upon whose heavenly glory the Lord wil create so sure a defence even from this man with whose beauty the Lord is so in love as that he will in no wise suffer it to be defaced from all men whose breath is in their nostrils shal the remnant then cease and they wil be able to render a good reason for their practise from dear bought experience for wherein is he to be accounted of nothing nor none wil then be of any account but the Lord himself the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day this is the end of all that we may cease from man and the Lord alone may be exalied but before this can be accomplished what dreadfulwork doth the stubborn Rebellions and Wickednesses of men force the Lord to make in the world what dissolvtions what ruining of mountains and Hils of Towers and Fenced wals of Ships and of men appearing in so dreadful a posture that all men good and bad run to hide themselves from his wrath and fury may we not apply that Scripture to this day g Luke 21.23 Woe unto them that are with Child and to them that give suck in those daies for there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people 2 Consider somewhat of the way and means by which the Lord wil bring to pass these wonders to accomplish this great work of exalting himself in Syon at this day h Isai 3 For behold the Lord the Lord of hosts doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff the whole stay of bread the whole stay of water the stay and the staff whatsoever it is they lean and rest upon for help and safety the Lord of hosts wil take that away from them the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water those wayes and means whether traffick or otherwise to which they trust to maintain plenty and prosperity this stay wil the Lord of hosts take away do they trust to their power and warlike strength the mighty man and the man of War and the Captain of fifty I wil take away that staffe saith the Lord of hosts do they rely upon their alliances and confederacies with the most interested men in the Nation the Judge and the antient and the honourable man I will take away that staffe saith the Lord of hosts do they lean upon their affinity and good correspondency with the holy and good men of the Times that by the prevalent influences of their good words for them they may appease and quiet a murmuring and discontented people to gain time to take deep root in the earth the Prophet and the eloquent Orator I wil take away that staffe to saith the Lord of hosts do they rest upon their cousel and policy the Counsellor and the cunning Artificer I wil take away that staff also saith the Lord of hosts yea Children shal be their Princes and Babes shal rule over them I wil so enfatuate their Princes and Rulers that they shal act like Babes and Children as far below the commendable actions of good and wise Rulers that act in the fear of the Lord as the actions of Babes and Children are beneath the actions of a wise and prudent man and what follows oppression after oppression intolerable oppression and it is no wonder seeing children and babes yea Women men effeminated of most pusillanimous fearful and cruel spirits i Isai 33 14. â— the sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulness bath surprized the Hypocrites rule over the people Oppression in the highest degree all ranks and degrees of men broken The Child behaveth himself proudly against the antient and the base against the honourable through the unworthiness of him that sitteth in the seat of the Antient and the degenerated actions of him that occupies the room of the honourable those whose stations are as far inferior to theirs as the child is to a man ful of dayes and the base beggar to the truly honourable they behave themselves proudly against them looking upon them as the subject of their scorn and disdain rather than the object of their fear and honour The people are oppressed every one by another every one by his Neighbour yea the imperious oppressions of these wicked Rulers are so intolerable and the disgusts and rage of the people so great and high that as they are at a loss whom to chuse to rule and govern them so every man wil be so fearful and shie of becoming a healer of these breaches that when they come to pitch upon any he wil refuse the honour and dignity swearing to them that he hath not those qualifications in him as they expect should be in a Ruler this I conceive is the natural import of the 6 and 7th Verses When a man shal take hold of his Brother of the house of his Father saying thou hast clothing be thou our Ruler and let this ruine be under thine hand In that day shal he swear saying I will not be a healer for in my house is neither bread nor clothing make me not a Ruler of the people these calamities end in naught else but ruine For Jerusalem is ruine and Judah is fallen Thus dreadful and terrible wil the day of the Lord be to the house of Jacob professing Zion and who is he that trembleth not at this word of the Lord is there any so curious to enquire into the reason why the Lords wrath waxes so hot against his people those that by a profession gave themselves up to him as his people they may by a narrow search find the Lord proceeds upon good and just grounds and reasons from amongst divers others take these 1 More generally relating to the people in the lump 1 Because k Ch. 3.8 their tongue and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory their speeches and actions are such so exceeding provoking as the holy and pure eyes of God cannot endure they are so dishonourable to his great name and derogating from his glory that being a jealous God that wil not give his glory to another he wil not forgive them but wil satiate his justice in their fal and ruine 2 Because l Ch 2.8 their land is ful of Idols they worship the work of their own hands that which their own fingers have made the meane man boweth down and the great man humbleth himself they are guilty of idolatry their own works are their Idols which I cannot conceive is the gross idolatry of former Ages but these Idols are of another nature suitable to the refined wickedness of this day what they are I shal not stand to search into it suffiseth that they are in the Lords account Idolaters notwithstanding all their curious coverings they cannot hide their idolatry from the eyes of the Lord. 2 More particular relating in special to the chief Rulers 1 Because m Verse 6. they be replenished from the east and are
