his Kingdom and Glory burning more upon their hearts then others have The Promises shew of this thing frequently Isai 4.3 And it shall come to passe that he that is left in Sion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem When the Lord is about to establish his Church above all Mountains all other Kingdomes and People in the World he will first cause them to separate and come out from the sins and uncleannesses of the World and will make them a People fitted to enjoy the glory of that day to be as Saviours upon Mount Sion and to judge the Mount of Esau The Warrs and changes that have been among us call for this too they have been as fires to purifie us from our sins and Idols though many are since gone back to commit fornication with them again The desolations and troubles that do at this time threaten the Nations all about us seem to be as signes and tokens to all that are wise hearted among us to prepare to meet the Lord Jesus in his Judgements he is above when ye see these things begin to come to passe then lift up your heads and look up This will be better understood by making a more particular enquiry what manner of Work that is wherein God will fit his People and make them ready to follow Jesus Christ in the things he is about First We may look that he will put another spirit upon his People then that is which is generally found at this day among the People of God a chosen People a picked People become those Works God has promised to do in the latter dayes If an Honorable Person had a Negotiation which concerned his Honour and Estate he would employ such Persons about it as would become such a Master and of abilities for such a Service Or if a great Prince were about to shew himself openly to be seen before his Subjects he would choose a Train of such Persons to attend upon him as should set off the glory and splendor of his Royal Person before the people The Works wherein the Lord Jesus will glorifie himself and be more eminently exalted he will choose such choice and precious Saints and Servants to be about him therein as that by the Grace and Blessedness which they shall shew forth his Glory shall shine forth the more there is so much dross and Tin mingled with our Gold so much of worldly spirit in excess pomp designs seeking and receiving honour and promotions so much of a carnal frame in debates envyings stripes backbitings whisperings swellings tumults and so much of an Antichristian spirit is found among us in joyning interests with Babylon confederacies with her Kings building up again her horned power hankering after her customes manners laws worldly splendor and greatness that whilst we are in such a condition as this God will commit no eminent or special service or trust unto us such a people are not in a condition fit to attend upon the Lord Jesus in his great Works he has to do among us Whilst the People of God among us were seeking after some better things in the Spirit of Grace with Faith Singleness and Purity the Lord was among them by a very gracious and wonderful Presence but sith they have left their first Loves and have forgot their first Works and are sat down in the middle way the Lord is seeking a People of another spirit who will follow him fully in the Works he has promised to do in these last days Now we may know such a People a People of another spirit where the following characters are found 1. In dayes of division and distemper of corruption and falling away from their first Love fervency of Spirit the simplicity savour and Spirit of Christ and Gospel-conformity unto security and rest from whence come uncleannesse lasciviousnesse strife wrath and heresies a People that in such dayes are growing in their Light love Purity and Zeal for Christ his Work and Kingdom are a People of another Spirit of such a Spirit as the Lord seeks for for such a Spirit was Paul and some few in his time 2. After a Reformation has begun in the Churches of God when the old leaven the constitutions and customes made in the time of Antichristian blindness and Idolatry are establisht and kept up among them or when a People in a Nation who were coming out of Babylon delivered from the yoaks and by a great deal of conviction through many wonders of Providence called to come out of the corruptions of the World shall return back again to bondage either by confederacies with Babylons friends mingling with their manners or taking the golden wedge if in such dayes as this there be any that continue in their love and zeal to Jesus Christ his Kingdom a thorow Reformation of things until all power be put into his hands and do shew forth the same by following all holy and righteous wayes and means for the promoting thereof in the World such are a people of another spirit such a spirit as this was in Elijah Phineas David Nehemiah and some others in their time and in the worthy Reformers of later times Zech. 12.10 I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon me who they have pierced and shall mourn for him The Lord will have such a people as shall be deeply affected with Christ and with a sense of the dishonor and reproach that lies upon him his cause and interest in these last times 3. When the signs of the times are not discerned nor heeded nor the Works and Mind of God pointed at thereby is not closed withall a great security and unbelief and a lazy luke-warm indifferency generally prevailing as to the things which concern the promised Kingdom and Glory of Christ and the overturning