the sin x Hebr. 10.26 for which there is no sacrifice But of all Hypocrites beware of the WEEPING HYPOCRITE as the most dangerous Such a one was Ishmael y Jer. 41.5 6 7. who by his Religious weeping deceived fourscore men and murdred them all as they were going with their offerings to the house of the Lord. This Weeping Hypocrite is like the strumpet Phryne for this cause named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if you would say Weep-laugh because commonly she did both together havin◠in the midst of laughter tears at command As the silly fish swallows the hook because of the bait that hides it so many ignorant people are catch'd snared by the Tears of Hypocrites but howsoever by their weeping they may deceive men yet God they cannot neither cares he for their Tears We read often in the Prophets the reason why the Lord would not be found of the Jewes when distresses and troubles were upon them a Jer. 7.16 Isa 1.11 12 it was they had dissembled with him been old Hypocrites sought to hide their falshood lying Covenant-breaking Oppression c. b Mal. 2.13 By covering the Altar of the Lord with tears with weeping and crying out I cannot better resemble men accustomed to Hypocrisie then to that old Traytor Tyrone his manner was to send pictures to Queen Elizabeth in which he would lie weeping at her foot but still in rebellion against her the Queen hereat was extreamly displeased saying We will have no more of his Pictures but the head of the Traytor What may these men think of themselves when they lie weeping at the feet of God If they continue rebels against him do they expect a Time of finding How can that be Doth he not see their Hypocrisie surely yes and will speedily take vengeance on them for it Thirdly 3. When men are so obstinate in their sins as nothing will reclaim them There will be no Time of Finding For such persons who are so obstinate in their sins as no admonition or reproof can reclaim them As clay under the shining Sun growes harder and stiffer so the more they are told of their hypocrisie pride falshood oppression c. the worse they are Theeves whilst they have liberty none are bolder nor will they regard any thing that is spoken against their wicked course of life all good counsel is rejected and scorn'd but when trouble comes when they are brought to the bar then down upon their knees Good my Lord pardon pardon but then no pardon is to be had And as it is thus with little Theeves so it will be one day with the Great Theeves and Great Murderers c Pro. 1.24 25 c. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded But ye have set at nought my Counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not FIND ME. Again d Zech. 7.11 12 13. They refused to hearken and pulled away their shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear yea they made their hearts as an Adamant-stone lest they should hear the Law and the words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former Prophets Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts therefore it is come to pass that as he cryed and they would not hear so they cryed and I would not hear saith the Lord of Hosts but I scattered them with a whirl-wind among all the Nations whom they knew not It may not be thought that all those of whom the Prophet here speaks were Reprobates for without doubt as to life and glory many of them were saved nevertheless he will not hear them as to spare them from the common judgment In this respect though Gods chosen ones they shall have no more Time of finding then others partakers in sin partakers in punishment A father though he do not disinherit his childe and quite cast him off yet he may and justly too severely chastise him for some gross miscarriages e Pro. 19.18 And not let his soul spare for his crying as the wise-man hath it What means the Lord in saying f Rev. 18.4 Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues the words are plain enough those that abide in Babylon notwithstanding again and again call'd upon to come out may suffer Babylons plagues that is fall and perish with the wicked as to their bodies and estates howsoever saved in the day of Christ g 1 Pet. 4.17 Iudgment must begin at the house of God and h Eze. 9.6 at his Sanctuary The i Jer. 25.18 29. wine-cup of fury is to be given first to Jerusalem and the Cities of Judah afterwards all the Nations of the earth must have it k Hag. 2.6 The Lord of hosts will shake the Heavens and the Earth First Heaven then Earth therefore let Churches and Church-Officers now look about them l Mic. 6.2 The Lord hath a controversie with HIS people and he will plead with Israel and what follows m ver 9. Hear YE the rod and who hath appointed it That the Lord