his beloved sleep Psal 121.2 By sleep is not meant that of the body but of the soul Fideles etsi vitam agant laboriosam compositis tamen tranquillis animis in fidei silentio se continent ac si dormirent They have a great deal of rest and quietness in all their labours and this is the gift of God 2. We must obtain it of God in his own way and that is in the way of prayer for as faith is the pacifying grace so prayer is the quieting duty Hannah after she had prayed though her spirit was unquiet before yet she went away and did eat and drink and wat no more sad And David though he did begin many Psalms with a troubled spirit yet he concludes with comfort being quieted and cheared under all the dealings of God with him Phil. 4.6 7. In all things let your prayer and requests be made known unto God and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts There is a double peace of the Saints one wrought for us without us and this is reconciliation with God the other is peace within us which is given unto the Saints as a return of prayer the Spirit of supplication becoming afterward a Spirit of consolation 3. Consider the condition of the Saints while they are in this life Isa 33 46. He shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks bread shall be given him and his water shall be sure There is no affliction that can hurt thee that doth not disquiet thee Men may plunder thee of thy goods but let them not rob thee of thy patience So it was with Job Satan could not hurt him till he did disquiet him though he did fire his house yet he could not fire his spirit So it was with the Christians in the primitive times Amiserunt omnia nunquid fidem nunquid pietatem hae sunt opes Christianorum 4. Be much in acts of reliance and self resignation unto God considering the relation in which thou standeth unto him To whom should the children fly but to the father and on whom should he cast his care Do children lay up for the parents or rather the parents for the children Cast therefore thy care upon him for he careth for thee With him the fatherless find mercy Thou never puttest thy self out of Gods care till thou beginnest to take the business out of Gods hands and to take care for thy self Trust in the Lord for ever for the Lord Iehovah is a rock of ages Isa 26.3 5. Reason it out with thy own soul This was Davids remedy Why art thou cast down oh my soul and why art thou disquieted within me We should call our souls unto an accompt examine the reason and the ground of our disquiet Commune with your own heatrs upon your beds and be still Faith doth as much work by sanctified reasoning as by any other way of acting whatsoever We come now to the two last particulars which are included in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And for dispatch sake I shall put both into this one observation Doct. When the will of God is manifested it is the duty of the Saints neither to speak nor act against it they are to cease from both In the opening hereof I must shew First that the will of God as manifested is to be the rule of our wills and wayes Secondly That when it is manifested it is the duty of the Saints neither to speak nor act against it Thirdly Give the grounds thereof And lastly make an application of it to our selves 1. The will of God manifested is to be the rule of our wills and ways And here we are to consider three things 1. No man is to speak or act according to his own will It is a state of sin that fulfils the wills of the flesh and of the mind Ephes 2.3 A mans own will in opposition to the will of God is the will of the devill 2. Tim. 2. and the last we are said to be led captive by him at his will This therefore cannot be a rule unto any man either for speaking or acting but unto him who hath no other god but the god of this world Christ himself doth not make his wil the rule of his actions I came not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me Ioh. 6.38 The Angels do not their own wils The Angell Gabriell was sent at the beginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth and I am come to shew thee Daniel 9.23 The Angel did not go without a command Ezek. 1.25 There is a firmament over the head of the living creatures and a voice from the firmament unto which the Angels did attend in all their motions and when they stood they let down their wings The will of God was the rule of all their actings and cessation from actions 2. It is the will of God as manifested that is the rule of all the actions of the creatures Deut. 29.29 Things revealed are to us and our children for ever This is a constant rule of all their motions for ever there will never be a time in this world when the scripture which is the revelation of the will of God shall be laid aside as of no use for they belong unto us to do them Therefore in the 12. of the Romans 2. we are exhorted to prove what the good and acceptable will of God is The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie 1. sedulo explorare diligently to try and search 2. approbare vitam conformare to approve and conform our lives thereunto Now it must be revealed or a man can never discern it or approve it or conform his will or way unto it God will have our services to be reasonable services which must be an obedience to his will as manifested or made known unto us Men require not obedience unto any law so long as it is in the breast of the lawgiver it never binds the subject till it be published and proclaimed that all may take notice of it So it is with the Lord who is the great and the only lawgiver 3. The will of God is revealed and made known both by his word and by his works which are nothing else but as it were a comment upon his word First By his word which is therefore called the counsell of God the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2. and the last I have written unto them the great things of my law Hos 8.12 declaring the whole will of God concerning the creatures obedience Secondly By his works for the worketh every thing according to the counsell of his own will Ephes 1.11 Therefore whatsoever he doth in the world it is but to discover the counsell of his will to the Saints Therefore when Davids child was dead he takes it for a manifestation of the will of God and his heart is quieted under it There is a double book
