They are redeemed from amongst men Eighthly They bring their first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Ninthly And in their mouthes was found no guile for they are without fault before the Throne of God O how holy how heavenly how gracious how glorious how lovely and spiritual are these they live in the Lord on the Lord to the Lord and with the Lord They are a chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people 1 Pet. 2.9 Thirdly By their Spirit They have another spirit Num. 14.24 All the Lambs followers are in the spirit of the Lamb Rom. 8.9 16. And by that spirit they are led and taught a spirit of holiness a spirit of meekness a spirit of love a free spirit and a true humble and faithful spirit to and for the Lord. Now as the Lambs followers are in the spirit of the Lamb so the Beasts followers are in the spirit of the Beast which is no other then the spirit of the Devil Eph. 2.2 According to the Prince of the power of the Air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience a spirit of Lording and domineering a spirit of cunning and craftiness a spirit of Deceit a spirit of Superstition a spirit of persecution and cruelty and in this spirit are all the followers of the Beast Now by this you may know the Lambs followers from the Beasts followers Fourthly By their name They have another name A new name Rev. 3.12 God gives his people honourable Titles though the Beast giveth them reproachful Titles God calls them The dearly beloved of his soul Jer. 12.7 And The Apple of his eye Zech. 2.8 And His Jewels Mal. 3.17 His Glory his Portion his Bride his Friends and Children But the Beast calls them Seditious Hereticks Deceivers and Deluders Blasphemers and Fools and Mad-men as if they were not worthy to have a being amongst men But though they are Ravens in the Worlds eye yet they are Doves in Gods eye yea they are such Worthies Of whom this world is not worthy Heb. 11.38 Now dear Christians by this you may know the Lambs followers from others by the Nick-names the world giveth them and by the glorious names that God giveth them Fifthly by their Graces they may be known Such as are the Lambs followers are full of faith full of love full of grace and goodnesse they are very fruitful and bring forth much fruit John 15. They are called Heaven because of their heavenlinesse Rom. 8.1 And holy because of their holinesse spiritual because of their spiritualness and faithful because of their faithfulnesse There is much of God to be seen in them in their words works duties and conversations Phil. 3.20 For our conversation is in Heaven They seek Heavenly things and walk by a Heavenly Rule they eye Heavenly objects and are lead by a Heavenly Spirit they submit to a Heavenly Government and imitate Heavenly ones there is much of Heaven in them and much of them in heaven When I awake I am still with thee saith David But now the Beasts followers they are full too but it is with blould and swearing cursing stealing lying blaspheming rebellion and all manner of abominations and filthinesse Hos 4.2 Rom. 3. Rev. 13. Now Beloved by this you may know Christs precious ones from the Beasts filthy ones Sixthly The Lambs followers may be known from the Beasts followers by their keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Rev. 14.12 Here is the patience of the Saints here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus So Rev. 12.17 The Dragon was wroth with the Woman and made war with the remnant of her seed which keep the Commandments of God having the Testimony of Jesus Christ True Believers cleave to the Lord and follow him fully But my servant Caleb hath followed me fully Numb 14.24 And Enoch walked with God Gen. 5.24 And Noah walked with God Gen. 6.9 Let us also walk in the Spirit Gal 5.25 And they follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth they hear his voice they professe his worship and obey his doctrine they obhor Antichrist they follow not the Beast nor receive his mark but keep their beautiful garments of Gospel innocency and will not touch beastly Babylon Seventhly By their Company The Lambs followers keep company together Being let go they went to their own company Acts 4.23 So they are said to stand upon a Sea of Glasse together And I saw as it were a Sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten victory over the Beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name stand on the Sea of Glasse having the harps of God Rev. 15.2 So they that are with the Lamb upon Mount Sion are together and keep together and follow the Lamb together Christs faithfull Witnesses do not hear with Antichrists hearers nor worship with them which worship the Beast for they are come out of Babylon Chap. 18.4 Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Whereof come out from amongst them and be ye separate and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you saith the Lord 2 Cor. 6.17 The Children of God wil not keep company with the Children of wrath for they cannot agree For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darknesse and what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. there fore believers keep together walk together worship God together And they that believed were of one heart and one soul continued in the Apostles Doctr. and fellowship Acts 4.32 Acts 2.42 By this the Lambs followers are known to wit by their company Eighthly By their Language they are known True Believers speak the Language of Canaan their Language is Scripture-Language you may know them by their speech as Peter was known by his speech Surely thou art one of them for thy speech bewrayeth thee Mat. 26.73 Their words are holy and heavenly they speak of God and to God and for God and He heareth them Mal. 3.16 But the beasts followers speak wickedly proudly daringly and blasphemously Chap. 13.4 And he opened his mouth blaspheming God his Son his Name his Saints and they that dwell in Heaven verse 6. Men are known who and what they are and to whom they do belong by their Language if they are of God and in God they cannot but speak much of God Ninthly The Lambs followers are known by this They are more afflicted with the Churches heaviness than they are affected with their own happiness The King said why is thy countenance sad this is nothing else but sorrow of heart seeing thou art not sick Why should not my countenance be sad when the City the place of
