adversary_n we_o may_v also_o on_o clear_a scripture_n ground_n conclude_v that_o the_o lord_n be_v now_o awake_v as_o a_o mighty_a man_n and_o upon_o the_o field_n yea_o that_o the_o war_n be_v sure_o begin_v against_o antichrist_n and_o all_o the_o adversary_n of_o his_o church_n which_o shall_v not_o cease_v until_o the_o full_a victory_n be_v obtain_v for_o indeed_o these_o providence_n which_o in_o these_o last_o time_n shall_v be_v very_o affright_v and_o terrible_a when_o we_o go_v in_o to_o the_o word_n we_o shall_v find_v they_o have_v a_o comfortable_a aspect_n on_o the_o church_n and_o do_v presage_v her_o great_a enlargement_n which_o as_o the_o tender_a bud_n and_o leaf_n of_o the_o fig_n tree_n be_v put_v forth_o to_o show_v the_o summer_n approach_n luc._n 21_o ver_fw-la 28._o it_o be_v true_a the_o church_n be_v now_o low_a and_o the_o work_n of_o god_n meet_v with_o very_o sad_a interruption_n which_o be_v needful_a both_o for_o trial_n and_o rebuke_v but_o this_o also_o be_v sure_o which_o none_o can_v deny_v that_o the_o lord_n have_v eminent_o appear_v and_o do_v great_a thing_n for_o his_o church_n yea_o we_o must_v say_v he_o have_v by_o a_o confluence_n of_o very_a remarkable_a providence_n thus_o condescend_v to_o strengthen_v his_o people_n hand_n to_o confirm_v such_o who_o be_v ready_a to_o stagger_v even_o as_o it_o be_v by_o cruche_n anent_o the_o greatness_n of_o these_o thing_n which_o be_v yet_o promise_v now_o to_o clear_v this_o truth_n a_o little_a we_o will_v consider_v first_o how_o it_o be_v very_a consonant_n to_o the_o scripture_n and_o express_o hold_v forth_o in_o the_o same_o that_o in_o the_o last_o time_n and_o turn_v of_o the_o church_n case_n from_o antichrist_n the_o lord_n will_v thus_o appear_v in_o his_o great_a strength_n and_o set_v up_o his_o standard_n against_o his_o adversary_n yea_o will_v then_o in_o a_o special_a way_n call_v forth_o his_o people_n to_o glorify_v he_o by_o a_o active_a testimony_n 2._o that_o the_o lord_n have_v thus_o begin_v to_o appear_v according_a to_o his_o word_n be_v a_o truth_n that_o be_v also_o undeniable_a &_o shall_v much_o help_v to_o confirm_v our_o faith_n anent_o the_o performance_n of_o that_o which_o further_o remain_v of_o the_o scripture_n 1._o that_o this_o be_v manifest_a from_o the_o word_n may_v be_v thus_o clear_a first_o though_o the_o church_n militant_a must_v not_o want_v a_o adversary_n and_o some_o persecution_n from_o the_o world_n even_o in_o her_o best_a estate_n yet_o we_o have_v a_o safe_a warrant_n to_o expect_v that_o the_o lord_n will_v glorify_v himself_o in_o a_o peculiar_a way_n in_o his_o people_n now_o in_o these_o latter_a day_n by_o do_v and_o act_v for_o the_o truth_n as_o in_o former_a age_n his_o glory_n do_v most_o appear_v dnre_v antichrist_n reign_v in_o his_o church_n suffering_n for_o then_o the_o faith_n and_o patience_n of_o his_o saint_n be_v to_o be_v witness_v in_o its_o season_n rev._n 13_o ver_fw-la 10._o and_o thus_o he_o will_v serve_v himself_o of_o his_o people_n and_o bring_v forth_o his_o glory_n until_o that_o time_n of_o retribution_n when_o these_o who_o have_v kill_v with_o the_o sword_n shall_v be_v kill_v by_o the_o sword_n and_o these_o who_o lead_v unto_o captivity_n be_v so_o deal_v with_o which_o do_v also_o clear_o promise_v some_o special_a outletting_n of_o the_o spirit_n for_o act_v with_o these_o gift_n of_o courage_n and_o resolution_n suitable_a to_o the_o service_n of_o the_o church_n in_o the_o latter_a day_n and_o true_o i_o think_v it_o be_v a_o great_a want_n we_o study_v not_o more_o the_o accomplish_n of_o the_o promise_n and_o how_o to_o improve_v the_o same_o for_o gift_n as_o well_o as_o grace_v in_o order_n to_o the_o several_a time_n and_o necessity_n