a Christian should desire and seeke after recommending this vnto the event of tyme seing there is no surer interpretation and clearing of Prophecies as when they are fulfilled O everlasting good GOD the spring of all wisedome and grace inlighten our spirits and darke vnderstanding with the light and clearnesse of thy godly wisdome with the spring and fire of fervent charitie that in vs all worldly vanities lustes of the flesh and spring of pryde may bee extinguished and quenched by the holy lampe of thy light and that wee may rejoyce in our onelie and most excellent Iewell that thou hath given vs namely our onely Saviour and Redeemer and bee true obeyers all the dayes of our lyfe yea in the midst of death to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be praise and Glorie for ever Amen FINIS Qui paenitentiae dulcedinem libat Sacrificium pro peccatis libat A BRIEFE TREATISE AND EXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE MATH Chap. 3. verse 2. Repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand IN this booke we may see the long patience and suffering of GOD towards his owne people the Iewes who in the last tymes of their visitation did send his owne Sonne the Saviour of mankynd and that of the seede of Abraham to stretch foorth his hands and armes to saue and imbrace the remnant of the lost sheepe of the house of Israel but when they did contemne Gods Fatherly visitation and were offended with CHRIST IESUS had crucified the King of Glorie as lykewayes thereafter did persecute in the same manner all his disciples Apostles and servants of GOD then GOD left them and gaue them over vnto themselues and did begin his mercifull calling with the Gentiles who were strangers and aliants from the house of Israel By whose visitation likewise wee may learne of the mercie and justice of God for those Gentiles of Asia and East-landish Dominions haue had their owne tymes of GODS mercifull visitation but after many sinnes committed together with the persecution of saincts and contempt of the word GOD hath removed his Candlestickes from them and hath given them over vnto vanities and lyes and is gone from them and now in this last houre and tyme of the world it hath pleased him to erect his Church and candlesticke within this Nation And there fore O happie and thryse happie are wee if wee will acknowledge the tymes of our mercifull visitation and day of our calling for the LORD of glorie is standing at the doore of our soules and within this Nation wee haue had our owne tymes where GOD hath knocked long with the hammers of his Word and appearantly seing the word is contemned and beareth no fruite in mens consciences and conversations that GOD is departing from vs vnto another people and yet streatching foorth his armes and calling vnto him all true Christians who will turne vnto him and repent them of their sinnes for certainly there is no sinne which hath abounded in those forraine Churches but those and more doth abound besides vs and giue the Church and Sainctes of GOD within this Nation bee not persecuted with publict Tyrants yet let the wise Christian see how shee is persecuted rent and divided within her selfe which doeth prognosticate a fearefull departure of our kynd GOD and a terrible judgement to hang over our heads and would to God I say that our judgement bee not worse of all if we take not heede in tyme Therefore let vs bee wise and learne of the figge tree and of these tokens to prepare our selues for our Bridegroome the LORD IESUS second comming in the clowdes Iohn the Baptist a forerunner of the Messias the first trumpet of the Ghospell is heere crying out according to the Prophecie of Isaiah Prepare the wayes of the LORD make his pathes streight against the first comming of the Messias Amend your liues for the Kingdome of grace is at hand and is to bee offered in the LORD IESUS to everie true penitent and belieuer of the Ghospell Now in those dayes our onely high Priest and Prophet is crying vnto vs and learning vs by the Parable of the figge tree in the Ghospell that the Kingdome of glorie is at hand Mat. 24.32 And that wee should lift vp our heads working our salvation in feare and trembling waitting for the day of the LORD for he beeing the first trumpet of the Ghospell in those dayes his onely matter and aime was in respect of the great defection and diversitie of religion amongst the Iewes as likewise their true worship of God was turned into a Pharisaicall and selfe loue of themselves therefore hee was busie preparing the first way and comming of the LORD and importing vnto them a Kingdome of grace to bee at hand and therefore did exhort them vnto repentance that they might enter and goe in into that Church militant heere on earth by this Kingdome of grace now to bee offered and reveiled vnto them in the Messias that thereafter they might bee found worthie against the second comming of the Lord to enter into the Church triumphant and Kingdome of glorie .. Our Iohn the Baptists and preachers in our tymes haue greater occasion yea all preaching stooles whatsoever being now the last trumpets of the Ghospell haue matter enough to cry out in those words Repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand even that Kingdome of glorie where the Messias is not in his first comming in the lykenesse of a servant and in the basenesse of his flesh to offer more the Kingdome of grace and mercie in errecting a Church militant heere on earth as in the dayes of Iohn the Baptist But now certainly comming in his second comming in the clouds convoyed of all the Angels and trowpes of HEAVEN as a powerfull judge in full majesticall glorie to rander everie man according to his workes where grace and mercie shall cease to bee more offered and where all happie Saincts and blessed Elect who were partakers of that Kingdome of grace in the Church militant heere on earth shall bee gathred in that triumphant and glorious Church in the Heavens for ever O blessed and thryse blessed is that soule who findeth and approveth himselfe by the touchstone of repentance to bee a member in this Kingdome of grace and Church militant heere on earth hee shall be preferred and linked so fast vnto this blessed happinesse and endlesse joy of all Saincts also that no creature in Heaven nor in earth no the gates of hell can separate him from it Therefore how diligent should wee bee to imbrace this Kingdome of grace in these latter tymes seing the world is suncken into meere sinne and vanitie and all abhominations haue taken vpper hand yea all signes and tokens prophecied in Scriptures are fulfilled so that there resteth nothing except onely the signe of the Sonne of man comming in the clouds to judge the world and take acompt of our actions and which wee may as sure expect daylie to come as wee are
