Σεισμος Μεγας OR HEAVEN EARTH SHAKEN A Treatise shewing how Kings Princes and their Governments are turned and changed By Jesus Christ as King of Kings and King of Saints Hagg. 2. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts Yet once it is a little while and I will shake the Heavens and the Earth and the Sea and the dry Land And I will shake all Nations By JOHN DAVIS M. A. sometime Lecturer at Christ Church in LONDON and now Pastour of a Congregation in Dover LONDON Printed by T. C. for Nathaniel Brooke at the Angel in Cornhill 1655. The Epistle of the Author to the Reader Christian Reader ALl men in the world are naturally acted by a principle either of Love or Feare and there is something in the ensuing Treatise to meet with both Men are greedily addicted to Novelty new fashions and opinions new straines and modes new matters and methods yea Pamphlets of news are taking and I feare me too much The Title tells you of a Great Earthquake or Heaven and Earth shaken which denotes the great and suddain turne and change of things Now while things are turning and changing they appeare new to us they have not the same face now they had before And surely men are more obliged to converse with News in things then News in Books Men compile your News-books but God makes News in things If what is here presented were forreigne and such as did not relate to you you might justly passe it by and pitch on that which is of more concernment to you But let me tell you there is no Turne or Change mentioned here but that which relates to you and wherein you are concerned and have been Actors one way or other for good or evil either provoking by your sins or interceding by your prayers and therefore me thinks you should love to read your selves over and the new things that you have made Turnes and Changes especially in great bodies of Kingdoms and Common-wealthes are great Turnes turnes of great and publick interest but not alwayes prosperous and so makes way for your feare The greatest States-men have studiously avoided as much as they could all Innovations knowing the trouble and danger that follows thereon lest while they designe the common good dregs should be stirred up in the spirits of people that they could not easily settle and allay again I heartily wish you the increase of a godly feare that amidst all the Turnes and Changes which you read of you may yet more and more experience that blessed turne and change of heart from darknesse to light from things below to things above from creatures to Christ and then all these Turnes shall not onely not hurt you but do you much good The Method I have observed and studied hath been to informe you as plainely and to apply that information as closly as I could I have laid things down by way of Propositions and those Propositions such as might make way for and give light to one another the foregoing to the following Propositions and all of them put together might acquaint you with that which was intended in this worke That you might the better take in and retaine things in your minde I have in every Chapter perfixed the several Propositions therein opened and most of them are all should have been in a differing letter from the body of the Book The XXI Chapter makes mention of twelve Sections which I confesse I intended for the heads of twelve several Chapters with such application as are in the other parts of the Book but I was afraid of being tedious I know uot how that which is here done will suite with the spirits of the godly-wise to whom I desire to approve my selfe in this businesse And if I might receive any incouragement from them it might easily draw forth my thoughts which I have had of the Turnes of Councils and Armies of Laws and Trading of Continents and Islands The great turnes at Sea as well as upon the Land of affairs concerning the Church as well as the State But I shall adde no more now but this petition That the God of all wisdome would wise us to know the Times and our duties in them and help us to serve our generation and to do the worke of the day in the day To live by faith and by faith and patience to possesse our soules until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom I am Your truely affectionate Brother to serve you in his Gospel IOHN DAVIS Errata PAge 20. l. 2. for eight r. seventh Page 43. for three r. third Page 75. for underpowers r. undercowers To the Reader REader this is a bookish-age and whereas Learning was heretofore graced by judicious Schollars it is now much vilified by illiterate scriblers What Scaliger said of France omnibus scribendi datur libertas paucis facultas All men may write but few are able to write is verified here in England All have liberty to write but few ability Hence it is that so many leane pamphlets and peices come forth daily treating of Inferiour and inconsiderate things This Author acquaints you with the great Shakings the great Alterations which God and Christ do make in Heaven and Earth upon performance of divine Promises He treats of the use and ministration of Angels therein he sheweth that all power is Christs that the Princes of the earth have all their power from him he informes of what use Government and Governours are how subject to change what 's the evil of abusing power what 's the cause of Civil Wars and Fatal Turnes He tells you how severely the Lord Christ will deale with the Potentates of the earth whose power is erected against him and his which are things of an high nature and well handled Though Galen said of Moses workes Multa dicit nil probat and Augustine of Manichaeus dixit abiit he gave no reason of what he said yet it is far otherwise with this Author who judiciously and solidly makes good what he hath asserted The Matter Method and Composition are waters from his own Cistern and hony from his own Hive He hath not larded his book alieno adipe with the fat of other men The work speakes for it selfe being elaborate well compacted and weighty through words of truth and doubtlesse will finde acceptance amongst those who have their senses exercis'd to discern of such things It s most true which Erasmus saith Nihil morosius hominum judiciis nothing is more peevish then the judgements of men what one magnifies another vilifies and what is vilified by one is magnified by another yet it is some comfort that mens judgements are like their pallats what suites not with one doth with another and where the wine is good few will distaste it Reader buy and try if thou be pleasured or profited the Author hath his aime if neither he will not be provoked knowing Nunquam tam bene agitur
opportunes your confederates to become your enemies Vse 1. See how little help there is in men 2. See what wickednesse is incident to Nations as well as persons 3. Take hence one argument more against your Civil War 4. Learn it s a curious work to manage affairs in Civil Wars 5. Admire Gods providences towards us who hath busied our Neighbour Nations CHAP. XVIII OPens that unkind and unjust dealings of neighbour Nations produce forreign Wars as thus 1. The pride and lust of ruling men cause these hard dealings 2. Those who are great would be great alone 3. These great leaders obtain many followers 4. They conclude they have a fit season for their rage 5. A people under present pressures are exceding sensible 6. They resolve if they recover to do to others as others thought to have done unto them Vse 1. To see the spreading of sin that it reacheth Nations as well as persons 2. Nations as well as persons are liable to trouble upon trouble 3. God is appealed unto in War 4. To admire again Gods goodness to us CHAP. XIX SHews that Jesus Christ will deale in severity with the Kings of the Earth because 1. Kings are in covenant with their people and break their Covenants 2. In this dealing Christ appears no respecter of persons 3. In this dealing Christ makes his wisdom out-shine King-craft 4. Christ is to overcome Satan in his territories Vse 1. Reade the sinfulness of Kings in Christs severity 2. See the impartial and unspotted holiness of Jesus Christ 3. See what to expect and to what to refer our present providences CHAP. XX. COncludes with shewing how the twelve Positions formerly handled instruct us in our present Turns and Changes CHAP. XXI SHews the great Turns on Nations arising from the consideration of Christ as King of Saints set forth in twelve Sections 1. Jesus Christ is King of Saints as well as King of the World 2. Christ hath his high honour upon his sufferings 3. Christ puts forth the power he hath as King of Nations for his people to whom he is King of Saints 4. Jesus Christ shall have more visible glory in this World 5. Bitternesse is mingled with all Governments that Christ may be sweet 6. Christ pours out on his people a mighty spirit of prayer which he in his Government as King of Saints returns full answer to 7. Jesus Christ shall have a willing people in the day of his power 8. Some of the Kings of the Earth shall be among this willing people 9. Christ having great work to do stirs up the spirit of Princes and people 10. The great work of the latter days shall be to exalt holinesse and righteousnesse 11. Saints shall have notable Conquest over their enemies 12. These things shall be by degrees CHAP. XXII COntains the Vses of that Doctrine that Christ is King of Saints 1. Vse of inviting Instruction discovering 1. Christs excellency 2. The properties of his Kingdom 3. The glory of his Saints 1. Christ his excellency in four things 1. His right and Title which is the justest being 1. By Election 2. By Donation 3. By Birth 4. By purchase 5. By Conquest 2. His Qualifications are greatest 3. His Administrations are the highest 4. His Communications are the largest 2 The Properties of his Kingdom being 1. Spiritual 2. Vniversal 3. Eternal 4. Bringing in perfect peace 3. The glory or excellency of his Saints for 1. They shall be more Saints 2. They shall live safely 3. their enemies shall be ruined 2. Vse of Exhortation 1. to know him 2. to fear him â— to trust in him 4. to embrace him with love 5. to be like to him 6. to glorifie him 7. to be obedient to his laws where you have 1. the six Laws of Nature with Gospel-light 1. Peace is to be sought 2. Stand to your Covenants 3. You must be thankful 4. Serve one another 5. Be merciful and forgive 6. Reproach not one another 2. You have many Gospel strains set out to highthen your obedience THe Appendix shews Astrological Predictions to be frivilous and impious where these five things are granted 1. that the Stars have a powerful ruling excellency 2. that by their light heat and motion they work great alterations in the Aire 3. that having this power over the Aire they do diverâ—â—y affect compound bodies 4. Scripture speaks plainely that they are for times and seasons 5. that there may be some present Predictions about weather and such things But two things are denyed 1. that Stars have any power over the Reason or Will of man to necessitate or inforce them 2. that Astrologers can rightly pretend to foretell such things as depend on mans will or are any way contingent and this appears by seven Arguments 1. Such Predictions are derogatory to Gods prerogative of fore-knowing 2. Such predictions are crosse to the word of God 3. We reason from the Nature of the Stars 4. We reason from the Nature of Art 5. We argue from that part of Astrology that is about weather 6. these Predictions are derogatory to the excellency of Man 7. VVe reason from the Nature of contingent things Object But many things they foretell come to passe Sol. 1. Not so many as they brag of 2. Not from any causing virtue in the Stars 3. Blind men sometime hit the white so may Astrologers 4. their coming to passe is a strong argument against them 5. It may come to passe in a way of judicial vengeance Vse 1. to the professors of the Mathematicks 2. to their Disciples dehorting them from Figure-casting Σεισμος Μεγας OR Heaven and Earth shaken CHAP. I. The Introduction shewing the occasion and scope of the insuing Treatise THe works of the Lord are great sayeth the Psalmist sought out of all them that have pleasure therein When God is working we must eye him and when his works be great we must be searching them out and not soon weary but taking pleasure both in the works and search Gods works to us of this Nation have been honourable and glorious as it is verse 3. and his righteousnesse enduring for ever No marvel then if they be taking with the minde and hearts of his people who entertaine them with the highest esteeme and most joyful admiration verse 4. He hath made his wonderful workes to be remembred the Lord is gracious and full of compassion I appeale unto your consciences that read whether the grace and full compassion of God have not made his works wonderful among us Now God will not have his works written in the sand he makes his works wonderful and his wonderful works to be remembred and surely his people cannot forget them they are ingraven on their hearts and they cannot but remember them v. â— He giveth meat to them that fear him He is ever mindful of his Covenant Consider v. 5. the malice and rage of adversaries and we cannot but reckon it among the wonderful works
