as Mr. Brightman hath demonstrated out of Onuphirius For Constantin began his raign Ann. 304. reigned 31 years Constantius after him raigned 24 years next succeeded Julian who raigned only a year and some few months which all put together making but 56 years from Constantines coming to the Empire pitch our Epocha just in 360. to which add Daniels first number of 1290 and it comes up in 1650. and the second number containing 45 prophetical days more comes up in 1695 which is 22 years to come having cleard thiâ— of the time when this enemy is to appear I come to a 3d character in Ezekiel which is that this enemy and his action is such as upon which the other bordering enemies of the Church have their eye and great expectation rejovcing much in it so we reade Ezek. 38.13 Sheba and Dedan and the Marchants of Tarshish with all the young Lyons thereof shall say unto thee i. e. to Gog art thou come to take a spoile hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey to carry away silver and gold to take away catile and goods to take a great spoile the phrase imports a pleasure and secret tickling thy self to see this enemy up they clap him on the back they set him on and give him their cursed benediction in the work thus much for the characters I come next to the effect and the designe thereof Gods designe is one thing and the Dragons is another the Dragons designe is to retrive and bring back the Church that is upon her escape and well advanced to bring her back into his power and clutches again into a worse condition then before and to keep her for over there and to prevent her new Jerusalem estate so neer at hand which though impossible yet this mad spirit not believing what he cannot but believe will be trying though he be sure to pay dearly for it at last but Gods designe is only a tryal upon his people for most holy and glorious ends set before us we may judge of the degree to which God may suffer this tryal to proceed God hath a 3 fold end in this scene 1. To bring the last and utmost tryal upon the faith of his people 2. By this tryal to make them conformable to Christ to rid them of themselves and those mixtures which made them miscarry in former works 3. To take occasion by the discovery of the enmity of this last enemy to rid the Church of this and all her enemies forementioned The first of these particulars shews the tryal is to be great general as indeed all the rest import the same but yet it is not to lay waste the Church but to purify her in prosecuting this head I shall first shew in what harmony this counsel and dealing of God with his Church and publick interest is with hâ—s inward and particular administration towards particular souls and with his out ward administration all along towards particular times and ages of the Church that have gone before v. 1. there is not a saint that hath a course of any time in this world after his conversion but hath experience in a little model of all these ways of God towards his Church in general hath the red Dragon standing before him to devour him as soon as borne into Christ hath his wildernesse state of temptation by the beast with all manner of baits and snares to draw him off from his profession and prevent his arrival at the haven of a glorious assurance and rest in God during which time he enjoys in despite of all his enemies a raign with Christ answering the 1000 years raign and after this when he is ready to enter the port of glory at death or of joyful assurance in this life putting in a fort a period to his militant state he is set upon by Satan in an unusual manner as a Dragon with fiery rage to destroy him and his hope I shall instance in some particulars who yet were types and figures of the publick inter est Jacob was loved with a peculiar choice-love the blessing was designed for him he no sooner had it but he is driven to fly with it to Padan-aram where he was a stranger to his fathers house for 20 years but at his return which is the thing that comes home to our purpose Esau like the Dragon comes against him with 400 men then in what a conflict is he with God this is the Antimask before the blessing which he then received from God So also Job who was set forth as a pattern of patience you have heard saith the Apostle of the patience of Job and the end that God made with him typifying and prefiguring the end God will make with all his he was a man fearing God and eschewing evil all his days but the state of prosperity was to be dissolved and a Phoenix must rise out of the ashes of it and see how the heavens are set about him with clouds Satan let loose upon him begirts him in his substance servants children wife and his own body and last of all in his friends who instead of comforters prove tormentors So also David he was from his first anointing for the kingdom tryed and exercised with the envy and jealousy of Saul but at last so put to it that he said in his haste all men were lyers even Samuel and all and concluded he should one day perish by the hand of Saul he faigned himself mad put himself into the service of Achish king of Gath a Philistine enemy to Israel a sad disguise discovering at what an under David was in his spirit these were publick types of the Church their sufferings of the sufferings of Christ their glory of the glory that was to follow and see in all these how the Devil plays the Dragon at last take a more particular view of it in Job from his own mouth chap. 29. and chap. 30. where after a flourishing estate largly and elegantly set forth by himself chap. 29. which was a little model of the Saints 1000 years raign with Christ see what a map of misery he is made chap. 30. the song and by word of the rabble but especially from v. 15. to v. 24. wherein as in the sufferings of our Lord Jesus God himself seems to take part with his enemies And not to instance in any more the Apostle Peter speaks of this last shock as being common to all the Saints both to the collective body and the particular members and therefore adviseth us not to think it strange concerning the fiery tryal as if he pointed to this red fiery dragon as though some strange thing happened unto us 1 Pet. 4.12 for it is not to destroy their faith but only to try it as he had acquainted them Chap. 1.7 and so our Saviour secures Peter and in him secures all that are built on that rock that Peter was Simon Satan hath desired to winnow thee bnt I have prayed that
