THE VVidow VVhiterows HUMBLE THANKSGIVING FOR THE KINGS SAFE RETURN With an Account of John Hall's Vision upon the first day of the Eleventh Month 1692 3. And also a Letter to a Friend concerning John Hall's Message with a Letter from Jamaica concerning the Earthquake that happen'd there a Warning to the Inhabitants of the Earth to fear GOD and give Glory to Him for the hour of His Judgments are come Say unto the KING and to the QVEEN humble your Selves sit down Jeremiah 13.18 The People of Neniveh believed GOD and proclaimed a Fast and put on Sackcloth from the greatest of them to the least of them For word came unto the King of Nineveh and he rose from his Throne and he laid his Robe from him and covered him with Sackcloth and sate in Ashes Jonah 3.5 6. Licensed D. P. April 18. London Printed by D. Edwards in Nevel 's Alley in Fetter-lane for J. B. 1694 THE Widow Whiterows HUMBLE THANKSGIVING FOR THE KING'S Safe RETURN ONCE more I am highly honoured with Mercy and Truth to return Thanks to the Most High for the Kings safe Return Oh what shall I say to the LORD for all his Mercies and boundless Favours for I am as one astonish'd at his Goodness How wonderful are his Works and his Ways past finding out therefore who shall not admire Thee Thou King of Righteousness who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth in thy Hands to bind the Kings of the Earth in Chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron who rulest in the Heavens and makes bare the Arm of thy Glorious Power in the Earth to dash the Nations asunder and break in pieces the Potsherds of the Earth as a Potter's Vessel Oh Great LORD glorious in Power fearful in Praises doing wonders Thou LORD Jehovah art come and thy Power goes before Thee that shall rend the Rocks and cleave the Mountains in sunder The Everlasting GOD is come to throw down Mountains and Hills and to exalt the low Valleys he 'll awaken the Earth by his thundring Power and the sleepy Inhabitant thereof by his loud sounding Judgments For this know Oh King There 's neither Strength nor Policy shall stand Against what GOD's a bringing on this Land The Youth shall howl the Aged shall weep sore Yet there 's glad tidings for the Meek and Poor The Poor in Spirit I mean Matth. 5.3 who are Heirs of the Kingdom of Glory whom GOD will hide in the hollow of his Hand whilst his fierce Indignation passes over the Rebellious wherefore Oh that my Counsel might be acceptable to the King and that his ways might so please the LORD as that his days may be prolonged in this Land which the LORD for a time hath given him to do the will of GOD in all things with all his Might and with all his Strength that these heavy Judgments which the LORD hath pronounced may not be executed in the King's days For thus said the LORD to me in my deep humiliation before him viz. My Controversie is not with Man or Woman farther than they are found in the Transgression take away the Transgression and where 's my Controversie Is it so O Righteous LORD that thy Controversie is not with Man or VVoman farther than they are found in the transgression of thy Righteous Law and pure Commandments Oh then for thy Mercy sake and the advancement of thy Glorious Power and the praise of thy ever Blessed Name in these Nations and throughout all the Earth turn the King and Queens Hearts with all their Powers and Strengths to Thee as the Riveâ—s of VVaters are turned that with a powerful force of Thy Love and ardent Affection to thy Glory they may joyn unanimously together in Heart and Soul to humble themselves in the dust before Thee the Almighty GOD repenting with Niniveh's Repentance Jonah 3.7 8. For no less Repentance will put a stop to the hot and fiery Indignation of the LORD which is kindled against this Land but to turn every one from his Evil Way and from the wickedness that is in their hands therefore Oh noble Prince anâ— Princess for the LORD's sake who is the King of Eternal Glory the GOD of the Spirits of all Flesh the Everlasting Counsellor the Prince 〈◊〉 Peace the GOD that made the Heavens and Earth the Sea and all thaâ— therein is who hath delivered the King from all his Enemies and gavâ— him his Life for a Prey and for the LORD JESUS CHRIST's sake his Sufâ— fering Life and Bloody Passion who was nail'd to the Cross and gave uâ— his Life there for all Mankind and rose again for the Salvation and Redemption of the Faithful I pray again and again for His sake whâ— hath been with the King in six troubles and in the seventh by his outâ— stretch'd Arm hath deliver'd him Oh for His sake come down from your Thrones and humble your selves in the dust by Fastings and Prayers and deep Humiliation crying mightily to GOD the Father of all your Mercies that He would be with you in Counsel and direct your way in truth before Him to do His most acceptable will in all things that in his infinite compassions for his great and terrible name sake shew