say This is not fairly done To rip up this our misery in the sight of the Sun And as it were for to rejoyce or'e us in this our fall Nor do you put a helping hand to any of us all Answ To this I Answer It is just the measure is your own For the Saints blood some of you drank as lately hath been shown Your mighty men but lately were Merchants of Babylon And dealt in Slaves and Souls of men Alas your City 's gon For tho in Scarlet deckt with Gold with pretious Stones and Pearls And in Fine Linnen cloathed were and lived then like Earls Yet now your Ships and Companies of Sailers which did Trade Within the Sea of Babylon did weep and wail and said Alas alas that great City wherein we rich were made Is like a Mill-stone cast i' th Sea thus God doth us degrade Wherefore O Heaven or'e her rejoyce ye Prophets also too With the Apostels for God hath on her revenged you And your Crafts men with all their Craft no more in her be found Nor yet at all shall there be heard a Mill-stone for to sound Thy candle-Candle-light for evermore exstinguished shall be The voice of Bridegroom and of Bride be heard no more in thee For that thy Merchants they still were the Great Men of the Earth Which by their Sorceries deceiv'd all Nations of their Breath For that in her was found the Blood of Prophets and of Saints And all that were slain on the Earth which brings on her heart-faints Therefore we which in Heaven dwell with voice and one accord Continual Halilujas sing Salvation to the Lord. With Glory Honour and Power let 's praise the Lord of Heaven Whose Judgements just and righteous be he to the Whore hath given For why she did corrupt the Earth with her vile Fornication Gods Servants blood for Vengeance cryes on her abomination Now blood unto her God hath given for that it is her share Yea she is worthy of the same ' cause Saints blood she 'd not spare Object But some may say Why do you thus apply these things to them When you also now Sufferers are which come of Jesses Stem Answ For Answer though we may be slain for the good Word of God And for the Testimony held which we have from the Lord As those Souls under th' Altar which unto the Lord did cry For Vengance on those dwelt on Earth and answer'd Ye must lye Vntil the rest of your fellow-servants and Brethren to Which witnesse bear unto my Name be kill'd as well as you For thus 't was under the fifth Seal the Angel open'd when The Moon was blood the Stars did fall and Sun was hid from men What from the Earth can we expect when Blood 's the light of heaven But Persecution with effect when Stars to it fall even But by the way Observe under the Altar Souls do lye The which the Sacrificer kills and there he doth them tye And so Obedience was lost which was better than any Of all the Sacrifice they made though offer they did many For their Oblations they were vain Incense abomination Nor did God this require of them they being Sodoms Nation When they spread forth their hands to God he fast did close his eyes And though they many Prayers made God did them all despise Their New Moons and their solemn Feasts Assemblies like a flood The Lord had no regard to ' cause their hands were full of Blood It was Jerusalem also that did the Prophets kill And stoned those to them were sent and with blood did fulfil And though they said they would not be partakers with their Fathers In this same bloody Tragedy yet Saints blood they still gather But desolate there House is left Gods Glory from it 's gone For that they have contemnd the Sun which on their Moon hath shone Wherefore they shall not henceforth see the true Light till they say Blessed is he that cometh in the Lord Gods Name alway Object But some of these Objected have against us saying we Have not so much gain-said oppos'd those in our places be So that we cannot choose but think you very flatterers are And as the common Proverb is Your Friends at Court you spare For that it hath observed been the men most godly were Their Congregations you did haunt and ' gainst them rave and tear As then so now those that are bad ' gainst them no word doth spring But those that zealous were and good you made their Churches ring So that we cannot but suppose the Bottom doth design Some Machavillian Policy to be acted in time And if that this be nothing so why do you not still go Into those great Assemblies now the Reason let us know Answer For Answer hereunto I say What man is there so mad To spend his time in the threshing of Bushes They 'r as bad For if one would go vilifie the worst of men there 's nought In them to use the Proverb old that worth a Rush is thought Or who is he that will look for Grapes on the thorny Twiggs Or is there any one that doth of Thistles gather Figgs So that they have no cause to say That we against them were When as that we a threshing went we did not rave or tear For certainly you may suppose we did judge there was Corn Which prompted us to come and thresh and winnow in your Barn And if the grain it did cling fast the chaffe and straw unto The Threshers do not discommend tho they did it undo And though at first the