a work rather for the Lord himself this is one reason Another reason is this because it is said at that time shall Michael stand up the great prince but in the Septuagint and so likewise in the Hebrew there are two Articles in the Septuagint it is Michael the prince the great now I say these are not proper for an angel these are sovereign titles and belong to the Lord himself As we use to say Constantine the great and Theodosius the great they are all sovereign attributes that is a second reason Thirdly at that time shall Michael stand up the great prince we never read of Gods sending any creature either Angel or man to be a single Champion and deliverer of his people but we read oftentimes that God engages himself singly to arise Psal 12.5 for the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy will I arise saith the Lord c. And so in Esay 23.10 and in Esay 42.19 and Esay 63.5 and several other places where you may reade of Christs engaging alone and so I say here it suits with Christs standing up but it suits not with any creature Now then what is there in this of Christs standing up who is the Michael here and if any shall yet be unsatisfied that he is called Michael we may as well ask why he is called David David your prince But I say standing up here doth import a change of posture and an addressing of himself to the Churches business why sleepest thou it is that which is intimated that the Lord in some dispensations seems to be asleep and let things go as they will but when the Lord stands up and awakens it makes a great change a great alteration when Christ laid aside his garments it was to do a singular thing it was to do or shew a singular a wonderful act of condscention and grace And so when Christ rises up it is the fall of his enemies and for the relieving of his spouse 't is a rising up with anger and indignation with a concern as the Lord says what have I here that my people are sold for nought I cannot bear it longer then up he gets it is said at Christs first coming it is for the rising and fall of many What then will his second coming be when he rises to judgment when he rises to pleade the cause of his people well but in the next place Michaels standing up or Christs standing up is a standing up for himself and for his people to take his great power as it is said in the Revelations thou hast taken to thy self thy great power now shall Christ stand alone consider this if a king stands up and hath great occasion to stand up either that he is invaded or that his subject rebels against him upon such occasion his confederates and allies will pour in their forces upon his enemies Surely our Lord Jesus hath great Allies and confederates his father and all his holy Angels you know it is Gods covenant with him that he will give him the heathen for his inheritance and he that will put all his enemies under his feet before ever he hath his kingdom we find the ancient of days upon his throne and it is a fiery throne too as you have it in Dan. 7. Now if Michael stand up all heaven all the hosts of heaven will stand up with him it will be found so and let the Saints reckon upon it Christ will not want power this is from Michaels standing up that is the first thing But then 2ly we find in Dan. 7. another strange thing which we reade but pass over not knowing well what to make of it we have done so many times in the 13. v. I saw in the night visions and behold one like the son of man come to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him not to exercise you with the difficulty of the understanding of this I shall immediately point you to what I think was the type of this and will give us a very good account of it Solomon you know was a type of Christs kingdom in the tranquility and peaceable time of it when it had wethered the point of all opposition and had now got the day of all its opposers now you shall find such a thing as this in that type before Davids days were out Solomon was presented to him for the kingdom and that by Davids allowance and David did as it were put his power upon Solomon and set him up which gives us the clearest light into this prophecy that I know of When David was old and cold that they could not keep heat in him but they were sain to provide otherwise to refresh his blood and to put spirit in him then was thought a time for Adonijah to set up for himself and get the kingdom for David was like a candle in the socket and so Adonijah might think the action would not be misinterpreted by David then they called all the kings Sons to the feast only they left out Solomon the true interest the heir designed by God and sworn by David he is left out and Zadoch and Benajah these were not called but all the rest now when Adonijah was at his feast Nathan hears of it and acquaints Bathsheba the mother of Solomon who goes forthwith to David about it Here is now in type the bringing the son of man to the ancient of days as she brought Solomon she is a type of the Church presenting Christ unto God saying hast thou not sworn that Solomon thy son shall raign after thee This is presenting the son of man to the ancient of days in the type now so it is in the Antitype so it is in these days of the son of man behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his mother crowned him Can. 3. the Lords Prophets and such as are true to the Lords interest bring the son of man to the Ancient of days the prayers of the Saints will run much in this strain and they will be speaking good of Christ in the ears of God and will be telling what their expectations are and how they tender the setting up of Christ and how they suffer and must suffer till Christ raignes and that they never expect to see good days till he comes this answers the type the bringing of the son of man to the ancient of days The ancient of days is commonly looked upon to be the father now 't is true the father hath covenanted and engaged to set Christ upon his throne and he calls him his King but you will find in Revel 1. this very description that is in Daniel applyed to Christ The hair of his head is said to be as white as snow and therefore how shall we understand this I will tell you how it may be reconciled by Davids Lord Davids son that is the head of Christ is God this is the head here spoken of the hair of his head was
