dayly complaint Oh that the Lord would take the plaister off remove the yoke from our necks spoyl the spoyers and them that have dealt treacherously call forth his sanctified ones to execute the judgment written But what saith the Lord My dear children be patient quiet contented I am wiser then you and know best what is to be done there is some corrupt matter some rottenness which must be purged before I can grant your desire I must first bring away your covetousness spiritual-pride censoriousness passion c. then will I arise for Zion and restore comfort to her mourners The sins of the Amorites were full at the end of the 430. years then came in d Gen. 15.16 the fourth generation yet it was forty years after before they came into the Promised Land For howsoever the time as I said was expired as to the Iniquity of the Enemies that is they were * Numb 14.9 ripe for judgment yet the Lords people not being prepared for the promised blessing fell short of it many yeers The like may be said of things now the time and times and dividing of time which according to e Dan. 7.25 Daniel the Little Horn is to have may be already expired and his iniquity full and so ripe for cutting down nevertheless the Saints of the Most High not being prepared to take away his Dominion and possess the Kingdom there may be some yeers after the three years and an half are expired before he be destroy'd and his body given to the burning flames not but that * Namely in June laâ— the time may be ended viz. the three years half the little Horn ripe for judgment but the Saints are not PREPARED for such a dispensation We read that in all Iehoshaphats reign f 2 Chron. 20.33 the high places were not taken away and the reason is given for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers as if he should say As other abuses and corruptions were removed so had these high places been also but that the people were not enough humble holy sincere to receive such a mercy the like may be said of the high places remaining with us as the carnal-ministry Tythes Tryers the corrupt Law c. these Gillulim filthy things would soon be taken away were Saints prepared to meet their God in his judgments See Psal 81.13 14 15 16. It is with Christ and a soul seeking him as between the load-stone and iron if there be any dust or filth that sticks to the iron the stone refuseth to close with it she will not be touch'd nor touch where there is foulness but take off the filth and let the iron be clean then they sweetly close together so is the Lords heart open and his arms abroad to take into his bosome such as are pure and clean in heart have no defilements upon them are pure vessels g 2 Tim. 2.21 meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work here the Lord will command the blessing even the blessed TIME OF FINDING 2. When the Saints have nothing left them for help but God Secondly It is a Time of Finding When the Faithful have nothing left them for help but the Lord only MANS EXTREMITY IS GODS OPPORTVNITY The Tide you know turns when the water is lowest would yee know the time of the Lords turning and returning to his Church and people It is at low water h Deut. 32.36 when he seeth that their power is gon and there is none shut up or left i Psal 107.27 28. see also v. 3 â— 5 12 13. when their soul is melted because of trouble and are at their wits end Then crying unto the Lord he bringeth them out of their distresses he maketh the storm a calm and bringeth them to their desired haven Among men to plead poverty and want experience shews it signifies very little should a poor man goe to a merchant and tell him nothing but of his nakedness and misery this would not prevail with him for clothing and other relief but with the Lord no better argument to speed then to spread miseries and wants before him Hence the Saints usually in their prayers have mentioned their DISTRESS as a great reason to move the Lord unto pity thus did Iehoshaphat k 2 Chron. 20.12 O our God wilt thou not judge them FOR we have no might neither know we what to do So David l Psa 6.2 Have mercy upon me O God FOR I am weak O Lord heal me FOR my bones are vexed Again m Psa 8â— 2 109.22 23. Bow down thine ear O Lord hear me for I am poor and needy And for our encouragement herein the Lord hath promised that it shall be A TIME OF FINDING when n Psa 50.15 in trouble we call upon him o Psa 9.9 He will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in times of trouble p Psa 102.17 he will regard the prayer of the destitute or naked shrub and will not despise their prayer Isa 41.7 When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst I the Lord will hear them I the God of Israel will not forsake them The poor woman that had the issue of blood twelve yeers and in that time r Mark 5.26 27 had spent all that she had on physicians when she came to Christ in that extremity was it not a time of finding the Text saith Straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague And indeed her case is much like Ours she came not to Christ till all was spent As long as we had a Parliament a Councel of State an Army a General c. we too much rested on them as our Saviors and Deliverers it is therefore well for us that Iehovah hath broken these Egyptian reeds and that we have at present none in Heaven nor in Earth but Jesus Christ to trust in for now we may confidently expect A TIME OF FINDING When Christ saw that those who had continued three days with him in the wilderness f Mat. 15.32 had nothing left he took compassion on them and fed them by a miracle Again when he was at Nazareth preaching in the Synagogue he needed not to have been led from thence t Luk. 4.29 unto the brow or edg of the hill he might have escaped long before but he would suffer the enemy to go so far to shew that it is his time to work deliverance for his people when they seem to be in the greatest danger Is there nothing left no Parliament Councel Army Navy General Have u Lam. 1.2 all Zions friends dealt treacherously with her and become her Enemies Is the GOOD OLD CAVSE brought to the brow of the hill Then lift up your heads ye naked shrubs every
of honesty and liberty but you shall hear them bitterly exclaim against some persons for their falshood Covenant-breaking seeking themselves and opposing the work of God yea now and then a discontented houshold-servant will be twitting his Master publickly at his nose for casting off the interest of Christ and his people and complying with the Malignant party What said Nabals servants of him to their Mistress e 1 Sam. 25 17. He is such a son of Belial that a man cannot speak to him Belial signifies one without yoak or lawless as if they should say There is not a man alive worse then our Master he cares not what he says nor what he does nor who he wrongs his will is a Law and ordinarily they who have done him most good as David for example he is most spightful and malicious against and if any man do but speak to him of his covetousness cruelty unthankfulness or seem to cross him in his pride and wilfulness he will stamp and stare and curse like a mad-man or devil and do him what mischief he can Therefore certainly evil is determined against our Master and against all his houshold Reader take notice when thou hearest some SERVANTS to call their Master a son of Belial that is one that will be under no yoke no Law or Government one that is an enemy to good people and cares for none but such as wil be servants to his lusts and will this is a great return of prayer for howsoever some servants have not the grace nor honesty to leave such a Nabal nevertheless speaking so openly against his wickedness as they condemn their own sinful standing so they justifie all other servants which have cast off such a SON OF BELIAL Lastly There is another sort who like their places as ill as their Masters and have not a good word for either onely the old Serpent hath taught them a trick to cozen their own souls which is to keep their places in hope to serve their Country the better if a turn or change should come Mock on we know well enough did not these men love themselves a great deal better then they do their Country they would not support oppression as they do for their base pay hire But an ill-favoured face needs painting Fourthly the Lord hath been earnestly cal'd upon that howsoever the Witnesses should be slain f Rev. 11.9 Rev. 12.17 yet not suffered to be burnt but that a remnant of the womans seed might be preserved to keep up the memory of the work and cause of Christ Now truly I think the Father of Mercies hath not in any one thing more clearly answered the Soul-Groanings of his people then in this For 1. Consider how grievously Gods people have been tried and tempted these three or four years not onely by great poverty and outward wants but by the entisements baits of worldly advantages as riches honor promotion pleasure h Mat. 4.9 all these things will I give thee IF THOU WILT c. A man that should stand before the mouth of a Cannon going off or walk upon the ridge or pinacle of a Tower or sail among most dangerous rocks and sands it would be thought very strange if he should escape all danger Some of Gods people lately have had a more wonderful deliverance if the snares be minded which the Lord hath broken for them i Psa 107.8 O let them confess to Jehovah his mercy and his marvelous works 2. Howsoever the love of many is grown cold and they are turn'd with Demas and with the Dog to the world and their vomit again yet hath the Lord preserv'd a litte flock Rev. 3.4 a few names which have not defiled their garments by partaking with the last Apostacy but through grace l Jam. 1.27 have kept themselves unspotted from the world When Gideons Army of 32000 came to be 300. then indeed it was excellent and glorious Judg. 7.7 and meet for the Lord to work Israels deliverance by it Though the followers of Christ are very few in number to the worshippers of the Beast yet this I may say as the prophet saith of the Figs they are n Jer. 24.2 very good the Lord having by their many temptations trials purified them unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works CHAP. VIII FIftly It is A Time of Finding when there is no staggering at the Promise But the things asked are by Faith obtained A Time of Finding when the things asked are seen and received by Faith So certain as if they were already in our own hands Thus o Sam. 1.18 Hannah was sure of the Child as if he had been in her armes So p Exod. 14 13 14. Moses at the Red Sea saw Pharoah and his hoste drown'd before ever they went into the water In dividing the Land of Canaan not onely did Joshua and the people by lot lay out the Inheritance of every Tribe in the Countreys which they had conquered But likewise all other parts of the Land which at present they possessed not And this they did believing what was not yet in their hands it should be theirs so sure as the parts and places already taken No lesse confident and certain are Saints now i. e. as some of the Canaanites are cast out Moncks Fryers Arch-Bishops Bishops So q Lev. 18.28 the Land ere long shall spue out the rest of r Dan. 7.27 them And it shall be given to the Saints of the most high Though the Israelites after they came out of Egypt had a stop for forty years in the wilderness yet God gave them the peaceable possession of Canaan according to his promise So Jerusalem and the Temple were built Howsoever thorough the malice of the Enemy there was some stop put to the worke awhile True it is the worke of God THE GOOD OLD CAVSE hath met with A TROVBLER an ACHAN for through the falshood and hypocrisie of some men it hath been killed and layen in the street like the dead bodies of the Witnesses howsoever not suffered to be put in graves But what of all this so mercifully hath the Lord answered the Cries and Tears of this people as by faith they see it risen and like a Conquerour standing on its feet to the Terror Shame and Ruin of the Adversaries Quest But wherefore hath the Lord suffered his work to be stopped and to lie as it were under a death Ans Howsoever neither men nor Devils could have stopped it had he pleased not to have had it so Yet he would have it stopp'd a while for these Reasons 1. To dismisse from the worke some Regiments of prophane Esau's and worldly Demasses who followed it not for love but loaves Such Hypocrites and rotten hearts the Lord could not endure to see in his work and therefore brought his Army out of the Field to disband them and to Å¿ Ps 125.5 lead them forth with the
workers of iniquity A good Riddance A Dogg that followeth two men is not known to which of them he belongeth till the way part Then indeed you shall see Howsoever we knew not plain and honest hearts from dissemblers so long as the Interest of Christ and worldly profit kept together Yet the Lord by this STOP hath made a marvellous discovery of both A good separation 2. That the Scriptures might 〈◊〉 fulfilled For by this STOP came in the perillous Times of which Paul gave warning t 2 Tim. 10.3.1 in Timothy meaning the second Apostacy How the Characters set down there by the Apostle paralell with the Backsliders of this age I have largely * A Book entituled Truth with Time elsewhere shewed In some Fenny Countries where people are troubled with GNATS they use to hang dung in the midst of a room as a bait for the Gnats to fly to and so catch them as a snare provided for that purpose Why would the Lord have a STOP to the work and by that STOP bring up the Apostacy It is plain enough that it might be a Pit and a Snare dung indeed to catch all the GNATS of the three Nations For I verily believe there is not a worldly minded Professor whether Church-member or Church-Officer or otherwise but he is fallen into this Trap. u Job 18.5.8 9 10 The light of the wicked shall be put out and the sparke of his fire shall not shine For be is cast into a net by his own feet and his own counsel shall cast him down The gin shall take him by the heel and the robâ—â—â— shall prevail against him The snare is laid for him in the ground and a trap for him in the way x Rev. 15.3 Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty 3. As the Lord made a Proof or Tryall of Abrahams faith love and obedience by his willingnesse to offer his sonne Isaac So this STOP hath been viz. y Cor. 11.19 that they which are approved may be made manifest If a Maid that she might be such a mans Wise should refuse a great Estate and live very poorly with him would not this argue she married him for Love and nothing else There are many since this Apostasie came up for the love and affection which they bear to the GOOD OLD CAVSE have refused great places high promotion and honour and sufferd Banishment Imprisonment cruel mockings and spoyling of their goods And what doth this signifie a Gen. 22.12 Now I know said the Angell to Abraham that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy sonne thine onely son from me Surely a man sheweth great affection and faithfulnesse unto Jesus Christ when riches preferments and great mens favours are rejected and his poor despised betrayed and crucified Cause is boldly owned of him 4. That b Rom. 11.28 the Lord may make a short work upon the earth when his work shall be revived again As a man intending to shew his skill by leaping farre goes backward first a little So the Lord intending more than an ordinary speed quick dispatch of the seven last plagues seemeth first to go backwards c Rev. 11. â—4 Behold the third woe cometh quickly Thus it was with Israel in Egypt After Moses and Aaron had been with Pharoah they had d Exod. 5.9 more work laid upon them and their bondage greater than before But when the Lord revived that work How fast went it forward then In less than thirty days all the ten plagues were poured out upon Egypt So after the forty years when the Lords work came on again the Land of Canaan is presently conquered e Josh 12.24 one and thirty Kings put to death How soon was the Lords House built when the work was revived in four years at most And so I take it here the Lord means by this Stop HAST HAST afterward 5. To strike the greater dread and horrour upon wicked men f Rev. 11. at the rising of the work Herod thinking Christ to be John Baptist he thought likewise John being risen he came with more strength and power than he had before and this tormented him That the Cause and Interest of Christ thought to be dead and buried should be raised again No marvel the sinners in Zion will be afraid and fearfulness surprize the hypocrites they know it comes forth in Power Glory and Majesty to take vengeance on them for their falshood and unrighteousnesse 6. There is a STOP that ungodly men in this Time may fill up the measure of their sinnes so be fatted for the slaughter g Jer. 51.13 Thine end is come and the measure of thy Covetousness that is when Babilons Covetousnesse is full and ripe then come the vials of wrath to be poured out upon her Among the Egyptians it was a custome when any man was condemned for some notorious crime to feast him and fat him that he might undergo the greater Torment I think no man will deny but some men of late are fatted to purpose h Ps 119.70 Their heart is as fat as grease But it was not thus before the STOP For their Coveteousness Pride Lightnesse Luxury was nothing in measure and height to what it is now A sad stop wofull places offices promotion maintenance c. that prepares men like Sheep for the day of slaughter 7. For the praise of his great power Christ was able to have kept Lazarus from death and the grave but he would not and why i Joh. 11.4 That the son of man might be gloried And indeed I think there was no miracle which our Saviour wrought more to his glory than this Not onely is Lazarus dead and buried but supposed to stink having been three days buried And for all this to raise him up what a wonderfull work is this Though it be true as was said the Lord could have prevented all STOPS yet he would not But he will have his Cause slain and buried and in the opinion of the Enemy to rot and stink no fear of rising again And then will he k Ps 78.65 awake as one out of sleep break the heavens and come down shake the mountains and raise up his friend Lazarus to the glory of his power the joy of his people and the confusion of his Enemies Amen Amen Quest But what reasons have you to believe that the good old Cause will be revived again Answer 1. Because the honour of God is much concerned in it since the STOP What say the Scoffers l Luk. 14.30 This man began to build but was not able to finish it As if some by their craft and policy had over-reached Jesus Christ As long as Pompey stood and flourished Cato stoutly maintained a Providence But when he fled into Egypt and was slaine of a base fellow and lay upon the shoare without any honour of Burial when Cato also was beset with Caesars army He fell from
