for it was this which made them hide Themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the Garden From all which considered together this true Observation may be gathered That though Satan would suggest unto Sinners and Transgressors as if God had given no Commandment against what he tempts unto yet nevertheless after they have committed the same there is a consciousness and full conviction within them that they have also herein done somewhat to offend and displease God which is also sensible unto themselves by that guilt which doth appear forth upon their inward parts and by that fear which they labour under In every instance of Transgression before the fact is committed A deceived Heart doth turn them aside And so it is afterwards The deceived Heart doth continue and hinder them from coming to Repentance Sin doth cast a Cloud over the understanding which doth hinder the influence of the Sun of Righteousness and deprives of the knowledge of things Divine Remarkable is that of Daniel 12. 10. Many shall be purified and made white and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Hence it is even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient 1 Pet. 2. 8. That People are so puzzled and perplexed at the works and doings of God We have sinned with our Fathers we have committed iniquity and done wickedly Psal 106. 6. And what is the consequent of that may be seen in the next verse Our Fathers understood not thy wonders in Aegypt Therefore it was because they had sinned and done wickedly and committed iniquity This is the very Reason why People do understand so very little according to truth of the Works and Doings of God for God will not manifest himself unto the Soul which is defiled with Sin Iniquity or Filthiness And so if People were alike Obedient to the Word of our Ministry and if they would come to hear it for their refusal do that is one Act of their Disobedience then they would be satisfied and convinced of our Truth Sincerity and rightness therein Even that we do Not handle the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending our selves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. 2. And that we do speak out the Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth not making less of it nor concealing any part of it as the manner of most Preachers and Teachers is least they displease their hearers If any Man will do his Will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self John 7. 17. So on the other hand from what is written That we might turn from our iniquities and understand thy truth Dan. 9. 13. We may learn and gather that the only way to come to the knowledge of the things of God is by Obedience and keeping his Commandments As contrariwise it is only because of their Sin Iniquity and Transgressions that any do remain in ignorance and darkness As David saith by the Spirit Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul Psal 66. 16. So we both Ministers and hearers are allowed yea in Duty we ought to declare and make known our several Experiences between God and our Souls that if the same be good they may be for the edifying and instructing one another or if they be evil and failings then it is for the warning of each other that we may all see the Rock whereon our Souls or the Souls of others had almost been Shipwracked or the place and stumbling Block whereat our steps had well nigh slipped Or if any of the Ministers of God lie under Reproaches and false Censures as my present Case is then we may Rehearse the matter from the beginning and expound it by order unto the people Acts 11. 4. We have Examples hereof in the Apostles Peter and Paul whose second Epistle to the Corinthians is chiefly made up of Apologies and Vindications of himself from false Calumnies and Reports We may find the like in the other Prophets Ministers and Servants of God And the Rebuke of his people he shall take away from off all the Earth Isa 25. 8. So in the mean while he is well pleased that according to the Knowledge Understanding and Truth he hath given them they should do it themselves In misunderstandings between Minister and People and so between Man and Man there is most commonly some fault on both sides So it is here besides the Sin and Ignorance Perverseness Stubbornness Contempt and Disobedience to Gods Word and Commandment which is in the People of this Generation and Nation I cannot say neither That I have made my Heart clean or that I am wholly without fault or blame Though here to enter in my Protestation In all that hath come upon us I have not forgotten God nor behaved my self falsly in his Covenant When I taught and affirmed constantly that it was his Commandment and revealed Will I will be a swift witness against false swearers and against them that turn aside the stranger from his right Mal. 3. 5. Yet in the bearing forth and suffering for that Testimony I gave way to so many things which did savour of Men and of the fleshly corrupt Nature that was in me that the work was spoiled and mis-managed by me That even several of his Saints and Servants were ready to imagine and conclude that there was nothing at all of God in it When I was numbred among the transgressors Isa 53. 12. Blessed be God for conforming me therein to the example of Jesus Christ uor Lord and I was put into Prison yea into the same place with real Criminals who were there justly for they received the due reward of their deeds Luke 23. 