out of the horns of Antichrist How the Stone has been at work among us whereby that whole Church and State with the pomp power and greatness of it was overturned What Parties and Instruments were laid aside as being short of spirit for the business of that day and what Laws Constitutions and Customs were cast off as Antichristian and opposite to the work then in hand Add to all these what a mighty Witness of God unto all these proceedings in a continued series of Salvations and Victories over all that rose up against us and then may we not conclude That the things that were then on foot among us were the first fruits and earnests of those precious Promises and not as too much cause has of late been given to say the productions of policy headiness or delusion to say nothing what most deep and sweet impressions were upon our hearts from the word of promise concerning the Kingdom of Christ and downfal of Babylon we have had two observable signs that the time or the Promise wherein the Lord will do great things is at hand the one is a most peculiar and distinguishing presence of the Lord by inward Refreshings of Spirit and outward Dispensations of Mercy which was with us whilst our hearts went after the Lord and our Principles and Proceedings were in a subserviency to his Cause and Kingdom when others whose aims and ends were more National and mixt with worldly interest were laid aside left in the dark and under visible rebukes So great a difference has the Lord made between these who sat down in a meer civil and worldly Reformation and others who pressed after better hopes viz the fulfilling of Promises and a full subjection of all things to the Word and Spirit must needs be taken for a singular Evidence to give light unto us which way the work and design of the Lord lies at this day The other sign is the sad clouds of displeasure that are now upon us that gracious and lively presence that brought us out from our former Egyptian darkness and slavery and by a strong hand led us through many dark and difficult paths in the beginning of the day is much departed from off our Councils Camp solemn Assemblies Laws are given unto us that are not good and Statutes whereby we cannot live our Rulers are many of them such as know not Joseph the faithful Servants of Christ such as had no heart unto or communion with that great Affair and Interest of Christ once on foot the Military Power which was as a new sharp threshing Instrument against us Babylon is now become a prey to the Heathen or as Hirelings under a forreign Prince the cause and truth once so dear and highly owned now as to any visible progress of it under a sentence of death so that we may say we have sown much and bring in little we looked for much and lo it comes to little the Lord hath blown upon it because his House lies wast Haggai proved to Israel That the visible discountenance that was upon all their publick and private concernments from the Lord was a sign That the time was come that the Lords House should be built even so clouds of displeasure from God returning again after such a morning of successes and blessings as has been upon us ought to be a sign unto us that the Lord hath great things yet to do among us and that it is time for us to awake and go on with the Work that has been begun among us Now let us enquire what Works the Lord is about and wherein his Saints should be found waiting upon him at this day there are some Rules which in this Point have given light unto the Church of God in former Ages and lately in our time and may be further useful to us in this day for our satisfaction herein First Rule The Word upon which we were made to hope in the day of our greatest difficulties and straits and in the strength and comfort wherein we suffered so many things when God sets it upon the heart of his People to wait for some word some spiritual Promise to be made good and to undergo many things for the obtaining thereof that is the Work of that day God made a Promise to Abraham four hundred and fifty years afore it came to passe when the time of the Promise drew nigh God put it upon Moses heart after him upon Joshuah to go up and possess the good Land David had a Word that he should be King he bore up himself upon this word through a long series of conflicts and troubles till the things was done In the late Warrs those who bare the burden and heat of that day had a Word whereupon they leaned which consisted of many Promises shewing a more full and glorious Reformation to be set up in the World wherein Jesus Christ in all his Offices Laws and Commands should be more visibly owned and exalted and Babylon in all her interests thrown down This was that Word that was a Guide and a Strength to many among us in the troubles and perplexities of that day and not the Policy and Power of this World Second Rule Observe of what nature were these breathings of the Spirit and the impressions that were wrought thereby upon the most enlightened faithful and praying part of the People while we were following God in the way of his Judgements among us the Work God is about begins in the heart of his People for if the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him when a People are in the Work of God following Jesus Christ through many sore Tryals and hardships then observe what things in that day lay with most weight upon their hearts and what the stirrings and movings of the Spirit with the Word were then amongst them and there the Work of God her Psalm 102.13 14. