the Concubines and they praised her behold how glorious you wil appear in their eye Verse 10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun and terrible as an Army with banners and who is she think you why our Lord tels you it is my Dove my undefiled who is but one and this union wil make you 2 In the second place fitly qualified for the work of your Lord like to the Armies of the Lord indeed who is she that looks terrible as an Army with banners the answer is the undefiled Spouse of Christ who is but one and when the fruits of this glorious union shal ere you are aware make your souls like to the Chariots of Aminadab carry you on exceeding swiftly and strongly in the work of your Lord if any shal then cry Return return O Shulamite return return that we may look upon thee the answer wil be Verse 13 What wil ye see in the Shulamite as it were the company of two Armies if any would have you stay a while that they may behold more of the glory of your united stil state the answer wil then be you are become terrible as an Army with banners yea terrible as the company of two Armies O the terrors and dread that the glory of this union wil strike into the hearts of your Lords enemies 8 By this union you wil become as an innocent Dove undefiled my Dove my undefiled is but