you what to do and which way to take for the suppressing and total destruction of this boundless flood of Ungodliness that overflows these Nations And dearest Prince and Princess I humbly beg and beseech you for the LORD and his Glory sake and for your own Lives and Liberty sake be not negligent in this great VVork prostrating your selves night and day before the Throne of his Grace crying mightily to him for his assisting Power Heavenly VVisdom and Holy Zeal which his Valiants had of Old Phinehas Numbers 25 7 8 11. Jehoshaphat Hezakiah and Josias these were clad with Zeal as with a Garment these were the Valiants of Israel that knew how to handle weapons of VVar being girt with the Sword of the Spirit and Helmet of Salvation Phinehas was honourable who by his holy Zeal stop'd the Plague from the Children of Israel then said the LORD unto Moses Phinehas the Son of Eleazar hath turned mine Anger away from the Children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake among them therefore I have not consumed the Children of Israel in my Jclousie wherefore say unto him Behold I give unto him my Covenant of Peace and he shall have it and his Seed after him for Ever because he was zealous for his God and hath made him an attonement for the Children of Israel Oh what an influence had this upon the LORD and how this act of Holy Zeal pleas'd his Divine Majesty here we may see the difference between a holy Zeal for GOD and his Glory and a blind Zeal that hath any Interest in it to Self-honour either in Name or Fame or any other thing of this perishing VVorld The first hath power to prevail with GOD to stop the Judgment the latter suffers it to go
on to their own destruction But wo and alass where are these holy Zeaâ—ots now in our age that lies prostrating themselves before the LORD â—ight and day And though they see the Sword of the LORD drawn over these Nations as David and the Elders of Israel 1 Chron. 21.16 17. which were cloathed in Sackcloth falling upon their Faces crying out most bitterly before the LORD with rended hearts saying Is it not I â—hat have sinned and have committed Evil in thy Sight Is it not I That have loved Covetousness which is Idolatry Is it not I that have gone a whoring from thee after my Lusts and Pleasures my Silver and Gold Pride and Profits of a perishing World so long till I have provoked the Eyes of thy Glory to say as thou didst to Israel of old For â—hree Transgressions and for four I will not pass by the Iniquities thereof And now Oh LORD GOD let thy hand be upon me and my Fathers House to bring me to a true and unfeigned Repentance offering unto Thee Body Soul and Spirit a Sacrifice of Righteousness to love and serve Thee all the days of my appointed time until my Change com And thus in judging and condemning your selves and bearing the Indignation of the LORD the Altar is set up in the Threshing-Floor of Orman the Jebusite where true Penitents sacrifice their Lusts vile Affections and their own wills ways and works this is the Valley of Jehosha â—hat where Mohab shall be threshed to pieces Isa 5.10 as Straw is thrashed in Madmenah therefore saith GOD Let the Heathen be awakened and â—ome up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to Judge all the Heaâ—hen round about Therefore Oh Multitude Multitude come into the Valley of Threshing for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of Threshing here will God plead with all Flesh here will he Judge between the Precious and the Vile and when you have born the indignation of the LORD for Sin and Iniquity so long till Judgment turns to Victory then will he arise and plead your Cause The word Jehoshaphat signifies Pleading or Judgment and that which is call'd the valley of Jehoshaphat was before called the valley of Berachah 2 Chron. 20.26 which signifies Blessing or Thanksgiving and from hence proceeds the true and acceptable Praise from the valley of Judgment where GOD destroys the Iniquity and so it comes to pass that whatsoever is done in the History must be done again in the Mystery therefore whosoever will have Life and Salvation must come into the Valley of Judgment â—udge your selves hate and abhor your selves believe your selves from the bottom of your Souls to be the vilest and unworthiest of all the Creatures of GOD in respect to your disobedience and rebellion against Him and his Holy Laws and this must be your Work in the best state you have yet attained to yea if you were come to such a Statâ— as Paul was come to when he said 1 Cor. 4.4 Though I know noâ— thing by my self yet herein am I not justified but he that justifies me is thâ— LORD Therefore how much more ought it to be the daily and hourlâ— work of those that call themselves Christians of this Generation whâ— are so loaded with Sin that the Spirit of God both within and withouâ— them is oppressed as a Cart is oppressed under the Sheaves but lest any should think I mean a