opinions with a kind of disdain and contempt of Christian fife and conversation Men that have been formerly much for Prayer much for reading hearing Christian society strict and holy walking shall now look upon all these as low and childish things speaking after this manner We are now expecting the Bridegroom looking for the glorious appearance of the Morning-star the Sun of Righteousness great and high discoveries of God and therefore away with these low camal duties and Ordinances what shall we who expect such glorious appearances exercise our selves in these mean and childish things which indeed were fit for those who lived under former dispensations and more dark administrations but do not become us upon whom the morning-star is tisen And here if I may so say though with submission to others I conceive the thing I am speaking of to bee the very sleep before mentioned of the Ten Virgins for as by the scope of the Parable appears these were in the Kingdome of Heaven i. e. Members of the visible Church Now the coming of the Bridegroom being a thing expected and looked for though some look for it in one way some in another in the Kingdome of Heaven i. e. by the Members of the visible Church as near at hand these Virgins will needs hereupon presently in all haste be going forth before the set time to meet him They went forth to meet the Bridegroom vers 1. that is as I conceive they reject all communion holy duties and Ordinances c. things once they did exercise in as things now no longer in use but out of date and bidding farewel to these go forth with high expectations of great and glorious things at the appearance of the Bridegroom now at hand as if they should say The Bridegroom is coming he is coming whose appearance puts an end to all these things and therefore why shall we any longer exercise our selves in them away therefore with these Duties and Ordinances it behoves us to go forth and meet the Bridegroom we will walk no longer in this way but come let us go forth to that higher and more glorious administration that the Bridegroom brings with him Now they going thus before the time I say and mark it well before the time for afterwards vers 6. we read of a command given at the Bridegrooms coming to go forth and meet him till which command had come had they stayed and continued in that station the Bridegroom left them in upon his departure yeelding cheerful obedience to all those his wayes and commands which he bid them to mind and be conversant in till his coming they had done well but going out before the time leaving the Laws of Christ before Christ the great Law-giver had abolished them casting off their former practice and the Bridegroom not coming so soon as they expected to direct them into a new they slumber and sleep i.e. do even nothing at all as a sleepy man stirs not acts not in any way or duty for Gods glory or his Neighbours good so it now fares with them which so sad an effect of their going forth to meet the Bridegroom hath made me to think that although the thing it self were very good had they but waited till the coming forth of the Royal Edict for the abrogation of the old Law and the establishment of a new yet for them to go forth to meet the Bridegroom before the time to run before they were called to abrogate Christs Laws before himself had done it was sinful and very evil and that for which God by way of correction of so great arrogancy and presumption gives them up to this spiritual slumber and sleep here spoken of Now whereas I said at first this sleep should be of many I spake it to this end that none might imagine this sleep to be general upon all the Vâ—rgins in the world at this time for though it is said v. 5. Whilst the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept yet is not the ALL so to be understood as if so be all the Virgins and Professors in the world should at this time be asleep for though I conceive all here is to be taken universally i.e. all excepting none yet the universality of the word doth not reach all Virgins and Professors but those onely who went forth to meet the Bridegroom for to them alone the scope of the Parable runs the meaning then is this That all those who casting off Duties and Ordinances did go forth before the time to meet the Bridegroom did slumber and sleep not one of them was so happy as to keep his eies open but that all Virgins cannot be here meant is clear from the following Parable which seems to be as it were an exception from this former where mention is made of some Servants improving their Talents therefore not all sleeping and likewise from vers 46. of the precedent Chapter which tells us that some at Christs coming should be found doing their Masters work Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde so doing therefore not all asleep Yet I say all takes in every of those Virgins who went forth before the time to meet the Bridegroom the number of which shall not be a few for they are not set forth by a smaller number as two but by a greater as ten Two things here are very observable which I cannot omit seeming to intimate the way or manner how this sleep shall creep on upon the Virgins at this day 1 From a false Principle commonly received among the Virgins as touching the coming of Christ namely that the same shall be spiritual onely and not personal this to me appears from the attempt they make and that before his coming to go forth and meet him for taking this for granted which is indeed a certain truth that the Administration that now is is to be in force but till his coming and they conceiving this coming of Christ to be no other but a more glorious man festation of himself in a spiritual way to the souls of his people judging withall some beginnings of this to be already both in themselves and others they hence conclude the time now to be come in which these things are to cease the Day-star which will suddenly inlighten the whole world begâ—nning already to glimmer in their hearts Hereupon they pluck up stakes quit their old station sound a march with a mighty cry The Bridegroom is coming the Bridegroom is coming let us speedily go forth to meet him whereas had they in their judgement as well as beleeved the coming to be near so retained in the love of it that good old Principle that it is onely Christs Personal coming which puts an end to these things they would have had certain ground to have stood upon and have known the time when these things were to cease and not before the time headily run forth but rather patiently waited for that day submitting themselves in