will begin with Churches and with a professing people there are many reasons for it 1. Because the Hypocrisie Pride Self-seeking deceit unfaithfulness c. of a Professing people more dishonors God and scandals the Gospel then the evils and sins of any other people n Rom. 2.24 The Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through YOU As a servant in the family by his ill carriage more disgraceth the house then hundreds or thousands who are not of it But to speak home No people I think upon the face of the earth have brought more dishonor to God and reproach to the truth then the back sliding-Churches and professors of our time For 1. Who had a hand in the late REBELLION more then they o Neh. 9.17 To appoint a CAPTAIN to return to Bondage whereby not onely to build again the things which they had destroyed but to bring the sin and guilt of all the blood shed in the three Nations upon the interest of Christ and his people and so to justifie and acquit the Cavaleers 2. Who manageth and maintains the oppressions and heavy burdens which lie upon the Souls and Bodies of good people every where No King or Bishop but a Professing people yea Saints as they would be thought 3. The gross Hypocrisie and Falshood of some PROFESSORS hath of late so clearly broken forth as it hath caused many to become Atheists at least to think in their heart there is no God Neither may this be thought strange for what can lead men sooner unto Atheism then to see Professors often weep fast and
of the Nations to Jesus Christ viz. Jews and Gentiles We read in the History of the Waldenses when these good people denyed Christ's humane Body to be in the Sacrament the Priests would report they denyed God So not allowing the Virgin Mary to be prayed to that they had blasphemed her Just so are we slandred at this day Because we are against an unlawful Ministery and Magistracy Ergo saith the Accuser of the Brethren we deny all and will have none Thirdly the Lord being Found of his People 3. Because of Love many ways will have the more love from them many wayes First 1. Love to the Lord himself A TIME OF FINDING is an heart-enlarger of dear affections to Iesus Christ. e Psa 116.1 I love the Lord saith David because he hath heard my voice and my suplications So in f Psa 18.26 another place Did not David love the Lord before he had these deliverances yes doubtless and very much Notwithstanding by this means he lov'd him a great deal more As a man by stretching out a Bag or Purse it holds more then it did before So every Finding Time is a reaching and stretching out the heart our love riseth and growes by it exceedingly Secondly more Love to his Truth and holy Wayes 2. To his Truth and ways Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross Therefore I love thy Testimonies Is not this harsh that David should be encouraged to love the Laws of God of the dreadful Judgements he had seen executed upon Hypocrites Apostates and Tyrants If it be a thing very rich and pretious yet so long as it is wrapt up and foulded together few regard it neither know we what it is God's wrath powred out upon the Workers of Iniquity is as it were the opening of himself of his Kingdom and Laws and until he doth so he is not known nor his appointments But g Isa 26 9. When his â—udgements are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness h Psa 6.16 He is known by the judgement which be executeth and i Rev. 15.4 glorified by it So â—ong as HYPOCRITES REIGN â—nd the LAST APOSTACIE stands the Lords Testimonies will not be loved but k Mic. 6.16 the Statutes of Omri kept not the Lords Messengers hearkned unto but the deceitful workers of Antichrist But when all Murtherers of souls and bodies shall be put away like dross then will People every where love the Testimonies and Laws of JEHOVAH Thirdly 3. Provoking others to love If we have a TIME OF FINDING we will provoke others to love the Lord l Psa 31.23 24. Thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee And what followes O love the Lord all ye his Saints For the Lord preserveth the faithful and plentifully rewardeth the PROVD DOER If we have a friend that doth very much for us we would have others besides our selves to love him likewise Of all men those who do most experience the love of God towards themselves do especially provoke and stir up others to love him and trust in him So David in another place m Pas 34.5 8. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears O taste and see that the Lord is good Blessed is the maâ— that trusteth in him The Prophet here is like one that hath experienced â— thing and found it very good perswades others to make use also of it 4. Others will be provoked by it Fourthly This TIME OF FINDING will cause many hearing of it to love fear and honour the Lord. n Exo. 18.7 8 9. When Jethro heard what the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and unto the Egyptians for Israels sake he rejoyced saying Blessed be the Lord who hath delivered you c. Now I know the Lord is greater then all gods For in the things wherein he dealt proudly he was above theâ— We read in Esther that o Est 8.17 many of the people of the Land became Iews but when was it after the Time of Finding when Haman and his sons were hanged Then they cried p 2 Kin. 18.39 The Lord he is God the Lord he is God but whilst Haman stood in power and greatness who more honoured then he So when the good news of the q Rev. 11.13 Great Earth-quake shalâ— be spread thorow the Nations and the perishing of the Last Apostacie under the first Vial Oh what rejoycing will this be to the Churches and Saints every where how will they bless the Lord for it r Rev. 15.3 Iust and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Å¿ ver 4. for thy judgements are made manifest Now they will clearly understand that all the pretences and protestations which some made against the Pope for THE PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN RELIGION were meer delusions and falsehoods Neither was Babylon in her idolatry and cruelty supported by any Power or State more then by them And that they were the chief obstructers of the Lord's work against the GREAT WHORE If irons be taken off from hand or foot this sets the whole body free The last Apostacie is as a great chain upon the Lords work howsoever it be broken but in one Countrey nevertheless the whole Body all the members of Christ will have Spiritual Liberty by it And therefore doubtless when they shall hear of this Earth-quake they will like Iethro bless the Lord for it 4. Of glorifying God by trusting in him Fourthly Times of Finding give incouragement unto Saints t Psa 63.8 to trust in the Lord at all times and to pour out their hearts before him And this is u Rom. 4.20 to give glory to God x Psa 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee But how is the Name of God known truly not in any thing more fruitfully and teachingly then by Times of Finding here his glory passeth before us we behold him with open face here we have his power goodness faithfulness c. made known to us y Psa 116.2 Because he hath enclined his ear to me THEREFORE will I call upon him as long as I live A man knowing where the Fountain is and being at it a thousand times and alwayes satisfied knows where to go when he wants water a Psa 65.2 O thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Had we not a gracious answer of our cries and tears against the King and Prelates He bowed the Heavens and came down then the earth shooke He also thundred in the Heavens And what more He gave us the neck of our Enemies we beat them small as the dust before the winde and did cast them out as the dirt in the streets Quest But what hath the Lord gotten by granting such A TIME OF FINDING Answ The honor of trusting in him b Psa 63.7 Because thou hast been my
What great mourning was there some few yeers since in Churches and among professors after righteousness and judgment and to have all heavy yokes broken but now the Abby-key being found and the fish caught that is great places Offices and preferment gotten we hear no more crying out against oppression all is quiet now and well again now they can hold their peace though the time be worse then before in respect of the interest of Christ and his People and the publick good of the Nations But what may we gather hence They were not the Lords Remembrancers Their tears and groans were their own and for their own interest not the Spirit 's and for the things of Christ for had the Spirit set them on work had they been the Spirit 's sighs and sobs for Zion t Isa 62.6 7. they would not have held their peace day nor night nor given the Lord rest VNTIL he had made Jerusalem a Prayse in the Earth u 1 Joh. 2.19 If they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us 2. If they are the Groanings of the Spirit nothing will be askt but what is x Rom. 8 27 according to the will of God y Luk. 22 42. Not my will saith Christ but thine be done So again a Act. 21.14 The will of the Lord be done As a man that is doing somthing for a friend will indeavor to doe it so as the party for whom he doth it may like it and have content thus it is with us when the Spirit helpeth us with groanings which cannot be uttered We are all for pleasing God we would not speak nor have our hearts move or think of any thing but what the Lord should take pleasure and delight in It is true Hypocrites can groan and like Esau will beg blessings