nor crushes them under foot Psal 69.33 Lam. 3.34 2 King 25.27 Psal 105.20 Eccl. 4.14 loves to lift up their heads above others to Glory as Joseph Jehojachin c. after many years So Solomon says out of Prison that poor wise Child comes to reign him he prefers to an old foolish King past Admonition This a Dr. coments on Dr. Jermin in locum p. 120. One foolish deserves nor Honour nor Authority he is the Devils Vassal this he calls The height of Folly the shame of Honour the poor wise child is afore such And he cites a Queen of Italy that joyned her Brother to her in Council so writes to the Senate of Rome Omnia cum concilio nos diligimus ordinare We love to do all with Council nothing worthy of Reproof A Caution for inadvertent Kings But there he notes that as Joseph was some may be set on the Throne they Thrown from their wicked Command the lowest part of the Wheel may soon rowl it self upmost 6. Mourners are under the Wing of God's defence and blessed for Comfort follows Mat. 6.4 Especially mixt with Prayer This moist Seed-time foretells a blessed Harvest and promotes it Psal 126.5.6 O ye Mourners see three Scriptures and lay them up and hear for time to come He will restore Comfort to him and his Mourners Isai 57.18 The second in Job They that mourn shall be exalted to Safety Job 5.11.16 The third that of the Prophet the best sort of mourning i.e. for the Solemn Assembly for its dispersion and reproach Zeph. 3.18 To them is a Promise of gathering again and so as none shall be lacking any more Jer. 23.4 and none to make them afraid Ezek. 34.28 all the evil Beasts gone It was a strange passage after Prayer of one Saba in Julian's closing Tyranny who surprised with a sudden joy was ask't the Cause of it and answered Euseb p. 169. Suem aggrestem vastatorem vineae domini paenas exoluisse erga dominum injuriarum nunc jacere mortuum nec amplius ob ejus Insidiis metuendum esse c. 24. That Wild Boar the Waster of God's Vineyard now withered and lay dead and none of all his Crafts were now to be feared Upon which they were glad and sung a Song of Thanksgiving and so it fell out by the message of his death told after that very hour the old Man prayed he dyed though his Host was a great distance thence so glad Julian's Fall made the Christians 7th God's Defence is peculiar to Witnesses that stand in defence for him and his Gospel or any sacred Matters relating to Worship If they dye in their duty as Zachariah did Vengeance defends in a post facto way both their Witness and wrong but usually their Safety is the work of Divine Wisdom and Power Moses is hid not when Infant only but grown 40 years together in Madian yet at last God calls him out to litigate with Pharaoh and lead Israel out Acts 7.23 24 25. So Jeremiah and Baruch the Lord hid them Jer. 26.36 A dear Mother from her death bed sent me many years ago this Legacy out of Jeremiah ch 1.18.19 c. 15.20 21. prized above the Gold of Ophir and not only for the truth of it made good in many perils since but for the nature of it being a Scripture Prophesy and in the sense of a Promise pertinent to all true Gospel-Levites in the same Faith and Faithfulness with those two last named I cite this to support all the truly separated Gospel Levites as being by Prophesy Isai 66.21 took from among the Gentiles not so much for Office as for use and do here bequeath a Donative sweeter and richer than a Diadem to them and preferrable to that of Peter to Rodolphus Petra dedit Petro Petrus Diadema Rodolpho What Moses gave to Levi of old that I wish to all the Lords sincere Witnesses DEUT. 33.11 Bless Lord his Substance Poor and Low His handy work accept and prize Smite through their Loyns that hate him so As they no more may ' gainst him rise Such are the Subjects of Gods Defence 2dly The Springs whence cool Refreshings flow out are various the deeper you search and dig for them the sweeter are they Now all that God is says and does are for us especially his Properties and Titles his Promises and Word his Providential Works 1. His Properties glorious Titles are attributed to him none of all which are empty all subserve the good and safety of his Zion As a Preface to this in one Psalm Psal 48.12.13 Zion is called to joy and all are bid to rejoyce marking her Bullwarks her Towers and her Pallaces three terms illustrating her Dignity and Defence The 1st is Pallaces the Receptacles for great Princes Courts and their Reteiners The 2d Towers made to give annoyance to any that assault or besiege 3dly Bulwarks to receive all the Shot and violent Batteries that her Fort is stormed with by them without All invite us to walk the rounds view her Strength and Defence to tell it to all future Ages that though Zion mount topically considered is dismantled left and delete yet tropically and typically view'd 't is found again Heb. 12.22 And we come to it and on it Christ will ere long stand in head of a Palm-bearing number Rev. 14.1 ch 7.9 He and they both invincible i.e. Victorious for crescit sub pondere palma For as his Fort is there so his Pallaces are too and in them he dwells and will for ever Now all the devout Worshippers and Visiters of this Court may know their strength lies in her Defence and that others may see the Folly of all Assaults and so forbear let it be a little surveyed in her Impregnable Fortifications As now it is said The Name of the Lord i.e. The Lord himself is a strong Tower the Righteous fly or run to it and are safe or set on high Prov. 18.10 His Wisdom Goodness Power Providence are all for our defence in all our perils for God as one notes on that place His Wisdom contrives ways defensive Jer. Dyke in Locum p. 2. 3. or offensive Goodness moves him to take on Relation and be concerned in our Hazard his Power steps betwixt us and the Danger to oppose the Injury designed against us and Providence is a quick Executor of the whole and oft a retorter of the Mischiefs on our Foes 1. Wisdom contrives ways and apt means applyes them in the fittest time lyes ambush against his Enemies foresees the design as Haman's Plot let 's all run to a day and then surprizes them with some Frustration 2. Power is all sufficient to corroborate the Mind to arm Faith with Courage and takes hold of Shield Spear and Buckler Psal 35.2 3. and stops in the full Cariere or causes the Ass to dash the Masters foot to the Wall as Balaam that madds the Rider more Now in rushing times when the Waves are swelling yet the Lord is more mighty than
