Glass mingled with Fire and there she will continue till the fourth Kingdom that of Iron mixt with Clay be broken to pieces and become like Chaff of the Summer threshing-floors and the wind carry them away that no place be found for them Dan. 2.35 Notwithstanding the Spouse of Christ stands on a Sea of Glass mingled with Fire she is not destroyed And I saw as it were a Sea of Glass mingled with Fire and them that had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his mark and over the number of his name stand on the Sea of Glass having the Harps of God and they sung the song of Moses the Servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy for all Nations shall come and worship before thee for thy Judgments are made manifest Rev. 15.2 3 4. John the Divine that out-lived all the Apostles he being the last of them as is believed wrote this Book of the Revelations in an excellent stile the matter of it being excellent it was sent to him from Heaven Write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter Rev. 1.19 That is from that time to this and from this time to the end of the World of all the things concerning the Church of God in the latter days and in the last days Here we have a sight of the Church often in the fifth chapter of this Book And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation v. 9. This is a thanksgiving for their Redemption being redeem'd by the blood of Christ and delivered from wrath to come In the twelfth chapter you have another sight of the Church A Woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars v. 1. But against this Woman came the Red Dragon with the power of Hell to devour her Child as soon as it was born The Devil and the World cannot endure the pure Worship of God and the true Religion that is profess'd by God s Children This Woman the true Church of God fled into the Wilderness where she had a place prepared of God but the Dragon followed her and made war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ v. 17. that in the generation of the Just in all times the Church is the Mother and the Womb that brings forth Gods faithful people in all ages and though the Dragon in persecuters hath made war against them yet they could never destroy them In the fourteenth Chapter you may see this Church following the lamb wheresoever he goes and were redeem'd from among men and from the Earth and having his fathers name written in their foreheads and in their mouths was found no guile these were Virgin Saints that had not drank of the Whores cup nor been defiled with her abominations You have a sight again of this Church in the fifteenth chapter which I mentioned before And I saw as it were a sea of Glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name stand on the sea of Glass having the Harps of God. See then these following things Their place Their posture Their Victory Their thanks-giving 1. Their place as it were on a sea of Glass that is the World and the People that are in it Psal 46.2 3. And four great beasts came out from the Sea divers one from another Dan. 7.3 And I stood upon the sand of the Sea and saw a beast rise up out of the Sea having seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns and upon his Heads the name of Blasphemy Rev. 13.1 This Sea then is the World and in this World you shall have trouble 2. Their posture They stand on the Sea of Glass Glass is that which lets light into a room wherever the Church of God is there is light light springing up light breaking forth light shining out Believers are Children of the day and of the light God hath shin'd into their hearts in the face of Christ Jesus Now the World and the Devil cannot endure this light but blow up the coals and kindle the fire of persecution that they may put out and destroy this light of saving knowledg Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you 1 Pet. 4.12 This is the sea of Glass mingled with Fire the fire of contention the fire of persecution and the fire of tribulation yet however Gods people stand they stand fast and having done all they stand having their loins girt about with truth and having on the breast-plate of righteousness and their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace Eph. 6.13 14 15. 3. Their victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name you see here who they are that get the victory and this victory was got on the Sea of Glass mingled with fire that is in prisons and in dungeons and in great tribulations and in times of great calamities under sore trials Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter nay in all these things we are more than conquerers through him that loved us Rom. 8.35 36 37. who through faith subdued Kingdoms â—rought righteousness obtained promises stopped the mouths of Lions Heb. 11.33 for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the World and this is the victory that overcometh the World even our faith 1 John 5.4 the victory then the Saints get is over the Devil over his temptations over his devices and over all his assaults and wiles 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 this victory is over the World the pleasures of the World and the profits of the World and over the frowns of the World. Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 1 John 5.5 this victory is over the beast his ordinances and laws over his image his worship and doctrines over his mark his profession and perswasion over the number of his name