of God that his people have a bit of bread that they have meat for their mouths and drink to quench their thirst but when it s added He is ever mindful of his Covenant His Covenant and his mindfulnesse of his Covenant and so giving them meat renders this common path of providence this so giving them meat to be truly wonderful v. 6. He hath shewed his people the power of his works How few are there that take notice of the works of God and fewer that take notice of God in his works But this is the favour that he shewes his people not onely his works but the power of them their Verity and Judgement Truth Vprightnesse and Stedfastnesse as it is v. 7 8. Vision is the glory and light of life he lives most like a man not that eates and drinks most sleeps and sports most but he that with the acting eye of Reason sees most of things and their difference He lives most like a Christian that by faith seâ—th him that is invisible makes a reall presence of things absent and an evidence and trâ—e enjoyment of things hoped for our present and after-happinesse is in vision by faith here really and truly but more hereafter when we shall see him face to face and know as we are known 1 Cor. 13. 12. Daniel and John the greatly beloved Prophet and Disciple were both much honoured with Visions and Revelations our Saviour commends Abraham for that he saw his day and rejoyced Joh. 8. 56. Those who are Abrahams seed cannot but eye Christ and rejoyce in the dawning of his day if God have an hand to work surely we must have an eye to see an heart to believe and a tongue to praise him God doth not work little things for his people it stands not with his love and their condition and when he doth great things we must meet him and them with great observation I have heard an Ambassador residing here should write home that he lived in a Land of wonders well noteing how great turns passed on us and how little blood was shed about them then if strangers see so much we should see more Doubtlesse God hath revived his works of old made his arme bare commanding and creating deliverances for us How often hath he brought us to the gates of death and then said return return ye children of men How many and mighty malicious and prosperous have our enemies been and yet how destroyed How little and low how despised and nothing have your Councils Armies Allyes your all been and yet God hath remembred us in our low estate He hath not been weary of doing us good although we have soon been weary of serving him There is a voyce in the râ—d saith the Prophet and surely mercies deliverances and salvations have their voyce also and the greater any danger or deliverance is the louder is the voyce Oh! that we could heare so as to love and learn righteousnesse Oh! that we were wise to read Gods works out of his word his providences in his prophesies Dan. 12. 10. The wise shall understand Thus to understand him will be our wisdome When the Devil tempted our Saviour it was by shewing him the World and the glory of it But behold here a better vision the glory of the world and worldly Kingdomes and the fall of them Mountains tumbling down and Vallyes filled up high things brought low and low things exalted How many and mighty precious and seasonable have been the returns of fervent righteous faithful prayers They were made in former Ages but are answered Now our fore-fathers had the honour to sow and we the blessing to reape the fruits of their prayers Oh! the riches of the grace of God that hightens our mercies by steeping them in blood Our Adoption Reconciliation Redemption Remission of sin and salvation is by the precious blood of Jesus the glorious truths of the everlasting Gospel come to us dyed in his blood who was the great Martyr and in the blood of many his servants and Martyrs Rev. 6. 9. Our present Liberty Peace and Enjoyments did they not cost the dearest blood of many valiant Worthies Oh! let not let not the blood of Christ his Martyrs and Souldiers condemn us Let it not be said God stretched forth his hand to a foolish and gainsaying people that the Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters crib and that we know not care not consider not when God works such glorious things When David had the water of the Well of Bethlehem brought to him he poured it out before the Lord because it was the blood of these men Oh! that now your hearts might rebound these mercies to Heaven whence they came in humble thankfulnesse and watchful obedience seeing they are the blood of your brethren When the time of performing great promises and prophesies drew nigh God raiseth up Daniel's spirit to search Oh! that we might be praying and searching praying and reading praying and inquiring and not giving over till we come to some understanding of these blessed mysteries Now to help you in this search to informe your understanding to be instrumental to draw forth and establish your faith about the great works of this latter Age is the scope of this insuing Treatise The Lord in much mercy blesse you and it together that those good ends may be obtained Chap. 2. Handleth these eight Propositions FIrst that God delivers his prophesies in the way of a promise 2. New-Testament Promises are set forth in Old Testament language 3. That both prophesies and promises are to be taken in the largest extent 4. That they admit of divers degrees seasons and manners of fulfilling 5. That under one person or thing named the whole series both of persons and things is to be understood 6. God performes his promises in these latter ages in a way of proportion to his former glorious workings 7. The inflicting of punishment on the adversaries of his Church is subordinate to the performance of his promise to his people 8. That the time of fulfilling Prophesies and Promises and working great changes is at or before the coming of Christ Before we come to the particulars which we intend to insist upon give me leave first for the better understanding of the matter and the Scriptures produced to lay down these eight Considerations God delivers his Prophesies in the way of a Promise Prophesies are the foretelling of things that shall come to passe in their proper times God cannot speak to his Saints but in away of love his foreteling things to come tells you how he loves them Our God is a God of power and grace and promises are the engagements of both The Father worketh and Christ worketh for his peoples special good and you have them both at work in performing prophetical promises The prophesie of Christ his coming in the flesh it s in the way of a promise
to the third proposition are to be taken in the largest extent Again observe this promise and prophesie of Haggai receives according to what is laid down in the fourth proposition sundry degrees of fulfilling It was truly performed when Christ was born into the world then Angels and Men Heaven and Earth were moved but this is not all for the Author to the Hebrews tells us of another shaking at another coming of Christ when we shall receive a Kingdome that cannot be moved Heb. 12. 26. Besides when the Prophet Haggai names the Temple and the House he meanes all the frame of worship and not barely the Fabrick and building that was reared up When he names Zorobabel and Joshua he meanes not onely those two particular persons but all governours and deliverers of Gods people in several places and ages are included which is the direction that the fifth proposition gives us Moreover the great and glorious alterations that God will make in these last dayes is here expressed by a phrase relating to Gods wonderful dealing with his people Israel we finde Exod. 19. 18. at the appearance of God on Mount Sinai it s said the whâ—le mount quaked greatly and when God appears to make these turnes he is said by the Prophet here to shake heaven and earth which agrees fully with the sixth proposition The shaking of all Nations here what doth it meane else but the execution of vengeance on the Nations thus plainly in v. 21. 22. of this 2. Chap. where the shaking of heaven and earâ—h is repeated v. 21. and expounded v. 22. by this phrase I will overthrow the throne of Kingdomes and I will destroy the strength of the Kingdomes of the Heathen but for what end v. 23. It was to exalt Zorobabel to be as a Signet it was to make way for his Churches good which was the lesson taught in the eight proposition Lastly the time of these great turnes is plainly expressed to be at the coming of Christ Christ is yet to come in the judgement of all one way or another and all his comings produce notable changes as the eight proposition shewed And thus having brought down what was spoken in general in the propositions to this particular prophesie of Haggai I shall onely adde one word about the coherence of these two verses with the former part of the Chapter and then descend to the explication of the words It 's plain v. 2. and 3. that Zorobabel Joshua and the people were under discouragement about building of the Temple we build a Temple say they but what is it a poor meane frame Solomons Temple was a stately Edifice but this is nothing to that were it not better for us to give over then to goe forward with such a work Now in the fourth and fifth verse God calls upon them 1. To be strong be strong be strong 2. To worke and not give over 3. To be confident and not feare Now the Arguments are three 1. I am with you v. four 2. My Spirit shall remain among you v. five 3. I will shake Heaven and earth for you and the desire of all Nations shall come and fill this house with glory v. 6. 7. So then these words are brought in as an argument to take off their feare and render them confident to strengthen them in the work God called them unto Thus they cohere with the former words let us now proceed to explication of them we shall begin with those words Thus sayth the Lord of Hosts Thus sayth The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated Sayeth it denotes in Scripture phrase five things 1. To declare the minde by speaking Dixit 1. locuâ—us est to expresse our thoughts or motions of heart by words so Gen. 20. 5. speaking of Sarah she even she her selfe said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is my Brother that is she uttered so much in speech or words that another might understand and thus God spake by his Prophet 2. It 's put to hold out a speaking before hand what shall come to passe afterward Dixit 1. prophetavit He said that is he prophesied and a word so spoken is a prophetical word thus Gen. 41. 54. the seven yeares of dearth began according as Joseph had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dixerat that is according as he had prophesied 3. It signifies a speaking to ones selfe a speaking in a way of thought or meditation Dixit 1. cogitavit He saith that is he thought he sayth in himselfe Our thoughts are our communication with our selves when we are serious in meditation of our own hearts or wayes we are said to return to our hearts and to speak in our hearts thus 2 Sam. 21. 16. Goliah the Giant thought to kill David the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 et dicebat percutere He said he would kill him that is he spake so to himselfe it was the language of his thoughts 4. To say is to speak with authority to speak by way of command Dixit 1. imperavit He said that is as much as he commanded so Jonah 2. 11. The Lord spake to the Fish that is he commanded it 5. And lastly to speake is not barely to declare ones minde to think or to command but it holds out such a speaking wherein the speaker engageth himselfe dixit 1. promisit he said that is he promised it and so it 's taken here Thus saith the Lord of hosts that is Thus promiseth the Lord of Hosts that phrase viz. the Lord of Hosts we shall not open here onely now draw these 2. Observations That the Lord in all ages dispenseth himselfe to his people by way of a promise so here That when his people are under discouragement and feare he strengthens them by holding forth himselfe to be the Lord of Hosts I will shake I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I Jehovah who have my being of my selfe and give being to my word of promise I who have all creatures and times in my power and disposal I even I will shake All refer this shaking to God but some refer this to God in the person of the Father as Hierom. Gâ—oâ—g Eden and so they make the meaning to be I that am the Father of Jesus Chrisâ— and in him your Father and the Father of mercies I will shake the Heavens But the Author to the Hebrews refers it to Christ and so I that is I that am Emanuel King of Kings and Lord of Lords who was dead but am alive and now live for evermore I who am the brightnesse of my Fathers glory and the expresse image of his person who have seven eyes and seven hornes all-seeing and all-working power I that have made and hold up the pillars of the world I will shake The Author to the Hebrews adds an expression shewing that this shaking was done suddainly and with ease It s but a word speaking it
Yet a little while Time repeated Yet once more The promise is confirmed to our faith by the repetition of the first words Thus saith the Lord at the end of vers 7. CHAP. IIII. Shews how in the great turnes of Ages God dispenseth himselfe in the way of a Promise for FIrst this holds out God as a Father 2. This exalts the honour of Christ the Son 3. This honours God in the person of the Spirit 4. This makes notably for the security and improvement of Grace 5. This confounds the men of the world 6. This greatens our estate Use of Instruction and Exhortation You have heard the meaning of these words Thus saith the Lord that they hold out a promise and that the Lords saying is not a bare expressing of a thing to be so or so but an expression with an engagement of himselfe it s a saying by way of a promise Hence we shall begin with this observation That the Lord in the great turnes and changes of all Ages dispenseth himselfe by the way of promises Thus he did to Adam in Paradise Do this and live the like after his fall The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head It was a great turne when all the world was drowned and then how doth God dispense himself he makes a Covenant with Noah Gen. 9. 13. I will set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a token of Covenant between me and the Earth It was no small turne when Terah and others were grossly defiled by Idolatry then for God to call Abraham out but how doth he doe it by making a Covenant with him Gen. 17. 4. Behold my Covenant is with thee and thou shalt be a father of many Nations We are not ignorant what variety of changes Jacob had experience of but God supports him by his promise Gen. 28. 15. Behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest Gen. 46. 1. Israel takes his journey for Egypt but v. 3. he hath this viaticum this provision by the way I am the God of thy Father fear not to go down to Egypt for I will make of thee a great Nation It was a great and mighty work to bring Israel out of Egypt and behold then Exod. 34 27 28. The Lord said to Moses Write these words for after the tenour of these words have I made a covenant with thee Againe in the time of the Judges Josh 1. 5. of Kingly power 2 Chron. 1. 9. In the time of the captivity under the King of Babylon Jer. 25. 11 12. the like when they came out of captivity Hag. 1. 8. In all these times God dispensed himselfe in way of a promise So he doth in Gospel-times Acts 2. 39. The promises are to you and to your children 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godlinesse is profitable for all things and so in all conditions and hath the promise of the life that now is and that that is to come The New Heavens and the New earth do certainly holdout the greatest alterations that ever shall be but this is by promise 2 Pet. 3. 13. The demonstration of this we shall hold out in these six passages This promising way holds out God as a Father in his glorious excellency of wisdome and Immensity All creatures are measured by the present time but God in promising shews he hath all times in his power creatures have onely the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the present Now but God is and was and will be Oh! the riches of his unspeakable mercy the present time is a short moment God cannot expresse his love to us in it sufficiently nor are we in capacity to receive his love and therefore he takes the time to come and puts it into the promise yea he takes eternity to doe it in A promising way glorifies the power of God Rom. 4. 21. Abraham was fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to performe it God doth not put you off with a promise because he is weak but because he is able to performe Be not troubled because you have not present possession for he is faithfull that promised Heb. 10. 22. This promising way exalts the honour of Jesus Christ for all promises are made to him first therefore he is called The Covenant Isa 42. 6. The promises center in him and have firstly their performance in and to and for him 2 Cor. 1. 20. In him yea and in him Amen We are creatures at too great a distance from God he cannot firstly and immediatly deale with us we are too low for that dealing but he deals with Christ We are all promised as a seed to him Isa 53. 10. to him is the everlasting Kingdome promised and he waits till his enemies become his footstool Psal 110. 1. that is his enemies shall be so far from prevailing against him as that they shall be although they intend not so a meanes of making him ascend into his throne as a man climbs into the throne by the footstoole the spirit is first on Him and from him on us God is first his Father then ours first his God then ours John 20. 17. I goe to my Father and your Father to my God and your God This honoureth God in the person of the spirit who is called Ephes 1. 13. The holy Spirit of promise the reason is this because all promises carry in their nature a reall application of that good which the promise holds out Now applicationwork is proper unto God in that person of the Spirit God must have honour in this person as well as in the person of the Father or Son Therefore in the last days the spirit shall be poured out upon all flesh This spirit shall appear to rule men more in Kingdoms and Governments in matters of Peace and War then ever yet our eyes have seen This makes notably for the advantage of Gods people and that 1. To render them in a secure estate when our stock was in Adams hand we lost all but now it s in Christs and under a promise its safe and secure Rom. 4. 16. If our good estate did depend on any thing in Vs it could not but be uncertain because we are so but being of promise of grace in him and faith in us it renders our state secure 2. Promises from God draw forth performances from Vs praemiis ducimur we are led by rewards 2. Cor. 7. 1. we must Cleanse and cleanse thorowly not from some but all filthinesse not onely of the flesh but of the spirit and all on this ground Having 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these promises we must not onely be holy and in the feare of God but perfect holinesse still upon this ground Having these promises God will have it known his people dare trust him and fall to work upon a promise although they have little in hand It is that which
