THE LAMB CALLING HIS Follovvers TO Retirement Being an Humble Enquiry into the duty of Churches Ministers and all that fear the Lord under the present dispensation of God By one that would be found though unworthy the Lords Witness and Servant and of all his SAINTS 1 COR. 4. 5. Judge nothing before the time Printed in the year 1662. TO THE READER THe different apprehensions of the People of God in this day concerning their present duty being cut off from their publick liberties of Worship gave occasion to the ensuing Enquiry some judging it of absolute necessity to assemble openly though they expose themselves or at least their Teachers to the utmost hazard others that Retirement is that which the present dispensation calls for which later this brief Discourse endeavours to prove as justifiable from the Scripture and the practise of the People of God in former Ages but more especially to be the voice of the Lord to his people in the present day in which there is a concurring judgement of many But that Retirement which is first called to namely unto the Lord Jesus himself which is briefly prest in the former part is that which is commended to all as absolutely necessary as ever they expect to be found under his wing at his coming and appearing and Reader hear the call of Jesus Christ therein that thou mayst lay up thy immortal soul with him that when storms are coming upon the World thou mayst be found in thy Sanctuary in thy Chambers of Rest and Safety where they shall not reach thee As to the Case of Retirement from open Assembling it is plainly stated from Scripture evidence as is humbly apprehended wherein if there be not enough said to satisfie a doubting Conscience yet at least there may be sufficient to engage humble and sober minds to a mutual forbearance The duties of all Saints under this Retirement are but briefly hinted because of brevity and in that they have been more at large prest by the Servants of God in the two years of mercy we have enjoyed as the peculiar blessing of this City to the honour of the Lord Jesus the establishment of the Saints in the faith and worship of the Gospel and in the Resurrection of the Cause of the Kingdom of Christ in these Nations the vindicating and asserting whereof hath as is hoped left a gratious and powerful impression and savour upon the Spirits of the Lords people that so they may be found the more quietly submitting to the dispensation of the Lord as blessedly establisht in the forementioned truths and may in those holy principles in which they have been built up continue in a more private way edifying one another in love as those in this their retirement that are waiting for the speedy return of their Lord that when he comes he may find them so doing This you may do as under the wings of the Almighty in a probable security and not hasten your selves into your own sufferings and if the providence of God single out any of you to a suffering testimony in the loss of liberty or goods or to banishment verily you will know the tender heart of Jesus Christ towards you and his faithfulnesse in making up all to you and yours and that in this life a hundred fold Be quiet you Captives of hope for in returning and rest shall ye be saved in quietnesse and confidence shall be your strength And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into corners any more but thine EYES SHALL SEE THY TEACHERS Do not think that the Lord is now at the end of twenty years work and that the present dispensation is the last issue of all his glorious providences you have sometime believed that the Exaltation of the Lord Jesus would be the issue of all the shakings the Lord hath made in these Nations and you have as great if not a greater ground to abide in the same Faith as ever Take heed of a bewildred Spirit under the dark providences the Lord is leading us but consider what the Lord hath been doing and what work hath been upon the wheele and by faith labour to look to the end of the Lord and you will be able quietly to wait for him I wish the Case in hand had been stated by an abler hand but finding nothing herein I have found my Spirit often looking for light from the Father of lights drawn out to cast in this mite to the present Generation of the righteous as hoping that the voice of the Lamb is in it in the main scope of it And though it may be in what is hinted about the death of the witnesses I may differ from some of the Lords Servants yet I promise my self their forbearance it being an houre of enquiry and we would be all glad to know the mind of Christ in our day Something more may be offerd to consideration to clear those hints and of the nature of the Kingdom of Christ in this World if the Lord permit Now the blessed God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve all his in this houre of temptation and lead us into his whole Counsel and Will to whose immutable grace I commend thee in the patient waiting for Zions Redemption The 25. of the 5. Month 1662. Resting Thy Brother and Fellow-Servant in the Patience of Christ ESAY 26. 20. Come my People enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment untill the indignation be overpast THE special Wisdome of the People of God in all Generations under the variety of his dispensations hath been to know what the Lord hath spoken and called his People to under them in the knowledge of which hath been bound up their mercy and peace in every Generation All their miscarriages have been for want of attending hereunto either in a day of peace and outward blessing or in a day of affliction and judgement The safety of this people to whom this word was spoken Enter into thy Chambers c. did lye in the obedience thereof at that day which let us a little more particularly consider This Prophet though many years before the day of it spake of the Captivity of Judah and also of her return and restauration with the blessings that should attend it which restauration he more at large begins to discover at the 14. Chap. For the Lord will have mercy upon Jacob and will yet chuse Israel and set them to their own Land c. Upon which the Prophet having denounced the burden of the Lord against Babylon Chap. 13. threatens all other Nations to the 25. Chap. that but helped in or rejoyed at the day of his Peoples Captivity as Moab and Syria and Egypt and Tyre c. As is more generally exprest ch 17. 12 13 14. Wo to the multitude of many people which make a noise like
Christ lives in the Father so Believers live in him and have their life fed in him and from him and therefore they shall never die but have Eternal Life What more Then to live for ever and so to live for ever as Christ himself lives surely thats a Blessed Safe and Glorious Life This is your Life But secondly If Jesus Christ will use thy natural life in all the concernments of it who shall reach thy life Not the World not all the Persecutions of it no nor thy liberty neither Jesus Christ hath charged himself with both and all the interests of thy life he will order thy race and every step thereof to that end in which he will most be glorified in thee and theresore be putting it by faith into his hand every day and say as Jesus Christ himself did in the interest of his life Father Glorifie thy Name John 12. 29. This was when our Dear Saviour as a man was solicitous about his life and his soul was troubled and cries save me from this hour vers 27. but yet bows to the Will of his Father Glorifie thy Name No man shall touch thy life till thou shalt say I have finished the Work that my Father gave me to do John 17. 4. So that Jesus Christ hath charged himself with the care of thy life liberty and all the interests thereof as well as with the pretious life of thy Soul Thirdly the loosing thy life is the saving and finding of it as to life Eternal the death of thy natural life makes way for the True Spiritual Immortal Glorious life The cutting off this momentary life issues in a higher and more excellent life so that there can be no miss of it faith sees a life in death and that by it Mortality is swallowed up of life Thus Jesus Christ is a shelter to thy life And so I have opened how Jesus Christ calls his Saints to retire into himself by way of safety and protection Secondly Christ calls his own to retire into a more intimate communion with him in a time of indignation when storms are up The second Thing 2. This call of Jesus Christ into a more intimate Communion with him should blessed souls attend to in such a day into the Chambers of his Presence so Song of Solomon chap. 1. 