40 41. But I had done nothing amiss as to that matter yet I was foolishly falsly and ignorantly dealt withal and proceeded against as a breaker of Mans Laws forsooth only because I did exhort them to keep and to do according to the Laws of God and yet still Let it be done according to the Law Ezra 10. 3. And I had admonished them of the breach and violation thereof in order to bring them again unto his Law and into the way of his Commandments I did nothing more or beyond or besides this But for me to be used as a Transgressour for this doing by them who in truth were the Transgressours themselves this was strange Sottishness and Ignorance in my Persecutors and Oppressours who did seek after my Soul they have not set God before them Selah Psal 54. 3. Whilst I was in Prison I thought That God should do somewhat more for my Deliverance yea sometimes a vain Imagination did arise That it should be in a manner extraordinary by way of Miracle then he did for my fellow Prisoners For I thought it hard yea an
because there have been some ignorant People in the Neighbourhood of the Place of my Nativity who did therefore refuse to hear that part of the Word of the Lord which was committed to my Ministration because they imagine or say I am not long fiâ—ed and settled in the countrey O Foolish People and Unwise Should any one therefore refuse to hear the Antient Prophets or Christ in the Days of his Flesh or the Apostles because they did not always tarry in one place Or refuse to hear the Jewish Priests who were in their time Worshippers of the Father and accepted with him because both Priests and People did three times in the Year go up to Jerusalem The right Practice and Inference from hence should be for People to hear such a one more gladly and earnestly and to lay hold of every Opportunity letting none slip because he is not always a Preacher among them How Ridiculous and Nonsensical would this seem and appear if People would not go to such Itinerant Judges for Justice because forsooth they do not come and inhabit in the particular place of their abode And it is a like Errour in Things pertaining to the future and endless Life to refuse to receive Knowledge at the Priests Lips Mal. 2. 7. Only because they do according to the especial Ordering and Appointment of God Run to and fro Dan. 12. 4. For the increase thereof and for the Publishing and communicating forth of the same Said he whose Example I desire to follow in this my Generation for hereby I shall have boldness in the Day of Judgment because as he was so are we in this present World Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers businefs And so I speak unto ye my Country Men and Neighbours Would ye not have me to be about my God and Creatours Business What is that Some of ye may be ready to think and say Why To declare unto Jacob his Transgression and to Israel his Sin Micah 3. 8. To bring Jacob again unto him Isa 49. 5. And to endeauour to gain one Point that is if I could be somewhat instrumental by his Blessing and Grace and by the continued goings forth of his eternal Truth I will cry unto God most High unto God that performeth all things for me to bring over the People of this Nation unto the obedience of one of his Commandments for this would be an inlet and help and it would make way by degrees and in succession of Time to bring them over unto the Obedience of all the others I have often thought that if it shall appear at the last Great Day of the Lord when he shall write up the People and Rehearse from the beginning of the World all things as they were done that I was a doing the Work of the Lord all along as it seems to be according to his Word and Commandment now Thou shalt not have thy Brother in thine Heart Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer Sin upon him Lev. 19. 17. To teach Transgressors thy ways and that sinners may be converted unto God Psal 51. How will they especially some of my nearest kindred according to the Flesh be ashamed and confounded who have opposed and reproached me and yet much more will they be ashamed and confounded who have Oppressed Persecuted and Imprisoned me Then the lying lips will be put to silence which speak grievous things proudly and contempuously against the Righteous Psal 31. 18. And they will wish that those Hands had been before that cut off which have acted cruel and tormenting things against me And they who did not hear but they did forbear for they are a Rebellious House yet now shall know that there hath been a Prophet among them That is one who did faithfully and truly declare and tell them of their Transgression and Sin One who neither had nor yet did pretend to have extraordinary Assistances or Measures of the Spirit nor yet more knowledge than others of his Generation But as Paul saith I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry 2 Tim. 1. 12. And He that is faithful in the least is also faithful in much So according to that Ability and Knowledge God had given me as his Creature I have the Testimony of mine own Conscience That I did endeavour all along to be faithful for the most part even to handle his Word According to the integrity of my heart and the skilfulness of my hands Ps 78. 