of_o the_o church_n 2._o it_o be_v very_o clear_a from_o the_o scripture_n that_o in_o the_o last_o day_n when_o christ_n be_v to_o raise_v his_o church_n from_o under_o the_o power_n and_o tyranny_n of_o antichrist_n he_o shall_v then_o appear_v in_o a_o warlike_a posture_n which_o john_n have_v show_v to_o he_o rev._n 19_o v._n 13_o 14._o as_o one_o upon_o the_o head_n of_o his_o force_n with_o his_o vesture_n dip_v in_o blood_n to_o show_v that_o when_o once_o the_o war_n be_v begin_v against_o his_o adversary_n and_o this_o lion_n of_o the_o tribe_n of_o juda_n begin_v to_o rouse_v himself_o up_o what_o a_o terrible_a appearance_n he_o will_v have_v in_o that_o undertake_n and_o it_o be_v clear_a that_o the_o lord_n have_v declare_v in_o this_o his_o counsel_n and_o will_v that_o his_o son_n christ_n shall_v in_o the_o latter_a time_n take_v unto_o himself_o his_o great_a power_n and_o reign_v rev._n 11_o ver_fw-la 17._o yea_o cause_n the_o world_n know_v he_o to_o be_v head_n of_o principalitye_n and_o power_n as_o well_o as_o of_o the_o church_n for_o his_o glory_n in_o this_o truth_n as_o a_o king_n which_o former_a age_n seem_v in_o so_o great_a a_o measure_n to_o darken_v must_v then_o clear_o shine_v forth_o i_o true_o think_v man_n appear_v with_o such_o violence_n and_o rage_n against_o so_o concern_v a_o truth_n now_o in_o these_o day_n do_v promise_v some_o eminent_a appearance_n of_o the_o lord_n therein_o and_o that_o he_o shall_v yet_o more_o solemn_o assert_v the_o same_o before_o the_o world_n 3._o do_v not_o the_o scripture_n point_n at_o the_o last_o time_n as_o that_o special_a time_n of_o recompense_n for_o the_o controversy_n of_o zion_n to_o which_o the_o lord_n have_v reserve_v a_o solemn_a triumph_n of_o his_o justice_n over_o all_o his_o church_n enemy_n when_o he_o shall_v inquire_v for_o the_o blood_n of_o his_o saint_n shed_v upon_o the_o earth_n since_o the_o day_n of_o abel_n at_o babylon_n hand_n revelat._n 18_o ver_fw-la 24._o that_o great_a adversary_n who_o stand_v in_o law_n guilty_a and_o have_v serve_v herself_o heir_n to_o all_o the_o violence_n &_o cruelty_n do_v in_o former_a age_n for_o in_o her_o hand_n must_v that_o cup_n be_v find_v full_o which_o the_o enemy_n of_o the_o church_n from_o the_o beginning_n have_v be_v fill_v up_o and_o as_o so_o many_o river_n and_o fountain_n have_v run_v unto_o this_o great_a sea_n 4._o it_o be_v also_o clear_a that_o in_o the_o last_o time_n when_o the_o lord_n shall_v bind_v up_o the_o breach_n of_o his_o people_n and_o heal_v the_o stroke_n of_o their_o wound_n who_o for_o so_o long_a a_o time_n have_v be_v trample_v under_o by_o antichrist_n he_o shall_v by_o some_o signal_n providence_n roll_v away_o this_o reproach_n and_o scandal_n of_o meanne_n contempt_n and_o persecution_n shall_v put_v some_o glory_n on_o his_o church_n proportionable_a to_o its_o former_a abasement_n yea_o thus_o comfort_v she_o according_a to_o the_o day_n wherein_o he_o have_v afflict_v she_o and_o cause_v his_o people_n uprising_n in_o measure_n and_o kind_a to_o answer_v their_o low_a and_o suffer_a state_n from_o antichrist_n even_o in_o the_o last_o time_n when_o the_o lord_n shall_v make_v they_o appear_v with_o the_o face_n of_o a_o lion_n when_o the_o feeble_a shall_v be_v as_o david_n and_o as_o the_o angel_n of_o the_o lord_n zach._n 12_o ver_fw-la 8._o which_o promise_n do_v clear_o point_v at_o the_o church_n raise_v and_o delivery_n from_o antichrist_n upon_o the_o back_n whereof_o we_o find_v the_o prophet_n do_v foretell_v the_o last_o conversion_n and_o incom_v of_o israel_n 5._o i_o shall_v only_o add_v what_o the_o scripture_n do_v most_o express_o show_v that_o the_o lord_n shall_v so_o glorious_o appear_v in_o bring_v his_o church_n out_o of_o