9. Draw me we will run after thee the King hath brought me into his Chambers we will be glad and rejoyce in thee we will remember thy love more then Wine the upright love thee there is sweet and intimate communion Now how doth the Lord bring a soul to this Answer Jesus Christ shews himself to the soul in a greater Beauty and Glory then a soul had seen him before and thereby Humbles Empties and Awakens brings it lower and to be viler in its own eyes takes down all the high thoughts and conceits of it self makes the Soul know its own poverty whereby it becomes less then the least of all Saints renders pride and passion and selfishness and temerity and censoriousness and hypocresie with all fleshly corruptions more abominable and loathsome and the soul abhors it self in the dust too good for it is burthened and groans under the pressuresmentioned cryes mourns after a further cleansing healing and a more pretious conformity to Jesus Christ cries out for the Spirit for Holiness for Light and Strength and cannot live without them this is the way to more intimate communion here is a Vision of the Lord Jesus in his Holinesse Beauty and Glory that renders the Soul thus infinitely vile in it self and draws out such a panting after him Then it hath further Attractives of love We will remember thy love more then Wine Then how Free how Pretious how Eternal how Glorious is the Lords love to a worthless wretch whose sin is worse then the sin of Devils for they never sin against this love Oh that the Lord should not onely in pitty save me but in love die for me who can reach or understand it Thus is Glory and Love let in upon the soul And then the upright love thee Oh that I might love the Lord uprightly love him and love him uprighty love him for himself love his Glorious Person be enamoured with the Beauties of his Holinesse that I might see his Glory and for ever admire and adore him thus souls when he pleaseth thus to shew himself are taken into his Banqueting House and his Banner over them is love they retire into him and sit under his shadow with great delight and his Fruit is sweet to their tast Song of Solomon 2. 3 4. This is pretious and Heavenly employment in such a day when the Lamb calls to Retirement when the heat of the Sun begins throughly to beat against it and the soul finds little shadow in the World then the shadow of this Rock in a weary land a land of sin and trouble is sweet and plesant retirement indeed The effect of this special Retirement into the Chambers of our Lord Jesus under his shadow is sweet peace and rest of mind and spirit when the Waves and Billows come against us a blessed stilnesse a composed acquiescency in the Lord and a freee resignment to him the allaying and rebuking the tumultuous workings of our hearts a casting our care upon the love and care and faithfulnesse of the Lord in every condition In the Multitude of my thoughts my careful thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul Psal 94. 19. yea in this blessed Retirement cryes out Return into thy Rest oh my soul Thou hast been wandering after other rest too too much but hast not found where to put thy feet therefore now return to thy sweet safe proper Rest abide and dwell there and that for ever So the soul can in some good measure sanctifie the Name of the Lord by believing and trusting on him and waiting for him making Christ his Portion and Everlasting strength and doth in patience possess it self One word by way of more particular Application 1. If this Retirement into Jesus Christ into the chambers of his Grace be the great interest of souls What a case then are poor forlorne sinners in that have no shelter for soul or life or any thing but what the wide World as you speak can afford them which will not keep off a storm not one drop of the Wrath of the Almighty Verily the Wrath of the jealous God is ready to come forth into the Nations of the earth after a little stilness that hath been upon them who is coming and saints do hear the sounding of his feet to tread upon them in his wrath and trample them in his fury Esay 63. and then where will all your shelters be When it shall be said to the scoffers at the report of his day Behold you despisers and wonder and perish for the Anger of the Lord shall smoak against you Oh awake and tremble believe and tremble and see your confidencies to be lying
vanities men and riches and strength are a lye and they shall not cannot save you in the day of the Lords indignation Oh be convinced of it see the Lord Jesus in his blood righteousnesse free promises of Grace an open shelter where you may fly and be safe Oh get thy polluted guilty betrayed soul into thy shelter make hast to get thy soul washed justified sanctified renewed in the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus get the Mantle of his Righteousnesse over thee and his spirit to quicken thee or thou shalt perish from the way without remedy 2. Doth Jesus Christ call his Saints into his Chambers to retire with him and that for protection and more intimate Communion Oh let this be the Word of the Lord to all the Lambs followers Now Jesus Christ hath for a Moment withdrawn is gon behind the Clouds cry draw us and we will run after thee Now know and see more Experimentally that Name that is indeed a strong Tower that covenanting Name that hath been set before you The Lord gracious and abundant in goodnesse let thy soul say This is my Rock a Gracious Almighty Immutable God in Christ God the same yesterday and to day for ever unchangeable in Grace Goodness Wisdom Power Love and that because of a Covenant built upon the Pillars of Mercy and faithfulnesse that are for ever This is my House of Defence here will I dwell This is my Rock and I shall not be moved Here is your life your strength your safety your all Oh see what an open and sure Refuge Jesus Christ is your sins and guilt cannot enter in with you but you leave them at the door say Ah Lord spread the Mantle of thy Righteousnesse over me let thy banner over me be love and what ever the storm be I shall be safe in the heat of the day under the shadow of this Rock will I sit put me under unchangeable love and grace and Lord I shall be safe say of him Thou onely shalt bee my portion and my refuge into thy Chambers Oh Lord I enter draw me into them under thy wings will I make my Refuge till the Indignation be over past Oh accept me heal me hold me to thy self keep me hide me in thy Chambers of Grace watch over me night and day Yea Lord lead me into a nearer Communion with thee shew me thy Holinesse and thy Glory that I may be yet more vile in my own sight before thee Ah humble me empty me of all new season me new frame me with seven times more holinesse then before Conform me to thy self to purpose and for ever Commune with me Reckon me my dear Lord as thy Friend and Companion as thy sweet acquaintance Oh take my heart fill me with love and let us never never part any more Oh thus should be the breathings and pangs of our souls after our Lord Jesus in such a day This is to enter into his Chambers into his Rest Thirdly As to outward safety Enter into his Chambers say with David Thou shalt hide me in the Secret of thy presence Lord Thou art my hiding place Yea Lord let all thy People be thy hidden ones Call them into thy Chambers hide them from the pride and rage of man Seek the Lord It may be you shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Zeph. 2. 