with tears but observe this it is to serve themselves upon the Lâ—â—d and to have their will done whetheâ— it be Gods will or no thus they will have the Lord to bless their Counsels and designs though they are against Himself his Son and Zion so when they have b Isa 28.15 made a Covenant with death and with hell are at an agreement then must Priests and People be call'd together to fast and pray that it may prosper 3. Spirit-Groanings are like c 2 King 2.11 Elias chariot and horses of fire carry the Soul into Heaven It is the Glory of God which now is onely eyed As the Mariners needle always trembles and shakes till her point be towards the Pole so it is with right Mourners they are not satisfied in weeping and sobbing before the Lord unless they have the sight of his glory then they are quiet seeing the mark they look after When the sun is risen we see not a star in the Firmament Reader note it What is it when thou art in bitterness of Soul that vanisheth Is it SELF Seest thou no Honour Credit Preferment Relations nor any other worldly Respects Seest thou the great Name of God dearer to thee then thy soul And for afflicted d Lam. 1.16 Zion thou weepest thine eye thine eye runneth down with Tears Blâ—â—sed art thou that thus mournest e Isa 57.1 P. the Lord shall restore comfort to thee 4. A man never sees more emptiness unworthiness and poverty in himself then when he is under the strongest groanings of the Spirit neither is his heart at any time more broken then at the woful sight thereof f Isa 6.5 Wo is me I am undon c. For mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts The Spirit in our mournings is g 2 Pet. 1.19 as a light that shineth in a dark place We did not think to have found such nakedness and baseness as we do Again the Spirit-Groanings are like fire in the Soul such may the fire be as it melts down Iron breaks Rocks and Stones asunder It is a good sign a man is under the Mournings of the Spirit when findes his corruptions and lusts hard as flint to melt and break in pieces and by the power of the Spirit consum'd and brought to nothing The groaning of Hypocrites is like the drawing of a Curtain whereby things are hid and covered The more they weep fast and pray the less fight have they of their sins For what is the reason some men see not so much evil in their wayes now as they did some yeers past I answer in their fasting and praying ever since they have been drawing curtains over their filthy sores Not but that they are far worse then they were but they see it not because of their hypocritical Tears 5. The Spirits Groanings leave two things especially upon the Soul 1. Refreshment as when a man hath eaten well he findes his spirits strengthned and comforted But this is not so with unsound hearts It is reported of Witches when they have eaten and drunk of the best and to their thinking largely they find themselves presently in a condition ready to starve Should some men speak their experiences they could not but confess when they have been some hours in prayer and sighed often they have been afterward no other then like Pharaoh's lean and ill-favoured kine not had any soul-strengthning or feeling refreshing at all 2. The Soul is left in a sweet and blessed frame as Wax that is soft is fit to take any impression so is a Saint wrought up wholy for God his will affections desires run out with Paul h Act. 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do That is I am ready to receive any truth and to deny my self in every thing so that I may follow thee and serve my Generation It is a common saying and I have heard it often when some men talk of fasting and prayer Now say they beware there is some Plot or other in hand And usually it is so For after the Formality of the work is over their doings are worse then ever so far from i Isa 58.3 4 5 6. loosing the bonds of wickedness and letting the oppressed go free and breaking every yoke c. as on the contrary they smite with the fist of wickedness their fellow-servants and cast out their Brethren more cruelly then before But what saith Solomon k Pro. 1.3 To do Justice and Judgment is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice l Hos 6.6 I will have mercy and not sacrifice Seventhly Because the Lord is teaching Zions Mourners the ART OF SEEKING Because the Lord is teaching the art of seeking You know by long practise and use a man becoms expert and skilful in a trade especially having a good master This benefit through Grace some of the Lords people have received since the Apostacy came up namely they have been learning the Art of Prayer for not onely of late yeers have they been more frequent in the practice but have gotten more experience of the thing then ever they had before