these mine adversaries and avenge me of these mine enemies 4 That the Church-state of professing Sion their outward holiness with all their Sacrifices and performances the Temple of the Lord shal not nor cannot save them from the smart and burden of the heavy hand of an angry God the day of the Lord of hosts wil come upon them he wil be as a refiners fine and as Fullers sope to them he wil fan them til he hath throughly purged his floore x Isaiah 27.9 by this therefore by the smitings of God as the former Verse hath it shal the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin 5 That notwithstanding this universal backsliding and apostacy in professing Zion yet the Lord hath a remnant left that fear him that stand up for his name and honour bearing their testimony against the provoking evils and wickednesses of the Times Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and thought upon his name 6 That this provoking professing world are beholden to this dispised remnant for the long sufferance of God towards them and the mercies they receive at the hand of the Lord y Isai 1.9 Except the Lord of hosts had left us a very smal remnant we should have been as Sodom and we should have been like unto Gomorrah they are the salt that season this earth and keep it from a total purifying annihilation into its first nothing it is they and they only that lengthen out the patience of God towards the backsliding professing world and keep it from being made an example of the severity of God to future Ages and as a necessary and natural consequent of this 7 We may observe The excessive giddines and folly of the great and wise men of this sick dying world who will not endure the application of the soveraign Remedies these wholsome though tormenting Physitians present unto them but look upon them deal with them as enemies endeavouring their destruction what though they handle roughly and feel hard that they prove a real torment to you that man that wil not indure his wounds searching wil never attain the cure it is not their want of care and tenderness but your corruption and rottenness that causes the paine the sound limb or joynt shrinks not at the searching hand but the rotten that is ful of corrupt putrifaction that cannot abide nor indure the willing hand of the skilful Chirurgeon to dive to the bottom of the distemper in order to a safe and speedy cure notwithstanding all the disguising Vizards you represent them their waies and ends to the world in it wil be found at last in the Lords own time which is best of all that the interest of your safety and happiness is wrapt up in hearkning and attending to the Voice of God in their mouth but if you wil not hear but set your selves against them know there is no middle way that z Psalm 8.2 out of the mouths of Babes and sucklings the Lord hath ordained strength to stil the enemy and the avenger 8 That before the Lord wil execute his Judgements in wrath upon the prophane antichristian world he enters into Judgement with professing Zion a 1 Pet. 4.17 for the time is come that Judgement must begin at the house of God the Lord wil purge and purifie Zion make up his Jewels from amidst all the dross and tin and then wil he make Zion a fit instrument to perform his great works in and upon the world in that day of his wrath that shal burn as an Oven if it first begin at us what shal the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God and if the righteous scarce be saved where shal the ungodly and the sinner appear in that day they shal burn up the wicked leaving them neither root for brach treading them down as ashes under their feet 9 That this professing Zion thus defiled by her backslidings and Apostacies and being lifted up upon its own bottom exalting themselves when they should exalt the Lord alone is become the subject of the anger and displeasure of God the scene on which the Lord will act the sad Tragedy of his Jealousie when once the Inhabitants of Zion become Mountains and hils and tall Cedars listed up and Oaks of Bashan high Towers and fenced wals c. come into a strain of self-exaltation self-confidence and self-interest then do they so provoke the eyes of Gods glory that he wil bear no longer but enter into Judgement with them The Lord is a jealous God and b Isai 41.8 he wil not give his glory to another he wil not suffer any to go away with his honour and glory he is so jealous of his honour least it should suffer detraction by the lofty assumptions of this foolish professing Zion that he fals foul with all her high mountains and hils tal Cedars and Oaks of Bashan high Towers and fenced wals and vvith all her ships and pleasant pictures he looks upon them all as Idols which he wil utterly abolish that the Lord alone may be exalted in that day 10 That this coming of Christ the Messenger of the Covenant to his Syon I do conceive is not in person but in Spirit though that personal appearance wil take place in due time also washing and purging his Zion by the spirit of Judgment and the spirit of burning he shal sit upon Zion as a Refiner and purifier of silver by a notable trying refining dispensation purely purge away their dross and take away all their tin purifying them as gold and silver that they may offer up to the Lord an Offering in righteousness 11 That the Lord wil manage his great work of Judgement in Zion avenge himself on his enemies there and search try cleanse purifie and throughly cure those that halt in Zion in such a way and manner as he himself wil have the sole honour and glory of that action be alone exalted in that day he wil manifest such exceeding Majesty and glory in the vvay of his Judgements at this day that wil staine and put out all other glories professing Zion vaunts it self of so that she shal hide her self in shame for fear of the glory of the Majesty of the Lord vvhen he ariseth to shake terribly the earth yea the very remnant of God to vvhom his heart is so entirely engaged shal taste a little of this cup of shame too sheltering themselves under the freeness and riches of the promise the sparing love of their tender Father though now happily some Children may be in love vvith themselves their light and parts gifts and graces being too too apt to think themselves something yet then God knows the roaring vvind among the Cedar boughs the bloody Furrows the rod makes upon the backs of their Brethren with its shaking over their own heads letting them know upon vvhat account or score it is they scape
