no more selfe-power nor ordinance-power than the Prince God makes the Word effectuall and so he hath done the Sword upon a Manasseh-spirit 3. The Rod for the fooles back is Gods ordinance Prov. 19.29 as well as the Word to the obedient eare who so denyeth either sinneth against that light of nature Rom. 2.12 whereby the Gentiles were condemned But Christ did not make use of them Obj. nor his Apostles at the laying of the foundation of the Gospell the Kingdomes of the world were then against him how should they be helpefull now I returne thus 1. Sol. Our Lord made use of them before that time and owned these Kings and Kingdomes by whom his name was exalted Psal 18.1 c. and no where hath be since rejected his owne ordinance 2. At that time of Christs comming in the flesh God by his Prophets had fore-told the state of enmitie which the great Roman Monarchy and all the Kingdomes of the earth with him should expresse against his Some therefore no marvell he made no use of them at that time for it was one time given to the Devill to rule in them Act. 41 27 22. and to provoke them to crucifie the Lord of glory which Gods counsell determined to be done but with more righteous and gracious thoughts than they intended 3. That was not the time wherein God had appointed to take to himselfe his great power and to raigne but now the time is come that he hath taken Kingdomes to rule in and by them and make his lawes their lawes 4. In that very time of Christ and his Apostles would I but require this ought not the Casers and Nero himselfe to have advanced the Lord and his Christ and have used their power to bring their subjects in obedience to him and to have ruled by his truth Shall not God laugh them to scome and they perish in his wrath because they did not I believe they will have no advocate for them If so then let Christians argue de jure what Rulers ought to have done then not de facte what they did and if it were the Magistrates dutie then to rule men to God in Christ it is no lesse now And sinfull practice is no good president against Divine right 3. If this Trumpet sound the greatest Woe upon all Kingdomes under the Devill and Antichrist and the greatest Joy to the Kingdomes under God and Christ this is rightly inferred Corol. 3. The best Crisis or judgement of Kingdome Weale or Woe it by the Lord that swayeth over them If Satan if Antichrist if wicked Lords cursed is that State If God if Christ if holy Princes and Governours blessed is that Kingdome O the wickednesse of Machiavillian O the folly of humane policy Germany hath its interest and Spaine and France and England theirs one in alies another in treasures another in hearts of Subjects c. And suppose all these kept at any time or possible to be kept have they secured any Kingdome or can they that it shall not perish at the breath of Gods mouth How hath God befoâ—led the counsells of the wisest Politicians in all ages and yet are we seeking for Kingdomes safetie and glory within the creatures Spheare To have one Lord in Christ our King were a prospering and securing wisedome beyond all under the Saline Did ever a Kingdome keeping its Imerost in God perish Obedience to the Lord and his Christ in all his discoveries is the laving-interest of any Common-Wealth Psal 144.15 Sapores King of Persia to constintius the Emperor Isay 14.12 Obad. v. 4. O blessed are the people whose God is the Lord What though Monarchs of the Earth write themselves Brothers of the Sunue and of the Moone fellow of the Starres yet heare what the most high saith O Lucifer sonne of the morning how art thou cut downe And though thou set thy nest among the Starres thence will I bring thee down What can a mount to the Starres helpe poore creatures when the breath of the Lord bloweth them downe againe One true interest in out Lord and his Christ would prosper and perpetuate a Kingdome and honour Princes above the Satrres of such would the most high say Yee are Gods and Sounes of the must high Psal 82.6 of such Kingdomes no end should be but of perfection Let us then judge of our Wealth by how much we are the Lords and of our Woe by so much as we are not his or refuse him These are the Corolaties 2. Use 2. If this Trumpet sound forth joy onely to the holy people and the Kingdomes that are our Lords and so farre indeed as they are the Lords the wofull sound of it must concerne the Kingdomes which are not his and all Polities so far as they are not Christs so that well may a lamentation be taken up by them and for them Is there not cause when Christ owne's not State nor States him It 's true that in the execution of all the dreadfull Woes upon the Romish Babel when the Kings and Merchants of the earth are bemoaning her desolations Saints are called to rejoyce over her Revel 18.20 Rejoyce over her thou Heaven and ye Holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged you on her But when Immanuels Land shall