3. you have at least an It may be for it Who knoweth but the Lord will hide wonderfully for so it must be and keep this Generation of his people though they dwell in the fire wonderful it is to see the Bush burning and yet not consumed The Lord hath gloriously triumphed in the death of some of his Witnesses who by dying have overcome more than by signal battels in the field and it may be hath some more to set to their Seal the same way but this Generation of people shall enter their Chambers and shall yet be further hid till the Lord come out of his place and the earth disclose her blood As I have believed so have I spoken Blessed be the Lord who remembers his people in these poor Nations and will not cast them off For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous with favour wilt thou compass them as with a shield Thou art good and ready to forgive and thou wilt forgive the sin of thy people though they have been a rebellious Seed because they be thy people and thy Name is in them and thy great glory is conferred upon them for the needy shall not alwayes be forgotten nor shall the expectation of the poor fail from before thee And thus much of the first branch of the Proposition We now come to the second thing Viz. The Lord Jesus Christ sometimes calls his Saints to retirement from publike Services and publike Administrations of Worship We would prove this and when the Lord so calls and why he calls them to such a retirement The two great instances of the Old and New Testament do confirm this 1. That of the people of God in Babylon where the remnant of the best people were carryed according to the Word of the Lord to them by Jeremiah and there the Lord promisseth to be a little Sanctuary to them Ezek. 11. 13. but there they had no Temple nor Sacrifices while they were in their captivity but were to live in the Faith of their return from the Captivity when the Temple should be built again and they were to humble themselves to the Lord and to cry to him till it were accomplisht So that here the Lord in that day of distress promiseth to take care of the Remnant Ezek. 11. 13. according to the plea of the Prophet Ah Lord God wilt thou make a full end of the Remnant of Israel And the Lord promiseth to restore them to bring them back to their Land and to give them his Ordinances as in the dayes past Yet during their captivity they were deprived of all positive worship of all publike Administrations but lived in the Faith of their return according to the Word of Lord by his Prophets to them So in the New-Testament times during the Captivity of the true Worshippers and Witnesses of Jesus Christ under the Mystical Babylon The true Church is call'd into the Wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God where she should be fed Rev. 12. 6. where she lieth hid And though there is a Temple measured Rev. 11. 1. yet 't is as shut up till at the pouring out of the Vials the Temple is opened Rev. 15. 5. But especially towards the end of the Beasts reign when the Witnesses have prophesied more openly and have finished a Testimony to all the Offices of Jesus Christ especially that of his Kingly Power over Saints and Nations the Nations that are found in the Spirit of the Beast make war against them and slay them that is lay their Testimony dead as if the effects of it should never appear All publike Prophesying and publike
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
the noise of the seas and to the rushing of Nations that make a rushing of mighty waters But God shall rebuke them and they shall flee afar off and shall be chased as the chaffe of the Mountains before the wind and like a rouling thing before the whirlewind what is the reason of all this why This is the portion of them that spoil us and the lot of them that rob us The restoring and salvation of Judah was accompanied with the distress of all the Nations round abount her and with the utter ruine of the Babylonish Monarchy set forth chap. 29. The great revolutions periods of all the Nations of the World have been the issues of the Captivity or Deliverance of the people of God and God hath governd the World in subserviency thereunto The Prophet having thus spoken of Jacobs deliverance and the great Earth-quake of the Nations that should accompany it At the 25 26 and 27. chap. you have songs of praise referring to that day mixt with promises of the Messiah our Lord Jesus Christ and the Knowledge Light Peace and Glory that should be the issue of the dispensation of grace by him to the Jews and Gentiles even all the Nations of the Earth in this 26. chap. You have the song of praise continued specially respecting Judahs gathering magnifying the power of the Lord in her salvation and in the ruine of Babylon v. 4 5. their posture in their captivity v. 8. lo we have waited for thee c. Their visiting the Lord in their distresse and powering out prayer before him v. 16 17 18. At the 18th verse they are brought in complaining that they had been in pangs yet had wrought no deliverance in the Earth neither had the Inhabitants of the World fallen At the 19. verse the Lord by the Prophet gives an answer that though in their Captivity they did lye as dead men yet verse 19. Thy dead men shall live c. Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the Earth shall cast out her dead Thy resurrection from this Captivity and Death shall be as the herbs that lye dead in Winter but shall revive and spring forth again by the dews of the spring upon them in the mean time the Lord calls them to retire and promiseth to secure them Come my people enter thou into thy Chambers c. Where 1. You have the tender and affectionate invitement and call of God come my People whatever the World speaks of thee and makes thee as an out-cast yet still my People pretious in my sight under my eye and care though no man careth for thee No matter if all the Nations of the World say go you out-casts if the Lord say come my people 2. Where and to what he calls enter in thy Chambers retire thy self as into thy strong hold for safety and shut thy door about thee as when men retire into their houses from a storm and shut their doors further amplified Hide thy self how long but for a little moment till the indignation be over past Their crying out in pangs their powering out of prayer engaged the Lord to full mercy 1. To hide them under the indignation 2. To hasten to their Salvation and that speedily it shall be but for a moment Then will the Lord come out of his place and that to admiration and astonishment for behold his appearance shall be wonderful and glorious in the season of it and the manner of it He will punish the Inhabitants of the Earth and the Earth shall disclose her blood the blood of his Servants spilt as water upon the ground by the Babylonians and shall no wise cover her slain Thus you have the words with their coherence opened The special thing I would take notice of in order to the discovery of the mind and call of Christ to his Saints at this day is the Lords calling of them into their Chambers to shut their doors to hide themselves which expressions denote this one thing in the general namely Retirement which I shall give forth in one observation naturally and clearly decuced as the scope of the Holy Ghost in them Ob. The Lord Jesus Christ in his providential Dispensations sometimes calls his People to Retirement That I may more particularly discover what I mean by Retirement Jesus Christ calls his people to retire 1. Within himself 1. As to all manner of Protection 2. As to more close and intimate Communion 2. He calls them to Retirement as to Publick services and administrations 1. He calleth them to retire under his shade for Protection so he was said to spread his wings over his People as an Eagle doth over her young ones in the Wilderness of old Deut. 32. And in the day of the Nations wrath when in a confederacy against his people they are called his hidden ones Psal 83. They consult but t is against thy hidden ones and so that pretious word of grace where the Lord holds out his arms to his poor ones in a stormy day Esay 4. 6. There shall be a Tabernacle for a shaddow in the day time from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a cover from storm and from rain So Ch. 25. 