bare Historical Judging or Pharasaical crying out LORD have Mercy upon us miserable Sinners Here you may cry out long and loud as Jezebels Prophets did and never be heard or answered no no I mean a going down into the valley of Judgment the valley of Jehoshaphat where God himself will sit to Judge the Heathen that knows not him nor his Righteous Judgments and yet are crying out LORD have Mercy upon them miserable Sinners who never knew this River of Jordanâ— 2 Kings 5.14 or Judgment to cleanse them of their Leprosie their going down into the deep where they behold his Wonders this valley of Tears where Luke 10.39 Mary sate to hear the precious words that came from his gracious Lips which are not to be heard but by leaving all the hurryings and turmoiling Incumbrances of a perishing World to sit attentively at his Feet seeking loving admiring nothing but Him no not its own life but for his sake that it may serve him therewith and this was the pleasure and treasure of all the regenerated Christians that were born again both under the Law and Gospel and this way in which they attain'd this Resurrection and holy life was through Judgmentâ— I will saith David sing of Mercy and Judgment to thee Oh my Strength will I sing Blessed are they that keep Judgment and do Righteousness at all times I will praise thee with an upright heart When I have learned thy Righteous Judgment my Flesh trembleth for fear of Thee and I am afraid of Thy Judgments The Fear of the LORD is clean saith he and endures for everâ— The Judgments of the LORD are Truth and Righteous altogether more to be desired than Gold yea than much fine Gold sweeter than the Honey and the Honey-Comb Moreover by them is thy Servant warned or made Circumspect and in keeping of them there is great Reward And in the Law Exod. 28.13 the Vrim and the Thummim which signifies light and perfection or Knowledge and Holiness GOD commanded iâ— to be put into the Breast-plate of Judgment which was to be upon Aaron's Heart continually when he went in before the LORD And now Christ our Pattern and High-Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisadeck fulfilled that Heavenly Institution in his Earthly Body who bore the Judgment of GOD upon his Heart in his suffering life which he hath in his merciful loving Kindness as it were left us a legaâ—y or Portion to be like unto him in all things to fill up that which is â—ehind of his Sufferings in our Flesh for it is not only given us to beâ—ieve but to suffer for his sake but I would not have you mistaken I do not confine all true Christians to those external Sufferings of Christ as Mockings Scourgings and nailing to the Cross for it may be some may not be called to suffer on that wise but the Sufferings I now treat of are the Internal sufferings of the Soul which the Apostle Paul spake of when he said I bear in my Body the Dyings of the LORD JESVS and said our Blessed Saviour If ye suffer with me ye shall Reign with me mark that with Him That is a Heart-breaking Suffering an inward Suffering to be grieved in the very bottom of your Souls if you do the â—east thing that grieves the Spirit of GOD in you keeping so intent to your Watch that you may see the Tempter before he comes and then your Weapons are to be the Sword of GODs Spirit your Prayers and Supplications with strong Cries even as a Woman in â—raâ—ail to the
desire his hand to be removed till all is consumed that is for the Fire in this fiery Baptism and if you continue faithful to the end of your Purification in Patience and Long-suffering diligently attending upon His Hand alone for His redeeming Power to redeem you from the Earth and all perishing things whose Fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly purge his Floor and gather his Wheat into his Gardner but the Chaff he will hurn up in this unquenchable fire and then you shall come forth as the Gold seven times refined And farther take this from one that hath upon Tryal proved it for your comfort and encouragement in your Journy that the more diligently you wait upon him in all Conditions you pass through even so much the more shall you receive of his virtuous Life and heavenly Power for by this your continual secreet converse and invisible Union with the Everlasting GOD you will come to be so filled with his divine Love that your Mortal will be swallowed up of the Immortal so that it will become your whole Life and all your Thoughts Words and Works will have their Rice and settled Habitation therein but then you must be sure let nothing come out of the fire unconsumed for hear lies the stress of all your giving up all that which is for the Sword to be cut off and that that is for the Fire to be burnt up for if you keep any thing back that GOD requires to be offered up of any Darling-sin or beloved Dalalie whether Love to the World Name or Fame together with the whole Catalogue that belongs to Self for if Self be in any case