of all that which letteth whosoever shall then be found upon their watch in supplications and searchings mourning for the sins of the times refusing to bow to the Kings Image opening their window towards Jerusalem that is praying for the Redemption of the Church of Christ and enquiring out the time such are a people of another spirit such a people the Lord seeks for as a people fit to follow him wait upon him of such an excellent spirit was Daniel and the men of Issachar Noah Jeremiah and others As he is a man of a mean low base spirit that can be content Christ should have a little place in his heart and the old Man a great deal so it is a note of a people of a low and unworthy spirit not fit for any eminent service for Christ that are content with a little of Christs Righteousness and Reformation in a Nation well satisfied so they may live in peace and ease and plenty though Christ have not the swaying over-ruling Power in the publick and highest matters that are done among them
courage through all oppositions difficulties and temptations in that day to the contrary Third Rule Consider which way the Works of Providence looked that were formerly done amongst us and whither they tended though Providence when it is alone is not any certain Rule to go by yet when the Works of God and his Word and Spirit go altogether when a People have his Word and Spirit stirring them up unto a Work and Providences coming in one upon another to carry them out in it then are Providences to be heeded as signs of the times and of the Work God is about Psalm 105.26 He sent Moses his Servant and Aaron whom he had chosen they shewed his signs among them and wonders in the Land of Ham. The Works God wrought for Israel in Egypt and the Wildernesse was as Gods manifestation to the Nations who were his People and what he was about when a People are engaged in a cause upon holy and righteous Principles the Promises Prophecies and Truths of the latter dayes and God is seen going forth before them working glorious Deliverances for them this is a lowd Testimony What is the Work God is determined to do in such a day Psalm 105.14 15. He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying touch not mine Annointed and do my Prophets no harm How like to this the dealing of God with England of late have been may appear whosoever shall remember what an eye of peculiar respect and favour the Lord had upon a People among us what a choice and blessed Spirit a despised People had whereby many wise and honourable among us were confounded What power to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron How no weapon that was formed against them could prosper Moreover how the Lord stretched the line of confusion and the stones of emptinesse over all such constitutions and interests as had been props and pillars for the upholding the old Antichristian and worldly pomp pride and greatnesse if the aim and tendencie of these Providences be considered it is easie to ghesse what the Work of God is at this day Fourth Rule Take notice what things have fallen out upon a People among us since they left the Work of the Lord they were first about to build their own houses since they left their first love and labour and patience and zeal in that Work and are joyned to another Interest As soon as Saul failed in the Work of the Lord 1 Sam. 16.14 The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him That Spirit he had for the Lord and the work of Reformation left him and he was turned to hate the same Spirit when it came upon David It is a true observation where the Spirit of God is seen in the most gracious lively and warmest workings of it there are the choicest Servants of God and there is his Work carrying on What a blessed Spirit was there upon a People among us What zeal did it work what indignation what godly sorrow for miscarriages what purging of themselves from the old leaven what pressing on towards a thorow Reformation and the good things of the latter dayes how is this Spirit I would I could not say it departed from them Object But wherein does it appear that that Spirit has left them Answ It appears by their principles and designs the Spirit of God acts upon holy and gracious Principles and unto holy and noble ends a People led by the Spirit of God do act upon such Principles as are spiritual the Word of God Faith in the Promises Love to Christ to his Saints to the breathings of the Spirit in them to Righteousness and Holiness now where you see these Principles left and slighted and others took up worldly power and pollicy and conjunction with them that either left the Work formerly or were enemies to it and practises tending to pour contempt upon the blessed Cause and Interest of Christ among us and upon all those that would still be faithful to it untill the Kingdomes of this World become the Kingdome of our Lord this is not the Spirit of God you may be assured that does such things The spirits of any thing are known by the breath or savour it yeilds Thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of man where we find a strong scent and savour in our own hearts or others of the flesh-pots and onyons an hankering after the treasures of Egypt the pomp preferments titles and honors the constitutions and interests of those that the Lord cast out before us to be like the Nations in Government State Designs and Manners there we may fear the Spirit of the Lord as to any further work is departed Moreover since many left off following