best Corn's made out of the Straw to spring Yet do not you the Thresher blame if it to th' rest they fling For good full Corn it doth rejoyce when Threshers come thereto ' Cause then it knows it shall be put Gods own will for to do And though it be but Oxen which this Corn out do tread Yet by the same they food must have and not be muzzelled It is because Corn's hard and tough that Instruments made be With sharp hard Teeth because plain Tools from the Straw can't it free So those that good and godly were we did them not contemn But what was done was Gods visit did you to us commend For you were counted the lost Sheep of the House Israel Therefore count us not Enemies because Gods Truth we tell And by enquiry you did find of Gods Message worthy Though still we see you hardned be and us reproach daily In the time of Elias though there Widows were a many He to Sareptha's Widow 's sent of others not to any Also in Israel there was much Leprosie on man Yet none at all were cleansed but Naaman the Syrian So that if God did send to cleanse you of your Leprosie Then charge not the Messenger with Machivel-Policy Nor with the Prophet do find fault that doth preserve your store When in great Famine that you were he shew'd you where was more Moreover you may see those men
is Gods Candlestick in which his Candle 's set And lighteth those be in the House and is for others yet The Woman having lost her piece of silver sought with pain And when that she had found it out t' her Neighbours cryes amain Contented not within her self these favours up to frowl But she must tell to others to what is done for her Soul This was the Sheep that went astray into the Wilderness But the good Shepherd he is come and brought it to the rest Oh therefore Neighbours neighbours come let us rejoyce together And praises in his House let 's sing for ever and for ever This is the HIVE also to which the BEES do honey bring Which they do gather from God's Flowers there they together sing Which is to him a savory thing and pleasant to his Heart Because 't is what comes from himself in us he doth it dart This is the Sacrifice of god which in them doth arise Being from broken contrite hearts God will it not despise Hither the Virgins Wise also are altogether come Each having Oyl in his Vessel tho in their Lamps burns some These Lamps being altogether trim'd they do make a great Light Which is the brightness of Gods Love held forth to Peoples sight To this bright rising all must come which is as Heavens Gate And with Oyl in their Vessels wait lest they do come too late This is the place that is dreadful in which Gods presence is Were two or three together be to praise the Name that 's his This needs must be the House of God where Angels do descend And those that meet in Gods pure fear he doubtless will defend This is not any New thing now as if 't had never been But this hath been in in Ages past as plainly hath been seen This is the House that David lov'd even the dwelling place Wherein Gods honour still remains in hearts full fraught with Grace And David bud all here to come and that with one accord Who God did fear to them he 'll tell the goodness of the Lord. What for his Soul the Lord had done which he for him did save Which was the Branch of Jesse Stem and rais'd him from the Grave Because he would not suffer him being his holy One That ought to him belonging should ere see corruption Therefore for this doth Davids Preach and to the living tell In the great Congregation of Saints that do excel In whom was only his delight which faithful were and true And that in Virtue did excel whose hearts God had made New These are the Living Waters which are both the last and first Therefore must all that seek for Life come here to quench their thirst Without money and without price Come ye do buy and eat Both Wine and Milk Why do you spend money for that 's no meat And your Labour also for that which doth not satisfie For it is not the Bread of Life therefore you eat and dye But hark with diligence to God oat ye that which is good And let your Soul delight it self in fatness it s own food Incline your ear yea come and hear and then your Souls shall live The Covenant sure of Mercy pure of David he will give Our Meetings they do witness Him that must the People lead And he is our Commander to our Peace Light Life and Bread Thus being met in Gods pure fear we then the Cysterns are Which he of living water clear doth send to us from far And therefore from this evil to when that it doth appear All People we advise to come from Cysterns are not clear For these be such Men to themselves who have forsook the Lord Hewed the which no Water will of Life to them afford These Meetings also Malachy did speak of in his time Wherein they that did fear the Lord and were all of one mine Vnto each other oft did speak to which the the Lord gave ear And then a Book of remembrance he wrote as doth appear For that they are and shall be his for ever he 'll them spare As Man doth spare his serving Son for they are Jewels rare These Meetings then were also kept in such an evil