not too mean an Employment for them to bring this Message to the Shepherds Luk. 2.8 9 10. Fear not for behold I bring you good tydings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord verse 13.14 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men And that good old Man Simeon verse 28 29. When he had seen the Child Jesus he took him up in is Arms and blessed God saying Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of they people Israel Christ himself being come they might now know that God was a great Lover of Mankind now they had an ample proof of his faithfulness in making good what he had long before promised Now they might be sure that Shadows would flee away the Substance being come Now they might be assured of the downfal of the Devil's Kingdom witness the silencing the Oracles of Jupiter Apollo and Hecate as also the locking up the Temple of Janus 3. God's goodness to the primitive Church was in furnishing them with Pastors according to his own Heart the greatness of which Mercy may appear from the Consideration of these Circumstances 1. The number of primitive Church-Officers was perfect and compleat for species and kind there was none wanting which her Condition did then call for Of extraordinary Officers there were Twelve Apostles Acts 1.1 Seventy Evangelists particular Churches had their ordinary Officers to wit Bishops i. e. Pastors and Teachers to whom the Administration of Ordinances and Oversight of the Flock was committed Presbyters or Elders who were to look to the Peoples Manners and Government of the Church 1 Tim. 5. And Deacons who were to take care of the Poor Acts 6. begin 2. There was then a parity and equality of all Officers in their kinds Amongst the Apostles none claimed a Superiority over the rest Peter's Supremacy was then unknown as the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven were given to him Matth. 16.19 so also to the rest Joh. 20.23 The very affectation of pre-eminence was in those days distastful to Christ Matth. 18.1 2 3 4. and 20.25 26 Jesus called them unto him and said Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them but it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be great among you let him be your Minister and whosoever will be chief among you let him be you Servant even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister And as it was distastful to Christ so also to themselves Matth. 20.21 22 23 24. When the ten heard what the Mother of Zebedee's Children had asked for her two Sons they were moved with indignation against them And as one Apostle was not over the rest of the Apostles so there was a parity between Bishops and Presbyters i. e. ordinary Preaching and Ruling Officers or Elders they were not two distinct Offices nor Officers as may appear from Act. 20.17 with 28. whom he had called Presbyters v. 17. he calls Bishops v. 28. 2. From Philip. 1.1 he directs the Epistle to the Bishops and Deacons Philippi being but a City it cannot be imagin'd that there were Metropolitan of Diocesan Bishops in the plural number in it therefore the Bishops there spoken of were only ordinary Church Officers This is the observation of Chrysostome on the Text. 3. From Tit. 1.5 with 7. For this cause left I thee in Crete to ordain Presbyters for a Bishop must be blameless This for must either be a reason of what is in the preceding verse or it signifies nothing the qualifications required in both are the same therefore they are not distinct Officers 4. From 1 Pet. 5.1 2. The Apostle exhorts the Presbyters to watch over their Flocks v. 5. taking the oversight of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishoping it over them The Work of both is the same and therefore the Office is the same 5. From Ephes 4.11 12. where all sorts of Officers both extraordinary and ordinary are reckon'd and if Lord Prelates be neither Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors nor Techers They are none of Christ's Creatures but of Humane Institution 6. From 1 Tim. 3.1 to v. 8 begin where the Apostle gives Rules for the Examination and Ordination of a Bishop and then immediately he passes to the Office of a Deacon without so much as mentioning any thing of a Presbyter as taking it for granted that Bishop and Presbyter were one and the same the Rules for Examination and Ordination of both are the same And thus you see God was good to the Primitive Church in giving her such Officers as did neither Lord it over one another nor over the Lord's Heritage A Third circumstance of this Mercy was the extent of the Apostolical Commission Matth. 28. Go Preach the Gospel to all the World whereas formerly it was confin'd within the compass of the Land of Judea such is the goodness of God to the Sons of Men now that he is not willing any should perish but all should come to the knowledge of the Truth See Act. 10.28 34 35. Mark 16.15 Luke 24.47 Act. 1.8 and 20.21 Rom. 1.4 5. 