refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble Psal 91. 1 2. He that dwelleth in the secret places of the Most High shall abide under the shaddow of the Almighty with many more words to the same purpose The Lord at that day of indignation from the house of Saul and all the mighty men of Israel against David and such as did adhere to him calling David to retire as into his chambers from the storm that was against him till the indignation was overpast and the Lord hid him from the wrath of man as hath been shewed Of the same import is that word Prov. 11. 10. The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower and the righteous runneth into it and are safe There are three Names of God to which his people in a day of indignation fly unto The name of his Goodness that Name which the Lord made known and proclaimed to Moses after the People of God had sinned and Moses had cryed to him for the forgivenesse of their sin and begs his presence may go with them I will make saith the Lord all my goodness to pass before thee Exod. 33. 19. and chap. 34. 6. The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed The Lord God Merciful and Gracious long suffering abundant in goodness in truth c. So when David pleads with God in his distresse Psal 89. the argument of Faith is v. 5. For thou Lord art good and therefore ready to forgive c. and when he flyes unto God Psal 31. he makes this as the wing of God the Name of his goodness vers 19. Oh how great is thy Goodness thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men thou shalt hide them c. And Psal 144. My Goodness my Fortress and my high Tower c. not onely my good good but goodness it self c. Yea this Name of God that he proclaimed to Moses was as the great refuge of the Saints in the day of their distresse and which they urged upon him as Psal 86. and 103. and 145. and Neh. 9. 17. 31 because in all Generations hee would be known to his people by this Name and by Faith they were to live upon it in all their difficulties The Lord abundant in goodness and mercy and truth c. And when Judah was going into captivity the Lord offers himself to them by this Name if they would turn unto him and commands Jeremiah to proclaim it as it was proclaimed it as it was proclaimed before Moses Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my anger to come upon you or to settle upon you for I am merciful c. A heart-breaking word if that people had hearkened to it To this Name of the Lord do his people retire for shelter and refuge in an evil day though they have sinned against him we have sinned yet the Lord is infinitely good and therefore ready to forgive Who is like unto him a God pardoning iniquity Micah 7. And therefore where ever the Lord gives out promises of help and deliverance to his People from captivity and destresse hee also annexeth free promises of grace in abundant forgivenesse Esay 43. 16 17. speaking of the glorious Salvation of his people though they had wearied them with their iniquities verse 24. yet I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins see chapter 24. 22. see Jeremiah 33. 5 6 7. Behold I will bring it health and cure and I will cure them though a wounded broken scattered people and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth and verse 8. I will cleanse them from all the iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and whereby they have transgressed against me though Against me thrice repeated against all my kindnesse to them and my often Salvation of them yet I will cleanse them and though they are become a reproach to all Nations yet it shall be to me a Name of joy a praise and honour before all the Nations of the Earth See Jeremiah 51. 5. for Israel hath not been forsaken nor Judah of his God of the Lord of hosts though their land was filled with sin against the holy One of Israel Under these wings of grace thus spread forth in pretious promises do a poor sinfull broken people shelter themselves in humbling and turning to the Lord and they are safe this being the great Covenant Name of God they fly to and take hold of in all their sins and distresses Secondly the People of God retire into the Name of his Almightiness Psal 91. 1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide or lodg as in a house of defence under the shadow of the Almighty c. As a God infinitely able to preserve and keep safe all the concernments of soul and life that his people commit to him able to save in and out of all distresses from every snare of the Devil from the wrath of man as Paul 2 Timothy 1. 12. For I know when I have believed and am perswaded that he is Able to keep what I have committed to him c. Thirdly The Name of the Lords Everlastingness sameness unchangeableness is a Refuge to retire to Abraham called on the Name of the Lord the Everlasting God Genesis the 21. the last verse So the Lord comforteth his people Esay 40. 28. Hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the Everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the Ends of the Earth fainteth not neither is weary c. So the People of God in their Plea Esay 63. 16. Thy name is from Everlasting c. And Psal 102. Where is set forth a day of sore indignation and distresse as verse 10. Thou hast lifted us up and cast us down c. What is their stay and Refuge in such a case why this verse 12. But thou oh Jehovah shalt endure for ever And ver 27. But thou art the same c. And though wee perish thou art the same Thou art the same in thy Covenant mercy is from everlasting and to everlasting c. The same in goodness pity and wisdom and power the faithful God that keepest Covenant and Mercy for ever as good to save as ever thou wast and as able to save so hee strengthens and comforts his People with the discovery of his Name Mallachi 3. 6. For I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed Let the state of the people of God be what it will there is support in this Thou Lord art still the same we have known what thou hast been to thy people in dayes of old and what thou hast done for them Oh where are