in any part break Christs yoke resist their Lord provoke him to displeasure and themselves to wasting who can refraine from teares It calls a dead Grand-mother out of her grave to weepe Jer. 31.15 Rachel was heard weeping in Jeremiahs time and would not be comforted Why For her children once owned by God had sinned and were not Jadah was Immanuels Land and upon like grounds England may if this State will not suffer the Lord to King it over them Isay 8.18 as they once refosed an Assyrian Lord a dreadfull Oppressor the Rod of Gods anger may have commission to passe thorow and goe over and stretch his wings to the breadth of our Land This will be grievous when the iron Scepter of wicked Tyrants shall teach us how sweet the Government of Christ was which wee have despised Symptoms of this wofull sound are the graduall declinations of a people or State from the Lords Rule That the people have gone a Whoring from God by spirituall and corporall uncleannesse and the little cause of Englands rejoycing in it By M. T. Case on Hos 9.1 ye have heard sufficiently declared in the morning for our humiliation I confesse I hould have wondred at such severe prophesying against this kind of filthinesse what the reason of it might be but that I see so many characters of uncleane hearts visible on their bodies and have beene certainly informed of most abominable Incests in severall parts of the Kingdome and especially in the Countie of Kent not farre remote Sir A. â— complained of it where the sonne hath married his Fathers wife and as is beleeved she was with child by him while his
last and worst of wofull destructions unto them Two considerations may clearly evince this 1. It is altogether unheard of in divine revelations that God should sound woe to his Saints Indeed tribulations are their way to Heaven and bitterest afflictions they may suffer in the flesh Phil. 1.19 Heb. 12.6 10. but this is a speciall dignation of God to honour them or love to chastise them unto greater holinesse no wo properly so called which being the effect of Gods greatest indignation Matth. 23.13 14 c. terrifies and grindeth poore soules to powder 2. The three last VVo-trumpets are directed onely to the inhabiters of the earth Rev. 8 13. men so called in opposition to the Saints who are Heavens people for by these names of Earth and Heaven are the Antichristian world and the Church of Christ distinguished by the Spirit Rev. 18.9 11 20. Therefore on these onely is allotted that wofull sound of this and the former Trumpets 2. Christ and his Saints are concerned in the best event of this Trumpet for in all this time of sounding woes upon these earthly creatures Christ is possessing the Thrones of the world Saints are worshipping and praising God It is therefore a joy Trumpet unto these So hath God set the times and states of creatures adverse each to other The worlds light is the Churches darknesse and the Saints joy the worlds greatest woe The title and event then of this Trumpet are thus reconciled To make a clearer passage to the text three precognitions will be usefull 1. Of the time 2. Of the subject 3. Of the matter of this Trumpets sound which I shall touch here but shortly for a generall light 1. What time the sound of this Trumpet doth concerne is not agreed on by interpreters some make it contemporary with the last day and so call it the last Trump 1 Thes 4.16 The chiefe grounds of this I shall take off in another place onely for present these reasons evince it cannot relate to that time 1. This Trumpet sounds onely a change of the Kingdomes of this world from Lord to Lord not the period of them which the last Trump of God will surely sound at the great day of judgement they shall all expire and be no more 2. Rev. 11.18 Under this Trumpet sinne shall abound upon the earth the Nations shall be angry at the exaltation of Christ and his Saints when power shall be taken out of their hands but such reliques shall not be when the end of all things is come 3. This Trumpet doubtlesse foundeth woe upon the earth and that of no small continuance which after the last judgement cannot be These and other considerations may demonstrate that this cannot be the last Trumpet yet by the events expressed in the successive degrees of them it may be rightly conjectured that the sound of this seventh Trumpet teacheth something neere to that of the last judgement 2. Others conceive more rightly that the sound of this Trumpet concerns Heaven upon Earth that is the state of the Church below onely the difference is about the point of time for the beginning of these events spoken of one pitcheth it upon the utter fall of the Westerne mysticall Babell and the comming of the Kings of the East which though it must be under this seventh Trumpet yet is it not so probable to be the first effect of it It is a faire glosse that from the taking of the first Kingdom of this world out of the hand of