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come for thy Servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof When God begins to awake the spirit of his People to call them out of their darkness security and carnal interests and puts upon them a gracious sense of the condition of Sion and to look and long and cry to the Lord for her building up then is the time at hand 1 Chron. 11. When the Lord would turn the Kingdom from the House of Saul unto David then he stirred up all Israel to come and make David King It may be observed whilst the Spirit of the Lord remained in the lively and fresh gales and actings of it upon our publick Instruments and Camp Council and Assemblies there was such a sense upon their hearts that the Kingdom of Christ might be promoted both in Civils and Spirituals and the remaining posts and pillars all the limbs and branches of Antichristianisme might be broke to pieces and carried them with a lively zeal and
themselves from Ezra 9.2 The holy 〈◊〉 have mingled themselves with the people of those Lands yea the hand of the Princes and Rulers hath been chief in this trespasse and when I heard this thing I rent my garment And this was the great sin of that time and contrary to the Work of God in that day 2. After that a publick and solemn Testimony has been born among us through much bloud and difficulties and the same as eminently owned of God by a series of deliverances against the great oppressive interests that were upon us to wit the Law in the present constitution and administration of it Monarchy as a thing unnecessary burthensome and dangerous a Court as the spring head of oppression pride and filthiness with many other things that might be named to lay these heavy yoaks again upon the necks of our Brethren under which we our selves groaned not long ago and thereby to sell the Lords People with their dear bought power and freedom the people of the Land with their just rights and liberties and the Cause it self so much contended for into the hands of the new Lords standing upon the old foundation and acting in most points after the old corrupt fashion of things as formerly this is a great sin of the times for which the Lord cals upon his People to mourn and be humbled and by withdrawing themselves as much as may be from such things to bear a seasonable and faithful Testimony against them The Nobles and Rulers of Judah after they were delivered out of bondage in Babylon oppressed their Brethren and laid heavy yoaks upon them this was a special sin of that time and the Lord stirred up the spirit of Nehemiah against them Neh. 5.8 And I said unto them we after our abilitie have redeemed our Brethren the Iews which were sold unto the Heathens and will you even sell your brethren or shall they be sold unto us Also I said it is not good that ye do ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies When God is breaking the yoaks of his People to be then laying yoaks upon them is a special sin of the time 3. Many among us have sinned in taking the accursed thing the meaning whereof both in the Old and New Testament imports a thing that is ordained of God to destruction a People or things of Gods Curse shut out of God protection and the prayers of his People Now observe what things they were among us that Gods People did formerly cast out of their heares and prayers that God did cast out from under his visible Dispensations of Mercy that lay under his frowns and terrible dints of his displeasure as things opposite to his Glory the work of Reformation and the prosperity and peace of his People the mingling again with these things is a taking the accursed thing and one of the sins of the times Ier. 7 16. Pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them We may remember what the Lords choice and faithful Servants among us did formerly leave out as things they could not pray for what constitutions and interests in the State what pomp covetousness and excess among men in eminent place What mixtures and formalitie in worship and what Idols and humane Statues in Gods House and are not these things and that old Spirit that acted them revived again whereby the Lord has been provoked to bring a cloud upon us and upon that day of Mercies and wonderful appearances whereby his Work was carried on among us So then observe what things they are that the Lords more peculiar and praying People formerly or at this day under their more enlightened holy and zealous frame could not or do not pray for but leave out and separate themselves from and they are that cursed thing which we ought to come out of and avoid 4. The putting back of that blessed Work that was in such a hopeful way to be carried on among us is a great sin of the times when I consider what an edge was upon the Spirits of good men how quick and powerful were proceedings what a spirit for high and great Work a reforming spirit for Reforming work a spirit