come to passe that there will be a way made for the Kings of the East to come in for yee heard that by the Kings of the East are properly meant the Iewes as being of old called Kings A royall Priesthood so that way is made for them by this reformation of religion in Christendome The removing of those abuses to wit of the corruption of religion and popish superstition and idolatry way is made for their conversion and doe but dry up those streames and then you leave Babylon dry and you leave the Turkish Monarchy weakened for the staffe of the Turkish Monarchy is the superstition of Antichristianisme From hence therefore yee have heard already these two notes gathered and handled the first is this that the dayes are comming wherein Christian Princes shall dry up the streames of antichristian corruption in Religion And thereby also dry up the Fountaines of the streames of the Turkish tyranny Secondly yee have heard this note also gathered and handled That upon the drying up of the streames of corruption of Antichristian religion and of Turkish Tyranny way is made for the conversion of the Iewes the antient people of God Of these two wee spake the last day and thus much was needfull to be repeated that yee might understand where wee are To proceede to the next note then the third that concernes this Viall but the first at this time Let me first gather the note and then shew you how it rises out of the Text then give some grounds of it and make use of it as the Lord shall helpe the note is this Upon the drying up of the streames of the corruption of religion Doct. 3 in Christendome the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet shall send forth their choisest instruments to stir up and gather together both Popish and Pagan Princes unto a great battell to withstand the reformation of Christians and the conversion of the Jewes This is the summe See all these points expresly and distinctly delivered and fully in these two Verses the 13 and 14. For further then so I shall not goe at this time And this one note opens both these Verses and all the passages therein First yee see upon the powring out of this Viall upon the river Euphrates and the drying up the streames thereof that is upon the drying up of the corruptions of religion superstition Idolatry Murthers and Whordomes restraining and drying up all such Fountaines what followes He saith the Beast the Dragon and the false Prophet sent out of their mouthes three unclean spirits like Frogs which goe forth unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God Almighty To open this doctrine and the words a little First for the Dragon yee have heard it noted before from the 12. Rev. 9. verse him to be the old Serpent Satan but taken chiefly as he doth act and govern and dwell in the Roman state And therefore he is described to have seaven hads and ten Hornes in the third verse of the 12 Chapter But take him as he is Satan spiritually and he hath neither heads nor hornes Take him as he governes Rome and so he hath seven heads and ten hones The seven heads are seven hilles And the ten hornes are ten governments who then is the Beast the Beast as ye have heard he is described by the very same Characters seven heads and ten hornes 13. Rev 9. verse It is said to be him to whom the Dragon hath given his power and his seat and great authority it doth therefore hold forth the Roman state not Rome Pagan nor Rome Christian as yee have heard It remaines therefore to be Rome antichristian which is that The Roman visible Catholique Church that 's the first Beast which claimes all the power by pretence of religion which old Rome and the Roman Monarchy claimed by force of armes Who is then the false Prophet The false Prophet hee is never mentioned before in this booke not by name and yet hee is spoken of here as well knowne It appeares therefore this false Prophet is the 2 Beast in 13 Rev. 11 verse to the end The second Beast there is said to worke Miracles in the 13 Verse he doth great wonders c. And 18 Verse he deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth by the meanes of these miracles c. And the same yee shall reade of the false Prophet in the 19 Rev. 20 Verse The Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the marke of the Beast And them which worshiped his Image c. The description is the same of the false Prophet and of the Beast both of them holding forth the head of the Roman Church The false Prophet Balaam the Bishop or Antichrist of Rome So that it doth imply thus much that the Dragon and the Devill himselfe did stir up not the Pope onely but the whole Catholicke Church to gather into some councill or some other solemne meeting some chiefe concurse of them who by common content shall out of their mouthes that is to say by their commands their Cannons and Decrees for that is out of their mouthes out of their commands out of their edicts out of their injunctions shall send forth their uncleane Spirits Spirits they be for nimblenesse and activity Spirits they bee for impetuousnesse and strength Spirits they be also for close and cleanly conveyance There is no stoping the gates against Spirits yee cannot so stop the Cinque-ports but they will in they will enter into any Court Princes Palaces or great mens Houses there 's no hindering of them they have a cleanly conveyance and secret and close passage And they are also Spirits of Devills It is not the ordinary word Devill but Daemon the which is wont to expresse Spirits for their knowledge and learning They are learned spirits and yet Devills for their deceit and mischeife Ye are of your Father the devill the works of your Father ye will doe Iohn 8 44. Liers for deceit Murtherers for mischeif these are the spirits he sends forth which surely comming as they doe out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet they are not spirits properly so called They are therefore Emissaries sent forth by them men of nimble wits and parts active for nimblenesse and close conveyance and full of deceit and mischiefe And these are the spirits are sent forth and here said to be three spirits comming out of their mouthes not as if one came out of the mouth of one and another came out of the mouth of another but all three of them came out of all their mouthes together at once It is not rightly translated here that he saith he saw them comming out for the word comming out is not in the originall but hee