4. And let them be words of faith to all Saints for thou hast been a strength to the poor a strength to the needy in his distress a refuge from the storm a shaddow from the heat when the blast of the terrible one is against the wall ch 32. 2. A man the man Christ Jesus shall be as a hiding place from the wind and a Cavert from the tempest And thus the Saints in stormy times bespeak the Lord and have fled into him as their refuge and hiding place So David often keep me as the apple of thine eye hide me under the shadow of the wings Psal 17. 8. Thou shall hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man thou shall keep them secretly in a pavillion Psal 31. 8. In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Pavillion in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me he shall set me upon a Rock Psal 27. In the shaddow of thy wings will I make my refuge untill these Calamities be overpast Psal 57. 1. Of which David in all his persecutions and wandrings had abundant and sweet experience in the review and recollection of which he breaks forth into the praises of the Lord his heart being warmed with the sense of the Lords goodness and love Psal 18. I will love thee or I will dearly love thee Oh Lord my strength the Lord my Rock my Foriress and my Deliverer my God my Strength in whom shall I trust my Buckler and the hope of my Salvation and my High-Tower Upon which experience he gives forth everlasting words of grace for all the People of God to trust upon in all Generations as Psal 9. 9. The Lord also will be a
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
thy former loving kindnesses c. The Covenant of God with his people is built as upon two Pillars Mercy and Faithfulness Psal 89. 2. For I have said Mercy shall be built up for ever thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very Heavens I have made a Covenant with my chosen c. Under these two doth David shelter as the Wings of the Cherubims 57. 1 2. God shall send forth his Mercy and Truth and shall save me Mercy to pitty and forgive Faithfulness to fulfil his Word here is a safe shelter for Saints in every strait David and other of the people of God get under these Wings of God and are at peace David near twenty times in the Psalms is putting these two together thy Mercy and thy Truth shall prevent me and in them I trust If all the Mercy of God and all the Truth and Faithfulness of God be my portion what need I fear here is sweet and safe retirement for Saints in an evil day But how do poor Souls retire into this Blessed Name of God a Merciful Almighty Unchangeable God as a Rock for them 1. By seeing thorough the Light of the Spirit the Emptiness and Vanity of all other refuges that nothing below an unchangeable God of all Grace through Jesus Christ can be a refuge for a Naked and Forlorne Soul in Psalm 62. David mentions two things which the heart is apt to make a reguge Men and Riches vers 9 10. of both these he saith they are a lie and vanity And if riches increase set not your heart upon them do not think them a meet refuge for you in any day specially a day of distress if neither the sons of men nor riches be a shelter then in God saith David is my Salvation and my Glory the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God Yea He onely is my Rock v. 6. seel Psal 142. 4 5. I looked c. v. 4. And what did he see Why Refuge failed him every refuge was too low too short too weak to shelter him here was conviction of nothing but emptyness in them vanity upon them all What then why vers 5. I said Thou art my refuge and my portion there is that in Jesus Christ to ensafe me and satisfie me the two great ends to which the soul moves in all its desires now I have them not in Creatures they can't be a refuge not a portion but God in Christ is both is All This is a conviction we should pass under every day 2. We retire into this Blessed Name of the Lord by Faith He is a Rock Psalm 62. the Rock of Ages or the Everlasting Rock nothing below himself is so Faith sees him so as a sinking man in the Waters sees a Rock and makes to it and sees him onely he onely is my Rock Now here 's the ensafeing Act of Faith it can lay up all concernments of Soul and Life with an unchangeable God here I adhere fasten cleave Oh O that Blessed Glorious Name a Gracious Almighty or All-sufflcient and Unchangeable Saviour in the day of my trouble Oh set me on this Rock that is higher then I Psal 61. 2. Then let Waves and Billows beat against me they may break themselves but shall never break the Rock I shall not be moved Psal 62. That 's the stability faith gives the Soul let Sins Temptations Troubles beat against me I shall not be moved thus Faith can triumph at all times Trust in him at all times God is a refuge for us In shaking times in dying times all is safe with him yea when the Heart is overwhelmed and desolate Faith thus relieves and fetcheth up the Heart in all its sinkings let the Soul see a storm coming away it hastens into its Refuge into the Chambers of strength and shuts its door till it be overpast Because this is the Work of Saints and the call of the Lord to them at this day Consider it a little further First Jesus Christ presents himself to a poor soul as an open refuge let the sin burden distress inward or outward be what it will this door of Grace stands open the sinners of the World pass by it and will not enter the more their misery but poor souls that are beaten out of one hold after another and see at last this door of hope opened in the valley of Darkness and Fears runs into it unbelief would draw the Soul back Satan would shut the Door against it but the soul ventures and venture it must or sink and perish and gets into Christ and he holds out a hand and bears it up opens Blood and Righteousness and Grace and bids the soul make use of it and here the Soul retires every day under this shelter t is driven and it can be quiet and safe no where else if the heart be stealing out else where to other shelters in the World or of its own Satans World and Conscience set upon it And the Soul flies back and gets into its strong hold again No living safely else where Now Jesus Christ is an open refuge in every precious word of free Grace Esay 55. 1. Rev. 21. 6. 22. 17. c. which words Believers see as a blessed safe Retirement when they are stormd out of every thing else and evidences are bemisted Secondly Jesus Christ presents himself a sure refuge for Souls to Retire into He sprinkles blood casts a Mantle of Righteousnesse a Mantle of Love and Grace and Power over the soul that gets into him and who then can harm it Guilt and Sorrows and Temptations and Pressures can follow the soul to the Door but cannot enter with it He is near that justifieth who then shall contend Esay 50. 8. there is safety T is true the soul is not alwayes apprehensive of its own safety but hath its fits of Fears and Mis-givings through Temptation and Unbelief as in Davids Case and mark it Psal 31. 22. For I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes neverthelesse thou heardest the voice of my Supplication when I cryed unto thee here was sad Apprehension I am cut off though he had words of Promise to the contrary but yet he cryed to the Lord in that distemper but what did the Lord cast him off because of that mixture of unbelief No neverthelesse he heard and saved him a Case of great relief for Dark Doubting Souls So that Jesus Christ is a safe sure strong impregnable shelter all the World can't get a soul out of it all is safe there Obj. But may not my life go for it for all this Answer That which is indeed thy life the life of thy soul the immortal life that is most safe hid or laid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. Because I live you shall live also John 14. your life is as safe as my life t is bound up with my own yea t is the same with my own the life I live I live in you As
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