of Judgment for the work of Justice a spirit of Prayer for the breaking of all yoaks and deliverance of Sion the whole Church of God and what a seal Providence it self put upon all this in a series of wonderful successes and further that these things were come to that height that the People of God begun to meditate and expect great things men of low and common spirits were laid aside the old spotted and wrinkled face of things unholiness and formality in Religion in the State Monarchy its Friends and Paramouts with all its limbs and branches and paintings begun to blush and hide it self I say when I look back at these things and consider how all this Work is desorted and laid aside covered under reproach and buried out of sight and mind and only a few left to keep it upon the heart I cannot but sadly reflect upon that word Hosea 9.1 Rejoyce not O Israel for joy as other people for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God thou hast loved a reward upon every corn floor There is a nick of time a special season wherein God cals and employes and spirits people for his Work if this time be not observed both the Work and opportunity for it is lost and things will go backward When Saul slipped in the Work God had called him unto he lost the Spirit of the Lord and the work of his day also So when Israels faith failed in the matter of the Spies and in their hearts gave back from following the Lord the Work was put back for forty years in like manner let it be considered what a door was opened by the mighty Works of God among us to have let in a season of Mercies to have proceeded to a full and thorow Reformation to have removed all lets and obstructions and to have set the highest and most publick Interests and greatest Affairs upon another a better bast and foundation then they had stood upon before whereon the Interest of Christ his Saints his Word as the Law and Rule might have been eminently owned and exercised among us the Promises that the Saints shall take the Kingdom and the Kingdom shall not be left to another People calling upon all Gods People to have respect unto this as the great Interest to be above all other contended after but they who had this price formerly in their hand and an heare unto it have let their opportunity slip and that Spirit they had for this Work is departed the work is gone many degrees back and because of their and our sins the good things that were in the birth are kept from us When Israel desired a King one might have pleaded for them and said they think no evil they do but desire another form of Government as more expedient for them then that of Judges Nay but sayes the Lord They have rejected me that I should nor reign over them 1 Sam 8.7 They rejected the Dispensation it self they were under as too holy and divine this was their sin they said Now make us a King to judge us like all the Nations they would not be a separate people they would look like the Nations Wise men do not look upon the change of persons and names and form of Government that has been among us so much as that the Dispensation we were under in the very nature of it as it was more holy and spiritual and refined is rejected not the formality only of the Work among us is altered but the matter of it is gone and another thing set up in its place this is a sin of the times we ought to mourn over and avoid 5. To name no more the heart of the people of that part of the People that were forward and active in the Work is withered and sunk into a low and unsensible frame an impotent low and unworthy spirit is fallen upon many willing to fit at ease though in a low and slavish state that can look upon the despised deserted Cause and Interest of Christ without any trouble of heart or a cry or a prayer for it there are but a few who have in them at this day those workings and yearnings of heart in looking upon a crucified Cause as Mary and the Disciples had over their crucified Friend the Lord Jesus When any eminent work was to be done in Israel the Lord first set it upon the hearts of some and stirred up the spirit of the people unto it Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth The deliverance of the Church in the Revelations chap. 14.2 begins with a voice from the waters the spirits of the people are stirred up to stand up with the Lamb on Mount Sion When there was a raising and stirring in the spirits of many in our dayes unto the work of Justice and Reformation how great things were brought forth in that day But now that pressing and stirring work in the hearts of most and the good things it tended to is cast off and gone the lesse thereof is so farre from working any due resentment among us as that where any remainders of that good old Spirit are yet breathing in any they are laid aside and cast into corners as the fire-brands and troublers of the times though it is only against the corruptions of the times that they do appear and that from their love to Christ and holiness These are some of the sins of the times from which we are to come out of and be separate FINIS