of it These Angels had councell and encouragement given them as you have heard to goe about this worke and were furnished with the wrath of God for this ende but were not effectually stirred up to fall upon the execution thereof till they heare a great Voice of Christ out of the Temple that is in publike Ordinances then they goe to poure out their Vials You shall find this a very ordinary Practise in some things sutable hereunto in Scripture Isaack gave Iacob a Commandement and Instruction to goe to Padan-Aram Gen. 28 6. And thereupon Iacob went on his way Vers 7. But the first night that he lodged out of dores when the Lord appeared to him in the House of God Verse 15. and telleth him That hee will bee with him and keepe him in all places whithersoever hee goeth and will bring him backe againe into this Land Then Iacob Chap. 29 1 lifteth up his heeles and goeth on his wayes Like a Giant refreshed with Wine to runne his Course And the like was the Practise of the same Jacob when they told him that Ioseph was yet alive Gen. 45.27.28 his spirit revived and he said He would goe down to see him but first he goeth to Beersheba and there offereth Sacrifices and consulteth with the Lord Gen. 46.1.2.3 4. and the Lord encourageth him to goâ— downe bideth him not feare He will be with him and there make a great Nation of him and bring him back againe and so he did to be buried thus are his hands fully strengthned in his way The like also was the case of the men of Samaria Ioh. 4. When the woman had told them that Jesus was the Christ because he had told her all that ever shee did they beleeved because of her saying Vers 39. But when they came unto him and talked with him then they said unto her Vers 42. Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heâ—rd him our selves and know that this is inâ—eâ—d the Christ the Saviour of the World Thus the voice of Christ carrieth his people an end in the waies of their callings with effectuall power unto sudden and speedy execution The Reason is taken first from the greater power of the voice Reason 1 of Christ speakâ—ng by his Spirit then when hee speaketh by the gifts of his Servants and therefore Paul putteth a great difference in this case Acts 19.21 The Text telleth us That he purposed in his Spirit to goe up to Hierusalem afterwards going on his way he meeteth with certaine Disciples Act. 21.4 and they by reason of the Prophesie of Agabus concerning Paul vers 11. fell upon him and wept and besought him not to goe up to Hierusalem What meane you saith he to weepe and to breake mine heart for J am ready not to be bound onely but to dye at Hierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus Behold here the Spirit of God had revealed clearely himselfe in the heart of Paul to strengthen him to goe up to Heirusalem these Disciples upon the Prophecie of Agabus that he should be bound at Hierusalem said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not goe up By what spirit By the gifts of the Spirit the spirit of love and their care of the Churches but Paul waves them all for hee had the minde of Christ by the voice of the Spirit himselfe this was indeede in times of extraordinary Revelation but it sheweth you neverthelesse the difference betweene the voyce of the Spirit and of the gifts of the Spirit he giveth the greater power to the Spirit then to the gifts of the Spirit being such kind of Gifts wherein humane frailty might be mingled The second Reason is taken from the greater power of Gods Reas 2 voyce in Publike then in private Administration If one of these Elders speake unto them it may be but a private incouragement Such as the advice of Nathan was unto David to build the Temple 1 Chro. 17.2 But had he come as afterwards he did in way of Publike Administration Hee could not have beene so mistaken as then he was For therein doth the Lord more specially reveale the presence and the power of his Spirit and grace Matth. 18.18.19 20. Therefore it is That when there commeth a great voice out of the Temple it carrieth along the Seven Angels to a speedy dispatch of this great worke of pouring out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth Vse 1 The first Vse may teach us all that have any private inducements or incouragements to any calling or worke of God by any Church-Officer or Church-Member not to sleight the same for these Angels did not sleight the motion when one of the Church Officers gave unto them the seven golden Viols but they tooke the Vials And when they see their time when there commeth a publike Voice out of the Temple then doe they all follow on effectually with their worke in their seasons Sleight not therefore private encouragements to good callings but looke for further provocation and strengthning in them from the publike Ministry even from the voyce of Christ in the publike Ordinances of his Church Private