the Lord fully we see not our signs and tokens of Gods wonder working Providence as formerly Exod. 33.16 Wherein shall it be known here that I and thy People have found grace in thy sight is it not in that thou goest with us so shall we be separated I and thy People from all the People that are upon the face of the earth Whilst there was a People among us that were faithful with the Lord and his Saints and had a heart to the glorious things God hath for his Church the Lord Jesus went forth before them as General and put the feir of them upon all that were about them but since then what frowns from Heaven what tokens of displeasure have been upon us both at Sea and Land whereby all things drive heavily at home fears and confusion abroad wasting and consuming upon their Armies now observe in what walk and way we had the Lord present among us and how since then he has withdrawn himself from us and thence we may gather where his Work lies at this day Now then if you judge these Rules to be such as may give any certain light to resolve us in the question The Work the Lord our God is about at this day is a choice Work and a great Work and beyond the ordinary wayes and Dispensations of God in times past First The Lord is forming a People for himself purifying and fitting a People to follow Christ in those special Services wherein his Glory is more eminently concerned if the Works that God has done in the midst of us be in order to some greater things he has yet to do then will he sanctifie and prepare a People that shall understand the Work of the Lord and serve him therein Psal 110.2 Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies thy People shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness They that shall be of the most ready and willing spirit to serve Christ in the Work of his Kingdom shall be a People of more grace and holiness then others a People that shall have Faith and Love to Christ and Zeal for
themselves from Ezra 9.2 The holy 〈◊〉 have mingled themselves with the people of those Lands yea the hand of the Princes and Rulers hath been chief in this trespasse and when I heard this thing I rent my garment And this was the great sin of that time and contrary to the Work of God in that day 2. After that a publick and solemn Testimony has been born among us through much bloud and difficulties and the same as eminently owned of God by a series of deliverances against the great oppressive interests that were upon us to wit the Law in the present constitution and administration of it Monarchy as a thing unnecessary burthensome and dangerous a Court as the spring head of oppression pride and filthiness with many other things that might be named to lay these heavy yoaks again upon the necks of our Brethren under which we our selves groaned not long ago and thereby to sell the Lords People with their dear bought power and freedom the people of the Land with their just rights and liberties and the Cause it self so much contended for into the hands of the new Lords standing upon the old foundation and acting in most points after the old corrupt fashion of things as formerly this is a great sin of the times for which the Lord cals upon his People to mourn and be humbled and by withdrawing themselves as much as may be from such things to bear a seasonable and faithful Testimony against them The Nobles and Rulers of Judah after they were delivered out of bondage in Babylon oppressed their Brethren and laid heavy yoaks upon them this was a special sin of that time and the Lord stirred up the spirit of Nehemiah against them Neh. 5.8 And I said unto them we after our abilitie have redeemed our Brethren the Iews which were sold unto the Heathens and will you even sell your brethren or shall they be sold unto us Also I said it is not good that ye do ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies When God is breaking the yoaks of his People to be then laying yoaks upon them is a special sin of the time 3. Many among us have sinned in taking the accursed thing the meaning whereof both in the Old and New Testament imports a thing that is ordained of God to destruction a People or things of Gods Curse shut out of God protection and the prayers of his People Now observe what things they were among us that Gods People did formerly cast out of their heares and prayers that God did cast out from under his visible Dispensations of Mercy that lay under his frowns and terrible dints of his displeasure as things opposite to his Glory the work of Reformation and the prosperity and peace of his People the mingling again with these things is a taking the accursed thing and one of the sins of the times Ier. 7 16. Pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them We may remember what the Lords choice and faithful Servants among us did formerly leave out as things they could not pray for what constitutions and interests in the State what pomp covetousness and excess among men in eminent place What mixtures and formalitie in worship and what Idols and humane Statues in Gods House and are not these things and that old Spirit that acted them revived again whereby the Lord has been provoked to bring a cloud upon us and upon that day of Mercies and wonderful appearances whereby his Work was carried on among us So then observe what things they are that the Lords more peculiar and praying People formerly or at this day under their more enlightened holy and zealous frame could not or do not pray for