workers of iniquity A good Riddance A Dogg that followeth two men is not known to which of them he belongeth till the way part Then indeed you shall see Howsoever we knew not plain and honest hearts from dissemblers so long as the Interest of Christ and worldly profit kept together Yet the Lord by this STOP hath made a marvellous discovery of both A good separation 2. That the Scriptures might 〈◊〉 fulfilled For by this STOP came in the perillous Times of which Paul gave warning t 2 Tim. 10.3.1 in Timothy meaning the second Apostacy How the Characters set down there by the Apostle paralell with the Backsliders of this age I have largely * A Book entituled Truth with Time elsewhere shewed In some Fenny Countries where people are troubled with GNATS they use to hang dung in the midst of a room as a bait for the Gnats to fly to and so catch them as a snare provided for that purpose Why would the Lord have a STOP to the work and by that STOP bring up the Apostacy It is plain enough that it might be a Pit and a Snare dung indeed to catch all the GNATS of the three Nations For I verily believe there is not a worldly minded Professor whether Church-member or Church-Officer or otherwise but he is fallen into this Trap. u Job 18.5.8 9 10 The light of the wicked shall be put out and the sparke of his fire shall not shine For be is cast into a net by his own feet and his own counsel shall cast him down The gin shall take him by the heel and the robâ—â—â— shall prevail against him The snare is laid for him in the ground and a trap for him in the way x Rev. 15.3 Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty 3. As the Lord made a Proof or Tryall of Abrahams faith love and obedience by his willingnesse to offer his sonne Isaac So this STOP hath been viz. y Cor. 11.19 that they which are approved may be made manifest If a Maid that she might be such a mans Wise should refuse a great Estate and live very poorly with him would not this argue she married him for Love and nothing else There are many since this Apostasie came up for the love and affection which they bear to the GOOD OLD CAVSE have refused great places high promotion and honour and sufferd Banishment Imprisonment cruel mockings and spoyling of their goods And what doth this signifie a Gen. 22.12 Now I know said the Angell to Abraham that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy sonne thine onely son from me Surely a man sheweth great affection and faithfulnesse unto Jesus Christ when riches preferments and great mens favours are rejected and his poor despised betrayed and crucified Cause is boldly owned of him 4. That b Rom. 11.28 the Lord may make a short work upon the earth when his work shall be revived again As a man intending to shew his skill by leaping farre goes backward first a little So the Lord intending more than an ordinary speed quick dispatch of the seven last plagues seemeth first to go backwards c Rev. 11. â—4 Behold the third woe cometh quickly Thus it was with Israel in Egypt After Moses and Aaron had been with Pharoah they had d Exod. 5.9 more work laid upon them and their bondage greater than before But when the Lord revived that work How fast went it forward then In less than thirty days all the ten plagues were poured out upon Egypt So after the forty years when the Lords work came on again the Land of Canaan is presently conquered e Josh 12.24 one and thirty Kings put to death How soon was the Lords House built when the work was revived in four years at most And so I take it here the Lord means by this Stop HAST HAST afterward 5. To strike the greater dread and horrour upon wicked men f Rev. 11. at the rising of the work Herod thinking Christ to be John Baptist he thought likewise John being risen he came with more strength and power than he had before and this tormented him That the Cause and Interest of Christ thought to be dead and buried should be raised again No marvel the sinners in Zion will be afraid and fearfulness surprize the hypocrites they know it comes forth in Power Glory and Majesty to take vengeance on them for their falshood and unrighteousnesse 6. There is a STOP that ungodly men in this Time may fill up the measure of their sinnes so be fatted for the slaughter g Jer. 51.13 Thine end is come and the measure of thy Covetousness that is when Babilons Covetousnesse is full and ripe then come the vials of wrath to be poured out upon her Among the Egyptians it was a custome when any man was condemned for some notorious crime to feast him and fat him that he might undergo the greater Torment I think no man will deny but some men of late are fatted to purpose h Ps 119.70 Their heart is as fat as grease But it was not thus