say We have eaten and drunken in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say I tell you I know you not whence ye are depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity Luk. 13.25 26 27. See here a carnal worlds profession it is words all words and nothing but words Let us go a little farther and see the worlds worship O! 't is a brave worship fine and gawdy to behold if you will believe carnal men But let us see what the Scriptures of truth say of it Bring no more vain oblations incense is an abomination unto me the new moons and sabbaths the calof assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even the solemn meetings your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth they are a trouble unto me I am weary to bear thâ—m And when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you yea when ye make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood Isa 13.14 15. He that killeth an Ox is as if he slew a man he that sacrificeth a lamb as if he cut off a Dogs neck he that offereth an oblation as if he â—ffered swines blood he that burneth incense as if he blessed an Idol yea they have chosen their own ways and their Soul delighteth â—n their abominations Isa 66.3 The God of Israel did not condemn the worship but the worshipers he reproved them and thundered from Heaven against them by his Prophets for their uncleanness and â—ilthiness for their sins and abominaâ—ions for their cruelties and oppressions â—heir hands were full of blood these were â—he worshipers in that day that the Lord did hate and abhor In the New Testament you may find a worship spoken of and worshipers both â—ondemn'd by God himself and disalâ—ow'd of Ye worship ye know not what but â—he hour cometh and now is when the true â—orshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and â— Truth for the father seeketh such to worâ—â—ip him Joh. 4.22 23. Let no man beguile â—â—u of your reward in a voluntary humility â—nd worshiping of Angels intruding into those â—â—ings which he hath not seen vainly puft up 〈◊〉 his fleshly mind touch not tast not hanâ—e not Which all are to perish with the using â—â—ter the Commandments and Doctrines of men Col. 2.18 21 22. But also that the Temple of the great Goddess Diana should be despised and her magnificence should be destroyed whom all Asia and the World worshipeth Acts 19.27 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands that they should not worship Devils and Idols of Gold and Silver and Brass and Stone and of Wood which neither can see nor hear nor walk Rev. 9.20 And all the world wondered after the Beast and they worshiped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshiped the Beast saying Whâ— is like unto the beast Who is able to makâ— War with him Rev. 13.3 4. Here is a worship and worshipers but what saith the Lord of these worshipers If any maâ— worship the Beast and the Image and receivâ— his mark in his forehead or in his hand thâ— same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath oâ— God which is poured out without mixture intâ— the Cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presencâ— of the Holy Angels and in the presence of thâ— Lamb and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no resâ— day nor night who worship the beast and hiâ— Image and whosoever receiveth the mark oâ— his name Rev. 14.9 10 11. A carnaâ— man may have the words of prayers the form of prayers but he hath not the grace of prayer the Spirit of prayer He may make a profession but still holds fast his corruptions and will not let them go He may have a form of Godliness and â—et be an Enemy to the power of Godliâ—ess He may have a seeming Religion â—nd yet allow himself to live in all open wickedness Having a form of Godliness â—â—t denying the power thereof from such turn way 2 Tim. 3.5 Bad men deny the power of Godliness â—nd look most upon the form Good â—en desire the power of Godliness and â—ook least to the form Saints must turn â—way from evil men that they be not parâ—â—kers with them and sinners must turn â—way from the evil of their ways that God may have mercy upon them 3. They hate the people of God and â—ave enmity against them but they shall â—e and be ashamed for their envy at the â—eople yea The fire of thine Enemies shall â—vour them Isa 26.11 This enmity was â—st in the Devil against our first Parents â—hen they were in Paradice And ye shall â— as Gods knowing good and evil Gen. 3.5 â—ut how Ye shall know the good by â—lling from it and ye shall know the evil by undergoing it This enmity was in the mind of Cain against Abel And iâ— came to pass when they were in the field thaâ— Cain arose up against Abel his brother and slew him Gen. 4.8 Abel was the first sufferer for truth the first witness that waâ— kill'd the first righteous blood that waâ— shed upon the Earth This enmity waâ— in Esau against Jacob and Esau said iâ— his Heart The days of mourning for my Father are at hand then will I slay my brotheâ— Jacob Gen. 27.41 This enmity was iâ— the Hearts and Minds of the Egyptian against the Children of Israel The Enemâ— said I will pursue I will overtake I wiâ—â— divide the spoil my lust shall be satisfied upoâ— them I will draw my Sword my hand shaâ—â— destroy them Exod. 15.9 This enmitâ— was in wicked Ahab and Jezabel againâ— the Prophets of the Lord. And Ahab toâ— Jezabel all that Elijah had done and witâ— all how he had slain all the Prophets with tâ—â— Sword then Jezebel sent a messenger unâ—â— Elijah saying So let the Godâ— do to me alsâ— and more if I make not thy life as the life oâ— one of them by to morrow about this timâ— 1 Kings 19.1 2. This enmity was in the Scribes and Phâ—risees against our Saviour If we let this maâ— alone all men will believe on him Joh. 11 4â— This enmity was in the people of the Jews against the holy Apostles They took counsel to slay them Acts 5.33 This enmity was in the Heathens against the Christians in the time of the â—en persecutions This enmity was in the Beast and in â—he Woman that sits upon many Waters â—gainst the Saints and Martyrs of Christ Jesus And I saw the Woman drunken with â—he blood of the Saints and with the blood â—f the Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17.6 And â—his enmity is now in the Hearts and Minds of all carnal people against Gods faithful servants that are redeem'd from â—he Earth and from amongst men Fifthly It is a vain World. Vanity of