Jehovah and say l Ezra 9.14 he hath punished us less than our iniquities deserve In short our sins are as m John 11.39 41. the Stone upon the grave which must be rolled away by confession and heart sorrow in order to the reviving of the work 2. Though the Lord will revive his work n Ezek. 36.37 yet for this he will be sought unto by his people to do it for them A man may be willing to do his Friend a good Turn yet he expects he should ask it of him o Mat. 7.7 Ask and have p Zac. 2.13 Be silent O all flesh before the Lord for he is RAISED up out of his holy habitation Observe it is not said he is risen but he is raised Well q Gen. 49.9 Who shall Rouze him up Who hath raised the Lord out of his holy habitation The Prophet will tell you r Psal 90.13 14 15 16 17. For the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord. Thus the Church in the Wildernesse to have the work up again and to go forward is earnest in prayer Return O Lord how long and let it repent thee concerning thy Servants O satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our dayes Make us glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen evill Let thy work appear unto thy Servants and thy glory unto their Children And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands Yea the work of our hands establish thou it 3. That Councel of our Saviour is to be heeded Å¿ Luke 12.35 36. Let your loynes be girded about and your light shining That when the Lord cometh and knocks you may open unto him immediatly If a man have a promise of some great office and preferment should he not endeavour to fit himself for it How to be prepared for the Lords work when it shall come forth again is shewed us in the t Rev. 14.1 4 5. Characters of the Lambs followers they have his Fathers name not the Mark of the Beast written in their foreheads These are they which are not defiled with women for they are Virgins These are they which follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth these were redeemed from among men being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb And in their mouth was found no guile for they are without fault before the throne of God What is the reason so many have fallen under the Lords work made shipwrack of it and themselves too They took it up before they were meet for it If a Fool or Mad man be at the Helme neeeds must that Vessel miscarry If the Guide be blind the Followers of him will miss their way u Ec. 10.16 Wo to thee O Land when thy King is a Child and thy Princes eat in the morning that is one who out of inferiour Condition is leapt into a Throne and gives himselfe with his New Lords to lust and pleasures and make their own Interests and Profits the chief thing that they look after and prefer that before the Publick good As we expect therefore not to be laid aside and stand ashamed when the work shall be revived Let us not sleep as do others but be sober and watch keep oyle in our vessel x Heb. 10.23 Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering and y verse 35. not cast away our confidence which hath great recompence of reward When a man is to begin a thing and makes onely a rough draught any instrument will serve the turn but afterward when he comes to fine work then he useth and must have better tooles Though I do attribute to the work done as much as any man rightly can yet this I humbly conceive it hath hitherto been but a rough draught very low and mean comparatively to what the work will be when the Lord shall give it a Resurrection And therefore as the work will be much finer so he will use better instruments or if he use any of the former instruments he will make them purer and better than ever He will have a Psal 102 18. a Created people b Isa 13.3 Sanctified ones c Rev. 17.14 Called and chosen and faithfull d Rev. 15.6 Cloathed in pure and white linnen and having their breasts girded with golden girdles Quest But how and in what manner will the Lord revive his work And when will that blessed Time of finding come Ans There are many signes which go before a storme and â—any symptomes which discover dâ—seases before men fall into them So I think before the Lord will appear again for the old Interest of Christ and his people against the enemies thereof there will be some signes and Symptomes going immediately before The husbandman that hath the eye of experience will give a fair guess of the whole day by the morning I shall leave other men to their own conjectures For my part I do apprehend so farre already a dawning of the work as I dare adventure in the strength and power of my God to give a sober guess of it Gods work in the womb of Providence is according to what the Prophet speaks of Gods forming him in the womb of his mother He begins with e Psal 139. his unformed substance or Embrio that is the body in the womb before it hath perfect shape then he speaks of being covered with skin and flesh Lastly how curiously he was made namely with sinewes veines arteries and variety of limbs As an Embroiderer joyneth many parcels and wier-work of various colours very artificially and curiously together untill there comes forth some goodly portraiture or other dainty workmanship and all this is done in the lowest part of the earth so he calleth the womb because of Gods secret and unknown making of men there In such a way is the work of God in the womb of providence Oh it is fearfully and marvelously made It is at first as it were unwrought afterwards it hath flesh and bone but curiously embroidered like a piece of needle work before it comes visible forth In this womb of Providence are the seaven last vials formed and the Angels which shall pour them out So the little Stone which shall smite the Image and the weapons of war which shall thrash Babylon and all the mountains of the world That this work should be in the womb of Providence yea and so curiously wrought as ready to come forth yet not perceived it is no wonder f Ecc. 11.5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with Child so thou knowest not the works of God who makes all g Job 28.23 God understandeth the way thereof and he knoweth the place thereof Quest But can you demonstrate by any fair
Though Peter shrunke and drew back a Mat. 26.69 at the speech of a poor wench yet when he had received power from on high He feard no coulers he could then b Act. 4.13 look with Boldnes any Tyrant in the face So howsoever before they had not life and courage yet when the Harpers Harpe such will be the hand of God upon them that they will not regard what their Enemies can doe either by fraud or force c Zech. 12.4 He that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them 5. d Rev. 11.11 And great fear fel upon them that saw them Though there be nothing yet done but a more lively owning of the Lords cause than before and declaring publickly for it yet this strikes a terrible astonishment and trembling among the Adversaries e Act. 5.24 As doubting whereunto this will grow And their amazement is the more to heare how the number daily increaseth in all parts Saying f Jer. 31.23 The Lord blesse theâ— habitation of Justice and mountain of holiness We will have g Isa 26.2 the gates open that the righteous Nation which keepeth the truth may enter in Besides they see no meanes or way how to keep the peoples Liberties and rights any longer from them h Psa 76.5 The stout hearted are spoiled and none of the men of might have found their hands that is they are as if they had no hands they are not able to make the least resistance or defence 6. Whiles the adversaries are thus in confusion and fear a happy union and accord will be made between the Waters and Thunder So much I think is meant by the VVitnesses ascending up to heaven in a cloud It is but one cloud that hath them both Hence about this time I do exspect a great uniting of the Common-wealth men fifth Monarchy men upon good righteous Principles Unanimously agreeing to cary on the Lords work i Zep. 39. With one consent or Soulder k Isa 11.13 Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim But the Lord will l Eze. 37.17 joyne them one by another into one stick they shall become one in his hand This blessed agreement of the People instrumentally will be made by some eminent and choise Christians men that m 1 Chr. 12.32 Have understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do And this I take to be the n Rev. 11.12 great voyce from Heaven saying unto them come up higher 7. Union being made and all in Heaven here o Isa 13.4 the Lord of Hostes mustereth the host of the battel and p Rev. 19.14 the armies of heaven here he cloathes the Vial Angels q Rev. 15.6 in pure and white linnen having their breasts girded with a golden girdle This is Zion * Psa 110.2 out of which the Lord will send the rod of his strength the Mount Zion where r Rev. 14.1 the hundred forty and four thousand stand with the Lamb. Here he fits his people for the work and appoints them their work So that my opinion is for any people to go forth with the material Sword against Babylon or the Kings of the earth or to set up the visible Kingdome of Christ before the Lord hath brought them to this Heaven into the Temple to Zion and Mount Zion yea and to some good accord among themselves They will not be upon the Lords work as to the pouring out of any vial 8. Howsoever the Lords Sanctified ones in heaven are not smiting the Image yet it s said Å¿ Rev. 11 12 Their enemies behold them As how Terrible as an army with Banners Lifting up an ensign to the Nations and publishing warr against Babylon t Isa 52.12 Ye shall not go out in hast nor go by flight For the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your rereward i. e. Seeing God hath taken away all their Feares and given them great faith made them one in the work and fitted them for it and withall experiencing the powerfull presence of God among them and how he hath left the enemy to feares darknesse division destruction c. The Dragon and the Beast shall behold what they do They need not fear these men for secret plots and treason they scorn it they need no such shifts What they do shall be in the sight of the Sun u Isa 47.12 Stand now with thy inchantments and with the multitude of thy sorceries wherein thouhast laboured from thy youth if so be thou shalt be able to profit if so be thou mayest prevaile So will these say to their Enemies bring forth the falsehood and lies ye trusted in Now see if your hypocrisie and craft will help you any more Now run to your Souldiers Lawyers Priests c. trie what they can do for you 9. The Lord having x Isa 13.3 called his mighty ones for his anger Next he brings them forth y Ps 149.8 9 10. With the high praises of God in their mouthes and a two edged sword in their hands to execute the judgement written z Rev. 11.13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake Here I understand begins the Vial work And the earth-quake to be the a Rev. 16.2 pouring out of the first Vial upon the earth The same with b Rev. 14.16.17 18. the reaping of the harvest of the earth and Clusters Only with this distinction The first Vial hath two parts or two effects which you will The first in the earth-quake The other in the sickle And the tenth part of the City fell The earth-quake reacheth but a tenth part the other nine are reserved for the Sickle As there are two Apostacies and they have each a distinct Head So they are set forth in this book by two Cities the one is called the Great Citie And alwayes so when the first Apostacy is meant The other hath not the word Great given to it because the Latter City or Apostacy shall not be so large big strong and populous neither of that antiquity and continuance as the former Understanding what this City is i. e. The last Apostacy It wil be easier to know the rest And in the earthquake were slaine of men seven thousand The Greek hath 7000 Names of men In Scripture persons that are famous renowned for Power Wealth Wisdome c. are called c Gen. 6.4 Num. 18.2 Men of Name On the contrary men without credit and respect in the d Job 30.8 world Children without name In this last Apostacy who are Men of name yea would be thought and counted the onely men of name If not Church-members and Church-officers those that are in the Congregational way as they call it As for the Cavileer Church that hath no name and the
THE TIME OF FINDING Shewing When the Lord will be FOUND and by whom and when there will be NO TIME of Finding also the Persons are describ'd who shall not finde the Lord though they seek him with tears Likewise Some Reasons why the Lord hath suffered his work and GOOD OLD CAUSE to be stopt and how it shall certainly be REVIV'D again Also Something is here shewed about the manner how it shall be reviv'd and the Time when By JOHN CANNE Numb 23.21 23. Jehovah his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel What hath God wrought London Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes head-Alley 1658. To the Faithful of the Land every where Mourning and waiting for the APPOINTED TIME OF FINDING under the name of FIFTH-MONARCHY-MEN and COMMON-VVEALTHS-MEN PRECIOUS WITNESSES for your God and Country THe neerer I am still the Throne of Grace the more is your present condition upon my heart and truly this I can say it hath been very seldome since I began this WORK but poor Zion a Jer. 30.17 Whom no man seeketh after hath been all along in my eye It is b Isa 62.1 for Zions sake I cannot hold my peace c Isa 60.1 untill the glory of the Lord be risen upon her Now is the time that d Mal. 3.16 they who fear the Lord should speak often one to another and strengthen the hands which hang down and feeble knees I shall not say any thing of the THING it self what is of God shall stand only a few words what hath mov'd me to send THIS as a LOVE-TOKEN to all the Friends of the Bridegroom First I have observ'd of late that the Interest of Christ and his People the GOOD OLD CAUSE is not methinks so lively and HEARTY upon some mens spirits as formerly it was but either some disappointment of time Mat. 25.5 or the Bridegroom 's tarrying long hath occasioned a little deadness and faintness in some Choyce Ones Now that I may speak to the heart of these Wherefore should there be any CASTING DOWN Isa 40.2 Is not your warfare accomplished and the day of the Lamb come Therefore O ye worthies g Psal 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen your hearts wait I say on the Lord. If a traveller by reason of a long journey be almost tyr'd yet when he coms neer the place where he would be and sees it hard by this will put new strength into him again I have in this Treatise not only exprest my opinion that the Lord is REVIVING HIS WORK but have given some reasons for it what incouragement and refreshing the Lords people shall have by it a little time will shew For I am very confident as the Lord will suddenly check and blast all ways of falshood and deceitful pretenders to his Holy Secrets so he will shew a TOKEN OF GOOD to what is his own and is given forth by his Spirit concerning the Kingdom and Time Secondly As I know h Prou. 14.34 Righteousness exalteth a Nation and i Prov. 29.2 When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoyce so my desire and prayer to God is that every yoke may be broken the oppressed go free and violence be heard no more in our Land Indeed we did expect before now to have seen better days and were in a hopeful way to have had England k Isa 1.26 call'd the City of Righteousness the faithful City by having Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning Now I do not doubt but we shall have our Civil Rights Liberties and Priviledges more full and free and better then ever any men had since England was a Nation Is any thing too hard for God to do cannot he raise up a Generation of faithful men and l Pro. 31.8 open their mouths for the dumb and in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction that is for him that hath not ability to speak for himself by reason of his simplicity unfitness or impediment in his speech or dare not speak for fear of his Potent Adversary I finde in our Chronicles how a Cardinal told the Pope * Speed Hen. 3. p. 624. That England was to the Pope as BALAAMS ASS which being so often wrong'd and cudgel'd it was no marvel if at length she open'd her mouth to complain What though * Here Gods judgment is a great deep that England should be the Beast or Asse on which must ride the Balaams or Heads of both Apostasies England have been an ASS and dumb a long while yet who can tell but after so often wrong'd and cudgeld she may speak and complain at last But more seriously that England hath been a while dumb I do not take the cause to be at least principally of any power or policy in men or fearfulness which hath surpriz'd the Nation but in order to the fulfilling of some Decree and Counsel of God and Scripture-Prophesies which were to be accomplished at this time the which time being expired such multitudes will stand up for their freedom and Civil-Rights that were the Enemies ten times more and stronger then they are they would signifie nothing Hence take notice of the blindness and folly of some men for if the time of Englands deliverance be not come there needs not such gathering of horse and foot together For I am confident the Lovers of ENGLANDS-LIBERTIE will be no secret plotters they scorn it neither will they move till the Lord by some signal Providence plainly shews that the time is come and when that is vain will be the help of man to frustrate the good purpose and work of God That Doctrine then which the Army us'd to preach to the Long Parliament will be often repeated by the people To punish only instruments St. Albans Declarat No. 16. 1648. p. 50. and let the head by whose power and in whose interest all hath been done not only go free but stand in perpetual priviledge and impunity to head such instruments again as oft as he can find opportunity and get any to serve him is a way so far far from security as it leads indeed to endless trouble and hazard or to perfect loss of all Again in point of Justice with what Conscience inferior ministers can be punished and the principal set free FOR OUR PARTS VVE UNDERSTAND NOT NEITHER DOE VVE KNOVV ANY GROUND OR REASON TO EXEMPT KINGS FROM HUMANE JUSTICE It is a maxime in the Civil Law Si quis ff quod quisque Juris c. That of right every man should be judg'd by such Laws as himself hath practised against others Thirdly What I have spoken about Professors I have plain enough exprest my meaning I only intend Backsliders who by their Covenant-breaking Hypocrisie and Falshood have made the Profession
to keep close to all Christs Appointments yet to be watchful that their affections run not out after any form or particular judgment but that the great cause of Christ and Zion may still if possible have most weight upon their hearts 2. You that know what it is to watch now double your watch Hab. 2.1 stand with the prophet upon the Tower and go not off day nor night If there be any noise or stir in the night who first hath knowledge of it not such as are gone to bed or fallen asleep but are up and waking and watching to hear what is doing Methinks I hear the sound of a going in the tops of the Mulberry-trees 2 Sam. 5.24 There is something already stirring A sound of abundance of rain 1 King 18.41 Now the Lord keep us watching one hour the vision is speaking and the wise shall understand 3. Where you se most of God most plainness truth faithfulness and endeared love to the interest of Christ and his people rather close there then upon the account of one-ness in some opinion or judgment You will see shortly that some will be lay'd aside notwithstanding their opinions when others will be chosen and taken for the abundance of their integrity and singleness of heart 4. Labour to experience the power and leading of the Spirit it is very dangerous to rest in any thing that comes from the Creature till you have the witness of the Spirit which is not fleshly heady or empty but powerful inward and abides and settles the soul Psal 36.9 In thy light shall we see light and no where else let them pretend never so high Attainments 5. There is a path which no fowl knoweth Job 28.7 8. and which the vultures eye hath not seen The Lyons whelps have not troden it nor the fierce Lyon passed by it Why may not this be the way of which the Lord speaks Isa 42.16 I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not I will lead them in pathes that they have not known Surely Gods leading his friends into his COVNCEL-CAHMBER where he shews them great and mighty things which they knew not Jer. 33.3 is an untrodden path A Soul may be in the Chamber of presence yet not be in the COVNCEL-CHAMBER We may experience much divine love and taste sweetly and largely of Free-Grace and yet not be brought where his great secrets are broken open But I shall not speak of this for it is too wonderful But who think ye are the persons whom Jehovah leads into his COVNCEL-CHAMBER verily the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind such as he gathers up in the high-ways and hedges a people lying at his foot stark naked have no parts no abilities no understanding or judgment altogether and every way helpless so that if they have any light it is from the Lord for in themselves they are sure is nothing but darkness That which I aym at is to perswade Christ 's Little Flock in all places to renounce their own reason judgment and understanding and to be poor blinde and naked worms in the high ways and hedges for such now will be taught of God in things appertaining to the Times and Kingdom Mat. 16.17 Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven I shall say no more But PRAY PRAY for this poor worm that I may finish my course with joy Indeed this I earnestly beg of all the Saints every where who am through grace preserv'd to be Your Brother and Companion in tears for Zion beleeving the day of her inlargement is BREAKING JOHN CANNE Reader THere are the more faults because the Author saw very little of the Book until it was printed Besides others thou art desired to correct these Page 22. l. 20. f◠theirs read their answer p. 58. l. 27. onely save out p. 65. l. 16. for say they r. they say p. 101. l. 4. for him r. them p. 143. l. 16. for his people r. such people p. 153. l. 13. for begon r. begin p. 169. l. 26. for neer r. never p. 175. for more r. man p. 195. l. 13. for thumming r. múmming 244. marg for Truth with Time r. Time of the End p. 252. l. 23. for would r. wilt p. 294. for stokels r. sicles p. 296. l. 8. strong r. stranger The Time of Finding Psalm 32.6 For this shall every gracious Saint pray unto thee at the time of finding CHAP. I. At what Time the Lord will be found of his Praying-Saints First The Times of finding 1. When Saints are prepared for mercie IT is a Time of finding When the Lords people are prepared for mercy that is thorowly humbled reformed shaken off their dust and have cleansed themselves of all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit The a 1 Sam. 7.2 Israelites were twenty yeers lamenting after the Lord. In this long time no doubt they prayed and fasted often yet was not the Lord found neither had they found him afterward had not Samuel took them off from a cold formal halting and half seeking of him to a right humbling and reforming indeed The vessel must be very pure and clean be-before we will pow◠precious liquor into it See Iam. 4.8 9 10. when had Manasseh a Time of finding b 2 Chron. 33.12 13. the Text saith when he humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers What is the reason that many pray cry weep c. and yet no time of finding the Lord sees they are not humbled enough and so not fit enough for mercy And in truth it is a singular favor of God not to give men the great things they ask before they are prepared for them for should they have them before they are truly humbled and purely purged from all their dross and tin they would make very il improvement therof As suppose a father should put a great estate into the hands of a little childe what pitiful work would he make in the mispending of it I have thought many times what mercy it was that in the time of the Little Parliament the Lord gave us not the things which we then desired for had we received them they had been in our hands before we were meet for them and so instead of honoring God we should as Iames c Jam. 4.3 saith have consum'd them on our own lusts When I consider what Gods people are at least many of them and yet what they would have I cannot better liken them then to a man that hath a plaister or salve at his side because he feels it smart and puts him to sore pain he intreats the Physician to take it off but what saith the Physician my friend you must be patient there is a great deal of corruption and rottenness behinde which must be fetch'd out before the plaister can be remov'd What is now our cry and