1 Tim. 6.15 And this soveraignty lieth mainly in two things In his Decrees appointing the Creatures to their ends and in his Laws prescribing their ways and the subjection of the will of man or a receiving of the Law into the will is the highest honour to the Law and the greatest acknowledgement of the soveraignty of the Law-giver Sub lege factus est quia sponte se interposuit ad eam patri cōpensationem reddendam nec solum formam servi accepit ut subesset sed etiam servi mali ut vapularet Parker de descensu l. 3. 52. Gal. 4.4.5 we see it in the Lord Jesus Christ he was in his person not bound to the Law therefore there was a superlegale meritum that followed upon his obedience yet his subjection unto the Law was the highest honour done to the Law and his receiving the Law into his will Psa 40.8 Thy Law is in the midst of my heart was the greatest acknowledgment of the soveraignty of God for whatsoever honours the Law exalts God and sets him upon him his Throne which is never done till the Law commands the will which is the commanding faculty of the soul 2. Herein the power of the Law is most gloriously seen in that it can subdue the will for till then the man is never overcome you may kill him but you cannot conquer him There may be a kind of force and violence offered unto the other faculties the understanding may be overcome with light which though it would it cannot keep out for there is a principle in all men to be willingly ignorant 2 Pet. 3.5 and to imprison Truths in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 because they hate the light The conscience also may be awakened though men endeavor to their utmost to speak peace to themselves Esay 50.11 to kindle a fire of their own and compass themselves about with their own sparks but the will is so free that no kinde of violence can be offered to it Therefore the conquest of the will is always by its own consent as a woman by her own consent comes into subjection to her Husband this subduing of the will is that wherein the power of the word mainly consists it s called the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 That is it is the instrument by which he puts forth the exceeding greatness of his power though there be a great power put forth in the common works upon the other faculties yet when Omnipotency works by the word it appears mainly in this it subdues the will 3. Herein properly the liberty of the soul consists If the Son make you free you shall be free indeed Joh. 8.36 Liberty therefore is a priviledge which the Saints receive by Grace Now this liberty of a Christian though it be radicaliter in intellectu yet it is formaliter in voluntate The proper seat of Liberty is the will Now this Liberty doth not consist in an absolute indifferency either to chuse or refuse without a respect to the end There is an indifferency indeed servato ordine finis Voluntas eò liberior estquò gratiae Dei subjectior fuerit Aug. Epist 89. with a continual respect to the utmost end the chief good now what is the way that leads to this chief good what is the Rule that directs to this utmost end is it not the word of God Melior est cum totus ad haeret atque constringitur incommutabili bono quam cum inde vel ad seipsum relaxatur Gibeu de libert creat l. 1. cap. 3. Libertas est amplitudo ex adhaesione ad Deum quae tantò major illustrior quantò propius ad Deum accesserimus Therefore this the soul is to be acted by and therein its liberty consists when the will is acted by any inferiour Rules so long the man is under bondage Therefore when we come to Heaven our wils shall be acted wholy by Gods will therefore our Liberty shall be perfected where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.17 The reason is because where the Spirit is the soul is enlightned by the word of God and the will subjected thereunto in which properly doth consist the Liberty of the man 4. The subjection of our will unto the will of God doth pro hoc statu perfect our obedience Our best Services are mixed with many imperfections Lava lachrymas meas Dominc Aug. Job 1.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vide Caryl in loc that our prayers had need be perfumed our tears washed and a sacrifice offered daily for the iniquity of our holy things yet is there a kinde of perfection in the obedience of the Saints in this life Ignorantia infirmitas vitia sunt quae impediunt voluntatem nunc delectatur nunc non delectatur ut noverit non suae facultatis esse sed divini muneris Aug. de peccat merit remiss l. 2. c. 17. The Philosopher observes that there is Duplex aequalitas rei voluntatis now though in respect of the thing we shall always fall short of the Law yet the subjection of the will makes the Law and the heart even though in the actions there are many defects Rom. 7.19.20 2 Cor. 8.10.12 And the Grace of the Gospel accepts the will for the deed 5. It is the subjection of our will to the commanding will of God Matth. 11.30 which only makes the ways of God sweet and the commands of God easie David saith The Law was sweeter to him then the hony Christ saith Psal 19.10 1 Joh. 5.3 My yoak is easie and my burthen light The Commandments are not grievous and it is the subduing of the will works all this Omnia quippe fiunt charitati facilia cui uni Christi sarcina levis est aut ea una est sarcina ipsa quae levis est Durae sunt timori leves amori c. Aug. l. de nat grat c. 69. What a man does willingly he doth with ease and delight Whereas a small thing done against the will is looked upon as a very burthensome service It was no great labour for Haman to lead Mordecai's Horse yet it was a very burthensome and an offensive service because his will was against it 6. It is willingness that brings the reward Esth 6.13 A Dispensation of the Gospel was committed to Paul and if I do it willingly saith he I have my reward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Ethic. l. 4. cap. 1. Libentèr ex animo ipsum amans Evangelium fructum Evangelii quaerens Est 1 Cor. 9.17 Some preach Christ of Envie and some of good will and they only have the reward of their service Phil. 1.15 Therefore the Apostle exhorts those that feed the Flock of God and have the oversight of them to do it not by constraint but willingly 1 Pet. 5.2 And Paul would have Philemon to grant his request not of