not merit or desert but pure love vvil teach them another and a better lesson Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day a thing which never yet was done in any of the dayes this old World ever saw 12 Behold somewhat of the way and course the Lord wil take to do this great and marvellous work he wil cause the fire to break out from among themselves that shal consume them this Earthquake arises from the rending vvind pent up vvithin the concavities of its own earth as the scope and tendency of the Third Chap intimates and herein consists somewhat of the Wonder that a State defended vvith such a Force Cedars and Oaks Mountains and Hils Towers and fenced wals Ships and pleasant things even the mighty man and the man of War the Judge and the Prophet the Prudent and the Antient the Honourable man and the Counsellor the cunning Artificer and the Eloquent Oratour should be brought down and laid in the dust the Lord so impoverishes those of the excellent gifts and qualities they once had that being enfatuated they become as Children Babes and Women this alteration in the superior orbs begets another as dangerous in the lower regions the Lord stops the fountains of this professing earth and for want of those cooling waters that had vvont to keep things in some tolerable poise the fiery element prevails and breaking out of the earth begets its own likeness a fiery blaze in the fountains also as of old fire came out from Abimelech and devoured the men of Shechem fire came out from Shechem devoured Abimelech so here is fire against fire which continues burning til c Isai 3. â— Jerusalem be ruined and Judah be fallen in this fire wil the Lord avenge himself on his friend-like enemies those to whom the professing world give the right hand of fellowship as true Cittizens of Zion free denizens of the holy City in the management of this fiery work causing one fire to overcome the other consuming its own nature and over-ruling it to the carrying on his own design and work wil the Lord manifest such an exceeding glory above all former manifestations that the best of men shal enter into the rock and hide themselves in the dust for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty and he alone shal be exalted in that day 13 That the Prophets Isaiah and Malachy do not give us any ground as I can perceive to think the Lord wil make use of that beloved remnant of his that fear his name and speak often one to another about his name and honour at this day in this great work of his judging professing Zion in the manner treated of Malachy tels us The Lord wil spare them in that day and Isai saith it shal be well with them in that day but not a word do we read of any active condition they are in any otherwise than by the word of their testimony at that day I rather conceive that the state and condition of the remnant mentioned Isaiah 26.20 21. Come my people enter thou into thy Chambers and and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be over past for behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity the earth also shal disclose her blood and shal no more cover her slain 14 That none are under the saving influences of those rich promises made to the blessed remnant at this day but those who not only speak often one to another against the apostacies and evils of the times but think on the name of God have this as the moving cause in all their motions a holy carefulness for the interest and name of God for them and for them only is there a Book of remembrance written and they and they only shal be mine saith the Lord in that day and they and they only wil the Lord spare in that day when he makes up his Jewels and then shal they return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not 15 Here is a holy directory to guide and an unerring touchstone to try all our waies and actions by at this day that in all our motions against the apostacies and evils of the times the honour and interest of the great name of God move us if that be not our frame and temper of Spirit we are none of the number in whom the Lord so much delights and our work of counsel is not that which the Lord so earnestly lissens and hearkens after til he hears all noting it down in his book of remembrance and we have nothing to do with those high expressions of the Lords matchless love in his promises no if the name of God be not solely in our eye and the exalting the Lord alone be not all our aime and end in what we do in stead of Gods peculiars in that day of the Lord it wil be unto us d Amos 5.18 19. darkness and not light as if a man fled from a Lyon and a Bear met him or went into a house and leaned his hand on the wal and a Serpent bit him 16 That he high attainments the graces and excellencies the remnant have attained to at this day is far short of the glory of the Lord is about to reveal when it comes forth they wil be glad to run to their shelter the sparing love of their Father they themselves shal then be laid in the dust before the Lord and the glorious Lord alone shal be exalted and magnified 17 That the great designe of God upon professing Zion at this day is to purge and purifie wash and cleanse it from all its filth dross and tin that they may become a holy Generation a peculiar people formed for himself to shew forth his praise able to offer up an Offering in righteousness pleasant unto the Lord. 18 Behold the way and course the Lord wil take to purge and purifie his Zion at this day he wil do it by the spirit of Judgement and the spirit of burning by such a trying dispensation of fiery judgement as shal not only burn up their dross but their tin also that which now looks so like and goes for good silver for that which is acceptable in the sight of God 19 Syon thus purged and purified shal have the creating power of God to assist her as her defence upon all this glory the Lord hath now cloathed her with shal be a desence it is not poluted and impure Zion the Lord wil thus defend but it is that glory of holiness the counterpaine or image of Gods own holiness vvhich wil be upon Zion when the Lord shal have washed away the filth from the daughter of Zion and shal have purged away the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof then