Lords hand h Jam. 5.16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much A mother sometimes refuseth to give her breast to the childe though he ask it but if he beg it with tears cries shrieches she cannot but grant it such was Iacobs seeking the blessing i Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee go except thou bless me But how did he hold the Angel k Hos 12.4 He wept and made supplication unto him As if he should say I am resolv'd never to cease weeping and crying here will I abide in mourning and bitterness of Soul till I am blest l Exod. 3 2.10 Deut. 9.14 Let me alone saith God to Moses In which words we have not onely a condescention of divine Grace unto the cryes and tears of the Godly as if the Lords hands were to be disposed by their prayers but Moses importunity as if he would not let go his hold except his suit were granted A man under a tree may reach some fruit but if he clime up and get to the top there he shall have more fruit and better fruit riper sweeter larger That prayer may AVAIL MVCH it must be more then common or ordinary strong crying and without ceasing It is said of Elias m Jam. 5.17 18. By his praying he did shut and open Heaven But how prayed he earnestly saith our Translation the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Text hath He prayed a Prayer or in praying he prayed so that there is single-praying and double-praying and they have theirs accordingly n Isa 64.7 There is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee These people are not blam'd so much for not praying as for not putting forth themselves in prayer they should like Iacob and Moses have taken fast hold on God and never have left off weeping and crying day and night until their supplications had been granted as an Arrow fals short of the mark when the Bow is not well bent the Arrow drawn up to the head and delivered with strength So our prayers oft-times fall short of answer because we do not o Psa 63.8 press hard after God p Mat. 11.12 take him by violence follow him from place to place and not let him go till he q Psa 10.17 cause his ear to hear This our Savior in one of his Parables notably shews r Luk. 11 â— Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth The word rendred importunity is properly * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impudence and it hath this meaning Though among men it would be thought too much boldness and impudence for a man not to be said nay yet the Lord is so far from disliking it when it is his own case as he would have his children to force as it were a grant from him the like we have in the importunate widow Å¿ Luk. 18.7 8 Shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them I tell you he will avenge them speedily Methinks this bearing long and avenging speedily will not well accord unless we take the sence thus When the Lord shall raise up a poor destitute remnant who like the widow will never cease weeping and crying to him then he wil suddenly come forth to pour out the vials upon the Little Horn the last Apostasie Babylon though formerly he kept silence a long time I question whether that in the Prophet be yet fulfill'd t Isa 62.6 7. I have set watchmen upon thy wals O Ierusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth As things when they come neer their Centre move more swiftly and speedily then before It seems to me neer or about the breaking forth of the Great work in the last dayes there will be a people so ingag'd for Zion that they will make it their whole work to mourn and weep before the Lord never ceasing till he break the Heavens and come down u Isa 66.8 Assoon as Zion traveled she brought forth her Children I think indeed when the Lord shall put such Travels and Birth-pangs upon the hearts of his people as that they will give him no rest but mourn like Doves perpetually before him and make it their meat and drink day and night we shall suddenly see the Lord bringing the Rod of his strength out of Zion and to work terrible things in the Earth A Blessed TIME OF FINDING x Rev. 22.20 Amen even so come Lord Iesus CHAP. II. When there is no Time of Finding though the Lord be sought with tears FIrst When men like Esau for light things and vanities When the Lord will not be found 1. When men give up great Priviledges for vain things most prophanely give up great Priviledges Of Esau it is said a Heb. 12.16 17. for one morsel of meat he sold his birth-right But what follows Afterward when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears There are three things in the History which aggravate Esau's prophaneness as to be sinful above measure 1. The great thing which he lightly parted with it was no less then his Birth-right now the dignity of the first-born was very great and many eminent priviledges it had The first-born b Exod. 22.29 were peculiarly consecrated and given to God c Gen. â—9 3 Next in honor to their prents d Deut. 21.17 Had a double portion of the Fathers goods e 2 Chron. 21.3 Succeeded them in the Government of the Family or Kingdom f Numb 8.14 17. And likewise in the Administration of the Priesthood and service of God Yea more g Rom. 8.29 It figured Christ and h Heb. 12.35 all true Christians heirs of the New Ierusalem All this as if it had been nothing he carelesly parted with But Secondly Not for the worth of it The Text saith i Gen. 25.34 Iacob gave Esau bread and pottage of Lentils which was a kind of pulse much like to fetches or small pease very course food nevertheless so vile an exchange made he of his Heavenly dignity Naboth upon k 1 King 21.2 3. no terms would deliver up the inheritance of his father to Ahab But this man for one morsel of meat sels that which was far better 3. When he had done all this l Gen. 25.34 He rose up and went his way and despised his Birth-right that is he shewed no remorse sorrow or repentance for selling so precious a thing for so poor a price he esteemed his Birth-right very little before but now he sets it
pray before the Lord and yet in their actions not make conscience of any thing 4. There hath been such unheard-of impietie committed under a shew of Religion that it is now a common saying among Cavileers when they hear of any base thing done I warrant you say they it is some Professor hath done it As informer time when any Libel came from Rome presently Parsons was thought to be the Author and the more vile the more Parson-like I mourn because I cannot mourn enough wherefore came I out of the womb to such a day Ah! That the enemies of the Gospel should have so much cause given them as to think the worse the action is the more likely to to be done by Professing people 5. Such an Apostacy is seised on Churches especially in the Officers as none do more obstruct and hinder the Lords work of the day then some of them In the time of the Prelates if a good man out of Conscience opposed the Priests and held forth a publick testimony against their corrupt wayes he was presently rayl'd at counted factious and cast out of their Synagogue And is it not so now I could give many instances that the old Priests hardly shewed more bitterness against the Lords-witnesses then some Church-Officers do at this day against honest men for being faithful in the work of their Generation But to proceed 2. A Professing people causing scandal by their evil walking the Lord will soon take a course with when we see children rebellious and disobedient we are ready to say It is a shame to their parents to suffer them so to do what say profane men now Looking upon the actions of Professors Oh say they these call God Father and they would have us think none are his children but they if he be rheir Father how is it that he suffers such horrible lying falshood oath-breaking and self-seeking in them p Ezek. 36.23 I will sanctifie my Name which was prophaned among the Heathen which YE have prophaned in the midst of them and the Heathen shall know that I am the Lord saith the Lord God They were Professors of whom the Lord complains q Amos 2.13 Behold I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves The sins of Non-Professors are a burden but Professors sins are more then a burden and therefore not so long to be born They were a backsliding people as ours are of whom the Lord speaks r Isa 1.13 14. That their Oblations Solemn meetings and their appointed feasts were a trouble to him and he was weary to bear them How can a man that is weary of a burden have ease if he cast it not off they are the Professors of the last Times which the Prophet mentioneth Å¿ Isa 65.5 These are a smoak in my nose Smoak continueth not long it soon vanisheth signifying that the Back-sliders of this age are short liv'd 3. That judgment doth begin at the house of God it will be for the silencing of them that are without when their day shall come t Jer. 25.29 Lo I begin to bring evil on the City which is called by my Name and should ye be utterly unpunished ye shall not be unpunished 4. It is a Professing people which have made the Last Apostacy the subject I conceive of the first vial 4. When men glory in their shame Fourthly Such will have no Time of Finding Who glory in their shame and think it their Grace that they are graceless As David said of Doeg do u Psa 52.1 boast themselves in mischief for having done as wickedly as they can they rejoyce in and bless themselves in it x Dan. 4.30 Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my Majesty Is not this the wealth the power and greatness which I have gotten by craft deceit c. I have seen children when they have purposely made their hands and fingers black and foul have held them up and laugh'd to see what they had done Is there not a Generation of men who have made themselves foul and black within and without no Leper more foul nevertheless how do they glory in it boast of it and laugh to see so much blackness upon their fingers Among the Indians he is taken for the gallantest fellow that can make himself most ilfavored and is it not so among some Christians so call'd Is not He the None-such who by Hypocrisie and double-dealing can deform himself most and of all men is the VGLIEST to look on y Ezek. 30.2 Wo worth the day Quest But where is it proved when men take delight in their sins they shall have no Time of finding Answ In Gods Holy Book often 1. The Prophet a Ezek. 18.17 18. Ezekiel plainly tels us so Hast thou seen this O son of man is it a light thing to the house of Iudah that they commit the abominations which they commit here for they have filled the Land with violence and have RETVRNED to provoke me to anger and lo they put the Branch to their nose Therefore will I also deal in fury mine eyes shall not spare neither will I have pity and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voyce yet will I not hear them It was the manner of the Heathen and probably practised now by the Jewes to carry Branches with them to their sacrifices and to put them to the Idol and there to sprinkle them either with the blood of their Idolatrous sacrifice or to sweeten them with some Idolatrous perfume then to put them to their nostrils and kiss them shewing thereby how greatly they approved what was don so that the meaning is when men not onely do base things as break their oathes and Covenants set up Tyranny Idolatry persecute the Interest of Christ his people but likewise take pleasure therein and rejoyce in the wickedness they have done such in the day of trouble shall have no TIME OF FINDING Again as we read in b Isa 3.9 Jer. 3.3 6.15 8.15 Eze. 24.7 8. the Prophets of men that had Whores-foreheads refused to be ashamed and could not blush would discover their sins like Sodom and hide them not and set their blood meaning cruelties and oppression upon the top of a rock to be seen of all the world so we find in the same places that the Lord would not spare them but cut them off and not regard their cries in the day of trouble I have read it somewhere that in Cumena a wide mouth is in fashion and what is more in fashion now then a WIDE MOVTH He that hath the Impudence and Boldness to defend hypocrisie and falshood and to justifie oppression and Tyranny hath the Fore-head to plead for wicked persons and things he shall have Balaams wages and promotion and be c Mic. 1.11 the Prophet of
a King wherein he promiseth to do so and so for him it were no presumption in this poor man having access to the Prince if he should mention it shew it to him humbly desire the performance of it neither would the other though a King be offended at it but bid him rest content for he would not be worse then his word Though the disproportion is far greater between the Creator and the Creature then between the greatest Monarch of the world and the poorest beggar on earth yet have the Lords people many times remembred him of his promise and spread it before his face and besought him earnestly to look thereon and not forget it Thus did Moses Exod. 32 13. i Remember Abraham Isaac and Israel thy servants to whom thou swarest by thine own self c. So David k Psal 119.49 Remember thy word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope And Solomon likewise l 1 Kin. 8.25 26. Therefore now O Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my Father that thou promisest him Again Let thy word I pray thee be verified which thou spakest unto thy servant David my Father So Jeremie m Jer. 14.21 Remember break not thy Covenant Neither was the Lord offended with them that they did put him thus in remembrance much less did he answer them as some men use to do when they are minded of their Oaths Vows and Solemn Appeals to God that they would do such and such things for Christ and his people and the good of the Nations Ho say they Those Promises and ingagements were but pro Tempore that is as their practice shews they never meant to keep their word but as it should make for their own interest and advantage But our God n Psa 5.6 abhorreth such deceitful men and all such execrable Hypocrisie For o Mal. 3.6 He changeth not p 2 Cor. 1.20 All his promises are yea and Amen Yea so far is the Lord from breaking Covenant that he hears the cryes and prayers of his people for his promise sake q Exo. 2.24 And God heard their groaning and God remembred his Covenant with Abraham with Isaak and with Jacob. So a little after r Chap. 6.5 I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage and I have remembred my Covenant When Doves sigh and mourn in clifts and secret holes it doth presage say they that destruction is nigh the Birds of prey not to speak of Pharaoh Haman Herod a little before the fall of the Bishops and the King the Lord 's hidden ones were in bitterness of Soul and poured out mournful complaints day and night against their persecutors but much more have they sighed and groaned before the Lord since this sad Revolt broke forth in regard of the scandal and reproach brought to the Gospel by it And what doth this signifie That the Lord will suddenly take away this image of jealousie and revive his work in the midst of the Nations But to proceed That the Lord forgets not what he promised might be shewed in many other places Å¿ Psal 105.8 He hath remembred his Covenant for ever the word which he commanded to a thousand Generations And in the same Psalm t ver 42. He remembred his holy promise and Abraham his servant Again u Psa 106 44 45. Nevertheless he regarded their afflictions when he heard their cry and he remembred for them his Covenant See 2 Sam. 7.21 Here we may not omit how far the Lords wayes and some mens ways are unlike the Lord takes it well to be * 1 Chron. 17.23 remembred of his Covenant and promises and would have his children to mention them before him whereas you cannot more grieve and vex certain NEW LORDS then to tell them of their ingagements should any but shew them the Oaths and Vows published under their hands what they protested in such a yeer at such a place for the interest of Christ and his people their asseverations and imprecations the curses and judgments they wish'd to light upon themselves and posterity if they did not such things add hereunto their frequent tears hands laid on their breasts and eyes lifted up to Heaven calling God to witness as to the plainness and singleness of their hearts should this I say be told them what would they say x 2 Kin. 11 14. Treason Treason y 1 Kin. 22 27. Put this fellow into prison c. In all the reign of Caligula if a man did but name a Goat it was a crime of Laesae Majestatis against the Imperial person this was of his hairy body A very strange thing that a man could not say Goat but he must mean the Emperor Can you say Covenant-breaker self-seeker deceiver of the people but the Lawyer cryes out y Luk. 11.45 Master thus saying thou reproachest us also Thirdly It must needs be That there will be A TIME OF FINDING 3. Because the Lord will be honored many wayes by it because the Lord hereby will be honored and glorified many ways There is nothing that a man will sooner regard and hearken to then when his own profit and advantage is propounded To speak soberly and no more but what the Scriptures hold forth It is good for the Lord himself That there be a time of finding Quest What Good hath the Lord by it Answ 1. By this means the Saints will bless him and the high prayses of God will be in their mouth Now a By haâ—ing the â—igh prayâ—â—s of his â—eople Psa 50.3 whoso offereth praise glorifies him Was not the Lord glorified when he answered the groanings of his people in Egypt plagued the Egyptians and destroyed Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea b Exod. 15. â— 11. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah c. Who is like unto thee O Jehovah among the gods who is like thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders When Babylon shall lie under wrath d Rev. 18. â— 1. sunk like a great milstone cast into the Sea and shall be found no more at all What immediatefollows d Rev. 19.1 I heard a great voyce of much people in Heaven saying Hallelujah Salvation and glory and honor and power unto the Lord our God e ver 3. And again they said HALLELVJAH and a little after another f ver 6. great multitude saying HALLELUJAH for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth As when a judge hath done some notable and eminent act of justice upon a notorious offender he is highly commended for it so will the Lord have unspeakable praise from his people every where when he hath judged the Great Whore destroyed the false Church Ministery Worship and Government pluckt her up root and branch with all her props and Lovers HALLELV-JAH and again HALLELV-IAH What doth the Lord at