but leave out and separate themselves from and they are that cursed thing which we ought to come out of and avoid 4. The putting back of that blessed Work that was in such a hopeful way to be carried on among us is a great sin of the times when I consider what an edge was upon the Spirits of good men how quick and powerful were proceedings what a spirit for high and great Work a reforming spirit for Reforming work a spirit of Judgment for the work of Justice a spirit of Prayer for the breaking of all yoaks and deliverance of Sion the whole Church of God and what a seal Providence it self put upon all this in a series of wonderful successes and further that these things were come to that height that the People of God begun to meditate and expect great things men of low and common spirits were laid aside the old spotted and wrinkled face of things unholiness and formality in Religion in the State Monarchy its Friends and Paramouts with all its limbs and branches and paintings begun to blush and hide it self I say when I look back at these things and consider how all this Work is desorted and laid aside covered under reproach and buried out of sight and mind and only a few left to keep it upon the heart I cannot but sadly reflect upon that word Hosea 9.1 Rejoyce not O Israel for joy as other people for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God thou hast loved a reward upon every corn floor There is a nick of time a special season wherein God cals and employes and spirits people for his Work if this time be not observed both the Work and opportunity for it is lost and things will go backward When Saul slipped in the Work God had called him unto he lost the Spirit of the Lord and the work of his day also So when Israels faith failed in the matter of the Spies and in their hearts gave back from following the Lord the Work was put back for forty years in like manner let it be considered what a door was opened by the mighty Works of God among us to have let in a season of Mercies to have proceeded to a full and thorow Reformation to have removed all lets and obstructions and to have set the highest and most publick Interests and greatest Affairs upon another a better bast and foundation then they had stood upon before whereon the Interest of Christ his Saints his Word as the Law and Rule might have been eminently owned and exercised among us the Promises that the Saints shall take the Kingdom and the Kingdom shall not be left to another People calling upon all Gods People to have respect unto this as the great Interest to be above all other contended after but they who had this price formerly in their hand and an heare unto it have let their opportunity slip and that Spirit they had for this Work is departed the work is gone many degrees back and because of their and our sins the good things that were in the birth are kept from us When Israel desired a King one might have pleaded for them and said they think no evil they do but desire another form of Government as more expedient for them then that of Judges Nay but sayes the Lord They have rejected me that I should nor reign over them 1 Sam 8.7 They rejected the Dispensation it self they were under as too holy and divine this was their sin they said Now make us a King to judge us like all the Nations they would not be a separate people they would look like the Nations Wise men do not look upon the change of persons and names and form of Government that has been among us so much as that the Dispensation we were under in the very nature of it as it was more holy and spiritual and refined is rejected not the formality only of the Work among us is altered but the matter of it is gone and another thing set up in its place this is a sin of the times we ought to mourn over and avoid 5. To name no more the heart of the people of that part of the People that were forward and active in the Work is withered and sunk into a low and unsensible frame an impotent low and unworthy spirit is fallen upon many willing to fit at ease though in a low and slavish state that can look upon the despised deserted Cause and Interest of Christ without any trouble of heart or a cry or a prayer for it there are but a few who have in them at this day those workings and yearnings of heart in looking upon a crucified Cause as Mary and the Disciples had over their crucified Friend the Lord Jesus When any eminent work was to be done in Israel the Lord first set it upon the hearts of some and stirred up the spirit of the people unto it Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth The deliverance of the Church in the Revelations chap. 14.2 begins with a voice from the waters the spirits of the people are stirred up to stand up with the Lamb on Mount Sion When there was a raising and stirring in the spirits of many in our dayes unto the work of Justice and Reformation how great things were brought forth in that day But now that pressing and stirring work in the hearts of most and the good things it tended to is cast off and gone the lesse thereof is so farre from working any due resentment among us as that where any remainders of that good old Spirit are yet breathing in any they are laid aside and cast into corners as the fire-brands and troublers of the times though it is only against the corruptions of the times that they do appear and that from their love to Christ and holiness These are some of the sins of the times from which we are to come out of and be separate FINIS