CHRONOLOGIA SAâ—â—â— By the high 〈◊〉 Doctor PHIL. NICOLA 〈◊〉 de regne Christi Shortly collected and augmented by Niels Michelsone Câ—â— Privilegio S. R. Maj. Newly translated out of the Germanâ— and Dence tongue into the English By DAVID FORBES Pervsed and accompanied with a short treatise and exhortation tending to repentance MATH Chap. 3. verse 2. Repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand Vitae finem perpende de â—rastino haud vllus securus EDINBVRGH Printed by Iohn Wreittoun 1630. TO THE RIGHT HONOVâ—ABLE THE RIGHT REVEâ—END AND WORTHY â—Hâ— LORD PROVEST BAILIFS MINISTERS and remnant â—â—â—selers of EDINBVRGH All â—â—â—â—se of grace heere and glorâ—â— heereafter c. RIght Honourable right Worthie renowned Senat and Pastors I Finding my selfe somewhat bound vnto your benevolent favours therefore I in minde did decree to giue out the first fruits proofe of my labours vnder the tuition and defence of your Honourable wisedomes and seeing I found this briefe and compendious German worke to bee fit for my purpose especially in those tymes when men are most secure sleeping in worldly vanities I was in a manner incited through conscience for to lay on my Talent vnto the benefite of mine owne natiue Countrie beeing obliged for to approue that which I did publickly professe before your worthie Senat and within your renowned Citie Therefore I could see none more meete to dedicate the proofe of my labours as vnto the conspicuous publicke censure of your Honourable Senat Right Honourable the Author of this little worke is a German Doctor in divinitie to Hanburgh Doctor Philip. Nicolaj now in the LORD who appearantly hath beene graced and indued with a gift of prophecie as experience and event of time hath testified in his travels who is the right fundamentall ground of this worke and prophecie written by him 33. yeares since namely in the yeare of CHRIST 1596 which was found extant presently after him in Latine and thereafter translated in the Germane tongue by Mr. Gothard Artus to Daâ—ssick namely in the yeare of CHRIST 1598. whereout a Dence Professor called Niels Michelsone hath gathered this briefe worke and translated againe in Dence and Printed lately Anno 1628. The substance is a briefe analogie of times conferred with Scripture out of Ezekiell Daniel and Revelation of Iohn containing a Prophecie and successe of the Ghospell to the worlds end concluded with the Authors protestation which I thought good to translate and accompanie with an exhortation to repentance and benefite mine owne Nation with the same Heerewith persuading my selfe of acceptance I doe thrust this poore myte of my travels into the treasurie of your Christian and charitable dispositions recommending it vnto the protection and tuition of your Honourable wisdomes and you and your doings vnto the grace of GOD. Yours in CHRIST IESVS David Forbes TO The Christian READER GEntle Reader I haue thought good to benefite thee with this little worke de regno CHRISTI and to translate it in our owne commoun language that it may come in publict view of all which I haue out of loue and for thy spirituall well pervsed accompanied with a breefe treatise and exhortation to repentance requesting thee as a spirituall freind to cover my weaknesse and imperfection therein with the vaile of charitable censure but as for the translation it selfe I shall approue it before all censurs whatsomever my Master may well pretend it not to be decored with the ornate phrase of language but yet I hope he must subscryue it to be the true translation according to the German and Dence phrase it selfe which wee ought receaue in good part seing the Histories and Prophecies both of Ezekiel Daniel and Revelation of Iohn haue as it were hitherto beene dark but now in the end dayly more and more opned and cleared so well by faithfull Preachers as also by dayly experience which the Prophets doe testifie clearely that men shall bee enlightned in those mysteries at the end as you can remark in the Authors warrand for searching of the Scriptures wherein we see plainly a speciall illumination of the Spirit prophecied vnto some for opening of all hid prophecies and partes of Scripture yet albeit it is no wayes the Authors meaning absolutely to determine and appoynt vnto GOD the tyme and end of these things which secreete the Father hath reserved for himselfe only as he protesteth heere in the end for the yeere day and houre wee may not know but yet of all tokens which our LORD IESUS hath revealed vnto vs as likewayes the experience of our tymes conferred and compared with these Prophecies wee can easily discerne that all these prophecies are most fulfilled and that the world will soone take an end and therefore should admonish vs to haue the lampes of our heartes prepared that wee may convoy our Brydgroome the LORD IESUS into that blessed Heaven of all happinesse To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all praise and Dominion AMEN Thine in the LORD DAVID FORBES THE AVTHORS WARRAND for searching of Scripture DANIEL 12. verse 4. BVT thou O Daniel shut vp the words and seale the booke till the end of the time many shall runne to and fro knowledge shall bee encreased Verse 9. And hee said Goe thy way Daniel for the words are closed vp and sealed till the end of the time Verse 10. Many shall be purified made white tried but the wicked shall do wickedly none of the wicked shall haue vnderstanding but the wise shall vnderstand IEREMIAH 23. Verse 20. In the latter dayes yee shall vnderstand it plainely REVELATION 10. verse 7. But in the dayes of the voyce of the seventh Angel when he shall beginne to blow the trumpet even the mysterie of GOD shall bee finished as hee hath declared to his servants the Prophets Verse 11. And hee said vnto mee Thou must prophesie againe amongst the people and nations and tongues and to many Kings IWP CHRONOLOGIA SACRA THE CALLING TYME OF THE IEWES 41 ½ Yeares YEare after the birth of CHRIST 29 Iohn Baptist began to preach repentance and to baptize And in the said yeare began the time of the Iewes mercifull calling which conteineth in it selfe 41 ½ yeares Apoc. 14.15 Anno Christi 30. Christ was baptized and then discovered himselfe to the people whom he was and that by his preaching and miracles Anno Christi 31 Iohn Baptist is cast in prison Anno Christi 32 he was beheaded Anno Christi 34 Christ was crucified stood vp and ascended into Heaven The calling tyme of the Gentils 1600 yeares ANno Christi 70 endeth the calling tyme of the Iewes when their chiefe Citie and whole policies were destroyed to the ground and in their place goeth on the calling tyme of the Gentils of the which Christ gathereth now his Church which mercifull calling of the Gentils indureth 1600 yeares as it is written in the Revelation chap. 14. verse 20 and is vnderstood by the 1600