of the Nations to Jesus Christ viz. Jews and Gentiles We read in the History of the Waldenses when these good people denyed Christ's humane Body to be in the Sacrament the Priests would report they denyed God So not allowing the Virgin Mary to be prayed to that they had blasphemed her Just so are we slandred at this day Because we are against an unlawful Ministery and Magistracy Ergo saith the Accuser of the Brethren we deny all and will have none Thirdly the Lord being Found of his People 3. Because of Love many ways will have the more love from them many wayes First 1. Love to the Lord himself A TIME OF FINDING is an heart-enlarger of dear affections to Iesus Christ. e Psa 116.1 I love the Lord saith David because he hath heard my voice and my suplications So in f Psa 18.26 another place Did not David love the Lord before he had these deliverances yes doubtless and very much Notwithstanding by this means he lov'd him a great deal more As a man by stretching out a Bag or Purse it holds more then it did before So every Finding Time is a reaching and stretching out the heart our love riseth and growes by it exceedingly Secondly more Love to his Truth and holy Wayes 2. To his Truth and ways Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross Therefore I love thy Testimonies Is not this harsh that David should be encouraged to love the Laws of God of the dreadful Judgements he had seen executed upon Hypocrites Apostates and Tyrants If it be a thing very rich and pretious yet so long as it is wrapt up and foulded together few regard it neither know we what it is God's wrath powred out upon the Workers of Iniquity is as it were the opening of himself of his Kingdom and Laws and until he doth so he is not known nor his appointments But g Isa 26 9. When his â—udgements are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness h Psa 6.16 He is known by the judgement which be executeth and i Rev. 15.4 glorified by it So â—ong as HYPOCRITES REIGN â—nd the LAST APOSTACIE stands the Lords Testimonies will not be loved but k Mic. 6.16 the Statutes of Omri kept not the Lords Messengers hearkned unto but the deceitful workers of Antichrist But when all Murtherers of souls and bodies shall be put away like dross then will People every where love the Testimonies and Laws of JEHOVAH Thirdly 3. Provoking others to love If we have a TIME OF FINDING we will provoke others to love the Lord l Psa 31.23 24. Thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee And what followes O love the Lord all ye his Saints For the Lord preserveth the faithful and plentifully rewardeth the PROVD DOER If we have a friend that doth very much for us we would have others besides our selves to love him likewise Of all men those who do most experience the love of God towards themselves do especially provoke and stir up others to love him and trust in him So David in another place m Pas 34.5 8. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears O taste and see that the Lord is good Blessed is the maâ— that trusteth in him The Prophet here is like one that hath experienced â— thing and found it very good perswades others to make use also of it 4. Others will be provoked by it Fourthly This TIME OF FINDING will cause many hearing of it to love fear and honour the Lord. n Exo. 18.7 8 9. When Jethro heard what the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and unto the Egyptians for Israels sake he rejoyced saying Blessed be the Lord who hath delivered you c. Now I know the Lord is greater then all gods For in the things wherein he dealt proudly he was above theâ— We read in Esther that o Est 8.17 many of the people of the Land became Iews but when was it after the Time of Finding when Haman and his sons were hanged Then they cried p 2 Kin. 18.39 The Lord he is God the Lord he is God but whilst Haman stood in power and greatness who more honoured then he So when the good news of the q Rev. 11.13 Great Earth-quake shalâ— be spread thorow the Nations and the perishing of the Last Apostacie under the first Vial Oh what rejoycing will this be to the Churches and Saints every where how will they bless the Lord for it r Rev. 15.3 Iust and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Å¿ ver 4. for thy judgements are made manifest Now they will clearly understand that all the pretences and protestations which some made against the Pope for THE PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN RELIGION were meer delusions and falsehoods Neither was Babylon in her idolatry and cruelty supported by any Power or State more then by them And that they were the chief obstructers of the Lord's work against the GREAT WHORE If irons be taken off from hand or foot this sets the whole body free The last Apostacie is as a great chain upon the Lords work howsoever it be broken but in one Countrey nevertheless the whole Body all the members of Christ will have Spiritual Liberty by it And therefore doubtless when they shall hear of this Earth-quake they will like Iethro bless the Lord for it 4. Of glorifying God by trusting in him Fourthly Times of Finding give incouragement unto Saints t Psa 63.8 to trust in the Lord at all times and to pour out their hearts before him And this is u Rom. 4.20 to give glory to God x Psa 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee But how is the Name of God known truly not in any thing more fruitfully and teachingly then by Times of Finding here his glory passeth before us we behold him with open face here we have his power goodness faithfulness c. made known to us y Psa 116.2 Because he hath enclined his ear to me THEREFORE will I call upon him as long as I live A man knowing where the Fountain is and being at it a thousand times and alwayes satisfied knows where to go when he wants water a Psa 65.2 O thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Had we not a gracious answer of our cries and tears against the King and Prelates He bowed the Heavens and came down then the earth shooke He also thundred in the Heavens And what more He gave us the neck of our Enemies we beat them small as the dust before the winde and did cast them out as the dirt in the streets Quest But what hath the Lord gotten by granting such A TIME OF FINDING Answ The honor of trusting in him b Psa 63.7 Because thou hast been my
help saith David Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoyce That the Lord heard us in the late wars and was found c Gen. 22.14 JEHOVAH-JIREH a God seen in the mount We can pray now against all the Hypocritical enemies of his Cause and Kingdom more earnestly d Jam. 1.6 In faith nothing wavering which is greatly to his Glory The bramble would have e Judg. 9.15 all the trees put their trust in his shadow Indeed Tyrants would be trusted though there be neither trust nor Truth in them I have read the story how Dominique dreamt the Church of Rome was falling and that he upheld it with his shoulders Have we never heard the like fable In what sore distress the Church and State were both ready to split had not a Minion Idol been devis'd like Dominique's shoulders to keep them up The Tryers probably will apply this because it is like that Shameful thing for all the world But to proceed Did not David very much honor the Lord by trusting in him when he went forth against Goliah But what caused David by beleeving to doe so he tels you f 1 Sam. 17.37 The Lord that delivered me out of the Paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine I know there were many complaints and heart-groans poured out against the King and Bishops for their Tyranny and Idolatry but this I can truly say For twenty years and more in which I suffered under them the Lord did not draw out my heart to so much mourning and sighings as I have done within these three or four years against the GREAT BETRAYERS of the interest of Christ and his people And this I finde as a burning fire shut up in my bones that I cannot hold my peace day nor night Besides Howsoever I am a poor worm and the least in my Father's house yet herein I can give glory to God I do beleeve the Lord that delivered his afflicted people out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear King and Bishops he will deliver them from all PROVD PHILISTIMS that defie the Israel of God yea and that speedily Fifthly 5. Do him more work and better service Times of finding ingage the Lords people to do him more work and better service afterwards If Beasts the larger allowance they have will doe their master the more service Surely then the better Christ is to his children the more they will strive to doe his will in every thing g Psa 116.8 9. Thou hast delivered my Soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling I will walk on before the Lord in the land of the living That is Seeing I have had a Time of finding I will so improve this great mercy as the Lord shall have much glory and honor by it Methinks it is at this day with some honest hearts as it was with the h Mat. 20.3 4. Laborers which stood idle in the market-place Should they be askt why they are not at work What would they say We are calling upon the Lord for imployment we would willingly be at work for it grieves our very Souls to stand thus idle Now hath not a master more profit that his servants are at work then standing still When the Great TIME OF FINDING comes then will Zions children be at work indeed for now they may be said to be idle comparatively to their work THEN Then some shall be the i Rev. 14.6 Angel To preach the Everlasting Gospel Others the k Rev. 15.1 Angels to pour out the seven last plagues Some l Psa 149.8 to bind their Kings in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron Others m Rev. 18.5 to execute vengeance upon Babylon Come Lord Jesus When the Lord made use of Moses and Aaron to pour out vials full of wrath upon Pharaoh and Egypt and of Elias to destroy the Prophets of Baal and of Ioshua to cast out the Canaanites Was he not in those things very much glorified If so then much more when he shall answer the prayers of his people concerning his Son and Zion and the destruction of Babylon and all Tyrants Which is better and more for the honor of a King that Theeves Murderers and Rebels do spoyl and destroy the good people or to be taken and punished What is it that Saints pray for and desire a Time of finding Truly this That Hypocrites and Apostates n Psa 104 35. be consum'd out of the earth and bloody Tyrants be no more That o Rev. 11.15 all the Kingdoms of the world may be Christs p Eze. 21 27 whose right it is And in order hereunto they are to ready to follow the Lamb in his work wheresoever he shall lead them But howsoever some men by Times of finding are the better yet many are the worse Here Jesus Christ may say r Psa 109.4 For my Love they are my Adversaries That is for the Deliverances Victories Preferments which I gave them I am the more wrong'd by them in my Great Name Cause and Kingdom And truly I think never a generation of men more sinn'd against kindness then some of this generation * Isa 1.2 Hear ye Heavens and give ear O Earth for the Lord speaketh I have nourished and brought up or made great and exalted children but they have revolted from me It is a pitiful fight to see a poor Bird kill'd with the feathers pluckt from her They are not only contented to feather their nest with the interest of Christ and his people but with those feathers i. e. power places Offices and preferment which they have pluckt from it shoot at her and murder her most unworthily * Deut. 32.6 Doe ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is all forgotten What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psal 116.12 CHAP. IIII. Reasons Why there will be a Time of Finding in respect of Gods people Reasons in respect of mourners 1. Of the revilings of the proud First BEcause of the scornings and revilings of the proud as reproaching the Godly for their mourning and tears Had not the Lord been found of Hezekiah he had not been able in a little while to have born Rabshakehs and Sennacheribs blasphemies That which caused Hannah to be in bitterness of Soul before the Lord and no doubt moved the Lord to take pity on her it was the extream Å¿ 1 Sam. 1.6 provoking of her adversary for to make her fret because the Lord had shut up her womb Our Adversaries are fallen upon Rabshakehs work and seek to provoke us by the like scornful reproaches Where is the fruit say they of your tears and cries You may see the Lord cares not for your weeping fasting and praying did he regard them he would have helpt you ere now
Ah ah Doe ye think that sobs and groans will doe it Of such Libertines and profane scoffers David speaks t Psa 14.6 The Counsel of the poor afflicted ye would make abaâ—hed because Iehovah is his hope that is Ye have derided the Godly when yee heard them in affliction to call upon the Lord and would discourage them from making God their Hope by faith and prayer Indeed this strikes deep when the Enemy reproacheth our prayers Iob found it so u Job 12.4 I am as one mocked of his neighbor calling upon God And David sadly complains of it x Psa 42.3 My tears have been my meat day and night while they continually say Where is thy God Again y vers 16. As with a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach me while they dayly say unto me Where is thy God A man that hath a weapon thrust to the bone cannot bear it long he must have it forth or dyes Though it be a grievous thing to have our prayers reproach'd yet this help we have by it namely it will force us to be the more fervent and earnest with God and not to rest day nor night till there be A TIME OF FINDING We finde in Scripture that the tryumphing of the wicked hath layn very much upon the Spirits of Saints and therefore have desired a Time of finding that the Enemy might not insult z Psa 13.34 Consider and hear me O Lord lest mine enemy say I have prevayled against him and those that trouble me rejoyce Again a Psa 140.8 Grant not O Lord the desire of the wicked further not his wicked device lest they exalt themselves What is it that Apostates and other wicked men would have That Mourners in Zion might have no Time of finding And what would they do should they have their desire It is not to be uttered the wickedness they would commit The Jewes report of one presuming to enter into the Holy of Holiest and abusing the Treasure there was by the hand of God immediately smitten The prayers and groanings of Saints are no other then Choyce things in the most Holy place And therefore when men begin to deride and reproach these Holy things surely judgment is not far off I remember Hezekiahs words b Isa 37.3 This is a day of trouble and of rebuke and of blasphemy for the children are come to birth and there is not strength to bring forth What he speaketh there is our present case when the child is at the birth the woman hath her sorest travel then either death or a speedy deliverance That our Tears Prayers and Sighings are reproach'd it hath brought the Work to the Birth Ah! how Zion now travels as having her last and sharpest pangs and throws upon her Methinks I hear her cry c Luk. 8.24 Master Master we perish But fear not Zion hear what thy God speaketh d Isa 66.9 Shall I bring to birth and not cause to bring forth As the Lord by the blasphemous reproaches and scornings of the Enemy viz. Priests Lawyers and Soldiers hath brought the work to the Birth and put the sharpest pangs now upon thee so he will speedily work out thy salvation e Isa 9.7 The zeal of the Lord will perform this 2. Because the Lord knowes we are weaklings Secondly Mourners shall have a Time of finding Because the Lord f Psa 103.14 knows their frame and remembreth they are dust Things that are brittle and tender should they be roughly handled would soon break to pieces As the Lord knows we are weaklings Babes Bruised reeds and smoaking flax so g Heb. 4.15 He is touched with a feeling of our infirmities and h Isa 57.17 will not contend for ever lest our spirits should fayl before him If a father should see his child at his foot gasping for life would he not pity him and preserve him if he could from perishing i Jon. 2.7 When my Soul fainted within me said Jonah I remembred the Lord and my prayers came unto thee into thine Holy Temple And this also makes me think a time of finding is nigh Because the Name of God and the Cause of Christ lies with such weight upon the Spirits of Mourners as they are even fainting under it Poor Hagar could not indure to hear the death-groans of her child for though she had heard him awhile weep and cry for water yet when she thought he was fainting away k Gen. 21.15 16. She leaves him and goes a good way off and lifts up her voyce and wept As DEATH-GROANS are now upon travelling Zion so the Lord sees it and he will not do as Hagar did go off from her there is no need for the water is not spent in his bottle but out of his fulness he will speedily supply her by granting her a blessed time of finding If a man should hear lamentable groanings and screeches at his gate and looking out at his window should behold poor people ready to starve through cold and hunger he could not having enough by him suffer them to perish It is thus with many of Gods people at this day they lie ready to starve before the Throne of Grace either FINDING or FAINTING And will he suffer such to famish Surely he will not he cannot for his promise l Pro. 10.3 Psal 107.5 6 7. is to do otherwise Suppose a Beast carry a burden so long as through weakness it begins to sink what man would not pitie it though it be a Beast and ease him of it The BURDEN hath been so long on the Lords Little ones and the m Dan. 7.25 Horn so weared them out as poor hearts they seem almost tyr'd One cries n Psa 94.14 My foot slippeth another o Eccles 7.7 Oppression makes him mad others p Ezek. 37.11 Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost c. others q Psa 125.3 The rod of the wicked hath been so long upon them as they are ready to put forth their hands to iniquity All this God knowes to be true and he knowes r Mat. 26.41 the flesh is weak and * Ephes 6.4 Col. 3.21 Parents must not provoke ther Children lest they be discouraged But what may we gather from it Our God will suddenly come and not keep silence to save all the meek of the earth Better one man should die then the whole Nation perish Methinkes things are come to that STRAIGHT that if Christs Enemies live his faithful Friends die if their spirits fail not the others will If God do not suddenly arise for his great Name some Sobbing-hearts wil break at his foot But fear not thou Worm-Iacob Å¿ Isa 43.3 I will give men for thee saith the Lord and people for thy life He will give the Little Horn to the burning flame The Last Apostacie shall perish THE HYPOCRITE SHALL REIGN NO MORE rather then thy Spirit shall fail for