Revelations without the Word are out of date but certaine it is that God doth speake by his Spirit in private Meditation and Prayers and conferences with Bretheren and in all these comforteth his people with the manifestation of his fatherly goodnesse yet speaketh nothing but in his word and according to it Now these be good hints and good encouragements which God giveth his people in them and by no meanes to be sleighted when God sheweth his presence in them God forbid that any of the sonnes or daughters of God should put them away Yet this let me say though such be faire incouragements what private duty soever they come in whether to beleeve on this or that gracious promise of God or to stir us up unto any other Spirituall work the servants of God are hereby led to attend the more upon the publike Administrations of the Church for the further clearing of the mind and will of God There will the Lord more clearely reveale himselfe by his Spirit in every Ordinance of his Worship there doth he delight to poure out all his fresh Springs Psal 87. Last For there the Lord commanded the blessing even life for evermore Psal 133.3 Eternall life doth he give in the Publike fellowship of his Saints there doth hee confirme their callings to them looke unto the Lord therefore for his blessing in this way and so shall you be faithfull followers of these holy Angels of God who being privately incouraged waite for a publike voice to carry them an end in their Administrations wherein the Lord by the mighty power of his Spirit doth confirme al his Promises threatnings and Commandements and more throughly stirreth up the hearts of all his people to take hold of al that is spoken unto them therefore if ever you perceive any voyce or spirit to take off
live better then an hypocrite this is the true meaning of the second viall The first note that we may gather I will not be long in it nor Doct. in this place the matter requires it not in some places it might As upon the corruption of common Christians followes the corruption of religion so by the discovery of the corruptions of Christians or upon the discovery of the corruption of common Christians followes the discovery of corruption in Religion This note followes upon the former words compare this verse with the second trumpet vpon the sounding of the second trumpet there was brought in corruption of religion in the Imperiall Christian world as in the 8. Chapter of this booke and the 7.8.9 ver The first Angell sounded and there followed â—aile and fire mingled with bloud whereby all the green grasse was burnt up c. The first Angell poured out fire and bloud that is vncharitablenesse and contentiousnesse and so corruption grew in the spirits of common Christians and what followed upon that And thereupon the second Angel founded and there fell a great mountaine burning with fire cast into the sea on the contentiousnesse and quarelling of common Christians and their ambition There grew contention about primacy in Church Governours and that so far corrupted the sea A mountaine of high prefermâ—nt being cast into the sea that a third part of the sea became bloud here was a third part a great part of their religion specially that which concernes governement became bloud very noisome both their doctrine and governement so that looke as on the corruption of the lives of Christians presently religion grew corrupt so on the discovery of corruption in common Christians In this second viall follows the discovery of corruption in religion it self in this second viall and looke by what degrees the trumpets sounding brought in corruption into the Church by the same degrees the vials bring forth the discovery of corruption in the Church the vials of Gods wrath discover corruption pollution in Religion The reason of this point is taken from the powerfull efficacy Reason of all religion to transforme the sincere professors of it to the like nature with it selfe looke what the religion is such is the spirit of all that are sincere and serious professors of it and therefore if there come in any corrupt doctrine corrupt religion our Saviour tells us by their fruits ye shall know them for such as their corruption is in judgement such will it bee in their lives in Mat. 7.15 Beware of false prophets c. by their fruits you shall know them a good tree cannot bring â—orth evill fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fâ—uit and so it was with the Pharisees though they were the strictest sect of the Iewists Religion Act. 16.5 Yet as they were corrupt in their lives so their Religion was corrupt and those that were Proselites to it Mat. 23.15 They made them twofold more the children of hell then themselves 2 Tim. 3.13 Evill men and deceivers waxe worse and worse deceiving and being deceived and the ground of that is this the concurrence of the spirit of God with his owne word and the concurrence of the spirit of Satan with his ordinances and instructions there is a spirit goes with both that doth assimulate and transforme a powerfull professor of sincere Religion to be sincere in heart And the Professors of corrupt Religion to transforme them into the nature thereof In the 59. of Esay verse 21. My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth and for ever Gods spirit goes with his owne Ordinances where ever they are rightly and sincerely received as alway by some they are where ever they have free passage they will have some good issue and some persons or other on whom they will worke such a change in 2 Cor. 3 18. We all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of God are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord. Consequently