4. He did furnish the Apostles with variety of eminent Gifts and Graces suitable to their Work they had such a Gift of Preaching that they needed not Read or Study but they spake by immediate Inspiration from the Holy Ghost Gal. 1.11 12. Eph. 3.3 At one of their Sermons three Thousand were Converted Act. 2.41 At another five Thousand Act. 4.4 They had a Spirit of Prayer they needed not a Book to read a Prayer by a set form They had the Gist of working Miracles Matth. 10.8 By laying on of hands they could confer the gift of the Holy Ghost upon others Act. 8.17 and 10.44 and 19.6 In matters of Faith that concerned the Salvation of Sinners and the Church's Edification they were acted by a Spirit of infallibility Joh. 16.13 They could inflict corporal Punishments upon notorious Hypocrites and Blasphemers Act. 5.9 10. and 13.11 2 Cor. 10.6 They were endued with a prophetical Spirit whereby they could foretel things to come Rom. 11.5 26. 2 Thess 2.2 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Tim. 3.1 Joh. 16.13 The whole Book of the Revelation is prophetical 4. Consider the Church it self and God's goodness was great to them in these respects 1. Of Ordinances 2. Order and Government 3. Of the Purity and Simplicity of the Truth in those days 4. Of their Gifts 5. Their Graces 6. Perseverance 7. Sufferings 1st They had no Ordinances but what were of Divine Institution these also were divinely Administred and a glorious Presence of God was that that did highly beautifie all their Administrations Act. 4.31
is under the 7th Trumpet ch 11. there was not before them any considerable visible Separation from the Church of Rome not so with us 4. There were but two then i. e. a few in comparison of what shall be after if we suffer for Christ now we shall have many Co-partners 5. That very work of God which has been begun amongst us I mean Reformation in Doctrine Worship and Discipline shall some where or other in God's own time and way go on and prosper maugre all opposition Lastly The consideration and belief of this Truth that the Witnesses are slain and risen may teach us how to demean our selves in this Day 1. Towards God 2. Enemies 3. One another 4. In respect of our selves Towards God 1. We are Monsters for Ingratitude if we do not trumpet forth his Praises aloud for bringing us forth in such a glorious Age and Time certainly if our Godly Ancestors had seen and heard what we now do especially they that Lived about an hundred Years ago would have said Now the Kingdom of our God and of his Christ is Come 2. Be very Patient under all the Corrections and Chastisements of this Good God 1. Your Sufferings are but a Flea-bite to the Sufferings of others that have gone before you 2. Your Punishments are still less than your Sin 's deserts 3. Consider what the Glorious Son of God hath suffered for you and yours is nothing 4. It 's a most glorious honourable and advantageous thing to suffer for Christ in a righteous Cause See 1 Pet. 4.13 14 15 16. with several others formerly commended to you 5. Your sufferings may be sharp for a Season but short 6. Your Sufferings after a begun Work of Reformation are for the Trial of your Faith and Patience 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Heb. 10.36 37 38. Rev. 14.12 Here is the Patience of the Saints here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus 7. The issue of your Sufferings will be Glorious to your selves but dreadful to your Enemies 1 Pet. 4.17 2 Thess 1.4 5 6. Towards Enemies 1. Look upon them as the Rod of God upon you for your sins of Ingratitude Earthly-mindedness Carnality Pride Self-seeking Hypocrisy Formality c. 2. If your Enemies are any kin to Antichrist you need not you ought not to fear them with a slavish fear for they are falling and going down even when they seem to rise 3. Seeing you can in some measure guess at the issue and event of things pity and pray for Persecutors as knowing what that Wrath that abides them is unless they repent 4. Abhor the very thoughts of a sinful compliance with any Antichristian pollutions and abominations in God's Worship if you had lived a hundred Years ago there had been some colourable excuse for your Conformity and Compliance but now there can be one 1 John 5. ult My little Children keep your selves from Idols Towards one another 1. Love and Honor all under what Name or Notion soever that have but their Faces Zion ward especially such as have Suffer'd do now or may yet Suffer for the Word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus the rebukes of God upon Professors call aloud to them to lay aside their sinful