Poland France Ireland c. of late years and the death that the whole Work of Christ is under at this day it being clear that when the last slaughter is past and the lying dead three days and an half is over in the Witnesse resurrection that then they ascendâ—… to Heaven into a state of Liberty Power and Glory from which they fall no more but the seventh Angel sounds and the third Wo cometh upon the World the last Plagues to be executed upon the Antichristian World and Voices are heard in Heaven amongst the Churches proclaiming the Lord Jesus King of Nations for that upon the resurrection of the Witnesses and sounding of the seventh Angel the Lord Jesus comes forth to take to himself his great Power and to reign to contest with the Horns about his Soveraignty to rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron breaking them in pieces as a Porters Vessel at which time as some eminent Witness of the Lord have well stated it The little Stone cut out without hands the separated Saints in the Nations begins in a more especial manner to smiâ—e the Image Dan. 2. 39. for the Stone begins to smite upon the feet of the Image the last part of the Roman Monarchy which roes upon the feet ver 41. are the sâ—me with the ten Horns as Dan. 7. And the Stone smiting breaking in pieces consuming the Kingdoms as the Spirit of God opens the meaning of the Stone and its smiting v. 44. And in the dayes of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom the Kingdom of the Stone which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to othâ—r people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever is interpreted further in the Vision that Daniel himself had of the same thing ch 7. 22. 26 When Judgement is given to the Saints of the Most High And ver 26. The Judgement shall sit the Saints judging the ten-horned Beast and his Kingdom and they shall take away his Dominion to consurne and to destroy it unto the end But I do but hint here what I may give a further account of in due time to remove the stumbling-blocks that lie in the way of many of the Lord's People as to this glorious truth But I return to my enquiry which is that I humbly judge that the last slaying of the Witnesâ—es was not about the time mentioned for the reasons hinted and others might be given but rather that great sore blow upon the Protestant Interest to be fixed upon that foot of account namely of the Beast making war with the Saints and overcoming them Rev. 13. 7. which War from the time of the Waldensian people he hath been carrying on and overcome them And so in Bohemia Germany c upon which Word are all the former Wars and Victories of the Beast to be stated and not in reference to the last slaughter when the Beast makes War with the Witnesses and kills them and overcomes them which is after a full testimony hath been finished to all the Offices Work and Kingdom of our Lord Jesus and then the Beast such as are in the Spirit of the Beast and influenced by him rise up by the wise and holy permission and ordering of the Lord to bring about his own glorious design and slay the Testimony lay it dead especially in a civil sence in that tenth part of the City where the killing most eminently is which is where the most eminent Testimony for the Kingdom of Christ is the Spirit hath been of any of the Nations and so all publike prophesying in an ordinary way and with an allowed liberty becomes cut off the publike assembling of Churches supprest in that tenth part of the City so that the Work Kingdom of Jesus Christ being likely to arise a few years since in the apprehension of most of the Saints and to the terror of the Nations lo it is laid dead say the sons of Babylon we wil so bury it that it shall rise no more though that will be found their great error I might â—â—stance the Judgement of several ancient holy Witnesses of Christ who are now in the same apprehension as to this dispensation we are under of some who in the highest day of our prosperity a few years since spake of it as to come upon us also as is humbly judg'd by som worthy servants of the Lord at this day that a more then ordinary discovery revelation hath been given forth to a worthy Minister of Christ some others that this is the 3. days a half in which the witnesses are to lie dead which I think meet only to hint at this time But if so then the Word of the Lord is Go and dye as to ordinary publike Prophesying and 't is the wisdom of the Saints to submit to the Dispensation of God and to be content even to lye as dead men in a civil sence till the spirit of life from God enter and a voice be heard in the providential workings of the Lord Come up hither Rev. 11. 12. And let it be soberly considered whether the contrary practice be not to cross the very design of the Lord at this day and to ruine the Churches and whole Interest of Jesus Christ whose resâ—rrection and restauration we are patiently to wait for Yea whether this be the last slaying or not 't is worthy a serious Judgement to consider That in the several Ages of Persecucion from the Apostles dayes unless where some have been carryed forth by an extraordinary impulse of Spirit the Professors and Churches of Christ met together in such a way as might most probably â—â—nd to their preservation in a private and retired way in the best Wisdom they could as the Disciples John 20 19. they were assembled in an upper Room for fear of the Jews And the Church of Hierusalâ—m sâ—attâ—red abroad in parties in the several Provinces upon the Persecution Acts 8. when they began to be halâ—d to prison from their Meetings and those that remained kept in a private way Acts 12. And so we find the Christians assembling secretly by night as they had opportunity As that Congregation that continued together in Q. Mary's dayes in London and kept up their Meetings secretly and were wonderfully preserved in that day though as I may presently shew 't is hard to give out any general absolute Rule in this case But 't is certain this was their ordinary practice The reasons hereof have been spoken to It may further be added that in such a retired way they shall not so much dare and provoke the civil Magistrate to greater wrath against them and not lay a stumbling block in their way but seem more to walk in the meekness of Jesus Christ and 't is the liberty that Jesus Christ doth indulge them and answers his promise of preserving and being a Sanctuary to
a holy Seed from one generation to another and not to be exposed to the blood thirstiness and rage of their persecutors though still honoring himself by the suffering of some And as this hath been the practise of the Churches of Christ in times of persecution so of particular Ministers and Witnesses of the Lord in all ages namely as they were led by the spirit of the Lord to retire from particular persecution especially when their case was different from the rest of the saints as in som ages it hath bin the first blow was at the Ministers of Christ so Moses fled before the face of Pharoah and dwelt in the Land of Midean till the time of deliverance came to the Israelites in Aegypt Exod. 2. 15. So David from the persecution of Saul who retired into the Wilderness where the Lord hid him till the time that the promise should be fulfilled in his reign over Israel 1 Sam. 19. 18. though in his retirement he was deprived of the Institutions of the Worship of God in the temple as he complains complains in several Psalms Elijah had given an eminent Testimony against Ahab and the abominations of that day and prophesied the wrath of God to come upon Israel But when he knew the mischief that Ahab intended and he had finished his Testimony the Lord commands him to go and hiâ—â—e himself 1 Kings 17. 2. 8. and Chap 10. 10 And we know Elijah was an eminent Type of the Witnesses of Jesus Christ under the New-Testament Babylon though in the third year when it should rain again according to the word of the Lord which made way for Elijah's appearance he shewed himself to Ahab and God was with him to deliver him But when Jezebel sought after him again ch 19. he went into the Wilderness and hid himsel in a Cave v. 9. At the same time before the three years were finished and the Persecution by Jezebel continued against all the Lords Prophets 1 King 18. Obadiah hid the Prophets by 50. in a Cave who at other times were publikely prophesying So when the King had sent out a Warrant and Officers to take Jeremiah and Baruch Jer. 36. 