that passeth all vnderstanding in which the soules of the Saincts doe rest with thee O Kingdome of everlasting blesse where thou O LORD the hope of all Sancts art and the diademe of their perpetuall glory rejoycing them on everie side with thy blessed sight In this Kingdome there is infinite joy mirth without sadnesse health without sorrow life without labour light without darknesse felicitie without abaitment all goodnesse without evill where youth floorisheth that never waxeth old life that knoweth no end beautie that never fadeth loue that never cooleth health that never diminisheth joy that never ceaseth where sorrow is never felt complaint is never heard matter of sadnesse is never seene nor evill successe is never feared for that they possesse thee O LORD which art the perfection of their felicitie Oh deare brother into this verie moment of life whereon dependeth all eternitie why should wee delay our repentance when I looke vnto the world with my spirituall eyes I wonder to see how the most part of men wearie themselues in vanitie and in the triffle of worldly things neglecting this Heavenly treasure and Kingdome of all happinesse why doth not rather now all men in the last moment of tymes runne after this Kingdome in buying this pure and tryed gold of CHRIST IESUS It is a lamentable and inward griefe of true Christians to see almost the whole world so busied and exercised in buying straw in Egypt where as they could buy fine gold with lesse labour and at a lower pryce is it not now tyme for worldly men to follow the doctrine of CHRIST and sell all that ever they haue to purchase this Kingdome and the example of Paul who esteemed all the world as dung in respect of this Iewell and Ignatius who saith fire gallows beastes breaking of my bones quartring of my members crushing of my bodie all the torments of the Devill together let them come vpon me so I may injoy this treasure of Heaven and Augustine who was content to suffer torments everie day yea the verie torments of Hell it selfe to haue this joy Oh how few considreth this Kingdome of Heaven to bee at hand and how many are they who bestow their tyme in vanitie pleasures and delyts of the world so that men all most are bent to wickednesse and abhomination which is an infallible token that destruction is imminent and the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand and seing all tokens and prophecies are fulfiled in the Scripture whereby it is most certaine that the day of the LORD is at hand so is the hardnesse of the heart and wickednesse of mankynde likewise a true token and a note of imminent destruction as is evident by all examples of the holy Scripture how it hath beene the forme of worldlings and reprobate persons to harden their hearts and double their sinnes against the day of vengeance So was it in the dayes of Sodome Gomorrah who could not bee warned of Lots exhortations but hardned their hearts and doubled their iniquities Iudas wicked resolution could not bee changed by his masters forewarning presently before his imminent destruction neither the Iewes would take heede vnto all the prophecies or plagues hanging over them but hardned their hearts against all exhortations preachings promises and thundrings made by Prophets proceeding in such an excesse in sinne and defection from GOD hard before their vtter ruine and destruction executed by Titus And when we conferre to these former examples those of our dayes and latter times how mercifully and abundantlie is GOD warning and crying vs to repentance and amendement of life by faithfull Preachers of his Ghospell But who heareth and repenteth where is the worldly and avaritious man who hath amended his life and turned from his avarice or where is the prodigall man who hath left his prodigalitie and is clothing the naked and feeding the hungrie or where is the proud and ambitious man who is become humble and lowlie or where is the false vsurer and deceatfull man restoring it againe vnto the poore with Zacheus in the Ghospell but rather all sinnes are prevailing in their highest degrees drunkennesse adulterie pryde and avarice especially are become so vsuall and followed of all men that they are rather accoumpted vertue than vice so that the Elect of this age may now sigh and cry out with that holy Martyre Policarpus O Domine in quaenam tempora nos reservasti O LORD what perrilous sorrowfull and miserable times lettest thou thy Elect liue in those dayes what tyme or age in the world since the creation of Adam hath more sinne and wickednesse abounded or what time hath there beene in old whereinto charitie and trueth hath beene so cold and wholly departed from the hearts of men as now in those dayes and if the ground of election were not sure what a hard thing is it and a matter of great difficultie for a Christian soule to attaine vnto the worke of his calling and persevere in true faith and obedience into those dangerous and latter times seeing how rare they are to bee found who by a godly life and conversation sheweth a good example to others and the Devill hath got such victory in this age that he hath almost all dominions and powers of the world vnder him as Ambassadours yea most of all creatures are verie instruments for inlarging the Kingdome of Sathan who certainly goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom hee may devoure seing hee feareth his hellish torments draweth soone to a beginning and therefore striveth with all diligence if it were possible to lead and carie all soules borne on the earth vnto endlesse perdition and destruction with him will wee looke vnto all the estates of men both ciuill and eclesiasticall from the rich Monarch vnto the poore beggar from the learned doctor and prelate vnto the lowest deacon from the aged father vnto the verie infant wee shall see now in those dayes the hearts of Kings moved and induced more by Ambassadours of Sathan than by the counsell of the godly imbracing rather the counsell of subtill and treacherous Achitophell who standeth after the destruction and ruine of a Commonwell than the counsell of the old wise favourer of land and policie and that in those last times How pittifull a thing it is to see such a consort of traitours to intrude themselues in the companie of potentats and superior estates who by their deceiving prctaickes haue brought to passe such fearefull events in whole Europ as miserable experience by losse of life wife children and goods hath proued vnto many thousands within those few yeares begone Behold how nobles and men of State how their hearts and eares are locked vp from the cryes of the poore and repell their cryes without helpe as the stony rockes repelleth the vaves of the Sea without sence looke vnto the lower estate of men thou shalt finde nothing more to abound than pryde in imitating the footsteps and forme of apparell of noble men