72. And I would Not hide his Righteousness nor conceal his Truth Psal 40. 10. Which arose and he made known in my Heart Though when he Who gave authority to his Servants and to every Man his work and commanded the Porter to watch Mark 13. 34. Shall call me to an Account about this particular Work he had allotted and set out to me for it is here said That he gave to every Man his work Herein I shall give up such like an Account That as it was managed by me it was accompanied with several Failures and Imperfections Yet nevertheless this will be some joy and lessening of the other Grief that however I did endeavour to get it done and finished thinking it better to have it done any way then not at all The Lord opened mine ears and I was not Rebellious Which will be some hope and comfort in that Day I ought To have feared no more nor be dismayed neither be lacking Jer. 23. 4. In the last great Day of Judgment The Lord will shew who are his and who is holy and will cause him to come near unto him even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him Numb 16. 5. At that Great Day of Decision all Things that are written in the Scriptures concerning his Church and People and concerning his doings towards the Children of Men will be fulfilled and laid open Then shall be known what Prophets have been in the several Generations and Countries The Lord will recount his Worthies and bring them forth by their Names who were for Signs and Witnesses to his People Then also those Things which are now in the Dark and which People are in doubt and question whither there is any thing of God in it will be brought to open Light And then God who is judge himself will speak and testifie Psal 50. 6 7. How He even He himself was concerned therein and he will make all his Churches yea even all his Reasonable Creatures know that he was God even their God and consequently they should have received him for their Lord and Governour Many more things might here be spoken as touching this but for the more full Declaration of them we refer you to the Hearing of that Day Both as pertaining how the Case stands between God and all Mankind in the general and also as to every Individual and Particular Soul For He who hath Created
Because that in the following Discourse the Reason is Recited and Answered why my Ministry is Rejected and not Received by this Ignorant but more especially Corrupt World therefore I thought it Expedient and Necessary to Publish the same EZEKIEL ii v. And they whether they will hear or whether they will for bear for they are a Rebellious House yet shall know that there hath been a Prophet among them IF we could now know and discern as we shall know and discern In the latter Daies ye shall consider it perfectly when we shall be actually carried forth from Time to Eternity then we should have other kind of Thoughts concerning the Things of God then we have in this Life and on this Earth Who shall ascend into Heaven That is to bring Christ down from above Or who shall descend into the Deep That is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we Preach The Word of Faith will in a manner do all this that is bring down things out of Heaven that they are made known unto us all one as the things of this Earth This Word of Faith makes invisible things to be in a manner visible and things Future to be Present unto us Of this sort are the whole Scriptures of God which contain an Orderly Declaration of things which are most surely believed among us So that they are the Word of Faith which we Preach The Scripture doth chiefly speak of things which are yet to come and will be fulfilled after that we are gone off from the Stage of this Earth and we shall find it so upon the reflection and remembrance Of this sort is the Text I have here chosen which partly speaks of things Present and partly of things to come And they whether they will hear or whether they will forbear Hereby their Proof and Trial is had as to this present Time for this denotes forth their present kind of Demeanour and Behaviour hereupon But by that Phrase Yet shall know The particle shall is an Adverb of Futurity and by what is further expressed on That there hath been a Prophet among them is shewn forth a Recollection that so it hath been which they were not aware off and did not altogether so clearly discern then The Reason of my choosing this Text to Discourse on here is to this effect Inasmuch as I have been a Preacher unto the People of this my Generation and Nation for several Years last past and as yet my Ministry hath been Rejected and not Received amongst them whereupon I am forced to make this or the like return That I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people Isa 65. 2. I have laboured in vain and spent my strength for nought and in vain yet surely my work is with the Lord and my judgment with my God Isa 49. 4. As for every Sin there is some seeming excuse so for their not hearing the Word of the Lord at my Mouth There hath been such an imagination in the Minds of People To speak out those Thoughts of Heart it seems to be to this purpose As some did contend with Peter that he went in to Men Uncircumcised and did eat with them Acts 11. 