26. 't is said The Lord HID them which implied their own retirement at that time So our Lord Jesus himself when he heard that John was cast into Prison he retired into Galilee Matth. 4. 12 And when he further heard that he was beheaded he withdrew into a desert place Mat. 14. 13. And so when the Jews sought to kill him c. till his hour was come which places are ordinarily urged by interpreters upon them for the case in hand So our Lord Jesus allows his Disciples Matth. 10. when he sent them forth as sheep among wolves ver 10. that they should then be wise as Serpents walk with such a wisdom as becomes sheep among Wolves which is not rashly to put themselves into the mouth of the Wolf And ver 17. bids them beware of men and then being persecuted into one City â—o flye unto another v. 23. the 〈◊〉 that word being to direct them that when Rulers by their Edicts will not suffer them to preach in one place they might go to another if not in publike then in private and from House to House as the providence of God should lead them When the Jews sought for Paul at Damascus the Disciples did not press him to expose himself to be delivered up into their hands in appearing openly there but on the contrary at a hard rate conveyed him away Acts 9. 23. 2 Cor. 11. 32. In Damascus the Governor under Artas the King kept the City with a Garrison desirous to apprehend me and through a Window in a basket was I let down by the wall I escaped his hands which the Apostle there sets down among his persecutions when the Governor of the City would have apprended him he thought good and the Saints with him so judged to withdraw and yet he was not judged unfaithful or fearful in so doing So Acts 14. when Paul and Barnabas had spoken holdly in the Lord for a time at Iconium when they understood that the Jews and Gentiles with them made an assault at their meeting to use them despightfully and to stone them they were ware of it they thought it ground enough that they were ware of it and so fled into the next Province into Lystra When the Jews laid wait for him Act. 20. 3. he went not into Syria but returned thorow Macedonâ—a And when the Jews had gathered a company of lewd fallows to assault the meeting at Jasâ—ns house Paul and Sylas withdrew Act. 17. 5 6. for they found them noâ— ver 6. And at Berea the Brethren sent away Paul ver 14. So when he would have hazarded himself the Disciples suffered him not Act. 19 30. And when he would go up to Jerusalem all the Saints besought him not to go judging in an ordinary way he ought not till they nnderstood that Paul was under an extraordinary impulse of Spirit to go and then they ceased The case of those famous Ministers and witnesses of Christ at the See Book of Matt beginning of Q. Maries persecution who preached not after the Queens Inhibition and Proclamation though it were not a binding Law as appears by the Declaration of their Faith they gave forth when prisoners in the Kings Bench in which they thus express themselves We are not here in prisons as Traiâ—ors or seditious persons or transgressors of any Laws of this Realm Inhibitions Proclamations or Commandments of the Queens Highness or of any of the Councils God's Name be praised therefore c. Subscribed by Dr. Taylor Philpot Bradford Hooper Rogers Saunders c. the most eminent Ministers and Martyrs of that day who it appears preached not publickly after the Proclamation and Act of Parliament but were committed as having been men famous in King Edwards days and had preached to warn the people against Popery in the interval before the Proclamation was published and were taken after and were put to death because they would not deny the Truth they had formerly preached which the servants of Christ at this day hope through grace they shal not do if called to a tryal thereof and how far several of the servants of the Lord have exposed themselves notwithstanding a former Proclamation and the latter Act of Parliament and particular charges that way lye against some of them sober Christians may judge and not passionately censure any of them and the due consideration thereof and of what hath been said in this case may be more then enough to remove their prejudice or mistaken herein So that here is both precept and multiplied examples both of the Old and New Testament of the Prophets and Apostles and the ordinary Ministers of Christ that when particular and personal persecution hath been against them a design to apprehend them and a lying in wait for them they have at such a time withdrawn and
retired themselvs from their more publick Ministry In the ordinary providence of God these Reasons of it may be instanced 1. When publick Preachers are sent to preach to the world and the people will not receive them but persecute them they after some patient waiting may withdraw for a testimony against them Mat. 10. 14. which is too often the case of the servants of Christ though it doth not fully reach the case in hand 2. When the Lord Jesus hath more woâ—k and service for his servants and will preserve them to a day of liberty as hath been shewed of the whole generation of Saints then he hath used to hide them by his gracious providence in a wonderful manner and hath called them off from the publick stage and kept them in the midst of the persecutions they have been under or snatcht them out of them as abundant instances might be given so it is prophesied Isa 30. 20 That their teachers should be removed into corneâ—s till the Captivity was over c. 3. In mercy to the Churches that the liberties and lives of the servants of Christ may be preserved to serve them more publickly when the Lord by his providence shal make way and in the mean time may be useful to the Churches in a more private way and not to spend them in a kind of passionate courage upon the implacable fury of their persecutors whence it was that the Disciples at Cesarea so passionately besought Paul not to go up to Hierusalem And when he would have entred in among the people the Disciples suffered him not This may suffice to state and clear this case â—o the consciences of such as may be differently minded herein which may at least call for a mutual forbearance in love and that Satan get not an advantage to stir up heats heighten prejudices beget a greater distance among the people of God and so in stead of closing widen the sad breaches that have been amongst us And yet when I have thus stated this case that the call of Jesus Christ may be to retire and that 't is lawful upon particular personal persecution for the Ministers of Christ to do so yet I also say with blessed Bucer as he states this case on the 4th of Matth. upon our Saviour's retirement That there can be no absolute binding unlimited Rule laid down in this case that shall be binding in all times and to all persons And 't is hard for others to determine when a servant of Christ may more honour the Lord by retirement or by a publike exposing himself Every man in such a case is to give up himself to the leading of the Spirit of the Lord which hath carried some of the servants of Christ in one way and some in another in all times of persecution accordingly as Christ will be glorified by them Though the same Bucer who also retired in the Germane persecution concludes thus Where by retirement flight thou mayest see an advantage of honoring Christ tuae te horae servans by withdrawing thou dost as Christ himself did and as Paul at Damascus Yet that the minds of Saints may be fully satisfied herein I will consider what is usually urged by some to the contrary Obj. How do the servants of the Lord give forth a full Testimony if they retire when Edicts are given forth against them seeing 't is said they overcome by the Woâ—d of their Testimony Rev. 12. That we may therefore consider how far this may reach and when Saints may be said to keep the Commandments of God and to have the Testimony of Iesus Christ ver last 1. A Testimony is given first by the Preachers Witnesses of Christ by discovering the sins and the Antichristian abominations of the age day they live in and witnessing for all the Offices Worship Kingdom of Jesus Christ according to the Scripture as the Spirit of the Lord gives light and acts them thereunto and as the Providence of God opens a door to them Blessed be the Father of Spirits that through the Grace and Power of the Lord Jesus such a Testimony hath been given sorth to the glory of God the conviction and establishment as is hoped of the people of God which testimony no doubt the Lord will make good in his best time and which they leave with God being satisfied they are called by the providence of God to a more retired way 2. All other Saints do keep the Testimony of Jesus and the Commandments of God as opposed to the Commands of men in the matters of Christ and his Worship when they are through the teaching of the Spirit in the Word and the Power of the same Spirit resting upon them kept from partaking of the sins polutions and Anti-christian abominations of false Worship which men would impose upon them Acts 2. 