Antichrist the sound of this Trumpet should be heard for if this be a Wo-trumpet upon the Romish Babel it must needs suppose that state to be standing at least in the first sounding of it And the driving of Antichrist out of the Territories and Thrones of the world hath been and must be contemporaneous with Christs re-entrance upon the ruling of them So that all the Vials powred out upon the Antichristian state in any of the Kingdomes of this world seems to contemporize with this Trumpet although indeed severall Scenes be acted and the finishing the mysterie of God be not untill the last daies of the seventh Trumpet This state of time then seemeth most sutable whereof some portions are past and some and those most glorious are yet to come 2. The subject whom this Trumpet concerns seemeth to be the Universe sublunary even all the Kingdomes or States in the world which have been captivated by that Romish Antichrist therefore not England nor the united Kingdomes of Ireland and Scotland excluded 3. The matter of this sound and great voyces is a Reformation-change of worldly Kingdomes from the power and rule of Antichrist unto the actuall administration of the Lord and his Christ In the whole paragraph about this Trumpet we have observable 1. A proposition of the Ministry of this providence wherein 1. The Minister is described The seventh Angell 2. The ministration He sounded the Trumpet 2. A proposition of the effect which is exprest 1. Generally There were great voyces in Heaven saying 2. Specially wherein three effects are discovered 1. Christs inauguration or the Lords reassuming Kingdomes for his Christ v. 15. 2. The Saints triumphant song v. 16 17. 3. The Nations anger at all this with the powring out of the wrath of God to repay them v. 18 19. The first effect is the summe of the Text to the discovery of which and the certainty thereof in the Trumpets sound I shall bend the following discourse The ground worke of all shall be layd in two propositions touching this effect 1 A Reformation-change of worldly Kingdomes to our Lord and his Christ is a sure revelation from God 2. The Lord and his Christ shall King it or reigne over these reformed Kingdomes for ever and ever The full prophesie here given is compleated in these two propositions and both these will be understood in the opening of three main things carried in them 1. The true state of the subject of this change 2. The right meaning of this Reformation-change 3. The due account of the certainty of this Revelation To the first The subject of this change here spoken of are the Kingdomes of the world wherein two notions are considerable one noting the nature the other giving the specification of this subject 1. Kingdoms note the subject of this Reformation-change 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the generall nature of it and so must import 1. The bounds of Territories which are given by God as the continent of all men that live under government in them 2. The people contained or inhabiting within the compasse of such Dominions must needs be entitled here for not lands but soules must be thus reformed 3. The chiefe of those people Princes States and Powers among those persons seem especially to be carried in this notion of Kingdoms Isai 52.15 Isai 55.5 and they not so much considered in themselves as in respect to government which they are called of God to exercise
towards others so that go verning and governed as they concurre to make up Kingdomes are here the subject of this reforming change 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The specification of these Kingdomes sets them out more fully they are the Kingdomes of the world so that what the world signifieth must give us the speciall nature of the Kingdomes mentioned and that is used in a three fold acception 1. As opposed to Heaven the superiour Globe Matth. 4.8 and so it must note Earthy Kingdomes States and Polities 2. As opposed to God to Christ to Grace as the whole world lieth in wickednesse so it holds out wicked Kingdomes and States formerly ruled by the wicked one 1 Iohn 5.19 3. As opposed to particular regions or climates and so it must signifie the universe even all the Kingdomes of the earth there are none excepted in the text All these acceptions must be admitted here and being so taken the present subject cannot be doubted The sound of this seventh Trumpet then must needs utter things touching the Church in this life and the Lords resuming power over his enemies here beneath before the last judgement To the second The right stating of this change is not of small moment for which purpose these particulars must be declared 1. The terms of it 2. The nature of it 3. The time of it 4. The exercise of it 5. The stability of it when once the Lord hath made it 1. Every change or motion supposeth necessarily two termes one from whence the change beginneth the other whereunto it is