The Point is true tho not universal and to it I say one way or other first or last most certain soon or late God stands up for his Service and Worshippers the Point is liable to Objection but not Contradiction the Exceptions are to be weighed the thing is 1. To be proved true in general 2. To be explained how in particular 3. Why God is so and the Use of all For the general proof I observe God having took knowledge of Jacob at Bethel in flight from Esau Gen. 28. does after at the same Place make a more than ordinary show of his care to defend a devot Bethelite in his way to perform his Vow not only by that double Host or Apparition of Angels at Mahanaim Gen. 32.1.2 but by the terrour that God put on the People all about him that they pursued him not Gen. 35.5.7 For as they had too just a Provocation at Shechem before so he and his little Family being some Females few and also some weak and dying v. 8. lay all exposed to fury at least to such Upbraidings as what doth this King-killing Race with us These Boutfews of the Age that by Promise hope to possess others Property in Canaan that by Worship are Dissenters from all the Gods and establisht Service of the Land that are Vagrants low and poor all true yet Gods terrour on them defended him so that no pursuit is made after his Sons Exod. 34.23 A Precept in the Law is given for all Males if they could but go up to Zion in their Fathers hand say the Jews thrice a year to appear before the Lord and not empty Quia Pater cupit filios videre as one says the Father loves to see his Sons about him to perform duty this was at the Pasche at Pentecost and at In-gathering If the last it was pritty hard to leave Harvest and not to leave a Male of 12 or 7 years at home to defend the Borders and to go 7 or 8 days Journy the Promise prevents fear A Stranger shall not destroy does it say Nay not desire thy Land * Dr. Willet citing Tostat Animae damna plusquam corporis vitanda sunt Soul-perils are most to be shunned And for the Land God preoccupates the doubt saying He should not desire or covet it God would restrain the Enemies very appetite to secure our Attendance from Distraction One says this Peace never was had but that is to call Truth it self in doubt yes he did so many years together and yet the Moral of it extends to our latter days for if legal Rites and Festivities were grac't by such Promises then Gospel Worship obtains far greater and better Promises and though they often had ill and envious Neighbours yet I doubt not one way or other God secured the Worshippers and at least defended it and all the means of it from violence or shortly plagued the violation of it But a fuller proof yet is in Isai 29.7 v. 1. predicts a Wo a distress threatned to Ariel and yet v. 7. is a Promise to it 1st distress by an Enemy Viz. the Assyrian that besieged the City and Mount of God as the Hebrew word is by some Or the Lion so Arr properly notes of God Oh but how is the Deliverance of Ariel The distress Vatablus says by the Assyrian or rather the Babylonian is predicted to be doleful Plurima cadavera circum Altare jacent Ar. Mon. Vat. note The City all full of Carcases and Quarters as the Altar in time of Offering both Altar and City share alike one part flaming the other all in gore full of parts mutilated as Psal 74.7.79.2 all so low and base as they should petition the Assyrian 2 King 18.14.26 Yet after all v. 6. a sudden Visit is promised upon the Assyrian for the City amplified by a Simile he threatens the Foes that a sudden storm should scatter them and God would fight for Mount Zion and become a Munition to defend them and his Altar Other Proofs occur in the sequel One more I cite Act. 18.9.10 Paul by Vision is incouraged by promised success in his duty 1. His Fears are allayed next is a promise of restraint that none should set on him to hurt him 3. The Presence of God is exprest a sweet advantage and a terrour to his Foes 4. God pleads title to his People not yet called the Gentiles Though he is thrust out of the publick Synagogue he gets Justus's private House Worships there and teaches and gathers a People to God So that by this it is clear God left that Church as National to a malicious persecuting of the Gospel and Paul does so too to enjoy Gods Presence for a defence in Gods Work and by the whole 't is manifest God is a Munition to his own Worship 2. To explain it more particularly both when how or by what means he doth it and why Now the Lord that best sees his own times methods and mediums by which to make good his promise protects his servants either First Before by way of Prevention or Secondly In the Act by powerful Protection Or. Thirdly After by punishing the Opposition on the Adversary and so restoring the Worship The subsequent Instances to be remarkt are reducible to one of these Besides he has sometimes ordinary ways to do it in common Providence and they not obtaining often he has superordinary or miraculous ways to effect it Yet once God may preserve the pure Worshippers in person as in Elijah's time in Caves when the Altars are all furiously dug up And so may he preserve his House Tent and Altar and yet expose the Ark and Priesthood as in Eli's sons day to Captivity Or may stop one Zachary's mouth not all or cast Altar and all off a while But usually he measures Altar Worship and Worshippers Rev. 11.1 2. for preservation and repair Now the first Defence is by Prevention of Evil intended God sits in Council among the Gods foresees detects and diverts them sometimes restrains the men or reproves them for his Prophets sakes So Gen. 20. he did Abimelech for Abrahams sake a righteous man and a Prophet as he 's called and Gods Friend So they that bordered Israel of old were kept from desiring their Land in times of solemn Worship or Feasts of the Lord. So Saul is diverted by a timous Providence Tydings comes of an Invasion of the Philistines 1 Sam. 23.26 27. else had he been caught But God gave a Selah or Rock of Diremption So Julian by the Parthian War And Charles the Fifth by the Turks Inrode to Hungary Mr. Fox tells that one Justice Gilford going up stairs force Mrs. Roberts to Mass was then took by a fit of the Gout and so tortured he swore he would trouble her no more The Prophet is sent for by two Captains and their fifties but yet they miss their morsel Elisha at Dothan to be seized by a Band of Horsemen as 2 King 6.18 but is by Angels saved
Faith Fear Love c. And External Sacrifice Prayer Hearing and its due and done by Angels in all Praises and shall it be denyed by Men that pray perhaps five or six times a day Hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done And in the mean while prophane that Name not sanctifying it nor suffering them that would nay as Paul Acts 26.11 compelling others to blaspheme it or to offer what is robbed that God hates Isa 61.8 or at best torn and blind curst as Mal. 1.13 14. seeking to extinguish Celestial Fires better than the Vestals which was fatal once to Heliogabilus the Emperour to exttinguish That say Thy Kingdom come And propugne all the Ministry and means by which its power is propagated And say Thy Will be done and hinder them that preach or practise it that consult Gods will in their Worship and do their own This is against all the being of a Deity against Gods Immense boundles Supremacy and Soveraignty that wills not a confinement of our worship since his Temple's ruin but calls for it in Spirit and Truth every where as John 4.23 24. so 1 Tim. 2.8 House Ship Hill Grass or any place as the practice of Christ and the Apostles show 'T is against Majesty and Greatness to tye him to Stone-walls that men do consecrate as Hylard says Male Ecclesiam Dei tectis aedificijsque veneramini and yet exclude him from other places whereto Promise is given graciously and equally Matth. 18.19.20 the Church first was Domistick So in the beginning of the Gospel and may be so still as true and good as National though fewer 'T is against justice to deny what God and Nature allow Conscience and Culture are jura humanae naturae more than Food c. 