this fully and plainly that the latter days and last days are Gospel days For so are they called in the Scriptures of truth then the days of these Kings were to be no other than Gospel days in the days of these Kings that is in Gospel days Secondly Of the Kings that were to be in Gospel times for if the days of these Kings were to be Gospel days then these Kings must be in Gospel times This is so clear and plain that it cannot be denied these Kings were to arise out of the Fourth Kingdom that was to be as strong as Iron And after thee shall arise another Kingdom inferiour to thee and another third Kingdom of Brass which shall bear rule over all the Earth and the fourth Kingdom shall be as strong as Iron for as much as Iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things and as Iron that breaketh all these shall it break in Pieces and bruise and whereas thou sawest the Feet and Toes part of Potters Clay and part of Iron the Kingdom shall be divâ—ded but there shall be in it of the strength of the Iron for as much as thou sawest the Iron mâ—xed with miry clay and as the toes of the feet were part of Iron and part of Clay so the Kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken Dan. 2.39 40 41 42. And four great beasts came up from the Sea divers one from another The first was like a Lion and had Eagles Wings and I beheld till the Wings thereof were pluckt and it was lifted up from the Earth and made stand upon the feet as a man and a mans heart was given to it and behold another Beast a Second like to a Bear and it raised up it self on one side and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it and they said thus unto it Arise devour much flesh After this I beheld and lo another like a leopard which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl the beast had also four Heads and dominion was given to it And after this I saw in the night visions and behold a fourth beast dreadful and terrible and strong exâ—eedingly and it had great Iron teeth it devoured and brake in pieces and stampâ—d the residue of â—t with the feet and it was divers from all â—he beasts that were before it and it had ten Horns Dan. 7.3 4 5 6 7 Thus he said The fourth beast shall be the fourth Kingdom upon Earth which shall be diverse from all Kingdoms and shall devour the whole Earth and shall tread it down and break it in pieces And the ten Horns out of this Kingdom are ten Kings that shall arise and another shall arise after them and he shall be diverse from the first and he shall subdue three Kings verse 23 24. The truth of this will yet farther appear to us because these Kings are so often named and spoken of in the New Testament And ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake for a Testimony against them and the Gentiles Mat. 10.18 Take heed to your selves for they shall deliver you up to Counsels and in the Synagogues ye shall be beaten and ye shall be brought before Rulers and Kings for my sake for a Testimony against them Mark 13.9 And he said unto them The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors Luke 22.25 But the Lord said unto him Go thy way for he it a chosen Vessel unto me to bear my Name before the Gentiles and Kings and the Children of Israel Acts 9.15 And the Kings of the Earth the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men and every bondman every freeman hid themselveâ— in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains Rev. 6.15 For they are the spirits of Devils working Miracles which go forth unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty Rev. 16.14 And in the 17th chapter they are mentioned five times With whom the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been drunk with the Wine of her fornication Rev. 17.2 And there are seven Kings five are fallen and one is and the other is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space Verse 10. And the ten Horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kingdom as yet but receive power as Kings one hour with the beast Verse 12. And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 18.3.9 Verse 18. This is so clear and very plain that I need not say any more as to this for in the days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom Rev. 19.18 19. Thirdly Of the way and manner how this Kingdom was to be set up It was prophesied by Isaiah the Prophet For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a trye stone a precious stone a corner stone 1 Pet. 2.6 a sure foundation and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded Isa 28.16 Now what way did God take to bring this about this way he made Providences fulfil Prophecies And it came to pass in those days that there went out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed and all went to be taxed every one in his own City And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the City os Nazareth into Judea unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary his espoused Wife being great with child And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth her first born Son Luke 2.1 to 7. Little did Caesar Augustus think when he made this Decree that all the World should be taxed what this was to do what this was to accomplish and fulfil this thing brought up the holy Child Jesus from Galilee out of the City of Nazareth into Judea unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem to be brought forth and born there according to the Scriptures and they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea For thus it is written by the Prophet Micah 5.2 Mat. 2.5 This brought the wise men from the East that came to worship him verse 2. This brought the Angel to the Shepherds as they were abiding in the field keeping watch over their slock by night This brought the Shepherds to the Manger wherein the Babe
them concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them and they left all the commandments of the Lord their God and made them molten images even two calves and made a grove and worshiped all the host of Heaven and served Baal and they caused their Sons and their Daughters to pass through the Fire and used Divination and Inchantments and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger 2 Kings 17.9 to 17. O learn from hence these four things First When men leave God God leaves them when men leave truth truth leaves them when men leave the true Church the Church leaves them I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me for ever but now the Lord saith Be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.30 Secondly You may see and understand by this what that is that blinds and darkens nations and people the Devil darkens Sin darkens and the inventions of men darken And he opened the bottomless Pit and there arose smoke out of the Pit as the smoke of a great furnace and the Sun and the Air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the Pit and there came out of the smoke Locusts upon the Earth and unto them was given power as the Scorpions of the Earth have power Rev. 9.2 3. Thirdly Marvel not then that men are ignorant and blind superstitious and inventers of evil things Idolaters and Blasphemers What wonder then is it to see these things when men change the Truth of God into a Lie and hold the Truth of God in unrighteousness And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a Lie