mystical body into one Pulling down of all high and lofty things and persons that oppose Christ The establishment of Justice and Righteousness in the world Striving with God in a more especial manner for a greater degree of his Spirit more light and grace than Saints in former Generations have had together with the exaltation of Christ as King both in his Churches and also over the world Which last considering how that all the rest are in a way of subserviency thereunto and do as it were centre therein for therefore are Jews and Gentiles at this time to meet together as Subjects under one Prince that this Kingdom of his might be great and full of Subjects therefore shall divisions amongst his people cease that his Kingdom might be quiet and peaceable therefore shall high and lofty ones be pulled down that Christ might have no Competitor or Check mate as I may say in this his Kingdom therefore shall Justice and Righteousness be established that so the glory of his Kingdom in this respect might surpass the glory of all Kingdoms before it therefore shall there be more of the Spirit more light and grace given forth to the Saints that so they might yeeld obedience to their King not so much from a Law without as a principle of light and love within I say all centering in this last my utmost conclusion is that the master-peece of work in this Generation is the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ 5 But how may I come to know or find out that particular part or parcel of work which is more properly to be my work in my Generation and which God requires me to be active in seeing it cannot be supposed that any one man can be active in the whole work neither undoubtedly is it required of him In answer to this I shall in general lay down this seeming contrary Proposition viz. That there is no part or piece of Generation-work but every Christian man or woman may in some way be helpful thereunto so far as he is called to act and consequently becomes guilty of neglect of Generation-work in not acting As 1 By prayer to God for the prospering and carrying on of the work Those who can do nothing else are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem Psal 122.6 yea all that make mention of the Lord in the day of Gods building Sion are bound not to keep silence nor give God rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth Is 62.6 7. 2 By humbling our selves before God for that whatsoever it be whether found in the people of God or instruments imployed in the work or any other that proves obstructive and a hindrance to the work When the sin of Achan became an obstruction to the work of Joshua's age Joshuah and the Elders of Israel rent their cloaths fell to the earth on their faces put dust on their heads humbling themselves before God for it Josh 7.6 Now although acting in this manner in case we can do nothing else may seem little in our eyes yet in the eyes of God it doth not so who takes it exceeding well at the hands of his people when they can serve their Generation no other way that they do in this When Israel had so provoked God that God was upon the point of destroying of them as Deut. 12.13 14. Moses then falls down before God forty dayes and forty nights and by prayer and fasting prevails with God not only to spare them but also by the manifestation of his presence and glorious power still to go along with them as Exod. 33.14 15. And how pleasing Moses prayer to God in this business was appears in that the glorious discovery of Gods back-parts to Moses and proclamation of his Name before him such a discovery as never Moses himself at any other time nor any man besides him ever had comes in as the fruit of this his interceding for the people and in behalf of the cause of God as Exod. 33.19 compared with Chap. 34.5 6 7. Moses did many glorious works in his Generation which others could not follow yet God chooseth to make his glory pass before him not in doing them but that which every Saint may imitate him in Daniel in like manner when as yet there was no visible way for publick actings in that which now began to be the business of the Generation makes it his private work to strive with God by humiliation and prayer for the same as Chap. 9. and how well God did like hereof you have heard before and the success of Daniels prayer vers 20 21 22 23. is sufficient testimony So also Nehemiah when the work of his Age lay out of his power to act any thing therein save only in this way of prayer and humiliation he as the other this being the common way of Gods people in such cases betakes himself unto this work of praying and mourning before God in reference to the same Nehem. 1.4 5 c. And how wonderfully God was pleased herewith the sequel of the story shews for within four months after his praying and mourning being in the month Chisleu vers 1. the ninth month according to the Jewish account as Zach. 7.1 in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes and the return thereof in the month Nisan Chap. 6.1 the first month after their account as Ester 3.7 and all in one year as by comparing Chap. 1.1 with Chap. 2.1 is evident God in an extraordinary way doth so bring things about that this Nehemiah the praying and mourning man for Jerusalems desolations is furnished with commission and authority from the King to go to Jerusalem and there to re-edifie the City and build up the wall thereof the very work of that Generation In case therefore Generation-work lie at such a plunge as thou canst act no other way in it or in case thou beest one who wantest both opportunity and imployment wherein thou mayest be helpful in any particular way unto thy Generation then serve the same in this general way which service from the hands of such a one is accepted of God and the party doing the same in Gods account faithful in his Generation Yet because many there be who besides the general way of acting which is a duty common to all may in other more special wayes be serviceable to their Generation who yet neither their call nor opportunity reaching to the whole work but some part of it will be further inquisitive how they shall know that particular part of Generation-work which is more properly theirs To the end that such may receive satisfaction in this thing I shall desire them to go along with me through these following Rules 1 Observe what part of Generation-work that is that thou art in a capacity to do Every man is not in a capacity to do the same peece of Generation-work but one man is in a capacity to do one peece of the work another
opposition hath been so great an offence that not onely the common multitude but right honest hearts have from hence stood a loof from and been shy of the work of their Generation Christ could not be received of the Jews for their Messiah because the religious party of the Priests and Pharisee did oppose him And how great an offence was this to the poor simple meaning people who but a little before seeing his works cryed out Hosanna being now by these men of credit possest that he was a Deluder they change their note and cry crucifie him crucifie him as the story tells us 4 At the after-miscarriages and errors of those who have been the onely active instruments and lights at first in the work of the Generation T is matter of offence to not a few to see men active at first in the work of their Generation prove afterwards retarders of the work and darkness thence to spring whence the first light of the Generation did arise Hence most are apt to call in question the righteousness of that cause and purity of that light which the first owners by future miscarriages have cast a blemish upon Now though there seemeth in it to be just matter of jealousie yet if seriously weighed and compared with foregoing Presidents it is not so for who knows not that Solomon was the first King of Israel that ever built a house for the true worship of God and yet the first that ever built High places for Idolatry Peter was the first Disciple that