Administrations of Worship are cut off and laid dead wherein the last slaying of the Witnesses doth specially consist yet the main body and generation of the Saints preserved but so as they are in all respects either Civil or Ecclesiastical call'd off from the publike Stage to a retired condition and do lye as dead men onely they are not buryed but are as it were still kept above ground till the Spirit of Life from God enter into them So at the Text when the People of God are called into their Chambers he said in the 19th verse of the 26. chap. of Isaiah Thy dead men shall live c. while in their captivity they lay as dead men So Hosea 6. 1 2. When smitten and wounded in their captivity they shall lye as dead but after two dayes he wil revive them But more particularly when doth the Lord call them thus to retirement call them off from the publike stage and bids them enter into their Chambers 1. In the case of the text When the wrath of man is kindled against them when the Nations and people among whom they converse are in a confederacy against them and say of Zi on Let her be defiled and let our eye look upon Zion Micah the 4th and the 11th Verse Then he knoweth how to hide his people as in his Pavillion then shall they be his hidden ones Psal 83. So he hid the seven thousand in Samaria that did not bow the knee to Baal whom the text saith He reserved to himself Rom the 11th chap. ver 4. And yet that people at that day were under an obligation of Worship at the Temple at Hierusalem but God did indulge them as may further bee shewed So as hath been hinted the Lord hides the Woman in the wilderness from the Wrath of the Dragon who casts a Flood after her 2dly Jesus Christ calls his people to retirement when he reserves them for a Day of Mercy and greater Service and a more pure Reformation when hee thus layes them dead in order to a more glorious resurrection So in severall Ages have they been wonderfully kept under the variety of the Lord's Dispensations to them as in Egypt and David and the remnant of Judab that adhered to them Many instances might be given 3dly The Lamb calls to retirement when he hath been contesting with the Spirit of the Beast in any of the Nations by the called and faithful and chosen Rev. 17. 14. When he hath set on foot his controversie with any of the Horns and hath overcome them hath often carried it against him yet hee suffers his Enemies to rally again and his own followers are scattered when he seems to turn aside from the pursuit to drink of the Brook in the way as it were to refresh himselfe and then makes a short turn to the Prey again Psalm 110. Verse the last that hee may gather his Enemies as sheaues into his floor Micah 4. 12 13. and will make the Horn of the Daughter of Zion as Iron to thresh them in such a day The Lamb withdraws and retires and calls his Saints to retire with him And this is to follow the Lamb wheresoever be goeth Revel 14. to go as he goeth and to retire as he retires and not to run out without him upon any account whatsoever In such a season the Lamb doth indulge them nay call them off from their publike Administrations and Services and Prophesyings and they are to wait till the Cloud appear and goe before them in which they can see the Presence of the Lamb and heare his Voice calling them thereto 4thly The Lord as it follows from the former calls them to retirement when hereby he will fit and separate a genetation to follow him in his next appearing when hee will prepare them in the fire melt them and try rhem Jer. 9. 7. I will melt them and try them for how shall I do for the Daughter of my people Then he will cast out the treacherous dealers from among them as Verse 4. of that 9th of Jeremiah Take heed every one of his Neighbour and trust ye not in any Brother for every Brother wil supplant c. And they will deceive every one his Brother and will not speak the truth ver 5. Now God will discover and cast out such a mixture and spiriâ— from among his people in the day that he will melt them and try them v. 7. and Ezek. 22. 18 c. When the Lord is doing this work by letting out the wrath of man upon them he then calls them to retirement 2. Why doth the Lord thus call them c. 1. The Lord calls his people into their Chambers into a retired condition to express his tenderness of them as he calls them the Apple of his Eye Zach. 2. 8. He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine eye c. Keep me as the Apple of thine eye Psal 17. and his peculiar Treasure Exod. 19. 5. Psal 135. 