the Church is the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 The World is as a Field of Blood but the Church is a righteous Nation The World is a Den of Thieves but the Church is God's Family and houshâ—ld Ephes 2.19 The World lies in wickedness 1 John 5.19 but the Church is glorious without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5.27 The World is as a heap of rubbish but the Church is God's peculiar Treasure Psal 135.4 The World is a lump of vanity but the Church is the City of God Psal 87.3 The World is as a common Harlot but the Church is the Spouse of Christ Cant. 5.1 The World is the habitation of Devils Rev. 18.2 The Devil is the God of this World the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 But the Church is the habitation of God a choseâ— Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nâ—tion a peâ—uliar People 1 Pet. 2.9 By this you may see what the World is and what the Church of God is how vastly they differ the one from the other and how unlike they are the one to the other and have been ever separated the one from the other Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness And what concord hath Christ with belial or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People 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. 6.14 to 18. The Kingdom shall not be left to another People but this People shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the Nations Thirdly It shall not be left to another People to follow their examples Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil Exod. 23.2 you must not follow bad men for company nor good men for applause When the Children of Israel were to enter into the land of Canaan they were not then to enquire after their Gods Take heed to thy self that thou be not snared by following them after that they be destroyed from before thee and that thou enquire not after their Gods saying How did these nations serve their Gods Even so will I do likewise Deut. 12.30 And ye shall destroy all their â—ictures and destroy all their molten Images and quite pluck down all their high places Numb 33.52 Thou shalt not bow down to their Gods nor serve them nor do after their works but thou shalt utterly overthrow them and quite break down their Images Exod. 23.24 But ye shall destroy their altars break their Images and cut down their Groves Exod. 34.13 But thus ye shall deal with them ye shall destroy their altars and break down their images and cut down their groves and burn their graven images with fire Deut. 7.5 Let the reader then well consider these Scriptures and dwell a little on them God will not be worship'd by imitation that is to worship ye know not what God is the author and object of true worship the Jews were not to enquire after other G ds and the Lord commanded them to destroy all their Pictures and to pull down their Images and burn them with fire they were not to keep them in their Houses nor to worship them in any place How vain and silly a thing is it for people to worship Idols and Images the works of mens hands they may make them eyes but they cannot make them see they may make them ears but they cannot make them hear they may make them feet but they cannot make them walk they have been often snares but never helpers they have brought Judgments upon People but never turned away any Men have provoked the Lord with their inventions and never pleased him with their Idols this prov'd a snare to Israel of old and brought upon them Gods heavy Judgments The Lord God is very Jealous of his worship and will not have his glory given to graven Images The Lord hath had a People in all ages and in all times that hath worshiped him according to his own will and commands For all people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of our God for ever and ever Mic. 4.5 The true worshippers shall woâ—ship the Father in Spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him John 4.23 For we are the circumcision whâ—ch worship â—od in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3.3 Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the fountains of Waters Rev. 14.7 Little Children keep your selves from Idols 1 John 5.21 Thus I have shewed you that the Kingdom shall not be left to another people the Church of God. Thirdly It shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms This destruction is not of mens lives but of mens lusts this destruction is not of mens bodies but of that sin that reigns in their mortal bodies this destruction is not of mens Rights and Properties but of that vanity and enmity that is in their hands and in their minds For if ye live â—fter the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye â—hall live Rom. 8.13 Mortifie therefore