3. So the people of this Nation have heard a certain kind of Rumour or Report That I have Written and Spoken sundry things in behalf of a Papist and inasmuch as Popery is not the truth as it is in Jesus as indeed it is not which I do hereby acknowledge as much as themselves From hence they would Fallaciously and Falsly Reason and Conclude That I have not Taught nor yet as long as I retain these Principles do I teach the way of God in truth And therefore it is that they turn their backs and they refuse to hear the Word of the Lord Preached by me If in all this I have not been unfaithfull to God nor yet in handling his Word Neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way Psal 44. 17. 18. But I have affirmed his Word and Commandment only in the same manner as they stand Recorded in the Book of the Lord Then those non Hearers are convinced out of the Law as Transgressors for refusal or neglect to hear the Word of God is Sin and Transgression It seems very strange That those who seem to Preach and Talk very much against Sin yet themselves in this matter give way unto and are guilty thereof But it is no new or unusual thing that some speak against Sin in the general and yet at the very same time themselves are guilty of the same in the particular Nature hereof True it is that Popery is made up of Idolatry Superstition and Errour But yet we are in no wise allowed by the Christian Religion which doth command That ye resist not evil Mat. 5. 39. Recompence to no Man and if so it ought not to be done to a Papist Evil for Evil. Be not overcome of Evil but overcome Evil with good Rom. 12. 17 21. So that it is not true and uncorrupt Religion but contrary to it To Murder Rob or do any Evil or Wrong unto a Papist Unless People are become altogether ignorant and dull of Apprehension It is a most easie thing to be conceived and understood That a Man may be no Papist and yet do no Evil or Wrong unto a Papist Agreeable hereunto is the Will and Commandment of the most High God who doth not esteem Papists to be worse than Idolaters Strangers Heathen or Publicans of Old As to them God declares himself and his Will to be on this manner I will come near to you to judgment and I will be a swift witness against false Swearers and against those that turn aside the Stranger from his right Mal. 3. 5. Such is the Revealed Will of God And moreover it is the same Robbery and Injustice in the Nature of things to disposess or spoil a Papist as any other Person What I have Written in behalf of a Papist did amount to no more then this That meerly or so far only as he was a Papist he ought not to have been turned aside from his Right which I grounded from Mal. 3 5. aforecited And also from Lam. 3. 35 36. To turn aside the Right of a Man before the Face of the Most High To subvert a Man in his cause the Lord approveth not Which is as plain a Declaration of the Mind and Will of God as any thing in the World can be and altogether as plain and self-evident as that maxim is Whatsoever ye would that Men should do unto ye do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets In this place of the Lamentations it being said Man indefinitely it extends equally and all one to Sinner as to
Saint to Gentile as well as to the Jew to Bond or Free yea to all of the Race and Lineage of Mankind To turn aside the Right of any Man whatsoever or to subvert any Man whatsoever in his cause the Lord approveth not So that if herein I have only delivered and made known the truth as it is in the Scriptures of God then also it is the truth as it is in Jesus for Jesus is the Word of God Then I say That when the Dead small and great shall stand before God I shall have boldness in that Day when I shall at the Bar of his Judgment Seat implead the People of this my Generation and Nation for their not hearing or not receiving that part of the Word of God which was committed to my Ministration and themselves may meet with fear shame and confusion of Face when they are called to give an Account for the same then also shall they know who did forbear That there hath been a Prophet among them They are in our Text called Rebellious who did forbear for so many things in the Scriptures of God are spoken forth against them who are non hearers or who refuse to hear his Word Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee Psal 50. 17. This evil people which refuse to hear my words Jer. 13. 10. Yea there is much more said against them then those Cautions are against Deceivers or Take heed what ye â—ear Where again it is observable That we are not forbid to hear but intimation is rather given That we should hear as well as prove all things for how could we Prove them unless we did first hear and know them We ought to Take heed what we hear that is Examine and Prove well what we do hear Seeing that these things are so I admire how any who pretend to have the real fear of God can or do turn their backs upon the Preaching of his Word Such who forbear and refuse to Hear Read or Receive it would have the Word of God which like its Author is without Uariableness or Shadow of turning to be fashioned and modelled according to their own Imaginations and Lusts Which same Imaginations and Lusts of Men are different from and contrary unto the Word of God A manifest Evidence that there is a spreading and prevailing Corruption Transgression and Iniquity in this Nation because that the multitude of People is so very much zealous for it for the multitude have been all along for what is either contrary unto or different from the Law and Revealed Will of God Even from the days of your Fathers ye are gone away from mine Ordinances and have not kept them Mal. 3. 