'T is against Mercy that God desires above Lambs to pull the Orphants of God from the two Breasts of Scripture the nutriment of Gods Babes The greater the Object the grosser the Offence 'T is crimen Lusae majestatis to alienate Heavens Subjects far more to usurp or invade the jura regalia the Crown Throne and Scepter of God as Amaleck laid his Hand once on it but God proclamed perpetual War with his Off-spring for it Exod. 17. ult Of whose Spirit and Race some survive yet and are heirs of that Dukedom 2dly 'T is against the Gospel of the Lord Jesus and the whole design of it that is Salvation Of it Christ was first Preacher and then opposed it was and Histories are full of the fatal Fruits of that Enmity and to be wondered at it is that glad tydings fore-told Hundreds of Years before and by some of them waited for too should being brought and bought by his Blood find so ill Wellcome and that with Christs own the only Church then in being a Type I doubt of after Ages the Church in form still persecutes the Truth and its power and purity so 't was in all the Acts of the Apostles where ever came the Gospel into any City or Place but the Jews in that place if any bandied most against the Purity and Liberty of it and the devout most as we see Acts 13.50.14.2 Most sad to say worse to see the strictest Pharisee most zealous conscientious persecutors thus successively to our dayes Luther calls Persecution Evangelij genius So far the Gospel and it are concerned that if Persecution falls the Gospel rises and flourishes oft in the Root under it after in the Fruit. Now the Gospel and pure Worship are alway equal in their growth rise and fall together yea Friends or Foes of one are so to them both observe That as touching the Gospel they that is the Jews are Enemies for your sakes Rom 11.28 i.e. The glad news of the Gospel to you Gentiles makes you Enemies among the Jews themselves to whom it first was sent Or as Trap notes makes them accounted as common Foes 1 Thes 2.15 the Dutch they envy your being ingrafted and abhor that you confess the Gospel Rather as Parr on it Enemies Whose Gods and the Gospel and that deadly crucifying Christ also persecuting the Apostles and after chief causers of the Christians Persecutions Judaeorum Synagogae persecutionum fontes Tertul. of his times and he cites Polycarp for an Instance Also in Hierome's dayes then they stiled them Nazarens In Philip the long of France they hired Lepers to Poyson all the Springs In our Brittain they on Good-friday crucified Infants They are for their enmity to the Christian Name expelled Spain and occasioned that bloody Inquisition after turned against Christians As the Laws of Queen Elizabeth are against Protestants now so that it is foul guilt and consequently fatal thus to oppose pure Worship in that so doing men resist God Christ and the glorious Gospel of the blessed God that is called Eternal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Ages i. to last Apoc. 14.6 that no force of Hell or Earth can abolish 3dly 'T is against the liberty of Prophecy and free exercise of those gracious Talents and Gifts God has endued a sort of good men with in all Ages and most Nations the measure and character of which I take not by number and bulk far less by the Prelated Grandeur Wealth Pluralities and Oppulencies in this Life least of all by the rough or long Robe or the thin Crape-Gown-Doctrine taught by them that yet hangs in the Peoples lights but by the authority of their teaching Purity of Heart Simplicity of Truth Chastity of Life and not by a Lesson or Curse read Nor do I account all Non-conformists right but of and for them I say it that love Christ as he said to Peter that derive not of man to declare the will of God that hew not with a borrowed Ax or steal the Word out of others Books that fish not with strong Lines for Lucre and popular Applause that of all Persawsions simply seek to promote Christ and the good of Souls and weal publick Of such I say they are the Lights of those places God sets them in to shine the glory of a Land the Charriots and Horse-men of a peoples Government and few as they be simple as they seem void of all Crafts or Adulations all Rents or Court-favours all Moneys or Moyen the dealing well or ill with them is the rule and measure to compute and divine what will the fate of Persons or Prelates of Powers or People be God has had Prophets and Seers both of old and of late in all Ages though less noted in Call Spirit and Use than the first in Israel now by these Councils have been detected and defeated Dangers prevised and prevented Enemies devict War turned into Peace and many Blessings have been obtained But now these disobliged deposed exiled and ejected silenc't and sought hated and hunted cited and spited Bands of men sent to seize them Captains and their Fifties to pull them down Officers to guard them out Doegs to slay burn and ruine their Nobs is an Usage
proper indeed to Papal Fury but ill becoming the Professors of the same Protestantisme and that for a Rite a Shadow or Circumstance confest to be Indifferent So Jeroboam used God's Levites so dealt Ahab for Jezabel's sake with Elijah for which he fled so was Micaiah fed in Prison with Bread and Water for the truth for telling fatal News to Ahab of his Fall in Battle 1 King 22.22.28 which fell out as fatally v. 34 37. To mock Gods Messengers misuse his Prophets and despise his Words is to do as Jerusalem of old and so to fare 2 Chron. 36.16 which brought wrath remediless the first time without healing and a second time as hot as we see Mat. 22.5 as Roman Tyranny could make it See how fatal Examples of this both Scripture and History afford Zachariah the Son of Jehoiada was a brave Man of God Son of the High Priest advantaged not barely by Local Station but a Lordly Spirit and bold Testimony above the People as 2 Chron. 24.20 For God's Spirit cloathed him and his Charge is They had forsook God and were left of him the same Mat. 23.31 that Christ spake of the Son of Barachias that is the Lords Blessed One though some judge it another Zac. 1.1 Some a third Luk. 1.5 If so the Instance is double and trebble he is slain by a Plot the Conspiracy is now against Prophesy the King in it by his command he is stoned v. 21. as the Poet Nihil est violentius aure Tyranni The circumstance of time is saddest most probable at his Worship or after Sermon betwixt the Porch the Peoples place and Altar the Priests Station For here they wept for Sin and Judgement Joel 2.17 What follows he appeals to God prays Lord require it as some read prophesies God will require it it is fatal to stop a Prophets Mouth God heard the Appeal in that year that ingrateful King his flattering Princes Army Realm are after invaded by a few Syrians and routed he sore wounded diseased and tortured is left to his Servants by them slain in Conspiracy on his bed perhaps they that misled him did it and so executed Gods Judgments against Joash God never wants Tools to do Judgment nor did the flattering Princes escape v. 23. that marred a good King as one says Now Syrians before and Philistines behind both with open mouth as Isaiah 9.12 and 2 Kings 12.17 18. His sin was Rebellion against God