time When none but th' wicked were set up for goodness was a crime The Proud were then the Happy oalld wicked workers set up Yet then Gods People they did Meet tho Sufferings were their Cup. Bethesdas Pool a figure was of this our Meeting Place Whereas both Lame and Blind must wait for Gods descending Grace And in much patience wait his Will till that the Angel move And the Waters with virtue fill to heal this is Gods Love And therefore be not too hasty but wait upon Gods leasure For all Infirmities he heals and therein taketh pleasure Samarias Mountain t is likewise wherein is Jacobs Well Which springs forth to 〈◊〉 Life of this many can tell Here is the true Ho-ly Water of Life both pure and clear This is not that the Pope doth make wherewith he men doth jear But this is that that God doth give whereof when men do drink Out of their Belly Rivers flow much more than they can think Here when Gods People they do Meet whose zeal is as a flame Which maketh oft their hearts to burn whâ—… declares his Fame Of which the Scripture it is full yet is a Book that 's seald Which neither learnt nor unlearned to any hath reveald For the Veil being or'e their heart when Moses he is read How then can they know Christs own day though it be prophesi'd Though precept upon precept be yet they are nere the near And Line upon line they see not being without Gods Fear Of this Isaiah did complain and grievd for in his time This was the cause of Ignorance and darkness of the mine A sinful Nation he them call'd a seed of evil-doers Who had the Lord forsaken and in corrupt wayes were goers So laden with iniquity those things they did not know Which daily unto them was read their Veil did blind them so For Rulers they of Sodom were which is the Earthly Power Inhabitants of Gomorrah which cloggs them every hour So all these wicked worldly things that are set in the heart Must all with Gods pure fire be burnt though man do feel the smart Yea be moved out of its place by Gods Almighty Power For this same power of God alone will all of it devour And this Word-fire the virtue hath not only for to burn But give Light Life yea Heat and Power to them that of it learn And therefore tho dark cold and dead without power or strength Yet come to this Light Living-Word 't will raise you all at length We therefore in our Meetings have known this Refiners fire Which is to take off all the dross from it do not retire For as in outward fire we see when coals abroad be spread The Light the Life and Heat goes out and all comes to be dead But when
the Sun with its most glorious beams In its large Womb hath swallowed up her pale and glimmering Streams By which he Body is made dark this all may plainly see And when it gets before the Sun then an Eclipse will be Yea this also may be minded because it is most clear The Sun is ne're Eclipsed but when th' Moon is in its Sphere And the Earths Body also is as dark as is the Moon For when it gets before the Sun the Moon 's Eclips'd full soon Thus Nature hath these outward Signs that in their Sphears do run For the Earths Body doth Eclipse the Moon and She the Sun These outward Signs of Heaven were discern'd by men of old Who yet the Mystery did not see being all led blind-fold Because the God of this World had their minds wholly blinded Lest that the gospel-Gospel-Light should shine and they by it be led And though the Hypocrites of old Heavens outward could discern Yet did not know true Bethlehem where Gods own Seed was born Of these Figures the Prophets did of old make use you see When they told where the World was set in mans heart there to be So he that to God is a Friend must have the World cast out From this same place where it is set else Truth it will not sprout And this the cause of the Eclipse that man comes not to know Neither beginning nor the end of him God doth not show The works that he at all times doth they being heavenly Because of this total Eclipse that on his heart doth lye So that the Moons dark Body 's of to us no use at all The Sun reflecting not thereon by the Earths Interval This made the Seers which of old with shame confounded were For they no Answer of God had because they Preacht for hire Yea for money they did Devine and Judged for reward Thus building up Sion with blood no sight had of the Lord. The dark Moon here is turnd to BLOOD tho it pretend to build The glorious Mountain of the Lord have hereby Saints blood spill'd And yet for all this seem to lean themselves upon the Lord As if no evil she had done but in heart did accord This hard-heart Earth was still the same of which the Lord so long Complain'd of in the Wilderness it grieved him so strong To day to day for forty years oh this was all the noise But their hard hearts they could not hear the sounding of his voyce This Earth this Lust this Will this Fesh they being of one nature Are those that keep the glorious beams from shining on the Creature But now the Day of God is come expel those Mists he will Which do his Sun-beams over-cast that shine would on his still For though a man have outward eyes be they never so clear