SOME Legible Characters OF FAITH LOVE Towards the Blessed CAUSE KINGDOM OF CHRIST Worthy to be known and read of all men Being Some of the last Meditations of that Faithfull Servant of the Lord Mr. Thomas Higgenson lately deceased a very firm friend both living and dying unto the Interest and Work of the Lord Jesus in these last days Isaiah 42.9 Behold the former things are come to passe and new things do I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them sing unto the Lord a new song Isaiah 43.21 This People have I formed for myself London Printed by G. D. for Tho. Brewster and are to be sould at his Shop at the Sign of the three Bibles in Pauls Church-Yard 1659. THE EPISTLE To the READER THE Breathings of the Spirit of Christ in the Author of the ensuing little Treatise will certainly be very comfortable and refreshing to all those who find any fresh Affections stirring in them to that Glorious Cause which hath been so unworthily and so shamefully entreated of late years by an Apostatizing Generation The mysticall Harmony of their Spirits which the King of Saints is now secretly putting in tune in order to that harping and singing mentioned Revel 14.2 3. and 15.3 will be so melodious in some competent space of time that many will be very desirous to learn to sing and play upon those instruments which David our King the sweet singer of Israel hath invented for his Victorious and Tryumphing Followers and Friends But it was revealed to the Apostle that no man could learn that Song but the hundred fourty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth That this Servant of Christ lately deceased was much Redeemed from the earth and indeed from among men and so the more capable of singing that new song before mentioned is well known to many in this City and else where A true estimate of the Elevation of this Spirit above the base things of the earth may be easily taken by such Artists as are well skilled in the Celestial or Evangelical Mathematticks If they do diligently peruse a former Treatise of his called Sighs for Righteousnesse penned not long after the Cromwelian Apostacy and usurpation They will find the Spirit that appeareth in those Queries to be a very serious a very savoury a very penetrating * At also in those oother Treatises of his called A Lamenting Word Glory asar off now stepping in The Indwellings of the Spirit A Testimony to the True Jesus Spirit And I could wish for mine owne part that the substance and series of that Discourse were deeply imprinted in my mind and in the minds of all those who do fixedly expect those most marvelous Productions and Mutations which are about to break forth from the deep Counsels of his will who is recapitulating or bringing all things to a Head in his Son both which are in Heaven and which are on Earth even in him I was desired by some of the Authors Friends to perfix a Title and a few words to the Reader for his own good But who or what am I that I should hope to promote any thing of this nature my very Name being offensive to multitudes But the day will declare That the cause wherein I have by a most blessed Conduct imbarked my Name my Liberty my Estate my Life my All will make a mends for all those scandalous slanderous Reproaches wherein it was hoped I might have been buried alive long before this time of the day But I know I am with all I have in the same ship with the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore I can Despise their Despisings who after all their Insolent Language have cause to be ashamed of the mistakes and other pittifull products of their own shallow fluid judgments They must take their aim better the next time if they can As for me I blesse the Lord that I do sometimes meet mine own Spirit touched with the Magnetick vertue of the Spirit of Christ in the Discourses and Writings of others whose Spirits were found faithful in the day of Rebuke and Blasphemy which hath passed over us in the number of whom I reckon this dear disceased Friend to be one And could have wished that the Following Papers might have been perfected and published by himself before his departure In regard that severall advantages and elegancies will be found by judicions Readers to be very much wanting through many mispointings mistakes and errataes which were past cure before they came to my hand Neverthelesse I shall do the best office I can to serve in love both his living Readers and my deceased Friend by rectifying some things which are amisse as in the Errataes following All is commended to the Blessing of him who worketh all things after the Counsell of his own will no more at the present Reader from Thy Friend and Servant for the Lords sake CHR. FEAKE London this 6th of the 4th moneth 1659. Errata PAge 10. line 36. read one of the lorns pag. 11. l. ult r. against Babilon p. 12. l. 19. r. whereof p. 9. l 1. dele as p. 20. l. 14. for as r. and. l. ult for off r. of p. 21. l. 11 dele how p. 22. l. 12. r. with clay l. 21. make a at law l. 33. r. unsuitable p. 23. 