whatsoever you must lay the Ax to the Root of that Tree and with all your Strength and Power cut it down for if the Root remains the fruitless Tree will grow therefore Self the accursed Thing must be found out and destroyed Joshua 7.11.22 Before you can prosper in this Holy War to get the Victory over all your Enemies for you know a faithful Souldier intangles not himself with the Affairs of this Life but gives up all to follow him that hath chosen him counting nothing dear to them nor any thing hard to endure for the hope of obtaining the Victory and I entreat you consider how intent he is in the Fight Doth he mind any thing but striking at the Enemy No for if he did he could not overcome it is so in the spiritual Warfare of the Soul It counts nothing dear that it may win him CHRIST JESUS thinking no time long nor any thing hard to endure for the Joy and Beauty that is set before it of its beloved Lord who went before through the bitter Agony of Soul and bloody Passion with Mockings Slanders Reproaches Hatred and Malice of his cruel Enemies and ignominious Death for thee and the Redemption of thy Soul from all Iniquity if thou follow Him the Captain of thy Salvation through his self-denial in Faith and Obedience for it is not only given you to believe but also to suffer for his sake Because Faith without Works is dead and thus the LORD will be found in his own way For I am the Way the Truth and the Life and none can come to the Father but by me saith he Here you see CHRIST is the Way his suffering Life is the Way he hath appointed and also saith He that comes this Way to me I will in no wise cast him off but will pray to the Father that whatsoever you ask the Father in my Name he will give it you even the Spirit of Truth that shall lead you into all Truth and cut of all Errour and will be your Strength in all Weakness for this is that your Souls travels for and hath such bitter Pang as a Woman in Travail to bring forth my Will my most exceptable Will therefore will I deliver you and though you sowe in Tears you shall reap in Joy and tho' you go out weeping and carrying precious Seed you shall return with Joy and bring your Sheaves 126 Psalm 5 6. As one speaking his own Experience with Christ's words said For though Sin the evil Seed be sown when Men sleep and take root with Pleasure and springs up with Delight yet the End thereof is Bitterness Lamentation and unconceivable Wooes But my precious Seed saith Christ is sown with Tears conceived with Sorrow and brought forth with Sighings Nights of Watchings Days of Mourning and with much labour of Spirit and travail of Soul must you see your desire Brought forth and it s not beating the Air that will fight your battels for its a gainst such airy Notions you are to make War and all Spirits of what sorts soever that would possess you with Words and Forms without the power of Righteousness regard them not for nothing less than Victory over Sin will satisfie your immortal Souls Therefore yours is Work and not vain Words and for my part all 's a like to me whether in Forms or out of Forms if they deny the power of Godliness in the Practical-part I say as the Apostle said From such turn away and do as Christ my LORD and Master did turn from the proud Pharisees to the poor Publicans and Sinners that wants a Physician and tender his loving kindness to them for the whole needs no Physician but the Sick and what tho many may say we have Eat and Drank in thy presence nay farther cast our Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful Works but what said Christ to all this Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity I know you not This is plain and evident for you to see if you are not wilfully blind it s not all the outward Services of the outward Temple nor the outward Water nor the Holy Duties nor the holy and comply Orders for the worker iniquity hath spoiled all these and made them unholy and uncomly But the latter of these might uave claim'd more right to the aforesaid wonderfull works had they kept to their first works and in the humility of Christ But what they had committed to them when they were in poverty of spirit they have decked themselves therewith and now it serves to make a discourse of though they are gone from the Life of Innocency into the spirit of Craft and subtilty and so are got above the Cross of Christ which is the power of GOD into the Liberty of of the Flesh by which they are become Great and waren â—ich and so bless themselves in the Earth instead of the GOD of Trueth This is Adultery Treachery and Whordom therefore their Portion is with the rest Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity I know you not Others there are who have a Sight beyond Forms but the same Ground remains in them as in the rest very few excepted that I know of yet a more universsal Spirit of Love to all remains in them than the rest Friends to you this is my Advice Take not