What great mourning was there some few yeers since in Churches and among professors after righteousness and judgment and to have all heavy yokes broken but now the Abby-key being found and the fish caught that is great places Offices and preferment gotten we hear no more crying out against oppression all is quiet now and well again now they can hold their peace though the time be worse then before in respect of the interest of Christ and his People and the publick good of the Nations But what may we gather hence They were not the Lords Remembrancers Their tears and groans were their own and for their own interest not the Spirit 's and for the things of Christ for had the Spirit set them on work had they been the Spirit 's sighs and sobs for Zion t Isa 62.6 7. they would not have held their peace day nor night nor given the Lord rest VNTIL he had made Jerusalem a Prayse in the Earth u 1 Joh. 2.19 If they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us 2. If they are the Groanings of the Spirit nothing will be askt but what is x Rom. 8 27 according to the will of God y Luk. 22 42. Not my will saith Christ but thine be done So again a Act. 21.14 The will of the Lord be done As a man that is doing somthing for a friend will indeavor to doe it so as the party for whom he doth it may like it and have content thus it is with us when the Spirit helpeth us with groanings which cannot be uttered We are all for pleasing God we would not speak nor have our hearts move or think of any thing but what the Lord should take pleasure and delight in It is true Hypocrites can groan and like Esau will beg blessings with tears but observe this it is to serve themselves upon the Lâ—â—d and to have their will done whetheâ— it be Gods will or no thus they will have the Lord to bless their Counsels and designs though they are against Himself his Son and Zion so when they have b Isa 28.15 made a Covenant with death and with hell are at an agreement then must Priests and People be call'd together to fast and pray that it may prosper 3. Spirit-Groanings are like c 2 King 2.11 Elias chariot and horses of fire carry the Soul into Heaven It is the Glory of God which now is onely eyed As the Mariners needle always trembles and shakes till her point be towards the Pole so it is with right Mourners they are not satisfied in weeping and sobbing before the Lord unless they have the sight of his glory then they are quiet seeing the mark they look after When the sun is risen we see not a star in the Firmament Reader note it What is it when thou art in bitterness of Soul that vanisheth Is it SELF Seest thou no Honour Credit Preferment Relations nor any other worldly Respects Seest thou the great Name of God dearer to thee then thy soul And for afflicted d Lam. 1.16 Zion thou weepest thine eye thine eye runneth down with Tears Blâ—â—sed art thou that thus mournest e Isa 57.1 P. the Lord shall restore comfort to thee 4. A man never sees more emptiness unworthiness and poverty in himself then when he is under the strongest groanings of the Spirit neither is his heart at any time more broken then at the woful sight thereof f Isa 6.5 Wo is me I am undon c. For mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts The Spirit in our mournings is g 2 Pet. 1.19 as a light that shineth in a dark place We did not think to have found such nakedness and baseness as we do Again the Spirit-Groanings are like fire in the Soul such may the fire be as it melts down Iron breaks Rocks and Stones asunder It is a good sign a man is under the Mournings of the Spirit when findes his corruptions and lusts hard as flint to melt and break in pieces and by the power of the Spirit consum'd and brought to nothing The groaning of Hypocrites is like the drawing of a Curtain whereby things are hid and covered The more they weep fast and pray the less fight have they of their sins For what is the reason some men see not so much evil in their wayes now as they did some yeers past I answer in their fasting and praying ever since they have been drawing curtains over their filthy sores Not but that they are far worse then they were but they see it not because of their hypocritical Tears 5. The Spirits Groanings leave two things especially upon the Soul 1. Refreshment as when a man hath eaten well he findes his spirits strengthned and comforted But this is not so with unsound hearts It is reported of Witches when they have eaten and drunk of the best and to their thinking largely they find themselves presently in a condition ready to starve Should some men speak their experiences they could not but confess when they have been some hours in prayer and sighed often they have been afterward no other then like Pharaoh's lean and ill-favoured kine not had any soul-strengthning or feeling refreshing at all 2. The Soul is left in a sweet and blessed frame as Wax that is soft is fit to take any impression so is a Saint wrought up wholy for God his will affections desires run out with Paul h Act. 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do That is I am ready to receive any truth and to deny my self in every thing so that I may follow thee and serve my Generation It is a common saying and I have heard it often when some men talk of fasting and prayer Now say they beware there is some Plot or other in hand And usually it is so For after the Formality of the work is over their doings are worse then ever so far from i Isa 58.3 4 5 6. loosing the bonds of wickedness and letting the oppressed go free and breaking every yoke c. as on the contrary they smite with the fist of wickedness their fellow-servants and cast out their Brethren more cruelly then before But what saith Solomon k Pro. 1.3 To do Justice and Judgment is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice l Hos 6.6 I will have mercy and not sacrifice Seventhly Because the Lord is teaching Zions Mourners the ART OF SEEKING Because the Lord is teaching the art of seeking You know by long practise and use a man becoms expert and skilful in a trade especially having a good master This benefit through Grace some of the Lords people have received since the Apostacy came up namely they have been learning the Art of Prayer for not onely of late yeers have they been more frequent in the practice but have gotten more experience of the thing then ever they had before
According to the Scriptures men must pray m Mar. 11.24 in faith n Jam. 5.16 with fervency and earnestness o Eph. 6.18 watching thereunto with all perseverance p Luk. 18.1 and not faint If thousands had thrown stones at Goliah and bigger then David's was and hit him too yet I question whether he had fallen but that STONE which went out of Davids sling sunk q 1 Sam. 17.49 into his forehead and he fell down dead upon the earth The Lord hath some I hope many in the Nation who are going as so many DAVIDS against the Philistine Babylon and all her Brats and Props And howsoever he is cursing them by his gods and laughs to see nothing in their hands but a sling and stone onely sighs and groanings yet let this HEAVEN-DARING GIANT know that the Little Stone which he derides faith and prayer shall within a little while sink into his forehead and the MONSTER shall fall and his flesh be given to the fowls of the ayr and to the beasts of the field r Verse 47. That all the Earth may know that there is a God in Israel I well remember in the time of the Bishops when there rose up any cruel Persecutor the good old Puritants would say one to another Come let us pray this enemy of our Lord Iesus Christ and his people to death And I could give some memorable instances what a wonderful Return of prayer they had i. e. how the revenging hand of God smote the Enemies sometimes dead immediately upon the sighings and groanings of his people against them a warning to all new Persecutors to look about them Sions children are crying day and night unto God against them and they have learnt now the Art of praying never to be silent till they have prayed them to death that is prevail'd with the Lord to execute upon them the judgment written CHAP. V. That there will be a Time of Finding because of the good Things prayed for A time of finding because of the good things prayed for WHatsoever the Lord in his word promiseth to give that we may ask and shall surely have it so saith the Apostle Å¿ 1 John 5.14 15. If we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us No child could better love a mother then Solomon loved Bathsheba and there was no reasonable thing but she might have had it of him Nevertheless when she came to speak unto him t 1 King 2.21 22. for Adonijah who had usurpt the Kingdom he not only denyed her but gave her a close reproof Though they are the Lords own people yet when they will take that boldness as to pray for Traytors and Covenant-breakers and that Hypocrites may reign and that the Lord will bless their Councels Armies Navies I tell you the Lord doth not take it well at their hands neither shall they have a time of finding * Psa 80.4 But will be angry against the prayer of his people t 1 Cor. 14.15 I will pray saith Paul with the Spirit and I will pray with understanding also So in another place u Psa 14.2 If there are any that understand and seek God Intimating these must be joyn'd together viz. an understanding-seeking of God A man out of his way the faster he goes the farther off he is from the place where he should be So for men to ask things altogether contrary to the express word of God to wit for Babylon the Little Horn and bottomless Beast and that Satan may not be bound up but reign and prevayl still in his wicked and murtherous instruments surely this must needs be out of Gods way and not the way to find him but rather a great provocation Quest But do any pray for Babylon and that Satan may prevayl still in his destroying instruments I answer Most do so but under another name the Zion they pray for is indeed Babylon the Ministry and Magistracy which they cry up and call Lawful is Antichristian and sinful thus x Mal. 3.15 They call the proud happy and they that work wickedness are set up But how set up The Priests plead for them and pray for them and so make their Building strong as the Hebr. reads by y Isa 66.3 blessing an Idol If dung or trash should be presented to a Prince yet so as under the name of rich Pearls and jewels would he accept of it knowing what it is because it is brought to him not as dung but pearls of great Price a Mal. 1.14 I am a great King saith the Lord of Hosts and cursed be the deceiver b Isa 5.20 Wo to them that call evil good and good evil that put darkness for light c. But indeed these deceitful workers cannot deceive God men they do and their own souls likewise as they will see ere long to their bitterness and shame The good things prayed for Quest But what are the good things which the Lords people are asking according to the will of God and wait for a time of finding Answ 1. That the Lord will remember his Great Name and suffer it not any longer to lie under reproach and blasphemie but arise and shew forth his Power Faithfulness Mercy and Judgment in reviving his work in the midst of us Mat. 6.9 1 Cor. 10.31 Exod. 32.12 Num. 14.13 14. Josh 7.9 Psalm 83.17 18. Hab. 3.2 2. That Jesus Christ Heir of all things may have his right and possession That is that all corrupt powers on earth may be broken to pieces His Enemies made his Foot-stool and he alone exalted and the onely Potentate Psal 2.8 72.8 15. Dan. 2.34 35. 7.14 Luk. 19.12 Obad. 21. Rev. 11.15 17. Isa 2.11 12. c. Heb. 10.13 1 Tim. 6.14 15. 3. That Jehovah the Judge of all the earth would lift up himself and in some way or other make it publickly appear who are faithful to him and who are the Apostates which have betrayed the interest of Christ and his people Psal 94.2 1 King 18.36 37 c. 1 Sam. 14.12 Mal. 3.18 Psal 99.6.8 Num. 16.16 17. 17.5 8 9. Gen. 18.25 4. That the Lord will speedily avenge the blood of his servants shed upon Babylon and take vengeance on all Civil Powers for their oppression cruelty against the Lords servants and bring in the great day of Deliverance and Restauration to the whole Creation Psal 74.2 18 22. Jer. 51.35 Deut. 32.35 41 43. Psal 94.1 Jer. 50.15 Isa 34.4 5. 47 34. Luk. 18.7 8. Rev. 18.5 Act. 3.21 Rom. 8.19 20 21. 5. That the Lord c Haâ— 3.2 in wrath will remember mercie 1. In finding out and punishing ACHANS and TROVBLERS that none innocent may suffer for the rebellion and Apostacie of others Num. 16.22 Josh 7.24 25. Gen. 18.23 24. Psal 125.4 5. Isa 3.10 11. 33.14 15. c. Psal 32.6 7. 2. That the Lord will be merciful to his people in BABYLON as
he was to Lot in SODOM and bring them forth that they be not partakers of her plagues Gen. 19.16 Rev. 18.4 Zach. 3.2 2 Tim. 3.2 3 5. 2 Cor. 6.17 18. 6. That the fulness of the Gentiles may come in and all Israel be saved Psal 67.2 Gen. 49.10 Hab. 2.14 Isa 25.7 32.6 35.6 43.19 Hos 1.10 11. 3.5 Rom. 11.25 26. 7. Whereas mens rebellion against the Lord and their opposing HIS WORK WAYS KINGDOM and PEOPLE is carried on under fair pretences whereby many in their simplicity are led aside into great transgression against Jesus Christ Their prayer is that all such lyars and dissembling Hypocrites may daily be more discovered and their designes broken by some signal appearing of the Lord against them Num. 16.15 Psal 55.12 15. Hos 11.12 Ps 140.8 11. Isa 27.3 1 Sam. 15.17 18. with Chap. 18.14 8. As they cannot hold their peace for ZIONS SAKE so the Lord is earnestly call'd upon 1. that he will REMEMBER HER TREACHEROVS AND FALSE FRIENDS viz. Church-members Professors Souldiers Lawyers all such as have basely betrayed her to the ENEMIE Lam. 1.2 Psal 41.9 55.12 15. 2 Sam. 15.31 Jer. 18.20 2. Not to forget the reproach and scandal which she suffers by reason of their abominable hypocrisie and falshood having rendred the very NAME OF RELIGION odious to them that are without Lam. 2.15 Rom. 2.14 Isa 52.5 Ezek. 36.20 26. Gen. 32.30 Eccl. 10.1 Amos 4.10 3. That the temptations and afflictions now upon her may thorowly cleanse her and make her meet for the masters use Isa 1.25 Mal. 3.5 Dan. 11 35. 2 Tim. 2.21 4. That the Lord will turn unto her a pure language heal all breaches and diviâ—ions that so her Children may serve him with one consent Zech. 3.9 1 Cor. 1.10 Isa 11.13 Psal 134.1 Act. 2.1 5. That the Spirit from on High may be poured out upon all her Sons and daughters whereby their understanding may be opened to know all things Joel 2.28 29. Act. 1.4 Luk. 24.49 Dan. 12.10 Amos 3.7 Rev. 22.10 Ioh. 14.16 26. 1 Ioh. 2.20 6. That she may have her Judges restored as at the first and Pastors after GODS OWN HEART Hence the Lord is daily cal'd upon to pluck up by the roots all false Offices Ministries Callings Administrations and Maintenance both new and old Isa 1.26 Ier. 3.15 23.4 Ezek. 34.25 Mat. 15.13 Hos 2.16 17. Zech. 13.2 14.20 21. Rev. 18.21 c. Lastly seeing it will be a great and dreadful day when the Lord shall answer the prayers of his people Even burn like an Oven and who shall stand when God doth this therefore is the Lord entreated to be so gratious unto his LITTLE ONES as they may not be offended in what way or manner soever his great work comes forth but may be prepared to meet the Lord and counted worthy to follow him Mal. 4.1 Num. 24.23 Isa 22.18 19. 25.9 1 John 2.18 Luk. 21.36 Amos 4.12 These are the things which the faithful of the Land are praying for and the Apostates scoffing at But it is not their derision can make the promise of God of no effect d Luk. 21.33 Heaven and Earth saith Christ shall pass away but my words shall not pass away CHAP. VI. Reasons Wherefore the Lord will not be found of some People though they call upon him in the Time of trouble Reasons why no time of finding 1. Because in their prosperity they will not know the Lord. First BEcause in their prosperous condition when they e Deut. 32.15 are grown thick and covered with fatness they will not know the Lord. But f Psa 75.5 speak with a stiff-neck g Job 21.14 15. What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we pray unto him we desire not the knowledge of his wayes c. Some people in seeking God are like a sort of Beggers who standing at your door will tell you they make not a trade of begging neither doe they come often and had it not been for necessity they would not have troubled you at this time Are there not many should they speak truth must confess this is their very case they make no trade of begging unless they are in some want h Psal 10. â— God is not in all their thoughts neither would they seek him in their troubles at all if they knew how to be helpt without him No doubt in the dayes of Noah when the waters came and took away the wicked people out of their houses and beds yea fetcht them off from the high hils and mountains where they fled for safety there was bitter mourning and crying to the Lord but all in vain as they would not know him in their prosperity so now he will not deliver them when i Job 27.9 Fear and the pit and the snare are upon them Job saith God will not hear the hypocrite when trouble cometh upon him that is seeing he cals not upon God unless it be deceitfully and mockingly but when great distress is upon him therefore he shall be left to the destroyer and no eye shall pity him Hence it is that the Scriptures speak of k Isa 55.6 Seeking the Lord while he may be found and while he is neer and l 2 Cor. 6.2 of the time accepted and m Heb. 3.15 while it is called to day denoting that men may forfeit their time and come after the Gate of Grace is shut And if so then no time of finding Besides the Lord takes it as not sought unto nor call'd upon when men only cry to him in time of trouble It is said of Saul n 1 Chr. 10.14 He enquired not of the Lord therefore he slew him yet in another place it is o 1 Sam. 28.6 When Saul enquired of the Lord the Lord answered him not neither by dreams nor Vrim nor by Prophets the meaning is when Saul knew not what to do but saw the wrathful hand of God ready to cut him off by the Philistims then like a malefactor going to execution He enquires of the Lord but this the Holy-Ghost cals not enquiring because it was only for his own end and till great distress came upon him he regarded not the Lord but had cast him off sought himself in every thing The fox in a snare looks wishly hangs the head will sigh extreamly and you may see tears fall from his eyes but all this will not serve his turn nor save him from being knockt on the head Reader shouldst thou live to see an OLD HYPOCRITE under Divine wrath thou wouldst see him just like a fox in a trap his countenance altered groan and sigh as if his heart would break and tears at command I have sinned I have sinned will the OLD FOX say in betraying that INNOCENT CAVSE But the Lord will neither trust him nor beleeve him any more his day is now come in which