man according to his workes O would to GOD wee could consider attentiuelie the prospect of all GODS creatures how they teach vs dayly that all things draweth to their end all things waxe worse and briefer the earth giveth not her wonted fruits but worse men sinneth with new sinnes GOD plagueth againe with new sicknesse and the life of man commonly attaineth not vnto former and wonted age and commonly cut off in her first prime the waters giue not their wonted aboundance of creatures the sunne and Moone misseth their wonted shine and vertues the starres of Heaven are turned into comets for preaching of GODS vengeance the Aire and all elements are moved with fearefull and vnacquainted tempestuousstormes and all thinges as it were wish to bee disolved so that the earth is waerie worne and overburdened with the wickednesse of her creatures also that shee fainteth trembleth and wisheth to bee fred and disburthened of her most vntolerable birth all which prophecies fulfilled and conferred together with the experience of this our age there is no spirituall man but of necessitie must conclude that the day of the LORD is at hand and if any learned Divines haue ought to pretend as yet not fulfilled yet I perswade my selfe there is none of them but will subscryue to CHRISTS owne words that the latter tymes shall bee shortned for the Elects sake Math. 24. and that all the Saints in Heaven are now rejoycing and hoping for the accomplishment of the fulnesse of their joy when that soule and bodie may be coupled and vnited together and enter with all the blessed Elect into that glorious and triumphant Church and Kingdome of glory Therefore to conclude I say Will nothing moue thee vnto this repentance no the mercies patience and long suffering of GOD can moue theâ— neither the benefites and temporall blessings of GOD bestowed vpon thee nor the prospect and defection of elements and creatures neither the abhomination and wickednesse of mankynd no not the dayly experience of violent death can moue thee yet let the feare of imminent justice and day of the LORD that glorious Kingdome of Heaven now at hand moue thee to repentance and amendement of life I pray thee consider with thy selfe if there bee any creature created in Heaven or in earth who can by any evident argument assure thee that when thou sittest downe to thy table that thou shall ryse before CHRIST come in the clowdes and aske account of thee or when thou goest out of thy doores about thy worldly respectes to turne back to thine house but that thou may be caught into the clowdes of Heaven before the justice seate of GOD either when thou lyest downe in thy bed with thy mortall bodie but that thou shall be in an eye blinck in thy sleepe exchanged into an immortall creature and presentlie presented before the glorious throne and Majestie of CHRIST IESUS to giue account of thy workes Good LORD when I doe meditate with my selfe of the imminencie of this Kingdome of Heaven and of the former workes of mankynd in this age it troubleth my thoughts and vnquyeteth my spirits and maketh my bones to quake and my flesh to tremble for feare to thinke how that the LORD of Glory shall find the whole world in such damnable and pitiefull estate and how few they are who are prepared with the oyle of grace in the lampes of their heartes shall hee not rather find men busied about the vanities of the world and lustes of the flesh then attending the comming of the LORD IESUS O doolefull and miserable experience O wicked abhomination and sinfull generation of mankynd What fearefull justice art thou prophecying to bee imminent Oh how doolefull lamentable and sorrowfull will the event proue to many who are sleeping in sencelesse securitie in the lap of worldly vanities awaken O secure man and harden not thy heart nor delay not the tyme of thy repentance abuse not the long patience and suffering of GOD accept of grace in this verie last moment of grace for now the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand where the gates of grace and mercie shall bee closed and never opened nor offered againe O miserable wretched damned and forlorne creature art thou if thou repent not in time how pittifull shall then thy estate bee when thou shall bee forced with perpetuall shame infamie and confusion to stand naked in the presence of all creatures and before the justice throne of GOD where thou shalt heare that horrible sentence of the KING of all Kings and judge of all the whole world Depart from mee yee workers of iniquitie into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his angels O terrible and fearfull sentence once pronunced how fearfull and vnexpressible shall thy paine bee where no repentance no teares no treasures no friend no foe no griefe no sorrow will then helpe thy miserable damnable desperate soule out of her endlesse quaill and never consuming torments And on the contrare how joyfull shall that soule bee who hath repented heere in this life when they shall bee promoted in the Heavens to liue as Kings in that everlasting happinesse and joye of all Saincts The LORD of his mercie make vs prepared against the comming of the LORD IESUS to whom with the Father and holy Ghost be praise and glory for ever AMEN