before the STOP For their Coveteousness Pride Lightnesse Luxury was nothing in measure and height to what it is now A sad stop wofull places offices promotion maintenance c. that prepares men like Sheep for the day of slaughter 7. For the praise of his great power Christ was able to have kept Lazarus from death and the grave but he would not and why i Joh. 11.4 That the son of man might be gloried And indeed I think there was no miracle which our Saviour wrought more to his glory than this Not onely is Lazarus dead and buried but supposed to stink having been three days buried And for all this to raise him up what a wonderfull work is this Though it be true as was said the Lord could have prevented all STOPS yet he would not But he will have his Cause slain and buried and in the opinion of the Enemy to rot and stink no fear of rising again And then will he k Ps 78.65 awake as one out of sleep break the heavens and come down shake the mountains and raise up his friend Lazarus to the glory of his power the joy of his people and the confusion of his Enemies Amen Amen Quest But what reasons have you to believe that the good old Cause will be revived again Answer 1. Because the honour of God is much concerned in it since the STOP What say the Scoffers l Luk. 14.30 This man began to build but was not able to finish it As if some by their craft and policy had over-reached Jesus Christ As long as Pompey stood and flourished Cato stoutly maintained a Providence But when he fled into Egypt and was slaine of a base fellow and lay upon the shoare without any honour of Burial when Cato also was beset with Caesars army He fell from
his former doctrine turning his tale as if there were no providence at all but every thing went by hap It is too probable by some late Turnings many are turned Atheists And therefore questionlesse God will revive his work again For otherwise how can the great reproach and dishonour be taken off from his Providence and Government So 2. Is Religion the true profession of the Gospell which never will have the Credite Glory Beauty it had formerly if the interest of Christ and his People be not revived Nothing better heals the sting of Vipers than to apply their own flesh to the disease The dust of a Toad put to its venomous biting takes away the poison It is much upon my heart by some such APPLICATION the Lord will heal those fearfull wounds and bitings which are upon the truth Though men have not regarded the Credit and Honour of it yet Christ doth and will recover it and revive it again by destroying the fond glosses and covetuous practises of corrupt men and raising up faithfull ones to preach the everlasting Gospell Eusebius writes of Peregrinus the Philosopher having gotten a great estate by feigning himself a Christian that he might consume it the more freely on his lusts revolted to Gentilisme It is plain enough to see why some men have left the Lords work and this people It was that they might be at liberty to spend what they had gotten in excesse pride riot lasciviousness They well knew should they have kept close to Christ and his interest they could not have fulfilled the desires of the flesh and walked after their own lusts And therefore thought it better to turn Heathens again For so doing they knew they should have elbow-room enough might do whatsoever seemd good in their own eyes But what of all this let such know the Lord will make That Holy Profession of his Name Gospel Kingdome glorious and honourable again Though they have made it vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world m Ezek. 36.23 I will sanctifie my great Name which was prophaned among the Gentiles which ye have prophaned in the midst of them 3. Such were the wonderfull actings and appearances of God for and with this Cause as it is not possible it should come to nothing vanish away like smoak which yet will be so unlesse it be quickned and raised again n Judg. 13.23 If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us all these things Let no man think that he would so eminently have shewed his power justice and wrath against the late King for his Tyrany and Arbitrary Government So a-against the Bishops for their pride and humane inventions but that he means to destroy the like wickednesse in others if afterward they shall take it up o 1 Sam. 3.12 When I begin I will also make an end Though it be a judgment and to be executed upon his own people yet he will perfect the work And will he not do so and more p Lam. 3.33 willingly when it is to have mercy upon Zion 4. In reviving this work he will q Isa 57.18 Restore Comfort to his Mourners r Ps 85.6 would not thou revive us again that thy people may rejoyce in thee That is when thou shalt take