Yet if that Night do him oretake he is little the neer And as it is in outward Earth this is the cause of Night Having a Body thick and gross its self hinders the Light This Judgement was on th' Prophets which with their keen Teeth did bite ' Gainst those that put not in their mouths in War prepare to fight Therefore Night should be unto them they shall no Vision have Not so much Light as to devine how they themselves may save And down o're them the Sun shall go are Prophets of that day Yea darkness shall oretake them all who make not God their stay They therefore shall cover their Lipps for tho they call and cry They shall no answer have from God ' cause in the earth they lye These were also the Belly-gods whose glory was their shame For that they Earthly things did mind and therefore were to blame And this likewise was that also which Demas did embrace Who for this present world did forsake both Truth and Grace These were the false Teachers of which Peter did so fore-tell Should Heresies damnable bring that swift destruction fell Upon them in their great glory for that they should deny The Lord Light Life that thus bought them so in dark Death shall lye Yea these are they through Avarice and fained words should make Merchandise of the People too this darkness they did take And following these pernitious wayes is the sole reason why Truths way is evil spoken off to th' Light they 'l not come nigh So this is Moon Eclips'd you see the Earth and the hard Heart And now before this Cloud be gone these things must feel the smart For that the World and things therein must all be burnt with fire And be removed from his place in the Day of Gods ire But what is that which doth Eclipse the Sun The Moon I 've said When it is turned into Blood then doth it the Sun shade And makes his Body to look black and shine as if it were For all its great and glorious beams but a Sack-cloth of hair This was the time that Joel did prophesie of and say When Sun was dark then Moon was blood this should precede Gods day And 't was fulfil'd when the sixth-Seal was opened for loe A mighty Earth-quake then was seen which many well do know For then the Stars of Heaven fell unto the Earth their place Because they were untimely Figgs they staid there but a space For by this mighty Wind and Storm which God among them sent He shook off what untimely was tho glorious things were ment And now the Earth not only doth but also Heavens shake Because Gods Day is at the door they tremble do and quake For this first Earth and Heaven too which Man could not sustain Are both together shaken now their Form doth not remain Therefore this Heaven departed is even as it were a Scrole For all their glorious fained words together when t is rowl'd And every Mountain and Island which glory in their graces Are by this Storm and mighty Wind remov'd out of their places And they that were Kings of the Earth Great and Rich Men also With chief Captains and mighty Men with Bond and Free-Men go And hide themselves within the Dens yea on the Mountains call And on the Rocks for to hide them or upon them to fall These are the Presbyterian Moon which in the Night was Light But when to Persecution fell then all was Blood and spight But now their Kingdom shaken is and they are made to quake Having their Measure measured back this makes their own hearts akâ— This makes their Stars their mighty Men down from their heaven fall Rather than they will drink this Cup that is mixed with gall And so what Antichristian was in Way and Form before And Covenanted then against the same they now Adore Thus now their Valiant Captains do from Heaven daily slide Their Rich and mighty Men also in Rocks and Mountains hide From the Light Face of him that sits upon his Fathers Throne And from the Wrath of the Lamb which they often made to grone Object But some may now Object and
so it is decreed now So Hamon is the first of all that ever yet I 've read Who got forth such a cruel Law yet we find of his Seed Thus also Nebuchadnezzar who in his Pallace walkt Said Is not this Great Babylon with much such glorying talkt That I have built for the House of the Kingdom that is mine And by the might of my Power thus slighting Gods Divine And also for the honour of alone my Majesty As if at all there had not been a Power that 's on high While these words were in the Kings mouth there fell a voice from heaven The Kingdom is departed now that unto thee was given This was the Image-making man and Persecutor too That cast i' th fire who would not to 's Image Worship do Therefore let none think that we do 't through peevishness of mind For we for it good Reason have and Precepts too Divine Examples too you see we have recorded in Scripture Of Gods Judgements that on men fell which were both just and sure As hard-hearted Pharaoh did keep Israel in Bondage great And when Liberty it was sought with God he would not treat But said Who is the Lord that he at all should him obey With such presumptuous words as these from his proud heart did say And in the stead of Liberty did make their Burthens more For which