made In the Text but one of these is named and that the last the Lord and his Christ yet the other must needs be implied out of whose hands and power these must must be taken First then the Lords that did King it over these Kingdomes of the world were the Devil in chiefe Rev. 1◠1 7 12. Revel 17.1 and his vicegerents the two beasts the Romish Antichrist in speciall whose state is shadowed by the whore who sate upon many waters that is ruled over many people These onely gave laws to the States and Nations of the world revel 13.15 and required tribute from bodies and soules of men and would set their marks upon every creature or kill those that did refuse it Of whose reign it may be noted 1. Revel 12.9 The Devill was the father or authour of it in full 2. Revel 18 13. Tyranny over bodies and soules the onely rule of it 3. Revel 13.8 Idolatry most odious was the onely tribute to their King 4. Revel 19.20 The end of all this government is Hell and perdition into the lake of fire they and all their vassals are thrown from these cruell Lords are the Kingdomes taken 2. The terme unto which this change is made is named in the Text our Lord and his Christ Two words are here absolute Lord and Christ and two relatives Ours and His all would be understood in their propriety 1. Lord here is equivalent to Jehovah and notes God in his primitive acception of Lordship not derived For indeed there is a Lord borne and derived a mediating Lord which is the Lord Jesus stiled afterward the Lords Christ Psal 110.1 but here it must note that Lord which said to Davids Lord sit thou on my right hand c. God the Father more punctually who is absolutely Lord of Lords 1 Cor. 13.24 and King of Kings to whom also the mediating Lord must give up his Kingdome when his worke is done Revel 14 6 7. that God whom the everlasting Gospell holds out to be feared to be glorifined to be worshipped 2. The relative denoting him is Our If it be inquired who were these correlates to God the King the answer must be supplied from those great voyces before which speak these words The voyces say Our Lord and the same afterward utter his prayse and sing his triumph for taking to him his great power to reigue now these were the 24 Elders the usuall representative body of the true Church so that the true Church of Christ on earth is the correlate unto the Lord the King who are bold to stile him our Lord And it not a vaine addition in this place where it is prophesied that the Kingdomes of the world are taken into his power and become his How the Church is his by election by creation by purchase by calling by covenant and by profession is not now my purpose to relate they are known things in the Gospell but the ground of the Emphaticall use of it here is the thing needfull to declare Now indeed that appeares to be that God not simply or abstractively considered in himselfe but concretely and relatively known with his peculiar ones reassumes these Kingdomes and now sheweth himselfe thus to reigne that is God so known so believed so worshipped as among his chosen and true seed the Kingdomes are become the Lords as he is our God dwelling with us and worshipped by us not as misconceived by the world For it might be said he ruled in the times of Antichrists reigne and that the worshippers of Antichrist did and doe acknowledge God and Christ as some lukewarme advocates will plead for them but is it God so known so believed on so worshipped as by the true Church who cals him ours The Sunne sheweth the contrary It is a falsified corrupted misbelieved God that Papists boast of In this concrete sence Moses writes of God triumphing over the Churches enemies Deut. 32.31 Their rocke is not as our rocke the enemies themselves being Judges Did not many of Israels enemies know and confesse the same Rock or God for essence as Israel did Yea doubtlesse but they turned the glory of the incorruptible God into Images and base resemblances and so made him a Rock distinct from Israels by false worship In which respect Moses sings God with us and worshipped by us is farre above yours he that hath ruled and destroyed your Gods and you as your selves can witnesse O how sweet a thought is this the Lord no way but as the Churches Lord known and served by them takes possession of the Kingdomes of the world The Saints cannot be low if as theirs onely God be thus exalted 3. The next term absolute which denotes the Soveraigne power to which these Kingdomes are delivered is Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which notion the person and the unction must be carried 1. The person here intended is the Sonne of God manifested in the flesh Psalm 45.6 Heb. 1.8 of whom it is said Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever so that it is one God in both expressions that takes unto him this power yet so interpreted God in the Mediator God truely God sweetly God sutably held out for ruling these Kingdomes even God and man 2. The Vnction of this person is that which the name peculiarly holds forth and with an emphasis in this