if Antichrist come with his delusions hee shall come with all the power of Satan whose comming saith the Apostle 2 Thess 2.9.10 is after the working of Satan and with all power of signes and lying wonders with efficacie of delusions a signe these delusions are not meerely Nationall but effectuall to transforme the heart like unto the minde their will like unto their judgement and their life like unto both that you shall have the whole frame of their state such as is their Religion if the lives of Catholike Professors be corrupt an evident argument their Religion is corrupt and if their Religion be corrupt their lives cannot bee sound they that live by that Religion must needs be corrupt so that upon the discovery of the corruptions of the lives of Catholikes then men began to scruple their Religion at first it was fairely interpreted of some Catholikes that were reformed and brought to the truth they thought that all abuses found in the Friars Monks was but from the lives of men their religion was better their religion did not teach them so and therfore thought still they might appeale to the Pope himself as Luther did they thought it was the ignorance of the Priests that brought Pardons into the Countrey to sell them for groats and shillings but this was but a charitable opinion and in truth the Priests the ministers of that Religion did but act the spirit of that Religion the whole heart was sicke and the whole head and body mortally distempered The Use is thus much it must be a word of holy admonition and warning to all Professors Vse 1 in this Countrey and Church members to all that professe they came out of England for purity of Ordinances to be very circumspect pure and faithfull and zealous in all their whole conversation for beleeve it you will finde this true and remember it while you live if you bee corrupt in New-England if you be unfaithfull here if you be worldly minded here false of your words and promises here injurious in your dealings here beleeve it one of these two will unavoidably follow either all England will judge your Reformation but a delusion and an invention of some of your Magistrates or Elders or otherwise looke at you as not sincere but counterfeit This unavoidably you will finde true you cannot poure forth a Viall of more wrath on Religion as it is heere reformed and established through the blessing of God you cannot load it with a heavier Viall of Gods wrath then if heere you shall grow worldly and covetous deceitfull and contentious and unbrotherly Are these your Church members such such things were done but I hope it was not your Church Members are we not all brethren Doth our Estates
saw them out of those mouthes out of those mouthes they had came thence they had their originall and from thence they sprange Much inquiry there is who they should bee I will not trouble you with variety of mens judgements The Dragon is no more here the Turkish Empire then before but the Dragon here is hee that is before called Satan acting Rome and so hath seven Heads and ten Hornes which are the Armes of Rome as yee have heard before not of Constantinople And it is hee that consults and conspires with the Beast of Rome to send forth these three uncleane Spirits Now if you shall put all together that hath beene observed by different Interpreters and consider withall what kinde of spirits the Catholique Church and the head thereof the Bishop of Rome hath troubled the Church withall yee shall finde they all fall under three sorts three sorts of spirits they doe all issue from and these have all inspired and breathed into them the very Character of the nature which is found in the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet There are many rables of popish orders which were endlesse to name now But they are all summed up in three Heads for all the other are but hangbies and traines to them all the Emissaries of Rome the spirits whereby shee hath troubled the Church they all fall under these three either Cardinalls Bishops or Jesuites and under the Jesuites I ranke all regular Fryers they are all of them of one nature regular men Cloyster-men of which the Jesuites are the cheife and I would rather instance the Jesuites because the rest of that rabble the other orders of Fryers and Monkes they are described not under the name of Frogs but under the name of Locusts chirping Creatures as the Frogs are Croking and both come out of the bottomlesse pit But the other are more like to Locusts in the 9 Revelations 3 to 11. They be both of them mischeivous both the Locusts and the Frogs too but the Frogs are a little too dull for this kind of imployment which is attributed to the Frogs but these three the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet send forth the Cardinalls the Bishops and the Jesuites yee shall finde the quintessence of nimble wits in these Spirits active and nimble spirits yee shall finde them close and secret in their conveyances like spirits no part can be so secretly watcht but they will enter in no Gates of Princes Pallaces so secret but thy will enter them And uncleane they be as neither fit for meat nor for sacrifice as uncleane Beasts were They are neither fit for Church nor Common-wealth neither fit for the one nor the other neither for meate nor sacrifice uncleane also arising out of the mud uncleane in their Doctrine rooting out the Doctrine of Life uncleane in their conversation as all false Teachers more or lesse bee Iude 8. and 10 Verse And making the Countries uncleane where they come they let loose the raines and open a doore unto all Licentiousnesse and Prophanesse Three