shal she be clothed with all the the defence promised and not til then the promise is to a washed and purified State not to a State defiled with filth tho of Zion not poluted with blood though of Jerusalem that which is most like true holiness and purity and is not that vvhich the Lord wil defend is nothing but glory the Image and impress of himself upon all the glory shal be a defence nothing beneath the glory of Zion thus vvashed and purified by a spirit of Judgment and a spirit of burning wil the Lord defend at this rate and after this manner but Syon clothed upon with the glory of her Bridegroom and Lord e Cant. 9 5 Who is this that cometh up from the Wilderness leaning upon her beloved shal be defended by a continual assistance of the creating power of God so that they shal not be tempted by any necessities whatsoever to make use of the same unrighteous politick wayes and courses the Rulers of the world have hitherto made use of to defend themselves they shal not make use of the worlds unrighteousnes to fence and guard their righteousness from the rape and spoils of their enemies but there shal a creating power such an extraordinary providence at tend them bringing down their enemiesunder their feet upon all occasions at all times that the Lord shal be so eminently seen in those wonderful occurrences of his providence and power that he shal have the praise and the glory of all Glory to God in the highest wil then be the burden of the song at that day 20 Vntil the Lord hath purged and purified Zion he wil not defend it against the rage and injuries of her enemies when the Lord shal have washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion and purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof then and not before wil he create upon all its glory such a defence as shal be a shadow from the heat a refuge from the storm and a covert from the rain such as shal be sufficient for all times and seasons night and day 21 When Syon is thus purged and purified become Gods holy hil of Zion a holy generation such a stamp of holiness set upon them that they shal be CALLED HOLY then will the Lord make use of her in his glorious work in the way of his Judgements upon the prophane antichristian and hypocritical world then wil they know how and be fit to burn up the wicked treading them as ashes under their feet But 22 Before that day comes that shal burn as an Oven wherein the stone shal smite the great Image and break it in peices the Lord will bring his remnant and his Jewels into one entire body and poure down his Spirit upon them a spirit of discerning such a degree of the Spirit as shal sufficiently qualifie and fit them for his work and service saith the Lord when I have made up my Jewels then shal ye all return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not for the day then cometh that shal burn as an Oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shal be stubble and the day that cometh shal burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shal leave them neither root nor branch 23 Observe the work of the remnant at this day of apostacy and falling away it consists of two parts 1 Bearing their testimony against the apostacies and evils of the times they spake often one to another if Jerusalem loose the kindness of her youth and the love of her Espousals Jeremy must be f Jer. 1.18 a defenced City and an iron pillar and brasen walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah and the Princes thereof against the Priests thereof and against the people of the Land If the house of Israel turn aside from God grow impudent and hard hearted stopping their ears against the word of the Lord Ezekiel must have g Ezek. 3.8 9 a strong face against their faces and a strong forehead harder than an adamant against their foreheads if the house of Jacob get into an hypocritical strain of outward holiness would make the world believe they keep a fast a day unto the Lord when they indeed fast to smite with the fist of wickednes and would cover their fulfilling the wil of their lusts under a cloak of doing God service Isaiah must h Isai 58.1 cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their transsions and the house of Jacob their sins in the performance of which service i Jer. 1.17 they must not be afraid lest they be confounded Qu If any should ask what those evils are that they that fear the Lord should bear their testimony against Ans The Prophet makes answer to this question by his significant THEN in the 16 Verse of his Third Chapter THEN they that feared the Lord spake often one to another then when they heard and saw things at that pass the Prophet had spoken of before they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and it doth not only point out the time when they spake but I conceive it also signifies to us the things against which they spake for the Prophets then hath relation and alludes to all the enormities and evils of the Times enumerated before and they are of a double nature matters of Religion and matters of a civil concernment 1 Of Religious matters And 1 If they behold men in professing Syon denying God k Mal. 1.6 that honour and that fear due unto him despising his great name robbing the Lord of those dues they ought to render to him then are they that fear the Lord to be sensible of the dishonour that comes to the name of God thereby and speak against that evil 2 If they behold Inhabitants of professing Syon a people that are l Isai 1. from the 2. verse to the 14 rebebellious children a sinful Nation laden with iniquity a seed of evil doers corrupters that have forsaken the Lord and gone away backward having their hands ful of blood mens hands may be filled with blood divers wayes that they are become to the Lord as Rulers of Sodom and people of Gomorrah provoking the holy one of Israel unto anger when they see this people in hypocrisie filling the Lord with a multitude of sacrifices and Offerings Oblations New Moons and oppointed feasts cloaking over their apostatising wickednesses with many religious performances to cozen their consciences and the professing world then ought they that fear the Lord to be sensible of the great dishonour the name of God suffers by this abomination and speak against that evil also 3 When they see men in professing Syon m Mal. 2.8 depart out of the way of the Lord apostatise causing many to stumble fal taking such offence at the Law the wayes of