which if allowable as there is no doubt the scruple is gone for then the sence is that in the daies of this Angels sounding not in the beginning but within the compasse of them the mystery of God shall be fulfilled which is included in the former state of this time Or if you read it when he shall begin to sound we know that expression doth not alwaies note the entrance of a State but the continuance of it as beginning to reigne with our Tongue is to reigne in the Hebrew There is yet another reading of this with the context which from a conjunction of finishing the mysterie of God with the Angels sounding seems reasonable it is thus The Angell that stood upon the Sea and Earth swore by him that liveth for ever and ever that Time shall he no more that is the time of the Papall Antichristian Monarchy and of the former persecuting enemies of the Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ed. Compher Bez. But in the daies of the voice of the seventh Angel when he shal sound the Trumpet and the my sterie of God he finished then time shall be that is the time of Christs triumph and his Saints prosperity and joy so that thus this 7th verse is part of the Angels oath concerning the not being and the being of time though the latter be not expressed in the 7th verse yet it is an Ellipsis or defect not unusuall in a continued speech this being so taken However a sufficient reply is made to the doubt in the former interpretation if this reading be not allowed This compleating of Gods mysterie is not to be expected in the instant of beginning this sound but in the daies of its duration the end whereof will accomplish all the will of God concerning his Churches among Jewes and Gentiles here on Earth To the fourth particular which is the exercise of this Reformation after these Kingdomes are become the Lords and his Christs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He shall reigne or Ring it The Lord in his Christ deems it not enough to be a King but to act the King in the Dominions which he takes as his own It s the blurre of creatures to be Kings in place and shew and yet not to King it nor be able to act aright Christ Kings it in truth where he hath the Throne Two Queries will be put in 1. Q. 1. What is his acting as King 2. Q. 2. How he acts it To the first A. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mic. 5.2 Matth. 2.6 Revel 12 5. Jer. 3.15 Jer. 23.4 5 6. He acts the Pastor or the good Shepheard in feeding providing good pasture for the Kingdomes which he rules such Kings God promised his people when he would doe them good but above all this King to rule them I will set up shepheards over them which shall feed them and they shall feare no more nor be dismayed neither shall they be lacking saith the Lord. Behold the daies come saith the Lord I will raise unto David a righteous branch c. This is the King Christ who shall save his Kingdomes and make his people dwell safely He scatters not his flock nor drive them away nor hurries them nor hunts them with dogs as former Lords did but acts the good shepheard and they go in and out by his voyce John 10 9. and finde pasture 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isai 31.22 He Acts the Lawgiver this is the work of a King so is it promised to be the acclamations of Kingdomes made the Lords The Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King he will save us They acknowledge and he doth it He gives Laws holy and good even all the righteous commands of his Father concerning mans way to eternall life no unrighteous decrees nor bitter grievances nor oppressing edicts but Statutes and Ordinances by which they may live Thus he Kings it sweetly 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He acts the Iudge in all these Dominions and divideth equally to all according to their wayes He condemnes the Lie and justifieth the Truth He commendeth the good and smiteth the evill doer He judgeth righteously between the fat and the leave Cattell Ezek. 34.20 hee breaks the oppressor and saves the innocent ones Thus hee was acknowledged before Jehovah is our Judge and thus it is prophesied of him He shall execute judgement and justice in the earth He calleth not light darknesse Jer. 23.5 nor darknesse light Hee justifieth not the wicked for reward neither condemnes the righteous Isa 11.4 With righteousnesse shall he judge the poore and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth c. Thus hee reignes in his repossessed Kingdomes To the second An. 2. How hee Acts thus in his regained kingdomes whether in his own person againe manifested in the flesh or in and by such persons whom he ma use for this work I conceive not by his visible but spirituall presence this is most likely to be done in such Vice gerents as he shal