unclean Spirits like Frogs This description of them likening of them to Frogs doth exclude them from the Locusts for they are not Amphibia as they call them such as can live upon the Waters or Earth for Locusts love not to be in the Waters but these are indifferent on Earth or Waters Therefore these three can indifferently live either upon the waters or upon the Earth and even as well in the one as in the other It is indifferent to them whether yee imploy them in Church worke they can domineer there or whether you imploy them in state matters they are as free and as busy there in the Courts of Princes and the states of Commonwealths and as impetuous there and as active there and as cunning and as dominering and Lordly there as they are in the Church And therefore looke as were the plagues of Egypt which is called Sodom so are these plagues of spirituall Sodom The Frogs they came upon them cunningly and would come into the Kings Pallaces and no place could be kept free from them Even such are these three uncleane spirits no place can they be kept out from And like unto Frogs are they for their continuall croking nothing but one kinde of tune their own matters they never leave croking of not like these Frogs here in America that have a severall tune in each part of the yeare but they are alwayes in one or two or three at the most either the Catholique visible Church or the Pope the Judge of controversies or of visible succession And then looke as yee see it is with Frogs they are most busy with their notes when it growes darke and in the heat of the day they are a great deall more silent for then they get them downe into the mud so it is with these uncleane spirits they ly close if the light of the Gospell shines forth brightly And if it grow warme in the zeall of the spirits of Christians then yee here no newes of them but they are in some muddy places then they are husht then I if you should come with a Torch in the midnight they are silent and still then But now when there is want of light or want of heat of Religion then it is indeed that these spirits are most croking and tumultuous and unquiet but otherwise if the spirits of Christians and States-men grow warme in Religion ther 's no noise nor newes of these spirits so these are the three uncleane spirits that 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 And these three have left a spice of their own nature in them the Devill hath left a spice of his murther and malice against religion and well ordered government tending to disorder the Catholique Church hath left them hir state and preheminence hir Lordly Dominion and spirituall supremacy and authority carying all before him The false Prophet hath left them corrupt Doctrine and corrupt worship These corrupt all where they come and with cleanly conveyance in the Name of the Lord and thus saith the Lord when indeed it is nothing but the meere inventions of the sinfull false hearts of the sonnes of men To goe on a little further in the exposition of these spirits They are the spirits of Devills That is to say all of a devillish nature they are not Gods spirits men they will be accounted to be but they are spirits of the bottomlesse pit the spirits of Devills Devills for learning and Devills for deceit and Devills for mischeife Working miracles It is a proper worke of the second Beast but they are all but lying wonders they come saith the Apostle Paul with all power of signes and lying wonders 2 Thes 2.9 And these being all thus furnisht the Text tells you They goe forth unto the Kings of the Earth by Earth in this booke is meant the
such an earthquake as this will be so mighty and so great that will blast not Popery alone but all the Hotamocks in this countrey and all that are found among other Indians in other parts of the world an Haile storme shall fall upon them all and blast all their green groves and arbours wherein they were wont to be worshipped Thus have you seen as the Lord hath been pleased to help the meaning of these words Let us now gather one note from them For I would not long dwell upon there Aenigmaticall I meane Parabolicall Scriptures The Doctrine is That when the darknesse of Popish and hellish Doct. ignorance is dispelled so that a man may clearely see heavenly light and breath in heavenly knowledge then It is done That is to say then all the mystery of iniquity is abolished and the mystery of God is fulfilled For thus you see it is evidently here expressed in the Text. The seventh Angel did poure out his Vial upon the Antichristian ayre and that was such an ayre as was darkened with the smoake of the bottomlesse pit as with a foggy mist Now when this ayre shall againe bee cleared and the foggy darknesse thereof dispelled so that men may have the true use of it to see through it those heavenly bodies which were darkened by that smoake Rev. 9.2 then shall men see Jesus Christ to be all in all unto Justification Sanctification Consolation which in Popery you could not then shall the true Church be seen which like the Moon borroweth all the light it hath from the Sun true indeed if the Moone be taken for the world then she treadeth it under her feet Rev. 12.1 In Popery you could not see what a true Church was they will tell you of this and that Church but they are no true Churches But when this vaile shall be removed then shall you clearely know that the true Church is not a Catholike visible nor a Cathedrall nor a Diocesan nor a Provinciall Church Then shall you see the Stars of heaven you shall know who are the true officers of the Church not Paratours and Proctours Deacons and Archdeacons Bishops and Archbishops over many