your members which are upon Earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry Col. 3.5 I have already shewed you a draught of the True Church and now I will shew you a Map of the World The whole World lies in wickedness 1 Joh. 5.19 Love not the World neither the things that are in the World if any man love the World the love of the Father is not in him for all that is in the World the lust of the Flesh the lust of the Eyes and the pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World and the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2.15 16 17. First It is a dead World dead in Sins dead in trespasses When the Assyrian Army came up against Jerusalem to destroy the Church of God the Lord sent an Angel that did destroy that great Army one hundred fourscore and five thousand this was done in one night Isa 37.36 and when the inhabitants of Jerusalem arose early in the morning they were all dead Corps what a sight was this to behold Should we see great
The Name of the Lord And I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him an Hundred forty and four thousand having his Fathers name written in their foreheads Rev. 14.1 Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City which is New Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven from my God and I will write upon him a new name Rev. 3.12 The Name of God is upon his People and this shews to whom they do belong and whose they are 3. The comliness and glory of the Lord And thy renown went forth among the Heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through my comliness which I had put upon thee saith the Lord Ezek. 16.14 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you 1 Pet. 4.14 These are the things that are upon the righteous And there are three things that God hath given to his People 1. Himself But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People Jer. 31.33 They shall call on my Name and I will hear them I will say It is my People and they shall say The Lord is my God Zech. 13.9 For what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People 2 Cor. 6.16 2. A Kingdom Fear not little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me Luke 22.29 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5.3 3. Grace and Glory For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 O Christian how canst thou say thou hast nothing or that thou hast but little Here is thy Inventory see here what thy heavenly Father hath given thee count it and cast it up Thou hast all things God hath given thee himself and a Kingdom grace and glory things present and things to come the world life and death are all thine how great is thy happiness O! wait but a little and thou wilt be in the possession of all There be three things that God will never take from his people whiles they are in this life 1. His love and loving kindness I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee Jer. 31.3 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self to him John 14.21 Having loved his own which were in the World he loved them unto the end John 13.1 This the righteous are crown'd with in this life He crowneth them with loving kindness and tender mercies Psalm 103.4 2. His Spirit And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the spirit of truth John 14.16 17. but the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness saith meekness temperance Gal. 5.22 23. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 3.16 God will not leave his Children comfortless he will not leave them orphans the Spirit of God dwells in them and abides with them and resteth upon them and leads them into all truth it convinceth sinners and it comforteth Saints For the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered 3. His Presence which is the glory of his People and the glory in the midst of them God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and â—hat right early Psalm 46.5 Take counsel â—ogether and it shall come to nought speak â—he word and it shall not stand for God is with us Isa 8.10 Jesus answered and â—aid unto him If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and â—e will come unto him and make our abode with him John 14.23 The presence of God is the Saints Heaven on Earth They do sometimes in a duty enjoy so much of God's presence that it fills their eyes with tears and their hearts with joy they â—eel that they cannot express and enâ—oy that which cannot be fully uttered and tast that which they cannot declare to others I did know a young man in the City of Exon about thirty five years ago who lay under many temptations and fears because he wanted God's comforting presence but in a certain night when all the people in the family were in their beds and as he thought fast asleep except himself he rose up from his bed and went up into the Garret and there wrestl'd with God by prayer with fervency and many tears but was then so terrified by temptations and fears that he thought the Devil waâ— present with him in the room sometimeâ— before him and sometimes behind him which did so distract and interrupt him that he was forc'd often to break off foâ— a little time and this he continued to do for three nights together but on the third night as he was pouring out hiâ— Soul before the Lord in prayer his voicâ— was taken from him that he could noâ— utter a word but his understanding remained with him for about the space oâ— a quarter of an hour and in that time he thought himself to be in Heaven or the Joys of Heaven to be in him he then tasted and enjoyed so much of God that it was not possible for a man to utter nor to declare to others but when his speech returned to him that he could speak he then found that this extraordinary presence of God withdrew it selâ— from him then he blest and prais'd the God of Heaven that had seal'd his Love to him and given him the earnest of his Spirit and victory over the Devil God knows that what I have here