differences and divisions which have undone them and to love one another not in Word but in Deed with a pure heart fervently You have all common Enemies and why you should not love one another I know not 2. If any that bear the Name of Christ should solicit you to joyn with them in any sinful irregular course to work your Deliverance hearken not to them God himself does now stand engaged to go on with that which is God's Work indeed and therefore he needs not your hand nor help In respect of your selves 1. Tho' the great slaying of the Witnesses be past yet each of us ought to be always prepared for the greatest of Tryals because no particular Person can at any time promise himself an absolute exemption from Sufferings from this time forth to the end of the World and it stands with reason in should be so for the Destruction of Antichrist being gradual by seven several Vials when one Vial has done its work there is still something more of him to be destroyed and his utter Destruction will not be till the end of the World how can it then be otherwise but so long as he has any power or being he will he making some bustle against those that oppose Some are of opinion that even after the conversion of the Jews which will be a most glorious time the Church will have great troubles and that for forty five Years together Daniel 12. Begin Nay and after the 1000 Years Rev. 20.1 They shall be in as great trouble as ever they knew from the beginning of the World to that Day which will be immediately before the coming of the Son of God to Judgment Many have strongly fancied that the time was come that the should have nothing to do but to rule the World the Lord in mercy convince them of their mistakes certainly a glorious Day may be look'd for before this World be at an end but it is so called comparatively i.e. in respect of our present Day and Times that ar past 2. This calls aloud upon us to be deeply humbled before the Lord because of our manifold sins and unsuitableness of Spirit to the Work of our Day We may well say thus Is the Work of Reformation now upon the Wheel of Providence And is Antichrist a declining Ah how does the Work stick and go on so slowly Sure it 's my Sins and others that retards and hinders it When I consider the great Distempers of the Spirits of all sorts of Professors I do not at all wonder at what has befallen us 3. Let us therefore by all means labour for such a Spirit as may suit with the Work of our Day a Spirit of Understanding to know what is God's Work and what ours to know what is Antichristian and what not a Spirit of Wisdom to find out such Holy and righteous ways as may most conduce for the carrying on of this Work a Spirit of Humility Mortification Self-denial Sincerity Faithfulness holy Courage and Boldness a Spirit of Prayer Faith and Zeal for God's Glory They that would yet know more particularly under what dispensation we now are and what hereafter may be expected must study well the 7th Trumpet Rev. 11. End and the seven Vials Chap. 16. I will but just give a very short hint at each of the Vials and so shut up all The 1st is poured out upon that which is the Earth in the Antichristian World i. e. the Fundamentals of the Popish Kingdom are struck at and such Doctrines upon which the whole structure of Antichristianism is built without which it cannot stand no more than the Fabrick of this Universe without the Earth Erasmus says of Luther that he committed two unpardonable faults in medling with the Popes Mitre and the Monks Bellies Antichrist's Ruine is the Churches Rise the confuting of their Antichristian Doctrines did clear up the principal Fundamental Truths of the Gospel 2. Upon the Sea i. e. Their Worship and Ordinances by which they trade on with another The first Reformers were so taken up with the clearing up of the Doctrinal part of the Gospel that they could not have the while to think of mattes of Worship which was done to some purpose after in the Council of Trent by Chemnitius and others 3. Is upon the Rivers and Fountains of Waters i. e. The Romish Clergy It 's by them the Christians of the Antichristian World are moistended they come from the Sea and run into it they were Originally bred by the Romish Religion and are the great supporters of it they are Wells of Water 2 Pet. 2. And Rev. 16.5 6 7. It 's they that have shed the Blood of Saints and Prophets According to this interpretation these three Vials are at least in some measure poured forth already only more may be yet expected 4. Upon the Sun i. e. Either some that are eminent for upholding Antichrist in his civil power and jurisdiction such as the King of Spain the Pope's Eldest Son or the House of Austria or something that 's a great light to them in respect of their Ecclesiastical State