the Judge of all the earth will pay him home for all his former craft and falshood So let all thy enemies perish O God Judg. 5.31 Secondly Because they p Isa 8.12 say Because of their sinful places and standings in Babilon the last Apostacy A Conspiracy that is mix themselves with the unhallowed lump keep unsanctified places and standings in Babylon and the last Apostacy and so q 2 Tim. 3.5 not separated from the corruptions and evils of the time r 2 Cor. 6 17 18. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and I will be a father unto you c. Plainly shewing unless we forbear to ſ Exod. 23.2 follow the multitude or Great men t Rev. 18.4 Come out of Babylon u Eph. 5.11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness And x Num. 16.27 depart from the tents of Corah Dathan and Abiram and all such wicked men the Lord will not be a Father to us in answering our cries when calamities and troubles are upon us What the Lord may doe in respect of his unbounded bowels and free grace y Psal 131.2 it is a thing too high for us For he is many times better then his promise and above it But this I say So long as men wrap themselves in the sin and guilt of others plead for Baal and endeavor to strengthen Tyrants in oppression and blood follow Balak as Balaam did for the wages of iniquity these cannot thus doing by any Scripture-promise expect a time of finding I speak of a temporal deliverance as to be a Zeph. 2.1 2 3. hid in the day of the Lords anger There is a twofold separation which the Lord requires of his people at this time 1. From things 2. From persons And the followers of the Lamb they do both * Rev. 14.3 They are redeemed from the earth that is from the carnal Church-Ministry worship and Government they will not communicate in any of their devised service forms customs administrations nor contribute any thing to their maintenance Numb 7.3 5. Neh. 10.23 39. Likewise †Ver. 4. They are redeemed from among men who these men are the Apostle shews viz. the Apostates in the last days MEN that shall be lovers of their own selves covetous proud c. from such turn aside 2 Tim. 1.2 5. Charls 9. having a petition brought to him from the Admiral Chastillon he refused to receive it saying If he will forsake the Rebels meaning the Protestants and come to us we will hear him but so long as he encourageth the enemy we will receive none of his Petitions I wish with my Soul that some eminent professors would lay things to heart How can they think that the Lord will receive any of their Petitions if not only they abide with his Enemies and take their part openly against him but seek to strengthen and maintain what they can the greatest revolt that ever was made against Jesus Christ It is said b Gen. 6.8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Why Noah more then others why was the Lord better to him then to a whole world He was c Gen. 7.1 A SEPARATIST and a strict one too for he made conscience of his ways and wherein he saw others differed from truth and righteousness therein he differed from them Qu. But why are not many professors Separatists like Noah now so to have a time of finding when the Flood comes Answ To speak my thoughts it is because of Self-love and Covetousness These d 2 Tim. 2.2 3 c. two great leading sins like two huge Beasts open a wide Gap to the rest of the sins in the last Apostacie e 1 Tim. 6.10 For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves thorow with many sorrows Howbeit in some ground there are ill VVeeds of several sorts yet commonly there are one or two rifer and ranker then others I am the more confirm'd to think the last Apostacie is come not onely because all the VVeeds appear foretold but that Self-seeking and Covetousness first named are higher and ranker then the rest The Story of the Usurer may fitly come in here when he went abroad people pointed at him and shooke their heads whereby he knew his way and trade was generally dislik'd this sorely vex'd him until he came home and saw his Bags then he would laugh and say to himself Ha ha Now let them laugh at me here is that makes a mends for all and thus his grief was over I know it doth many times extreamly trouble some professors to hear and see what they do That is how they are condemn'd by all faithful people for serving the lusts of men and for countenancing Covenant-breakers and such as have betrayed the glorious Cause of Christ This I say vexeth them at the heart and the more because their Consciences cannot but check them for building again the things which they destroyed Notwithstanding when they come home and see the BAG f Act. 19.25 what WEALTH IS GOTTEN BY THIS CRAFT so much honor and preferment at Court such a gainful place in the Army so much per ann in the Colledge such a fat living or augmentation in the Country besides the pride and gallantry of their Wives and Children all Ladies and Prince-like Ha ha say they now let them laugh what care we for the FIFTH MONARCHY-MEN or their witness against us they call us Time-servers Turn-coates Court-flatterers and such as will crouch for a morsel of bread But these High-places Offices and preferment make us amends sufficiently Besides what can their poor g 1 Sam. 22.7 son of Iesse do for us But let them take this into the BAG too As the Partridge sitteth on eggs Jer. 17.11 and hatcheth them not so he that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at his end shal be a fool Nurses count them good Children which though they are ready to cry at every turn yet are easily quieted with some toy The Devil is little troubled that men do weep and cry now and then and are sometimes prick's at the heart for their corrupt walking so that for a little honour pleasure profit and such like toys their consciences are soon quieted Again I speak not this as taking delight to discover the nakedness of professours the Lord knows my desire is That h Jer. 15.19 the precious might be separated from the vile and that none of Gods elect among the Back-sliders might be partakers of their plagues And therefore in the Bowels of Jesus I beseech them to Consider 1. What a sad thing it is that men not i 2 John 8. looking to themselves should lose those things that they
Christ in his kingdome and rights m Psal 9.16 The Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth and till then his Name is not feared his truth and cause denyed and his honour is laid in the dust But when the Lord by destroying the enemies of his Glory shall put a Crown upon his GOOD OLD CAUSE then it shall be said n Psa 58.11 Verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth And o Isa 46.9 there is none else And p Deut. 33.29 the enemies as Lawyers Priests Souldiers and Apostate-professors shall be found lyars q Eze. 6.14 I will stretch out my hand upon them and make the Land desolate yea more desolate then the wilderness toward Diblath in all their habitations But what will the Lord get by this And they shall know that I am the Lord. As if he should say Their loss shall be my gaine their fall my rising for whereas by their Covenant-breaking and horrible Apostacie they have brought my Name and Glory under reproach I will recover all again upon their mine Was not the Lord eminently known in this Nation when he executed judgment upon the King and Prelates and that party To my knowledge r Esth 8.17 the fear of Gods people fell upon the Nations about us and they confest the Lord had done great things for us and began to enquire after our good cause and had honourable thoughts of it But true it is since this unblessed Apostacie came up occasioned by professours they judge otherwise both of us and it As for the English professours they call them A pack of dissemblers their profession falshood and craft and the good old Cause so signally own'd by the Lord they spurn at it nay more and truly I mourn as I wite it by reason of the gross miscarriages of some Professours the very Name of Religion is become so odious that they have made Ballads and Songs against it and they are sung by base fellows up and down the Nation and what is the Burden of their Song No Cheater like the Professour But though this be so yet when the Lord shall execute judgment upon those men who have brought such dishonour and reproach to him and so build the old wast places and be called The repairer of the breach and restorer of paths to dwell in Then he will recover the glory of his great Name and be more admired of the Nations then before When the Scribes and Pharisees had put Christ to death what ado they made to have kept him in the grave and that he might not rise again â— but Å¿ Psa 2.1 they imagined a vain thing It was not the great stone which they rolled before the door of the Sepulchre nor their sealing it nor setting Souldiers to watch that could do it but he rose in the spight of them all t Rom. 1.4 and declared himself to be the Son of God Since they crucified the Lords Cause what hath been their work but how to keep it from rising Truly little else hath been thought of or lookt after the help that is called for from this party and the other it is onely to strengthen the hands of the wicked Now as the Lord will not easily part with his glory so I think it will not be recovered without executing judgement upon the enemies of it and reviving his glorious work and cause again but in what case then are Revolters for if God in this way be glorified they must needs be asham'd If the Lord do magnifie his great Name by lifting up the interest of Christ and his people it must be to the shame and confusion of their faces who have brought it under foot As those that have been whores to great men being cast off or their masters dead every body points at them and scorns them there goes one that was such a mans whore fie upon her no less detested will they be who have served the unclean interest of men The time I am perswaded is nigh that they shall not shew their heads abroad but men women and children will point at them saying LOE THERE WALKS ONE A PROFESSOR A CHURCH-MEMBER WHO FOR A SALARY A PLACE AN OFFICE A MONOPOLY PROSTITUTED HIS HONESTY FAITH CONSCIENCE COUNTRY TO THE LUST AND WILL OF MEN. 3. By being glorifyed of some because others are punished Thirdly The Lord not granting a time of finding unto some but leaving them to perish under wrath is glorified of many by it I have been thinking sometimes what might be the cause that in pouring out the seven last plagues we finde nor any u Rev. 11.13 to give glory to the God of Heaven but when the seven thousand were slain in the Earth-quake Now my opinion is in the destruction of the Last Apostacy under the first vial Gods Justice Holiness wisdome c. will occasion some extraordinary glory to be given to him For whereas he begins with a professing people and spares them not this will be more to the prayse of his Justice then when his wrath afterwards fals upon Idolaters and such as know not God And hence it is that the Mourners in Zion cry day and night with a loud voyce to him that sits on the Cloud x Rev. 14.15 Thrust in thy sickle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the Earth-Apostacy is ripe Not that they fret at the prosperity of evil doers or are impatient under their oppressions or delight in blood but because of the exceeding great glory they know Jesus Christ will have by it When weeds overtop the corn bryars and thorns are grown great and thick high above the vine unless they are cut down there will be no harvest no vintage y Isa 26.9 When thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness When the thorns and bryars which are grown great and high among us are pluckt up by the roots then will this Nation learn righteousness then shall the Lord have a glorious harvest and vintage even sweet and blessed fruit then there will be a generation of Professors sincere single hearted faithful to God and faithful with men whereas now too many are a 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4. Lovers of themselves Covetous Boasters Proud Blasphemers Vnthank-ful Vnholy Truce-breakers Traytors c. Having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof Howsoever it be true b Job 21.30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction yet this day and destruction is c Pro. 16.4 For God's own glory but when they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath how is he then glorified Truly in nothing more then when others seeing the vengeance not only justifie it but are instructed and kiss the Son and stand in awe and sin not d Psa 97.8 Zion heareth and rejoyceth and glad are the daughters of Iudah because of thy judgments Jehovah Those
people which are a while without the Sun no sooner have a sight thereof but leap and clap their hands for joy as having now their light and life and comforts restored to them So long as men are under Tyranny and oppression which will be till the vial-plagues be gone what have they but night and darkness sorrows and vexations continually Now Christ rising in judgement removes these heavy yokes and burdens and plants peace and righteousness in the Earth Hence not only will the righteous shout for joy but the Lord every where praysed by all sorts of people even the whole Creation Fourthly 4. Iâ— being at rest and satisfied when he hath executed his judgments upon Apostates As no people by their sins do so much press and burden the Lord as back-sliders and luke-warm Professors so he is not at rest and satisfied until he have throughly executed his judgment upon them For this we have an example in the old Apostate Israel when they fell into the hands of their enemies were plundred and spoyl'd had their children ston'd and tumbled in blood their City and Temple burnt to ashes and all their power glory and greatness layd in the dust then God caused his fury to rest his jealousie to depart then was he quiet and still and angry no more The Lord seems to be troubled and unquiet before his judgment is executed but when that is once done especially upon an Hypocritical Nation then he is at rest pacified and comforted e Ezek. 5.13 Thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be COMFORTED and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal when I have accomplished my fury in them Again f Hos 10.10 It is my desire that I should chastise them As a man that longs for a thing is unsatisfied and restless till he have it so the Lord seeing them grown desperately wicked g IsI 1.24 Will ease himself with their just punishment Before Ionah had judgment past upon him h Jon. 1.4 15. There was a great wind and a mighty tempest in the sea the Lords displeasure and anger was up and let out but when Ionah was cast into the sea when justice was done upon him it is said the sea ceased from her raging God is quiet first then the waters So when judgment was executed upon Achan the Text saith i Josh 7.2.6 The Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger Again when judgment was executed upon the bloody house of Saul k 2 Sam. 21.14 After that God was intreated for the Land Till that was done the Lord was not at rest his jealousie and wrath ceased not The Lord threatens to bring the Assyrian upon the Iews who should take away their fair Jewels strip them and leave them naked and bare burn their houses and thrust them thorow with the sword and what then l Ezek. 16.42 So will I make my fury towards thee to rest and my jealousie shall depart from thee and I will be quiet and will be no more angry m Isa 10.25 The indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction as if he should say when I have destroyed them and layd all waste then I shall have ease my anger and fury will cease n Esth 7.10 They hanged Haman upon the gallows and then was the Kings wrath pacified And as the Lord is not quiet and satisfied till he have executed judgment upon Apostates neither is he at ease until he have done the like upon Luke-warm Professors o Rev. 3.16 Because thou art neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth When a man hath something upon his stomack which he cannot brook but it is loathsome to him he hath no ease or quiet till he have cast it up They that are not hot having not the power of Godliness nor cold having yet the form they are a burden and trouble to Jesus Christ till he have by some judgment quitted himself of them For conclusion I have a few things to propound to the earth-thriving Professors of this age who are at ease in their fat places 1. Whether the Lord be not more prest and burdened with the sins of Revolters and luke-warm professors then with the sins of any other people 2. Whether any people since the rise of the Beast have made a greater revolt from God or have been more Luke-warm all things considered then the present English Revolters 3. Whether the latter Apostacie mentioned by Paul 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3. be not in every particular to the life fulfilled in them 4. Whether the Lord can be at rest satisfied and comforted till he have throughly executed his judgment upon such enemies of his Glory Cause and Kingdom 5. Seeing it is not the Dragon but his Tail that * Rev. 12.4 drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven and did cast them to the Earth I query 1. Who is meant by the Tail of the Dragon 2. Who are the fallen Stars 3. Unto which of the Apostacies do they belong for to one they must if not to both Seventhly 7. Because men weep for the punishment of their sins but not for their sins causing the punishment Because men mourn and weep for the punishment of their sins but not for their sins which caused the punishment As the Dog under the whip howls and cries for the pain but not for the fault and cause of his beating Thus did the old Jews when the Amorites came out against them and chased them as Bees do and destroyed them in Seir even unto Hormah p Deut. 1.44 45. They returned and wept before the Lord but the Lord would not hearken unto their voyce And why so because they lamented the loss of their Brethren but not their sins not their Apostacie Rebellion Vnbelief which provoked the Lord to smite them When news came that the English were kil'd like so many Flies in Hispaniola so shamefully destroyed as I think never the like dishonour and shame befel the Nation before the Lord by the judgment signally shewing his displeasure against them It is true there was fasting and mourning but why as the old Jews did Because their brethen were slain But was there any repenting of the Cause was there any sincere acknowledgment of the sins which had provoked the Lord so extreamly against them who like David spake then to the Lord * 1 Chron. 21.17 and said Is it not I that commanded the people to to be numbred even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed But as for these sheep what have they done Let thine hand I pray thee O Lord my God be on me and on my fathers house but not on thy people that they should be plagued David had a weeping heart besides weeping eyes and was no Hypocrite But the Crocodile as some write having devoured a man weeps
as if they saw Death Hell and Judgment and all ready to take hold of them VVhen news was brought unto Lewis of the death of his Mother perceiving by the countenance of the messengers that they were ready to tell him something that would afflict his heart Let me pray first saith he and then speak what ye have to say A man may be sure it is a time of finding when he can experience not onely present fears remov'd but his spirit brought up into such a gracious frame as he can quietly hear any thing without dishonouring God through murmuring and sinful passions either in his thoughts speech or action Secondly It is a time of finding 2. It is a time of finding when the Spirit faints not but is kept lively up in the duty of seeking when the Lords people faint not in their SEEKING but are kept up and have life and power given them to persist and persevere to the end As fresh Oyl poured often into the Lamp preserves the light from going out so their groanings and cries cease not day nor night through fresh supplies of the Spirit o Isa 40.29 30 31. He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint The meaning is whereas proud Hypocries p Psa 20.8 33.16 52.7 trusting to their own strength power parts gifts lose what they have and make Ship-wrack of all On the other side such as are poor and q 1 Cor. 1.27 28. despised things of the world r 2 Cor. 12.9 God makes his power to appear in their weakness For though Å¿ Joh. 15.5 of themselves they can do nothing yet he enables them t Phil. 4.13 to do any thing And when they seem u 2 Cor. 8 9 utterly spent they have a new supply of strength to enable them to bear up and hold out and thus x Phil. 1.6 he perfecteth the good work begun in them And indeed this is a gracious return of prayer when the soul is not onely strengthened and enabled to hold out but is sweetly raised and enlarged in the work Though we have not the thing we ask yet if we can sigh more and weep more for it then we did Here is a time of finding yea such a FINDING as it is much better sometimes to be kept up by fresh supplies of the Spirit in sighs and tears then to have presently what is ask'd As the Husbandman the more seed he sows the larger is his Crop at harvest Doth the Lord keep thee sowing in tears doth he supply thee with precious seed Oh it is a blessing of blessings thy reaping y Gal. 6.9.10 in due season shall be accordingly I know Satan and Hypocrites are ready to reproach us with the little profit we have by our mournings You have been say they these three or four years in tears nothing but sighing crying out against Self-seekers Oppressors Covenant-breakers but what hearing-time have ye had a Mal. 3.14 What profit is it that ye have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts To this we answer Whereas we have not fainted but have been kept up in the work all this time yea have had such fresh springs of encouragement and enlargement that our tears and sighing the last to be more then the first Hence we are satisfied that the ears of the Lord of Sabboth have been open to our prayers Many and great were the discouragements which b Mat. 15.21 22. c. the woman of Canaan met with when she besought Christ for her daughter 1. Christ goes away from her as if he would not hear her when she had followed him and gotten a word from him what was it truly a hard saying He is not sent unto such as she Well she faints not neither is weary but continues her cry Lord Lord have mercy upon me VVhat follows next that her request was unseemly unreasonable viz. To cast Childrens bread to Dogs A man would think whilst Christ carried himself thus towards her it was no time of finding whereas in truth she found him all the while I say all this time that these discouragements and temptations lay upon her it was A TIME OF FINDING But you will say How I answer both in keeping up her soul that she fainted not and in making way for the discovery of that great faith which he gave her So that it was better for the woman that she was defer'd a while and strengthened in the work then to have had her request sooner granted To you therefore my Brethren and Companions in Tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ this I would humbly send to you whereas the Lord hath strengthned you in mourning and crying against the Abominations of the last Apostacie it is not onely matter of comfort to assure you that there hath been a time of finding but also and note it well there is a blessing in it and much divine love Oh it is love indeed unspeakable when the Lord draws from us abundance of tears and groans and enables us to wait long before he gives the blessing A word likewise to our DISSENTING-BRETHREN whose mourning of late is turned into laughter and their heaviness to joy Josephs afflictions are no more remembred neither the oppression and cry of the poor and needy c Eccl. 7.4 Their heart is not now in the house of mourning but in the house of mirth As if they were placed in the earth as Leviathan in the Sea only to take their sport and pastime therein Here lies the difference between you and your Brethren you laugh and are more merry then you used to be because of the advantages you have by these corrupt times whereas your poor Brethren are more in tears and in bitterness of Soul these 3. or 4. yeers then they us'd to be for the great dishonor scandal and reproach which you have brought to the name of God and profession of Religion by assisting and justifying of mens INTEREST against the interest of Christ and his people hear what the Lord saith to both d Luk. 6.21 Blessed are ye that weep NOW for ye shall laugh e Ver. 25. Woe unto you that laugh NOW for ye shall mourn and weep 3. A time of finding when Saints rest fully satisfied in the things they ask Thirdly When Mourners have such a return of prayer as they rest fully satisfied therein My meaning is the Lord perswades their hearts that he will so answer the travel of their Souls as all things shall work together to his Glory and their comfort and content and thus had Paul a time of finding when the Lord told