1 Sam. 16.1 Pro toto corpore pro statu regni non debuit orare quoniam sciebat jam actum esse de populo illo Calv. or seek to God for one more faithful to succeed this was Samuels sin and for this the Lord reproves him Nay when the sentence is gone forth from the Lord he forbids his people to pray Jer. 7. Pray not for this people for I will not hear thee The will of God being manifested a man should be so far satisfied with it that he should not pray against it though it be the greatest misery that can befall the Church of God in this life As that of the captivity was For our prayers should be according to the will of God as it is revealed and if the Lord hath once revealed his will we should not pray against it neither should our spirits rise against it but we should strive for a holy and sweet composure of heart under it and not be indulgent to sullen and discontented mournings as if I would it had not been so or as if I would have had it otherwise 10. When the Lord doth manifest his will be you instrumental and co workers together with him for that is our duty in reference to the effecting will of God So do the Angels When the man among the Myrtle Trees goes forth immediately the whole heavenly Host are on horse-back behinde him * Chrisius specie humana ad tempus assumpta insidebat equo ut celeritas auxilii majestas dominii indicaretur cujus stipatores sunt Angeli aliique Majestatis divinae Ministri qui Christo Regi ut Equites instructi inserviunt sive ad judicia impiis praestanda sive ad beneficia piis conferenda maxima cum celeritate Tarnov Effusio Phialarum significat ruinam Bestiae Antichristianae Septem phialae totidem sunt istius ruinae gradus est enim effusio irae Dei cap. 15.1 Mede Zach. 1.8 9. As soon as Christ appears when he doth advance so do they for the Churches deliverance And when Jesus Christ goes forth against Antichrist whom he will surely destroy with the brightness of his coming and all the powers on Earth shall not be able to cure him the deadly wound given him under the Vials already poured out There are Angels that joyn with him in the work For the Vials are filled with wrath Revel 15.7 by the prayers of the Saints And by one of the four Beasts spoken of Chap. 4. given unto the Angels the Actors with God in this work Called Angels as I conceive not properly because heavenly Angels those ministring Spirits though it is true all is done by the conduct and assistance of the Angels or they are Principalities and Powers in the Government of the World under Christ Angeli sunt homines purioris Ecclesiae cives ut apparet eâ— loco unde prodeunt amictu sunt enim vestes filiorum Aronis Exod. 28.42 Brightm Quae multorum manibus peraguntur Angelo tanquam rei gerendae praesidi Duci tribuuntur quoniam Deus Angeles a dhibet providentiae suae administros in rerum humanarum conversionibus ciendis gubernandis Mede but these Angels are men not individual persons but men joyned together in a body to effect this work For they are described to be cloathed with linnen and their breasts girt with golden girdles that is amictu Sacerdotali ornati they had the Ornaments of the Priests upon them because they are called and anoynted of the Lord unto this service and because they are made Priests unto God by Jesus Christ These Angels do come in their order and do pour out their Vials and when the Lord is pouring out any of these and that he is now eminently doing it is confessed by all our Divines it is good for a man to be instrumental to be of the number of these Angels to bear our part by prayer and paines or whatsoever else we may contribute unto this work saying if the Lord will destroy the man of sin I will be so far from having a hand in supporting of him that I will put forth my hand also towards his ruine For this is the Amaleck with whom the Lord will never have peace from Generation to Generation And when Antichrist shall be subdued and all Antichristian powers there will be found Armies following of Christ upon white horses Exercitus non tam ad praelium instrui videdetur quam ab triumphum Bright a token of triumph and victory Revel 19.14 And no man shall ride with Christ in triumph when the victory is won who hath not rode forth with him against Antichrist unto the Battle 3. A great part of the power of godliness doth consist in a submitting of our will unto the will of God in his ordering effecting disposing of the things of the world And the grounds of it are these 1. Godliness is nothing else but exalting of God in the soul as it is the abasing of God in the soul that is properly ungodliness low thoughts and vile apprehensions of God and therefore the lusts of mens hearts are called ungodly lusts Iude 19. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebraismo significante quotidianam vitae consuetudinem Est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Est in abstracto abstractum denotat essentiam Cupiditatis essentia in aversione à Deo consistit Est etiam vice Epitheti sicut civitas sanctitatis est sanctissi ma populus anathematis sc summo anathemati devotus ita cupiditates impietatum est planè impiae vel impientissimae Gloss Gram. sacr p. 110. Grotius in loc God is said to exalt himself Psal 57.5 Psal 21.13 Psal 148.13 Be thou exalted in thy own strength And we are said to exalt God though he be the most High Isai 25.1 Thou art my God and I will exal thee †Potentia infinita in se exaltari nequit sed respectu nostri cum fortitudinem suam potenter nobis ostendit Exaltare dicimur cum quempiam ad dignitates ascendere facimus cum laudibus aut veneratione eveâ—imus c. Forer Vnde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abâ—â—tio est quia in altum elevatur dum offertur quod offertur Deo ad elevationem Aven Preston of mans uprightness pag. 36. God exalts himself by his works and the Saints exalt him in his worship and it is in these high apprehensions of God that godliness doth mainly consist Now in this submission of will God is very highly exalted in the hearts of the Saints First Hereby we acknowledge his soveraignty that he alone hath right to govern the world because they are all the works of his hands Deus unus in potestate habet regnum dare auferre Deus verus hoc agit occulto judicio non continuò beatos facturus quibus terrenum regnum dederit nec continuò miseros quibus ademerit sed temporalia regna quibus voluerit quando voluerit secundum