God that they stumble into heathenisme and prophanes then are they that fear the Lord to take to heart the great dishonour the name of God suffers by this abomination and speak a gainst it also 4 Do they see inhabitants of professing Syon that seem to be great worshippers of God and zealous for the service of the Lord and the good of his people n Mal. 1.13 snuffing at that part of the worship of God at doing that peice of the will of God that suits not with their worldly interest of gaining this evil world with the Goods thereof crying out what a weariness is it something we would do for God but that the Lord now cals for is a wearisome burden to us it wil quite undoe us oh what a weariness is it this is an hard saying who can hear it then ought they that fear the Lord to think upon the dishonoured and despised name of God and speak against this abomination also 5 Do they behold men in professing Syon o Verse 14 Vowing a vow unto the Lord and in a capacity to perform that Vow having that Male in his flock and yet sacrifice unto the Lord a corrupt thing blinde and lame performances then also are they that fear the Lord to think on the name of God how greatly it is dishonoured and bear a ful testimony against that loathsom hypocrisie of him letting him know he is cursed who dareth so to trample under foot the name of the great King whose name is dreadful among the Heathen 6 Matters of a civil nature and as if the Prophet intended to stop the mouth of the objection of these dayes he brings in the evils of this nature in the last place that his THEN might clearly appeare to have special and direct relation to those things 1 When the proud professors in Syon that behave themselves proudly and contemptuously towards their God and their Brethren are accounted p Mal. 3.15 the happy men as those that would make the Nation happy by the wayes of their devising called happy congratulated and applauded as the men whom the Lord hath owned and made happy by his providence and blessing then are they that fear the Lord to think how the name of God is dishonoured by this evil and bear their testimony against it 2 When the wicked workers in professing Zion q Verse 15 the workers of wickedness are set up Children of strangers of a strange spirit and principle r Isai 3.6 contrary to the Spirit of our Lord the holy and righteous Spirit of true Syon and the work of God those whose delight is not in the law of the Lord but in wayes of their own inventions suitable to their degenerated and base interest who break the law continually working wickedness indeed although they cal it and would have what they do accounted righteousness and to defend these men in their wickednes s Verse 9 Horses and Chariots a powerful Militia is fixed as a wal about them when such men are set up over the people and such things done oppressing vilifying and persecuting the people of the Lord and the true interest of the Son of God our Lord Jesus among his people and in the world then are they that fear the Lord to be sensible of the dishonour and reproach is cast upon the name of God by this evil and bear their testimony against this wickedness also 3 When they see this evil in professing Syon t Mal. 3 15 they that tempt God are even delivered while the Altar of the Lord is covered with the tears weeping and crying out of the oppressed those who by their provoking hypocritical loathsome wickedness tempt the Lord to put an end to his long-sufferance and execute his vengeance before the appointed time are even delivered their heads are lifted up and their faces made to shine through the benigne aspect of those who should and ought to be a terror to them they are even delivered from their fears of receiving the desert of their wayes and actions by a stream of Justice and righteousness and are set up to work wickedness against God in oppressions and cruelty covering the Altar of the Lord with the tears sighs and groans of his people then are they that fear the Lord to think upon the great name of their God how unworthily it is dishonoured and trampled under foot and bear their testimony against this wickednesse also 4 When the Rulers of professing Syon beâ—â—â— and act like the Rulers of Sodom rebel against the Lord go away backward apostatise from God oppress the people of the land yet cover all with a cloak of religious performances and outward holines good aims and ends for the work of the Lord and the good of the Church of Christ with these coverings hiding their evils and wickednesses from the vulgar sight then are they that fear the Lord not to hold their peace but to cry aloud and bear their testimony for God against this abomination also and of of the fruit of this their doing shal they eat and it shal be wel with them in that day wherein he wil judge those men Qu Possibly it may be askt why wil the Lord have those that fear him thus industriously engaged against the evils and wickedness of Rulers and people at this day Answ The Answer is because his great name that was so glorious and dreadful among the Heathen is so exceedingly dishonoured therefore are they that fear the Lord to think upon the name of God and speak in its vindication this is an apostacy in Syon delivered out of Babilon though many of Babilons evils cleave yet close to them for whom the Lord hath done great and wonderful things freed them from the slavery and bondage of a sore captivity under the Babilonish power blessed them with prosperous success in building their City that in spite of the Tobiahs and Sanballats of all their enemies that had maintenance from the Kings Palace were maintained by a wretched Kingly Interest they became a Common-wealth a free people by which they had opportunity and liberty to serve the Lord in doing his whole Wil and pleasure in doing these great things far beyond the thoughts and expectations of the greatest worldly wise men for this people the Lord had gotten himself a great name dreadful among the Heathen how did the wicked world tremble at the thoughts of it and now for this people to draw back even to Babilon to apostatise from the Lord in matter and manner hath been treated of is none other but a wicked ravishing and deflouring the honour of the Virgin name of God he had so lately gotten to himself by doing such wonders for this unworthy people As our Lord said of his day in the flesh that if those Disciples that spake for him and blest him should hold their peace the stones would immediatly cry out so may it truly be said of this time also if they that fear