4. Such a day is a day of making up his jewels Mal. 3. 17. referring to a day of retirement when the wicked were set up v. 15. then when he makes them up he not onely purifies them and puts a lustre upon them but spares them as a Father spares his Son and doth not spend them but rarely upon the rage of men 2. The Lord thus takes them into his Chambers that the glory of his Power may be seen in restraining the wrath of man and causing it to praise him that his people should be in the waters and not be overwhelmed and in the fire not be consumed this is because the Lord is with them because he is the Lord their God the holy One of Israel their Saviour Isa 43. 2 3. That the Enemies of his People should not be able to act their own counsels nor to execute their own rage by a mighty hand of God restraining This is and should be marvellous in the eyes of his people 3dly The Lord calls to retirement when the generation of the ungodly and oppressors are ripening for wrath then doth the Lord lay up his people in the secret of his Presence so Psal 91. which is a word holding out the Lord 's hiding of his people as hath been hinted So see verse 8. 9. Onely with thine eyes shalt thoubehold and see the reward of the wicked c. Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and Adder the young Lyon and the Dragon shalt thou trample under foot v. 13. Now the People of God will discern through the light of the Spirit in the Word the Marks and Characters of a generation of God's Wrath which in this place I shall not insist on They are such as these When a generation of men do worse then their Fathers Jer. 7. 2. and chap. 16. 12 13. Ye have done worse than your Fathers for behold ye walk every one according to the imagination of his evil heart c. therefore will I cast you out of this Land
c. And this in a Land of Vision and after the hand of God hath been eminently lifted up against them When a people return to Idolatry and Antichristian abominations when Jesus Christ hath begun to reform a Nation as in the dayes of Manasseh When such a generation do declare their sin as Sodom Isa 5. When abominable uncleanness excess and riot and all manner of villany is acted as at noon-day When they persecute the Prophets and Messengers of the Lord that they may not speak unto the people 2 Chron. 36. 16. But take away the Key of Knowledge Luke 17. with Mat. 23. forbidding the servants of Christ to speak unto the people that they may fill up their sin alwayes and wrath come upon them to the utmost 1 Thess 2. 15 16 which the Spirit of God gives as a Character of a people filling up their measure When a generation shall doingly blaspheme the Spirit of the Lord Iesus calling it an unclean Spirit Matt. 12. 24. 31. as the Pharisees at that day call'd the Spirit by which Jesus Christ did preach and pray and wrought all his works an unclean Spirit when in their ordinary language they invoke their damnation and set their mouths against the Heavens and the Spirit and Holinesse and Saints becomes their by-word and their song and entitle Satan to all the glorious works of Christ in Conversion and call it all Delusion and Fanaticism when they oppress persecute and worse the Saints and Servants of the Lord filling Prisons with them when they set themselves in the Throne of the Lord and will be Lords in the Conscience and make the Sons of Zion as the filth of the Earth and all this after the Lord hath been pleading his Controversie with them in very stupendious Dispensation and by their hour of prosperity they are but hardened in their way and say they are delivered to all their abominations that is certainly a Generation of God's wrath Now among such a generation the Lord calls his people to retirment into their Chambers till his wrath come upon the wicked to the utmost and he wil put in his sickle reap down their abominations and none shall save them 4. The Lord calls to retirement that they may deal with him by faith and prayer in their secret corners and may wait for his teachings c. as may further be opened in the close of this Discourse And thus we have endeavoured to cleare the point That Jesus Christ calls his Followers from off the publike Stage into a more retired condition when and why he doth it I shall come to some useful conclusions and so answer the objections and dis-satisfactions of any that lye against it 1. If Jesus Christ doth sometimes in his providential Dispensations call off his people to retirement puts them as into the holes of the Rock then it wil follow that one Dispensation calls for that which another doth not the Lord calls for that at one time which he doth not at another sometimes to a more open appearing in their publike services and actings for him and administrations of worship and prophesying sometimes to a more open exposing to sufferings and at another time the Word of the Lord is Enter into thy Chambers c. shut thy doors about thee So what hath been a duty for Saints in one day hath not been so expresly I mean the main generation of them a duty at another especially in the later dispensations of the Lord towards the giving up of the Kingdom of the Beast when the Lords controversion is now and of his Kingdome hath been with a high hand carrying on as hath been shewed In such a day the Lamb marcheth against his