that which letteth out of the way and bring us again upon thy work Our mourning will cease and thy power faithfulnes goodnes justice will be soul-refreshing unto us I know some men can take pleasure in beholding beastly and filthy things So is oppression falshood and deceit to a time-server turn-coat a most pleasant sight As Hanibal when he saw a pit full of mans blood O formosum spectaculum and the Scots Queen seeing her Subjects lie dead and stripped on the earth cryed out The goodliest Tapestry that ever she beheld The cryes and groans of the poor under their oppressions and heavy burthens what sweet musick makes this in the ears of Self-seekers Now their pay comes in their salary and their so much per annum But the joy of good men riseth otherwise Å¿ Pro. 29.2 When the wicked beareth rule they mourn t Pro. 11.10 and when wicked Rulers perish they shout for joy So that untill this work be revived Saints may expect little joy as to outward and publick Affaires 5. This Cause will surely be revived because it is not mans but the Lords For 1. Are not u Ps 110.12 Christs Enemies to be made his foot-stool and x Psal 2 6. he to sit upon the holy hill of Zion 2. Is not all oppression to cease and y Isa 60.18 Violence to be heard no more in the Land The first and second Apostasies both to be destroyed 3. Must not a Ps 85.11 Truth spring out of the earth and Righteousnesse look down from Heaven And b Dan. 7.22 the Saints possess the Kingdom But can these things be and not the work revived that is impossible When it is night and dark whence do ye expect to have light again in this visible world Is it not by the rising of the Sun So these great things which we are waiting for concerning Jesus Christ and his Kingdome the coming in and accomplishment of them will be by the Lords reviving his work and Cause again Quest But is there not something for the Lords people to do in order to the reviving of the Work Ans Yes surely For 1. Howsoever Achan was the TROVBLER and had caused the STOP yet c Jos 7.11 Israel had sinned also d Jer. 5.55 Your Iniquities saith the Prophet have turned away these things and your sins have withholden good things from you When the clouds are scattered which hide the Sun from us then we behold his shining face again So the Lord e Ps 85.1 2 he forgives the iniquity of his people f Isa 44.22 Blots out their transgressions and sins as a thick cloud and then he will be favourable to his land and bring back the Captivity of Jacob. So that it is the duty of every Saint waiting for the great Promises of the Father to be at the foot of God exceedingly bewailing his Own and his Brethrens great miscarriages And as there is hope our Deliverance is nigh so our hearts should be the more broken and in bitternesse and our tears and sighings encrease now we should rise at midnight and cry g Iâ—el 2 17. Spare thy people h Hos 14.2 Lord take away all iniquity receive us graciously so will we render the calves of our lips We must not so look upon Achans Troublers abroad without as not to see the Achans and Troublers at home in our own hearts Though some have been i Num. 3.3 55. pricks in the eyes of the Lords work and the good old Cause and k Iosh 23.13 Scourges and Thornes in the sides of his people yet must we confess the righteousnesse of
Though Peter shrunke and drew back a Mat. 26.69 at the speech of a poor wench yet when he had received power from on high He feard no coulers he could then b Act. 4.13 look with Boldnes any Tyrant in the face So howsoever before they had not life and courage yet when the Harpers Harpe such will be the hand of God upon them that they will not regard what their Enemies can doe either by fraud or force c Zech. 12.4 He that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them 5. d Rev. 11.11 And great fear fel upon them that saw them Though there be nothing yet done but a more lively owning of the Lords cause than before and declaring publickly for it yet this strikes a terrible astonishment and trembling among the Adversaries e Act. 5.24 As doubting whereunto this will grow And their amazement is the more to heare how the number daily increaseth in all parts Saying f Jer. 31.23 The Lord blesse theâ— habitation of Justice and mountain of holiness We will have g Isa 26.2 the gates open that the righteous Nation which keepeth the truth may enter in Besides they see no meanes or way how to keep the peoples Liberties and rights any longer from them h Psa 76.5 The stout hearted are spoiled and none of the men of might have found their hands that is they are as if they had no hands they are not able to make the least resistance or defence 6. Whiles the adversaries are thus in confusion and fear a happy union and accord