the Punishment must be ignominious by Forreigners and Servants one says they upbraid him with Zachary's death and belike with more of his Brothers v. 35. Now for History to exemplifie this such Ingratitude was Muleasses King of Tunes guilty of to the Manifets and Mesnars by whose help he attained the Kingdom that his Envy could not suffer to live but tortured them to death to whom he was so obliged say a man is ungrateful you say all This is like Nero's Kindness to give Senecca a bloody Bath Or that of Alexander the VI. to Mancinelus and Savanarola whose free reproof of that Pope cost them Tongues Hands and Life as did Lambert Bishop of Trajectum or Vtrecht fare for reproof of King Pipin Epiphanius says after Zachery's Death God ceased to speak by Urim and Thummim Nor goes such guilt unrevenged One Mr. Genis an Irish Rebel murthered one Mr. Trug a Minister and his Ghost haunted him to the death for it Valerian one while was kind to the Christians but after corrupted by a Magician raged against them he tolerated before that the Cruelty of this eighth Persecution exceeded all the seven But Sapores King of Persia having took him Captive set his foot on his Neck as a Stirrop to mount his Horse by seven years and paid the Arrears after by violent Death nay Eusebius says by the pulling out his Eyes Arcadius banisht Chrysostome but was by an Earth-quake glad to send post for him Mamuca a Saracen for his Cruelty to the Church as Pharaoh with his Host was sunk At Vassie 1500 assembled for Worship on the Sabbath the Duke of Guise's Souldiers beset them and slew them without pitty he standing at door with a drawn Sword but he was soon after slain in the Siege of Orleance Phillip the II. of Spain and Charles IX of France both received the Doom of Persecutors the one by Lice out of his Ulcers the orher by Blood out of his Body issuing every way A cruel Bishop in Hungary tortured a Minister by tying Hares and Geese to his body to bait him with Dogs but shortly fell sick and ran mad dying raving A Gentlewoman of Paris got at a Meeting there and arraigned for it two bearing false witness against her they after fall out and stab each other Wolf Schuch A good Minister in Germany burnt for Religion by two Popish Judges soon after the two Judges suddenly died the one in great terror A Monk one Jo. de Roma used the Boot for a Torture full of Oyl ore a soft fire but dyed of Vermin crying out Oh! who will rid me out of these pains A Wolf bit off the Nose of â—o Martin that slit the Noses of some good Ministers Sir Thomas Moor and Fisher sent John Frith and others for Protestants to death both were condemned after and beheaded Phillips that betrayed Tindal was eaten of Lice Damlip a Preacher in Calice condemned for Treason but Sir Ra. Ellerker suffered him not to clear himself for he said He would see his Heart out was after in a Skirmish cut in pieces and his heart pulled out Nec Lex est justior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire suâ Trajan told Valence his Victory was lost by warring against God in persecuting the Christians Balasius riding his Horse turned head and so bit him and bruised him that in three days he died that persecuted pious Athanasius Arundel Bishop of Canterbury silenced many Ministers and starved poor Christians in Prison dyed of a black swell'd Tongue that let him neither eat nor speak and so is Morgan cut off and starved that condemned Mr. Farrer no Food staying in him A Palsey took Thornton a Persecutor for prophaning the Sabbath by bowling c. All which and many more shew how fatal Envy to Religon its Preachers and Professors proves and how justly God renders Tribulation to them that trouble his Servants 2 Thes 1.6 7. A 4th Demonstration may suffice 4thly Injury done to Gods Service is opposite to the Good and Salvation of Souls promoted by it the salvation and edification of which bears so much on the freedom of Divine Worship Souls may be saved when Worship and Christians are persecuted as Offenders and often are as he that was convict by sight of a Drunkard but the Doors of Gods House being shut up and the Lamps out the Covert for the Sabbath removed and the open Vision failing now the People perish Prov. 29.18 and sink by Shoals that one that durst personate the Devil might as one of old did in Phoca's
scorn his Service Laws and Worshipers call it Idleness and say as he Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord I know him not c. Then he loves to be stiled a Man of War valiant in fight But had not the Lord been on our side Psal 124.2 ay! that 's our Shield they had swallow'd us up quick c. He 's a Captain that commands any Army in Heaven or Earth as was said of Antigonus when a Souldier said how supernumerous the Enemy was Oh but how many do you reckon me for he gives says Mr. S.R. all Princes Councels and Armies to one party and to the other only that wooden Dagger the Cross and yet this shall prevail by the Blood of the Lamb Isa 53.11 Col. 2.15 Apoc. 12.11 Isa 14.6 Heb. 11.33 and so did our Lord and so did Sampson David Jonathan wax valiant in fight put to flight the Armies of Aliens and oft with the smallest Tools fewest numbers and weakest Men yea oft by Women and Children as the Waldenses God has defended his House and Servants all else failing they only crying Lord help us Sir Sam. Morland And of all the sole reason is as Psal 60. ult for he it is that treads under our Enemies God and nothing else is as much if not more as God and all things for all that is in any or all helps inferiour and created is originate and derives from him who is all and the less the Arm of Flesh is seen in any Victory the more does God make bare his 7. And lastly He defends wondrously no less than a Miracle is put out in some Defences So I 'm recall'd to our Text in Sam. as he is sacrificing the Lord is thundering from Heaven on the Philistines God's Canons and the Ordinances of Heaven as call'd Job 38.33 still do the best Execution and were thousands of Years afore any of ours and these are but Pot-guns to the other build a Tower as that of Babel dig oh ye Plotters as deep for its Foundation as Sheol Hell make the Walls as strong as Diamond let the heighth of it equal the Clouds its Breath the four Winds lay its Platform of Cedar plant it with Guns like the Duke of Ferara's or the Turks Magazine Man it and moat it with the broad Sea fortify it with consecrated Guns Spells and Excorcisms and after all let God look down speak a word Go to or blow all 's ruin'd but if he do as here he did Thunder a while who understands the Power of it Job 26.14 Psal 119.91 't is the Voice of God Psal 29.3 which Man should and will not understand and so is made to feel it Trace the Stories of old Scripture-times and the Defeats given in Battels by the heavenly Hosts for Israel and see if our Defence be not both mirandous and miraculous tho Man gave not a Blow the first use God made of this Defence for his Service and People were in Egypt the seventh Plague of Hail comes attended thus Exod. 9.28 or as the Hebrews calls it here Voices of God to show God did not whisper now but spoke aloud in this mixt Judgment of Fire and Hail hot and cold Lightning terrible to the Eye Thunder to the Ear. Two things it spake 1. The