the Lord should hold their peace and not speak and plead for the name of their God the stones the dumb Creation would bear a Testimony for God against mans wickedness if none else wil the stone shal cry out of the wall and the beam out of the timber shal answer it The name of God which had been clouded for a long time began now to be glorious and excellent in all the earth upon which the heart of God is fixed and their going about to ravish this honor provokes the eyes of Gods glory stirs up his Jealousie least it should be given to others what overturning work doth the Lord of hosts say he wil make in professing Syon and doth this move the Lord himself and wil he not think we have those that fear him moved also wil he act thus like a man of War and blood to vindicate his honour and wil he not have them to speak for it surely yea so that we see there is great reason why they that fear the Lord should be of this temper of spirit at this day 2 A second part of the work of the Remnant at this day is a sincere and hearty solicitousness after what other duty may be encumbent upon them the performance whereof may in any measure vinvindicate the honor and glorifie the name of their God who is so much dishonored and whose name is so vilely trampled under foot by the hypocriticall wickednesses of this day they thought upon his name What shall we do for thy great name 24. Behold the blessednesse of those who sincerely exercise themselves in the work of the Lord at this day They shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him such blessednesse will they possesse as their portion from their God and Father as none but themselves shall be made happy with in that day Many other usefull lessons might be observed to be taught us from these scriptures but I shall satisfie my self with what is already written And to conclude this discourse give me leave to addresse my self in a few words to those three sorts of men concerned in it 1. To the Leaders of this apostacy Yee a Isa 1.10 Mal. 2.19 Rulers of Sodome and ye base and contemptible Priests of the land the Lord hath made you contemptible and base before all the people because of your corruptions Hear how Isaiah complaineth of you calling the heavens and the earth to witnesse against you and see Malachy turning aside the skirts of your coverings discovering all your hypocritical rottennesse to the view of those who are not quite blinded by Satans wiles and your disguises behold how your wickednesses have provoked the eyes of Gods glory Wo wo wo be unto you if ye repent not it s a certain truth the Lord will visite his Syon be a swift witness against you and come neer to you to judgment his purging and purifying Sion wil be your destruction the Lord of hosts who cannot lye who is faithfull and hath power to bring it to passe hath said it O therefore if possible turn away the anger and wrath of the Lord of hosts by a timely repentance ch 3.7 Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of hosts O that this Pharisaical Answer might not be yours Wherein shall wee return But Isa 1.16 17 18.19 20. Wash yee make you clean put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evill learn to do well seek judgment relieve the oppressed judge the fatherlesse pleade for the Widdow if yee be willing and obedient yee shall eate of the good of the land but if yee refuse and rebell yee shall be devoured with the sword for the month of the Lord hath spoken it Imbrace the invitation hearken to the Counsell of these Prophets for why will yee dy O yee sons of men There 's no way of salvation from that Pit of destruction your own wayes and doings have digged for you but that the Prophets have chalked out before you misse that and you are irrecoverably lost without remedy you complain of the harsh words and rough speeches of a company of men that tell you of your evils and would have the world to look upon them as the onely pest of the land the desturbers of the Publike weale the onely hinderers of good dayes thus you cloath them in the Bear-skin that the Dogs may tear them But do you not know That Isai 1.9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant we should have been ere now as Sodome and we should have been like Gomorrah Know that notwithstanding their fretting vexing and tormenting you so much they are your best friends for it 's they that stand in the gap and were it not for them an inundation of wrath and vengeance would quickly over-run you when the Lord draws them into their hyding Chambers those mansions of his peculiar sparing love then will your e Pro. 1.27 destruction come upon you as a whirle-wind and then at that time when your fear commeth as desolation f v. 28. though you call upon the Lord he will not answer and though you seek him early you shall not finde him Why what 's the reason saith the Lord it is because verse 25. ye have set at naught all my counsell and would none of my reproof Even the counsell and reproof of God wisdomes words in the mouth of these his servants that fear his name v. 20.21 who utter their voice in the streets and in the chief place of concourse 2. I have somewhat to say to those Members of professing Syon who though they are not ring-leaders in this wickednesse yet defile their garments with the pollutions of the Apostacy Behold in what a dreadfull manner the Lord will deal with you he will make up his Jewels from among you and consume the rest as drosse and tin Cast your eyes back upon the refiners fire and fullers Soape and that day of the Lord which will come upon you and reflect upon your selves and consider whether you are prepared to meet the Lord of hosts in such a day as that is surely if your examination be taken by a right rule and you passe a righteous sentence upon your selves you will see you are not you are not able to abide and sland in that day when the Lords jealousie will burn like fire wherein he will giue to apostatizing professing Sion blood in fury and jealousie being clad with zeale as with a cloak What anxious troubles and pangs will be your portion in that day I intreat you to take notice of these things 1. That the defilements of this Apostacy that cleaveth to you makes you so much unlike to your father that no lesse than a Refiners fire and fullers sope must passe over you to bring you into your old glory