commends the ingenuity of their obedience that they work upon a promise No marvel then if God dispence himselfe in that way which is so improving to his childrens grace 5. This notably confounds the men of the world It s foolish to flesh and blood to live on a promise they live by sense and not by faith and therefore are carried on and taken with present things The whole Gospel is foolishnesse to them what are then the promises which are the Gospel of the Gospel This way revolves things into the meer power goodnesse and fidelity of God which men of the world are strangers to this way of converse is too high for them they are brought in jeering at the promise 2 Pet. 3. 4. Turne them to Corne and Wine O! they are good they have some rellish with their palates but as for the promises they seeme dull dry flat things to them Oh foolish worldlings who are so full of the world that they loath these honey combs these great and precious promises 6. Lastly this greatens our estate our reversions being more then all that we have in present possession yea it exceedingly hightens all that we doe now enjoy when mercies come in a promise they come dipped in the blood of Jesus they luster with the light of Gods countenance thus the sleep of a righteous man is better then that of other men because there is something of a love-token in it He giveth his beloved sleep Psal 127. 2. God hath general wayes whereby he dispenseth himselfe as a faithful Creator a Sun for all raine clouds winter summer seedtime and harvest for All But still he reserves his bosome to his own he remembers his Covenant for them and besprinkles them with intimate loves Yea in those favours which Gods people enjoy in common with the world there are sweet intermixtures of special love desirable interweavings of gracious favours In times of great turnes you will meet with great wants want of counsel activity fidelity you had therefore need of a promise to recourse to It may be provisions may fall short promises are rich storehouses your dangers are as many as your wants where will you finde a rock of ages but in the promises Turning times are difficult times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be not troubled as if some strange thing befel you when you finde wants difficulties and necessities arising make not â—ad conclusions give not all over for lost and gone say not I have had these salvations and deliverances but now I shall surely perish No no God reserveth much in his own hand much in the promises and to him and them and them in him must you look Consider how in all ages and great turnes God withers the arme of flesh blasteth the white blosome of the creature so that it cannot help It s a Promise a Promise must do you good that revolveth the work into Gods power grace and goodnesse Goe to the creatures you have loved and been fond of but they will prove vaine The stout-hearted are spoiled they have slept their sleep and all the men of might have not found their hand Psal 76. 5. How little can men doe if they have no hands and as little if they have hands and cannot finde them The wise man shall not glory in his wisdome nor the strong man in his strength nor the honourable man in his dignity but God will be exalted in his goodnesse Have you not seen great houses without inhabitants whole Townes and numerous Families cut off Honour in the dust and wise counsels turned into foolishnesse Oh! then learn now learn experimentally to see the creatures vanity Take notice Gods wayes are in the great deeps and his footsteps are not known because he acts not according to our counsels or according to former praecedents nor according to present advantages as we doe but according to his own gracious Will according to his promise Now God in his promise reserves times and methods measures and instruments in his own hand He will work now not then or then and not now so much and no more by these and not by those he will sill by emptying build by destroying we many times in our thoughts limit the holy One of Israel and methodize his ways when alas we know them not But Gods promise is as it were the limiting of himselfe and how glorious is that way that doth measure him that is unmeasurable bound him that is infinite but t is because its a measure bound of his own making and so much for the use of Instruction Now follows a word of Exhortation To provoke you to search out the promises that concern the present age and times we live in It s the commendation of some of the children of Issaker That they had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to doe 1 Chron. 12. 32. Father Jacob Gen. 49. 1. excitâ—s his sons to attend to his prophesies on this account That I may tell you what shall be fall you in the last dayes Isa 2. 2. In the last dayes the mountaine of the Lords house shall be established on the top of the Mountains Acts 2. 17. It shall come to passe in the last dayes sayth God that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sonnes and daughters shall prophesie 2. Pet. 3. 3. There shall come in the last dayes Scoffers Is it not glorious to behold what Gods people shall doe to other people in the last dayes Numb 24. 5. Evil will befal in the last dayes because you will doe evil in the sight of the Lord. Ezek. 38. 16. Speaking of Gog it s prophesied Thou shalt come up against my people of Israel as a cloud to cover the Land it shall be in the last dayes By this meanes we come to converse with God under a glorious title of Revealing secrets The Angel Gabriel thought it a work befitting him Dan. 10. 14. I am come to make thee understand what shall befal thy people in the latter dayes Hos 3. 5. They shall seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall feare the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter dayes Is it not a thing desirable to be conversing with the same Revelations that God gave to Christ and Christ shewes unto his servants even things that must shortly come to passe Rev. 1. 1. Oh that I might prevaile with you to study the Revelation more we run after Palmisters Figure-casters Astrologers to know things to come which they cannot declare unto us and in the mean season we neglect these precious declarations of God which would sweetly teach us Now as motives to perswade you consider This renders you children of wisdome wise to know the times Gods promises are the best conclusions In them we come to have notions of the times according to Gods thoughts This shews a neernâ—sse of familiarity with God Rev. 4. 1. Come hither its a
friendly phrase anâ— I will shew thee things that must be hereafter Freinds unbosome secrets one to another These secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him By thus conversing with these Revelations we come to be immediatly in the Spirit Rev. 4. 2. It s a blessed preservative against the infection of sin Our mindes are apt to wantoâ—nesse and giddinesse Oh! but how doth the consideration of Jesus Christ set forth in his seven eyes and seven hornes Rev. 5. 4. his providence and his power cut off this wanton giddinesse It s a great evil to backslide in heart Oh! but eying these promises keeps the minde intent on God the minde thus set sweetly invoaks the heart and holds it to a re-ingagement of better behaviour Formality is one of the great evils that besets us which is when we act on low grounds common custome and example and with low spirits Let these promises dwell richly in you and you will be higher We are never worse then when we are earthly-minded now nothing is so proper to work off that as to be moulded by these Gospel-prophesies and promises This is a way to advance your life of faith and love God opens his bosome secrets in dearest love in these promises and this is mighty to cause a rebound of love in your souls He gives you great and precious promises and your faith receives them Oh then let your faith work by love and love by faith and both be fixed on this blessed object of God in his promises To live by faith is to have faith acted in our present lives and that according to the promises of the present age To love is actually to close with God as the cheife and most sutable good and this he appears to be in his promises Behold here a proper course to Conquer difficulties and discouragements The best of Saints have their ebbings and damps their heart-divisions and heart-contractions Turne oh turne to the promises and then it will be full Sea with you the light and heat there will easily expel your dumps and damps and at once unite and enlarge you I am sure you would be watchful and dutiful and I am sure also that this trading with promises will keep you waking and working Shall I minde you how apt you are to nod to grow secure and carelesse and is it not from hence that you forget the promises of this latter age did you weight them well you would finde how much work lyeth on you and lyeth undone It s a good thing to give thanks to praise is pleasant and comely and doth there not lie a sweet hidden vertue in Gospel-promises to promote this work The Revelations of these latter times by the Prophet John how is it interwoven with Saints praises with Church-praises Rev. 4. 8 9 10 11. Thou art worthy to receive glory and honour Rev. 7. 12. Blessing Glory and Wisdome and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Rev. 11. 17. We give thanks to thee Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned Rev. 15. 3 4. They sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb saying Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes O thou King of Saints who shall not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name Rev. 16. 5. Thou art righteous O Lord who art and wast and shall be because thou hast thus judged Rev. 19. 1. Alleluja Salvation Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God for true and righteous are his judgements To conclude then you must be a praysing people as well as a praying people converse more with God in his promises and you cannot but be praysing of him CHAP. V. Sheweth that Christ being about to performe his promises causeth alterations in the Natural bodies of Heaven and Earth which is thus demonstrated FIrst Christ hath given a being and constant course to Heaven and Earth 2. He maintains that being 3. The creatures thus made are at his beck 4. It s his pleasure that sometime they should step aside from their ordinary constant course 5. Christ governs this turning aside 6. These Turns carry with them the nature of Signes Four Reasons added and Uses I will shake the Heavens and the Earth the Sea and the dry Land These words according as was laid down in Chapter three being taken Grammatically and properly they afford this observation That When Christ is about to performe his prophetical promises he causeth alteration in the bodies and natural courses of Heaven Earth Sea and dry Land Heaven and Earth in their prime and litteral signification hold out that great frame that God in the beginning formed out of nothing Now in this great Fabricke are the alterations we speak of I should not have pitched on this observation but that I finde the holy Ghost in all the eminent turns to make some impression and mention this way It was a great turne reduced all the world to eight persons but then you know the windows of Heaven were opened and the fountains of the great deep broken up and the raine was upon the Earth Gen. 7. 12 13. To turne Israel out of Egyptian bondage was a great turne and then the Red Sea must be dryed up Exod. 14. 16. At the giving of the Law Exod. 20. 8. there are thundrings and lightnings and the voyce of a Trumpet and the mountain smoaking Israels preservation in the Wildernesse was a whole continued series of Turnes and then we read of a Pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire Num. 14. 14. they had water out of the Rocke followed them 1 Cor. 10. 4. and Mannah rained down Exod. 16. 35. So in the New Testament at the birth of Christ there is a Star which is callep His his Star in the East Mat. 2. 2. At the death of Christ Mat. 27. 51. The earth quakes and rocks rend and the graves were opened At the sending of the Spirit Acts 2. 2. suddainly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty winde and Acts 4. 31. When they had prayed the place was shaken When Paul and Sylas must be delivered out of prison Acts 16. 26. suddainly there was a great Earthquake Now to cleare this observe 1. Jesus Christ hath given a being and a constant course of operation to Heaven and Earth Sea and dry Land John 1. 3. All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Prov. 30. 4. He ascends up to Heaven and descends he gathereth the winde in his fist he binds the waters in a garment and establisheth all the ends of the Earth Psal 104. 2. He covers himselfe with light and layes the beames of his chambers in the waters He maketh clouds hit Chariots and rides on the wings of the winde Psal 19. 4 5.