as white as wool and therefore I say this presenting the son of man to the ancient of days is but the bringing the right heir Christ the son of man to the head of Christ which is God In the next place there is not only the presenting of Solomon as a type unto David but David doth appoint Nathan to go and anoint Solomon and set the crown upon his head and sends Benajah and Zadock with him So this is in these days of the son of man there is an anointing of Christ and an instructing of him as I may say as David did instruct Solomon his son and as in the Psalmist it is said give the king thy judgments O God and thy righteousness to the kings son David gave unto Solomon the charge for the building of the temple and he gave him the pattern of it and he exhorted him and encouraged him to be strong and know the God of his fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and by computation it took up about six months before Davids death that he was introducing Solomon in his room so that I may say here is a great deal of Christs kingdom demonstrated For all this was before the old state was out Solomon was actually enthroned and stated in the kingdom in his fathers time and Solomon did exercise his kingly power as you know 1 Kings chap. 1. v. 50.53 chap. 2.4.10 Now I shall not apply these things yet because I am not come to my assumption I am but laying my ground-work but before I come to that I must shew you the complexion of these days and although these days are the days of the son of man yet they are not such days wherein the glory of Christ and his kingdom do shine forth without a cloud and therefore for that we must have recourse again unto our text And you shall finde there that these days of the son of man are days of an extraordinary nature they are days wherein the world shall be drowned in a floud of prophanes and sensuality and security and this is in order to a making them fit for a floud of judgment so it is said here As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the son of man Likewise so also as it was in the days of Lot not only doth this scripture witness this thing that the days of the son of man will be of such a nature and complexion but likewise in Zach. 14. the Lord tells us there in several expressions that are very Emphatical as to what the nature of this day will be one day or a day by it self we may understand that by it an odd day such a day as hath not been or shall be known by the Lord as who should say none but the Lord shall know it Neither day nor night that is a strange day neither clear nor dark neither the one nor the other but mixt of hoth But at the evening tide it shall be light then it will clear up like it self briefly the days of the son of man will be a time of as prodigious wickednesses of as great tryal to the saints of as great calamity to the world as ever days were and beyond all president so Daniel says at that time shall Michael stand up and it shall be a time of trouble such as never was the like But what then makes the title of the son of man if there shall be such days of trouble is that title worth nothing in these days I answer there is a light side of these days and that is to be seen by those that have eyes by those that are spiritually enlightened to see there will be a dark hope in all the people of God and in all the whole creation in these days that surely there is something in the womb of these dispensations that will revive them at the last and this the blind world can see and say But the saints especially if they watch and if they obtain that favour from the Lord as Daniel did that was a man of desire they may see and will see whither all things will tend and where they will issue and so they will be comforted and they will sing for the majesty of the Lord they will rejoice in that which God will create They will be engaged actually with the Lord in creating a new heaven and a new earth this will be the mixt nature of these days they will be prodigiously wicked daringly wicked and yet they are the days of the son of man why so because it suits his designe upon all accounts that the Churches enemies might shew themselves like themselves that so his judgments might be the more conspicuous the more clear which he will bring upon them and also that his people might have the tryal of their faith and sense of their own weaknes and failings and so I say it doth suit Gods end who designes so to come as that his day should fall as a snare upon all that dwell on the earth that there shall be no more likelihood of the day before his coming then of many ages before that so the mockers might be confirmed saying where is the promise of his coming as who should say you talk of Christs approach being neer but there is no signe of it not considering that he comes as a thief you your selves know perfectly says the Apostle that the day of the Lord so cometh Christ comes before the 7th vyal that is preparation is making for his coming It it his legal time yea it is his actual time before the the 7th Phyal for sayes he behold I come as a thief should now shew you the Parallel having spoken of the complexion it is that which conforms this time to Gods former proceedings There were such days before God destroyed the old world 120 years Those were the days of Noah and the world was looked on as a drowned world from the beginning of those days and so the days of Lot from the time that Abraham had rescued the king of Sodom and the other four kings from their enemies which was a signe of the four Monarchies from whose hand Abraham the father of the faithful delivered Lot and for his sake the rest were delivered Now it is probable that from that time Lot used a greater freedom to admonish them to make a better use of their deliverance then they did those were the days of Lot there were days then there was a time for the judgments coming but it was not fully come so likewise doth Gods day prepare his enemies against such a time that they may be as fuel dryed for the fire that they may flame like a torch or a sheaf when fire is put to them So likewise he prepares the vessels of mercy I shall only tell you in our saviours time there was from the denunciation of the judgments against Jerusalem 40 years and so likewise from our Saviours rising till his