WILLIAM DYER Preacher of the Gospell Aetat 27 1663 A CABINET OF JEWELS OR A GLIMPS OF SIONS GLORY Written by WILLIAM DYER late Preacher of the Gospel at Chesham and Chouldsbury in the County of Bucks Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things that are written therein for the time is at hand Rev. 1.3 Printed in the Year 1663. TO Those of Chouldsbury Parish Together with all others who did attend constantly upon the Word of God there Preached Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplyed from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. DEarly Beloved They that love God dearly are dearly beloved of God dearly beloved of Christ dearly beloved of Angels dearly beloved of Saints they are beloved of all and have the love of all whose love is worth the having O my dear Friends I cannot think of you and your condition but it fills my eyes with water and my heart with griefe and with Jeremy I wish O that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of Tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the Daughter of my people Jeremiah 9.1 Oh that I am constrained to be from you whom I could live and dye with spend and be spent for so deare a people as you are I would chuse to be doing the work to which I was called amongst you rather then any where else if I might I should not count my Life dear to me so that I might have the liberty to preach Christ to you for your edification and salvation I hope your Consciences will bear me witnesse that whilest I was with you I Laboured as much as in me lay to be a helper of your joy not to Lord it over your faith and I bless God I can with a good conscience safely say I have coveted no mans Gold nor Silver as you your selves know I could do very much for you but I dare not sin against God and my own Conscience But my dear Brethren Though they have separated us one from the other they cannot separate our hearts I hope there will never be a separation of our loves but that will still continue if we do not see one another yet we may love one another and pray for one another And now my desire is that my pen may reach you though my voice cannot reach you That I may still approve the sincerity of my love to you I shall give you twenty Directions for the right ordering of your Lives and conversations in these dangerous and sinful times that you may live in Heaven whilest you are on the Earth and come to Heaven when you shall leave the Earth I. First Loath sin and leave sin He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whosoever Confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Prov. 28.13 If we confess our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1.9 There must be falling out with our sins before there be falling off from our sins there must be a loathing of sin in our affections before there be a leaving of sin in our conversations Oh is it not a thousand times better to part with sinne though never so sweet than to part with God and Christ and Heaven one of them you must do One sin will damn a Soul out of Christ but no sin can damn a Soul in Christ Sin is the evill of evils it is worse then the Devill for its that that made the Devil to be a Devil O the love of sin and the lack of grace will ruin and destroy your souls for ever It is better not to be than to be a sinner better to be no people than not to be the Lords people Oh therefore kill sin that sin may not kill you mourn for sin and flye from sin do not commit new sins but repent of old sins Ezek. 36.31 You shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities O poor soul hast thou not served the flesh and the Devil long enough Yea hast thou not had enough of sin is it so good to thee or so profitable for thee Oh what a place will you be shortly in of joy or torment Oh what a sight will you shortly see in Heaven or Hell Oh what thoughts will shortly fill your hearts with unspeakable delights or horror what work will you be imployed in to praise the Lord with Saints and Angels or to cry out in fire unquenchable with Divels Oh therefore dye unto sin confess it mourn for it and be ashamed of it hate it and loath it and flye from it as from a Serpent and though your sins are more then you can number yet they are not more then God can pardon II. Secondly Put off the old man and put on the new Eye not one to another seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Col. 3.9 10. And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and Holinesse Ephes 1.14 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature Gal. 6.15 As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby 1 Pet 2.2 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 A new understanding a new will new desires new love new delights new thoughts new words new company and a new conversation he is not what he was before O dear friends be new Creatures that you may be glorious Creatures We can call nothing in Heaven ours till Christ be ours Without regeneration there is no salvation Verily I say unto you except yea be converted and become as little children ye cannot enter into the Kingdone of Heaven John 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdome of God You have heard much of God Christ and Heaven with your ears but this will not bring you to Heaven unlesse you have much of God Christ Heaven in your hearts you must be able to say I was once a slave but now a son once I was dead but now I am alive once I was in darknesse but now I am light in the Lord once I was a child of wrath an Heir of Hell but now I am an Heir of Heaven once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the spirit of adoption A true Believer lives in the Lord 1 Thes 1.1 On the Lord Rom. 1.17 Luke 20.38 From the Lord Joh. 6.57 To the Lord Romans 1â— 8 With the Lord 2 Corinth 13.4 III. Thirdly Make your peace with the Prince of peace Isa 9.6 Psal 2.12 Kiss the Son least he be angry and ye perish from the way