thing is true there is no bread no STATE-DISHES in Apostate-Courts for any Seer that shall keep a good conscience and deal faithfully in the Lords Message for should they declare the whole Counsel of God and come home as John did to Herod and tel them particularly what is not lawful they would soon dismiss them and tell them it is the KINGS CHAPPEL yea and well if they can escape with their liberties and lives There are two things enough to discourage every honest man from being a Servant to a wicked Ruler 1. The suspition and jealousie which all good people will have of him if he turn Courtier as not to be the man he was before viz. for truth integrity and plain dealing but as a Candle turned the wrong way and held downward it goes out so out goes the light of simplicity and singleness of heart and up riseth the snuff and stink of flattering lips and a double-tongue 2. How basely their great Masters will cast them off As a man that rides in post takes often fresh horses and looks no more after the Beast he used before Thus do Tyrants those that will not hold out and keep pace with them in all their sinful ways away they are turned and up they get upon the back of a fresh horse Fourthly The horrible and unheard-of wickedness never the like seen or known before among a professing people not by fits and now and then committed but constantly like a gutter which always runs with foul water As low Meadows and Marshes when they come to be overflown and the waters to stand in them breed nothing but Toads and Frogs that continually creep and annoy them or as Knats and Vermine in a dead karcase by the clear sun-shine of one day are produced and multiplied in multitudes I would gladly know what the last Apostacie hath begotten and brought forth since it ascended out of the bottomless pit unless croaking Frogs and other Vermin filling every corner of the Land It is not long since Priests and Lawyers had their waters so dried up as they were almost dead and could hardly croak for drought but now they encrease again and grow fat having power given them to devour every green thing Hazael would not believe that he should ever commit the villany which the prophet told him Though some professors were suspected of many to be rotten at the kore long before their ROTTENNESS brake forth like Gehazi's Leprosie on their Fore-heads yet I think no man thought they would have been half so bad as they are for if you mark it their designe is closely and by degrees to suppress every good thing that stands in the way of their interest and so to have their will and lust alone exalted Moles cannot see but it 's the better for their working under ground That some mens eyes are blinded their hearts hardned and consciences seared it is much to the advantage of their designe for now like blind Moles their work will go on the faster wheras had they eyes to see hearts and consciences that would be smiting and checking them for their deceit falshood hypocrisie c. Oh this would be a great trouble and they could not work so fast under ground Fifthly The Instruments imployed by them to defend what they have done and how 1. p Zech. 13.4 The prophets are ashamed every one of his own vision they hold down the head and dare not speak any more things being so intolerably out of order Thus we see fulfill'd in our days that marvelous work and wonder of which the prophet speaketh q Isa 29.14 The wisdome of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid Neither is it strange they are all silent for what can the new Doctors or Tryers or any of the money-Prophets bring forth to justifie some States-mens doings but Gardners argument against relying on the merits of Christ Allow that said he and ye open a Gap to the taking away of the priests profits It is sure enough if Christ in his Kingdom Laws Worship c. should reign open that gate to the King of Glory down goes the wantonness pride riot and gallantry of our new Princes and Prelates and their Dependants 2. For those fools which r Pro. 20.3 which will be medling and Å¿ Pro. 10.8 prating what do they but t Isa 28.15 make lies their refuge Oh the wonderful victories and prosperous successes which they have had in the West-Indies and other parts against the Spaniard and what huge credit and glory the English Nation hath gain'd of late among Turks and Jews and Heathens and where not When I hear such gross untruths and consider for what end they are devised that Beast comes into my mind called Bonosus not being able to defend himself with his hornes poysoneth the Dogs with his dung seeing they can do nothing by their power but the Lord breaks their horns every where they hope to help themselves with THEIR EXCREMENTS men that shall write for the Turk or Devil if he will hire him and therewith to poyson the ears and understanding of the people But some may say they are not believed their news is taken for lies in all places Though this be true yet their wickedness is not the less viz. when God is visibly against them and curseth their blessings for them THEN to boast of victory prosperity good success c. who unless Atheists would do so 3. Another way whereby their new Babel is under-propt it is by raising Calumniations and Slanders against the Lords people What strange and monstrous people are the Fifth Monarchy-men and Common-wealths-men reported to be And doubtless u Prov. 14.15 the simple who believe every word think it is all true which Apostates say of them When the name of Hugonite came first up in France much enquiry there was what those people were The priests ever the forewardest in such a work gave out they were MONSTERS headed like Lions footed like Bears c. and would eat Children and a great deal more to this purpose whereupon the ignorant people believing the things to be true because their Priests said so cried out Oh kill them kill them kill them Just thus do the Backsliders deal with their enemies I mean such as hold forth a publick Testimony against them if you ask them what are these Fifth Monarchy-men and Common-wealths-men that are so talk'd of they will tell you they are Monsters monstrous Monsters men that will have no Government no Magistracy no Ministery men that will have all things common allowing no propriety and whoso are not of their principles and opinion they will either eat them or make them vassals to them Now what say the poor ignorant people hearing this and not questioning the truth of it for how should they seeing Priests Lawyers and Soldiers tel them so x John 19. â—5 Away with them away with them crucifie them we have
his former doctrine turning his tale as if there were no providence at all but every thing went by hap It is too probable by some late Turnings many are turned Atheists And therefore questionlesse God will revive his work again For otherwise how can the great reproach and dishonour be taken off from his Providence and Government So 2. Is Religion the true profession of the Gospell which never will have the Credite Glory Beauty it had formerly if the interest of Christ and his People be not revived Nothing better heals the sting of Vipers than to apply their own flesh to the disease The dust of a Toad put to its venomous biting takes away the poison It is much upon my heart by some such APPLICATION the Lord will heal those fearfull wounds and bitings which are upon the truth Though men have not regarded the Credit and Honour of it yet Christ doth and will recover it and revive it again by destroying the fond glosses and covetuous practises of corrupt men and raising up faithfull ones to preach the everlasting Gospell Eusebius writes of Peregrinus the Philosopher having gotten a great estate by feigning himself a Christian that he might consume it the more freely on his lusts revolted to Gentilisme It is plain enough to see why some men have left the Lords work and this people It was that they might be at liberty to spend what they had gotten in excesse pride riot lasciviousness They well knew should they have kept close to Christ and his interest they could not have fulfilled the desires of the flesh and walked after their own lusts And therefore thought it better to turn Heathens again For so doing they knew they should have elbow-room enough might do whatsoever seemd good in their own eyes But what of all this let such know the Lord will make That Holy Profession of his Name Gospel Kingdome glorious and honourable again Though they have made it vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world m Ezek. 36.23 I will sanctifie my great Name which was prophaned among the Gentiles which ye have prophaned in the midst of them 3. Such were the wonderfull actings and appearances of God for and with this Cause as it is not possible it should come to nothing vanish away like smoak which yet will be so unlesse it be quickned and raised again n Judg. 13.23 If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have shewed us all these things Let no man think that he would so eminently have shewed his power justice and wrath against the late King for his Tyrany and Arbitrary Government So a-against the Bishops for their pride and humane inventions but that he means to destroy the like wickednesse in others if afterward they shall take it up o 1 Sam. 3.12 When I begin I will also make an end Though it be a judgment and to be executed upon his own people yet he will perfect the work And will he not do so and more p Lam. 3.33 willingly when it is to have mercy upon Zion 4. In reviving this work he will q Isa 57.18 Restore Comfort to his Mourners r Ps 85.6 would not thou revive us again that thy people may rejoyce in thee That is when thou shalt take that which letteth out of the way and bring us again upon thy work Our mourning will cease and thy power faithfulnes goodnes justice will be soul-refreshing unto us I know some men can take pleasure in beholding beastly and filthy things So is oppression falshood and deceit to a time-server turn-coat a most pleasant sight As Hanibal when he saw a pit full of mans blood O formosum spectaculum and the Scots Queen seeing her Subjects lie dead and stripped on the earth cryed out The goodliest Tapestry that ever she beheld The cryes and groans of the poor under their oppressions and heavy burthens what sweet musick makes this in the ears of Self-seekers Now their pay comes in their salary and their so much per annum But the joy of good men riseth otherwise Å¿ Pro. 29.2 When the wicked beareth rule they mourn t Pro. 11.10 and when wicked Rulers perish they shout for joy So that untill this work be revived Saints may expect little joy as to outward and publick Affaires 5. This Cause will surely be revived because it is not mans but the Lords For 1. Are not u Ps 110.12 Christs Enemies to be made his foot-stool and x Psal 2 6. he to sit upon the holy hill of Zion 2. Is not all oppression to cease and y Isa 60.18 Violence to be heard no more in the Land The first and second Apostasies both to be destroyed 3. Must not a Ps 85.11 Truth spring out of the earth and Righteousnesse look down from Heaven And b Dan. 7.22 the Saints possess the Kingdom But can these things be and not the work revived that is impossible When it is night and dark whence do ye expect to have light again in this visible world Is it not by the rising of the Sun So these great things which we are waiting for concerning Jesus Christ and his Kingdome the coming in and accomplishment of them will be by the Lords reviving his work and Cause again Quest But is there not something for the Lords people to do in order to the reviving of the Work Ans Yes surely For 1. Howsoever Achan was the TROVBLER and had caused the STOP yet c Jos 7.11 Israel had sinned also d Jer. 5.55 Your Iniquities saith the Prophet have turned away these things and your sins have withholden good things from you When the clouds are scattered which hide the Sun from us then we behold his shining face again So the Lord e Ps 85.1 2 he forgives the iniquity of his people f Isa 44.22 Blots out their transgressions and sins as a thick cloud and then he will be favourable to his land and bring back the Captivity of Jacob. So that it is the duty of every Saint waiting for the great Promises of the Father to be at the foot of God exceedingly bewailing his Own and his Brethrens great miscarriages And as there is hope our Deliverance is nigh so our hearts should be the more broken and in bitternesse and our tears and sighings encrease now we should rise at midnight and cry g Iâ—el 2 17. Spare thy people h Hos 14.2 Lord take away all iniquity receive us graciously so will we render the calves of our lips We must not so look upon Achans Troublers abroad without as not to see the Achans and Troublers at home in our own hearts Though some have been i Num. 3.3 55. pricks in the eyes of the Lords work and the good old Cause and k Iosh 23.13 Scourges and Thornes in the sides of his people yet must we confess the righteousnesse of
Arguments that the work is no Embrio but curiously wrought and coming forth out of the womb of Providence at the h Rom. 12.5 Man-child to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron Ans As this is a great Question so I shall modestly speak to it from that light â— have received Indeed I cannot decline my former opinion But do think the work as an unformed substance begun about June And that it is now covered with skin and flesh full wrought and coming forth It seems so to me for these reasons 1. I do observe that the Spirit of the Lord is so full and mighty with some of his hidden ones as they cannot cease fâ—om crying to him day and night i Rev. 14.15 Thrust in the sickle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe Not now for a discovery of the Apostacy for that is apparent enough Nor so much now for Separation as to have the judgement written speedily executed It is doubtless a truth when the Lord shall spirit a people though very few and bring them forth as his Jobs Samuels and Daniels to stand before him and withall gives them k Mat. 17.20 a grain of that faith of which Christ speaks Whatsoever they ask in that FAITH shall be given them A little time will shew by whose LEADING and MOTION I write thus Namely That the Lords work is reviving and will suddenly appear in the destroying of the last Apostacy and this done by that Faith which some poor wormes have received to which all things are possible 2. I think Providence is opening the womb Because some men like Jehu drive too furiously to hold out long Blood-suckers when they are ready to burst draw strongest Thus it was with Pharoah Absolom Haman when they begun to pull hard they streightway perished No otherwise than like Rats and Mise and other Vermin whilst they are pulling hard at the bait down falls the Trap and so are taken So Geese many times break their own neck with biting and pulling hard the root which they hold in their Bill What the Bait is and the Root which some men are pulling at most do know But what is the Trap Verily Providence And you shall see when they come to their strongest Pulls to pull with BOTH HANDS down falls the Snare and the Vermins crusht to pieces 3. Because the Controversie riseth high between the Lords Witnesses the Lords Enemies When we see a woman big with Child we conclude she hath not long to go Can the controversie be higher Is it not about the Title of the Crown Kingdome Government yea and who shall Reign and be King Whether Jesus Christ in his Lawes or proud flesh in his Lusts Methinks by the greatnesse and swelling of the womb there is hope of a speedy birth It was so in the Case between Moses and the Magicians Elias and the Priests of Baal So the Scots and the Prelates When the difference and controversie grew high on all sides What immediatly followed Breaking work m Ps 11.6 Upon the wicked he rained snares fire and brimstone and an horrible Tempest This was the portion of their Cup. When we shall see the contest at that height either men must move for their Lives Lawes and Liberties or be absolute Slaves Suffer their witnesses to be put in graves or stand up for their Rising Then will the Lords worke come forth in quickening and spiriting a dead people and n Zach. 2.7 Zion shall deliver her self that dwelt with the daughter of Babylon 4. o Ecc. 3.11 The Lord hath made every thing beautifull in his season That is the worke of divine providence is the more comely and excellent in respect of the Season in which it comes forth Thus it is in natural things The Spring Summer Autumne VVinter every thing in his season oh how lovely and faire it is So in all the works of God about his Children VVhither p Ps 111.3 it be the punishing of the wicked for their sakes or their own deliverance He will make the worke honourable and glorious in respect of q Act. 1.7 That Season and Time he brings it forth Hence I am perswaded the Good old Cause is reviving Because methinks it is now such a Season as will put upon it the Beautie of holiness 5. VVhen I consider r Gen. 1.16 the wheele in the midst of a wheele Å¿ Ezek. 10.12 and the wheeles full of eyes And withall observe many late providences this likwise much confirmes me You may easily know which way a man means to shoot by his holding of his musket or Bow Against whom of late hath the Lord held the mouth of his Canon The Head of the Arrow of his VVrath and the point of his great and strong Sword Truely he must be very ignorant in publick affaires that cannot point at them And what may we gather hence That he will discharge his whole Cannons among them make his Arrows drunk in their Blood and they shall not escape his drawn sword and this suddenly too In warr usually there are some light skirmishes before the main Bodies do Engage So before a great rain and storme little dropping The Lord hath been skirmishing with them both by land and sea and shamefully beaten them everywhere and terrible drops have fallen upon them like haile-stones So that now he is comming against them with the Bodie of his Armie And t Ps 83.15 to persecute them with his Tempest u Ps 50.22 Now consider this ye that forget God x 2 Pet. 2.15 VVhich have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse y Deut. 32.41 42. If I whet my glittering word and mine hand take hold on judgement I will render vengeance to mine enemies and will reward them that hate me I will make mine arrows drunk with bloud and my sword shall devour flesh that with the bloud of the slaine and of the Captaines from the beginning of the revenges upon the enemie 6. Judgement is at the birth against a professing people when the Counsel of the Lord in all his Servants is rejected and they are hearkning to flatterers lyers Wizards who will humour them in their lusts and encourage them in every sinfull Action This is plain in the Cause of Joash a 2 Chr. 24. from 16. to 26. After the death of Jehoiada came the Princes of Judah and made obeysance to the King then the King hearkned unto them These Princes were the old malignant Courtiers in the reigne of Jehoram Ahaziah Athaliah The thing that he hearkned to was to destroy that good Reformation which himself had made a little before that is to set up again the Idolatry and Tyrany which he had throwne down and to cast out the just and righteous things which he himselfe lately