publickly confessed Christ and yet the first that openly denyed him Judea was the first place where Gospel-light did shine and from whence the world was enlightned and yet the first place where error sprung up and the light of the Gospel darkned Act. 15.1 Certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren except yee be circumcised after the manner of Moses yee cannot be saved 5 At the gastly look and untrodden footsteps of some particular dispensations and actings attending the work of the Generation In all Generations almost there have been in managing the work of the Generation some particular actings which outwardly have had so foul an aspect that if not be held with an eye seeing God his will and design therein might justly breed offence dislike in the beholders With how offensive a eye did that act look how may we think in reason might it tend to the hardning the Egyptians that Israel going out of Egypt pretending to worship God should by a cheat as setting Gods will aside mans reason would account it plunder the Egyptians of all their Jewels and riches a thing which if done without Gods special command had been contrary to morality And whether or no had not Gods command authorized Joshua thereunto could that act of his in entring Canaan and not onely taking their Land from them but also putting all the Inhabitants both young and old to the sword been termed any other than an act of inhumane and barbarous cruelty Yea further let reason be judge of that act of Jaels in murdering Sisera at a time when his Master was in league with her Husband and when as he too as a man flying for life committed himself to her for shelter and what will it call the same but treacherous dealing an act of perfidiousness and highest injustice What need I multiply let reason not seeing Gods will be judge of Jehues action in putting the King his Master to death and extirpating the Royal Family and will it not brand the same with the odious names of Disloyalty Usurpation and Treachery to his Prince which yet was an act commanded by God God having so ordered it that in all ages there should stand in the work of the Generation some such facing and staring actions as should not onely amuse men but also offend the eyes of the obstinate weak or ignorant beholders 2 Take heed of being discouraged As offences on one hand hath put many a man by the work of his Generation so have discouragements on the other hand put some by and weakned the hands of others in the work Now there are several things at the which men are discouraged whereof I shall particularize a few As 1 At the littleness and lowness of beginnings It is Gods way in the carrying on of his great and glorious works of wonder ever to begin very low and rise high by degrees I shall instance onely in two things both appertaining to Christs Kingdom and the rather because as hath been shewed that it is the great work of this age 1 The Kingdom of Christ in his Churches it is a most glorious work yet low in the beginning The building of the second Temple which as hath been said was the type of this had first a day of smal things which lookers on were ready to despise Zach. 4.10 Who hath despised the day of smal things before a day of great things First a foundation stone is laid and then Zerubbabel the builder hath his hands holden forty years before he can lay a top-stone or bring the work to perfection The planting of Churches in the Primitive times what a low beginning had it one Paul and a few poor Fisher-men acting in this work and that against all the world This is lively set forth in that Parable Matth. 13.31 The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard-seed It begins as a grain of mustard-seed which is the least of all seeds and of this but one grain not many yet in the end it grows a Tree that the Fowls of the Heaven câ—me to lodge in the branches of it 2 The Kingdom of Christ over the world the glory of this work is such that when it shall be the whole earth shall be full of the glory of it yet how little and low shall this work be in the beginning It is at first a stone cut out of the mountains without hands little and weak yet after a great mountain filling the whole earth Dan. 2.34 35. It is first a little one after that a thousand Isa 60. ult A little one shall become a thousand It first begins in Sion i.e. in the Churches amongst a company of poor despised worshippers of Christ whereof Sion was a type Psa 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion Afterwards it spread it self over all the world Vers 8 9. Aske of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron thou shalt break them in peeces like a potters vessel Davids Kingdom the most lively type of Christs Kingdom over the world how low and seemingly unlikely ever to rise was it in the beginning One David a poor mans Son a keeper of sheep to be a King and yet his Kingdom at present in the hands of another a powerful King Saul one chosen and annoynted by God to whom the
whole Nation had subjected themselves and under whom they had obtained glorious Victories Who would ever have thought this Kingdom could have risen and yet it did Christs riding into Jerusalem as King which I take it did shadow out both these it was upon an Ass one of the most despicable of all the creatures and yet not upon a grown Ass neither an Ass in his full strength but upon a Colt the Foal of an Ass the weakest and most despicable of the most despicable Matth. 21.5 Thus it is Gods way in great works especially in Generation-work to begin low and rise by steps Now we shall find that low beginnings in the work of the Generation have sometimes been a discouragement to persons acting therein So in Ezra's time when the foundation of the second Temple was laid the low and little beginnings did so discourage the ancient men who had seen the glory of the former house that it is said they wept with a loud voyce chap. 3.12 2 At the powerfulness and succesfulness of opposition against the work As Generation-work hath never wanted powerful opposition so sometimes opposition for a while hath been successful against the same What powerful opposition shall be made against the work of God in the last times viz. The â—etting up Christ as King in Sion or his Churches you have foretold Psal 2. where we have opposers of a higher note Kings Rulers Opposers of a lower rank Heathen people Yet all Prince and Beggar can joyn hand in hand to oppose Christs Kingdom And how successful that opposition made by the adversaries of Judah was to the work of the Generation in the days of Ezra whereby a stop was put to the work for many years together is there recorded And which is to be noted the very opposition made by Judah's Enemys to the work was that which did exceedingly discourage and weaken the hands of them that wrought therein Ezra 4.4 Then the people of the Land weakned the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in the building 3 At Great ones holding off and withdrawing their hands from the work Generation-work hath seldom found the friendship of great ones Have any of the chief Rulers or Pharisees beleeved in him In Nehemiah's time the onely men that would not put their necks to the work of that age were the Noble men ch 3.5 Their Nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. Now