certaine of things past For Heaven and earth will perish but one jote or one word of the LORD shall not perish This spirituall echo resembleth well in our eares as Iohn the Baptist would say I exhort you to repent because of those miserable times in that godlinesse amongst you is thinne and Pharisaicall decisions and other diversities is in your Church as likewise all sinne and wickednesse aboundeth amongst you and the Kingdome of grace is at hand now to bee offered in the Messias and Sonne of GOD CHRIST IESUS and which Kingdome of grace who so receaveth by faith and repentance now in this last time of your calling shall inherit the Kingdome of Heaven and Kingdome of glorie and which Kingdome of Heaven no man can attaine vnto without this true repentance and amendement of life and which notable trumpet of repentance may verie well bee applyed vnto this age Therefore thou who readest this and thou who bearest this repent amend thy life in regard of those evill and latter dayes in that true godlinesse is thinne amongst vs and true religion is rent and covered with all sort of schismes and diversities in the Church of GOD and the whole earth is overladen with wickednesse and sencelesse securitie Let vs now lift vp our heads and light vp the lamps of our hearts for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand where once grace shall rest to bee offered at which tyme all true penitents shall bee gathered and inherite that blessed glorious and everlasting Kingdome of Heaven The spirituall meaning of this text importeth a circumstance and necessitie of this repentance as if hee would say for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand and therefore it is necessare that yee repent and amend for who so desireth to bee partakers of this Kingdome of Heaven hee can not come without this repentance Also that this repentance is such a necessare thing that thou canst not attaine vnto salvation without it yea thou canst not bee more saued in the day of the LORD without repentance then Noah was saved without the Arke from the Flood O happie is hee and thryse happie who attaineth vnto this sanctified repentance it is the pricke of conscience it is the verie sacrifice and faith of Abraham it is the sacrificing knyfe to mortifie the outward man It is the firie and fervent burning zeale of the soule accompanied and endued with the spirit of prayer and godly sorrow quenched with the teares of true repentance and with a comfortable joy and feeling of the mercies of GOD yea it bringeth vs vnto the verie sacrifice it selfe vnto the which Isaack was a type namely vnto true faith in the Blood of IESVS It is the budding rodde of Aaron which shall bring foorth such blossomes of a godly lyfe and joy in the holy spirit heere in this earthly tabernacle and in the morning in the Tabernacle of the testimonie that is when the evening of thy time is past and thou art brought vnto the morning of thy endlesse rest either by death or the day of the LORD then shall it budde and blossome vnto thee such fruites of endlesse and vnspeakable happinesse as no tongue can bee able to expresse nor heart to thinke of It is the strong hand of Iacob who by faith will wrestle and take such holde on CHRIST that it will never leaue him vntill the time hee be blessed Therefore good Christian let vs consider what excellent times and occasion wee haue as yet to day to repent while that the gates of grace are open let vs runne to this throne of grace so long as it is offered in the Ghospell and not delay the time of our repentance Now is the Kingdome of Heaven at hand even that glorious Kingdome of IESVS when the gates of grace shall bee shut and never offered no more when no repentance teares or prayers will prevaile Now I say in this last evening and houre of the world so long as CHRIST is standing knocking with the hammer of his Ghospell at the doore of thy soule refuse not to open least the time of his standing be now out and thou then bee left and locked without the doores of his mercie as a wretchfull and woefull reprobate for ever then vnhappie man that euer thou was borne thou shall then repent but too late and all thy repentance is then but aggravating of thy sorrowes and never dying torments in hell for ever The rich Glutton and reprobate already there would giue the whole earth if they did possesse it to haue the time place and meanes of grace offered vnto them as now wee haue but they can not redeeme this time with thousands of worlds mountaines of gold not so much therefore be eased as for a minute of an houre out of their never dying torments Therefore I would request the resonable man who in some sence hath gotten a sight and tast of the mercies of GOD and of thy effectuall calling in IESUS CHRIST to consider meditate and ponder with thy selfe of the fearefull event and end of the world now at hand and therefore to preasse with all diligence to frame thy lyfe and conversation according to the prescript word of GOD and let our myndes be so occupied about heavenly things dayly and hourely attending the comming of our LORD IESUS CHRIST who assuredly finding the lampe of thine heart prepared with the oyle of grace and teares of sanctified repentance will at that day transforme and metamorphose thine earthie tabernacle into an immortall body where both soule and body shall enjoy that joy of all joyes which is to behold the most comfortable sight of GOD himselfe yea that blessed contemplation of the holy Trinitie wherewith thy glorified soule shall bee filled so with such an vnexpressible and vnspeakable blessed joy comming from this maine Ocean and fountaine of all happinesse that it shall overflow with joy that it can not bee able to conteane more joy of it selfe than the presence alone and contemplation of GOD which hee himselfe shall fill it with yea ever enjoying and rejoycing and never wearying but ever praising and gloriefying GOD in all eternitie which blessednesse is the joy of all Sainctes and Elect and will be motion eneugh vnto them to rouse and waken Gods children for attending the LORD IESUS second comming in the clowdes and not to delay the tyme of their repentance but as for the secure man who hast not atteined vnto a sense of this joy neither knowest thou what this meaneth it shall bee little helpe vnto him because hee is sleeping in senselesse securitie hee may well dreame of these joyes but he hath no benefite of them because hee accounteth more of worldly things and hath a benummed conscience that he hath eyes and sees not eares and heares not a heart and yet can not vnderstand Hee is like Adam new made lying before GOD created with his whole members and yet hath no vse of them vntill the LORD breath in a living soule