wicked men and Divels nor the better of wickednesse because wicked men love it and follow it and say It is in vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts Mal. 3.14 But there is a time coming when ungodly men would be glad of some of that holinesse that now they despise but they shall be as far then from obtaining it as they are now from desiring it Let us therfore love holiness and hate wickednesse For without holiness no man shal see the Lord Heb. 12.14 Holinesse is the only way to happiness We must not dresse our selves for another world by the Looking-glasse of this world Thou shalt not follow a multititude to do evil Exod. 23.2 For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Grosse of Christ whose end is destruction whose god is their belly and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things Phil. 3.18.19 The Children of God must be harmlesse in their actings and blamelesse in their walkings XVI Sixteenthly Prize the Word of God by the worth of it that you may never come to prize the Word of God by the want of it How sweet are thy words unto my tast Yea sweeter than honey to my mouth Psal 119 10. It is sweeter than the honey and the honey-comb Psal 19.10 Oh how do I Love thy Law Psal 119.97 I love thy Commandements above Gold yea above fine Gold The Law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of Gold and Silver Verse 72. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby 1 Pet. 1.2 Let the Word of God dwell richly in you not only with you but in you Col. 3.16 Oh let us with Job esteeme the Word of God above our necessary food Job 23.12 and with David above our Gold and Silver The delight of a Saint in Gods Word over-tops all his creature delights Wicked men can delight in the Creatures of God but not in the Word of God they can delight in the gifts of God but not in the God of gifts Oh let us love the word and prize the word it is the Sun of the Christian world As the Sun is the light of the naturall world and without it the world is but a Chaos and a dungeon full of darkness so is the Word of God the light of the Spiritual world without which a Christian is an eternal night Take away the Scriptures and there will be no certain rule to direct men what is to be done or what is to be believed All false wayes are here discovered all sins are here forbidden all holiness is here commanded Here you may see every action and motion of your Lives as a step to Life or a step to Death as a step Heaven-ward or a step Hell-ward Oh therefore prize the word and obey the Word First It is a plain Word Secondly It is a perfect Word Thirdly It is a sure Word Fourthly It is an uniform Word Fifthly It is a powerful Word it is the savour of life unto life unto them that believe Oh Beloved let us read the Word and abide in the Word If ye continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples Joh. 8.31 The lesse now you hear the more doe you read that little Book of the Revelations and Daniel especially XVII Seventeenthly have a care of the Whore of Babylons golden Cup and sweet Wine And the Woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with Gold and precious stones and pearls having a golden Cup in her hand sull of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication Rev. 17.4 And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the Woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood Rev. 12.15 Let me beseech you to have a care of this and keep your selves from this Be like the Virgin Spouse of Christ which followeth him wheresoever he goeth My Dear Friends keep your selves from four things First From false Teachers The Devil hath his Ministers as well as Christ Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves Math. 7.15 Yea they are greedy Doggs which can never have enough and they are Shepherds that cannot understand they all look to their own way every own for his gain from his quarter Isa 56.11 Oh false Teachers do not feed the Flock but fleece the Flock they do not convert but pervert they do not season but poison they do not edifie to salvation but edifie to damnation instead of curing souls they kill souls so they have but the peoples goods they care not though the Devil have their soules they are neither rightly called nor rightly qualified nor rightly ordained Their course is evil and therefore is not right Jer. 13.10 They are like Doggs and Wolves combining together to macerate the Flock of Christ Oh therefore keep your selves from Babylons Merchants that make Merchandize of the souls of men Rev. 18.13 Oh the sins of the Teachers are the Teachers of sins Secondly From false Doctrine But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damrable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 Be not carried away with divers and strange Doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein Hebrews 13.9 I beseech you also in the Lord my Dear Brethren that you doe not carnally comply with nor superstitiously conform to the Inventions of men But stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Gal. 5.1 Thirdly From false Worship If any man Worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb Rev. 14.9 10. Ye Worship ye know not what God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Iruth Joh. 4.23 24. As there be some in the World that worship false Gods so there be others that Worship the true God with false Worship They that worship the Beast worship the Devil Rev. 13. Oh meddle not with false worship with vain worship and will-worship worship God as he teacheth us to worship him Our work is to depend on Christs work our outward working depends on Gods inward working Fourthly From false Opinions from Errour and Sedition Let your hearts be upright your judgements sound and your lives holy Love the