sect 18. p. 317. Glass Rhet. sacr p. 46. Periculosum est sibi placere cui cavendum est superbire Ille autem qui super omnia est non extollit se nobis namque expedit Deum nosse non illi unde patet quod Deus suam gloriam non quaerit propter se sed propter nos Aquin. 2. 2ae q. 132. ad 1um Eo fortior adversus â—aeli minas surge cum mundus undique exarserit cogita te nihil habere de tanta mâ—le perdendum Sen. q. nat l. 2. c. 59. Psa 76.10 Necesse est omnes homines quantumvis feroces furentes tibi cedere si quid furoris adhuc vertet ita coercet ut erumpere non possit Muls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sym. either essential and so his glory is himself which no man hath seen nor can see or manifestative the shining forth of his excellency in the discoveries of his Attributes Now that the glory of the Lord might shine forth as the Sun though all the Stars be eclipsed he is well pleased If the Lord please to make me a footstool that he himself might be exalted into his own Throne I rejoyce in my own abasement If he will get himself a name by the shaking of the earth and heavens by the overthrows of Kingdoms as he will do by the general conflagration of the world at the last day a Saint can with rejoycing stand upon the ruines of all things and say I have lost nothing my end is secured God that made all things for himself he rules all things for himself he will provide for his own glory in the midst of all the tumuls and turnings that are below Now if he will cause light to shine out of darkness and win to himself glory by working a harmony out of the discords of the Creatures Finis solus in mediis amari debet ergo finis solum est ratio motiva voluntatis media qua talia tantum terminativa Scot. disp 3.8 Gibeuf de libertate creat l. 1. cap. 11. §. 2. in this I can and will rejoyce This is indeed the great happiness of a Saint though in his inferior ends he may miscarry yet he is always secured in reference to his utmost end Whereas all ungodly men as they many times fail in their subordinate ends so they always miss of their utmost end and therefore must needs be miserable for the rule is finis ultimus perficit tam agentem quam actionem Omnis finis secundarius ex ultimo acquirit perfectionem Keker log de fin c. 18. Therefore nothing can make a man happy but the securing of his utmost end And nothing can make a man miserable but his missing of his utmost end While a man therefore sees that to thrive and prosper God answering cardinem desiderii as Austin speaks of prayer though he fails in many other things which he in his judgement conceived necessary means conducing thereunto yet he is fully satisfied and well pleased 2. The power of godliness consists much in self resignation unto God and the happiness of the Saints is Fuerunt aliis hominibus cum Ethnicis tum Christianis loca quaedaÌ„ exstructa reditus constituti ad pauperum relevandom miseriam is cui haec provincia demandata fuit dicitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum parvuli vel parentibus erant orbati vel publicè expositi à parentibus non agniti Greg. Tholoss Synt. juris l. 15. c. 28. Pupillus est 1. Qui omni hominum praesidio caret ope humana destituitur 2. Qui suae ignorantiae nuditatis inopiae conscius est 3. Qui se totum curae tutoris sui committit ac proinde humilis est à tutoris metu mandatis solus pendens Tarnov in Lam. 5.3 Zanch. in Hose 14.3 to be in themselves fatherless to be put out of their own protection and provision Hosea 14.3 The Church is described leaning upon her beloved Cant. 8.5 her support is out of her self there she takes up her repose Psal 10.14 The poor leaves himself with thee they commit their souls unto him in well doing 1 Peter 4.19 And they commit their wayes Psal 37.5 to him in the issues and successes of them Now a man that does commit all his own and the Churches affairs into the hands of God brings all to him and leaves them with him let him do what seems him good which way soever God casts it his soul is satisfied and he is quiet under his dispensations Grace makes a man solicitous for nothing but duty as it makes a man to fear nothing but sin It is never troubled about events but when the duty is done though the event answers not his desires he can as well quiet his soul in God as if he had had all the success in the world So doth the Lord Jesus Christ Isai 49.4 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signinificat laborem cum singulari molestia conjunctum A Septuag redditur per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uti Hab 2.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Est humor nativus in quo vigor robur corporis consistit qui à laboribus assiduis indefessis deficit exarescit I have laboured in vaine one word signifies to labour with a mans might with his utmost diligence even unto faintness and weariness and the other word doth signifie humidum radicale It is the same word that Christ useth Psal 22.15 My strength is dried up like a Postsheard and yet even in that labour the event and the success is exprest to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for confusion which he intended for preservation and for destruction which he intended for edification yet my work is with the Lord and my reward with my God †Bis glorificatur Deus si votis successus respondeat sed ubi nihil omiserint verbi ministri non est cur eos poeniteat Deo placuisse Calv. A soul by reason of this self resignation can sit down satisfied and give up himself to God as freely having done his duty as if the success had answered his desires So may a faithful Minister lie down in his grave and yield up his soul 2 Cor. 2.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Vterque Deo gratus est odor quo electi recreantur in salutem quo reprobi enecantur Et si Deo suavis est odor nobis quoque esse debet abunde sufficere si justam reprobis damnationem afferendo Dei gloriam promoveat Calv. with as much comfort as if the people had been gained So may a gracious magistrate as if the people had been preserved and established And in this mainly doth the power of grace consist it enables a man to resign all things The state of Churches Kingdomes Families into the hand of that God unto whom he hath committed his soul and he is as truly quieted in Gods disposing of the one as the other 3.