that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.11 12. They feared the Lord and served their own Gods after the manner of the Nations whom they carried away from thence 2 Kings 17.33 Fourthly Learn from hence the cause of the sufferings of the People of God in all times This hath been the flaming Sword of persecution that hath turn d every way against them in all places namely the dark World by their inventions and by their cruel Decrees And it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.7 8. Here was a War and this War was with the Saints whose names were written in the book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World. The cause of this War was for their not worshipping the image of the beast this the Saints of God could not do and therefore they were slain And cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed and that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name ver 15.17 The Saints did not make the image therefore they would not worship the image they did not set up this worship neither will they be worshipers of it with the World. God gives life to his worship but the Beast gave life to this by forcing and compelling saying to them that dwell on the Earth that they should make an image to the beast and he had power to give life unto the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak c. ver 14 15. This indeed is a mystery but if my reader be a Child of Light he will understand it by that little light I have here given him in this mystery Thirdly It is an evil World what evil is there out of Hell that may not be seen in this World What do you see in this World but evil What is there done by this World but evil And what do you expect from this World but evil Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil World Gal. 1.4 When our Lord Jesus was upon the Earth he then prayed for them that did believe and he prayed for them which should believe on him hereafter he prayed long and he prayed fervently that all they whom the Father had given him might be kept from the evil of the World Joh. 17.15 Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the father is this to visit the fatherless and widdows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the evil world Jam. 1.27 First then What have the Saints of God seen in this World but evil and do still see it men wallowing in the mire and filth of sin and all wickedness praying for their own damnation and treasuring up of wrath against their own Souls marching in troops to Hell and Damnation They are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge the thoughts of their hearts are evil and that continually the words of their mouths are evil full of cursing and bitterness the works of their lives are evil being abominable 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 1 John 2.15 16. you see here what is in the World it is lust nothing but lust the lust of the Flesh and the lust of the Eyes and the pride of Life the lust of drunkenness the lust of Swearing the lust of Uncleanness the lust of Adultery the lust of Idolatry the lust of Covetousness the lust of Ambition and of Pleasures and Idleness a fulfilling the desires of the Flesh and of the Mind this is that the World is covered with as with a Garment Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death James 1.15 Secondly what is done by the World but evil Evil to themselves and Evil to the Saints And moreover I saw under the Sun the place of Judgment that wickedness was there and the place of Righteousness that iniquity was there Eccl. 3.16 so I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the Sun and behold the tears of such as were oppressed and they had no comforter and on the side of the oppressors there was power but they had no comforter Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive yea better is he than both they which hath not yet been who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the Sun Eccl. 4.1 2 3. This is that which
provokes the Lord and the Eyes of his glory and this is that that hath made the Eyes of the people of God to run down with tears Rivers of Waters run down mine Eyes because they keep not thy Law Psal 119.136 Oh! that my head were Waters and mine Eyes a fountain of Tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my People Jer. 9.1 And the Lord said unto him Go through the midst of the City through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof Ezek. 9.4 And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Lu. 19.41 42. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end if destruction whose God is their Belly and whose Glory is their shame who mind Earthly things Phil. 3.18 19. Behold and see O persecuting World the love and pity that is in the Hearts of Gods Children towards you They sigh and mourn for your abominations they weep and tears run down like water from their Eyes for your sins and wickedness you persecute them and yet they pray for you you hate and despise them yet they pity you and seek and endeavour to save you You can commit sin with both hands but you do not sigh and mourn you can treasure up wrath against your selves but you cannot turn it away you can pull down Judgments upon you but you cannot remove them Thirdly What do you expect that are the Saints of God from this World but Evil For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins they afflict the Just they take a bribe and turn aside the poor in the gate from their right Amos 5.12 Who hate the good and love the evil who pluck off their skin from off them and their flesh from off their bâ—nes who also eat the flesh of my people and slay their skin from off them and they break their bones and chop them in pieces as for the â—ot and as the flesh within the Cauldron Mic. 3.2 3. if you look into the 11th of the Hebrews that little book of Martyrs there you will see what the sufferings of Gods Children were of old and if you read the Acts of the Apostles that will shew you how cruel the world was then to the Church of God and has it been kinder since The Saints and Martyrs have not found it so Confirming the Souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Acts 14.22 A Leopard cannot change his spots and a Lion cannot change his nature no more can a wicked man cease from evil he hates the image of God wherever he sees it Let no good man expect good from the World it did hate Christ Jesus and it now hates all his members In