2. r. near l. 32. r. when p. 25. l. 32. r. alone p. 32. l. 25. r. losse l. ult dele of SOME LEGIBLE CHARACTERS OF FAITH and LOVE towards The Blessed CAUSE KINGDOM OF CHRIST Worthy to be known and read of all men AS God has in every Age had some special work upon the wheel and as the same has ever been attended with much opposition difficulty and offence so he has alwayes given to some of his Servants an eye to see and be affected with it and to put their helping hand unto it Although the things which have been of late the Travel of many and yet are of some amongst us being of such weight and worth of such blessed and glorious consequence would require men of a more excellent spirit and skilful hand to set them forth in their proper beauty and lustre yet such service as I had love constrained me to offer especially at this time wherein the Exigencies of Truth call for somewhat at our hands If unbelief security and revolt had not choaked that Faith Light and Love unto the Lord and his present Works in the World whereby many among us were led out to undertake and effect great things in pursuance thereof that Truth would by this time have been witness of it self in reall effects to the face of the world and would not have needed a vindication of this nature by word or argument to wit That God is doing new and extraordinary things in this day in the earth To obtain clearness and certainty in which point is of high concernment unto all such as would not be left in the dark concerning the great designations of Providence and
their own duty and as would be led out through that confusion at this day among us of contrary principles affections and interests unto a right Judgement therein it being to be rationally concluded that if all things are to continue as they were and no new thing to be done that then those high Interests lately contended for and all wayes and means put in practise for the obtaining thereof are to be condemned as which had a tendencie to introduce a new state of things and the present course into which things are since put is rather to be justified as tending to reduce us unto the old as on the other hand if the Lord has not yet brought forth that which he intended in his mighty Works among us and has further things to do this may be a foundation of encouragement unto all the Friends and Followers of Christ to proceed in their former Faith Fervency Prayer and in all suitable wayes and means for the help and furtherance thereof notwithstanding the unbelief opposition and advantage of present visible proceedings contrary thereunto The grounds we have to hold out for our belief and hope in this thing that God hath been and is in these dayes doing some new and extraordinary things are First A freshness of spirit that hath been among us Zech. 4.6 Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts The experience of former and latter Ages may tell us that God has had his times of going away and returning to his Place leaving his People and the World without any visible tokens or eminent appearances of his Power in such seasons the Spirit has run low and faint only in such a measure as might preserve his People in a life of conflict and warfare and his times of coming forth again out of his Place when he has had some new work to do and then has he alwayes given a new and fresh Spirit suitable to the work he had in hand It is said 1 Sam. 16.13 14. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward but the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him The like was seen in our dayes While the Lord took away his Spirit from many Wise Mighty and Noble among us and sent darkness famine and withering into their hearts and confusion upon their counsels at the same time he put a Spirit of Faith and Power upon a despised sort of men which was as marrow and fatness to their bones There is a word in Isaiah 10.27 The yoak shall be destroyed because of the anointing The principal end and effect of the divers and sundry Dispensations of Spirit which God has renewed to former Generations at least in later times has been to regain unto Christ and his Church out of the hands of Antichrist some of those rights and concernments which during the long time of darkness and tyranny have been concealed or forcibly detained from them The like effect had that Spirit that was put upon a People among us Many pretious Truths and Priviledges the light and comfort whereof was denyed to our fore-fathers were discovered and many heavy yokes of spiritual and civil bondage long continued upon their necks were broken and destroyed by that Spirit that remained among us Oh what blessedness did this Spirit bring with it if it be but remembred what light and certainty it gave of the presence of God with us what discerning of the time what a strong savour and rellish of spiritual things and what earnest longings and pressings after a better state of things built upon the foundations of Righteousness and Truth The clear shining forth of new Covenant light out of the former mists of Antichristian obscurity was that which begot this Spirit in the hearts of many the setting up of Christ in the more full and unlimited exercise of his Kingly Power and Authority over all things both in Church and Nation was that end it pressed after the taking out of the way all Parties and Interests that had or might hinder the obtaining of this end was that work it was with much zeal and success exercised about Such a freshness of spirit was never nor can it be conceived was of late given forth but