silver purifying and purging the true seed from all their drosse and tin that they may be able to offer up an Offering to the Lord in righteousnesse sit to serve him in that great and glorious worke he hath to do in the world 2. Because the worke of our Lord at this time the Prophet speaks of is to bring his people into to cloath them with that glory they have lost the glory of the day of their espousal that they may be as in the dayes of old as in antient yeares but when our Lord shall come in person he will bring a greater glory then that with him even r Mat. 16.27 Luke 9.26 his own glory and his Fathers glory and the glory of his holy Angells 3. Because I finde the Prophet Isaiah who as hath been sufficiently proved speaks of the same time and worke calling this a coming in spirit the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning By which the Lord will wash and purge Syon 4. Because the great designe of our Lord at this his coming as hath been already proved is to sitt and prepare his Syon for the doing that great worke of his in and upon the world he hath decreed she shall carry on before he comes himselfe in person even the breaking Dan. great Image to pieces and powering out Vials of his wrath upon the rebellious world by giving his Spirit to them and causing it to rest upon them Read what the Prophet Isaiah saith in his 28. chapter the 5. and 6. verses In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a Crowne of glory and for a Diadem of beauty unto the residue of his people And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate In that day wherein the Lord will in judgment tread under foot the Crowne of Pride the Drunkards of Ephraim and all their glorious beauty shall be as a fading flower wherein God will judge the apostatising wickednesse wherewith the people are become drunken with the promoters of it in the midest of a professing people In that day will the Lord of hoasts be for a Crowne of glory and for a Diadem of beauty unto the residue of his people those that keep their garment pure and clean from this apostacie in this their day But the sword of the Lord of hosts is not to abide upon the back of his people but now judgment beginning at the house of God hath run its course there and the Lord of hosts hath magnified himselfe gotten glory and honor exalted himselfe alone there by the righteousnesse of his Judgments He will be for a spirit of judgement to him that sitteth in judgment and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate The sword of the Lord of hosts must be removed and the battel must be turned to the gate to what gate s Gen. 22.17 the gate of his enemies which the father hath promised that blessed seed of Abraham our Lord Jesus shall possesse And my thinks the reason is strong for this interpretation for after the Lord hath judged this wicked though professing generation bringing a destroying woe upon the Crowne of Pride the Drunkards among them and made himselfe a Crowne of glory and a Diadem of beauty to the residue of his people whether those that kept themselves clean from the pollutions of the day or those that he had left as his Jewells a people to shew forth his praise he will then be for a spirit of Judgement to them that sit in Judgment and for strength to them that turn the battel to the gate The battle of the Lord must now be turned hence to another place to the gate which cannot be the gate of this professing people for it hath been there already the mighty and strong one of the Lord hath already been as t verse 2. a tempest of haile and a destroying storme as a stood of mighty waters in their gate before the residue of his people set themselves to this worke And the persons to whom these promises are made are those that the battle of the Lord in the gate of this wicked-professing-people hath left the residue of the people so that it cannot be meant of their gate And what gate can this then be But that gate of his enemies which the Father hath promised shall be the possession of his Sonne the seed of Abraham Judgment begins at the house of God and ends in that gate and all this must be done by the Spirit of the Lord he will be for a spirit of Judgment and the same spirit shall be strength to them that turn the battle to the gate The Prophet speaks not a word of any other coming of the Lord than in spirit so that all the worke there spoken of must be done by the spirit of the Lord in and by his people before the coming of the Son of God in Person the second time And the same Prophet Isaiah in his fifty nineth Chapter the nineteenth verse speaks further of this truth When the enemy shall come in like a stood the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him clearly holding forth thus much to us that the worke of God in the last day's to repay fury to his adversaries and recompence to his enemies that combine together against him shall be carried on by the spirit of the Lord as the great agent in and amongst his people he speaks of his personal comming in the next verse as succeeding this And the Holy ghost in the fourteenth of the Revelation further confirms us in this truth there we finde the Lord bringing his purged and refined number upon Mount Zion martialling them for his work But how comes he As a Lamb A Lamb stood on Mount Zion with one hundred forty foure thousand The Lord comes to avenge the blood of his own person and all the blood of his u Luke 18.7 Mistical body that hath been shed upon the world as a Lamb But when he comes in person he appears after another manner as a King x Mat. 24.30 in power and great glory 5. When the Lord comes himself in person he will do his work himselfe alone by his great power and glory he brings with him he will stain all his Rayment with the blood of his enemies y Isa 63.3 treading the winepress alone and of the people there will be none with him But at this comming of the Lord he makes use of Syon as his battle-ax and instrument of warre of their feet to tread down his enemies as ashes under foot 2. This Tipe cannot represent THE WHOLE OF THE PROFESSING GOSPELL-CHURCH I conceive because the whole house of Israel the twelve Tribes being the tipe of that this one Tribe MALLACHY prophesied to was but a tipe of some small part of the professing-gospel-church which runnes parrallel to it For the illustrating of