Grot. c. 2. It notes the displeasure of God against his Enemies in the Church for smoak is in Scripture irae divinae symbolum Isai 14.31 Glass Rhet. sacr p. 244. And so Mr. Brightman Docet testari Deum praesentiam suam manifestis excandescentiae argumentis c. in hostes c. 3. It notes a darkness and an obscurity in reference to the Truths and Ordinances of God arising from the Corruptions and Innovations which Antichrist brought in For though it be said to be from the glory of the Lord and from his power yet it was from God judicially only And so smoak is taken for corruption of Doctrine and Worship and thereby a darkning of Truth Rev. 9.2 And this doth appear because this smoak did hinder that the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven was not opened and that men could not see the Ark of the Testament Rev. 11.19 But when the Vials are poured out and Antichrist thereby destroyed and all this smoak dispelled then there should be this cleer sight and discovery even of the most hidden things the Ark of the Testimony which was within the vail for that appears as Mr. Mede hath observed to appertain non ad initium sed eventum Phialarum And concerning this smoak the Spirit tels us 1. That it should last and continue during all the time of the Vials so that Antichrist hath brought through the just judgement of God that darkness and obscurity into the Temple and things of God and that it will never be dispelled till he be utterly overthrown for the Temple is not opened till the seventh Trumpet sound Cap. 11.19 2. The Effect of this smoak is that by reason of it no man should be able to enter into the Temple Which hath a double sense given of it but may fitly be put into one 1. That no man by reason of the darkness of the smoak should be able to see understand the mysteries of the Gospel for intrare in adytum est Dei arcana discere Psal 73.17 Grot. 2. By this smoak the evidence and glory of the mysteries of God was so darkned that none comparatively that is few should be converted to God and added to the Church For the great Harvest of the World shall be under the seventh Trumpet sc the conversion of the Jews and the fulness of the Gentiles Hic fumus non omnes electos ex Gentibus sed tantum Judaeos plenitudinem Gentium ab adytis prohibet Brightman So then during the continuance of Antichrists kingdom there shall be a darkness upon the things of God And this darkness shall hinder the discovery of the truths of God and a recovery of the souls of men And when the Servants of Christ have to their utmost labored to clear the things of God and to dispel the darkness that is upon them yet they shall never be perfectly cleered till all the Vials be fully poured out And till then the Lord will shake Churches that the things that are made in them also may be removed Now who are they that serve Gods Ends in this Either they that labor to remove them or they that labor to continue them according to the commandments and Traditions of men 2. The Lord is pouring out the Fourth Viall upon the Sun Rev. 16.8 which is the highest light in the Romish Hemisphere whether it be in Church or State In the pouring out of the Vials it is generally observed by Interpreters 1. That the subject upon which all the Vials are poured is Rome Antichristian For the Commission given is to pour out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the Earth Rev. 16.1 Earth in this Book is sometimes opposed unto Heaven and then as by Heaven is meant the true and pure Church of Christ as Rev. 4.1 12.1 so by Earth is meant the false Church an Earthly and corrupt Church under Antichrist as an Head And so it is the kingdom of Antichrist upon which all these Vials are poured out 2. That the Vials are but so many several degrees of wrath upon this false Church and so many steps to its ruine For as Rome was not built in a day so the Lord will not have it to fall in a day 3. That the Lord sets forth this Antichristian State by a Resemblance of the World as he had done before in the Trumpets in which all things as Earth Sea Rivers c. are mystically to be understood of something which resembles these 4. That the Angels which are the Instruments of vengeance in the pouring out of these do come out of the Temple sc the Reformed Churches the vengeance being that of the Temple and procured by the prayers of the Saints there and that they shall be godly men or at least generally so reputed For they are cloathed with pure and white linnen and having their breasts girded with golden girdles 5. Whatever any Vial is poured out upon it is for its ruine and upon whatsoever in this Antichristian State the Vial is poured out the Lord doth so manage things in providence that they do all work for the ruine thereof And all the Powers of the Earth shall not be able to support it under a Vial poured out These things being premised we are to observe that the Sun being the greatest light in the natural world doth resemble that which is the greatest in this mystical and Antichristian world sc the highest power and the greatest authority therein as cap. 6.12 Isai 60.20 Mat. 24.29 which some understand to be the German Empire unto whose root the ax hath now been laid for thirty years together Others observing that the Empire is but an image of the former beast set up by the Pope and that he gives life to it they say that the Pope is the greatest light in the Antichristian World Both which may stand together for Subordinata non pugnant It is Antichrist and his power that is wholy struck at in the Vials And though through all the Ten Kingdoms there are several chief lights in their own heavens for they received power as Kings the same hour with the Beast and upon all these this Vial is poured yet the main wound is given to Antichrist in their downfal For the Judgement upon them is but so far as they hold of and relate unto Rome as far as they have correspondence with Rome The whole current of the Book of the Revelation runs this way I cannot consent that God is now pouring out the fifth viall upon the Throne of the Beast Mr. Iohn Cotton upon the fifth vial which some holy and learned men affirm 1. First Because it is evident that the overthrow of Episcopacy which is conceived to be meant by the throne of the Beast was not the main thing intended in this destruction for it was overthrown but as an appendix to Monarchy as that which upheld it and so hindered the Vial upon the Sun Pontifices Romani illi quoque