in order to the ushering in some new and further work into the World Secondly The works of Providence drawn out in a continued line and series of deliverances unto a praying People next unto those inward impressions of the quickening Spirit are a signal testimony unto us that God is doing some new and better thing in the World When the Works of God in a Nation grow up to that height and eminency as like a tide to bear down all before them then they are to be observed and heeded as signes and tokens as the Voice of God unto that people signifying what are his present Counsels and Works he is determined to do It is said in the Psalm 105.26 27 28. He sent Moses his servant and Aaron whom he had chosen they shewed his signes among them and wonders in the Land of Ham He sent darkness and made it dark and they rebelled not against his Word The Signs God wrought for Israel upon Egypt and his Appearances for them in the Wilderness did shew that the time of their Redemption was come that he would bring them to the promised Rest Once it was that the Lord kept us under a low condition of spirit faith and courage and as to the outward Man under a state of subjection and suffering under the heavy yoaks of the Antichristian Task-masters and for a long time held his peace leaving us without any signes and tokens in a visible way then was a time for us to sit still things being dark while the Lord was silent but having been since raised up into hopes and expectations that a day and time of great things was at hand and this not the work of fancies but of the Spirit of Faith and Prayer upon the foundation of glorious Promises and God also having gone before us in many eminent appearances one upon another all tending to make way for the bringing in some better thing then yet is seen This is unto us one among other the sober and good grounds we have to proceed in prayer and waitings for that Excellent State of things to break forth whereof some former tastes and glimpses we have had already the present interruption and stop put upon the work to the contrary notwithstanding Isaiah saith Chap. 43.3 I gave Egypt for thee Ethiopia and Sheba for thee May it not be said that the Lord gave whole Nations into our hands and all those parties that rose up one after another upon this account because they set themselves against a Cause and People that God had among us Let us but observe who all those that have appeared in evill will and designs against this Cause have been sadly left of God unto
scatter and bring down all those Authorities Powers and Parties that had held his Church in this Nation at the Brick-kills in the condition of Servants and Bond-men then did he take off our filthy garments and clothed us with change of Rayment high Reformation Victories and many visible Testimonies of his Presence among us and all these as Earnests or first-fruits of that flourishing State which shall be brought forth in the Coming and Kingdom of the Lord Jesus In Israels Redemption out of Egypt mention was first made of a civil Interest only of their deliverance from the burdens and oppressions of that King but the principal thing intended was that God himself would be their King If this was a typical Preludium of the State of the Church in these last dayes as that Prophesie seems to imply I will restore thy Judges as at first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning If so then a deliverance from the yoaks of Tyranny and Persecution unto a condition of meer outward liberty and quiet was not the chief Result in ended us in our changes but that God would thereby bring us both Church and State under a more immediate Government to his Son that he alone should be our Law-giver King and Judge ruling us according to his own Word and Spirit not according to the Prudentials and Policies of this World If the Lord has thus kindled a Refining fire among us let us take heed how we quench it till our purification thereby preparing us unto that Kingdom and Glory that is drawing near The Lord hath taken new and extraordinary wayes with us besides that peculiar eye that hath watched over the English Nation in former times to save it from the bloud-thirsty Rage of Antichristian Adversaries their Invasions from abroad and Conspiracies at home God has of late made this Nation as it were a Stage whereupon he came forth and began that Cup of the Wine of his Wrath against the Kingdomes and Monarchies of Babylon that is determined against them here began the Horns of Antichrist to be thrown down here the spiritual and civil Liberties and Rights of Saints and Men were more visibly owned of God against the Injustice and Usurpations of Ecclesiastical and Temporal Rulers then had been before here the Office of Christ as Prophet and Head of his Church was vindicated and advanced above the Commandements and Laws of Men to the contrary The Authority of Christ as King of Saints and Nations and the right of Saints with him to Rule and Judge the World has gained more Reputation and acceptance with us then all the World over God speaks concerning his Church in the latter dayes Isai 43.18 Remember ye not the former things neither consider the things of old behold I will do a new thing