defeat of Sorcery these Signs could not the Magical Arts do Moses of old as Tindal Acts Mon. f. 985. of late Martyr stops all the Arts of the Gypsy-jugglers as they confest one Martyr's too hard for twenty Magicians 2. The division or as it 's read Redemption that God put more than once Exod. 8.23 Chap. 9.26 'twixt Israel and Egypt made this Defence a more obvious and observable Wonder nd to be in Egypt that had nè stilla quidem aquae as Dio reports been never us'd to rain Aristotle is convinc'd so is an Atheist to see Aetna's Floods of Fire part in a Lane to pass them that religiously did save their old Parents when the Houses adjacent were burnt Exod. 8.22 thus God marvelously did separate them from Egypt But to go on with the History of Thunder for Saints Safety 2d Time was at Promulgation of the Laws for Worship to awe them with the dread of God and shall Gospel Purity be slighted of us 3. A third was at Joshua's defeat of the Canaanites here Hail-stones fall on them as Joshua prayed Josh 10.11 and he discomfits them in a pursuit of some 18 Miles at Gibeon hereto the Prophet alludes in that strange Work and wonderful Act once done in the Valley of Gibeon Isa 28.21 to be repeated when that Consumption decreed is on the Earth At this Faith one wonders O Fidem mirabilem Orationis vim quae Victoriae trophaea in Coeli orbibus figit O admirable Faith and force of Prayer that fixes the Trophies of its Conquest in the heavenly Orbs Nor is it likely that strange Storm fell without Noise or Thunder-claps Josephus bringing such Stones and Bolts for the word for discomfited as one notes Dr. Mayor in loc a day of 18 Hours has a Signification of Terrour However it must be supernatural to brain the pursued and not hurt Joshua or Israel at the back pursuing all for that Covenant made before tho inadvertently with Gibeon 4. The fourth thundering defeat fell on the same Canaanites not long after in the day of the Judges Judg. 4.15 cum 5.20 where the Stars are said to fight in their Courses i.e. say some by Comets or Meteors others as Hugo Dionis Carthus by the Influences on the elementary Bodies producing Storms Thunder Hail c. so defeating Jabin Two sorts of Forces they say God has 1. Is his Magaleh Cheloth 2. His Matteh Cheloth i.e. upper Forces and lower Armies and wo to that King or Land that is fought by 'em both 5. The fifth is in Hannah's Prophesy and actually is fulfill'd some days after on the Philistines by her Son Prophet Priest and Judg then 1 Sam. 2.10 Chap. 7.10 who as he 's offering the suckling to God to verify her Faith thunders on them so they 're defeated too and retire like Worms 6. The sixth was in Saul's days towards Samuel's end to reprove their over hasty protervous Affection to a King al-a-mode to be like the Nations in rejection of God and his Judges that had saved them so long 1 Sam. 12.17 18 ult which convinc'd them tho after they smarted dearly for 't But this is besides our purpose 7. The seventh fell out in David's time whose Liberty Life Worship and all was in hazard by Saul 2 Sam. 22.8 9 11 14. that occasion'd his Distress that Curse 1 Sam. 26.19 and many a Cry to God and what got he by it Why Earthquake Clouds Fire Thunder God spake by 't and scattered his Enemies Note hence that when Men are pursued as David for Integrity enquiring after God's Will as he did at Nob and no Appeals or Addresses obtain they are call'd to put up the louder Cries to God and then may hope God will rather do
Acts on so slippery a Precipice and no sins like Sanctuary Abuses are so bulky to fill up no Vengeance heavier than that of the Temple Jer. 50.28 But seeing I have objected 3 or 4 Instances I 'll touch them in particular before I proceed 1. For that of Eli's Time I yield it the Ark was took no outward Symbole of a Presence gives security from Violence if any Male Administration in Worship doth perturb the holy Gods abode among us all Titles Offices Church-Priviledges do make our guilt heavier rather than exempt us from Punishment and make our doom more heavy and hot to sink us as one drowned or burn in Armour which is the more terrible the Sin of Eli was both as a Judge and Father great to let the young Lads play the Tyrants and that for God's sake over the Men defile the Women at God's Doors 1 Sam. 2.22 23 27 29. ch 3.13 feed Luxury with the fat of the Lords Offerings insult with their three forked hook and by their Servants too i. e. Lust Ambition and Tyranny over the People kick at the Lords Offerings and despise Admonition too so causing the Lords People to transgress for they abhorred his Offerings and to be by the Old Man so gently chid with Nay my Sons and not frowned on v. 13. it was guilt with God unexpiable and by the punishment now threatned appears and some hundreds of years after by Solomon fulfilled So that when Rulers neglect their Duty are indulgent to near Sinners and Priests pervert sacred things to feed private Rapine and Lust No wonder if God abandons that Shiloh abhor the Altar and visit that Tent no more Psal 78.60 2. For that first Captivity in 2 Chron. 36. that Place it self pleads the Justice of that Punishment for the sinful Provocations of the People and Obstinacy against the Lords Forewarnings by his Prophets the reason of which is given 2 Chron. 36.15 and in that lies the Emphasis and force of all for he had compassion on his People and Dwelling Place that Place on which they had no pity but fill'd and defil'd it with Strangers and Babylonians came into the Bed of Love with them being all lovely and gay as Ezekiel says Ezek. 23.14 15. to 17. Nay they polluted it with the blood of the best Prophets Isaiah is sawn in sunder Zachariah stoned Jeremiah imprisoned c. Jer. 37.15 the Kings and High Priests consenting and so drove God out of his own House by setting up their Posts by his Ezek. 43.7 8 9. so they were drove all as Eli's Sons before from the Altar it cast off the House and City dismantled and and burnt up So Wrath without healing comes by the Caldees in three or four gradual Captivities to fulfil Jeremiah's Word that so the Land might enjoy her Sabbaths Liv. 26.34 which while they lived in it they never did Jer. 25.9.29.10 11. They gave God no rest nor his Prophets so the Land should rest without them who were a Curse and Burthen to it and to God a Provocation and why should he defend them or it being offended by them and the name of a Bethel only put on a Bethaven for that titular Sanctimony without real Sanctity is odious to God looses its end is simulata Sanctitas that is duplex Iniquitas 3. For that distress that befell them by that Little Horn of Antiochus and his Armies often toucht in the Prophesies of Daniel Dan. 7.19.25 ch 9.27 ch 8.9 10 12 23 24 25. so ch 11.31 four or five times at least I only say though the Prophesies are dark yet by the Characters decyphered in them this may be answered God for a few years 6 years three monthes 18 days gave him power for wise and holy ends newly hinted to forrage Judaea and scatter the holy People to prophane the Temple of Zerubbabel and prohibit the Sacrifices tread the Truth to the ground and prosper a while till Gods Decrees were fulfilled the Punishment of Iniquities mentioned in the latter three Prophets especially Malachi was