babylon_n and_o execute_v his_o judgement_n on_o that_o adversary_n as_o in_o the_o day_n when_o he_o bring_v his_o people_n out_o of_o egypt_n and_o therefore_o shall_v they_o sing_v the_o song_n of_o moses_n and_o the_o lamb_n rev._n 15_o ver_fw-la 3._o his_o great_a power_n and_o outstretch_a hand_n be_v no_o less_o discernible_a therein_o then_o if_o they_o have_v be_v stand_v with_o israel_n at_o the_o red_a sea_n when_o they_o see_v their_o enemy_n lie_v dead_a upon_o the_o shore_n yea_o have_v we_o not_o ground_n to_o believe_v that_o the_o lord_n shall_v make_v himself_o very_o evident_o know_v in_o raise_v instrument_n and_o act_v they_o forth_o which_o have_v be_v already_o see_v and_o i_o be_o sure_a the_o world_n must_v confess_v what_o great_a thing_n have_v be_v do_v by_o these_o of_o who_o little_o be_v expect_v iii_o that_o the_o lord_n have_v thus_o begin_v to_o appear_v and_o make_v himself_o know_v to_o the_o world_n in_o these_o last_o age_n according_a to_o his_o word_n be_v a_o thing_n very_o easy_a to_o demonstrat_fw-la for_o 1._o be_v it_o not_o clear_v how_o in_o these_o last_o time_n he_o have_v meet_v his_o enemy_n upon_o their_o high_a place_n
other_o sinful_a man_n to_o be_v carry_v through_o creditable_o but_o as_o sure_a as_o ever_o he_o speak_v to_o i_o in_o his_o word_n his_o spirit_n witness_v to_o my_o heart_n say_v fear_v not_o he_o have_v accept_v my_o suffering_n and_o the_o outgate_n shall_v not_o be_v matter_n of_o prayer_n but_o of_o praise_n he_o say_v also_o thy_o word_n be_v find_v and_o i_o do_v eat_v it_o and_o it_o be_v to_o i_o the_o joy_n and_o rejoice_v of_o my_o heart_n and_o a_o little_a before_o his_o death_n after_o some_o faint_a he_o say_v now_o i_o feel_v i_o believe_v i_o enjoy_v i_o rejoice_v and_o turn_v to_o mr_n blair_n then_o present_v he_o say_v i_o feed_v on_o manna_n i_o have_v angel_n food_n my_o eye_n shall_v see_v my_o redeemer_n i_o know_v that_o he_o shall_v stand_v at_o the_o latter_a day_n on_o the_o earth_n and_o i_o shall_v be_v catch_v up_o in_o the_o cloud_n to_o meet_v he_o in_o the_o air_n and_o afterward_o have_v these_o word_n i_o sleep_v in_o christ_n and_o when_o i_o awake_v i_o shall_v be_v satisfy_v with_o his_o likeness_n o_o for_o arm_n to_o embrace_v he_o and_o to_o one_o speak_v anent_o his_o painfulness_n in_o the_o ministry_n he_o cry_v out_o iâ—disclaim_v all_o the_o port_n i_o will_v be_v in_o at_o be_v redemption_n and_o forgiveness_n if_o sin_n through_o his_o blood_n and_o thus_o full_a of_o the_o spirit_n yea_o as_o it_o be_v overcome_v with_o sensible_a enjoyment_n he_o breathe_v out_o his_o soul_n his_o last_o word_n be_v glory_n glory_n dwell_v in_o emâ—â—nuels_n land_n sixth_z witness_n be_v that_o convince_a appearance_n of_o a_o extraordinary_a and_o apostolic_a spirit_n on_o some_o of_o these_o instrument_n who_o the_o lord_n raise_v up_o in_o these_o last_o time_n and_o these_o great_a enduement_n wherewith_o they_o be_v send_v for_o the_o service_n of_o the_o church_n and_o overthrow_v of_o the_o kingdom_n of_o antichrist_n a_o truth_n which_o we_o must_v say_v if_o not_o in_o such_o a_o measure_n yet_o have_v be_v no_o less_o evident_a than_o in_o these_o primitive_a time_n when_o the_o christian_a church_n be_v plant_v it_o be_v clear_a that_o extraordinary_a gift_n and_o enduement_n have_v be_v let_v forrh_n to_o the_o church_n under_o the_o new_a testament_n for_o with_o the_o first_o dawn_n of_o the_o gospel_n there_o be_v both_o apostle_n and_o prophet_n raise_v up_o it_o can_v be_v also_o deny_v that_o since_o the_o cannon_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v close_v yea_o in_o these_o late_a age_n there_o have_v be_v very_o extraordinary_a man_n give_v to_o the_o church_n who_o have_v special_a