the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the World Joh. 16.33 The World hath been always storming the Church of God and is always preparing to make new assaults expect therefore nothing from an evil World but evil pray therefore that you may be kept from the evil of the World. Fourthly It is a carnal World. For to be Carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace Here the Apostle shews the difference between a carnal man and a spiritual man A carnal man is dead he hath no spiritual life in him but a spiritual man hath both life and peace that life which is eternal John 10.28 and that peace which passeth all understanding A carnal mans life is in himself but a spiritual mans life is in Christ Jesus A carnal man receiv'd his life from God by Creation but a spiritual man receiv'd his life from Christ Jesus by grace A carnal mans mind is Earthly that is his sin but a spiritual mans mind is Heavenly that is his Joy. A carnal mans mind cannot be subject to the Law of God but the spiritual man with his mind serves the law of God Rom. 7.25 A carnal mans mind is full of enmity against God a spiritual mans mind is full of love to God. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 8.7 Enemies may be reconcil'd but Enmity never will be reconcil'd This enmity that is in the Hearts and minds of men against God is very great and it shews it self many ways 1. They hate God Rom. 1.30 Because of his holiness his purity his truth his laws and therefore God calls them his Enemies Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies Psal 110.2 Yea the fire of thine Enemies shall devour them Isaiah 26.11 But these mine Enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Luke 19.27 And you that were sometime alienated and Enemies in your minds by wicked works Col. 1.21 Every carnal man in the World is an open and a profess'd Enemy against God by wicked works the works of the Devil the works of the Flesh that are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witch-craft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murthers Drunkenness Revellings and such like Gal. 5.19 20 21. These are the works of the flesh wicked works enemies in your minds by wicked works 2. They hate the ways and worship of God. The naturâ—l man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 The carnal World did never like the worship of God Gods worship is too holy and pure for carnal men it is too spiritual and strict for them they love the way that is broad where the most go Mat. 7.13 though every step they take in it be to Hell and Damnation Carnal people do make a profession but what profession is it they profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate They profess but they do not practice They hear but they do not do they learn but they never come to the knowledg of the Truth they confess their sins but they forsake them not They acknowledg their iniquities and yet continue workers of inquity When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord Loâ—d open unto us and he shall answer and say unto you I know you not whence you are then shall ye begin to
are but a few therefore vain and carnal men do conclude thaâ— they are in the right and that the most are the best and that it is a safe and sure way to follow a multitude Secondly Because they are poor I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord Zeph. 3.12 The true followers of the Lamb in all Ages have been the poor of this world but rich in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and because they were so the world despised them and were filled with prejudice against them Then answered them the Pharisees Are ye also deceived Have any of the Rulers or the Pharisees believed on him but this people who knoweth not the Law are cursed Joh. 7.47 48 49. The world have always had a great prejudice against Truth where-ever it was found against Truth in the Word of God against Truth in the Worship of God against Truth in the Ways of God against Truth in the People of God against Truth in the Providences of God this is that the world knoweth not this is that it cannot receive this is that it cannot bear therefore the people of the world are filled with prejudice against Truth as they have been in all times and in all Ages past that is to say 1. Against the Morning Truth 2. Against the Naked Truth 3. Against the whole Truth 4. Against the Love of Truth 1. The Morning Truth is that love light mercy and grace which Almighty God hath been pleas'd to bring forth and make manifest to his people in the dispensations of Times and in the Ages of the World for the good of them that did love and fear him When the fulness of time was come that the Children of Israel were to be brought out of the Land of Egypt and to go in and possess that good Land of Canaan which the Lord had promis'd to give them for an inheritance this was then the Morning truth To believe the Lord their God and to follow him fully but they were filled with prejudice against it And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this Land to fall by the Sword that our Wives and our Children should be a prey were it not better for us to return into Egypt And they said one to another Let us make a Captain and let us return into Egypt Numb 14.3 4. But when they had possessed the Land of Canaan and had divided the Land by Lot the Morning truth was then To keep Gods Commandments and to observe his Statutes and Judgments and to keep themselves from Idols and from all Idolatry but they were filled with prejudice against it and rebelled against the Lord their God and built them high places and did set up Images and Groves on every Hill and under every green Tree 1 Kin. 14.23 And when they slew the Beasts for sacrifice that they might offer up their blood they were then to look through all the sacrifices and through the blood to the blood of Jesus For if the blood of Bulls and of Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ Who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.13 14. Then the morning truth was to believe the Prophets which shewed of the coming of the Just one but they were filled with prejudice against it Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just one of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers Acts 7.52 And in the days of our Saviour when he was on the Earth and preached Peace to them and wrought many Miracles amongst them went up and down doing good