Romani Imperii caput sunt non quideÌ„ simpliciter quae Episeopi Romani sed qua habenas sive gubernacula Monarchiae Româ—nae â—â—rbis nimiruÌ„ orbis Christiani ad 〈◊〉 pertraxerunt atque in hoc Imperio à superiori potestaâ—â— non dependent neâ— ullius supra se Imperium in terra â—gnoscunt De quo cap. 17.10 alter nondum venit cum venerit oportet eum breve tempus manere eatenus breve tempus manere oportet pontisiees quatenus Impâ—â—â—â— Romani caput sunt politiaÌ„ istam dominatu suo complectuntur non vero qua Episcopi Romani hoc enim posteriori modo confidâ—rati satâ—s dâ—â— duraverunt Disseâ—rtatio Rob. Iansenii P. 9. 2. Secondly Because that Rome which is the feat of the Beast is called his throne Rev. 13.2 But I never find Episcopacy so called and the Spirit of God doth use to speak agreeable to himself that which he had before called the throne of the Beast upon that is the viall to be poured out Now if these be the ends that God is accomplishing so far as Gods ends are carried on I am bound to wish well to the Instruments imployed by God therin and in all lawfull wayes in my place endeavour with them to promote these ends Thirdly When there doth something appear above the power of man raising the spirits of the Instruments in the hand of the Lord for the effecting of these ends causing the worm Iacobt othresh the mountains Isa 41.14 Zâ—ch 12.8 Sc. in bello fortis fortunatus divina virtute erectus Tarnov Drusius c. Ezech. 1.20 21. per rotas intelligit hoâ—â—ines rationales qui se Angelorum juâ—â—u duci permittunt Lavat Rotas Deus per Angelos regit furtissime suavissime sive â—â—abant providentia Dei ordinaria aguntur sive sese a terra elevabant sc providentia inusitata insâ—â—â—a Psal 76.5 Nahum 3.12 Iudg. 7.13 making the weak as David lifting up the wheels from the earth acting men beyond the ordinary temper of the spirits of men taking away the hearts of the enemies that the men of might cannot find their hands their cities prove like ripe figs falling into the mouth of the eater a barley cake to overthrow a tent then we are to say It is the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon Digitus Dei hic est Surely these are signs of the effecting Will of God and not barely of his permitting Will. These things I desire may be seriously considered upon these three grounds 1. There should be no good business which God hath on foot in the world but I should desire to have a hand in it A good man hath an eye upon all the work that God hath to do in the world and would be acting in it Saith he whatsoever God is doing I would gladly be a worker together with God in either in my practice my purse my prayers or some way or other I would be very loth to misplace my prayers and to set my prayers in opposition to the Will of God Herein is much of the happiness of the Saints and Angels in heaven that they pray for nothing but what God will grant God is very observant of his peoples prayers Pray no more saith he to Ieremy If there be a person or business which the Lord will not prosper he will put it out of the hearts of his people to pray for it your prayers are the choisest actions of your life and if they proceed from a sincere heart though that particular thing which thou desirest may not be granted yet God will answer thee some other way yet a good heart would be loth to lose his prayer 3. I would be loth to lose my reward the Spirit of God teacheth a man not only to act Grace but to expect a reward of it No man shall ride with the Lamb in triumph after Victory that did not joyn with him in the Combate and Opposition And those that suffer with him in the Conflict shall certainly after the Victory ride with him upon white horses and have a share in the triumph Rev. 19.14 For if Jehu and Cyrus be rewarded of God for joyning with him in his effecting will even from a corrupt principle unto a corrupt end how much more shall they who desire to know what God is doing and in sincerity desire to further his ends in the doing of it Who not only do Gods work but aym at his end surely not only a temporal reward is reserved for them but it shall add to their eternal glory and make their Crown more massie at the last and great day Luk. 18. Let us now come to the last particular and that is the permitting will of God If the Lord will bring the Apostle to Jerusalem and there deliver him by the malice of the Jews Hoc fraeno cohibendi sunt omnes nostri affectus ne quid tam acerbum sit vel trisle vel durum quod non mitiget ac emolliat Dei voluntas Calv. Psal 39.9 into the hands of the Gentiles if he will suffer them to execute their rage upon him and thereby the Churches of God be deprived of so glorious an Instrument though we should gladly provide for the Churches preservation and edification yet if the Lord will in this manner deliver him up he is not bound to Instruments he hath with him the residue of the spirit and though mens graces accompany them to glory being given them for their own salvation yet they leave their gifts behinde them 1 Pet. 1.25 1 Cor. 13.8 Prophesies shall fail tongues shall cease knowledge shall vanish away 1 Cor. 13.8 These fall from the best men as Eliahs Mantle did from him when they are taken up into glory As therefore when an ungodly man dies he leaves his estate behinde him because it is this worlds goods so when a godly man dies he leaves his gifts behinde him because it is the Churches treasury If the Lord will thus deliver up the Apostle and so deprive the Church Let the will of the Lord be done And some conceive it mainly to be spoken here in reference unto Gods permitting will though I have taken in all three of them intended by the spirit there being such clear and evident footsteps of them all in the before mentioned story Hence the last Observation is Doctrine Doct. That where Godliness is in the power of it 〈◊〉 brings a soul to an humble submission unto the permitting will of God In the handling of this I must shew First What the permitting will of God is and the several branches wherein it doth consist Secondly Prove that godliness brings about the soul of a man unto a submission thereunto Thirdly Shew you the grounds thereof what there is of godliness manifested in such a submission Fourthly The several acts of the soul in its conformity unto the permitting will of God and wherein this conformity doth consist First What the permission of God