revelation_n from_o the_o lord_n of_o his_o mind_n anent_o thing_n to_o come_v which_o though_o we_o shall_v not_o now_o look_v after_o yet_o herein_o do_v the_o lord_n remarkable_o condescend_v when_o some_o great_a piece_n of_o service_n and_o necessity_n of_o the_o church_n do_v more_o call_n for_o it_o and_o true_o these_o be_v lead_v in_o no_o other_o path_n then_o that_o of_o the_o word_n though_o they_o have_v a_o more_o special_a discovery_n and_o immediate_a inbrethe_n of_o god_n mind_n as_o to_o the_o application_n thereof_o in_o particular_a case_n neither_o do_v they_o press_v upon_o man_n conscience_n to_o credit_v the_o same_o but_o be_v most_o cautious_a witness_v much_o humble_a sobriety_n on_o that_o account_n it_o be_v know_v what_o extraordinary_a instrument_n how_o wonderful_o call_v and_o qualify_v luther_n zuingliuâ—_n calvine_n mr_n wishart_n and_o mr_n knox_n be_v who_o god_n send_v in_o these_o latter_a day_n to_o grapple_v with_o antichrist_n and_o sound_v a_o retreat_n to_o his_o church_n from_o babylon_n likewise_o 〈◊〉_d beza_n bacere_fw-la and_o martyr_n with_o divers_a in_o england_n such_o as_o latimer_n ridley_n bradfoord_n etc._n etc._n who_o indeed_o be_v burn_v and_o shine_a light_n in_o their_o time_n mighty_a in_o the_o scripture_n fervent_a in_o spirit_n be_v clothe_v with_o the_o power_n and_o authority_n of_o god_n before_o which_o the_o world_n can_v not_o stand_v but_o beside_o these_o famous_a witness_n of_o who_o life_n we_o have_v something_o this_o day_n on_o public_a record_n i_o must_v here_o craveliberty_n to_o set_v down_o a_o few_o more_o more_o late_a instance_n of_o our_o own_o church_n in_o scotland_n to_o confirm_v this_o truth_n such_o as_o be_v but_o little_o know_v to_o the_o world_n nor_o any_o thing_n of_o their_o life_n publish_v which_o i_o think_v a_o great_a loss_n to_o after_o generation_n who_o we_o may_v say_v and_o this_o with_o a_o warrant_n and_o in_o sobriety_n be_v man_n true_o extraordinary_a eminent_o serviceable_a in_o the_o work_n of_o the_o lord_n yea_o of_o a_o prophetic_a and_o apostolic_a spirit_n and_o such_o who_o through_o grace_n do_v not_o even_o come_v short_a of_o the_o first_o three_o i_o mean_v not_o only_o these_o before_o mention_v but_o also_o some_o of_o these_o great_a light_n who_o be_v in_o the_o first_o age_n of_o the_o church_n after_o the_o ascension_n of_o christ_n 1._o i_o shall_v instance_n mr_n john_n welsh_n who_o the_o lord_n call_v forth_o to_o the_o ministry_n at_o kirck_n cubright_a in_o galloway_n and_o afterward_o be_v transport_v to_o the_o church_n of_o a_o who_o mr_n rutherfoord_n in_o one_o of_o his_o book_n call_v that_o heavenly_a prophetical_a and_o apostolic_a man_n of_o god_n and_o show_v that_o from_o the_o witness_n of_o his_o life_n he_o have_v this_o account_n that_o of_o every_o 24_o hour_n he_o give_v usual_o eight_o to_o prayer_n if_o other_o necessary_a and_o urgent_a duty_n do_v not_o hinder_v yea_o spend_v many_o day_n and_o night_n which_o he_o set_v apart_o in_o fast_v and_o prayer_n for_o the_o condition_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o suffering_n of_o the_o reform_a church_n abroad_o i_o can_v also_o add_v this_o from_o very_o sure_a information_n and_o true_o anent_o any_o of_o those_o particular_n i_o serious_o study_v to_o have_v satisfy_v ground_n anent_o the_o certainty_n thereof_o that_o it_o be_v his_o use_n even_o in_o the_o cold_a winter_n night_n to_o rise_v for_o prayer_n and_o oft_o time_n his_o wife_n who_o be_v a_o excellent_a woman_n have_v rise_v to_o seek_v after_o he_o where_o he_o have_v be_v find_v lie_v on_o the_o ground_n weep_v and_o wrestle_v with_o the_o lord_n yea_o sometime_o will_v have_v be_v much_o of_o the_o night_n alone_o in_o the_o church_n