7. This Word Ordinance doth denote an established and fixed Order of things according as God hath appointed them And here it is witnessed and affirmed That in the several Generations and Countries the People have varied from and have not kept them Now there is more credit to be given unto the affirmation of the Word of God that being a forerunner of his future Judgment then to all the Uindications and Hypocritical Pretences of the People themselves that they have not gone away from his Ordinances when indeed they have or then indeed is to be had to all the sayings of Bishops Doctors or Preachers the Priests and People themselves Who Rob Father or Mother and say it is no Transgression Prov. 28. 24. When indeed it is a Transgression And so it will clearly appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ when another Scene and Face of things will be seen over what is now then they which justifie themselves before Men and who are highly esteemed amongst Men will be abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. 15. And on the other hand that solid sincere unaffected Piety that universal Zeal for God and for all his Commandments indefinitely without exception not keeping some and neglecting others as the manner of many is at this Day but an actual observance of all them not breaking the least Commandment Mat. 5. 19. For any specious end or pretence whatever although this be now spoken against and reproached by Men who are the Transgressors will yet be commended and accepted by God In all probability and likelihood the Stream and Multitude of the Jewish People did run against Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon with as much Zeal Heat and Enmity As we have seen and known the greater part of the Inhabitants thereof do hate him that was King over this Nation and for these twelve Years last past They would not have him Reign over them Luke 19. 14. And that for the same Reason For as our People feared that such a one would Conquer and Enslave them after French Methods and compel them to Popery So peradventure the Antient Jews might have secret indignation and hatred against Nebuchadnezar because he had made a Conquest over them for this belongs to Conquerors to be inwardly and secretly hated though they are outwardly feared And also because this Nebuchadnezzar was an Heathen an Idolater and a Stranger and as it was Not lawful for a Man that was a Jew to keep company with any other Nation so they did conceive and keep up unkindness and hatred against them Notwithstanding this mind of the Jewish Nation yet Ezekiel a true Prophet of the Lord in his seventeenth Chapter doth speak â—undry thing in behalf of the King of Babylon according to humane Apprehension whereas in Truth he speaks for the Oath and Covenant of God which the Jewish Nation had taken unto him So that here it might have been Objected and Upbraided unto Ezekiel What dost thou go about to destroy the Worship of God which at that day was among the Jews and to bring in the Heathenish customs Inasmuch as thou would'st have us retain our subjection unto an Heathen King and not rebell against him as we have done Nevertheless the Prophet Ezekiel doth there speak sundry things against their Rebellion Nay It is not so much Ezekiel as the Spirit of God God which spake by him who knows best what is his own Laws and what is pleasing in his Sight Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord and read for therein it is written That we should have our Conversation honest among the Gentiles least the Name of the Lord should be Blasphemed and the way of Truth evil spoken of amongst them That we should carry out selves wisely towards them that are without Recompence to no Man evil for evil Provide things honest in the sight of all Men Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Now seeing that our God hath given such and such Commandments and many more to the same purpose as may be seen in the Old and New Testament here to allude unto that saying of Peter in Acts 11. 17. What are we the Ministers and Preachers of his Word that we should withstand God Or that we should vary from his Word and Commandment
him In these he is glorified to their own Good and Comforts But those again may be more properly stiled the Creatures of God than his Servants who live at random and in forgetfulness of their Maker and in these also he will be glorified to their own Evil and Punishment In that day there shall be upon the Bells of the Horses Holiness unto the Lord Zech. 14. 20. So it should be written upon the Fore head of each of us and it should be engraven upon the Tables of our Heart so that it may be continually in our Mind and Remembrance O Man or Woman calling Him or Her by their respective Names Thou art my Servant in whom the invisible God will be glorified As this following is a nearer and more honourable Relation Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you And will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 17. 18. Even so it is here it is a better and more comfortable Diversity for the Lord Almighty to say unto us Thou art my Servant in whom I will be glorified then if he should only say Thou art my Creature in whom I will be glorified For his Servants shall serve him Rev. 22. 