And what was that new thing For your sakes I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all their Nobles ver 19. I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert Chap. 44.3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and flouds upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring The Lord had a People among us who he formed for his praise how did he for their sake bring down our Princes and Nobles the Paramours and Lovers of Babylon How was our Land which had layen like a wilderness for want of Gospel light and administration of Justice turned into Rivers of water through Righteousness Knowledge and the Presence of the Lord shining forth among us And in that day what a sprinkling of the Spirit was there upon the dry ground upon many Sons and Daughters among us of simple and low capacities weak and foolish things whereby many wise mighty and honorable were put to confusion and brought to nothing Let us call to mind what a Presence was with us in the fields what impulsions of the Spirit as of a mighty wind were upon many carrying them up beyond themselves through difficulties and dangers What a Spirit of Judgment was put upon many to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron What a light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ shined round about us What meltings and yernings were seen throughout all even the darkest corners of the Land under the sense of a crucified Saviour What Lightenings among the People of God and what Earthquakes upon their Enemies Such things as made us a terror and wonderment to all the Nations about us speak oh ye Virgins that are fallen asleep if these be ordinary Dispensations if ye have read or heard of a parallel if not then look upon them as beginnings of greater things yet to come to passe But if any shall say Why may not this glory set in a cloud as great things were done and as great hopes and expectations raised in Germany yet all came to nothing I answer Luther lived to see his Doctrine prevailed over many Cities and Countries and soon after his death brake out the Warr in that Nation for the punishment of them that were Adversaries to the Gospel when that Light was quenched there it sprung forth with renewed strength in this our Island and has ever kindled such a fire as has at sundry times cousumed the chiefest part of the Riches strong Holds and Yoaks of Antichrist that were among us God has begun the influences and effects of some of the last and glorious Promises in our Nation Providences and Prophesies have been as teeming wombs bringing forth the first fruits of great things amongst us The Promises that concern the Church of Christ towards the end of her wilderness state do speak of great changes and revolutions to come to passe about that time in the Antichristian States and Kingdoms with their Governments and Affairs that by these tempests this old corrupt frame of things may be broken and fall and way made for a glorious State of things to be brought forth in the fuller exaltation of Jesus Christ A Stone shall be cut out without hands that shall smite the great Image upon his feet Vpon the servants and upon the hand-maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit and these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire then the earth shall rele to and fro like a drunkard and shall be removed like a cottage and the Lord shall punish the Hoast of the high ones that are on high and the Kings of the earth upon the earth Then the Moon shall be confounded and the Sun ashamed If these Promises have begun their effects upon us in this Nation then let us know that the way of the Lord amongst us is new and his work extraordinary let us remember what a sprinkling of a gracious choice and active Spirit has been among us what excellent things were done while it was fresh upon us How Monarchy and Prelacy was cut off as
old Rules Customs and bounds â—…to the hindrance of the Work then in hand is well known wherefore the Lord will have his people purged from the old leaven of these low and carnal Principles and that will not sit down in any Interest or settlement how just or safe soever whereby a stop is or may be put into the Work of God in the exalting of his Son in his Word Works and blessed Spirit among us 3. That we are a People of Principles below the Works of God in our day and unsuitable thereunto may appear by the old pollutions entertained again from which many seemed to have been purged there is a corrupt mixture with this World that has spread it self through the hearts and lives of most and through the Ecclesiastical and Civil State whereby that holy frame of heart and work of Reformation formerly among us is much laid aside A Church or People is said to be holy when the Word of the Lord is their Law and when they yield up themselves unto the Lord all one in all things to be governed by his Commandements And on the contrary it is a People corrupted and unclean when other Lords besides Christ have dominion over them and the will and commandement of men is set up The Church of the Old and New Testament in their beginning had more of this beauty of holiness and professed subjection unto the Lord only then was ever