Scripture is a Rule before us to shew us where we must go the Spirit is a word behind us to enable us to go according to the Directions of that word The Word of God is a Compass by which we are to Ship our Course the Spirit is the great Pilot that steers us in this course We have no eyes to see the Word till the Spirit enlighten them we have no ears to hear the Word till the Spirit open them we have no hearts to obey the Word till the Spirit bow and encline them By the Word of God we know the mind of the Spirit and and by the efficacy of the spirit we feel the efficacy of the Word The Word of God shews us the way and the Spirit of God leads us in that way which the WOrd points out The Spirit of God is able to expound the Word of God and to make it plain to our understanding The Holy Ghost is the Churches Interpreter he gives the Scripture and he can reveal unto us the sense and meaning of the Scripture The word is Gods Counsellour to discover the path in which we are to walk the Spirit is the Counsel of God that teacheth us how to walk in that path The word is a Chrystall-Glass which shewes us our duty the Spirit gives us sight to see our duty If God had not put his Spirit into our hearts as well as his word into our mouths we should never have arrived at the fair Haven of peace Austin calls the Scriptures The Epistle of God to the Creatures by which we understand the very heart of God God Almighty hath in the secret Scriptures as it were unbowelled himself and unfolded all his Counsel to the Creatures as far as it is necessary to be known for their direction and guidance to everlasting life There be many that walke by false Rules First Some by Opinions Secondly Some by Customes Thirdly Some by Providence Fourthly Some by Conscience Fifthly Some by their own Reason Sixthly Some by mens examples Seventhly Some by their Lusts But O my dear friends let me beseech you to walke by none of these false Rules but keep close to the word and spirit of God VII Seventhly Be faithfull and fruitful Therefore my beloved brethren Be ye stedfast and unmoveble alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know your labour is not in vain 1 Cor. 15.58 Every Tree that beareth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire Christians must be fruitfull and not slothful See that you bring forth good fruit and much fruit First Sincerity which is not a single Grace but the soul of all Graces Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts Psal 51 6. Secondly Humility A Grace most prevailing with God for the obtaining of all Graces Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls Thirdly Prudence The patient Christian is the best for waiting but the prudent Christian is the best for working Be ye wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves Mat. 10.16 We must have innocency with our wisdome else our wisedome is but craftinesse and we must have wisdome with our innocency else our innocency is but weakness we must have the harmlesnesse of the Dove that we may not wrong others and we must have the prudence of the Serpent that others may not abuse and circumvent us Not to wrong the truth by silence here is the innocency of the Dove not to betray our selves by rashnesse here is the wisdome of the Serpent Fourthly Patience Here is the Patience of the Saints Rev. 13.10 Rev. 14.12 The way to bring the world under us is for us to be patient under them Fifthly Self-denyal If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his crosse and follow me Math. 16.24 Be faithful in your promises in your purposes by faithful to the wayes of God and cause of God O do not begin with the Lamb and end with the Beast but be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life Rev. 2.20 Keep your Lights burning your Lamps shining your Loyns girded your Consciences wakned your Garments unstained and your Spirituall Armour constantly on and closely girt VIII Eightly Have a care of reporting and believing the worlds reports of the people of God Those that have a good conscience have not alwayes a good name The people of God in this life are called the troublers of Israel seditious rebellious and what not An old device of that old serpent to perswade the troublers of Israel upon Elijah the Charret of Israel 1 Kings 18.17 2 Kings 2 12. Jeremiah for speaking against their sins and wickednesses and denouncing Gods judgements against them is judged worthy of death Jerem. 26.8.9 So Jerem. 38.4 The wicked Nobles petition the King to murder him under the pretence that he sought not the good of the people but the hurt So Amos for speaking against the Abominations of the Kings Court is charged with treason against the Kings person Amos 7.10.13 So Paul and Silas for preaching up the Kingly power of Jesus Christ are accused by the envious Jewes and rude multitude for turning the world upside down and breaking the decrees of Caesar Yea Christ himself had this laid to his Charge mark what the Jewes say of him And they began to accuse him saying We found this Fellow perverting the Nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar saying that he himselfe is Christ a King Luke 23.2 Math. 72.18 And for this have the servants of God in all Ages been accused and persecuted killed and stoned Math. 27 37. Acts 7.52 Now if they did so to the green Tree no wonder if they do it to the dry If the Lord and Master was called an enemy to Caesar no wonder if those of his houshold be called so Our integrity will not secure us from infamy The choicest of Professors have had black marks in the worlds Kalender It is usuall for those who live in treason and rebellion against the King of Heaven to slander his servants with treason and rebellion against the Kings of the Earth But my dear Brethren take heed of this for as the death of the Saints is precious so the names of the Saints are precious in Gods account The world will father a hundred Lyes upon the Lords people Men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake Math. 5.11 2 Tim. 2.9 Wicked men hate them most that God loves most But God will roul away the reproaches of his people he will cause their innocency and righteousness to break forth as the Sun at noon day and their names shall be in everlasting remembrance Yea at that great day God will clear their innocency before men and Angels and all the world IX Ninthly Keep in with God now men are out with