40. Save your selves from this untoward generation Eph. 5 7. Be not ye therefore partakers with them v. 11. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness c. Touch not the uâ—clean thing be ye separate 2. Cor. 6 Come out of her my peâ—ple that ye be not pa takâ—rs of her sins that ye receive not of her plagues Rev. 18. 4. When the professing people shall obey the Lord in such words as these and not defile themselves nor provoke the Lord to jealousie against them this is a good Testimony and such Saints who call for extremities from others may find this to be a Testimony hard enough to be kept when they are tryed as thâ—y have in lesser matters already This Testimony the 7000. kept in Samaria that bowed not their knee to Baal and God accepted them in it And let all the Ministers of Christ who would approve themselves as such to God and his people take heed that they are faithful in this testimony as well as others of the people of God and that under pretence of having the liberty of their Ministry they are not found in compliance with Humane Inventionâ— against light to render themselves a scorn to the prophane and a grief and stumbling block to the godly especially when such eminent and severe strokes from Heaven have been upon many for so doing 3. Saints do keep the Testimony of Jesus Christ when they are found in the practice of Christ's appointments though in a more private way which is a testimony against the persecutions of the World and the abominations thereof as the primitive Christians practised 4. Saints do keep the word of Testimony when any of them are called before men for not partaking in false ways of Worship and being so called do not deny the truth but confess it before man Mâ—tâ—h 10. 32 33. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will â— coâ—fess bâ—fore my Father which is in Heaven But whosoever shall deny me before men him nill I also deny â—efore my Father wâ—ich is in Heaven So â—s said Iâ—sus Christ wiâ—nessed a good â—â—nâ—â—ssion before Poâ—tius Pilate 1 Tim
6 Though in this case also 't is not easie to lay down the uâ—most extent of duty sometimes the Witnesses of Christ have â—â—eely and openly upon their convention and examination without any proof against them witnesâ—ed to the whole tâ—uth and maâ—â—er of Fact as carryed â—orth 't is to be charitably judged by the Spirit of the Lord thereto as in Stephens case and Peter's Acts 3. Others have kept silence and held their persecutors to proof of matter of Fact against them yet so as they would not deny the Truth which is a Testimony to it Now such a witness-bearing before the Judicatories of men as the Spirit of the Lord carries forth our spirits is another way of having the Testimony of Jesus Christ Now if the Lord help this generation of his people to be faithful to their Light in these particulars they shall be found the Lambs followers keeping the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus But for any to judge that nothing else is a finishing a faithful testimony but for the servants of Christ to put themselves into the mouths of those whom they know wait to devour them and have laid a snare for them and that such are unâ—aithful or fearful or worse that think iâ— not their duty certainly when good â—ouls are come to themselves and shall particuâ—â—â—ly know and weigh the cases of the Lord 's poor servants without which 't is unreasonable to judge we shall all have a tender hearted forbearance one of another as that case requires Obj. 2. But was not this the practice of the Apostles Acts 4. when commmanded not to preach any more in the Name of the Lord Jesus they answered They â—ught to obey God rather than men Ans 1. I humbly conceive that the servants of God at this day if they were in the like manner called before Magistrates and were charged by them as the Apostles were namely Not to preach at all nor to teach in the Name of Jesus for so it was they would answer as the Apostles did would continue preaching where the providence of God opened a way to them as they did 2 We do not find it exprest that Peter and John preached openly in the Temple after that though they witnessed and preached elsewhere until the Angel of the Lord opened the Prison doors and commanded them to go and speak in the Temple Acts 5. 3. The Apostles having an extraordinary Annointing were to witness to all Nations that they had seen the Lord and that he was risen from the dead which is not the case of every particular Minister They went and preach't by the special dictate of the holy Spirit in one place and not in another 't is not so with ordinary Preachers And the same Spirit that led them forth sometimes to expose themselves to hazards at another time led them to withdraw from danger as hath been shewed Besides it doth not appear that there was any more than a meer prohibition not to preach to Peter and John by the Council of the Iews without any penalty of imprisonment or banishment expressed 3. Obj. Is not there a strict command that the Professors of Christ should not forsake the assembling themselves together Heb. 10. Ans Let it be considered what forsaking of assembling this was It was the departing from all Christian worship and fellowship a casting off their pâ—ofession as ver 23. Let us hold fast our profession such a forsaking as was a leading to an Apostacy as is clear in the following verses For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth c. which is annexed as a reason of not forsaking their assembling this will not be judged the present case 2. Saints therefore do not forsake their assembling in that sence while they hold fast their profession and labour to keep up worship in a more private way where they may likely assemble more peaceably and with less distraction for so those Hebrews did and all the Churches as hath been shewed Meeting is a duty but meeting openly is an accidental thing 4. Obj. But how are the servants of Christ consistent to their own Doctrine who press others to be partakers of the sufferings of Christ and would prepare them for it when they do not expose themselves to the utmost Ans There may be a prodigal casting away of liberty or life as well as a giving them up upon the Call of God 'T is certain that 't is a duty to offer up every Isaac to the Lord when he Calls for it but we must see our Call to be clear we should through grace be ready rather to suffer the loss of all things then to deny the truth and to follow the providential leadings of God thereto But that 't is our duty and call from the Lord to continue publikely witnessiâ—g and to expose our selves to the utmost hazards rather then give place though we know the snare is laid for us and we in all likelihood put an end to our Work in so doing is not yet proved to our Consciences from any Word of God but indeed the contrary is cleare to them If it be said that the judgement of some Saints is a Call herein I answer That the Judgement of many more may be put in the ballance against them who judge otherwise which may have as great or it may be a greater weight with them Obj. 5. But did not Daniel worship openly notwithstanding the Decree Dan. 6. Ans Whatever is said to the contrary it will easily appear that the prohibition and Decree was that Daniel should not pray unto his God at all as v. 7. That whosoever shall ask a Petition of any God or man for thirty dayes save of thee Oh King c. Not that Daniel and the Jews should not pray towards Jerusalem So that the Decree concerned natural moral Worship and not positive instituted Worship which may sometimes be dispensed with 2. Daniel in this case had an extraordinary Annointing upon him as a Prophet which carried him forth in this particular which in every circumstance is not to be made a standing Rule Besides we do not hear of such an open appearing of the rest of the people of God then in Babylon And let it be seriously considered that sometimes God hath indulged his people in the matter of positive Institutions as the Israelites in Egypt who were obliged to sacrificing if they could have had liberty but we do not find it practised while they were in Egypt So of Circumcision in the Wilderness there was an indulgence of it and that rolling away the reproach of Egypt mentioned at their circumcision Josh 5. 