of_o air_n on_o that_o account_n one_o time_n especial_o his_o wife_n find_v he_o overcharge_v with_o grief_n he_o tell_v she_o he_o have_v that_o to_o press_v he_o which_o she_o have_v not_o the_o soul_n of_o 3000_o to_o answer_v for_o while_o he_o know_v not_o how_o it_o be_v with_o many_o of_o they_o and_o a_o other_o time_n while_o she_o find_v he_o alone_o his_o spirit_n almost_o overcharge_v with_o anguish_n and_o gry_a upon_o her_o serious_a enquiry_n say_v that_o the_o time_n which_o be_v to_o come_v on_o scotland_n be_v heavy_a and_o sad_a though_o she_o shall_v not_o see_v they_o and_o this_o for_o the_o contempt_n of_o the_o gospel_n while_o he_o be_v prisoner_n in_o the_o blackness_n in_o a_o letter_n to_o a_o christian_a lady_n he_o give_v this_o account_n what_o large_a joy_n he_o have_v to_o suffer_v for_o such_o a_o truth_n that_o jesus_n christ_n be_v a_o king_n and_o have_v a_o visible_a kingdom_n in_o the_o world_n even_o his_o church_n which_o be_v as_o free_a to_o keep_v its_o court_n and_o exerce_fw-la discipline_n by_o virtue_n of_o a_o intrinsic_a power_n from_o christ_n as_o any_o kingdom_n on_o the_o earth_n for_o which_o he_o be_v ready_a to_o lay_v down_o his_o life_n yea_o will_v rejoice_v to_o be_v offer_v up_o a_o sacrifice_n on_o so_o glorious_a a_o truth_n in_o the_o close_a of_o that_o letter_n he_o do_v also_o forewarn_a that_o judgement_n be_v come_v to_o scotland_n which_o shall_v be_v blood_n first_o by_o a_o intestine_a sword_n and_o then_o by_o the_o sword_n of_o a_o stranger_n and_o that_o a_o great_a sacrifice_n shall_v be_v there_o both_o of_o great_a man_n and_o 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of_o this_o promise_n to_o the_o church_n beyond_o all_o we_o have_v yet_o see_v that_o many_o scripture-truth_n now_o dark_a and_o abstruse_a shall_v be_v make_v so_o clear_a as_o shall_v even_o cause_v we_o to_o wonder_v at_o the_o gross_a mistake_n we_o once_o have_v thereof_o yea_o that_o after_o generation_n shall_v have_v a_o discovery_n and_o uptake_v of_o some_o prophecy_n now_o obscure_a which_o shall_v as_o far_o exceed_v we_o as_o this_o time_n do_v go_v beyond_o former_a age_n which_o comparative_o we_o must_v say_v be_v very_o dark_a o_o when_o that_o promise_n of_o the_o incal_v of_o the_o jew_n shall_v once_o take_v place_n what_o a_o wonder_n will_v they_o be_v to_o themselves_o that_o their_o understanding_n shall_v have_v be_v under_o such_o a_o vail_n when_o the_o truth_n shall_v be_v clear_a and_o evident_a to_o they_o in_o that_o day_n will_v it_o not_o be_v a_o sweet_a and_o easy_a work_n for_o the_o godly_a to_o sort_v together_o the_o prediction_n of_o the_o 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and_o in_o their_o great_a strength_n that_o by_o a_o strong_a hand_n he_o do_v make_v room_n for_o his_o truth_n when_o both_o law_n and_o force_n do_v withstand_v the_o same_o and_o put_v the_o mark_n of_o his_o wrath_n on_o such_o who_o will_v oppose_v the_o spread_a of_o his_o kingdom_n that_o they_o have_v be_v as_o visible_a as_o sometime_o their_o rage_n and_o violence_n against_o the_o church_n be_v yea_o since_o the_o lord_n begin_v to_o lift_v up_o a_o standard_n for_o the_o truth_n and_o call_v forth_o his_o people_n to_o act_v have_v it_o not_o be_v see_v they_o have_v lose_v their_o ground_n more_o by_o underhand_a treaty_n and_o turn_v aside_o to_o carnal_a politic_a shift_n then_o by_o open_a force_n and_o violence_n which_o the_o french_a massacre_n with_o other_o sad_a instance_n can_v witness_v for_o indeed_o the_o church_n have_v still_o lose_v least_o by_o great_a opposition_n 2._o have_v we_o not_o see_v by_o what_o dreadful_a shake_n and_o alteration_n of_o the_o 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