Sodom and Egypt Chap. 11.8 That is in Antichrists Kingdoms and Dominions The Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Chap. 17.18 She is called Sodom for her filthiness and wickedness and Egypt for her cruelty and oppression Chap. 17.4 The true Servants of God and Members of Jesus Christ that bear witnesse for him against the evils of the Beast and against the evils of the world are here called two witnesses 1. Because of the fewnesse of them 2. Because two is a number sufficient to bear a witness John 8.17 3. Because Antichrists Beasts are called two Chap. 13. 4. They are called witnesses for Six Reasons First Because their work is to bear witness for Christ and his truth against the world the Flesh and the Devill A true believer is to bear a threefold testimony to and for Christ a word-testimony to and for Christ a word-testimony a life-testimony and a blood testimony Heb. 12. John 5.33 Secondly Christs Members are called witnesses because they stand up for Christ to maintaine his name his honour his cause his truth his worship his Glory in the world Dan. 3.16 17 18 and Chap. 6. And ye killed the Prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead whereof we are witnesses Act. 3.15 Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole Acts 4.10 11 12. Thirdly The Lambs followers are called witnesses because they keep the testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 12.17 Chap. 6.9 a testimony to all the Offices works and Kingdom of Jesus Christ as King of Saints and King of Nations Fourthly Gods chosen and precious ones are called witnesses because they doe appear boldly and openly for his truth they own it they love it they love it they publish it they hold it fast and suffer for it who through the teachings of the Spirit in the word and by the power of the same spirit are found in the practise of Christs Appointments they cannot deny the truth which is a Testimony to it Acts 24.14 Fifthly The true VVorshippers of God are called witnesses because they do bear witness against the beast and all the whole mistery of iniquity against the whore of Babylon who hath committed fornication with the Kings of the earth and made her self drunk with the blood of the Saints Rev. 17.6 Christs faithful witnesses bear an eminent Testimony against all her abominations and filthiness and wickedness against the Pope his Government his clergy his Doctrine his worship his Religion and all his abominable proceedings Rev. 19.7 Sixthly Christs redeemed ones are called witnesses because in dying they bear witnesse for him for to dye for the truth is a living standing testimony to it He who for Christs sake loves not his life unto the death dyes a most glorious witnesse of Christ Chap. 12.11 And they loved not their lives unto the death And the beast that came out of the bottomlesse pit made war against him and overcame them and killed them Chap. 11.7.9 Antichrist riseth in a double beast In his civil power and his Ecclesiastical power First In his civil power so he makes up one beast with the ten Kings Chap. 17.12 And this is that Beast that rise up out of the Sea which hath seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his heads the name of blasphemy And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leaper and his feet was as the feet of a Bear and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon and the Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority Chap. 13.1 2. Secondly In his Ecclesiasticall power so he makes up another beast with the Clergy and this is that beast that rise up out of the Earth He hath two horns like a Lamb and he speaks like a Dragon vers 11. Now these two monstrous beasts Antichrists Magistrates and Ministers slay the faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ and rejoyce over their dead bodies and make merry and send gifts one to another Chap. 11.10 Oh how do graceless faithless Christless men rejoyce at the afflictions and calamities of Gods people saying where is now your God and Christ your King Psal 42.10 As touching the nature of the VVitnesses death we are not to conceive thereof as though the same were to be a corporeall killing or slaying but a civill killing or slaying not so much their bodies as their testimonies deprive and strip them of their Liberty Worship Ordinances Religion and the free exercise of their Gifts suffering not a Servant of Jesus Christs to bear an open testimony against the abominations of the beast nor against their National wickedness but make Laws against them and lye in wait for them stoping their mouths and imprisoning their bodies hating and hunting them up and down afflicting and tormenting them and taking possession of their possessions Killing and slaying them all the day long and account them as sheep for the slaughter Rom. 8.33 This is to be broken in the place of Dragons and covered with the shadow of death Psal 44.19 This is to be killed all the day long And upon this account the witnesses are said to be slain And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them Chap. 11.11 A spirit of boldnesse and courage zeale and undauntednesse and resolution to appear for Christ and his cause against Antichrist and the whole brood Therefore rejoyce all ye Saints and be glad all ye of upright heart though the witnesses be dead they will not alwayes be dead but rise again 3. After the slaying time the true Church is with the Lamb on Mount Sion Chap. 14.1 And I looked and lo a Lamb stood on Mount Sion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads which notes a fixed state Those which trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be moved Psal 12.5 before the slaying time the Church is very low but under the slaying time lower but after the slaying time the Church is very high she is rejoycing shining and triumphing on Mount Sion And they sung as it were a new song before the throne and before the four beasts and the Elders and no man could learn that song but the hundred forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth The true Church having gotten the glorious presence of the Lamb in the midst of her and having gotten some victory over the beast they do rejoyce mightily And I heard a voice of Harpers harping with their Harps but this is not till after the resurrection of the witnesses are risen the Church is exceeding joyful This chapter out of which my Text