fill'd up and his own time of Tyranny expired and then as the Histories Josephus Dr. Willet Dr. Mayer and Huit of those times tell us the Lord raised the Asmonians to give him many defeats in Fight and at last smote him by a Fall of his Chariot in the Persian Wars returning with torturing pains for which no help could be got so he came to his end Dan. 11. ult And if any incline to the parralleling of that with other Antichristian Tyrants I no way dislike that for a Quatenus ad omne valet consequentia since Dr. Mayer resembles that vile Person to others as Dan. 11.21 in 12 or 13 Heads at least and then concludes of him Mayor on Dan. 11. ult p. 582. That if Kings do as the Pope contrary to their Office and change Gods Laws prophane his Temple abuse their Power to Rapine and Cruelty against the Servants and House of God let them take themselves with Antiochus threatned with the same miserable end 4. I yield the like of the Roman Papal force This and all the Violences of Antiochus and ten more such will nor reach the measures of Rage and Fury though they are types that for 1200 years the Papal Tyrannies have long exercised on Christians and their Assemblies for how many in all Ages since he sat in that Chair of Pestilence has he murdered at it were for God's sake in Italy Bohemia Spain France Piedmont in Ireland Low-Countries and England too by Inquisitions Interims Impositions Laws Cannons c. It is both impossible and incredible to recount and what wrongs his armed Butchers have done to Assemblies and Places of holy Worship Histories report and tender eyes weep to read Lactantius 1300 years ago has a sad Prophesy of this cruelty says he Lactant. li. ult ch 11. p. 753. An Enemy to God and all Mankind Is justos Deo deditos 42 mensibus persequetur se coli jubebit qui non adoraverit exquisitis cruciatibus morietur Tunc Christus descender in Judicium condet sanctam Civitatem erit justrorum regnum 1000 Annis Rex Impius surget sct ultimis diebus Dec generi hominum Inimicus c. An impious King will arise and all that adore him not he 'l cruciate with exquisite torments to death two parts he will cut off a 3d. fled into Deserts he will pursue with an Host and beset the Mount fled to so they shall auxilium implorare Dei i. e. implore divine help and he will hear them and sent them a Saviour c. In Calabria an Assembly being of the thousands met an Army being sent beset the Place set Fire to it and slew all that sought to escape others were fetcht out as Sheep by the Butchers with the muffler and knife all gore in the Teeth and made to kneel down to cut their Throats so left weltring c. By which taste we see the cruelty of that Mother-Church
London such a Plague was once saith Speed pag. 694. that above 50000 were in one Parish of the Cistertians or Charterhouse buried A. D. 1350 In Edward the Third's time What has been since in 65 or may be yet in 84 or 5 God knows Our green Winters are ominous moe People moe Sins Id. ibid If this shut the shop door no musick now but doleful Knels no wares but Corpses Mansions turn Pesthouses Church-yards are the Congregations Death serves Executions No Spot is seen at night to morrow God's Tokens are on us or a Carbuncle burns our Flesh The Servant goes away with thy Gold thy Life is at the mercy of a Nurse This is Horror and Terrour round about and few attend the Hearse And for the Sword says he to Lond-still Pag. 220. Julian because the Christians of Alexandria would not turn Heathen to worship Mithra wounded ston'd strangled and slew nay crucified their near Friends So did Hunricus the Goth in all places banisht 50000 in Orders So ye that have searcht out others with severity shall then be pluckt out of Corners in rigor to bend the Knee with one Leg or Arm cut off your Veins must weep as well as your Eyes your Sides be watred as well as your Cheeks your Sins shall shut up all the City Conduits and Veins save the Liver Conduit Your Polititians and Lecturers cannot help you You must meet at the Congregation of the Shambles your Breasts try the poynts of Spears your Heads the weight of Pole-Axes c. Oh what a Crimson City Crimson Sins make And for Estates your Properties are lost now is the Enemy Landlord Purchases Leases all 's lost to the Sword your blouding of Widows skining Orphans will with the Indigent poor and a suffering Gospel cry Vengeance against you and their Sins have made them Bankrupts p. 223. 4. For Papal Idolatry yet hear Jobs fourth Messenger You must Permute a God Conscience must be riffled and in fetters no conquest else You must be slave in Principles pour out Drink-offerings to other Sacrifices follow the Mistress of Witchcrafts learn Doctrines of Devils Corruption in Doctrine soon follows outward slavery Thus for outward respects men of no conscience shipwrack Faith and either with Nichodemus come to Christ by night or if with Daniel they open the Windows publickly to the Lyons Peter scarce is a Saint in the Judgement-Hall but for fear of a Damsel forswears his Master So far he Pag. 224. Thus I glide on into the second Effect of the Lords Recess from us and this City i.e. in Religious Respects Here I recur to the Threneticks of Jeremiah and without much diving we 'll there find matter de novo If God depart wo to us in five respects 1. Now is the City solitary her tone that of the Doves Lam. 1.1 Some tell of Jeremiahs Cave nigh to Acheldama Adrichom where in sight of that City he made this her Epitaph warbling out the doleful Dittay Oi na lanu chi chattanu Woe unto us that we have sinned Wo sure Lam. 5.16 For if God rests not on Zion in the Seat of his Worship he may try and visit the City Two removes he had at the House and so to the East-Gate his stay is not long tho he take the City in 's way for a third step Eze. 9.3.10.4 18 19 11.23 A fourth to the Mount top on the East side to stand and look back and drop a tear as the Lord did after Luke 19.42 43. But thence a fifth step quite away At each step off Judgement comes on says Mr. William Greenhil in loc Wo upon wo. Citys have their Achme's and Climaxes to rise to and after a many years that God numbers at the filling up of the Ephah their fatal Periods so had Jerusalem Capernaum Antioch Rome so Hippo Heydelberge c. And how long has Lo. been in the Declination Who can say Now its fatal time is come Seneca the Moralist observes it of one a second Author of another City in France Vna dies interest inter magnam nullam A City at Morn at night in Vrne As Trap in Lam. How sits this City late so Populous Thus solitary Like a Widow thus Empress of Nations Queen of Provinces She was but now she Tributary is But as the glory comes so it goes with God that lies in the power and kernel of Pyety which being lost as oft it is by divisions and formalities God has no long delight in the Shell Tent or outer Court and Shadow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoc. 11.2 This is cast out so John is bid as no place fit for God but the heathen to tread in No Piety no Priviledge nor Presence 2. God leaves his own institutions and not without a sign of Wrath. If the sin of one good Woman Miriam Numb 12.9 caused the Cloud to depart and out breaks on her the Leprosie What may the provocation of all the Lords Sons and Daughters procure us Was the Temple of old or Shiloe dear or any other place ever so priviledged that God might not be provok't away Let all that now glory in our new built fair adorned Oratories a late purged by Fire fear to reincense Roman Flames for though it is pity Mass should be said in them yet if no Spirit be found in them how can we hope but that Roman Eagles Mat. 24.28 will soon prey on our Carcases that so gyres and hovers over us And it is observed Eagles use to hover about Armies joyning Battle our love to the small Fibres of Popery in Rites Shadows Festivals gives Rome hopes we begin to look that way If sacred things by us profaned cause God's Remove sure Execrations and Curses one against another for Circumstances will never invite his stay though we say Prayers in Latin If God go he is soon hid from us and then long may he be sought ere we find him again yea from Sea to Sea to seek the Word Amos 8.12 So Moab went to his Sanctuary but preveailed not Isai 16.12 So did the Priests but Vision failed no Answer from God Mic. 3.7 Nor is any covert from that Storm sacred Orders excuse not if the Persons be unsuitable to them If Men petition for Sanctuary as the Priests to Titus Vespatian his Answer is ours Viz. It is meet the Priests should suffer in and with the Temple so both were burnt Such Priviledges are no shelter but make death more terible God's Recesses are most seen afterwards 't is beter to retain him while present than as one says by the sad Rivers of Babel to mourn in remembrance of once sweet enjoy'd Zion 4. Lights go out with him and People being left in the Dark can foresee no stumbling block before them but dash uuawares on them Or as Ships at Sea in a storm dash or divide that is a sad Comnplaint the Anger of the Lord has divided them he regards them no more Lam. 4.16 No sadder sign of wrath than to be resigned up to
Warfare See O you Females and follow the Patern of your Mother Sarah 1 Pet. 3.6 14. that was not afraid of any Amazement So after Fear not their Fear nor be afraid What Hurries are some of that Sex in now and how dishonourable to our Duty our God Gospel Hope and Christianity yea before the Adversary will it not reproach us The Coward had better stay away 4. Ministers are peculiarly forbid to fear for they work the Work of the Lord and Paul gives it in charge to Corinth 1 Cor. 16.10 as they being first concern'd that Timothy be with them without fear since without danger and opposition he could not be It means either 1. That he must be as in them lay secur'd by a prudent Care to prevent his Peril if that were possible yet that 's the least that is in it 2. That none ought among them to put him in fear by provoking the Lord to departure Or 3. and chiefly that his Faith and Courage was to rise as his Opposition did being at God's Work no Opposition was to dash him out of face The same Vigor was to be in him that Christ put in Paul Acts 18.9 by a Vision at the first planting of the Gospel there and having Christ's presence with him he was to admit no Argument Sign or Degree of sinful Fear since it was God's Work he had in hand Nil terribile nisi ipse timor Now here arises the honest Jealousy of my Soul as fearing our Policy outvies our Piety and Zeal for God and Truth And tho I grudg no Mans Escape from Treachery yet I commend the most noble and bold Witness in any tho I attain not to it my self O that I could Not to escape my self if the Master be in Jeopardy is to me pleasing Life and Livelihood are sweet and the Flesh is soon sensible of what gratifies it with ease but I cannot attain that not to accept a Deliverance Heb. 11.35 Had I but the clear view of Mr. Abr. Chear's better Resurrection then what Joy would a Prison or Death be for the Word and Soul's sake Says he p. 4. If Deliverance may not be had but on Terms dishonourable to the Lord now 't is a Snare to accept it is a Sin and a Blemish to Faith And after in a Letter for assembling in time of hazard he says p. 250. Where is the Lord God of Elijah I was refresh'd with Burroughs urging that of Luther I desire to be faithful If I cannot be a prudent Minister standing in the Gap is more dangerous than being behind the Hedg one may be more secure under the Wind But it 's best to be where God looks to find us and there may we hope to see him 5. Eye some Persons more set by Christ in the Front of this Battel than others While some of greatest note are laid in a Corner by Infirmities of Body Age or Spirit or some seeming Steps of Decay in wonted Zeal or ' cause their Parts might cloud his Glory or else the Brunt of the Battel or the Heat of the Sun has beat hardest as on Jonah's Head and caused them to flie to some empty withering Gourd for a Shelter Or whatever 't is these at present retire In the mean while Christ prudently culls out it may be some mean little-notic'd poor and young David some from the Flocks or so to confound the wise learned Doctors and mighty And these weak Worms lie at the Root of the old Oak of Bashan and gnaw out its Life as once the Mice raised the Persian Siege by cating of their Bow-strings And all to teach us that are of note and were in Christ before Rom. 16.7 to stir up our Gift and Grace that it die not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 1.6 as the Priests did the holy Fire that was on God's Altar O ye Fathers and Brethren how should you cry as Aphraates for the scatter'd Flock that bleat in the Desert for Solitude while you silence your Gifts and offend Christ's little Ones by your turnings to an Harlot's House and consulting Flesh and Self in your Latitudes 6. To cure Fear in our Duty see the Example of the Lord's People here at Mizpeh Had the Prophet been like us he had neither pray'd for them nor atoned by the Sucking-Lamb but left them to a Flight or Captivity to the rude Army of the Philistines but now doing his Duty God honours it him and them with both a Defence and Defeat of the Enemy The like is in Ezra Ezra 3.3 They set up the Altar for Fear was on them for the People of those Countries that is lest they should surprize them ere they had done their Duty to God first So Jackson in loc And it was without doors the House not yet founded only they had the old Basis to set it on Sight of Danger edg'd their Sense of Duty As Caius Fabius that brake through an Host to offer an Yearly Sacrifice satis sperans propitios fore Deos quorum cultum c. hoping the Gods would be propitious whose Worship the Fear of even Death could not prohibit or intermit And shall a Heathens Zeal exceed the Christians to a true God and his pure Worship 7. Consider of what or whom are you afraid What a Prison That 's not so bad as the Fear is And why The Comforts preponderate the Cross David and you should join to one Petition Psal 142.7 i.e. Bring my Soul out of Prison That 's a far worse Prison To be under fear to a Worm that 's sad I knew a good Woman in fear of Spiders that shut her Eyes Years together Art afraid of a venemous Spider set the Foot of Faith on it and crush it Who art thou said God to fear a Man that shall die Isa 51.12 Who indeed Sure not a Saint what shall I call thee My Righteous are as bold as a Lion Prov. 28. 1. Dost ' call me a God Is not Man a Worm and shortly to die and then where is he And for thee to fear him how unreasonable is it Alas he 's but a smoaking Brand Isa 7.2 4. Are there two of them what of that Both shortly shall be extinct tho confederate together See how God allays the needless Fear of his in a like time The Atheist says Primus in orbe Deos fecit timor Fear first made Gods in the Earth But the true God was before them and thy Fear makes more Gods and so adorest them of thy own creating Let me predicate In a little while none shall cause Terror the terrible one comes to nought the Scorner ceases and God will cause his Terror on them Ezek. 32. ult Isa 16.4 Then no Feller Isa 14.8 nor Treader nor Milker as the Hebrew stiles Oppressors shall be on Earth no Name or Place Son or Nephew left Psal 37.8 I Confess some Men make themselves sore Terrors to others yet see the Case as 't is and put it at worst Why should Christians fear