doth not hinder sin when it is in his power doth after a sort further it Therefore why doth God punish man for sinning when he might if he had pleased have kept man from sinning It is a great Judgement to be given up to dispute the will of God in this manner for men much to exercise their wits in calling the word of God and the waies of God in this manner to give an accompt at the bar of their reason 3. You pray that the will of God might be done which is that his whole will might take place and that there may be wrought in your wils a conformity unto the whole will of God Now a man should look for the fruit of his prayers in a conformity of his will Mercies given in answer to prayers are double mercies It s not only a good thing that is given but it is given as a fruit of a promise and as a testimony that a man hath received the Spirit of supplication For there is nothing ascends up to heaven but that which comes down from heaven There is no prayer heard of God but that which doth proceed from the Spirit of God acting in the man Now as you have this testimony of the return of your prayers that your wils are subdued unto the commanding and the effecting will labour for the same also in respect of the permitting will of God And till this also be wrought you have never a full answer unto that petition 4. The permitting will of God towards the Saints is but for the time of this life for it hath respect only unto sin Now when sin shall be done away then the permissions of God and the forbearance of God shall have an end Therefore the Saints in heaven and the souls of just men made perfect the Lord doth no more suffer sin to be in them nor them to be under the power of Satan tempting and accusing They are no longer under the power of wicked men neither fear they any more to be given over unto scandalous falls it is but for the time of this life As you are to glorifie the patience of God because it will last but for a time and then cease so you are to glorifie the permissions of God also Seeing therefore it is the way which the Lord hath chosen to himself to glorifie himself for this present state a man should resolve to set himself to it There is a different way of honouring God here and in heaven our care should be that we might honour him according to that way which he requires of us while we are here for this is bringing forth fruit in the season thereof So that as I say improve Ordinances because that they shall last but for the time of the dispensatory Kingdom of Christ Do you act patience and Godly sorrow for they are but for the time of this life and then they shall cease And the way by which the life of grace is now maintained shall be no more therefore get what benefit you can by them while you do enjoy them So it is also in the permitting will of God give God the glory of it during the time of the acting thereof it is but for the dayes of thy vanity and no more therefore be content to submit unto it 5. From the glorious ends that God doth accomplish by his permissions 1. Hereby the grace of Christ is magnified and the Saints have a continual ground for recourse unto the fountain for the washing of sin and uncleanness because the Lord leaves them unto daily defilements 2. Hereby his mercy is exalted in pardoning their scandalous fals and restoring them again after they have to the utmost destroyed themselves and that they shall gain as it were a new conversion thereby When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren 3. Hereby a constant war is maintained and a mans Crown shall be proportioned to his combat Majora certamina majora sequntur praemia A mans greatest enemy is within and the sorest battails are fought betwixt Flesh and Spirit in the same heart For the power of grace as well as of Corruption is mainly drawn out by opposition Gratia vexata seipsam prodit Hereby we have experience of Christ our Advocate pleading our cause before the Throne of grace and rebuking Satan our accuser as he is brought in Zach. 3.1 2. The Lord rebuke thee the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee And hereby when Christ and the Saints shall judge the world the last act of the Kingdom of Christ will be so much the more comfortable to them 5. Hereby we shall be purged from those remainders of defilement for this is all the fruit to take away their sin Isa 27.9 when the Saints are left under the power of ungodly men it is but to try them and to purge them and make them white unto the time of the end Dan. 11.35 6. This will sweeten heaven for ever The consideration of all those miseries we are delivered from which by the permission of God we had experience of We now come to the fruit and consequence of such a temper of Spirit submitting to the will of God which is expressed in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we ceased This word is variously used both in sacred and profane Authors and I find in them all that it commonly signifies these three things 1. An inward quietness and tranquillity of mind for there is a silence of the soul Psalm 62.1 My soul keep silence unto God Therefore it is for a man to be quiet without any inward turnings or risings of spirit to have a spirit quiet like the calm sea a man that is delivered from an unquiet spirit and freed from those turbulent affections that do disquiet other men therefore the Septuagint do thus render the word to which interpretation we are most to give heed in the interpretation of the word in the New Testament In Lam. 3.26 It is good for a man to wait quietly the word is the same with that in my text It is an inward quietness of Spirit in waiting for the salvation of God 1 Thes 4.11 study to be quiet Make it your ambition to get an inward quiet calm spirit look upon it as matter of your duty and of your Glory to attain such a spirit that you may be free from all turbulent inward distractions 2. The word signifies a silence of speech as well as a silence of soul Nehem. 5.8 So they held their peace so the Septuagint render it they had not a word to answer Acts 11.18 When Peter declared to the Church the conversion of the Gentiles they held their peace and glorified God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. The word signifies a quiet behaviour a Cessation from work as a man without business or as one translates it it is as much as to keep holy day So it is rendred Luke 23.56 and I think all these three senses are meant here and then the meaning is