numbers of dead Corps lie upon the Earth this would not be desireable to us the sight would offend us and the smell would offend us and the thoughts of it would trouble us O! what is it then to behold and see a dead world a world that lies in wickedness a world that is spiritually dead this is the sad fate and condition of every man and woman of the World they live and yet they are dead they are without spiri ual life But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth 1 Tim. 5.6 They live in the pleasures of sin but the Spirit of Truth liveth not in them they live but without God in the World. At that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no bope and without God in the World Eph. 2.12 Oh! how can they expect to live with God in another World that live without God in this this is next to living in Hell with Devils and Damned Spirits wicked men are but as so many walking Ghosts And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience among whom also we had all our conversations in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of our flesh and of the mind and were by nature the Children of wrath Eph. 2.1 2 3. You see here these Gentiles walked though they were dead dead in trespasses and sins yet they walked but how did they walk they walked as the most of men and women walk now 1. They did walk according to the course of this World. 2. According to the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in them 3. The Children of disobedience 4. Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind 5. They were by nature the Children of wrath For this my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is â—ound Luk. 15.24 How loud need a man to speak that the dead may hear their bodies are but as so many living Coffins to carry about their dead Souls in the Worlds faith is a dead faith the worlds worship is a dead worship the worlds ministry is a dead ministry how can a dead world have a living faith how can a dead ministry speak forth the words of spirit and life how can a dead worship be profitable to men and acceptable to the living God There was a great cry in Egypt for there was not a house where there was not one dead Exod. 12.30 There was then a great cry in Egypt and the cause of this cry was because the Lord had passed through his Enemies to smite them for there was not a house where there was not one dead where is that family to be found amongst us that there is not one or more dead in it dead in their sins dead Godward and Christward and Heaven-ward Are there not in most houses all dead Parents dead and Children dead Masters dead and Servants dead and yet no crying heard for this The fear of God is not in their houses nor his name is not there call'd upon the Peace of God is not there nor the love of God they live but Christ Jesus liveth not in them they are without all spiritual life and grace and the wrath of God abideth on them Joh. 3.36 Men will believe the words of a Prince they will believe the words of a Man but they will not believe the word that God hath spoken â—o them God hath said If ye live after the flesh ye shall die Rom. 8.13 but who believes it God hath said Ye shall die in your sins if ye believe not John 8.24 but who minds it They will be venturers and run the risque and hazzard of losing all this is a dead world that will not hear Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Joh. 5.25 Secondly It is a dark world it lies in darkness under thick darkness and how great is that darkness But if thine Eye be evil thy whole body shall be full of darkness if therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness Mat. 6.33 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shaddow of death Luk. 1.79 Then spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life Joh. 8.12 I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness Joh. 12.46 The night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light Rom. 13.12 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Eph 5.11 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places Eph. 6.12 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkness hath blinded their eyes 1 John 2.11 There be three things that have darkened the world 1. The Devil 2. Sin. 3. The inventions of Men. First the Devil He is the ruler of the darkness of this world He is a ruler but it is of darkness and this darkness is of this world The Devil is Darkness His nature is Darkness Jude 6. His prison is Darkness 1 Pet. 3.19 His power is Darkness Col. 1 13. His Kingdom is Darkness Rev. 16.10 His work is Darkness Mat. 12.26 1 Joh. 3.8 If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that â—e lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine in them 1 Cor. 4.3 4. The Devil as he is the god of this world so he blinds the minds of men and puts out their eyes the eyes of their understandings that the light of the glorious Gospel may not shine into them 2 Cor. 4.4 As he is the Prince of the Air he worketh in the Children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 But what doth he work in them No good be sure The Devil works in them his own â—ature his will and property he works in them darkness blindness and ignorance that they may be like him and do his works Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do he was a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth becâ—use there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie
your fathers did so do ye Acts 7.51 Now that which makes men do this be these six things 1. Worldly Interest 2. Self-conceit 3. A blind Subjection to others 4. Pride of Heart 5. Satan's Policy 6. Education These make men have an implacable hatred to all that is good When men are governed by these they imploy their rage and fury against the faithful With the greater part of Mankind these are so powerful that nothing but the mighty power of God is able to overcome them and to rescue men from their force It will require a measure of the extraordinary graces of Gods Spirit to be poured out And this is that good work which the Lord works in the Souls of men by his holy Spirit He works in them his own Image his own holy Will Power and Strength Knowledge and Understanding a love to God and a delight in him He makes them new Creatures and leads them into the paths of truth and righteousness This is a victory and this victory overcometh the world even our faith 1 Joh. 5.4 And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin of righteousness of judgment Of sin because they believe not on me Of righteousness because I go to my father and ye see me no more Of judgment because the Prince of this world is judged I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now Howbeit when he the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come John 16.8 to 13. 3. The Saint is the Seeker Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you Mat. 7.7 And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them Luke 18.7 There is a three-fold cry that enters into the ears of the God of Sabbaoth The cry of Blood Rev. 6.10 The cry of Prayer Isa 19.20 The cry of Sin James 5.4 This is that cry which taketh peace from the Earth This is that which turns the World upside down This is that which brings the great Earthquake that makes the Cities of the Nations to fall This is that which breaks the Arm and the Bow of the wicked and turns their counsels into foolishness This is that which makes distress of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the Waves roaring mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the Earth for the poâ—â—rs of Heaven shall be shaken What wonderful things have been done by Prayeâ— and if tâ—â—re â—e but a Spirit of Prayer â—â—pt up in Gods people the abomination of desolation will not be able to stand before them Mat. 24.15 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not upon the Earth by the space of three years and six months and he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit James 5.17 18. 3. The Church of God shall consume the Kingdoms of the world by the Word of truth And I saw and behold a white horse and he that sate on him had a bow and a Crown was given unto him and he went forth conquering and to conquer Rev. 6.2 This Conqueror is the Lamb the Lord Jesus Christ and this Conquest he makes by the Sword. But what Sword is it not a carnal Sword but by the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Eph. 6.17 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp Sword that with it he should smite the nations Rev. 19.15 For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than a two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart Heb. 4.12 When the Blessed Jesus came in the form of a Servant he spake from Heaven the Word of truth Whose voice then shook the earth but now he hath promised saying Yet once more I shake not the earth only but also heaven and this word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remain Heb. 12.26 The Word of truth is that which shakes the Devils Kingdom and Antichrist's Kingdom it shakes mens Foundations and their strong Holds their Refuges and Confidences And when the Lord lifts up his Name and makes his holy Arm bare his Power known by the Word of Truth and brings in his grace into the Souls of men and works in them by his Spirit his own Will his own Nature his Righteousness and holy Fear this is that which cannot be shaken and this is that which breaks in pieces and consumes hard and stony Hearts blind and dark minds carnal and fleshly Wisdom fierce and Lion-like Spirits This changeth mens Natures into a Lamb-like Spirit as the Prophet speaketh The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and the Fatling together and a little Child shall lead them And the Cow and the Bear shall feed their young ones shall lye down together and the Lion shall eat Straw like the Oxe And the suckling Child shall play on the hole of the Asp and the weaned Child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice den they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11.6 7 8 9. When sin shall be done away and iniquity shall be finished when the Tribes of the Earth shall be rent from the power of darkness and the everlasting Gospel shall be preach'd to all nations under Heaven then none shall hurt and destroy in all thy holy mountain Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things And now ye know what with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time For the Mystery of Iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth will lett until he be taken out of the way And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming 2 Thes 2.3 to 8. The Apostle Paul having the Spirit of God did in that Spirit tell these Thessalonians what should come