such as is the whole Body of their Cannon Law or both these 5. Is upon the seat of the Beast this may be understood of the Destruction of Rome or the Pope's Principality as the 5th Trumpet set him upon his Throne the 5th Vial shall Dethrone him 6. Dries up the great River Euphrates i. e. Destroys the Great Turk and his Empire which shall make way for the Kings of the East to go up into their own Land i. e. The shall the Jews be Converted the Glory of which time I have discoursed at large in my Treatise of the Fifth Monarchy 7. and last puts an end to all Antichrist is not only utterly ruined but also Gog and Magog all sorts of Christs and the Churches Enemies The Lambs Marriage Day is solemnized before God Angels and Men and his Spouse is caught up to himself to be with the Lord for ever The Spirit and the Bride saith Come even so come quickly Lord Jesus Amen And let every Soul say Amen Truly God is good to Israel and to such as are of a clean heart Gloria perpetuo sit tribuenda Deo FINIS
debtors they are For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things their duty is also to Minister unto them in carnal things Acts 2.44 45. All that believed were together and had all things common and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all Men as every Man had need And 4.32 Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own but they had all things common 6. In all Changes and Conditions they were constant still one and the same not sickle or variable some times for one thing sometimes for another Acts 2.42 And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers 46.47 And they continued daily in the Temple with one accord and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart praising God and having favour with all people and the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved 2 Cor. 1.21 22. 1 Thes 3.12 13. Rev. 3.10 Thou hast kept the word of my patience And 2.13 I know thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satans seat is and holdest fast my Name and hast not denied my Faith even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr Lastly The Lord was graciously pleased to confer the Honour of Martyrdom upon them Stephen was the Proto-Martyr Acts 7. They were scattered at Jerusalem by reason of Persecution Acts. 8. Paul and Peter suffered at Rome under Nero the one Beheaded the other Crucified So also James surnamed Justus Nay there was not one of the Apostles that escaped a violent Death John only excepted Let us make some use of all this in some Three or Four things 1. Let us bless God for his goodness to them O Blessed be the Lord that ever there was such a one as the Apostle Paul O Blessed be the Lord for the Truths Ordinances Gifts and Graces that were communicated to them we are in a sense sharers in the Mercies What was then written or transacted said or done was all for our Instruction 2. Did the Lord give forth such an abundant measure of the Spirit at the first Plantation of the Gospel according to what the Work of that Day did require which was to bring the carnal Jews from off their Ceremonies and the heathenish Gentiles from Satan to God who must see Miracles otherwise they will not believe Let us believe and be confident that the same good God will not be wanting to proportion the Gifts and Graces of his Churches and Servants to the Work of this our Day which is the reformation of Religion from Antichristianism Blessed be the Lord for any small bedewings and besprinklings of the Spirit poured forth upon any in our times in order hereunto 3. Let us from hence bemoan our selves and others that go under the Name of Churches of Christ who have degenerated so far from them in Doctrine Discipline Worship Gifts Graces Holiness of Conversation Perseverance in Sufferings contraria mixta seposita clarius elucescunt In the primitive times Christ placed us in a kind of Paradise but we have not kept our first Habitation 4. Let 's not only remember whence we are fallen but also return to our first Estate and when we set about a Reformation whether Personal or Ecclesiastical Let 's be sure to set the primitive Pattern before us as near as may be Let 's Love as they did endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace as they did continue steadfastly in the Apostles Doctrine in fellowship in breaking of Bread and Prayers as they did No sufferings frighted them from following the Lamb be followers of them in all things imitable so far as they were followers of Christ Sixthly God was good to his Gospel Israel after the Death of the Apostles till Constantine's time And here before I come to particulars it will be necessary to premise these few general considerations as introductory for the clearing of what is further intended 1. Be