spirit in him then shall he be brought to conceaue of spirituall things and so consequently to this repentance Yet I hope there is none so voide of knowledge albeit vnregenerate but hee shall bee driven to learne and consider with himselfe either by the law and order of nature or by the law of conscience this one object especially the end of his being or creation which I think there is no man albeit he would forget GOD and not once dreame of him yet hee will haue a regard of him selfe and seing hee findeth himselfe to haue a being and life for if it had pleased God thou hadst not beene at all therefore seing thy being and life is not with the beastes vnreasonable but such a reasonable life and soule as that thou considerest that all other things whatsoever in the world created Sunne Moone starres elements tree hearb beasts and everie living creature are all subject and made for thy service therefore thou canst not but conclude albeit thou hadst no other teachers as the light of nature or the light of conscience but that the end of thine owne creation must bee to serue GOD the only Maker moover and governour of all thinges and so having considered that thou hast a GOD and Master to serue thou canst not haue such a base estimation but that thou must giue account of thy service and the good servant will often meditate the day and tyme of account in his Masters absence and will calculate and prease with all diligence to haue his count cleare against his Masters comming especially not knowing the tyme of his comming which consideration albeit thou werst an Athiest thou shall bee driven vnto it either by the light of nature or light of conscience but deare Brother wee are more abundantly taught as by these especially in this our age who are borne vnder the Ghospell of IESUS CHRIST which great mercie of GOD towards vs is vnexpressible Art thou therefore a man into whose heart this mercie is not as yet impressed and that thou hast not regarded nor considered what GOD hath learned thee out of his Word nor dost not marke how GOD this long tyme bygone hath stand knocking with the hammers and trumpets of his Evangell at the doore of thy soule so that thou resemblest no more a Christian yet I pray thee resemble the Heathen heerein and let either thy owne conscience tell thee or the law of nature teach thee that all things serveth for thy vse and service and so consequently thou for the vse of GOD and to his service that is either for a vessel of his glory in the Heavens for ever or for a spectacle of his justice in the paines and torments of hell for ever and that thou must make account of thy actions at the great day of account Wilt thou neither imitate Christian nor Heathen heerein not letting teach thee by the Word of GOD law of nature or light of conscience yet reject not feare with the vnreasonable beast for all beasts whatsomever haue a kynd of feare and will avoide if they can any paine or torment therefore haue some feare of thy selfe els what shall become of thee heereafter at death and if thou reject not this feare yet thou shall bee brought so farre as to consider the end of thy being and creation which is to serue GOD and which service thou must make account of one day that is at the day of judgement which albeit it should bee prolonged some hundreth yeares yet wee see by dayly experience how death without exception and exspectation of many doeth violently compell all estates young and old vnto this account so that no man is certaine of the end of his lyfe But what shall I say this death is so commoun little feared and nothing regarded also that worldly men promisse vnto them selues length of dayes and tyme of repentance before death come The young man in respect of his youth and abilitie will dreame of a long lyfe and yet often cutte off before hee expect The old man going in the brinck of his graue doth promisse himselfe no suddaine death and the tyme of his repentance to come soone eneugh in respect GOD is mercifull and yet before that ever hee exspect hee is so choaked and cruelly beset and invironed lykewayes with the pangues of death that in no manner of way once is hee able to meditate vpon repentance in respect of the suddaine sorrowes and of the cruell passions of death which mightily ever-whelmeth the whole bodie of him in an eye blink yea in a verie moment of tyme and dryveth the soule by violence out of the bodie vnto the Maker thereof and there for to render account of its doings whether it hath beene good or evill and therefore O Christian seing that repentance is such a pretious jewell studie by all meanes to worke out thy salvation in feare and in trembling And yet the worldly man I say not only the worldly man but when I looke and consider the doings of men that the whole world for the greatest part are sleeping in such senselesse security that they are rather dreaming with the Athiest of no death and if death yet no resurrection no judgement no paine no torment no blesse nor endlesse joy vnto themselues and leading such a negligent and carelesse life that I am assured they doe not once thinke of the last day much lesse of any accoumpt to make of their doings at the day of judgment But I will assure thee that the day of the LORD is comming to rander everie man according to his workes Well thou may sleepe secure in the bosome of worldly vanities such a short space as thou canst but the day is at hand when thou shall bee fearefully wakned with the trumpet of Angels and troupes of Heaven when thou shall bee in a moment metamorphosed from a mortall creature into an never and ever dying vessell and spectacle of GODS wrath where thou shalt stand naked in the sight of all creatures when as thy doings neglegence and secure life with all thy sinnes that thou small accoumptest of before shall bee raised as mountaines in the view and presence of thy conscience and shall beare witnesse against thee yea shall overwhelme thee with endlesse sorrows in the bottomlesse pit of despare and gulfe of Hell where they shall torment thee for ever thou being forsaken and put out of the presence of GOD as a woefull reprobat subject vnto devilish torments For if nothing moue thee yet let feare moue thee and hast thou so much as feare of thy selfe with the vnreasonable beasts then feare GOD feare his Majestie feare his infinite power and justice and repent and amend thy life without the which thou canst not be fred from hellish torments Wilt thou not feare GOD yet feare because of the Devill in that hee is appointed for a tormenter of all vnpenitents feare Hell feare never dying paine and torment feare the devils malice and thou