yet if you weigh things in a Sanctuary Ballance you will finde such actings and workings as faith can rise up unto although sense cannot And when God will worke more of his great works by them then he will highthen our faith to apprehend them more Doth Christ in these great turnes use the ministration of Angels then surely he himselfe is far above them the Lord is above the servant and he to whom the administration is is above them that minister above them then he is and above them in these turnes for Heb. 1. 2. He is said to make the worlds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 secula the several ages of the world Mr. Dixon in his Commentary on the place saith he calletâ— it the worlds for the variety of times and ages and fleeces of the creatures one succeeding another You wrong Jesus Christ if you converse not with him in all these inferiour motions he is the primum mobile the first mover and other things move after him The whole first Chapter to the Hebrews sets forth the excellency of Christ far above that of Angels which here I shall give you a briefe account of Take notice How he gives the full due to Angels the full due of their glory It s granted they are the sonnes of God as Adâ—m is said to be Luke 3. 38. in that they had their immediate being from him and accordinly sang unto him and shâ—uted for joy Job 38. 7. They have an excellent name which implyes an excellent nature Names are put to expresse the natures of things and excellent names to excellent things among which Angels are to be rankâ—d Thâ—y are His Angels of him and for him and therefore excellent They are spirits having a simple uncâ—mpounded being and therefore an excellent being They are as flames of fire of lightning that speedily execute his will ministring spirits as v. 14. But now Jesus Christ hath by inheritance obtained a far more excellent name then they they are made very good but he is made far better He is so a Son as they are not a Son by way of eminency he is a Son and first bâ—gotten which they are not He is appointed heir of all things which the Angels are not but even they are part of his possession given to be his servants He is the brightnesse of the Fathers glory so are not Angels Angels hold forth much of God but they are not the Character of his Person as Christ is They are used in the government of this world but he upholds all things by the word of his power Truth it is they do much service and do it cheerfully and vigorously but they can never do that service that Christ doth He by himselfe purged our sin which is a worke too great for them he takes his place where they cannot they may stand about the Throne and waite the pleasure of God but he sits down at the right hand of his glory He is God and they are but â—â—eatures and owe him for their being v. 7. as do the Heaven and Earth v. 10. In regard of his humane nature He hath the oyl of gladnesse above his fellows and so loves righteousnesse and hates iniquity more then Angels He hath a Throne and that for ever and its honour enough for Angels to waite about it Many are the enemies of this Throne and Kingdome but God will make them his footstoole Thus you see Angels are but Ministers although glorious Ministers Christ is more glorious then they Let me adde one word more to exhort you 1. To draw your eyes to behold these glorious workes It s a curious study to search into Gods providences he imprints much of himselfe upon them and that by his choice servants his Angels 2. Let no discouragement seize upon you as to the Times Measures Methods Instruments of these things God hath his own houshold servants which he can and will imploy at his pleasure 3. And shall not this afford some elevation of your hearts in love to God when he doth on your behalfe imploy his best attendance 4. Lastly let it mightily provoke all the servants of God his precious Worthies to come forth and goe on in the service of these latter times It s no worse businesse you are called forth unto then Christ puts his Angels about Oh! then let not your hands hang down nor your knees be feeble Study what worke is put into your hands and do it with all your might Are you called to counsel or to act at home or abroad by Sea or by Land Oh! lift up your heads and rejoyce that God hath counted you worthy to be under-powers in these transactions value it as your happinesse to have been in his hand Let not the thoughts of danger or difficulty discourage you you are about Angels worke and you should have Angels spirits you have their help and you shall have a reward not inferiour to their condition I should now according to the opening of the words as we have spoken of the inhabitants of heaven and their shaking so proceed to shew the shaking of the Inhabitants of that part of the earth that is called a Continent as also the shaking of the inhabitants of the Sea and the inhabitants of Islands but these things I shall not handle now but hasten to what I intend in this Book CHAP. VII Opens the shake of Kings and Princes because 1. They make the great turns in the Earth 2. They pretend exemption from mans power 3. Dealing with them is a compendious way of dealing with the Nations 4. Being decked with worldly glory they seem to be Christs match Vses of Instruction and Exhortation HEaven as you heard Cháp 3 denotes by a Metaphor the highest things Thus when the Prophet Moses speaks of the high walls of a City Dâ—ut 1. 28. He tells them of a City walled up to heaven It is the language of the Prophets to compare a Kingdome to a World and what is highest in a Kingdome to what is highest in the World Satan is called 2 Cor. 4. 4. The god of this World and when he was in the highest of his â—ffâ—ctual working in the children of disobedience when he wrought so in them that they exalted him as a God by worshipping of him when he had his heathenish Priests Altars Sacrifices Feast-dayes in the time of the Emperours as Jehovah God had his among his people Israel then is Satan said to be in Heaven because in so great hight in the World Rev. 12. 7 8. The Dragon is said to be in heaven in regard that he was exalted and observed as a God But when his Tempels Idols and Altars were demolished he is there and then said to be cast out of heaven The heathenish Kings and Princes that were most forward and shining in this hellish heaven are called Stars Isa 61. 15 16. When God brings Israel out
us a world of iniquity and misery is incumbent on us by our wars at home and abroad and the hand of the Rulers of the earth hath been deep in all this is there none to look after them yes sure consult with the last Position and that will tell you Jesus Christ will deale in severity with the Rulers of the Earth 1 Chron. 16. 21 22. He suffered none to doe his people wrong but reproved Kings for their sakes Psal 76. 11 12. He looseth their loynes and strickes them thorow cuts off their spirits and casts contempt on Princes Job 12. 21. He profanes their glory and spoiles all their excellency and layes their honour in the dust Isa 20. 23. He bringeth the Princes to nothing he maketh the Judges of the earth as vanity they seemed the most stable beings on earth having all that flesh and blood could contribute to maintaine them but he brings them to nothing Isa 3. 14. The Lord will enter into judgement with the Ancient of his people and the Princes thereof for ye have eaten up the Vineyard the spoile of the poor is in your houses Jer. 34. 21. Zedechiah King of Judah and the Princes will I give into the hands of their enemies and into the hand of them that shall seeke their life and into the hand of the King of Babylons Army Isa 41. 25. I have raised one from the North and he shall come upon Princes as upon Morter and as the Potter treadeth clay Rev. 19. 17 18. The fowles of Heaven are gathered unto the supper of the great God that they may eate the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Captains This his dealing manifesteth him to be King of the World and the Author of the great Turns and Changes here beneath Dan. 2. 20 21. Blessed be the Name of God for ever for Wisdome and Counsel are his and he changeth the times and the seasons He removeth Kings and setteth up Kings See the Reasons for this dealing of Christ 1. Kings are in covenant with their people and their great Trustees 2 Kings 11. 17. Jehoiadah made a Covenant with the King and the people But how little they keep their covenants experience sadly tells us They covenant to maintaine wholesome Laws and the just Rights and Liberties of the Subject but how little are either regarded by them afterward They covenant to make the safety of the people and not the fulfilling of their wills the greatest Law but how little is that minded when the least income of their interest shall indanger publick good when they are in competition Now Jesus Christ he is The Amen the true and faithful witnesse and hates all unfaithfulnesse they think they may play fast and loose they see none to put their bonds in suite I but Christ in that case will enter an action against them and cast them and make them pay all costs and charges 2. Now in this his severe dealing with earthly Rulers Christ appears no respecter of persons Job 39. 14. He accepteth not the persons of Princes nor regardeth the rich more then the poor he is as exact in government as he is in teaching Luke 20. 21. Thou teachest rightly and acceptest no mans person and 1 Pet. 1. 17. He judgeth every man according to his works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without respect of persons He values not those gingles and trappings of power greatnesse and honour Righteousnesse with him shall be owned in the least and lowest but wickednesse shall not be spared in the greatest 3. By this dealing Christ makes his Wisdome to out-shine their King-craft and carnal Policy Isa 11. 2. The spirit of wisdome understanding and counsel rests on Christ not onely is in him but in him as the proper place of them they rest in him Rulers have all the advantage of breeding and example to make them subtile they have all that the strongest wits can present them with Their interest makes them serious their malice quick-sighted and their experience setled in their way This is their businesse they make it their â—â—rke to mind and follow it Psal 2. 2. â—he Kings of the earth set themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—unt Simul faciunt stare they make it stand together Vires omnes studia conatus conferunt in Dominum saith Vatablus They employ all their forces studies and endeavours against the Lord The people they rage and imagine a vaine thing they are led by passion and phantasie which things are soon gone but your Kings and Princes proceed more sollidly The Rulers take counsel together but for all this solid working you know what follows verse 4. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision 4. Christ is to overcome Satan in his own Territories as he counts them Not onely shall Christ overcome him in spiritual regiment over the souls and consciences of men but Christ must drive him out of the World also out of his hold in the Earth Rev. 11. 15. The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he shall reigne for ever and ever Satan in 2 Cor. 4. 4. is stiled the God of this world but Christ must ungod him 1 Cor. 15. 24 25. He must put down all rule and authority and power and surely Satans rule shall not stand but he will pull it down 1. Read the sinfullnesse of Kings through Christ his severity surely they must be out of measure sinful whom Christ thus brings his wheele upon God knows I am no enemy to Governours nor Governments nor to that by way of a King yet I think Kings are and have been the worst rank of men in the World Read your own Chronicles and you will finde you may write all your good Kings in a small Ring Corruptio optimi pessima The corruption of the best is worst Kings should be best and they have the best of Power Pleasure and Revenues but how wofully is all corrupted and so much Christ his dealing with them tells you and you should learne it thence 2. See the impartial and unspotted holinesse and righteousnesse of Jesus Christ He will not spare sin where ever he finds it He hath vials full of wrath to pour out when they fill up their measures of sin When they ripen their sins to the harvest he will command his Angel to put in the sickle Christ can suffer them in their wickednesse and yet have no defilement to himselfe Laesa patientia fit furor Patience abused turns into rage he will abundantly recompence his patience and longsuffering with the amazing strictness of his just proceedings 3. See what to expect and to what to refer the providences of our present age Is it not a shaking thought to recal how the talest Cedar that grew amongst us who was greene and spread his branches far is felled to the ground The greatest Family among us