though we do not see yet have we heard nothing of the ratling of these dry bones let others take it for what they please for my part I take it for a truth and the rather the more because it is the time for them to appear and though they may be hid in the deserts for some time it is not more then what their fathers were in their day who lay still by the space of 37 years in the wildernes of Cadesh and the people of the nations little concerned themselves with them nor they with them Besides what we heard in the year 1665. when there were reports of their stirring it is not impossible to shew you earlier stirrings as we have it recorded of the year 1650. that there was a very great meeting of them in the plains of Ageda where they set up tents and there was a confluence from all parts no lesse then 300 Rabbies that were able to shew their Genealogy and in a very large tent there was an orderly dispute where they did with great ingenuity and candor put the question whether the Messiah was come or not Then came in the Priests and Jesuites with their vicar and their breaden God and made them break up in disorder nay what if I should say unto you that Christ hath shew'd himself to that nation distinctly it is crebly related that he shewed himself in the year 53. in Frankenland upon the cross and that he was there so seen by thousands of spectators with his Angels about him as if that very word of Daniel were in fulfilling and that the Angels were presenting him to the Ancient of days representing that in a visionary way then which is the work of the day still in the hearts of the saints through the intercession of the spirit I speak it only for this my beloved friends for that I know I feel that we need the quickning of this consideration we are amused with the times that we are in and do not know what Israel is to do because we do not know nor discern the times look to it and take heed of security take heed of an unwatchful frame of spirit for these are the days of the son of man The Fifth Sermon Luke 12.35.36 And ye your selves like unto men that look for their Lord when he will return from the wedding THe influence of Christs coming deriving it self from the nearness of it things though great that are remote seem but small and work but little upon us things that are not to be in our day nor in the days of our children we are apt to put off therefore I made it my business in two or three discourses to shew you the nearness of this coming of Christ I shewed it you first by the expiration of the times of the man of sin and Secondly by the signes of Christs coming being fulfilled pitching chiefly upon those signes in Math. 24. And in two other of the Evangelists of the suns being darkned and the moon being turned into blood The third time I shewed you that these are the days of the son of man by several particulars and by something I had spoken devolving our discourse to that point I pitcht upon those words in the 17 of this Gospel Where our saviour speaks of the days of the son of man and paralels them with the days of Noah and Lot which I told you doth intimate to us that there is a tract of time from the expiration of the 42 months of the man of sin to the glorious revelation of the son of man in person from heaven and that this tract of time is called the days of the son of man wherein he is preparing to set forward unto this glorious expedition Now in these days of the son of man I did partly open to you what was to be done and shewed you some figurative delineation of this work by former types and especially in the investing of Solomon into the kingdom I shewed you that before Davids death Solomon was set upon the throne and in opening of those passages we sound them to cast a great light upon some prophetical passages that we meet with in Daniel As about the bringing of the son of man to the Ancient of days which I told you doth very aptly agree with that type of Solomon to David bringing him unto remembrance as I may say which was done by Bathsheba by the advice of Nathan the prophet she goes to David and puts him in minde of his oath and she is seconded by Nathan and thereupon David doth send to anoint Solomon and to set him upon the throne and all this was in Davids life time Now the observation I made from these things was this David you know was a figure of the militant state of Christs kingdom his setting Solomon upon his throne before his own death doth intimate to us that before the militant state is swallowed up as I may say of victory or of the triumphant state of the Church Christ is to be set upon the throne as the succeeding links in a chain do enter into the former links so doth Christs time take hold of the former times even as Jacob took hold of Esau his brother From thence I came in the winding up to shew you that Christ was entred upon his kingdome and that there were many acts passed in order to Christs glorious raign and that he had laid his claim in partionlar to these three nations and had been proclaimed here as in the palace yard as I might say of his dominions I gave you also many concurrent passages that have faln in to strengthen our faith and answered some objections touching the calling of the Jews which although we do not yet see called to the knowledge of Christ is not to trouble us forasmuch as their calling is not to be expected untill they be setled in their own land For so the promise seems to cast things in that order that God will as freely look upon them even in their blood as he did at the first when they were in Egypt that so it may not be said that their turning to God did lead the Lords turning to them Yet I told you that we have heard of the ratling of those dry bones which because the time is come should make us take heed of saying there is nothing in it though we are not acquainted with the posture of their affairs how they stand since that only I told you that we may have this reserve of hope that as when they came out of Egipt they lay 37 years in the wilderness of Cadesb and probably were as much out of the eye of the nations for a great part of that time as they are out of our eye now So I say God may be forming that people secretly in the dark and may be carrying on his intended goodnes towards them and we may see the sun of their redemption and restitution suddenly break forth of the clouds