what a discouragement it is to the meaner sort to see the great ones stand off or with-draw who knows not It is observable which I would not here pass over that in that age in which the Jews shall be brought in Gods first glorious appearing shall be amongst a middle sort of people Zech. 12.7 The Lord shall save the Tents of Judah first i.e. God shall first begin to discover his glorious power and make bare his arm of Salvation not amongst the poorest of all who have no Tents no place of habitation but are Vagrant and Beggars nor the richest who have their sumptuous Palaces and royal Houses but a middle sort of people living in a plain but an honorable and comely way such as the way of living in Tents of old was and the reason hereof is given that the glory of the house of David and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnifie themselves against Judah i.e. that men of Princely and noble blood dwelling in Courts or sumptuous Palaces or depending upon such places may not as hath been the manner from the beginning magnifie themselves against others because in a rank or ranks below them If this shall be the way of Gods dispensations towards that age be not discouraged in case we now who are fallen into the same see many great ones withdrawing their hands from the work 4 At the perfidious and treacherous dealing of some particular persons imployed in the work It is no new thing in Generation-work as to meet with opposition abroad so treachery nearer home David in his work had a treacherous son Absolom a treacherous Counsellor Achâ—tophel Nehemiah in the carrying on of his work had a treacherous Shemaiah yea treacherous Nobles acting with him as chap 6.10 17. Christ in his work had a treacherous Judas for one of his followers And what a discouragement treachery in some is to others that one instance of Absoloms treachery is proof enough which did so sinke the heart of David himself and the hearts of all his mighty men of valour yea of the whole Country that they fled weeping with a loud voyce from Absolom 2 Sam. 15.23.30 5 At the meeting with disappointments Disappointments of expectations prove oft times discouragements at best disquietments to those that meet with them in their work A disappointment did so dis-hearten bold spirited Jeremy that he took up a hasty resolution to quit his hands of Gods work chap. 20.7 8 9. Yea Paul himself though a man so watchful active and having such command over his Spirit as none more was so disquieted by a disappointment and one would think it a smal one too onely missing of Titus that he lost a very fair opportunity of doing Christ service at Troas 2 Cor. 2.12 13. 6 At unkindnesses received from those whose good and welfare we have ever closely pursued in the work It is a remarkable example and pertinent to the thing in hand that of Moses Exo. 17. who having as an instrument under God brought Israel out of Aegypt carried them through the Red Sea yea made it his business from first to last above any thing of his own to seek their good and welfare meeting with so unkind a return for all his tender care of them as that no sooner did they want a little water but presently they fall to chide with and upbraid him as men ready to stone him vers 2 3 4. He is so discouraged hereby as that this very discouragement pusheth him into that sin against the work of his Generation for which and no other he is shut out of Canaan as compare vers 7. with Num. 20.12 13. 7 At multiplyed sentences of death put upon the work This though it will take in some of the foregoing discouragements which are but as so many sentences of death put upon the work Yet because it may be extended farther I shall here allow it a particular place by it self The more grace and mercy is wrapped up in any of Gods dispensations towards his people the more and greater sentences of death are usually put upon that work which those dispensations call for and by which this mercy is to be ushered in The dispensation of God towards Israel in bringing them out of Aegypt was a dispensation full of mercy and nothing more verified in the story of it then this that multiplied sentences of death did attend the work Before deliverance comes they are in hard bondage when deliverance was neer their bondage grows higher and their tale of bricks is doubled No sooner are
seen heard touched by John 3 He is cloathed with a Vesture dipped in blood v. 13. he treads the Wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God ver 15. the same with that Isa 63.2 3. of which anon By these the other expressions of fitting upon a white horse judging and making War vers 11. having eyes as a flame of fire many Crowns on his head ver 12. answering to that chap. 11.15 The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord the Armies of Heaven following him ver 14. â—uling the Nations with a rod of iron answering to Psal 2.9 the sharp sword going out of his mouth vers 15. the name on his Vesture and Thigh King of Kings and Lord of Lords ver 16. Which of themselves look this way will more clearly appear to be spoken of Christ as personally coming yet because Christs personal coming at this time would hardly be received for a truth it is as I conceive therefore added ver 9 These are the true sayings of God The conclusion then of all is this Christ shall personally appear at the battel of Armageddon That battel for time exactly agrees with the Text therefore the coming here spoken of Behold I come as a Theef is a personal coming 2 ARGUMENT Christ shall personally appear at the time of the Kingdoms restoring to Israel But that shall be about this time The minor Proposition I have proved before in shewing that the coming in of the Jews must of necessity be betwixt the sixt and seventh Vials The major That Christ at this time shall appear I prove 1 From that of Paul Rom. 11.26 27. where the Apostle speaking of the Jews conversion mentions a coming of Christ The deliverer shalcome out of Sion Which words are to be taken in a litteral and spiritual sence both as are many Scriptures else as appears from Isa 59.20 whence they are quoted where to evidence the spiritual sence of them the Prophet saith expresly in the next verse My Spirit that is upon thee shall not depart out of thy mouth nor but of the mouth of thy seed c. noting that as their sins shall be pardoned so also more of the Spirit shall be given forth upon the Jews conversion than ever formerly which more fully we have Joel 2.28 29. Zech. 12.10 and this is the coming of the Deliverer to them in the spiritual sence Yet that besides this there is a litteral coming in these words appears if you compare the foregoing verses 16 17 18. upon which these have a dependance with the very same expressions almost only a little more full chap. 63.1 2 3 4 5 6. where also as here mention is made of a coming Ver. 1. Who is this that cometh from Edom which cannot be a spiritual coming i.e. a destroying of his Enemies by a glorious manifestation of himself and his power with and amongst his people because then the doing of the work should be by instruments whereas Christs arm alone without any instrument doth this work as verse 3. I have trodden the Wine-press alone and of the people there was none with me Vers 5. I looked and there was