Where there is a Vaile cast before the eyes of knowledge there is a Barre set before the hands of practise An ignorant person neither knows what he is a doing nor doth he know whether he is a going he doth nothing but undoe himself by doing Carnal men see no preciousness and loveliness in Christ Oh what is thy beloved more then another beloved Cant. 5,9 If thou knowest the gift of God and who it is that asketh thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water John 4.10 Christ goes undesired in the world because he goes undiscerned by the world But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 But now believers being enlightned by the Spirit of God and by the Word of God they see themselves what they were before faith and what they are by faith and what they shall be at the end of faith they see Christ to be all precious precious in his Ordinances precious in his Discoveries precious in his Graces precious in his Gifts precious in his Promises precious in his Members precious in his Ministers and precious in himself 1 Pet. 2.7 Therefore believers cannot but love him and follow him Fifthly They follow the Lamb because they love the Lamb. Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Ephes 6.24 They love him with a superlative love Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 The Spouse of Christ looks upon what she is as not great enough for his remembrance and what she does as not good enough for his acceptance Look not upon me because I am black because the Sun hath looked upon me My Mothers Children were angry with me they made me the keeper of their Vineyard but mine one Vineyard have I not kept Cant. 1.6 The Church is never more fair than when she judgeth her self to be most deformed never more happy than when she accounts her self most miserable never more holy than when she reckons her self most polluted she is never richer than when she seeth her self to be poorest of all The soul that loves much is a soul that works much the Commands of the Gospel are not grievous to him but precious to him Tell me oh thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest Cant. 1.7 A soul that loves Christ hath hath his eye upon Christ and his desire is after Christ The desire of our souls is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desired thee in the Night yea with my Spirit will I seek thee early Isa 26.8 9. True believers love Christ more then they love themselves They loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 13 11. Christ is dearer to them than their lives they slighted contemned yea despised their very lives when they stood in competition with Christ and his Glory and chose rather to suffer the greatest misery than he should lose the least dram of his honour The love of Christ hath made his Saints and VVitnesses yield all the parts and members of their bodies to the cruel and mercilesse instruments of bloody persecutors their backs to be whipt their eyes to be boared and their tongues to be cut out of their mouths Heb. 11.37 Oh how strongly did these love the measure of loving Christ is to love him without measure Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Tribulation shall not Persecution shall not Famine and Nakednesse shall not Peril and Sword shall not for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.35 38 39. Sixthly They follow the Lamb because they are married to the Lamb Jer. 3.14 I am married unto you Rev. 21.9 I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs Wife Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his Here I will shew you two things First How Christs comes to be ours 2ly How we come to be Christs First Christ is ours by the free donation and gift of the Father God so loved the word that he gave his only begotten Son John 3.16 Secondly Christ freely gave himself unto us so that Christ is ours by his own consent he hath as it were passed over himself unto us Christ loved me and gave himself for me said the Apostle Gal. 2.20 Thirdly Christ hath passed himself over unto his Church by marriage and therefore she is called his Queen his Spouse his Bride and his VVife Psal 45.9 Although we had nothing to bring to him but poverty shame forrow and misery yet he took us and loved us and married us Fourthly Christ is ours by communicating his own Spirit to us 2. The Saints are Christs four ways First By the Donation of the Father God hath made him both Lord and Christ Acts 2.36 And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things in the Church Ephes 1.22 And now saith Christ Behold I and the Children whom thou gavest me thine they were and thou gavest them me John Seventeen Six God the Father gave us to God the Son that he might redeem us and God the Son gave us to God the Father that he might sanctifie us and keep us from the evill of the World verse 17. Secondly We are Christs by choice I have chosen you out of the World And the Saints are said to be Chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 And they are called A chosen Generation 1 Pet. 2.9 And chosen and faithful Rev. 17.14 Thirdly The Saints are Christs by purchase We were in our Enemies hands and under their power and could not free our selves from the bondage of the Law Sin Satan Death and Hell therefore saith the Apostle We are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 For in respect of Gods Justice we are bought by Christ Fourthly We are Christs by combination and Covenant I entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine Ezek. 16.8 That is I did make a Solemn Covenant or Stipulation with thee that I would take thee to be my people So that it is no wonder Pelievers follow the Lamb whethersoever he goeth they are married to him he is their Head and Husband Seventhly They follow the Lamb because they have the Spirit of the Lamb We have not the spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are of God And we have the mind of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 2.11 12 16. And we know that he abides in us by the Spirit which he hath given us Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his This Spirit that the Lord
Jesus gives to believers is a sealing Spirit a lively Spirit and an enlightning Spirit and a leading Spirit it leads us from all evill to all good And all the Lambs followers are in the Spirit of the Lamb and therefore they pray in the Spirit and with the Spirit and by the Spirit and for more of the Spirit They that have this Spirit need not a Book to pray by Now all true Believers have the Spirit of the Lamb therefore they follow the Lamb whethersoever he goeth Fifthly Believers follow the Lamb because all their Priviledges come from the Lamb They are all Kings and Priests Rev. 1.6 Rev. 5.10 And Sons and Heirs 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us Rom. 8.17 If Children then Heirs Heirs with God and joynt Heirs with Christ Though Believers have not a Crown in life yet they are Heirs to a Crown of life God puts the greatest honour upon his own people Prov. 12.26 All the honour that other men have is not worth the having that which makes a