make choice of I propose these considerations to be weighed 1. There is no necessity of understanding this relative He concerning his owne person visibly considered for God himselfe hath been said to reigne in his Ministring Rulers and their Kingdomes have been stiled Gods so long as his feare hath been upon them Obad v. 21. Psal 22.28 Ps 71 1 2 c. and his Law ruled in them So Davids and Solomons kingdome was the Lords and hee reigned in them and by them This hath been the Language of God to owne the kingdomes of his servants and their government as directed by him Nay sometimes to reigne Dan. 4 32. when his enemies are upon the Throne why it should not bee here I finde no forcing reason 2. If the sound of this Trumpet be already begun as the truth of the event already past in some degree may perswade then some Kingdomes are Christs already and he reignes though hee be still at the right hand of the Father by those Rulers whom hee sets up His are the Kingdomes Psal 75.7 because he orders Kings and States by his Lore and that so still he may doe without his own visible appearance on earth is more then probable because it is so in sight already 3. Not one circumscribed Kingdome is said here to be the compasse of his Territories but all the Kingdomes of the earth to be his Now if hee should appeare on earth his visible presence cannot bee in all Kingdomes His body can be but in a place fit for a body therfore is it at the right hand of God and cannot be every where present as Ubiquitaries senselesly have dreamed Or if he be eminently present in one Region as a mighty Monarch by his Deputies ruling all other Provinces Yet then he must be said to reigne in others And how much safer it is to let him alone at Gods right hand and
father lived These are evills intolerable in the sates of morall Pagans much more inconsistent with that Kingdome where the Lord rules Will ye be pleased this day to be humbled for these abominations and put out the power which Christ hath given you to cleanse the Land from these and such like abominations We shall then hope our Lord will not refuse to owne us but otherwise that he should deale with the Land as with an whorish woman Ezech. 23.25 c. slit her nose and strip her naked and spit in her face and give her to death is all that can be expected No more of this generall State my labour is saved by the mornings worke I should rather crave leave to discharge the dutie of a faithfull Minister of Christ unto you being now called I look upon you as a State and chiefe Power of Christ in this Kingdome so far as you the Lord and he rules in you so much cause have his people to rejoyce and so farre as any defection appeares from that Law-giver so much VVoe is pronounced upon you and upon the Land The saddest Omen is when in Head and Rulers Christ Kings it not I am not come with Criminations upon out Truely VVorthies the searcher of hearts knowes I desire nothing but true Honour from God upon you and that must bee by his ruling in you and your ruling by and for him Onely deviations from this proclaime woe and it will be faithfulnesse to let you heare the generall voices of the Land about you to vindicate your Honour where it is causelesely stained and to be humbled for any defection from Christ in the state appearing 1. It s lamentable with a stat◠when foolish childish wicked and ungodly Steeres-men sit at the Helm to sway it As wise a King and States-man as the generations of men knew by the wisedome of God gave these dictates Woe to thee ô Land Eccles. 10.16 17. when thy King is a child and thy Princes eate in the morning Blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the Son of Nobles and thy Princes eat in due season for strength and not for drunkennesse See the Woe and Weale of States Happy Land whose King is innobled by God and Princes made gracious and taught by him even to the use of meate and drinke there our Lord hath the Kingdome and his Christ But woe to that State where a King a childe a foole shall reigne an enemy to the Lord and Princes lustfull gluttonous drunken and lascivious such as must have a breakfast every morning in sinne shall steere by their Counsailes Christ is no Law-giver there This is woefull Prov. 19 2. The people must mourns when the wicked beareth rule They say there are such among you if I may speak in usuall termes Impious childish cock-pit Counsellors If so such are bad Trustees for Lawes Liberties and Religion A Roman or Spartan-State would provide against some of those and not hazzard Kingdomes in the hands of fooles much more should that State which is Christian I know yee are not Electors but the Scumme of People lend such unto you and will spoyle all your boilings unlesse you take it off It is a voice of feare among them that love you and pray for you in the West and other parts that such as could not overcome you by the Sword labour to doe it by Votes even by