WE have seen Christ on the Throne and the World under his feet and what he works as being Lord paramount of the earth Let us now raise our thoughts and hearts unto a farther consideration and behold the Turns of the World from Christ as King of Saints and that your thoughts may be more collected I shall represent you in this Chap. with twelve Sections Sect. I. Jesus Christ is King of Saints as well as King of the World God the Father glories in this that he hath set him his King upon his holy hill Psal 2. 6. Let the Kings set against him and seek to break his cords all their power and malice cannot in the least unsetle him Psal 110. 4. He sweares and will not repent God the Father is fully satisfied in the great glory put on Christ so as he will never have a recoyling thought concerning it It s the blessed burden of the Song of Moses and the Lamb Rev. 15. 3. Just and true are thy ways oh thou King of Saints And let wise and holy Daniel tell you what work this makes Dan. 2. 44. His Kingdome shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdomes and it shall be for ever Sect. II. Jesus Christ hath this high honour of being King of Saints upon his sufferings The 22. Psalm is a Psalm of Christ and his sufferings as appears from v. 1. to 22. The meek shall eate and be satisfied and the Kingdoms of the Nations shall worship yea the fat ones upon earth v. 25. shall eate and worship and the ground you have v. 28. The Kingdome is the Lords and he is Governour among the Nations Phil. 2. 7 8 9. He made himselfe of no reputation though he were in the forme of God yet he took on him the forme of a servant thus he humbled himselfe but God highly exalted him and upon this follows a Name above every Name the bowing of every knee to him and the confession of every tongue That he is Lord. It is a proper honour due unto him from these his sufferings that is such an honour as had not accrewed to him if he had not suffered Jesus Christ had experience of many Turnes in his sufferings Now his glory shall correspond with his sufferings and not be in one straine or streame but in diverse Turnes and alterations Sect. III. Jesus Christ puts forth His power he hath as King of the Nations for his people to whom he is King of Saints 1 Chron. 16. 20 21. When they went from Nation to Nation from one Kingdome to another People He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes He must be King of the World that he may be their King that in their wanderings he might help them and if Kings oppose them he as King of Kings will reprove them Rev. 12. 16. The earth helps the woman The world helps the Church Christ makes the Goths and Vandales break the Arrian faction by which the Dragon sought to carry away the Church Isa 43. 14. Thus saith the Lord your Redeemer For your sakes I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all their Nobles Jehovah considered as the Redeemer and holy One of Israel puts forth his power as he is King of Nations and makes it subservient to that power he hath as he is the Redeemer of his people He sends to Babylon and brings down all their Nobles there he appears King of Kings but it s for their sakes for Israels sake there he appears the holy One and their Redeemer the Redeemer of his holy ones Sect. IV. Jesus Christ shall have more visible glory in this world then ever hitherto he hath had the glory of this relation of being King of Saints His Subjects appeare in this world as Saints they here shine as lights in a dark world and the world hates them because they are Saints holy ones because by their holinesse they convince and condemn the world and do they appeare for Christ and will not Christ appeare for them They appeare for him visibly upon earth before men and Christ will take to himselfe his great power and Dan. 7. 22. Time shall come when the Saints shall possesse the Kingdome He had a government over Israel so as he had not over other Nations and the Nations knew it Exod. 14. 25. Let us flee say the Egyptians from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them Deut. 32. 31. Their Rock is not as our Rock even our enemies themselves being judges And surely Christ shall again appeare to have the government of Saints and Saints shall know it more and their enemies too when he shall be revealed from heaven to take vengeance on them that know not God and 2 Thes 1. 10. shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe Thus Rev. 15. when Christ sends his last plagues in which are filled up the the wrath of God on his Churches enemies then is Christ honoured v. 3. as King of Saints Sect. V. Bitternesse doth and shall mingle with all Governments among all Nations that so Christs Government may be rendred sweet Look on Governments by single Persons or by Councils in Kingdomes or in Common-wealths look on this or that form of Government whatsoever it be you will finde so much weaknesse and wickednesse so much corruption self-seeking and undue exaltation of themselves breaking forth as that men will be weary of it To maintaine their pride you will finde men apt to oppresse to maintaine their oppression you will finde them dextrous either to straine or new coyne Laws and so far from removing heavy burdens that they will lay more on Observe observe narrowly and you will meet with such undue biassings in them that rule to their friends kindred relations and interests that due deserving worth cannot mount to preferment Look on the right or left hand you will finde no helper oh how wellcome will Christ be in such a conjunction of affairs When he was to be borne into the world he stay'd till men had made void his Law till the Pharisees by their glosses and traditions had made the word of God of no effect and when he shall come to take the Kingdome to himselfe is shall be when men have corrupted and so inbittered all rule and government Israel must be under hard Task-masters that make them serve with rigour before Moses and Aaron can be hearkned unto Rev. 17. 13 14. The ten Hornes that is the ten Kings of Europe give their power and strength to the Beast and make war with the Lamb that is the condition of Governours before Christ come But the Lamb shall come and overcome them for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they that are with him as called and chosen and faithful Sect. VI. Christ pours out on his people a mighty spirit of prayer which he in his government as King
of Saints returns a full answer to The prayers of Saints are Christ his spirit breathing in siâ—hts and groanes and making a voyce of supplication Now surely he understands his own voyce in them and will heare his own spirit When God rejected Saul Samuel is commanded not to pray for him 1 Sam. 16. 10. It s a sad thing when those in authority fall out of Saints prayers or when Saints pray against them not for them 1 Tim. 2. 2. We must pray for Kings and all that be in authority and surely it is fatal and ominous when Gods people justly indite Princes and plead as Ananias against Saul Act. 9. 13. Lord I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy Saints When the soules under the Altar cry Rev. 6. 10. then v. 12. Behold a great Earthquake little do you conceive what great Changes Saints prayers make Rev. 5. 8. The four living creatures and the four and twenty Elders which is the resemblance of a Gospel-Church the four living creatures representing the Officers and the four and twenty Elders the Brethren of the Congregation now these are said to have golden vials full of odors which are the prayers of Saints Now these viaâ—â— of prayers fill the vials of wrath Rev. 15. 1. God assumes it as his high prerogative to break the arrows that flie and wound afar off to break the sheild that should defend the sword that wounds neer at hand He breaks Arrows Sheild Sword Battle All But where It s in Salem in Sion where Judah knew God and Israel greatened his Name It s there there where his people cry to him Psal 76. 3. Sect. VII Jesus Christ shall have a willing people in the day of his power Psal 110. 3. Oh! strange what a Turne will that be oh how backward are men now and to nothing more backward then to holinesse and holy things when they come forth in their beauty I but Jesus Christ shall have the day of it and it shall be the day of his power the day wherein his power shall be gloriously manifested and subjected unto Isa 49. 19 20 21. The land shall be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants The children shall say the place is too straite for us give place to us that we may dwell yea the Church shall say in regard of the numerous addition of Members who hath begotten me these seeing I have lost my children who hath brought up these Behold I was left alone That is a remarkable Prophesie and Promise in Ezek. 36. 37 38. I will increase them with men like a flock as the holy flock as the flâ—ck of Jerusalem in her solemne Feasts So shall thy waste Cities be filled with flocks of men and they shall know that I am the Lord. Sect. VIII Some of the Kings of the Earth shall be among this willing people Oh wonderful wonderful Kings to become subjects to be among the people and the willing people whom aforetime they most hated that is strange that those who were the greatest enemies should now become friends that those who have done so much against Christ shall now be active for him God had of old his David Hezekiah Jehosaphat Asa and Josiah good and godly Kings and he will have some like them again outward pomps and pleasures shall be no let to his call and working on them and by them Isa 49. 7. Thus saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel and his holy One Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy One of Israel and he shall chuse thee Isa 30. 21. Their Nobles shall be of themselves and their Governours shall proceed from the midst of them He will restore their Judges as at the first and their Counsellers as at the beginning afterward thou shalt be called the City of righteousnesse the faithful City Isa 49. 23. Kings shall be thy Nursing fathers and Queens or Princesses thy Nursing mothers Those who have been the persecutors shall be the preservers the destroyers shall prove nourishers those that did minde nothing but their pride and pleasure they shall now minde the Church and her interest They that made the people of God bow down till they passed over them they shall come and bow down to the Church with their faces toward the earth Isa 60. 16. The Prophet there speaking of the state of the Jewish Church after their general conversion to Christ promiseth Thou shalt also sucke the milke of the Gentiles that now accursed people of the Jews shall become blessed they are still beloved for their father sake v. 10. They shall suck the breasts of Kings none have been and are so squeezed in all parts of the World where they are scattered as the poor Jews are who although they enjoy an Old-Testament blessing and become rich where they live yet then those who rule over them use them as we do a spunge that is full wring it dry So are they dealt withal but now those that sucked from them shall give sucke to them yea the sonnes of strangers shall build up thy walls and their Kings shall minister unto thee for in my wrath I smote thee but in my favour have I mercy on thee Sect. IX That Christ having great works to do in the last dayes he will mightily stir up the spirits of Princes and People When Temple-work was in hand when the solemne and publick worship of God was to be set up Hagg. 1. 14. God stirs up the spirit of Zorobabel Governour of Judah and the spirit of Jehoshuah the high Preist and the spirit of all the remnant of the people Marke it s particularly set down the spirit the spirit the spirit God had particular work for the Governour the high Preist and the people and therefore in particular he stirs up their spirits oh sweet and blessed work and blessed spirits Zorobabel Joshua People all are stirred and stirred in spirit and all work Zorobabel doth not disdain the work nor scorne the people The people are not crosse to Zorobabel but all sweetly agree It was a great work to establish the Kingdome in Davids hand and then 1 Chron. 12. 18. The spirit clothed Amasa and he said Thine are we David and on thy side thou son of Jesse Peace peace be to thy helpers for thy God helpeth thee Christ hath Temples now in Gospel-times as well as formerly and there is a great deale of Temple-work of Church-work to be done now as well as then and God will stirre up the spirits of Governours Pastors and People now as well as then and they shall work and the work shall prosper in their hand God the Father hath now the Kingdome of David the Kingdome of his Son Jesus Christ to set up and it must be strengthened in his hand God will now cloath many like Amasa with his spirit that shall come forth to the help of the
Lord against the mighty Sect. X. The great worke of the latter dayes shall be to exalt holinesse and righteousnesse in Kingdomes and Common-wealths Ezek. 37. 23. They shall not defile themselves any more with their Idols nor with their detestable things nor with any of their transgressions But I will save them out of all their dwelling places wherein they have sinned and will cleanse them so shall they be my people and I will be their God This blessed Covenant shall be made good both to Jews and Gentiles Joel 3. 17. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Sion my holy mountaine Then shall Jerusalem be holy and there shall no strangers passe thorow her any more These Promises have not received their full accomplishment I say their full accomplishment but remaine yet to be fulfilled according to what was laid down in the second Chapter The holinesse and purging spokâ—n of in these Promises shall not be the portion of Jerusalem onely she alone is not to obtain this holinesse and righteousnesse and others left out But it shall be the portion of other people the Gentiles also according to the Prophesie of John in Rev. 22. 3. There shall be no more Curse then surely there will not be that that causeth the curse which is sin so far as the curse shall not be sin shall not be But the Throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it Now the Thrones of men and of the Beast the Thrones of prophanesse and Idolatry are set up but it shall not be so then but his servants shall serve him Now they serve their own lusts and the wills of men too much but then they shall serve the Lamb Christ and how and wherein Psal 45. 6. The Scepter of his Kingdome is a right Scepter v. 7. Thou lovest righteousnesse and hatest wickednesse and as Christ loves and hates so shall his servants then eminently they shall have his minde and heart 2 Pet. 3. 13. We according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse When the new heavens and the new earth shall be righteousnesse then shall be no stranger there but a home dweller it shall abide there as in the proper seat of it Sect. XI Saints shall have notable conquests over their adversaries Nnmb. 24. 