Churches they are not the lights which the Lord hath set therein And you shall then see who were the true members of the Church Not the Canonized Saints not such as Saint George who was an ancient Heretick but you shall see them to be such as are spoken of Phil. 2.15 blamelesse and harmlesse the Sons of God without rebuke shining as lights in the world then shall you see the Scripture more clearely true doctrine and worship and government as it is held forth in the Gospell of Christ and when you shall see these things then It is done Even all that God hath to do in the world for any further Reformation expect it not Rev. 10.7 when the time is come that the seventh Angel hath blowne his Trumpet the Lord will not delay but it shall then be fulfilled and the Lord will clearely manifest to all Nations the great grace which he hath to show to the sons of men and this is long agoe foretold Esay 25.6 7 8. In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the Lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the Lees well refined And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people and that is the pouring out of this Vial upon the ayre for the face of the covering is the ayre in my Text Then will the Lord make a feast of fat things then will he swallow up death in victory and wipe away teares from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth this is also prophesied of Esay 11.6 7 8 9. They shall not huâ—t nor destroy in all mine holy mountaine and the reason is for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea and then It is done The mystery of iniquity is abolished there is no more darknesse nor destruction and the calling of the Gentiles which was a mystery to the Jewes shall be then fully accomplished and the calling of the Jewes which the Apostle calleth a mystery to us Gentiles Rom. 11.25 shall be then fulfilled and so the mystery of God is finished Reas 1 Three Reasons doth the Text give us hereof 1. First from the manner of the entrance of this heavenly glory into the hearts of men whether it come into private persons or publique States It commeth terribly with lightnings and thunderings the which comming from God doe so terrifie the hearts of men and the state of the world that they shall see plainely how they have beene deluded with desperate follyes and when men are put unto such an earthquake in their spirits this will be the point they come unto Men and brethren what shall we doe to be saved as did the Jaylor when he had been soundly shaken with the earthquake Acts 16.26.30 and so it will be with Kingdomes when God hath in like sort shaken them they will contend for true Religion and will not then be baffled out and deluded with vanities as now they be when the spirits of men are terrified and they feele no salvation in their Religion they know not what shall become of their precious soules this will set all the world on worke to looke about them for upon this ground you shall see Indians and Jews and Pagans gaping after salvation when they see by these terrible stormes and thunders that all their Religions are but so many refuges of lies then is there worke in hand indeed which when God hath begun hee will also finish it unto the day of Christ and it will be such an earthquake as was never heard of in the world Heretofore so long as this worke was found among poore Christians the great Lords of the world persecuted them and devised all manner of cruell torments for them but when they felt that the wrath of God was kindled against them then their hearts fell and they were all in a combustion for the state of their soules before the Lord now they were glad to renounce their Jupiters and Junoes and to embrace Christianity and to hearken to a better Covenant this is the effect of thunderings and lightnings and voyces it soone blasteth Idolatry and forceth man to seeke after a clearer passage to heaven The second Reason is taken from the power of the saving knowledge Reas 2 of Christ to dispell this Popish ignorance and to carry an end the heart of a man with such power that he can no longer lie at quiet in his naturall estate but it worketh in men these foure effects 1. It subdueth and tameth the hearts of men that now they will joyn themselves unto the people of God Esa 11.6.7 8. the Wolfe shall lie with the Lambe the Leopard
unto them and at length Rome it selfe shall fall and all the Cities of the Nations that cleave unto her and every mountaine shall bee rooted up and all their consecrated places shall lie levell with the common soile this will the Lord bring to passe and will not leave till he hath wrought his great work in the world this is his revealed will and it will not faile untill every jot and tittle of it be fulfilled Let us therefore pray both night and day in season and out of season for our brethren in our native countrey for whom God hath wrought all these great things and for whom greater things yet remain to be done for whom our work is to wrastle with God that they may not perish for lack of knowledge nor mistake a false Church for a true and false it is if it be either Cathedrall Provinciall Nationall or Diocesan But pray we that they may see the Moone which God hath set in the Firmament even the true forme of a Church of the new Testament And also that Christ may bee better known in all the parts of his Kingly office and government in his Church that they may see who are Papists and who are the true Saints of God and who are counterfeit that they discerne between cleane and uncleane for if the saving knowledge of God grow up unto any ripenesse among them it will not beare many things that