it known to you that immediately upon the Death of the Apostles the Church was in a persecuted state It 's true it was so in their time but not as afterwards when there were publick Laws and Edicts made against the profession and professors of the Christian Religion providence so ordering it that they should have some respite till the Gospel and Churches had some Plantation 2. The time of this persecuted Condition was Three Hundred Years or thereabouts 3. The Instruments whom the Devil made use of for this diabolical Service were the heathen Emperors of Rome Rev. 12.3 The party there combating against Michael and his Angels Christ and his People is thus described A great red Dragon having seven Heads and ten Horns and seven Crowns upon his Heads A Dragon because of his Power red because of his Cruelty having seven Heads i. e. seven several sorts of Governments in Rome heathenish as also it was built upon seven Hills having ten Heads with seven Crowns thereupon to distinguish Rome-heathen from Rome-Antichristian Rev. 13.1 That has not only seven Heads and ten Horns but also Crowns upon the Horns to intimate that Antichrist made Kingdoms of those that were but Provinces during the Dragon's Reign under the heathen Emperors 4. Having perused several writers of great Note both for Godliness and Learning upon that transcendantly high mystical Scripture of the Revelation It 's most probable as I humbly conceive that they guess right who assert that the Seals Chap. 6. hold forth this State of the Church during the first three Centuries of which Ch. 12. to verse 13. seems to be explicatory 5. In treating of this Subject I shall be necessitated to make use of History to which I require no more of you but a Historical Faith I account it a great Mercy that every Age has had some faithful Servants of God whose care it has been to transmit to posterity the memorable acts of Divine Providence to his People Psal 145.4 One generation shall praise thy works to another and shall declare thy mighty acts I will speak of the glorious honour of thy Majesty and of thy wondrous works 1. God was good to them in giving forth this incomparable rich and rare Monument of the Revelation of John the Divine the principal scope and intendment whereof was 1. To forewarn them of the near approach of suffering times that so they might not be surprized but in a readiness to encounter therewith 2. That they might know what their sufferings would be by whom and of what continuance 3. That they should be comforted and encouraged under all especially upon this two-fold consideration 1. There 's no sufferings shall befall you but according to the predetermination and fore-appointment of a wise God and loving Father 2. Let the Churches troubles be what they will they shall have a glorious and an assured issue seeing this was the good end of
those times before you as Patterns for imitation 1. As I would not have you decline Sufferings for the Gospel and Righteousness sake when indeed called of God thereunto so be careful not to suffer as Busie bodies or Evil-doers Mattyrdom for Christ was accounted so honourable amongst them that the Names of all that were Martyrs indeed were register'd and kept upon Record and such as did Suffer either not for Truth or without a Call out of an itching appetite for Honour were not Enroll'd 2. In all your Sufferings own Magistracy and honour the Authority of Magistrates I am sure this was the Doctrine and Practice of Christ the Apostles and the purer primitive Churches 3. Shew all Meekness towards your Persecutors that they may be convinced it is not through a peevish humoursomness or Pride but really for Conscience sake because you dare not sin against God that you do and suffer what you do condescend to them in all things civil unless they impose upon your Consciences something contrary to God's Word 4. Shew Love to the Souls of those that hate you with a most cruel hatred in praying sincerely heartily and constantly for them Matth. 5. end 5. Do not use any sinful or unlawful means to deliver your self from sufferings Heb. 11.25 26. 