man great in the eye of the world makes a man nothing in the eye of God Men are never the better for their greatness if they are not made better by their greatness But now believers greatness and honour comes by Christ the faithful and true witness the first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth He hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth Rev. 5.10 All the light and life and hope and joy and peace and beauty and honour and riches Believers have they have it all by Christ and from Christ he gives them rich Grace and rich Glory and all things richly to enjoy 1 Tim. 6.17 Take a man that is out of Christ and he hath none of all this Ephes 2.12 That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of promise having no hope and without God in the World They are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Revel 3.17 O this is the condition of every graceless Faithless and Christless person But now a Believer though he be never so poor in the worlds eye he is rich in Gods eye for all things are his and he shall inherit all things 1 Cor. 3.22 Rev. 21.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things But how comes it to pass that the Believer hath so much and all others so little He hath it all from Christ Of his fulness have all we received Grace for Grace Therefore Believers doe glory in Christ because they have all their glory by and from Christ 1 Cor. 1.31 He hath enough to glory in that hath a Christ to glory in Now Believers cannot but cleave to him and follow him because all their good things comes by him Ninthly They follow the Lamb because their names are written in the Lambs Book Revel 13.8 And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye but they which are written in the Lambs book of life Rev. 21.27 All the rest all the Worshippers of the Beast and all Unbelievers shall be cast into that Lake of fire which burns and flames for ever Rev. 19.20 There be a great many that follow the Beast worship the Beast receive the mark of the Beast and admire the Beast Chap. 13.3 4. But what are they Are they any that have their names written in the Lambs Book of Life No no for this see Rev. 17.8 The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and shall go into perdition and they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the Book of Life So that you see what that cursed crew are that follow Babylon they are such whose names are not written in the Book of Life But they that have their Fathers name written in their fore-head and their names written in the Lambs Book they follow the Lamb whethersoever he goeth And they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful Rev. 17.14 Tenthly and lastly Precious ones follow the Lamb because they shall be for ever with the Lamb. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lamb Wherefore comfort one another with these words 1 Thes 4.17 18. Therefore are they before the Throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heat for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living Fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Re. 7.15 16 17. How troublesom soever a Saints beginning is his ending is joyful When Believers change Earth for Heaven they do not lose their happiness but compleat their happiness Joh. 12.17 24. Eather I will that they also whom thou gavest me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Not only with me for ever but with my Saints with my Angels and with my Father and with all that are with me To be with God and Christ for ever implyeth these seven things First The presence of God Secondly The happy union with God Thirdly The blessed vision of God Fourthly The glorious communion with God Fifthly The fruition of God Sixthly The rest that the Saints shall have in God Seventhly The enjoyments of themselves in God Oh how unspeakable is the glory of Heaven Oh how infinitely glorious is the Lamb Now true Believers follow the Lamb whethersoever he goeth because they shall be for ever with the Lamb in fulness of glory and endless felicity Rom. 8.17 Thus have I shewed you why Believers follow the Lamb. Now I shall shew you the Excellencies of following the Lamb. The first Excellency is They that follow the Lamb have the presence of the Lamb with them The hundred forty and four thousand that stood upon Mount Sion had the Lamb with them Psal 46.5 God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Verse 7. God is in the midst of his Church not only to behold her but to uphold her Though the Churches Enemies may be waves to toss her yet they shall never be Rocks to split her because God is in the
His Pleasant Portion Jer. 12.10 Thirdly His Inheritance Isa 19.25 Fourthly The Dearly beloved of my soul Jer. 12.7 Fifthly Gods Treasure and peculiar Treasure Exod. 19.5 Sixthly His Glory Isa 46.13 Seventhly The House of Gods glory Isa 60.7 Eighthly A Crown of Glory Isa 62.3 Ninthly A Royal Diadem in the same place Tenthly The Glory of God Jer. 3.17 Eleventhly Golden Candlesticks Rev. 1.12 Twelfthly Kings Rev. 5.10 And in my Text Heaven There is as much difference between the Church of God and other men as there is betwixt Gold and Dirt as betwixt Diamonds and Pebbles in the Lords esteem they are to God above all people The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour Pro. 12.26 O how precious how happy how blessed and glorious are Believers they are called Heaven Secondly Believers are called Heaven because there is much of them in Heaven First Their Thoughts are in Heaven Psal 139.18 Secondly Their Desires are ie Heaven Psal 73.25 Thirdly Their Affections are in Heaven Col. 3 2. Fourthly Their Hopes are in Heaven Tit. 2.13 Fifthly Their Conversations are in Heaven Phil. 3.20 Sixthly Their Hearts are in Heaven Mat. 6.21 Seventhly Their Aims are in Heaven Luke 10.20 O there is much of Believers in heaven their souls are in heaven when their bodies are walking upon the Earth they live in heaven whil'st they are on the earth and they come to heaven when they leave the earth Eph. 2.6 And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus The Saints are set in heavenly places heavenly Dignities heavenly priviledges heavenly Prerogatives The Saints of the High God are set in high places The true Church is that Spouse that is fair and beautiful Cant. 2.14 O the Church of Christ is lovely and glorious First Glorious in her Head Secondly Glorious in her Titles Thirdly Glorious in her Gifts and Graces Fourthly Glorious in her Offices Fifthly Glorious in her Priviledges Sixthly Glorious in her Members O the Church of Christ is a holy Church and a glorious Church That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinke or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Ephes 5.27 They are not defiled they are Virgins and in their mouthes is found no guile Now he that hath an ear to hear let him hear I shall exhort you that are members of this heavenly Church First To seek Heavenly things before and above all things else Let your hearts be filled with Heavenly knowledge and heavenly riches Secondly Delight in heavenly things let it be your heaven upon Earth to serve the God of heaven Thirdly Act by Heavenly Principles Fourthly Have a holy dependance upon God For Direction For Protection For Assistance For a blessing Fifthly Eye Heavenly objects God Christ and the Spirit Sixthly Imitate Heavenly Ones follow them that follow Christ Seventhly Walk by a Heavenly Rule walk according to the Laws of heaven Eighthly and lastly Live much in heaven Your Father is in heaven Your Head is in Heaven Your Husband is in heaven Your King is in heaven Your Treasure is in heaven Your Crown is in heaven Your Wages are in heaven And where should you be but in heaven Knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance Heb. 10.34 For we know that if our Earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God and a house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 Oh these are blessed and holy ones And they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful Rev. 17.14 Oh labour to be like these in purity and piety in holiness and humbleness in meekness and patience in faithfulness and uprightness in spiritualness and in all Godliness Thirdly Follow the Lamb out of Babylon And they cryed with a loud voice saying How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth Revel 6.10 And another Angel came out of the Temple crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the Cloud Thrust in thy Sicle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the Earth is ripe And he that sat on the Cloud thrust in his Sicle on the earth and the earth was reaped And another Angel came out of the Temple which is in heaven he also having a sharp Sicle Rev. 14.15 16 17. The Whore of Babylon shall be destroyed with a double destruction Her walls shall fall down Her wall of Power Her wall of Policy Her wall of Superstition Her wall of Maintenance And that for these Reasons First Because she hath corrupted Religion and that both in Doctrine and Worship Babylon is fallen is fallen that great City because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the wrath of her fornication Rev. 14.8 Chap. 18.3 Secondly Because she hath poysoned the Kings of the Earth The Whore of Babylon hath been the great corrupter of Kings And I saw three unclean spirits like Frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet for they are the spirits of Devils working miracles which go forth unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty Rev. 16.13.14 Chap. 17.2 Thirdly For her cruelty In her was found the blood of the Prophets and all the Saints that were slain upon the Earth Chap. 18.24 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondred with great admiration Chap. 17.6 Fourthly Because her ruine and destruction is published and proclaimed over the world And he cryed mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon the great is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of Devils Chap. 18.2 Chap. 14.8 Fifthly It is the great design that Christ hath in the latter dayes of the world to destroy Antichrist The Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings Cha. 17.14 His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many Crowns and he was cleathed with a Vesture dipt in blood and his name is called The Word of God And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the Nations Chap. 19.12 13 15. Sixthly Because she hath greatly insulted and triumpht over the Lords people in their miseries and calamities And they that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and send gifts one to another Rev. 11.10 Seventhly Because of all the Churches enemies that ever were this is the cruellest enemy The fourth Beast is worse than any of the former Beasts And behold a fourth Beast dreadfull and terrible and strong exceedingly and it had great Iron teeth and it was divers from all the Beasts that were before it Dan. 7.7 Rev. 18.24 Eightly It is the expectation of all the Saints that Babylon should be destroyed and thrown like a Mil-stone Chap. 18.21 Now God that hath raised this expectation in the hearts of his people he will not frustrate their expectation he will fulfill their Petions Ninthly God hath promised to destroy the scarlet Whore because she hath destroyed his Saints and she is to be rewarded as she hath rewarded others Chap. 15.5 6. Chap. 18.8 Tenthly The Whore of Babylon shall be destroyed because she trusteth in the arm of flesh and glorieth in her strength and riches How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her for she saith in her heart I sit a Queen I am no Widdow and shall see no sorrow therefore shall her plagues come Chap. 18.7 Now Beloved consider of this and think of this and keep your selves from Babylon that ye do not partake of her sins least ye receive of her plagues O poor sinners if you have any love to your Souls if you have any mind to be saved follow the Lamb that you may be saved by the Lamb. He leads poor souls from darkness to light From death to life From vice to vertue From Satan to God From poverty to plenty From sorrow to joy From misery to glory From an earthly Kingdom to a heavenly Kingdom Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom Mat. 25.34 O the Kingdom which Christ leads poor souls to is First A Rich Kingdom Secondly A peaceable Kingdom Thirdly A Righteous Kingdom Fourdily A blessed Kingdom Fifthly A Glorious Kingdom Sixthly A satisfying Kingdom Seventhly A Universal Kingdom Eighthly An Everlasting Kingdom Oh follow the Lamb follow the Lamb that you may be for ever glorified with the Lamb and by the Lamb. FINIS