recess all our Miseries and Woes enter at the door where it goes out be it a Person or a People a Prince as Saul 1 Sam. 28.15 or a Priest a Prophet let God depart and especially if we say Depart Job 21.14 Cause the Holy One to cease from before us we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Isai 30.11 As it is hard to retain him going so it is harder to reclaim him if gone Now some Passages do as to this allay and preponderate the dolour of our Case One is that holy boast of the Prophet Ezek. 35.5 10. against Edom for their bloodiness to Israel in the time of their Calamity hoping to lay claim to and possess the two Countries and what should let them why only this Whereas the Lord was there It notes sweetly that the divine Presence is a Defence strong enough to prevent nay to expell an Enemy at the highest of hopes Fallitur Augurio spes bona sepe suo i.e. Men may climb up in lofty hope And yet come down in Judas Or as their Dream that fight against Ariel's Altar Isai 29.7 Who think they feed on dainty Meat And yet their Soul has nought to eat Inchanted with a vain Collusion A Dream that ends in their Confusion Another is a prediction of a yet glorious Temple to be Ezek 43.2 with c. 11.1 23. and the Glory of it comes just that way in by the East-Gate that it went out by before to note says Mayer * In Locum p. 488. That the Gospel Temple shall be more glorious than ever that of Solomon's was because into that of Zerubbabel came Christ in Person though Herod inlarged it Christ's Presence was the true Glory of it he being a Greater than Solomon And I believe as Haggai's Prophesy was once verified in the Letter Hag. 2.9 So it will be again in the Spirit fulfilled of the 2d Gospel Temple or Church State at the opening of it when the seven last Vials of Wrath are repleat on Romish Antichrist and that belief is confirmed by that Prophesy of the next Temple opened Rev. 11. ult ch 16.5.8 i.e. after the glorious resurrection of the Witnesses and the effusion of the Phialls from which on the whole Ezek and John collated I may note a little and cite an Author or two and so leave it 1. Temple-Church-State till the two Wi nesses arise and the latter Phyals obtain on Rome seems to be a shut up state alluding to that of wicked Ahaz that shut up Doors that so God mihgt not keep open House among them 2 Chron. 28.24 And who dwells in a shut House Whieh though it is sad to see yet is but the same affliction others have had that is some allay Now what how far and how long this may be why and what are the Signs of it and of the next opening I here do not assay but if our Covert for the Sabbath be removed we do but share as others Next I note There is a glorious time of opening comes together with the Fall of Antichrist an opening many ways of Eyes and Ears of Hearts and Hands of Prophets Mouths and Church Doors so as none can shut them and Prisoners door too When the horn of David buds Ezek. 29.20 once for all and then as Cotton says will be the glorious Church-State after the Whore is judged But the great opening is of Temple-Worship Now as the Ark was the Symbole of God's Worship so it typed Christ and thus it was a sign of the gracious presence of Christ with the latter reformed or renewed Church-State and till this is we do but measure out a Platform or hew out for a Temple or fix Scaffolds rather than build Now that a Presence with us is such advantage to us I cite a passage at the Siege of Belgrade by Mahomet one Capistranus Pisga Evang. P. 225. a Minorite so incouraged the Christians not with Superstitions but these Crys Jesus look on us be present with thine that suffer for thee Where are thy Mercies of old Come and defend thy People least they say among the Gentiles Where now is their God And so the Christians won a noble and rich Victory By Christ's Presence we overcome If that be lost the Enemies triumph Now for Notes of Authors I only cite two 1. A passage of Mede Jos Mede in Apoc. part 2. p. 106. All comes out of the Temple Harvest and Vintage obtain by the Prayers of both Saints and holy Martyrs for that Cry comes from the Altar and the blood of the Martyrs too crys for Vengence Thus the Prayers of Daniel and the poor Widdow got that Release this Revenge And so he concludes Hear O Christ the King call to mind the humble Supplications of thy Servants for thy Kingdom and so many groans of the afflicted and slain for thy Name sake And when the time that seems to thee most fit comes arise to reap the Harvest and gather the Grapes And no small Comfort it is to find that the Kingdom of Christ the Fall of Antichrist and return of Prayers come all streaming at once in a full tyde of Mercy to the devout and Wrath upon all Atheists and Antichristians and the Times with their Wrath hastens it One Author more I cite T. P. his sober Guess pag. 187. at the end of that little Book where he hints the ruine of that Idolatrous Age that wasted the Church afore and the appearance of our Ark that is of Jesus and so he ends with three Notes 1. That Sorrows steal not on us without the foresight counsel and Predetermination of God 2. That the end and measure of them is set of God though Force and Violence may lett true Religion 't is but for a Time Antiochus Swines Flesh the two Witnesses lying dead Our Lords abode as Jonah's and the Church's two or three days in the Sepulcre Hos 6.2 are all limited to about the same length as Elijah's three Years and six months and then our dead revive again pag. 188. 3. In all Oppressions of the Saints they never are void of his Presence and a promise of a Deliverance with Faith in its accomplishment and hope that the time is nigh expiration p. 189. So he concludes with one Drs. Saying Viz. Dr. More 's Mystery of Godliness lib. 5. c. 17. of the use of Apolyptical Visions Who affirms A. D. 1660. The scene of things will soon alter for the better in Christendom the time of the Churches appearing purely Apostolical in Life and Doctrine is near by computation of Prophesies when the Witnesses shall arise and the Woman come out of the Wilderness and all the Kingdoms become our Lords to rule for ever Nor is Stability in Kingdoms to be had till the new City is raised whose Walls Foundation Gates and whole Content is but the Replication of twelve i.e. all Apostolick in Doctrine Worship c. Which hope should shake off that Lethargy on us as if it would never be better