6. As I would have none to venture upon sufferings in their own Strength a Fleshly confidence will fail you in an Hour of Temptation so let not the sense of thy own weakness cause discouragement and a despondence of Spirit but rather act dependance upon this good God that when ever he gives the Call he will proportion thy Strength in some measure to thy Sufferings 1 Cor. 10.13 7. These primitive Martyrs were not only patient but of a chearful Spirit in all their Sufferings they Sung Psalms to one Jesus Let this be the Gospel-Frame of Spirit you are of in every thing give thanks for this is the will of God your Heavenly Father 1 Thess 5.18 8. Be much in Prayer in the exercise of Repentance and of Faith in applying particular Promises to your own Souls and in realizing the Glorious things of Eternity 9. In all your Sufferings be public Spirited i. e. Let Gods Glory the honour of the Gospel the Edification of Churches and Christians and thy own Souls Advantage be aimed at Do not think how thou mayest get Honour and a Name to thy self but rather 1 Cor. 10.31 whatsoever thou dost do or suffer let all be for the Glory of God 10. Think it not enough to begin well but resolve in the Lord's Strength to continue faithful to the Death and thou shalt be sure of the Crown of Life 7. God was good to his People from Constantine's time and the first beginning of Antichrists Rise to his full height and to put the two last in one he has been good to them ever since he began to decay and will continue his Goodness to them more and more to the end of the World And here it will be necessary for your better understanding of this Subject to premise a few things 1. No sooner was the Church delivered from a Persecuted State but immediately upon the back of that a new Storm did arise 2. The Churches Tryals now are of a different Nature from what they were formerly as then they Suffered from professed Pagans so now they are exercised with Spiritual Judgments they were pestered with Heresies and Errors from within and such as by Profession were Christians 3. This is not so to be understood as if they shall not now suffer Persecution but the Denomination of the Churches State is from that which is Chief and Principal of the two Evils Heresies were the greatest 4. The Instruments by whom they suffered were Antichrist and his Adherents 5. In treating of these things I shall take it for granted that the Churches sufferings in this Age is contained under the Trumpets 8. and 9. Chap. of the Revel 6. I understand the 7th Chap. of the Revel to be only a preparative to the sounding of the Trumpets and intervenes between the opening of the 6th and 7th Seals as also that the 10th Chap. and beginning of the 11th is no new Prophesy distinct from the Prophesy of the Trumpets but only intervenes between the 6th and 7th 7. I must speak particularly and more largely than I intended of the evils of this Age that so the Goodness of God in preserving them from the same may appear to be the greater and so for methods sake I shall summarily give you the substance of the 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th Chap. of the Revel as they lie in order Revelations Chap. Seven 1. Take notice that the Nature of the Evil to ensue is hinted at v. 1 2. There were Four Angels standing on the four Corners of the Earth holding the four Winds that they should not blow upon the Earth nor on the Sea nor on the Trees This was the Judgment that was to come upon earthy unstable and self-conceited Professors of the visible Church even a suspension of the influences of the North and South-Wind of the Spirit throughout all the Corners of the Earth 2. It is observable that this nor any other kind of evil can befal Creatures by chance but by the Hand of an over-Ruling Divine providence Four Angels are Empowered and Commissioned from above before the thing be put in Execution 3. From verse 2.3 Observe Such is God's Goodness and Christ's tender Care towards his poor People that he suffers not these Commissioned Executioners of Divine Justice to go on hastily with their Work till they were sufficiently prepared and guarded against it 4. The Great Lord Chancellor the Keeper of the Great Seal of Heaven is pleased to set his own Mark upon his chosen Ones whereby they may be ensafed and secured against this ensuing Evil Hurt not till we have Sealed the Servants of our God in their Foreheads He gives them that excellent Unction 1 John 2. and anointing of the Spirit that though Antichristian Calamities may reach their Bodies yet they shall never be able to do their Souls any considerable hurt 5. herein is the Goodness of God yet further that during Antichrists Rage the Sealed Ones are exactly Numbred to a Man in the Court-Rolls of Heaven One Hundred Forty Four Thousand out of all the Tribes of Israel i. e. as the Twelve Tribes of Israel were but few in respect of other Nations and the Elect of God among themselves were but few in respect of those that were called Israelites so the Number of those that are preserved from Antichristian Pollutiones shall be few in respect of a world of carnal Professors that shall wonder after the Beast 6. From verse 9. to the end you have an excellent prophetical hint of their deliverance from Antichristianism and then their Condition shall be glorious comparatively i. e. in respect of her Wilderness condition and prophesying in Sackcloath then shall there be a multitude which no Man can