shall be brought at last to some practise of repentance Art thou so farre come that thou art affraied of thy selfe it is something I pray thee then let this feare moue thee so farre as to heare diligently GODS Word partake the sacraments vse the meanes of grace pray to GOD albeit thy prayer bee imperfite and but lip labour lye and waite at the poole of Bethesda which will and obedience of thy selfe this feare may worke in thee and yet thou being a vnregenerat man it can helpe nothing in the inward worke of this repentance but yet art thou thus well exercised Now in the tyme of grace and lying at the poole of Bethesda and gates of grace Hast thou attained so much as a desire of this repentance then I am assured the LORD shall pittie thy hard case and the Angel shall come downe and moue the watter and thou shall bee washen from thy sinne and leprosie Wilt thou thus thrust thy selfe in where CHRIST is and thirst after this repentance then assuredly some tyme there shall goe one vertue or other from him which shall alter and change thy hard heart into an heart of waxe so that it shall melt with the sorrowfull teares of repentance and CHRIST shall giue them of the Well of the water of lyfe freely who thirsteth after it which when thou hast a teined vnto a kynd of repentance then marke well it bee this which briefly hath these infallible tokens and methode in it selfe true and sanctified repentance indeede that is I say after a sensible sight and confession of thy sinne thou art accompanied with the teares of true repentance out of a contrite and broken heart where thou dost reape faith in the mercies of GOD the Father through IESUS CHRIST and joy in the holy GHOST budding foorth in the fruites of a godly lyfe and holie conversation these are infallible tokens of the true children of GOD and are so fast linked together that they can not bee separated from others Art thou therefore vnregenerate yet sleeping in dead securitie Hast thou not gotten a sight and sense of thy sin Thy cace is fearefull for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand when the divell shall lay all thy sins before thee where thou shall bee wakned with a fearefull and terrible sight of thy miserie Hast thou not as yet confessed thy sinnes in private before thy GOD and accused thy selfe of thy transgressions thy estate is to bee pittied the day of the LORD is at hand when thou must confesse them publicklie against thy will where the Devill shall accuse thee yea thy owne conscience shall tell thee that thou art justly condemned and cast away for ever Hast thou not sorrowed with the teares of true repentance The tyme is at hand when thou shall with a desperate sorrow so lament and bewaile thy miserable estate that thou shall never bee comforted out of thy endlesse miserie and never dying paine Hast not thine heart as yet conceaved a certaine joy in the holy GHOST and faith of the mercies of GOD in his Sonne CHRIST IESUS then O poore soule and catiue creature albeit thou wert a Monarch and hade the riches of Croesus yet thy cace is most miserable and lamentable then I say O desperate creature I pray thee delay not the tyme of thy repentance but goe and sell all that thou posessest for this precious Iewell and arlepennie of thy salvation for the day of the LORD is at hand when thou shall bee shut out of that endlesse joy and rest for ever and then shall reape no faith in the mercies of GOD but such a doolefull and miserable desperation out of the justice of GOD that thou shalt curse the verie day of thy birth and nativitie Hast thou not hated the Devill and thy sinne heere in this life the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand when as the Divell and thy sinne shall so hate thee with a perpetuall hatred and torment thee in the Hell for ever Hast thou not kythed heere in this lyfe the fruites of true repentance in glorifying GOD and in charitable and mercifull workes vnto thy brethren I will assure thee the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand when as God shall be glorified in thy endlesse ruyne and destruction where no mercie nor charitie shall bee kythed on thee but most horrible and tyrannous torments executed by the Devill and his Angels O miserie of all miseries O paine of all paines and never dying torments how horrible and fearefull is thy rememberance Oh Father Abraham who in thy lifetime was a paterne of mercie and pittie on the poore and indigent how art thou thus disposed as not to pittie the poore catiue and tormented Dives in Hell fire and send Lazarus vnto him that hee may dip the top of his finger in water to coole his tongue in such fire and vnquenchable flame or how doest thou not comfort him in his miserie that it shall either end from him or hee from it which would haue giuen this poore damned and tormented Dives some contentment but I see thou dost rather rejoyce as to haue pitie in that it tendeth vnto the glorie and justice of GOD and that his paine is endlesse and never shall bee eased how terrible should the consideration bee vnto a good Christian of the straitnesse of this torments and perpetuitie of paine for ever But on the contrare art thou a soule who hast repented of thy former transgressions and dost repent dayly of thy infirmities who hast attained vnto this sanctified sorrow out of the which thou hast conceaved the hony of true repentance namely joy in the holy GHOST faith in the mercies of GOD in his Sonne CHRIST IESUS it is a certaine token thou art a child of God and the Kingdome of Heaven which thy soule thirsteth after is at hand where thou shalt injoy that fulnesse and summe of all blessed joy with all the Sainctes and Angels in the Heavens for ever which glorious blessed and everlasting Kingdome of GOD is so furnished with joyes that no creature in Heaven nor in earth can thinke of much lesse expresse this eternall happinesse layed vp in store for the elect where the just shall shine like the Sun Math. 15. This is the promised crowne of glory this is the Paradice and place of pleasure and joy of all Saincts this is the hidden Manna which no man knoweth but hee who injoyeth it and with DAVID Happie are they that liue in thy house O LORD Psal 8. 3. for they shall bee drunke with the river of GODS divine pleasures and with the abundance of GODS house Psal 3.5 where wee shall see GOD which is our chiefe happinesse Augustine speaking of this Kingdome sayeth O joy aboue all joyes passing all joyes and without which there is no joy when shall I enter into thee when shall I injoy thee to see my GOD that dwelleth in thee O everlasting Kingdome O Kingdome of all eternities O light without end O peace of GOD