sending such as will Vote God from among you Ever Honoured Worthies see if it bee so let the sight of one root of bitternesse among you humble you And now shew forth Christ ruling in you Methinks its possible for a Christian Parliament by a Law to purge prevent such profane Paganish leaven and to honour Christs Kingdome so much as to make grosse sinne uncapable of a Membership among you Surely if that be allowed our Lord rules not and this is woefull 2. It 's lamentable with a Kingdomes where the faces of the poore are grinded Isa 3.14 15 and the cause of the Fatherlesse Winddow and Friendlesse slighted and not heard The Lord in his Christ gives better Lawes and will require them Isa 1.17 Deut 10.18 Judge for the Fatherlesse plead for the VVidow God doth this himselfe therefore will have his Vice-gerents doe like to him It is a fame that yee are profuse in giving to the full sonle while the hungry and friendlesse which have spent and been spoyled of all for the cause of God in your hands are some of them ready to perish for bread See after this our Lord will not doe so let not this Honoured and beloved be mistaken neither I nor any honest heart can grutch the due rewards of noble-deserving spirits in these times My heart is towards the Governours that offered themselves willingly to the worke of God my thoughts I am perswaded are the same with all those worthy souls who desire to concurre with God Let the hungry bee fed and naked cloathed and fatherlesse sustained and widow comforted and well deserving men not unrewarded Otherwise there will abide a woe 3. It 's lamentable with a Kingdome where judgement by Bribery or otherwise becomes vendible and justice is bought and sold So Jeremiah thought so Micah preached The head judge for reward c. Jer. 5.31 Mic. 3.11 12. Deut. 10.17 therefore shall Zion be plowed as a field Our Lord takes no reward in Judgement neither must the Steward 's that act for him such as doe he curseth The voice of people is there is such a fault among you I confesse it is incredible to mee that such a Judge as a Parliament consisting of so many heads can bee the subject of such corruption and I am confident the body is free in judging But it is replyed though the judgement at last come free yet motions many times cost men deare I cannot charge it upon any and I wish that they who complaine would testifie to the faces of the guilty at your owne Barre I am confident the just hands among you would be against such a man to thrust him out of your Assembly But yet renowned Patriots look into this matter And to confute the world every one of you that desire to act for God in your administrations take the just complaints of the poor and oppressed communicate to your body and prosecute righteous causes freely as your owne This will be a Character of the Lord upon the Throne The neglect will prove a deviation from Christ and breed so much woe 4. It 's lamentable for that State where Justice is delayed Our Lord ownes not this His command is to the house of David Jer 21.12 execute judgement in the morning now that will passe away quickly therefore justice must speedily be done It is a tryed truth in ages A just sentence delayed hath more oppressed then an unrighteous dispatch could have done They that hang about your doores and such as have waited long for sentence enemies and friends say
or Church wilfully to tolerate And then beware the third and worst of woes which this Trumpet sounds 3. Lastly The sound of this Trumpet Use 3. and the voyces thence arising as they speake exaltation unto our Lord and his Christ so no lesse dutie and counsell to the States and Powers of the world 1. To such as are in vassalry to the Devill and Antichrist that are still raging and in conspiracy against the Lord and his Christ The Psalmists counsell is seasonable for them Psal 2.10 11 12. Be wise O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling Kisse the Sone To love and honour and worship the Lord in his Christ is better than to be raging and combining against his Annointed 1. God will laugh at their plots and have them in derision 2. Our Lord in his Sonne will reign doe what they can against it 3. The desolating woes shall fall upon all Kingdomes that doe oppose He will breake them in pieces with a Rod of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessell It is firmely written in the Records of God Isai 60.12 The Nation and Kingdome that will not serve him shall perish ye those Nations shall be utterly wasted O that this Trumpet might sound in the eares of those Kings and Kingdomes that yet give their power to the Romish Beast 2. To those States whom our Lord and his Christ hath rescued out of that slavery and made them his owne Dominions among whom our own may be numbred Thus the voyces say 1. Blesse the Lord in the beauties of holinesse rejoyce in the great worke that he hath done that he hath taken to him his great