17 18. The Star out of Jacob and the Scepter that shall rise out of Israel shall smite the corners of Moab Edom shall be a possession and Israel shall do valiantly out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion and shall destroy him that remaineth of the City The names of Moab and Edom and the City hold out the enemies of the Church Israel and Jacob are to be referred to the Israel of God in the Gospel and his people now as well as then and pardon me if I conceive our late domestick Wars and Triumphant Victories to look this way Joel 3. 19. Egypt and Edom shall be a desolation for the violence against the children of Judah because they have shed innocent blood in the land Egypt and Edom comprehend the enemies of Gods people now as well as formerly and precious in the sight of the Lord is the blood of his Saints Tremble and be horribly afraid France Spain Savoy Germany England yea all Nations on whom lieth the heavy guilt of Saints blood he that hath a bottle for their teares will certainly account for their blood and who knows but he may now be upon his Circuit and beginning to repay and to require blood for blood Obad. v. 18. The house of Jacob shall be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame and the house of Esau for stuble and they shall kindle in them and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau for the Lord hath spoken it Psal 149. 6 7 8 9. The praises of God shall be in the mouthes of Saints and a two-edged sword in their hands to execute on them the judgement written To execute vengeance on the Heathen and punishment on the people To binde their Kings in chains and their Nobles in links of Iron This honour have all his Saints and this ruine shall all his adversaries have Hag. 2. 22. I will overthrow the Throne of Kingdomes and I will destroy the strength of the Kingdomes of the Heathen and I will overthrow the Charriots and those that ride in them and the horses and their riders shall come down every one by the sword of his Brother Sect. XII This Holinesse and Righteousnesse these glorious Conquests and these great Changes shall not be all at once but be brought on by degrees Thus Moses carries Israel through the Wildernesse but Joshua brings them into Canaan Moses must not do all nor Joshua both have their proper works David provides for the Temple but Solomon he must build it Deut. 7. 22. I will put out these Nations before thee by little and little thou mayst not consume them at once God works and performes his promises now in proportion to what he did formerly and as it was by degrees then so now though its possible God may make more haste God builds up his people as he destroyes his enemies and that is by degrees By the seven Seals he destroyes Heathenish Rome Rev. 6. By the seven Vials successively the Antichristian Romish party Rev. 17. So by degrees he will raise his Church CHAP. XXII Contains the Vses of the former Doctrine namely That Christ is King of Saints HAving declared Christ in the former twelve Sections to be King of Saints Give me leave now to adde a word of application and that 1. By way of an inviting Instruction 2. By way of Exhortation The inviting Instruction you shall finde in these three passages discovering 1. Christs excellency 2. The properties of his Kingdome 3. The glory of his Saints 1. To shew you Christ's excellency in that he is King of Saints None so glorious and therefore none so desirable as Jesus Christ Rev. 15. 3. where he hath that high and mighty Title of King of Saints ascribed to him he is also called Lord God Almighty whose workes are great and marvelous and his wayes just and true Now to elevate your thoughts to his Excellency let me set before you these four things 1. His right and Title 2. His Qualifications 3. His Administrations 4. His Communications 1. His â—ight and Title which you shall finde the justest and highest Title He is no usurper of his Kingdome for he hath it by a fivefold right 1. Of Election 2. Of Donation 3. Of Birth 4. Of Purchase 5. Of Conquest 1. His right is by Election for He is chosen to it by God the Father Isa 42. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth Gods everlasting love is on him and on him for the great work and service of the Mediatorship he hath passed by all in Heaven and Earth and
laid it onely on his shoulders Psal 2. 6. He hath set his King on his holy hill set him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to pour out I have annointed and set him by my eternal counsel and decree yea the Father hath passed it with an oath Psal 110. His swearing is to be extended not onely to his Priestly but also to his Kingly Office so that he will never repent of his choice His right is then by the best Election 2. He hath right by Donation and that is a right with the highest love All power is given to him Math. 18. in heaven and in earth Aske of me and I will give thee the Heathen His Kingdome is all of love The Father loves and gives him the Kingdome The Son loves the Father and us and gives himselfe to us with command to love him and one another he calls us his little flock and assures us It is the Fathers good pleasure to give us the Kingdome also 3. He hath his right by Birth it is his Birthright So he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the First-borne of every creature Col. 1. 16. v. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the First-borne from the dead Psal 2. 7. Thou art my Son and then follows the inheritance and possession v. 8. I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Inheritance is the portion of a Son and his inheritance hath present possession with it although his father live for ever 4. Christ hath his right by Purchase He layes down a considerable price for his Kingdome Isa 53. 10. He makes his soul an offering for sin and then follows He shall see his seed and prolong his dayes that is having poured out his soul his blood as a drink-offering to his Father he shall prolong the dayes of his Kingdome and the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand 5. Lastly his Conquest gives it him 1 Cor. 15. 25. He must reigne and put all his enemies under his feet he must reigne and his enemies must be destroyed yea he destroyes that which destroyeth all namely Death he then lives and reignes reignes and conquers and justly reignes because he justly conquers Equity is surely attractive and none hath more of that then Christ and therefore unto him should we look 2. Christ hath not onely right but the most incomprehensible qualification for his Government Here on earth many have right who have not wisdome to rule Christ hath superlatively all right and all qualification He is the wisdome and power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. In him dwells all the fullnesse of the Godhead bodily All treasures of knowledge are hid in him His anointing is with oyle of gladnesse above his fellows He hath the spirit but not by measure and that spirit resting on him Isa 11. 2. all which shew the person of Christ to be most heavenly and that with which we should most be taken 3. Christs Administrations are the highest and purest Rev. 15. 3. His wayes are just and true Psal 85. 10. Here mercy and truth meet together righteousnesse and peace kisse each other He is most absolute accountable to none but his Father He rules by will and justly too because his will is a Law what is Tyranny in the Creature is Equity in Christ His exalting his will to be our Law is righteous in him and good to us for Men to do so is to intrench on his prerogative and render themselves obnoxious to his vindictive power He makes the Subjects he rules over Psal 149. 2. Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him Let the children of Zion be joyfull in their King Their King is their Maker and therefore requireth the most observance from them 2 Cor. 10. 5. Every thonght is to be under a happy captivity to the obedience of Christ Let Tyrants be never so crafty and cruel they may restraine the body and gag the tongues of men but they cannot reach their thoughts But Christ layes his dominion there leaves us not one thought to be at our own disposal but requires all to come under him It is for the poor low governments here to be tied to Time and Place Christ rules over all all persons and things allwayes He makes all and preserveth what he hath made and orders righteously that which he hath preserved He hath gladium justitiae the sword of Justice by which he cuts up vice and defends his own people and he hath gladium belli the sword of War to destroy his incorrigible enemies Let them gather together he will scatter them let them make their nests in the Stars yet thence he will plucke them down Let them lay their plots deep and magnifie themselves to do great things yet he will turn their wisdom into foolishnesse and their plots to the advance of his own designes 4. Christs Communications are the largest 1 Joh. 5. 20. He hath given us understanding to know him that is true Men may propound something for your knowledge but they cannot give the understanding but Christ triumphs in this to give wisdome to the simple and knowledge to them that have no understanding Phil. 1. 29. Vnto you it s given on the behalfe of Christ not onely to believe but also to suffer for his sake Acts 5. 31. God hath exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and remission of sin When he left the World he bequeaths no worse legacy to his Disciples then what himselfe had enjoyed Joh. 14. 27. Peace he leaves with them yea his peace to relieve their troubled and fearful hearts Eph. 4. 8. and 1◠When he ascends up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men Verse 12. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. To all that love his appearance and that have fought the good fight and kept the faith he as a righteous Lord and Judge hath laid up and will give a Crown of righteousnesse Now summe up all to give knowledge and faith and so all other graces to give repentance and remission of sins grace and gifts gifts to men and those men to his Church and hereafter a Crown of righteousnesse What are if these are not large Communications Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts and shall not the consideration of Christ his bountiful giing make us desirously longing after that Title of true honour to be called his friends We have seen King Jesus upon the Throne and his Throne all glorious we have seen his Right his Qualifications Administrations and Communications Let us now in the second place veiw the Properties of his Kingdome 1. His
Kingdome is spiritual Rom. 14. 17 Not in meat and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Princes may beare rule over mens persons and estates but Jesus Christ over mens consciences He imprints his Law upon them and gives them power to reflect both on that Law and their own wayes by it he accuseth or excuseth lets terrour or peace into the conscience as seemeth good to him His Commands and Promises carry a blessed spiritualnesse with them and so do his Rewards When you serve him it must be in spirit and truth when you pray it must be in the spirit Jude v. 20. and when you heare it must be what the spirit sayeth to the Churches Rev. 3. 6. If you take on you to preach it must not be with the entising words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the spirit and with power Col. 2. 4. and if you sing it must be spiritual Songs making melody with grace in the heart to the Lord Col. 3 16. In a word you are as lively stones built up a spiritual house an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. and verse 9. Ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of darknesse into his marvellous light I beseech you therefore Brethren by the mercyes of God that ye present your bodies a lively Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. 2. His Kingdome is Vniversal over all Saints in all places and ages He is yesterday and to day and the same for ever he ruled Israel of old and he rules his people now his administration was unto them outward and visible and shall it not be so again in the latter dayes Amos 2. 9 10 11. I destroyed the Amorite before them I brought them up from the land of Egypt and led them forty years through the Wildernesse to possesse the land of the Amorits and I raised up of your sons for Prophets and of your young men for Nazarites saith the Lord. He brought up he led he destroyed he raised he did all then and will do all hereafter Rev. 11. 15. The Kingdomes of the world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ not now one Kingdome or Nation as then not this or that Kingdome and no more but the Kingdomes of the world are become his he shall not alwayes be crouded into a corner of the world but as it is v. 1. 7. He shall take unto himselfe his great power and reigne and reward his servants the Prophets and the Saints that feare his Name both small and great here and there and everywhere 3. Thy Throne oh God is for ever and ever Heb. 1. 8. the heavens perish and waxe old as a garment and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy years shall not faile His Kingdome then is Eternal Dan. 2. 44. The God of heaven hath set up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdome shall not be left to other people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdomes and it shall stand for ever It shall not be destroyed by any adverse power nor shall it decay of it selfe but it shall break all adverse power and it shall stand for ever and as it is an eternal Kingdome so it determineth men to an eternal state Rev. 1. 18. I live for evermore Amen and have the keyes of Hell and Death wherefore Feare not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather feare him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell Math. 10. 28. 4. Lastly his Kingdome brings in perfect peace and liberty Isa 9. 6. He is the everlasting father and Prince of peace Isa 24. 23. The Lord shall reigne in mount Sion and in Jerusalem before the Ancients gloriously not onely reigne in heaven but in Sion and that gloriously Isa 25. 