Enemies and then reâ—reats and sounds a Retreat to his called Ones sometimes he faceth the beast and then withdraws and drinks of the Brook in the way he coucheth like a Lyon and then anon riseth up to pursue the prey Here is the wisdom of the Saints here is following the Lamb this is to see his footsteps to walk after them 2. Let it be therefore for an humble enquiry at least to all that are sober to weigh what hath been hinted and to consider if this be not the Word of the Lord at this day whether Jesus Christ hath not sounded a retreat whether he doth not call off from publike Prophesying and more publike Administrations though the wickedness of men be instrumentally in it yea whether the Testimony be not slain and lyes dead and that all the Characters of it have a visible accomplishment at this day a Testimony finished Rev. 11. 7. to all the Offices of Jesus Christ and of his Kingdom in the world in all the concernments of it and against the whole Mysterie of Iniquity and of the Kingdom of the Beast and that especially in this part of the world where the Spirit is given forth And when we had been looking for the fulfilling hereof lo a Death upon the whole and the Witnesses lye as dead in all the parts of the world let the place be named where an open testimony against all the abominations of the Beast against all their National wickednesses and a testimony for the Lord Jesus in the whole of his Kingdom as King of Saints and Nations will be born though some Gospel truths will be born and are practised among them Yea what a strange healing up hath there been in all the Nations of Europe among all the ten horns a General Peace in the Kingdom of the Beast not a Horn or Nation that wars against Babylon not a hand lifted up against her in a way of War to hate her and make her desolate but all preparations from the North and the West husht up levelled and laid dead when a few years since the Nations were all in a flame as if the last distress had been upon them But lo a healing up a stilness and the proud Whore sits as a Queen glorifying her self that she shall see no sorrow which she feared before and shall not be a Widâ—w nor be made desolate Which healing Peace among the horns is implyed in their sending gifts by their Embassadors one to another Rev. 11. 10. because the People and Spirit which they most feared is laid dead the prophesying of ruine to the hastening upon the Beast and wrath upon the Nations seems to have been but a fancy and to come to nought for behold their prayers witnessings prophesyings Armies every where in the whole street of the City are come to nought Is not this the triumph of the Nations at this day and of the Beast Such as state the last slaughter of the witnesses to be already past namely about the year 1558. when that general blow was given to the Protestant Interest in Germany and other Nations and by the Marian Persecution in this Nation have sufficient confutation by what hath since fallen out in several Nations in the persecuting and slaying of the Witnesses in
testimony they have given forth through the same grace upon them and chuse the greatest of sufferings rather then defile themselves and continue edifying of the Saints and Churches of God in a more private way as they have opportunity I humbly judge they shal be accepted with the Lord as his faithful witnesses and be just fied in the consciences of all serious people especially when the issue of this dispensation shall be made manifest And thus have we stated this case we hope according to Scripture light and leave it with the Lord to make it a blessing to any of his But what doth the Lord call for by way of duty of all his people in a time of retiremeâ—â— 1. To spâ—ak often one to another Mal. 3. It was a time when there was hardly a Priest to speak publickly to them but such as corrupted â—he worship of the Lord Then they that feared the Lord spake often oâ—e to anoâ—her anâ— the Lord bearkened and heaâ—d it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that seâ—red the Lord and that thought upon his Name They had great thoughts of heart for the Name of their God and they spake no doubt of his dispensation and of the signs of the times and what he call'd for to strengthen settle and comfort one another this is the practice Saints should be serious and conscientious and often in in such a day and so keep up the practice of Ordinances among them 2. To bee found as the mournâ—rs of Zâ—on In the day of Zions breach and Captivity the promise of mercy runs to her mâ—urnâ—rs to the humble and contrite ones Isa 57. 15. 18. with those hee will dwell those hee will revive and heal Hee wiâ—l not câ—ntend always lest their spirit fail but will restore comfort to the mâ—uâ—ners So â—saiah Chap. 61 ver 2 3. And Chapter 60 vers 10. This was Jeremiahs spirit In that day Jeremiah 14 ver 17. let mine eyes run down with tears and let thâ—m not cease for the Virgins Daughter of my pâ—ople is broken with a great breach with a very grievous â—lâ—w Oh that the Lord would give down this Spirit upon his people as we would call for a Spirit of Bravery and Courage which in its season is honorable and hath appeared upon many of the Ministers of Christ so let us call upon one another for this Spirit also to be found mourning apart and together in our retirements for the abominations and blasphemies of the land for our former un profitableness unholiness security formality hypocrisie pride of life divisions frowardness back shdings breach of Vows and Covenants with the Lord self-seekings in the management of the precious cause of the Lord Jesus which now lieth as crucified Oh! do we mourn over it as wel as talk of it 3. Jesus Christ calls to heart-searching In such a day is every one to be retiring into their own hearts and finding out the plague of them Lam. 3. 