none to help and I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore my own Arm brought salvation to me and my fury it upheld me Neither could the litteral meaning of the words have their fulfilling in his first coming in which he was not glorious in his apparrel but without form and comeliness Chap. 53.2 neither was that a day of vengeance to tread down the people in anger as this is Vers 4 6. This comming therefore must be some other and is indeed that we spake of but now Rev. 19. where we have Christ coming forth upon a white horse as will appear by comparing Vers 3. I have trodden the Wine-press alone and of the people there was none with me for I will tread them in mine anger and trample them in my fury and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my Garments and I will stain all my raiment and that with Rev. 19.13 He was cloathed with a vesture dipped in blood Vers 15. And he treadeth the Wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God And this coming I proved but now by the circumstances of the Text is and must be the same with that I am opening Behold I come as a Theef 2 This appears Ezek. 37.24 25. where speaking of the Jews restauration and the Kingdom they shall have thereupon and this too with a principal relation to the last daies for the Chapter speaks of that time in which the sticks of Judah and Ephraim shall be one stick Vers 19. i.e. The two Tribes and ten Tribes one people shall have one King and that too in their own Land upon the Mountains of Israel which never yet hath been since the rent in the daies of Rehoboam it is said Vers 24. My servant David shall be King over them Now David was not a Type of Christ as King in a spiritual sense so much as in a visible way sitting upon an outward and visible Throne if therefore a spiritual reign onely were here intended the Antitype should not answer the Type Vers 27. My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea I will be their God and they shall be my people which is expounded Rev. 21.3 Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God shewing that these words have a special relation to the time of the New Jerusalem when Christ as he hath already his Prophetical and Priestly Offices shall visibly and Personally execute his Kingly Office 3 This appears farther Act. 1.6 from the Question propounded to Christ by his Disciples Wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel In which Question three things are taken for granted by the Querists As 1. That the Nation of the Jews should one day be restored and have a Kingdom 2 That this Restauration should be wrought by Christ Wilt thou 3 That it should be wrought by him in an outward visible way for such a way is by them supposed as Christ did at that time appear to them in which was an outward way with his bodily presence These three things by them beleeved are ground for a fourth which is the thing they question namely the time when this should be Wilt thou at this time Now observe it the grounds of this question which includes the substance of what is pleaded for viz. That the Kingdom should be restored to Israel and that by Christs personal appearance are neither of them denied by Christ who undoubtedly had their question been grounded upon a mistake would yea it had behoved him to have shewn them their error only their greediness of a Kingdom at present whilst he had other work for them to do first is the thing reproved Nay let me say Christ doth in a
manner affirm all their suppositions in saying It is not for you to know the times and seasons as to say true Israel shall have a Kingdom restored I am to do it and that as you now conceive personally appearing onely it is not for you at present to know the time And this will more clearly appear if we carry these words to Act. 3.21 where we have that set forth by the word Restitution which here is called a Restoring Whom the Heavens must receive untill the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began yet with this difference Act. 1. speaks of the Kingdom in reference to Israel onely who shall be chief in it Mich. 4.8 Thou O Tower of the Flock the strong hold of the Daughter of Sion unto thee shall it come even the first Dominion the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem but Acts 3. in reference to the whole Creation which in the day the Kingdom shall be restored to Israel shall also have a Restitution which is expressed Rom. 8.19 20 21 22. Now in these words we have a coming clearly discovered he shall send Jesus which before was preached unto you whom the Heavens must receive Which that it is Personal and not Spiritual onely is clear because such as the receiving of Christ in the Heavens at the time when these things were spokrn was and hath been since such shall his coming at this day be but the receiving of Christ in the Heavens then and since cannot be understood in a spiritual way because in that sense he had said before Lo I am with you to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 but must be in respect of his Personal and Corporal presence therefore such shall his presence Verse 19. be with his people at this time viz Personal and Corporal Now that this time of the restitution of all things should be the Day of the General Judgement which hath been the common opinion I cannot incline to for these Reasons 1 Because I find not the General Judgement spoken of in the plural number as times daies as this is the times of refreshing vers 19. times of restitution vers 21. these daies vers 24. 2 Because this is such a time as all the Prophets have spoken of Which God hath spoken of by the mouth of all bis holy Prophets Now not all Nay hardly any have spoken expresly of the General Judgement but of the time of Christs Kingdom all have spoken as will appear to him that shall but take a view of the Prophets severally in doing which though we might begin with Enoch the seventh from Adam who according to Jude Vers 14. prophesied of Christs coming and Kingdom and after him Jacob in his blessing of Judah Gen. 49.9 10. and Balaam afterward though a wicked man yet a Prophet Numb 24.17 18 19. Yet I rather choose to begin after Samuels daies for there the Holy Ghost seems to point out our beginning Vers 24. yea and all the Prophets from Samuel have likewise foretold of these daies Now beginning from Samuel setting Jonah aside which is but a History not one but have spoken of these times as to give instance David did it Psal 62. The whole Psalm is a Prophecie of Christs Kingdom and not Solomons any otherwise than in the Type as is clear 1. From the continuance of this Kingdom vers 7. as long as the Moon indureth 2. The extent of it vers 8. From Sea to Sea from the Rivers to the ends of the Earth 3. The Subjects of it all Kings and all Nations vers 11. neither of which either did or could agree to Solomons Kingdom Psal 102.16 When the Lord shall build up Sion he i.e. Christ shall appear in his glory And that the fulfilling of this relates to the last times is evident Vers 18. This shall be written for the Generation to come when as verse 22. the people are gathered together and the Kingdoms to serve the Lord. Isaiah likewise Chap. 2.2 3 4. It shall come to pass in the last dayes the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills and all Nations shall flow unto it And he i.e. Christ shall judge among the Nations and rebuke many people Chap. 9.7 Of the increase of his Government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom whose Throne and Kingdom was outward to order it and establish it with Judgement and Justice Chap. 32.1 2. Behold a King shall reign in Righteousness and Princes shall rule in Judgement Christ and his Saints reigning together And a man noting a corporal presence as well as spiritual at this day shall be a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest Chap. 35.4 Your God will come with vengeance even God with a recompence he will come and save you The whole Chapter speaks of Christs Kingdom and the coming here agrees to that chap. 63.1 2. c. which I have proved to be Personal Jeremiah also who throughout chap. 30 31 32 33. treats of Christs Kingdom and that too in the last days when Ephraim Head of the Ten Tribes never gathered as yet since their Captivity shall come in Ezekiel Chap. 34 11. to the end Chap. 37. throughout So Daniel Chap. 2 44.45 In the dayes of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdome shall not be left to other people but it shall break in peeces and consume all these Kingdomes and it shall stand for ever This Kingdome must bee outward because it breaks in peeces the four Monarchies which were outward and takes the place of them and it is improper to say a meer Spiritual Kingdome can take place of an outward and why as the four former Monarchies had alwayes some visible Head the same should not be in this fifth I see no reason Chap. 7.27 And the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all Dominions shall serve and obey him i.e. Christ who in this Kingdome shall rule as Head and the Saints under him And this Kingdome must be outward for the Kingdome of the little Horn which was an outward Kingdome is the Kingdome here given to the Saints that Christ and his Saints rule in So Hosea Chap. 1.10 11. Chap. 3 4 5. both places agreeing punctually to that of Ezek. 37. which I have opened Joel Chap. 2.28 to the end Chap. 3. opened also before Amos Chap. 9.11 to the end Obadiah vers 21. And Saviours shall come upon mount Sion and shall judge the mount of Esau and the Kingdome shall be the Lords Micha Chap. 4.6 7. In that day will I assemble her that halteth and
people have their liâ—erty and in that respect as to their particulars are well yet if they see the work of the time at a stand let it not be grievous or be imputed to discontent in case they mourn as did Daniel look sad as did Nehemiah groan and complain they are sick And sometimes I have thought that when Daniel did mourn and afflict himself before God the second time three full weeks Chap. 10.2 upon the account that the work of God in that age was put to a stand by the power as is by good men judged of Cambyses Cyrus Son reigning while his Father was abroad in the wars that had Cambyses been a good man or a man likely to have been prevailed with Daniel undoubtedty would as did the Prophets before him frequently to the good Kings of Israel have made other applications in that case and accounted the doing thereof his duty than barely to the Lord alone Nay it is a mercy to Governours themselves to have applications in things of this nature made unto them for Woe be to those Governors to whom Gods people fearing or being without hopes in making address when they soâ—esee sufferings coming upon his cause retire themselves and spread the affliction of their souls before the Lord alone Yet let me also say it is a thing most certain and that which is a prejudice to the very cause in the hearts of many and ought to be matter of grief to all that Saints in most places at this day whilst they are crying that their Fathers work might go on do act too much like men and shew too much of their own spirits yea are very consused as to the making out the things themselves would have and moreover have many falling into their party that injure the very cause they stand up in But I earnestly wish it might be considered that although the child when it cries cannot alwayes give a rational account of the cause of its so doing yea possibly may oftentimes discover much peevishness and passion in crying yet doth it not ever cry without a cause and the wisdome of the Father is not so intent upon the weaknesses of the child in crying as to find out the cause why it cries And farther should not many and great weaknesses appear in those who stand up for Christs Kingdome how should his Kingdome come without observation no greater observation than of holiness if so be the appearance of that in them were to be eminently visible John came with much outward Holinesse and hee came with great observation Yea whether when the strife rose first betwixt the Brethren of the Presbyterian and Congregational way in England did not many who yet had truth and Christ did afterwards own before the world strive in many things like foolish peevish Children and whether in the times of the Apostles throughout the Primitive ages and almost ever since have not the croud of errors alwayes run into that side where truth hath been the reason is because the grand enemies design is to sow his tares in his enemies filed his own where as yet his title is not questioned nor shaken he will not meddle with These things therefore with others of a like nature are not to be made definitive Conclusions as to a cause which oftentimes God permits for the trial of Rulers patience his peoples faith and the carrying on of his own cause in a cloud which is the way he goes in in most of his works of wonder Governors because of these miscarriages may inflict civil penalties if they will yet let it bee considered that the great King is now coming to his Throne and there is not a Ruler in the world but hath his standing only protempore to whom as all must give an account so must they shortly surrender their Crowns or they shall be taken from them and if any of the subjects of this mighty King whilst they see their King upon his march and are followed with hourly intelligence that he is neer and such and such things must be done in order to his entertainment by speaking some words for their King that things may be in a readiness and by giving abroad what intelligence they have to that end shall offend and suffer any thing for it let it be remembred that when the righteous King is sate upon his Throne these things will not be husht up but it shall then be known whether such as shall so do exceeded their Commission or not did their own or the Lord Christs will My Lord That through multitude of words I may neither tire your patience nor incur the censure of being one that loves to hear himself speak I shall wave some things which otherwise I would yet have added and draw to a Conclusion only leaving with your Highness three or four plain sober and in my opinion necessary words 1 Let your Highness oft remember and set before you the example of that good man Asa who though he were a man of much zeal for God and his Worship destroying the Altars of the strange gods and the High places breaking down the Images cutting down the Groves c. a man of a tender conscience therefore removed his Mother from being Queen because she made an Idol