which God hath given to the Saints to study in this state of distance till they come to behold his face the book of nature and the book of Scripture and there are three things the Saints have mainly to do in this life 1. To obey his precepts 2 To beleive his promises 3 To submit to his providences The Angels in heaven behold his face in glory which is to them Cognitio meridiana as the Schoolmen speak yet they study the word and the works of God and know much of the will of God by them Unto Angels and principalities and powers is made known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God Ephes 3.10 They are indeed present in our assemblies and therefore women are exhorted to have power upon their heads because of the Angels 1 Cor. 11.17 They do not come to our assemblies to be instructed by any of our ordinances for they know much more then any of the Saints do We know in part and prophesie in part but by the Church is meant By the works of God toward the Church and his severall dispensations therein And this is their Cognitio vespertina the knowledg which they get by their own experience and observation of the works of God in the world but especially toward the Church 2. This Will manifested being the rule of duty the Saints ought neither to speak nor act against it 1. A man must not speak against the will of Gods as manifested First not against his commanding will a man must not dispute any command of God for God only is the Lord of his own law and therfore every thought and reasoning of ours must be brought into subjection thereunto 2 Cor. 10 5. Here an implicite faith is only necessary to obey when a man sees no reason for it Therefore the Apostle condemns those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— Tim. 6.5 perverse disputings of the commands of God by men of torrupt minds destitute of the truth Not against the effecting will of God when God hath done any work â—nd therein manifested his will we must not speak against it Levit. 10. â— Aaron held his peace And David â—ept silence because it was the Lords doâ—ng Hab. 2. last Zach. 2. last Be â—lent oh all flesh before the Lord. It is â—poken of the effecting will of God in the Churches deliverance The Lorâ— will inherit Judah his portion in the holy land and again chuse Ierusalemâ— Against this there was like to be 〈◊〉 great deal of reasoning and murmuâ—ring and that from the Saints aâ— well as from the enemies but thâ— Lord puts it to silence when he wâ—â— do the work do not dispute do noâ— rail do noit reason againstit 3. Noâ— against the permitting will of God if he will suffer the Caldeans to plundâ— Iob of his substance and Satan to bâ—reave him of his children and givâ— him power over the winds to thâ— end yea if he will give him powâ—â— over his body so as to smite him wiâ— plague-sores for the same word 〈◊〉 used that is used of Hezechias sicknesâ— which by the medicine of a bunch 〈◊〉 green figs is guessed by interpreteâ— to be a plague-sore yet he must 〈◊〉 reply against it not speak a woâ— but with thankfulness submit unâ—â— the will of God as manifested thereiâ— If God will suffer Shimei to curse Dâ—vid he must not so much as say Wâ—â— hast thou done so 2 Sam. 16.10 therebe a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul so as he must fight it out with a champion sent from hell immediately and if the Lord will have it to continue upon him and will not grant his prayer for the removing of it he must not speak against it but sit down and say Thy grace is sufficient for me 2. As the Saints must not speak against the will of God when it is manifested so they must not act against it We have in Scripture three famous instances hereof First when the Lord had declared his will that he would give up Jerusalem and the King thereof into the hands of the King of Babylon Now the will of God is manifested may they not use all lawfull means for their defence and stand it out to the last man they can but be delivered into his hands at last but when the will of God is made known Zedekiah must not oppose but he must go forth to the King of Babylon yield up himself give up his City and then the promise is Thou shalt live thou and thy house Ier. 38.17 18. verses 2. The Lord had manifested his will for the destruction of the house of Ahab that wicked and idolatrous family Jehosaphat joyns with Ahab in a War that he might contrary to the revealed will of God preserve him and his house from ruine 2 Chron. 19 2. the Lord sends a prophet to reprove him Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord therefore is wrath upon thee from the Lord for he will rise up against the house of evill doers and against the help of them that work iniquity If his will be manifested to destroy a family let not the best men interpose and act against the will of God as manifested for they will be so farr from recovering it that they will perish with it proud helpers shall stoop before him 3. When the Lord is accomplishing his own great work against Babylon Mystery Babylon the great the mother of harlots against all humane inventions under all forms the worship of God as taught by the precepts of men and when the will of God is manifested by the pouring out of severall vials after all this the kings of the earth shall be gathered together to the great battell at Armageddon for Antichrists restitution and establishment Rev. 16.16 This gathering together and rallying their scattered troops is their sin and shall be their snare and ruine For if the will of God be manifested it will be the down-fall of all that come in to joyn with them in ways of opposition against it 3. The grounds of this doctrine are these Reas 1. The will of God hath a majesty and a soveraingty goes with it for he is the great the only potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords none governs by will as an absolute monarch but himself And therefore Austin commends those Princes as happy men qui potestatem suam divinae majestati famulam faciunt And if there be a soveraignty then every disobedience unto this will and every opposition against it whether in word or action is rebellion 1. Sam. 15.23 There is a rebellion against God because his will hath a soveraignty in it and his law is a royall law Therefore the Lord cals the Babylonians who were a disobedient people the land of rebels Jer. 50.21 For to speak or act against the will of God as manifested is a rebellion against the Lord. Ier. 28.16 The Lord saith I will put an iron yoke upon the neck of these nations and they