40. In the day of their captivity then saith the Prophet let us search and try our ways c. Then is every one to be awakening his own heart every soul attending to a renewed repentance and humility to renewed mortification in the spirit that it may be as a day of a new conversion upon all our spirits 4. In such a day Jesus Christ calls his to uniting that we get all our prejudices to be removed and healed though under different measures of light as we are upon the enquiry of our way to Zion after the long night of Antichristian darkness we have many stones in our way and much remaining darkness upon our spirits and the Lord gives out light gradually to his people in the Churches restoration which calls for a mutual forbearance from all that would see the beauty of Zion and press after it and not imposing one upon another much less devouring one another by the way Ah! when our spirits are more melted by the Gospel and we are more in the spirit of the Gospel it shall be so then shall wee know one another as Saints and upon that account have Communion together and not bee bound up to any Form and make it a Law of Communion which is indeed no better then a dreg of christiaâ—ism upon our spirits Union with the Lord Jesus is the ground of fellowship with him and loâ—t shâ—uld be one with another 1. Joh. 1 3 Let us all contend together for the great interest of the â—ospel power of Godliness purity of Worshâ—p as as the great and common interest of all that fear the Lord. 5. In retiring times the Lord calls to much secret duty especially of prayer Cant. 2. 14. Oh my Dove that art in the clefts of the rock c. Jesus Christ behold his Dove in the clifts of the Rock in her retirement as hid from the wrath of her Enemies and there she mourns in a Dove â—ike spirit and the Lord delights to see her face and hear her voice Some have more fully heard what great things single Saints have â—one in prayer for the people of God how they have prevailed with God as Jâ—cob Moses Joshua Samuel David Elijah Isaiah Jeremiah Daniel c. in their several generations who were men of like passions with us Let me alone saith the Lord to one Moses Every praying soul should be so awakened and engaged in this Work at this day as if the whole lay upon his or her shoulders as if his cryes even alone were to prevail for Zion's deliverance Oh my dear Companions in the Kingdome and Patience of Jeius Christ cry mightily and sigh with â—itrerness and unutterable groans pour out your souls as water before the Lord because of the sinne and breach of the people of your God Oh cry for Healing for Zion cry for your Bread those precious Gospelfeedings of which you are bereft cry against Babylon and the Horns that are pouring ouâ— the blood of your Brethren Cry â—or the ruine of the Beasts Kingdom and the exaltation of the Throne of Jesus Christ in the world 'T is said Dan. 7. 13. One like the Son of Man came to the Ancient of Dayes and they brought him near before him Saints by Faith and Prayer do bring the Son of Man near before the Father And then there was given him Dominion Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him ver 14. If such a Spirit be given forth in the entering into our Chambers verily the wind thereof shall put such an Earthquake into the tenth part of the City and the Foundations that are now laying that it shall be like a breach ready to fall swelling out in a high wall whose brâ—aking comeâ—h suddenly aâ— aniâ—stant Isa 30 13. 14. And the Adversaries of the Lord shall not see whence their blow cometh Certainly never did such a praying generation miscarry 6. In retiring times the People of God should walk wâ—sely at such a time when a
man is made an offendor for a word Let us all labour to do all in the Wisdom of Jesus Christ in our walking towards the World in 〈◊〉 assembling in our particular walkings in our silence and in our speaking lest not onely themselves but their Brethren also suffer by their weakness and folly Whoso â—â—lketh wisely shall be delivered Prov. 28. 26. 