9. was not the reproach as some learned Interpreters judge of not being circumcised but of not being brought for so many years into the promised Land which 't is like the Egyp ians reproached Israel with So the Building of the Temple which was Institution ceased Ezâ—a 4. last upon the
prohibition till the 2d year of Darius whose indulgence they might have soon had but neglected it and built their own houses and were reproved by the Prophets for their neglect therein And that word as urged by blessed Mr. Burroughs in this case and other of the Servants of Christ is not to be slighted Mal. 9. I will have mercy and not sacrifice which may wel hold forth this That the Lord hath more respect to a Work of Mercy than to a Sacrifice a lawful preservation of a man's self is a moral duty a work of mercy not only to himself but others to which end a Sacrifice of instituted Worship at certain times and in some cases may be omitted Obj. 6. But 't is objected That the case is not the same with that of our Saviour and the Apostles whose lives were in hazard but now it is not so the Liberties and Livelyhoods of the Ministers of Christ are onely endangered Ans 1. The loss of liberty livelyhood with the ruine of their Families is as a lâ—sser death the preservation of which is a moral duty But let the case well be considered what three Months Imprisoâ—ment in such nasty holes as the Lonâ—on Prisons are and it may be understood to amount to little less than life and upon what terms liberty may be had at the three Months end is not so easie to determine it cost one eminent * Mr. S. Minister his life already But if it be stated to be onely the loss of liberty it will be a tender case of Conscience whether for once or twice appearing in publike a Minister is to hazard his service of the Câ—uâ—ches aâ—d People of God to whom hâ— may be useful in a more private way Obj. 7. But such a withdrawing may be aâ— offence â—o some Sâ—ints though most otheâ—â— be satâ—fied Ans I shâ—ll here speak a little to the case oâ— offences because Satan hath formerly had great advantage upon the Spirits of the Lâ—rd's people this way 1. There are oâ—â—â—â—ces that com by the ungodly perâ—ecuting world who lay stumbling blocks in the way of the people of God by their persecuting them to such it is said Wo to the â—orld because of offences Mat. 18. Saints are not surely to pronounce those woes one upon another upon different apprehensions of duty 2. There are offences that arise among the Churches and people of God themselves such are 1 Either really given one to another Or 2dly Through misunderstanding weakâ—ess passion or temptation are unduly taken and not given 1. Concerning the former namely offences really given which will too often be while we sâ—e but in paâ—t and are holy but in part the Spirit of God calls for all forbeaâ—ance compassion and restoring one another and bearing one anothers burdens according to the Royal Law of Lâ—vâ— Gal. 6. 1 2. Eph. 4. Phâ—l 2. Col. 3. 12. 1 Pet. 3. 8. â—rom which Scripâ—ures let Saints and Members of Churches learn what Spirit and carriage is required one of another in case of offences which through miscarriages mistakes and hours of temptations will befall the poor children of God while they are in the flesh and therefore do call for such an exercise of grace one towards another and not for rigid censuring debasing treading one anothers names under their feet or worse if it may be which are fruits of the flesh and of the pride of our own hearts when we set up a Throne in our own spirits and all must bow and â—all down to it to be judged either as to matter of Judgement or Practise and wonderfully please our selves in it which will not well consist with a wel humbled heart 2. There are Offences upon the Spirits of Saints that are taken but not really given through weakness of Judgement mis-guided Zeale Rashness and Passions and not attending to a well studyed and rightly informed Judgement whereby the Tempter waits to stumble good sculs and to hinder their peace and communion with the Lord. Hence the Wisdom of God takeâ— special notice of the evils that befall the spirits of men in this case A Brother offeâ—ded is haâ—der to be non than a strong City and their conteâ—tioâ—s are liâ—e â—â—e â—â—rs of a Castle Prov. 18. 19. Yea let it be seriously attended to by all that fear the Lord whether all the Teachers that have been among the People of God have not riâ—eâ— either for want of a compassionaâ—â— bearing of offences given or by taking offences unduly when not really given and by which Satan hath been graâ—fied and the uâ—converted world hath been stumbled and all for want of thorough-heart â—umiliation Wisdom Love in the Spirit whereby they should be able to â—udge â—oberly and walk in peace as becometh Saints But oftentimes this temptation hath not rested here but as it hath been observed by holy men that all backfliding and apostacy begins in taking offence first offended at one thing or person then at another and â—o at more till they drink in prejudice against the Servants of the Lord and the Way they walk in â—â—â—l from all sound and searching Ministery and so run from Mâ—uâ—tain to Hill from one thing to another till they come to nothing unâ—ess the Lord in rich 〈◊〉 â—â—covâ—r them by a sound Wâ—rk of Humiliation upon them 〈◊〉 laid in that Parable Matthew 1â— 12. That he that hath not râ—ot in hiâ—self in â— time of persecution is offenâ—â—â— Various wayes hath Satan to offend and stumble them Our Lord Jesus warned his Disciples of this Matth. 26. 31. Then saith Jâ—sus unto them All â—e shall be offended because of me this Night c. And when the Lord promiseth to bring back the Captivity of his people he saith to his servants Cast ye up cast ye up prepare ye the way take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people Then will the Lord remove their offences and heal their spirits and they shal walk on in the way to Zioâ— and shall not stumble any more Obj. 8. But doth it not proceed from carnal fear in such as judge that retirement is the duty of this day Ans A grain more of love may cast it that the Lord's servants and such of the Churches that so judge and walk do walk after their light conviction and satisfaction of conscience which happily a little time may determine Truly most of the sons of men have an Absoloms spirit and say in our hearts What would I do if I were in such or such an ones case wherein our own hearts wonderfully deceive us Yet if any of the servants of the Lord have a more then ordinary impulse of spirit at this time as it may be some have had since this dispensation of giving in their testimony 't is bâ—st to leave them to the Lord without judging each other Concerning the Ministers of Christ I would humbly say thus much That iâ— they shal be found in their particular practice faithful to the light and
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