3. But amidst the Common and Promiscuous multitude of Mankind There are many Rebels and Enemies in whom he will be glorified though it be to their Destruction And they come unto thee as the people cometh and they sit before thee as my people and they hear thy words but they will not do them for with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after covetousness Ezek. 33. 31. And so by the outward posture of People and by their coming to the publick places of his Worship they make a shew of much Honour Reverence and Obedience unto God but their Heart goeth after their own Pleasure or Profit They are still for doing their own Will and for going after their own Thoughts They will sit a Sermon out but after it is over and they are gone from it they are apt to say Their Lips are their own Who is Lord over us There are those who are yet more Disobedient and Rebellious for they will not so much as come to the place of Hearing Others again will Hear and not Obey And another sort are forgetful hearers of the Word As when Jesus Discoursed of that True Bread which cometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the World The Hearers thereupon said unto him Lord evermore give us this Bread John 6. 32 34. So it is evermore the desire of my Soul and so it is of all Faithful and Knowing People when we hear such an one is a good Minister Preacher or Teacher Lord evermore give us the Preaching and Teaching of thy Spirit For though the outward Teachers should be removed into a corner Isa 30. 20 Or if the lot of our Habitation is cast into a Barren Ground where is a Dead Ministry or Dull Teaching yet the Spirit within us is Life and by this Spirit we know the Things that are freely given us of God For what Man knoweth the things of a Man save the Spirit of a Man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no Man but the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. Even so the Elect do know and discern more of the Things of God than other People even by the Spirit which he hath given them So they do now know and discern more of the Appearances and Doings of God unto the World and to his Church then the mixt Multitude Shall the Lord do any thing and not reveal the same unto his Servants the Prophets So his Elect Servants do know and receive them for such that is for those to whom God doth communicate himself more then to his Ordinary Creatures when the same was not understood by the generality of the People There was never yet any true Prophet of the Lord but who did approve manifest and commend himself to the Hearts and Consciences of some of his Servants And so it is that whereas the common People in the Words of our Text Shall know that is in the latter Days and towards the end of Time That there hath been a Prophet among them The Elect Servants of God know the very same at the Time and whilst the Prophet is among them Those Prophets were Ordinary or Extraordinary By the Ordinary Prophets I mean the common Priests who were to Read and Expound the Law By the Extraordinary Prophets are to be understood such whom God had Anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above their fellows To whom he had made known more of himself then he had done unto the common Stock and Level of Mankind The Denomination of the Word Prophet comes chiefly from Prophetare which signifies as much as to Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their Transgression and the house of Jacob their sins Isa 58. 1. And so every common Minister or Preacher of the Word as he is Faithful and True in the Discharge of that part of the Office may be called a Prophet both in the Old and New Testament Acceptation as when we read of the Schools of the Prophets Is Saul also among the Prophets By this Word is denoted that distinct Rank of Men such as are the Priests and Clergy among us at this Day And so we read in the Gospel For ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted And the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets 1 Cor. 14 31. 32. But as one Man now is seen to excell another in Strength Greatness Beauty Wisdom or such like according to the manifold Variety of the Creation and Workmanship of God So the same everlasting God the Creator of the ends the Earth had also amongst them to whom he Communicated a greater measure of his Spirit and of the Knowledge of himself and of the things pertaining unto his Kingdom than unto others as we read in the example of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Said Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour I must go and Preach the Gospel in other Cities for thither am I sent And so the Prophets and Apostles were as Captives removing to and fro Isa 49. 21. And travelling from Place to Place for to Preach the Word of God and to make known his Truth And as Wisdom crieth without she uttereth her voice in the streets She crieth in the chief place of concourse in the openings of the gates in the City she uttereth her words Prov. 1. 20. So their Residence or Habitation for the most part was in or near the City of Jerusalem the chief City of Judea where the Palaces of their Kings Rulers and chief of the People were This I do the more willingly take notice of