will be made between the Waters and Thunder So much I think is meant by the VVitnesses ascending up to heaven in a cloud It is but one cloud that hath them both Hence about this time I do exspect a great uniting of the Common-wealth men fifth Monarchy men upon good righteous Principles Unanimously agreeing to cary on the Lords work i Zep. 39. With one consent or Soulder k Isa 11.13 Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim But the Lord will l Eze. 37.17 joyne them one by another into one stick they shall become one in his hand This blessed agreement of the People instrumentally will be made by some eminent and choise Christians men that m 1 Chr. 12.32 Have understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do And this I take to be the n Rev. 11.12 great voyce from Heaven saying unto them come up higher 7. Union being made and all in Heaven here o Isa 13.4 the Lord of Hostes mustereth the host of the battel and p Rev. 19.14 the armies of heaven here he cloathes the Vial Angels q Rev. 15.6 in pure and white linnen having their breasts girded with a golden girdle This is Zion * Psa 110.2 out of which the Lord will send the rod of his strength the Mount Zion where r Rev. 14.1 the hundred forty and four thousand stand with the Lamb. Here he fits his people for the work and appoints them their work So that my opinion is for any people to go forth with the material Sword against Babylon or the Kings of the earth or to set up the visible Kingdome of Christ before the Lord hath brought them to this Heaven into the Temple to Zion and Mount Zion yea and to some good accord among themselves They will not be upon the Lords work as to the pouring out of any vial 8. Howsoever the Lords Sanctified ones in heaven are not smiting the Image yet it s said Å¿ Rev. 11 12 Their enemies behold them As how Terrible as an army with Banners Lifting up an ensign to the Nations and publishing warr against Babylon t Isa 52.12 Ye shall not go out in hast nor go by flight For the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your rereward i. e. Seeing God hath taken away all their Feares and given them great faith made them one in the work and fitted them for it and withall experiencing the powerfull presence of God among them and how he hath left the enemy to feares darknesse division destruction c. The Dragon and the Beast shall behold what they do They need not fear these men for secret plots and treason they scorn it they need no such shifts What they do shall be in the sight of the Sun u Isa 47.12 Stand now with thy inchantments and with the multitude of thy sorceries wherein thouhast laboured from thy youth if so be thou shalt be able to profit if so be thou mayest prevaile So will these say to their Enemies bring forth the falsehood and lies ye trusted in Now see if your hypocrisie and craft will help you any more Now run to your Souldiers Lawyers Priests c. trie what they can do for you 9. The Lord having x Isa 13.3 called his mighty ones for his anger Next he brings them forth y Ps 149.8 9 10. With the high praises of God in their mouthes and a two edged sword in their hands to execute the judgement written z Rev. 11.13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake Here I understand begins the Vial work And the earth-quake to be the a Rev. 16.2 pouring out of the first Vial upon the earth The same with b Rev. 14.16.17 18. the reaping of the harvest of the earth and Clusters Only with this distinction The first Vial hath two parts or two effects which you will The first in the earth-quake The other in the sickle And the tenth part of the City fell The earth-quake reacheth but a tenth part the other nine are reserved for the Sickle As there are two Apostacies and they have each a distinct Head So they are set forth in this book by two Cities the one is called the Great Citie And alwayes so when the first Apostacy is meant The other hath not the word Great given to it because the Latter City or Apostacy shall not be so large big strong and populous neither of that antiquity and continuance as the former Understanding what this City is i. e. The last Apostacy It wil be easier to know the rest And in the earthquake were slaine of men seven thousand The Greek hath 7000 Names of men In Scripture persons that are famous renowned for Power Wealth Wisdome c. are called c Gen. 6.4 Num. 18.2 Men of Name On the contrary men without credit and respect in the d Job 30.8 world Children without name In this last Apostacy who are Men of name yea would be thought and counted the onely men of name If not Church-members and Church-officers those that are in the Congregational way as they call it As for the Cavileer Church that hath no name and the