power and hath reigned States Ministers People give thankes to the Lord God Almightie which was and is and is to come that he hath taken poore England and the Kingdomes United in any measure from the hand of Antichrist and put his Name on them O bow downe and worship so the 24 Elders the Church representative do at the Trumpets sound for the exaltation of Christ But why are not the foure Beasts Quest being the Ministeriall Emblems joyned here in these gratulations as in other places It a silence observed by some and wondred at Revel 5.8 Revel 19.4 seeing before and afterward they are expressely named as leaders in the Churches triumphant Songs It is conceived by some Ans that at this time of Christs first taking Kingdomes from the Beast the Ministry for the generall should be so bad and earthy luke-warme and worldy as that they had no heart to blesse the Lord for such Reformation And sure it may note such a time and experience in the Reformation thus farre manifests that many to one have bin repining at it Yet let nott his be cast as a reproach to those few that are found faithfull as too much it is and under the name of an unfaithfull Ministry the faithfullest are despised for the true labouring Ministry of Christ are found leading the Church againe in their last Triumphant Songs over Antichrists ruines Revel 19.4 Let us be humbled for former failings and renew the first love and labour mightily for our Lord and his Christ let him alone then to plead the cause of his faithfull servants he will make their name shine forth as the Sunne in brightnesse out of the darkest cloud 2. Give up your selves kingdom Honord Senators more and more to the name Law and Government of our Lord and his Christ As the Lord takes not all Kingdoms up at once So neither any Kingdom to the Highest of Reformation at one time because he hath set them here in a growing State there were no roome for growth in perfection Experience hath taught us this will of God O let us work with God more to be his by giving up our names to him by owning his Law and honouring his Government by obedience Psal 2 12. This is to kisse the Sonne eminently and abundantly and we shall not be despised for it 3. Yee VVorthies of this State in whom Christ reigns act from him and to him feed his people in the Land in his Pastures hold out unto them his Lawes judge equally and impartially in his matters justifie the righteous condemne the wicked maintain saving Truths and damne those lyes that lead unto destruction Shew your selves to bee deputed Gods indeed Be as hee is simple impassible independent upon creatures and act as he acts freely powerfully wisely impartially and constantly in the way of righteousnesse so shall ye be truely the Sonnes of the most High and the Lord shall be seen gloriously to reigne in you The righteous and holy people will be obedient to you and blesse God for you and the mouth of wickednesse shall bee stopt for ever These incouragements may quicken and strengthen your hands And then an end 1. The Lord is gone out before you and hath begun to owne England matching it out of the Dragons Paw and Antichrists power and for 89 yeares hath been our Law-giver Observe his presence and workings and be strengthned 2. The time is now for bringing in more Kingdomes from Satan to God from Antichrist to Christ what else make all the shakings in all the Kingdomes of the world at this time Study this time of God and worke with Providence now you have a season to helpe up Gods holy mountaine where no hurting nor destruction shall be 3. This worke of the Lord and his Christ shall not go backward any more in the whole The great Apostasie is past and now Kingdomes must be given to God and Reformation by degrees shall be finished oppositions of wicked shall bee but strong gales of winde to drive it home the sooner Gods Word is sure Babel shall fall and never rise and Zion shall be raised and never fall 4. The Lord Christ shall reigne for eve and ever He hath overcome and sat down in his Fathers Throne He shall now trample upon his enemies and make them his Foot-stoole but he shall put the Crowne upon the heads of his Saints Let you hearts then be comforted and your hands strengthned ye men of God to the Reformation-work at this day Make England more the Lords then ever by the power he hath given you so ye and the people of this Land by experience will make the Churches confession good Isai 26. 13. O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but by thee onely will we make mention of they Name Your cry will bee Lord reigne thou over us no King but Christ for us no People but the Saints Now the Lord of all Lords the King eternall through his Christ give you the spirit of Wisdome Truth Unity and Zeale to work mightily for our God and finish his Will in these Kingdomes that unto him in all the Churches of the Saints may be given praise and glory everlasting AMEN FINIS