one it imports thus much that it is the oneness of the Spouse that makes her so Dove-like and undefiled unless you endeavour after this union which the Apostle cals The unitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace you wil not walk worthy of your vocation wherewith ye are called Ephes 4.3 compared with the iv while Ephraim envies Judah and Judah vexes Ephraim defiling dirt and dust wil be thrown about and stick to your garments when the Lord hath by his Refining dispensation united his Jewels and his Remnant into one upon his own foundation then wil they be pleasantness to the Lord his Dove undefiled then wil such a glory rest upon them as the Lord wil create a defence upon it as hath been already suggested in this discourse my Dove my undefiled is but one 9 This union is the very Image of that glorious union between the Father and the Son our Lord makes the union between him and his Father the pattern of that union he intercedes for that they may all be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee again that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they be made perfect in one this union is a lively representation of the glorious union between the Father and the Son and what an exceeding glory must that needs be my thinks the glory of it should even ravish your hearts and make your souls like to the Chariots of Aminadab in an eager pursuit of it til you have attained So that by this time I hope you may be in love with union who can but be in love with it the glory of it is so exceeding like the glory of your Lord who is the chiefest of ten thousand but I would not be mistaken by any It was in the heart of that blessed servant of the Lord dear Tillinghast had he had alonger day to have wrought in to have presented you with some principses of this glorious union O that the Lord would anoint some other with the same Spirit that some healing balsom might be poured into the bleeding wounds of distressed Syon this union I so earnestly press after is not dissonant to but may wel stand with that holy separation from the unclean thing the Saints are exhorted and it is their duty to seperate from but again a truly Christian pursuit after this union wil glorifie a right and a holy separation pursue this holy principle of Union and I perswade my self you wil leave very few or none that have but a grain of sincerity cleaving to the uncleanthing if the glory of this Union be so powerful as to convince the wicked World how much more than think you wil it draw that heart that hath but the least grace in it O the inexpressible advantage this union of parts brings to the whole body one part possesseth wisdom and counsel another spirit and life another part agility and swiftess in motion now while they are not in conjunction tho the one may have wisdom and counsel yet it may want the spirit and life of the other and though that other may have excellent spirit and life yet it may want wisdom to direct and guide the agile faculty in a regular motion but when there is a union of parts the whole body partakes off whatsoever wisdom of whatsoever excellency of Spirit and Life and of whatsoever other noble gift is in any part thereof which must needs be exceeding glorious to behold of much advantage to the cause and work of your Lord. O my Brethren If there be therefore any consolation in Christ Phil. 2.1 2 3.4 5. if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels of mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like-minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde let nothing be done through strife or vain glorie but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus 5 Take heed and beware of a selfish spirit a self-exalting spirit dread and shun this monster as the greatest precipice of danger your Souls can possibly fall into at such a time as this This frame and temper of spirit the Lord wil contend against and bow down in that dreadful day of his which is hastning upon us For the day of the Lord of hosts shal be upon every one that is proud and loftie and upon every one that is lifted up and he shal be brought low yea the Lord wil not endure the least degree of it not so much as a losty look Isai 2.11 12 The loftie looks of man shal be humbled and the haughtiness of men shal be bowed down it is necessary it should be so and the reason why the Lord wil have it so is that the Lord alone may be exalted in that day it is the great design of the Lord in this notable day of his that he is bringing upon Syon to exalt himself alone and til this selfish frame of spirit be bowed down and brought low the Lord cannot accomplish his design he cannot be alone exalted this is the reason why the dreadful day of the Lord wil come upon the Cedars the materials of his Temple because they are high and lifted up but one fragment of this temper of spirit is one of the 7 things that are hateful an abomination unto the Lord a proud look or haughtie eyes Prov 6.17 as the margent of some Bibles hath it O therefore my brethren if we would be partakers of the rich Promises of the sparing love of our Father and not fal under the scourging hand of an angry God in this day of the Lord that is coming upon us let us dread and flee a self-exalting spirit Lastly Seeing it is the designe of the Lord at this day to bring his Syon into her first state into the purity of the day of her Espousals let us in the name of the Lord with heart and hand joyn with one accord to further this glorious design of God O that we would n deavour every one to mend one and in love help to mend each other would you be serviceable in the work of the Lord I know you would why this is the ready way the high way to carry on the great and glorious design of God upon the world when Syon is so reformed by the power of God as that she can offer up Offerings in righteousness that are peasant unto the Lord as in the daies of old as in antient Years THEN shal she tread down the Wicked as ashes under her feet THEN will the Lord raise up thy Sons O Syon Zack 9.13.14 15. against thy Sons O Greece and make thee as the sword of a Mighty man and the Lord shal be seen over them and his arrow shall go forth as the lightening and the Lord God shal blow the Trumpet and shal go with whirlwinds of the South the Lord of hosts shall defend them and they shal devour and subdue with sling stones and they shal drink and make a noise as through Wine and they shall be filled like bowls and as the corners of the Altar THE END