7. In retiring times Jesus Christ calls for bowels towards the afflâ—ctions and necessities of Brethren this is a special duty of the day some thousands of Families are bereft of their bread while the Lord hath spared to others a full portion not onely in mâ—râ—y to themselves but to be a blessing to their distressed Brethren Blessed be the Lord for what he hath done upon the spirit of his servants in this thing already Aâ— the distress will encrease so should the hearts and bowels of such in whose hand it is be enlarged else let not them think to partake of the day of mercy if they shew no mercy to their Brethren when the present dispensation so eminently calls for it A blast from Heaven wil come forth upon the Estates Families Names Spirits of such professors who with-hold bread from the hungry and cast it not upon the waters in such a day Never was such an opportunity put into the hands of any generations to shew much kindnesse to Christ and his Saints as at this day never such a time to lay up much treasure in Heaven 8. The day calls for resignment to the will of God to suffer or to do according to his good pleasure The Lord hath triumphed in some of his suffering ones who have gloriously overcome by the Blood of the Lamb not loving their lives â—â—to the death 't is possible some others may be called forth in the same way many to prisons and much hardship Oh! let us be resigned up to the will of Jesus Christ to be contented he should glorifiâ— himself upon us which way hee pleaseth Live upon that faithful saying 2 Tim. 2. vâ—r 11 12. If we suffer with him we shall also reâ—gn wâ—th him what more can be â—esired You have the pâ—â—mise of Jesus Christ to be with you in what he calls you to and you have the rich experience of your Brethren of his faithfulness therein who triumphed over death in a spirit of glory that was upon them for the Lords Prisoners even in every Prison of England their hearts are full of the praises of the Lord crying to the amazement of their Persecutors Blessed be the Lord for a Prison let not our Brethren be discouraged for Christ wâ—ll meet them and walk with them there This may quiet the hearts of all Saints and not be troubled in case the Providence of God so dispose of them and yet they are to walk wisely in this not exposing themselvs beyond what they see the Lord clearly calling themto and their own conscience satisfied therein A good Cause a good Call a good Conscience makes a mans sufferings sweet to him A servant of Christ may be in a good Cause and in a good work in a Christian duâ—y yeâ— noâ— have a clear Call at that time and season to it 9. The Lord calls for Cruciâ—iedness to the world a weanedness from all Creature comforts Redemption from all Earthly Interests that their hearts be loosned from them The world was got into the hearts of Professors now it must be cast out and the heart crucified to it if they think to follow the Lamb at this day Let every Believer improve his fellowship with the death of Jesus Christ to this purpose and by Faith realize Christ and heaven and glory and for the heart to feed upon them that the world be not as a weight upon their spirits which hath already drowned ensnared perverted too many and is the very bane of profession if not to the falling short of the Kingdom of God yet as to their own comfort their serving the Lord in their Generation Jesus Christ never much honored a worldly Professor or if so if the world at last â—ook hold of him â— bâ—ast wâ—s upon him 1. In retiring times the Lord calls to waiting a patient waiting I charge you that you sleep not nor awake my Lovâ—till he please saith the Spouse Cant. â— 7. The Soouse was contented to wait for him That word of Esâ—y chap. 52. 12. should be pondered by all that fear the Lord For ye shall not go out in hast nor go by flight for the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your Reâ—eward The word refers to the day of the Captivity they should not go out by hast but see the Lord going before them by some signal providence or other as a call to them to go forth Then the Lord faith he would be their Rereward though the Enemy pursue them they should not be able to harm them the Lord in some Cloud or Pillar of Providence or other will call â—orth his People and they shall hear his voice and follow him Precipitancy is the issue of unbelief men do not hang upon the Arm of the Lord when impatiency carries them to such precipitancy Specially let us take heed to this When the Lord is casting in such Harbingers as fore-runners of his coming by signs and wonders in the Heavenâ— and on the Earth and on the Seas yea it may be by special Visision to some of his Servants and the expectation of Saints generally raised to look for him Oh let us wait for he will bring distresse upon his Enemies that they shall walk as blind men Neither shall their silver nor their Gold be able to deliver them in the Day of the Lords Wrath upon tâ—em Zeph. 1. 17. For behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity and the Earth shall disclose her â—lood Isa 2â— v. last 11. As Saints are patiently to wait so also to take heed that they do not fall asleep I say the Lord delayeth c to let them be girt up as expecting their Lord calls and be ready to follow him wheresoever he goeâ—h c. let them not say in their hearts that the Lord hath forâ—aken his people that he is carrying the gospel from England that it is like to be as in the Boâ—emian day and so be consulting to make haste by flight into other Countrâ—ys unless such whose case may be peâ—uliar verily this would be for a provocation this would be the bitter fruit oâ— unbelief lo the Lord will hide you in your own land and keep you as the apple of his Eye hidâ— thy selfe as it were for a little moment freâ— not against the Lord though you are called off from your publike Assemblies and your Ministers laid as dead Verily the Lord who holdeth his Stars in his right hand will cause them to shine â—orth again and they shall give a more glorious light the Lord will be against the