8. He shall swallow up Death in Victory and the Lord will wipe away teares from all faces and the rebuke of the people shall he take away from all the earth for the Lord hath spoken it Death teares rebuke shall be taken away what safety and hapinesse must then follow Isa 52. 13. Behold my servant shall dwell confidently he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high Isa 60. 19. 20. The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightnesse shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended Rev. 21. 4. There shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neiiher shall there be any more paine for the former things are passed away 3. The third and last thing that we learne from hence that Christ is King of Saints is the excellency of his Subjects and the glory of his holy ones 1. Christ is King and the holy One of God and his Saints shall be more Saints shall appear to be his holy ones Sanctity shall be more exalted in them then ever yet our eyes have seen Joel 3. 17. Then shall Jerusalem be holy and there shall no strangers passe thorow her any more Zach. 14. 20. In that day shall there be upon the bels of the horses Holinesse to the Lord yea every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holinesse to the Lord of Hosts and there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hosts 2. They shall live in safety Isa 60. 18. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting nor destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise Joel 2. 18. In that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the feild and with the fowles of heaven and I will breake the Bow and the Battel ouâ— of the earth and will make them to lie down safely 3. Saints enemies shall be brought to ruine Zach. 10. 11. The pride of Assyria shall be brought down and the Scepter of Egypt shall depart away It is usual to expresse the enemies of the Church by the names of the old grand enemies Assyria and Egypt and you see what shall become of them they shall be brought down and depart away Isa 14. 2. The house of Israel shall possesse strangers in the land of the Lord for servants and for handmaids and they shall take them captive whose captives they were and they shall rule over their oppressors Rev. 20. 7 8 9. Satan shall goe out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the Earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to battel But fire shall come down from God out of heaven and
devour them The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Sion and upon their assemblies a cloud and smoake by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4. 5. Happy are the people that be in such a case yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. 2. Now follows a word of Exhortation to provoke Saints to their dutie All that Saints are and have must be to and for Christ their gifts and graces their offices ordinances and discipline they are from him and should be for him Can you ever serve a better Lord or be subjects to a better King give me leave then to call upon you 1. To know him to entertaine him in all your thoughts your apprehensions and notions can never be raised so high and truely innobled as when He is the object mount your mâ—ditations to the highest you will meet with that in him which will surpasse all your thoughts How gladly should you follow those Gospel-straines that make the death and resurrection of Christ the Topick places for Faiths Logick heads of arguments for the new creature to reason from Col. 3. 1. It s eternal life to know him Joh. 17. 3. and therefore set this down as a conclusion in your minde with that blessed Apostle who determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. 2. Learn hence to feare him Rev. 15. 3 4. Oh King of Saints who would not feare thee oh Lord and glorifie thy Name The greatnesse and goodnesse of Christ call for a reverential frame in our hearts How thoughtful and considerate should we be least by our poor and low and unbeseeming carriage he might fall short of his glory Oh the highth and depth of his Wisdome Power Mercy and Justice who is King of Saints and yet how few do honour him It falls on Saints a work it is that lieth on their hands to give him the glory due to his Name and ashamed should they be to be found so backward in this work 3. Repose your trust in him 2 Sam. 22. 2 3. He that is your King is your Rock and Fortress and Deliverer your Sheild horne of Salvation high Tower your Refuge your Saviour that saveth you from violence therefore trust in him Psal 20. 7. Some trust in Chariots and some in Horses but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God I will not trust in my Bow neither shall my Sword save saith David Psal 44. 6. How great is the goodness laid up for them that trust in him before the sons of men Psal 31. 19. None of them shall be desolate Psal 34. 22. Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed and he shall bring thy wayes to pass Psal 37. 3 5. 4. Embrace him with the highest love oh ye Saints for the Lord preserveth the faithful and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer He is the chiefest good most sutable and most communicative and therefore common love will not suffice it must be a Jonathans love 2 Sam. 16. wonderful and passing the love of women The Church compares the power of her love to the power a disease hath that masters the body which all the tossing and tumbling cannot shake off Cant. 2. 5. Stay me with Flaggons and comfort me with Apples for I am sicke of love Remember your King is your Husband and you must tender him the love of your espousals Jer. 2. 2. He draws us with bands of love and cords of a man Hos 11. 4. and our love to him must be constraining carrying you up hill and against the croud 2 Cor. 5. 14. 5. We must by like to him Holy as he is holy it should be like Prince and like people he the King of Saints commanding and they Saints obeying We must consider him who though he were Sions King yet came in all meeknesse and hath left us this command Learne of me for I am lowly and meeke and ye shall finde rest unto your souls Mat. 11. 29. It is written of him Heb. 10. 7. Lo I come to doe thy will oh my God And surely we should be as ready in our proportion to doe his will as he was the Fathers He came to his Crown by the crosse and though he were the Captain of our salvation yet was he made perfect through sufferings and if we will be his Disciples we must deny our selves take up the cross and follow him we must chuse as Moses did to suffer affliction with the people of God and count it greater riches then the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11. 24 25. 6. He is our King and we must glorifie him Kings stand much upon their honour but none so much as Christ This the Psalmist well knew when he indited a Song of loves to praise him with a ready heart and tongue Psal 45. 1. He tells us of his beauty and that he is fairer then the children of men his lips are not â—ipped with grace but grace is poured into his lips well may we fall to blesse him whom God hath blessed and blessed for ever v. 2. He is not onely faire but valiant not onely gracious but mighty yea mighty with glory and majesty v. 3. A rare Majesty v. 4. Truth a horsebacke Majesty illustrious with meekness and righteousness they that praise him glorifie him and they that glorifie him order their conversation aright You must not barely speak his praise but live out his praise and shew your selves to be his disciples indeed by bringing forth much fruit 7. Lastly The King of Saints must not want his obedient subjects obedience is the performance of what is commanded and those commands are wrapped up in the Law I have lately read of some Laws of Nature which I conceive might be handled in a Gospel-way I shall endeavour therefore to bring Scripture-light to them and leave them upon your consciences to be observed 1. The first of them is this That peace is to be sought Rom. 12. 18. If it be possible and as much as in you lieth have peace with all men there is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if it be possible and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much as lieth in you live peaceably 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 still be peacing of it How ill doth wrath malice envy contention fighting and brawling become a man and it worse becomes a Saint a man of holinesse Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persecute peace doe that with a good and raised affection by the good spirit of God which wicked men doe against you by a wicked spirit When they persecute you by a spirit of malice they are boyled up to a hight so should you be and move with all your strength after peace He addes a word more that makes the rule
they are in the darke and that your zeale may provoke very may You must hold out the word of life you have not onely the word of light but the word of life within you which to you is a quickning word dividing asunder between the joynts and marrow and this word of light and life this living word you are to hold out for your light must shine before men that they may see your good works before men most men are in darknesse and sit in darknesse carnal sensual men cannot receive the things of God and yet God requires such a shining in you that these men these blind men may some way see and here again observe it must be good works and good works with light not barely good words or good profession that will convince them you may talke long enough and these men will never see any good unlesse you worke it frequently and constantly You must glorifie your Father which is in heaven and they by you It was Christ his work upon earth and it s yours and he finished that work and so should you Joh. 17. Herein is my Father glorified that you bring forth much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples You must be abounding and abounding alway in the work of the Lord knowing your labour is not in vain filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Christ to the glory of the Father giving all diligence and adding to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly-kindnesse and to brotherly-kindnesse love These things must be in you and abound in you that ye may not be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ You have been the servants of sin long enough now it concerns you to obey from the heart the form of Doctrine into which you were delivered It lies upon you to raise common things by holy ends and to turne outward objects into spiritual converse If you do but eat and drink walk or work work or recreate what ever ye do in word or deed it must be all to the glory of God in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father by him Eating and drinking are but natural actions but they must have Gods glory as their end Nature may teach you to give thanks but it s the Gospel that teacheth you in your thanksgiving to haverecourse to God the Father in the Name of the Lord Jesus The meanesse of your condition must not hinder the raisednesse of you holinesse Suppose you are servants the Gospel teacheth you how to make your service to become divine Col. 3. 22. Servants obey in all things your Masters not with eye-service as men-pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God and whatever you do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive a reward for ye serve the Lord Christ You must obey your Masters but so as you must declare you are fearing God while you are obeying them you must render them service but not eye-service God requires the heart for himselfe and when he requires your respect to another he requires your heart thereto How unlike is your complemental expression of saying Your servant your humble servant Sir to the singlenesse of heart here mentioned You must please men and yet not be men-pleasers but please God in the pleasing of them you must do and do heartily but as to the Lord and not to men and there 's good reason for it for of him you must receive the reward for ye serve the Lord Christ he tells you of serving men and serving Christ yea serving Christ in serving men and thus you greaten little and highten low things You should be persons of a raised manner of behaviour in all actions states and conditions in all holy conversation and godlinesse But most of all when you come to worship God who will be sanctified in his nigh ones and glorified before all the people Levit. 10. 3. To worship God is to be neer to him you are then under a promise of his special presence But then he will be sanctified either you must sanctifie him or he will sanctifie himselfe he must be sanctified either in and by you in the holinesse of your hearts or upon you in the execution of his just judgements You must not think to content your selves with pretence to worship God alone in your Closet or Family but you must worship him also before all the people and that is a glorifying him You must worship the Father Joh. 4. 24. but it must be in spirit and truth Gospel-worship hath lesse outward pompe and ceremony then that under the Law and therefore it must have more of plainesse and purity else God should be a loser You must pray alwayes Eph. 6. 18. with all manner of prayer and supplication not prate but pray repetition of words in form of confessions or petition are not prayer your praying must be in the spirit your spirits in prayer must be drawn forth and acted by Gods spirit your affections must be spiritual or you cannot pray it may be babling and howling but praying it is not unlesse it be in the spirit your heads may work and your lips may move but it s no prayer if the heart lie still the voice of words is not the voice of prayer but the sighs and groans that cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26 27. You must lift up your souls in prayer lay hold on the strength of the Almighty and wrastle with him not letting him alone until he blesse you Jesus Christ hath set up and set open a Throne of grace and given us a boldnesse of accesse Eph. 3. 12. You must come in his Name with confidence Aske and you shall bave seeke and you shall finde knock and it shall be opened to you You must watch and pray yea watch unto prayer with all perseverance and joy Eph. 6. 18. You lose many sweet praying opportunities by not watching your season you lose the acting and improvement of many graces and obtaining of many precious comforts and sweet returnes by not persevering in prayer Far be it from you to pray as a task or as a work which you are soon weary of and glad when it is over but you must persevere in prayer and pray with joy and joy to pray You must attend at the posts of Wisdomes door Prov 8. 34. Laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyes and all evil speakings as new born babes desire the sincere milke of the word that you may grow thereby 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sincere milke the form of wholesome words not sugared with the wisdome of words but coming in the demonstration of the spirit and with power That word desire and desire as new born babes out of