in a Grove a man of much faith in the field by which faith of his he vanquished the huge host of Zerah the Ethiopian yet having made one eminent turn from God as one turn from God makes way for another he is afterwards in a rage at reproof and casts the Prophet into prison that reproved him and at the very same time oppresseth the people of the LAND and after all what will Sin bring even a good man to When Gods hand is upon him for this he seems as a man stubborn and seeks not to the Lord but to the Physicians which that it may never be your Highness case is my prayer 2 Let your hand be no way lifted up against any of the Saints in this Nation It was a good Position laid down by Dr. Goodwin in a Sermon preached upon Psal 105 14 15. before the Parliament that was at the time when the Brethren of the Presbyterian way had the turning of the Wheel and as well proved viz. That the dealing well or ill with the Saints is and hath ever been the great interest of States and Kingdoms that on which their welfare or ruine depends All Sodome made not the hands of those four Kings Abraham routed Gen. 14. so weak as their fingring one Lot 3 Pursue not too hotly every righteous principle It is an Observation of Dr. Owens worthy never to be forgotten preached when time was in a Sermon of his upon Ezek. 17.24 to the aforesaid powers concerning principles that men take up his words are these page 21.22 The most tremendous judgement of God in this world is the hardning the hearts of men Now saith he first Look on Pharaoh of whom it is most signally spoken that God
of Christ at Northwalsham in Norfolk walking in fellowship with the Churches of Christ in this Country sendeth Greeting Dearly beloved in the Lord AS the Lord the mighty God hath done great things and unsearchable marvelous things without number for his great Name and peoples sake within the space of a few years so certainly there shall not be an end of Wonders until his peoples full Redemption be accomplished And although the wicked of the earth regard not the works of the Lord neither consider what he hath already done or shall do hereafter yet they are observed and diligently sought out of the Saints that have pleasure therein And they shall speak of the might of his terrible Acts and shall declare his greatness they shall abundantly utter the memory of his goodness and sing of his righteousness they shall speak of the glory of his Kingdom and talk of his Power and make known to the sons of men his mighty Acts and the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom When we consider what a company of poor weak and unprofitable creatures we are having such dead dark and unsuitable hearts and spirits to the extraordinary appearances and dispensations of God towards us we might think it most meet that we above all others should sit down in silence and shame at such a time as this but while we are musing of the former wayes and dealings of God with his people and of those glorious things which must shortly come to pass our hearts do burn within us and having this opportunity we cannot but speak and declare a few things which are upon our spirits As touching our dear and worthy Brother the Author it may be expected something by us should be spoken but his desire as concerning himself hath laid silence upon us Yet this we shall say As we conceive him to be one who hath received much light from the Lord and esteems it a choice and special mercy to be taught of God the things of Christs Kingdom so we are his witnesses how holily and justly and unblameably he hath and doth behave himself amongst us and many others that beleeve As for the Treatise it self it needs not mans commendation because Truth commends it self Yet this we say It hath been a great refreshment to our spirits and we hope will be to the spirits of Gods people elswhere It is the Authors desire that things may not be received on your parts without trial yet in case any who fear the Lord be in this matter otherwise minded it is our desire they would not rashly condemn that which was neither rashly undertaken nor published But to come to what we have further to say It is an undeniable truth confirmed by long experience that the Devil hath ever had a great design against the Kingdom of Christ that holy City and hath so far prevailed as by his instruments to tread it underfoot for a long time though not able to destroy it So that those that have appeared and witnessed for Christ have been forced to do it in sackcleath in a very mean and low condition yet however they do it they will do it though in sackcloath And this hath been such a trouble and torment to the Beast and the dwellers on the earth that like men or rather Devils full of rage and fury against them they make War against them overcome them pull off even their sackcloath strip them kill them And whether this hath been already done or is yet to do is the great Question which this Treatise will give some light into and a little time will more fully determine And that those that dwell upon the earth Christs enemies should rejoyce and make merry when they see Christs Witnesses who tormented them by witnessing lye dead is not to be thought strange But that the Lord should be so tender and mindful of those that appear and witness for him as after a little while to give life unto them and not only to set them upon their feet but to raise them up to an high and glorious condition and that in the sight of their enemies greatly fearing and trembling to behold it is very affecting and comfortable to our hearts to consider And Dear Brethren having had some serious thoughts both of the spirits and wayes of Gods professing people at this time we cannot apprehend that the LORD hath yet performed his whole work upon Mount Sion but that he hath yet much to do yea though the Lord hath been a long time purging his people and hath cut off two parts and left onely a third yet there is so much filth and dross in that that surely he will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them as Silver is refined and will try them as Gold is tried And what condition the Lord hath yet to bring his people into to take away their dross in is best known to himself And may not the people of the Lord even after he hath done much for them in them yet polluted with several abominations expect some hour of temptation to be tried and purged in which may also be at hand And seeing we are speaking and speaking to Brethren that know how to bear with our weaknesses though we be poor stammering creatures we shall take liberty and boldness to speak a few things to you as plainly as we can it being now high time to deal faithfully and plainly with one another and to tell you more particularly what we fear And indeed Brethren we are afraid from a sad experience of the coldness and remisness of our own hearts that the charge of Christ against Ephesus will not fall upon us onely but upon other of the Churches and Saints of Christ that they have left their first Love We are afraid because we are so earthly minded our selves that some of you may be tempted also to seek other things before the Kingdom of God and to take too much thought what you shall eat and what you shall put on what profits preferments and incouragements you shall have in the world which are the things the men of the world seek after for the obtaining of which you may be prone to seek to please and serve men rather than Christ We are afraid because we have so little our selves that a spirit of self-denial should be wanting among you and that you should not have hearts to rejoyce when Christ doth increase if you should decrease and so lie open to that great and common evill of neglecting at least Christs interest to uphold and maintain your own We are afraid because of the drowsiness of our own bearts lest a spirit of slumber should fall upon you and you become mindless and regardless in comparison of what you formerly were and now ought to be of the voyce and works and coming of Christ We are afraid because we our selves are not Virgins chast and faithful to the person and interest of the Lord Christ lest your hearts should