seen since Moses said of Israel concerning their first estate Deut. 32.12 The Lord alone did lead him and there was no strange God with him though he soon forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation So Paul said of the Church as it was in its first estate before the Man of Sin had deflowered it I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ A looking back unto these things together with a measure of the Spirit vouchsafed in our dayes did work in the hearts of many among us strong convictions of much blackness and deformity of many pollutions contracted from Antichrist yet remaining upon us and gave light and discerning of a more holy reformed and happy estate both commanded and promised and upon this account was there a separation made among us as to Worship first from Prelacy then from the National way and afterwards as to Government from Monarchy Gods People being led all along herein and pressed on from a Principle of Grace and Holiness and from some light in the Promises which speak of a day when every poâ— in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord and the Idols he shall utterly abolish Whilst our hearts were under this holy and gracious frame we were going on to purge out all such mixtures yet remaining among us as were borrowed from corrupt and Antichristian States and Kingdomes that we might become a new lump a holy People a righteous State just Laws and all things reduced as near as might be unto the pattern but instead of going on with these first Works we are mingled again with the Idols and uncleannesses of former times the sad effects whereof do appear almost every where upon the 〈◊〉 and lives of most and upon the Profession and Government that is held out in the Nation This was the evil of the Church of old Psalm 106.25 They were mingled among the Heathen and learned their works Hosea 7.8 Ephraim he hath mixed himself among the people Israel is a Cake not turned 2 Cor. 6.4 Be ye not unequally yoaked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousnesse wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate When Gods People began to joyn with the World in Civils they afterwards joyned with them in Spirituals until the whole lump was learned The Reformers of the Church in former and latter times their Zeal was stirred up against these minglings both in doctrine and manners against the inventions and commandments of men in the one against worldly pomp pleasures and sensuality in the other Religion cannot be accommodated to interests and respects of pollicy and serving 〈◊〉 it cannot be mixt with error no more then oyl with water 〈◊〉 and stâ—… with clay Dan. 2.43 It is said 2. Kings â—7 3â— the mingled people of Samaria feared the Lord and served their God after the manner of the Nations But what faith God doth he approve of this â—…ture verse 34. God will no town his own commanded Worship when mingled and compounded with another Dr. Preston Wherefore before the Lord will go on with any further â—…t Mercies for his People he will have a People that shall purge out this old â—eaven from among them that they may be a new lump as it is said Numb 23.9 Lo the people shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the Nations Another part of that Work the Lord is about among us is to call his People out from partakings in those sins that are more especially the sins of the time and of this Generation God may have a People subject to many infirmities and sailings and yea such as have overcome the sins of the times Although Asa had offended in divers things yet as to the times the heart of Asa was perfect all his dayes 2 Chron. 15.17 So there are many sins that may be spoken against without offence to the times but the special sins of the Generation are overcome and reproved but by a remnant of another spirit Now if we would rightly judge what are the sins of the times we live in this may be propounded as a sure Rule observe what have been the more eminent and special Dispensations and Works of God among us in our day and such courses and proceedings among us whether publick or private as lie more directly crosse and contrary thereunto are the special sins and evils of the time This being admitted for a good Rule in this place what are the special sins of the time from which the Lord will have his People to come out of and be separate from will somewhat appear by the Conclusions following First After the Lord has begun to wash away the filth of the Daughter of Sion to purge the Church of Christ among us from the fifth of Antichristianisme and by overturning some great Pillars of the Antichristian Church and State has begun a Reformation of things according to the pattern of the Gospel and Scripture light and also gave forth a portion of the Spirit for this Work after such a day as this to joyn our selves again with the people of those abomination as it is seen at this day by marriages leagues conjunction of their and our Interests by reviving and setting up again that old fashion of things in its constitutions customes worldly policies pomp greatness and lusts this is one of the special 〈◊〉 of the times and from which the Lord will have his People to redeem and separate