lust of the flesh in abusing the Temples of the holie Ghost with incest adulterie and fornication drunkennesse in spending of their owne life and meanes behold the verie beggars who as men would say in troubles in necessities and want should worke and seeke that everlasting riches in the LORD waiting for the comming of the LORD IESUS thou shall marke no hungring nor thirsting after righteousnesse in them but a maine consort of ignorance lewde and vitious creatures who are more exercised and busied in time of divyne service in tipling and secret places and about their owne bodies rather as to finde them in GODS house begging grace vnto their soules will we looke vnto the common course of youth thou shalt finde and heare the first lesson they learne is pryde cursing and prophaning of GODS Name even from their verie infancie againe from their youth to their age running from one vice to another and where then wee see commonly they are more addicted vnto the worlds avaritiousnesse and lewdnesse than with any godlinesse or goodnesse and so most part ending their dayes without repentance they die miserablie without any sence of their sinnes and are swallowed vp at the houre of death into the horrible pit of despare where their torments doe beginne with never dying paine Behold the Ecclesiasticall government thou shall see avarice and ambition so to haue intruded themselues amongst many of them so that they seeme rather to digge earthly than heavenlie treasures resembling well the workemen of Noah who were good biggers but not possessers so that many Kirkmen are good edifiers in the word but are evill example givers who are so possessed part with ambition and other with avaritiousnesse of the world that they seeme to neglect their owne salvation Farre bee it said from the worthie Divine and faithfull Preacher of the Ghospell who seeketh not their owne glory and advancement but the advancement of GODS glory and edifying of soules vnto GOD all which spait of iniquitie and senselesse securitie are evident tokens I say of imminent ruine and destruction for this our age liveth as secure of our selues as in the dayes of Noah Sodom and Gomorrha and as the Iewes before the destruction of Ierusalem but how came it to passe in these dayes when they were most sure and expected least any destruction presentlie the flouds of Heaven opened and the waters overflowed the whole earth with her creatures the elements conjoyned them selues in fire and brimstone and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha and when the Iewes cuppe of abhomination was full GOD stirred vp instruments amongst themselues who presentlie were the cause of their owne destruction in Ierusalem and the whole land of Iudea It is to bee feared therefore that it will likewise so event in these last dayes when all sinne taketh the vpper hand and when men liue most negligently and carelesse of themselues that then the LORD IESUS will come in the clowdes and take account of the wickednesse of mankynd The wicked abhomination of mans heart made GOD in his wrath cry out and say I repent that ever I made man Genes 6.6 And certainly if we will view and consider now in those tymes the tragedie of the world it is placed in verie wickednesse it selfe and when wee looke vnto conscience of religion how many wonderous cursed and damned sects and opinions are spred on the faee of the earth and everie man affirming Scripture for vpholding their hereticall opinion wresting the Word of GOD vnto their owne willes and inventions O thou religion how art thou changed and disfigured yea rather abused how can the simple soule knew thee or to what hand shall hee turne when so many miserable opinions are at strife 2 Cor. 4. It is onelie the humble heart that the trueth is manifested vnto it is not without cause that the spirit of GOD prophecieth in the Revelation that thou shouldest bee clothed in sackcloth Revel 11. yea thou art surelie disguysed and most by the great comfort of Antichristians who are dispersed amongst all Nations Now is the mother of whoredome mounted vpon the seven headed beast that ten horned monster yea that old Dragon the devill hath given him his power and hath printed on his fore head the name of blasphemie he spueth out now a dayes vncleane spirits who are ambassadours to inlarge the Kingdome of Sathan so that the Church may now lament in the prophet Ieremiah Haue you no regard all yee that passe by this way behold and see if there bee any sorrow like vnto my sorrow and that GOD is forced now to speake I haue long tyme holden my peace I haue beene still and refrained my selfe now will I cry like a traweling woman and I shall destroy and devoure both at once O wicked and abhominable age O sinfull and miserable generation what other object dost thou bring before our eyes but sinne and wickednesse are not Kings opposed against Kings and Nation against Nation so that the one triumpheth over other mens spoile yea subjects mutine against their owne naturall Prince and all sinnes wickednesse are conquerours and drunken in by men as water of a thirstie stomacke what lying and deceiving what slander and shamelesse villanie is done by all the estates of men in all places the generall voice of the people is nothing els but vanitie baudrie whooring detraction and backbyting pryde envy deceit drunkennesse dissimulation wantonnesse flatterie lying swearing perjuring and blaspheming so that all abhomination and wickednesse is growne to a certaine perfection and maturitie in those dayes and that the shoulders of this vniversall globe is overlaiden with the wickednesse of mankynde The trumpets of GOD may now cry out with the Prophet Ieremiah O yee Heavens bee astonied at this bee afraide and vtterly confounded saith the LORD And lastly will wee looke vnto GODS creatures and vnto the elements what comets signes and wonderous tokens hath beene seene and heard within those few yeares I doubt not but it is well knowne vnto the diligent searcher as experience hath well taught albeit not to all in those parts yet in sundrie parts in Germanie Italie Denmarke and Norvay are kythed fearefull tokens as vntimely birth and Monsters borne in Denmarke blood rained from the Heavens on the earth one halfe foote deepe ashe stones and fire rained from the Heavens in Island the pittifull crying thryse of a chylde in the mothers wombe in Berone in Norvay All which I haue seene approved and heard by experience and many more visions and terrible tokens seene in Europ both by earthquakes overflowing of watters and fearefull visions seene and heard in the elements and witnessed by sundrie all such things may verie well teach vs that the latter dayes are imminent Therefore hee that is vnjust let him bee vnjust still saith CHRIST Revel 22. let the wicked man dwell in his abhominations and triumph in all kynde of wickednesse for beholde saith Christ I come shortly and my reward is with mee to render everie