upon his Head God did full many Judgements poure Bloody waters Froggs Lice and Flies with Boyles and Blanches many Hail Locusts Darkness and First-born were slain he left not any And yet for all those Judgements which fell on him as his due So hard-hearted he yet still was that Israel he 'd pursue So Gods People in a great strait being thus surrounded By standing kill Salvation saw of God and Pharaoh drounded This is for you a warning then that follow step by step That regard not Fire War or Plague but over these things lep Tho you count those things Accidents which unto you are given But that you should no Covers have God shews you signs from heaven Yea and such signs all your Wise men with their Egyptian Art Could tell the coming of the same which made them all to start Nor what th' effect or influence these Blasing-Stars would be That in one year did shew themselves not one or two but three Thus Pharaohs drown'd and Hamons hang'd Nebuchadnezzar's due To lose his Kingdom and Herod eaten with worms was to So all proud persecuting Spirits Examples here 's for you For God is now the same also his Judgements just and true For his Hand is not shortned but can help 't is our stay Nor is his power now weakend more than 't was yesterday For all the Honour and Glory of Man is but a lye And if there were no Worshippers of Idols they would dye This Honour God he will not give to graven Images Nor his Glory to mortal men tho they him near so please For that the Kingdom it is his the Power and Glory too And Honour for ever and e're to him alone t is due For if the Angel which to John shewd Mysteries manifold Would not be bow'd to or worshipt how dare man be so bold For he our Fellow-servant was and of our Brethren to Which Jesus Testimony had and Prophesying Spirit true These are the highest attainments of Angels and of Men That maketh them honourable yet are they but Brethren And so they dare not now to bow or worship give each other Or glory in ought that they have for 't cometh from another And now all earthly Images you all must now be dumbe And speak no more for your glory now Gods Kingdom is come And his Almighty Power shall you altogether grind And in the Sea your Ashes cast that henceforth none you find This is the little Stone the which out of the Mountain's cut Though without hands your Images shall break as a small Nut. These Idols of Silver and Gold they shall to Moles be given The which blind Vermin in Earth creep shut up from th' Light of heaven And the blind Bats must have a part that are Birds of the night The which cannot abide the Day to fly in peoples sight Therefore alone to God we 'l bow and worship him alway Who is our Fountain Treasure Stock our Light Life Bread and Stay And therefore now Man speak no more for to be bow'd unto For Gods Prerogative it is and he must have his due If Saints and Angels they would not at all be bow'd to then What spirit have all those that do seek worship now from men For if Gods Messengers and Gifts we must not once admire Oh then Whose Messengers are they that Glory do desire For all the Gifts and Graces wâ—…ch God he doth to us send That him alone we should praise which is both Author and End For we the Israel of God are while we walk in this sphere So no Weapon against us formd shall prosper Sword or Spear If in the Fire we are cast oh there 's the Son of God Or through the Water made to pass oh there 's also the Lord. So to be burnt or over-flowd no cause we have to fear For Angels Lyons mouths do stop of 's Daniels he hath care If Oxen must not muzzeld be that do tread out the Corn Oh then what care will he have of his Babes that are new born But if that yet we do please men Gods Servants we are not And when men worldly honour seek it signifies a Blot That they from God departed are in whom men honour have And gone into the World from him who do its honour crave Saul is a figure unto such who Gods Word disobeyd And God from him departed was oh then he cryd and said Before the People honour me oh this was all his cry For those that have forsaken God on this alone rely But this is sad and desmal to Worlds glory for to gain Out of Gods presence to be cast into eternal pain In this Doctrine it is observ'd the Persecutors proud Which will not to this Image bow Life hardly is allow'd And God he is so just and true in Judgement he 'll not act Till plainly the notoriousness appear doth of the Fact Cain he cannot at all be cast out of Gods presence till The Blood of Abel he hath spilt then Judgement on him fell So you that offer unto God the Sacrifice of Praise Which Offering he doth respect and also did alwayes Thus to the Will of God you must your selves and all commit Tho Caldees and Sabeans too themselves against you set For the Chastisements of the Lord we never must refuse ' Cause ye no Bastards are but Sons he to himself doth chuse And when that you corrected are Obedience thereby learn You shall not need to fear but God the Rod forthwith will burn Now if the ground-work you would know in fine of all this evil From th' Dragon and old Serpent t is or spirit of