is written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be not angry with me if I wish you so well that I would not have you to think or write above what God hath written in his word or workes There be some things in all Arts that God hides from men as Sympathys and Antipathies in natural Philosophy the returnes of Agues by set fits in Medicinal practice and in your own way the cause of the ebbings and flowings of the Sea You are not infallible in what you think you know you are apt enough to erre as you are men Humanum est errare but how much more apt if you proceed by erroneous principles and doctrines Is it nothing to you that God hath stirred up the spirits and pens of those who are godly and wise to appeare against your way I should much suspect my selfe to be in the way of Balaam when I should meet with so many Angels Ministers Messengers of God coming against me You may mistake and so mispeake as that Divination may easily turn into a lye Isa 44. â—5 and God may blast that reason into madnesse that is so abused and then how sad will your case be when you must be ranked with those who are without whose property is described to be such who love and make a lye Rev. 22. 15. Oh remember how unduely and nnworthily you have perplexed and rejoyced the hearts of people you have put them in feare where no feare was and rejoyced them when you had no good ground for it You have raised up hopes in them like spiders webbs which a little time hath easily swept away and you have driven many to despaire when God gave no cause for such desperation How infectious have your principles and practices been How many have been misled by you Think on your Schollers whom you have trained up to follow your steps if you walke awry how can they walke right Doth it not or may it not pitty your heart to see so many young ingenious hopeful Gentlemen to be corrupted by you It may be God may give you repentance which I heartily wish but they may be hardned in their vanity and never returne and will not that fall sad on you when you shall remember that you have a generation in the pit beneath whom your false teaching and corrupt example hath begotten You cannot be so inobservant in your own way but you doe know that God from heaven doth beare witnesse against your weather-wisdome making that prove faire that you foretel to be foul and foule to be fair Now if you are so much out in that which is lowest in your way may you not much more mistake in higher pretences Surely since you are so confident of things to come which yet God and Nature hath not actually determined you might be more bold to call up things past if you can tell a person what shall befal him you may as well tell what hath befallen him Why doe you not bend your thoughts that way and not this is it not because it would not be so taking with men and withal it would decry your skill Remember and forget not you must give account of your wayes and workes thinke seriously of it Will your proceedings be owned by Christ another day will he say to you Euge bone serve Well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful in thy Predictions I will make thee Lord of ten Cities enter into thy Masters joy Will he not rather accuse you for abusing your selves and others for mispending your parts and paines and snarling at those who reproved you Your sins are great but not unpardonable Oh that God would give you repentance unto life like those we read of in Acts 19. 19. Many believed and among those Many that used curious Arts brought their Bookes together and burned them before all men If you will stile your dealings Arts others and rightly too will call them Curious Now there was cause enough to burne their Books then May there not be as much in your Books now I shall adde no more onely leave it to God and your consciences and descend to give a word to your disciples I cannot but from my soul pitty you to see your youth and ingenuity so dangerously intangled Astrological Predictions are fine cobwebs to catch young wits Give eare to a plaine word It s possible you may meet with something that is and may be called Art But is there nothing else is there not something far worse No evil was ever so audacious at first as to appeare unmasked and in its own colours the worst of things sometimes put on the best of names and pretences I should be too impudent in writing against what is Art and so Gods wisdome in the creature and you would be too negligent and grosse if you espouse mens phantasies and wickednesse for Art for Gods wisdome in the creature All men desire to know and those that know something desire to know more Scientiâ— non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem I blame not your desire of knowledge but wish you to goe on in it and that your desires may end in attainment but take heed what and how you know All knowledge of excellent objects innobles the minde Excellens objectum intellectum perficit I beseech you weigh whether such principles as you are taught and have sucked in will make your minde one jot better and not rather much worse I know they insinuate not barely by pretending to augment your knowledge but knowledge in relation to your practice of something to be done by you and that hereafter nay of what God will doe by you and to you and these considerations are taking and snaring To pretend to advance knowledge onely without practice would be vaine speculation to know onely what concerns other men would seeme a busibodinesse to tell you what is past is but to recall what you had some knowledge of before but to tell you what is to come and to come from God this takes much with you But deare hearts be not deceived How came the spirit of God to them that they can reveale so much to you They goe but God sent them not and they declare but what the visions of their own heart I am not ignorant that there is somewhat of singularity by which they ingraciate themselves men affect to be and doe something more then others to be as all men are to know as all men know is but a common being and knowledge but to be of higher straines and extract to be of more accomplisht perfection is that which men strive for and they pretend to bring you unto Bona verba These are good words indeed but looke well to it lest while you aime to be higher then other men you fall not beneath the lowest Christians and while you strive to know what you should not you grow ignorant of what you should The knowledge of God and a mans selfe are the greatest Sciences and they
laid waste and the posterity that expected succession into the riches and honours of their fore-Fathers are little better then Noble Vagabounds I meddle not with the proceedings in that case but sure I am In all God is just God hath begun in England but he will not end there I dare not presume to set down times measures meanes and modes of things which the Father hath reserved in his own hand onely this I say waite but a while and it may be you shall see The Incestuous house of Austria the Emperour King of Spain France and the rest of the ten Kings of Europe which have given their power to the Beast to come tumbling down and if they fall surely many more will fall with them their Creatures and their Followers their Courtiers and their Flatterers cannot stand but must come down and with them many more I perswade my selfe that those whom God hath set now in power over us do seriously weigh what Christ hath done and will do how he is yesterday and to day the same for ever for ever just and jealous against all wickednesse and ungodlinesse and that this doth and will work upon their hearts and cause them to be humble before God and much in prayer to be watchful over themselves and theirs and others and to study to do the work of Christ put into their hands not negligently but faithfully not to please men but Christ CHAP. XX. Concludes with shewing How the twelve Positions formerly handled instruct us in our Turns and Changes WE have opened twelve Positions and divers things in them I shall conclude with a very breife instruction teaching us what we may learne from every one of those Positions concerning our present Turns Pos 1. All power is in Christ power to raise or depresse Kingdomes and Nations as well as particular persons and its little lesse then blasphemy to exclude him from our Turns If they be for good he is the Author and preserver of them If we have Plenty after scarcity Liberty after bondage Peace after war Oh thank him him I say for those blessed changes But what if we experience the contrary darknesse instead of Light feare instead of Safety evil instead of Good yet in these evils Christ is to be owned Isa 45. 7. I forme light and create darknesse I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things and Amos 3. 6. Shall there be evil in the City and I the Lord have not done it Christ then hath his work in City or National good or evil Pos 2. All the Kings of the earth reigne by Christ Kings are the greatest persons of the earth and cause the greatest Turns and Changes either to good or evil How is our feare and sorrow turned into hope and joy when righteous men are exalted to government and what mourning when wicked ones Prov. 29. 2. How much of the increase of wickednesse is abated by their power care and example and what great cause have Saints to blesse God when he makes Rulers nursing fathers and to rule for him as they rule by him Pos 3. Government is set up for the good of the World and nothing causeth more considerable changes then that doth it reduceth lawlesse ones to a rule ruleth and boundeth excessive desires and actions brings in trade and wealth improvement of creatures and increase of peace Pos 4. Government in the frame of it is apt to change and doth not that reach us Government is a comprehensive word relating to Princes and people and so all change when Governments change Laws Places Offices Rewards Times and Persons all change Pos 5. Kings and Princes have abused their power that is a sad change a change of what should be best to worst of power to abuse of it of Kings to Tyrants of Princes to Oppressors Pos 6. Sins of Princes tend to break their power Here is change upon change Change of Manners by sin and change of Wholnesse and Soundnesse to a breach Power cannot break but many things break with it and many things cannot break but it makes great alteration Pos 7. Princes being wicked people grow wicked too a woful change indeed and much to be lamented Princes that should rule become slaves and that to the worst of masters their own Lusts people that should be under command to become unruly and unruly by them that should better order them Pos 8. Abuse of power and wickednesse of people adapt to Civil War Those in power complain of the people and the people of them in power and we have just cause to complaine of both It s a sad case that turnes the soul to a wearinesse of the good it doth possesse and to a loathing its own peace Pos 9. Civil Wars cause fatal Turnes They turne and overturne all Turnes are in the bowels of that one our many years sad experience hath taught us we were full but soon emptied we were high but brought low we were in safety but soon rapt into feare Oh that our hearts might turne after all these Turnes upon us Pos 10. We fall out one with another and our neighbours fall out with us both How do they laugh at us and seek to raise themselves out of our ruines Is it not hard when those you thought would help you at best are Neuters stand still and look on Truly we may thank our selves for putting them on that temptation Had we kept together Pos 11. They would have been as formerly But now they are in armes their War-ships rigged and manned and now the Seas must be as bloody by a Forreigne War as our Land had been by a Civil Dreadful Turns and Changes when both land and sea are bloody And surely Christ Pos 12. will inquire after all that blood whose blood how much blood for what cause by whom in what manner and when it was shed The Judge of All shall appeare in his righteous judgement and then wo be to the wicked crafty cruel great ones of the World CHAP. XXI Shews the Turns that befal Nations from the consideration and working of Christ as King of Saints in 12. Sections 1. Jesus Christ is King of Saints 2. He hath this honour upon his sufferings 3. He puts forth his power as King of the World for his Saints over whom he is King in a special manner 4. He must have more visible glory in this World 5. All governments will prove bitter that Christ may be embraced as sweet 6. Christ pours out a mighty spirit of prayer on his people which he will answer 7. He shall have a willing people in the day of his power 8. Some of the Kings shall be among that willing people 9. Christ having great works to do will notably stir up the spirits of Princes and people 10. The great work of the last dayes shall be to exalt holinesse and righteousnesse 11. Saints shall have Conquests over their adversaries 12. These Turns shall be by degrees