had established The evil of this is told him again and againe But no admonition will take place For he grows so wicked that he causeth the Prophet who reprov'd him to be stond even his sonn who had set him on the Throne But what followed oh sad things and that suddenly first upon the Land that was made the seat of war spoyld and plunderd afterward a sore punishment upon himself by the hand both of God and man The like befel Amaziah his son b 2 Chr. 25.25 26 27. I know saith the Prophet to him God hath determined to destroy thee because thou hast done this and hast not hearkened to my Counsel The which thing came to pass soon after Again it is said of Eli's children c 1 Sam. 2.25 They harkned not to the voyce of their father because the Lord would slay them That is he gave them not grace to repent but did more and more forsake them gave them in his justice over to a reprobate mind to their own ruin and destruction Which also d cap. 4.11 came to pass When Ahab hearkned to his false Prophets not to Michaiah Gods Judgment soon reacht him Was there ever a Generation of men that did cast off the threatnings of God against their sinnes with more contempt and scorne than some do now For unless he be an Ahitophel a Machiavel a Subtil Serpent tush they care not for any mans Counsel a rush But is not this some notable signe of the Times Yes surely e When it is evening ye say it will be fair wether Mat. 16. For the skie is red And in the morning it will be foul weather to day For the skie is red and and lowring Such is my confidence in the Truth of the Scripture as from the Premises I can sooner beleeve that there is some great judgment very nigh the dispisers of good Counsell than conclude fair or foul weather from such signes in the face of the sky That the work 's upon reviving This also shews it neer in my apprehension did Time look so like midnight as now Night it hath been some years together But no Midnight till of late If sleep hath not seiz'd on the Virgins Wise as Foolish yet truly a great slumbering doth for there is not methinkes that activeness that life and soule to the great Cause of God as some times there was Several wayes people may fall a sleep And children very often sing themselves asleep And are there not some of the Lords sweet Babes fallen now into some slumbering as to THE DAY WORKE by their own pleasant Singing I should be a great deale more affected and dissatisfied with this late slumbring of the Virgins but that I consider the Scripture must be fulfil'd f Isa 63.5 I looked saith the Lord and there was none to help g Amos 7.2 By whom shall Jacob arise for he is smal small indeed For if the wise Virgins fall asleep who then are left Though this be so yet herein am I comforted The Midnight-time being upon us It declares that the womb of providence is opening and the Crie nigh h Mat. 25.15.16 Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out and meet him Yea and it is a mercie seeing the Midnight Time is upon us that there is a Voice kept up to awaken such as are asleep 7. Reader mark this Such men as by engagement ought to joyn with the Interest of Christ his people if they neglect their duty here joyn with the Lords Enemies against him and his Cause there is certainly some great judgement nigh them It was Midians duty i Deut. 23.4 to have met Israel with bread with water in the way when they came forth out of Egypt That is they should have refreshed assisted their Brethren in their travels towards Canaan but in stead of doing so Midian hired a Wizard a Witch to curse the Lords people But what is his punishment for it He shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord for ever Israel must never seek his peace nor prosperity Many Reasons there were why Achitophel should have stood faithfull to David and his Righteous Cause But like an unthankfull wretch he went with Absalom in that unnatural Rebellion But how sped he k 2 Sam. 17.23 When he saw his counsell was not followed he went home and hanged himself Again whose part should Judas have taken in point of Reason Religion and Conscience Doutless his Masters but he falls in with the Scribes and Pharisees to take away his Masters life What his end was and how he was rewarded for it It is recorded g Ma. 27.5 He went and hanged himself h Act. 1.18 And falling headlong burst asunder in the midst and his bowels gushed out Are there any such in our Time who in respect of many Engagements should assist and help the Lords people stand up with them for Righteousnesse and Truth And do they like Midian Achitophel Judas side take part with Wizards Rebels Pharisees and marked Slaves of the Beast I say are there such If so then I question not but Providence ere long will shew some notable work uppon them l Psal 46.8 Come and behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth Lastly And which is not the least that perswades me the good old Cause is ready to rise I do observe that the Lords people every where are expecting it Now what means this k singing of the Birds if the spring be not nigh Is it possible that it should lye with so much weight upon the Spirits of all the little remnant that the Lord is coming sorth to take vengeance on his adversaries and to comfort Zion And nothing should be in it I cannot think so neither is there any reason for it Indeed l Pro. 4.19 The way of the wicked is darknesse they know not at what they stumble m v. 18. But the way of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more to the perfect day Thus Reader thou seest the Reasons why I think the WORK is at the Birth I shall offer a little more to thee And no more I hope then what is according to Truth and with supplications the Lord hath led me From the Creation to the Flood according to the best account that I have seen were 1657. yeeres And so many yeeres we reckon past since Jesus Christ was born In this yeare viz 1657. doth period the 42. Months and 1260. dayes in which the Beast was to reigne and the Saints to suffer Mr. Tilling hast of Pretious memorie beginning at the Head of the account i. e. at the rise of the Beast brings down the two Numbers to the yeare 1657. I have done something by inquiring at the foot to wit the last three years and an half of the Account and here we do agree as to the Time of the End That is whereas
the Woman must be n Rev. 12.6 in the wilderness 1260 dayes and o Rev. 13.5 ' Power was given to the Beast to continue 42. Moneths Both these Numbers signifying indeed all one time do end in the aforesaid yeare 1657. This humblie do I conceive I know what will be here objected If this were so we should see some change as either to the rising of the witnesses or fear among the enemies or something done upon Babylon But things stand as they did before The Dragon Beast Little Horne both Apostacies as Rampant as ever yea rather of late grown greater are at the rising hand than otherwise Ans This being a hard knot I trust the Lord will the more help me to unty it so to take this Stumbling block out of the way of his people 1. I would say as the Lord said to Job p Job 28.22.28 29. Hast thou entred into the treasures of the snow or hast thou seen the treasures of the haile Hath the rain a father or who hath begotten the drops of dew out of whose womb came the ice and the hoarie frost of Heaven who hath gendered it Hath the Lord a Treasure for snow and hail a Father to beget the rain and drops of dew and a womb wherein the ice hoarie frost are gendered and afterwards brings them forth as he thinks good to use and spend them Then much more a Treasure a Father a Wombe for higher things greater workes wherein his name glory kingdom people are especially concernd Is not this laid up in store with me Deu. 32.34 and sealed up among my treasures Again though it may not be questioned But q Isa 48.14 The Lord will do all his pleasure upon Babylon Nothing shall faile of his threatnings against the Dragon Beast Little Hornet Yet the ordering managing and governing thereof that only and wholly belongeth to him both when to begin and how to do it Hence I humbly conceive if we should see nothing done in the year 1657. as to the rising of the Witnesses or ruine of the Bottomlesse Beast and last Apostacie It will not therefore follow that the 1260. Yeares ended not in that year No more reason Then because the Childe is not Born Ergo not conceived in the womb 2. Christs words must be remembred r Luke 17.20 The Kingdome of God cometh not with observation that is not in such manner at first that it can be taken notice of by things done Observe it is not said the kingdome shall have no Observation But Cometh not Shewing how at first little will be seen to demonstrate that such a kingdome is come But afterward it shall be visible and plain enough to be observ'd And to this purpose speakes the Prophet Å¿ Isa 26.11 Lord though thy hand be lifted up yet they see it not But they shall see it This was the great Stumbling block which lay in the way of the Jewes when Christ came in the flesh Because he came not as they exspected before hand as it is in the comming of worldly Princes in great state and outward Pomp they would not believe in him nor receive him for the true Mesias And why may not the like be the Case of people now Because they see not as they expected WONDERS in 57. Some extraordinary power and presence of God with his people and great overturnings and breakings of Nations hence conclude it was not the Time of the End But let such know the Scripture favours no such Conclusion Question But shall the forty two moneths given to the beast end without observation Answ Howsoever immediately upon the period of the 1260. yeares there will not be I think actions of much Observation either in respect of Zion or Babilon yet the Time of the End cometh not without Observation some other way For 1. The serious Observation of the Prophesies and Visions of the holy Scriptures relating to the last dayes will lead a heart if it hath nothing in it but truth and uprightnesse and the glory of God to the knowledge of the Times 2. There is the Observation of the Spirit u 1 Joh. 2 20 The unction from the holy one and here we do observe how the Holy Ghost opens our understanding and not onely so but those great things which he reveals to his Babes and Sucklings he confirms them therein whiles they are in tears and weeping before the Throne 3. The Observation of Providence which hath brought â—orth the Persons and Things which were according to the Prophesies of the Scripture to finish and end the 1260. years But 3. Did not some men do like one who whiles he is striving to have a great gripe comes off with nothing in his hand They might see that 57. hath not altogether been without OBSERVATION For howsoever x Psal 36.6 Gods judgements are a great deep y Rom. 11.33 and unsearchable a Rev. 15.3 Great and marvellous are his workes b Ps 77.19 and his footsteps not known I say howsoever his Counsel Government Administrations and the manner of proceeding is beyond all searching into yet if matters soberly be considred by wisedomes Eye Fifty seaven hath shewed c Ps 86.17 some token for good and that d Is 63.3 the day of the Lords redeemed is come e Isa 34.8 ' and the year of recompences for the controversie of Zion For 1. VVhat may be meant by that Government which was set up December 16. 1653. and laid aside again June 26. 1657. It stood f Dan. 7.25 a Time and Times and the dividing of Times that is three years and an half almost to a day Oh the depth of Gods wayes Ashur shall fulfill his decree and counsel g Isa 10.7 Howbeit he meaneth not so neither doth his heart think so 2. VVhat things have been done and how mannaged and what success hath followed in 57. it is so well known to many mens cost as I need not mention it But what may we gather hence I mean from the Lords Acting and appearing already against some men That the National affairs in their hands is like the Fig-tree under the curse h Mat. 21 19. Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever 3. VVhen Agag thought i Sam. 15.32 the bitterness of death was past then came sudden destruction upon him Fifty seaven is not yet ended k Prov. 27 1. Boast not thy self of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Though the man-child in June were but l Job 10.10 poured out as milk and curdled like cheese to use the holy language yet who knows what in nine Moneths the womb of Providence may bring forth m Luk. 12.19.20 VVhilst the FOOL is thinking of building his Barnes greater death ceaseth on him n Act. 1 25. That he might go to his own place 4. VVhen Caleb encouraged his brethren to fight the Canaanites He
told them o Num. 14.9 Their defence is departed from them That is the Lord would protect them no longer But why is their shaddow Covert now gone doubtlesse he hath respect to the time of the end As if he should say the 430 years given to â—he Amorites being expired and so their iniquity full the Lord will deliver them into our hands if we are fitted for the work From which place this I would gather That the reign of the Beast may expire in 1657. and the enemies of God THEN ripe for judgement yet the instruments not being prepared for execution In this respect little or nothing for the present may be done Quest When the 430. years were expired the Israelites came out of Egypt p Exo. 12.40.42 the same day So from Babyâ—on assoon as the 70. years ended Why then should not the Witnesses rise and the little-horn and beast be slain immediatly at the ending of the 1260 dayes Answ 1. Howsoever it be so concerning their comming out of Egypt and Babylon yet there was sometime before they came to Canaan and Jerusalem So in order to the rising of Witnesses No sooner are the three years and a half ended but the work begins q Rev. 11.11 The spirit of life from God enters into it The wheeles of Providence are set running But there must be some time to have it perfected as it was in the case of the Israelites But 2 Israels case and this here are not alike For as they were people i. e. Men women children So nothing could be done to their enlargement but it must needs be obvious and visible But this about the Witnesses c hath much in it which is spiritual and mysticall And therefore a work as to the rising and growing of it not so plainly to be observed and discerned as was the other especially at first Neither 3. doe I find the promises alike for it seems to me by promise they were to be in Egypt but 430 years And in Babylon 70. and no longer But it is not said the witnesses shall stand upon their feet assoon as the three years and half are ended Indeed the Text saith r Rev. 11.11 And after three dayes and an half the spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet That is such a time being expired the Lord will revive his work and good old cause again But how long after it is not said only this is in the promise From that very time it shall not lie dead as before but the Lord will be forming it for its birth in the womb of providence 4. The businesse of Egypt and Babylon was such that untill the people came out the first part of the promise was not performed But here it is not so for the work may be begun go forward and much done according the Scripture and yet not seen or â—â—lieved scarse by any As water â—ns a great while under ground beâ—â—re it comes out at the Spring head â—o after the 1260. years are expired â—efore the work will openly appear 〈◊〉 setting the Witnesses upon their feet 〈◊〉 taking the little horns Dominion from â—im it will be as water under ground Å¿ Psal 139.15 wrought in the lowest parts of the â—arth Quest But how can the 1260 years â—e ended seeing it is the opinion of many â—ood men that the VVitnesses are not â—â—ain neither hath the little-horn yet â—een nor the second Beast risen out of the earth besides many other things not â—et fulfill'd which must be before the 42. months do expire Answ Because there are many men and some whom I know and honour of this judgement I do intend by the good hand of God assisting me to publish very shortly a particular Answer to this Objection And to give my Reasons grounds why I think there is nothing foretold in Scripture which should come to pass in the 1260 years but hath had its due accomplishment Question If the Work be so nigh râ—viving How and in what manner wiâ—â— the Lord by Providence bring it forth Answer I hope the God of truth bâ— his word and good spirit will so graciously guide me here That I shalâ— not intrude into those things whicâ— I have not seen But give my judgâ—ment as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithfull Thaâ— I may be in this great point the better understood howsoever I thinke wheâ— the Lord shall bring this work on again in the Vials it will be t Mat. 24.27 as the lightning which commeth out of the east and shineth even unto the west Namely with great swiftness and brightnesse the whole world over Nevertheless at first it will break forth as the dawning of the day but in one part or Country And I think some what to this purpose 1. Neere or about the visible reviving of the worke u Rev. 14.2 A voyce will be heard from heaven as the voyce of many waters and as the voice of a great Thunder Waters are from beneath Thunder from above So then by the Voyce of these Waters I understand a terrible Appearance and standing up of much â—eople or Common-wealths men for â—ivil Rights Crying JVSTICE â—VSTICE against oppressours and â—rong doers Neither will they be fiâ—enced or quieted no more then waâ—ers till they have recovered their â—reedom and Liberties 2. Thunder as I said is from above â—nd here may be meant Fift Monarchy â—en speaking very high for the â—ights of Jesus Christ his kingdome â—rown and dignity And howsoever â—t is but one Thunder and the Waters many yet it will not onely make a â—ouder sound and be Farther heard â—ut likewise be more dreadfull and â—errible wheresoever it comes x Jer. 50.14 Put â—our selves in aray against Babilon round â—bout all ye that bend the bow shoot at her spare no arrowes down with her down with her in all her Abominations In her Tythes and Triers as the rest of her whordomes and Fornications 3. That the Waters are set before the Thunder It may import that the worke will begin at least by most ownd upon a Civil Account As the lesser wedge makes way for the greater So in CLEAVING the kingdomâ— of the Beast The controversie will bâ— first about lesser things as the Poweâ— Freedome and Priviledges of thâ— people and so rise higher and higheâ—â— untill the OLD BLOCK Babylon bâ— made Chips for the Fire 4. There is y Rev. 14.2 a Voice of Harperâ— Harping with their Harpes This may signifie how lively chearfull resolved they are to ingage for the GOOD OLD CAVSE z 2 King 3.15 And it came tâ— passe when the Minstrel played the hanâ— of the Lord came upon him Formerly there was a death upon them a basâ— fear and Cowardliness But now thâ— spirit of life from God is entred into them and they stand upon their feet Now they look with Lion like faces and quit themselves like men