Papals which is expressed by making merry sending gifts one to another Rev. 11.10 And what was that but the death of the Witnesses as the Text tells us Upon this Victory over the Witnesses that had been but a little before struggling with her and like to have ruined her the Whore is now so imperiously proud that as Nebuchadâ—ezzar of old a little before his fall speaks out Is not this great Babel that I have built so she also in her pride cries out I sit as a Queen am no widow and shall see no sorrow as to say I was lately afraid I should have been spoyled of my glory been made a widow and seen forrow but now it is otherwise my enemies are under my feet I am Mistress and Ruler therefore I sit as a Queen c. And that the killing of the Witnesses should be here noted is yet more clear if we consider how that as those words are spoken in the present tense and therefore cannot relate to former past boastings so do they admirably agree in point of time to the killing of the Witnesses for that as I have said is to be in the very last three days and a half of the Beasts Tyranny and the Witnesses wearing Sackcloth which time is no sooner expired but as one of the first things Rome is ruined accordingly this boast is immediately before Romes ruine And therefore observe the words themselves and you shall find that even whilst the Whore is in this jolly fit instantly and unexpectedly comes her ruine upon her and the downfal of Rome her chief City Rev. 18.8 Therefore shal her plagues come upon her in one day death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Vers 10. For in one hour is thy judgement come So Vers 17.19 One day one hour that is from the time of her glorying whilst she is thus glorying over the dead Winesses up start the Witnesses down falls Rome 3 CONCLVSION That the killing of the Witnesses shall be in the latter end of the third Vial. Two things proved make this Conclusion firm 1 That some Vials shall be poured out before the slaughter of the Witnesses 2 That the Vials poured out shall be only the three first The first of these is sufficiently proved by Mr. Woodcock in his Treatise of the two Witnesses p. 20 21 22 23. I shal not here repeat his Arguments but refer the Roader to the Author himself with adding this farther word that John being by one of the seven Angels which had the 7 Vials carried away into the Wilderness there to have the interpretation of the Vials is to me a manifest Argument that some of the Vials are poured out whilst yet the Woman remains in the wilderness why else should the Angel of one of the Vials carry John into the wilderness there to learn the meaning of this mystery if the true Spouse of Christ to whom he reveals these secrets were not and that even in the time of some of the Vials abiding there Yea let me adde which will something more help us that I conceive this Angel to be no other but the Angel of the third Vial my reason is because the interpretation of the Vials which is the thing revealed to John Chap. 17. Chap. 18. c. begins with the third Vial for the first thing after the description of the Whore her self which is to be judged that relates to her judgement is the Lambs overcoming some of the Horns vers 14. which act is to be referred to the third Vial as I shall shew presently And indeed the reason why in the explication of the Vials the two first are left out and the Angel begins with the third is because as I have observed upon the Viols p. 260 261 262. Christ in the two first Vials is but regaining his own not yet invading his Enemies Dominions till the third Now because all that John in the explication hath shewed him is only the judgement of the Beast and Whore which as I have said are first described then their judgement peece by peece declared therefore the two first Vials are omitted as being another thing rather I say Christs getting his own then as yet judging his Enemy and he begins with the third where the judgemens of the Where the work of breaking the Great Image casting down the Thrones of the Fourth Beast begins This being so as it teacheth us that the discovering-time of the Great Whore in her true Colours and the judgements oâ— God to be executed on her and the glorious Kingdom of Christ to follow thereupon is to be looked for under the third Vial the Angel of that Vial shewing John these things So also it teacheth us that under the third Vial the Church is to be in the wilderness therefore John is carried thither to learn these things But beyond this Vial she is not to be there as also I shall shew by and by The term therefore of the Womans being in the wilderness expiring under the third Vial it hence follows That the death of the witnesses which is the concluding time of that long term should likewise fall under the third Vial. And indeed because the blackest day one of them that ever the Church of Christ met with is to befal her under the third Vial in the latter part of it therefore as I conceive are the glorious discoveries of the judgement of the Great Whore and the Beast her Enemy and of the Kingdom of Christ following thereupon made known to the Saints under the third Vial to bear up their spirits in this day it being the way of God with his people whâ—n he brings any fore sufferings on them to forelay them with somewhat which may make them able to bear it This I adde in the general only I come now more particularly to prove the thing viz. That the killing of the Witnesses is to be under the third Vial at the latter end thereof My Reasons are these 1 Because the Angel of the fourth Vial hath this work committed to him by special dispensation over and besides the pouring forth of his Vial though he performs it together with that viz. To give call to and assist the Witnesses rising See my Discourse upon the fourth Vial. By consequence therefore the Witnesses must lye dead in the latter end of the third because the Angel of the fourth Vial no sooner begins to pour out his Vial but immediatel they are rising 2 Because the particular acts of the Witnesses immediately preceding their killing which killing therefore is recorded in the next verse after these acts Rev. 11.6 7. seem to me to have a peculiar look unto the three first Vials agreeing with them most exactly according to that interpretation I gave of them whilst yet I had no such thing in mine eye both in their subjects and effects also As let us compare each with other 1 The subject of