are there remaining many dawbings with untempered morter there are that must be beaten downe And great pitty were it that they should want any light which might possibly be afforded unto them and marvâ—llous usefull will it be that we should not be wanting on our parts to help with what light we have that so there may be no more refuges of lies in that land I say this is mightily to bee wrastled for both in prayers and in all Christian endeavours for verily this is the worke of God meet for every man to set his heart and hand unto even to pull away the vaile of darknâ—â—â—e from all faces and from all the mindes of men and to discover clearâ—ly the Gospell of Jesus Christ and all the holy wayes of his sactuary that every man may see and see clearely that men may not make a dawbing of part Reformation and part of Superstition part Popery and part Protestanisme part uniformity and part conformity O that an haile storme might not be wanting to batter downe such dawbing that the work of God might not cease but amount unto the praise of the glory of his rich grace in Jesus Christ and extend unto the accomplishment of every holy word of his truth The third use may serve to instruct you in the wonderfull Vse 3 successe of small beginnings in the things of God that a womans throwing of a sorry chaire at a mans head though the part iâ— might be punishable for such a miscarriage should rayse such a consending for reformation that both kingdomes must either stand by reformation or else fall to ruine First the woman backe on the men and then the men must for shame backe on their wives and greater men backe the meaner to bring forth such a great reformation And how should this come to passe Truely in the eyes of men it is wonderfull But you know the least thing you cast into a streame will runne downe the streame you neede not force it you have cast it in where nature hath set a course to carry it along And how much more shall things runne an end when the God of nature hath set them a course when he powreth a Vial upon the ignorance and darknesse of Popish superstition then great workes therein will be done for now a man underworkes the Lord when he doth what his word hath spoken and what his hand hath gone before us in And when the ordinances of God say it is spoken then the providence of God will say it is done and then if you faile long with Gods providence in Gods ordinance you need not feare nor wonder if weake beginnings come unto great issues For now you take opportunitie by the foretop as they are wont to say if you carry along businesse according to the word the Lord will carry things an end mightily in your hands beyond all your expectations or imaginations for there is no resisting nor controlling the worke of God Vse 4 The fourth use may show you the great danger of such as stand out against the reformation of Religion the Lord will throw downe his haile upon them and rend their hearts and indignation and blasphemy He will goe an end with his worke though they sweare and storme he will pursue the enemies of his grace with his wrath till he have utterly confounded and consumed them from off the face of the earth Vse 5 In the last place this may serve to teach every man in perticular I am forced to speake unto kingdomes and states but let it not be in vaine let us be acquainted with every part of his counsell and will and this is a maine part thereof and wee may not shut our eyes from any knowne truth for God would have the veyle taken from all faces you may have a true platforme of this worke in any godly mans heart If the Lord meane to finish the mistery of his grace in thee he will power out a Vial upon the vaile of thine ignorance and will open thine eyes to see that thou hast runne a carnall cursed course of life he will come in with thundrings and lightnings and voyces such as wherewith Moses himselfe shall be terrified He will come in with an earthquake into thy heart terribly shaking thy sinfull corruptions and then he will worke a reall change in thee that nothing in heaven but Christ nor in the earth in comparison of him The Lord will not suffer you to rest untill you have closed stedfastly with him the knowledge of God hath given you will bring this matter to passe he will not leave you untill you have gone forward to a division from your sinfull lust and carnall companions And whatsoever his work be you must doe it even unto the fulfilling of the mystery of God and whosoever riseth against you you must plead for Christ with the weapons of your tongue and whatsoever High mountaine riseth in you any gifts or parts good duties any greene grasse that groweth in you the haile storme of Gods wrath will drive you from trusting on any such common grace all dawbings with untempered morter you cannot skill of whatsoever doth not make to the building you up in away of saving grace you are unskilfull in therefore you are desirous still to close with Christ nor can yee rest untill you come to setled peace in him This is such a mystery of God as hee will not rest nor suffer you to rest untill it be done and if his Word will bring it to passe in a whole countrey then sure it is enough to effect it in thine heart See therefore that you doe not dawbe up your selves nor others with untempred morter satisfie not your selves untill you be shaken out of all such common apprehensions as hypocrites are wont to rest in rest you not untill you finde Christ manifested to your spirit as yours grow up in a Lambe-like frame of spirit and way untill the mystery of God be finished in you and untill that mystery of Iniquity that hath beene wrought in you be abolished FINIS