this was then the morning truth To believe in him Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Acts 4.12 But they were filled with prejudice against it Then Jesus said unto the chief Priests and Captains of the Temple and the elders which were come to him Be ye come out as against a Thief with Swords and Staves When I was daily with you in the Temple ye stretched forth no Hands against me but this is your hour and the power of darkness Luke 22.52 53. And after he was risen from the dead and had shewed himself several times to his Disciples and that all power was given to him both in Heaven and in Earth then this was the morning truth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Mat. 28.19 20. But they were filled with prejudice against it And when they had brought them and set them before the counsel the high Priest asked them saying Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name And behold ye have filled Jerusalem with your Doctrine and intend to bring this mans Blood upon us Acts 5.27 28. But when believers were added unto the Lord multitudes both of Men and Women then the morning truth was the free grace of God being Justified by Faith. And by him all that believe are Justified from all things from which ye could not be Justified by the law of Moses Acts 13.39 but they were filled with prejudice against it For as much as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls saying Ye must be circumcised and keep the Law to whom we gave no such commandment Acts 15.24 And this is the morning truth now to worship the ever living God in spirit and in truth and to wait for his Son Christ Jesus from Heaven and for the rich anointing of the spirit and the fulfilling of his word and the accomplishment of the prophecies and the perfecting of his work and the finiâ—hing of the mysteries of God to wait in patience in faith and in hope in a lamb-like spirit this is the morning truth in this our day and the World is filled with prejudice against it 2. The naked truth as it stands in the scriptures of truth which was delivered to the Saints of God by the Prophets and by the holy Apostles and by our Lord Jesus For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15.4 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds Heb. 1.1 2. To the law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light
under Christ Jesus the Captain of our Salvation fighting under him against the Devil and the World against Sin and Lust against Principalities and Powers against the Rulers of the darkness of this World Eph. 6.12 Every Saint is a petitioner and a wrestler with God by prayer and supplication for the peace and happiness of the Church Every Saint is a labourer and a worker together with God that Gods glory may be advanced and his holy name lifted up in the Earth that his ways may be made known to all Nations and his saving health to all people that the work of God may go on and prosper in these Nations which the Lord hath begun and hath been carrying on these many years that Babylon may become a desolation and the hissing and loathing of all Nations and the Zion of God may become the joy and praise of the whole Earth and this is the Faith and Hope and Desires of all Gods people Fourthly From the Enemies of God Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel what hath God wrought Numb 23.23 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him John 12.19 And now I say unto you Refrain from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found even to fight against God Acts 5.38 39. We have here a Cloud of Witnesses the Testimonies of good men that the True Church shall stand for ever and here are also the sayings of bad men and it is agreed on all hands That the Church of Christ cannot be destroyed but it shall stand for ever Can men pull out the Rocks that are in the Sea with their Teeth Can men blow away the Mountains of the Earth with their Breath Can men reach up to Heaven with their Hands Can men dry up the great and wide Sea where Ships go from Nation to Nation Can men draw a Curtain before the Sun that it shall not shine on the Earth Can men Seal up the Wind that it shall not blow where it listeth Alas this will be soon granted by all that men the greatest of men cannot do any of these things surely then men cannot â—estroy the Church of God for the Lord God is a Wall of Fire round about it For I sâ—ith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about anâ— will be the glory in the midst of her Zech. 2.5 One of the seven Angels shewed St John two things which made him wonder with great admiration And he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wildernâ—ss And I saw a Woman sit uâ—on a Scâ—rlet coloured Beast full of Names and Blasphemy having sâ—ven Heads and ten Horns And the Woman was arayed in Purple and Scarlet colour and decked with Gold and precious Stones and Pearls having a Golden Cup in her Hand full of Abominations and filtâ—iness of her Fornication And upon her Forehead was a Name written Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth And I saw the Woman drunken with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus And when I saw her I wondered with great admiration Rev. 17.3 to 6. But where did John see this sight In the Wilderness And have not many Thousands of Gods faithful Servants seen the same sight in the Wilderness which John saw since that time and are still liâ—e to see until the Mystery of God be finished and the Mystery of Iniquity be removed In the Second place There came one of the sâ—vâ—n Angels which had the seven Vials full of the seven last Plagues and talked with me saying Come hither I will shâ—w thee the Bride the Lambs Wife And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high Mountain and shewed me that great City the Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heavâ—n from God having the glory of God And her light was like unto a Stone most precious even like a Jasper Stone clear as Crystal and had a Wall great and high and had twelve Gates and at the Gates twelve Angels and names writtâ—n thereon which are the Names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel On the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South thrâ—e Gates on the West three Gates And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the Names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. And he that talkeâ— with me had a Golden Reed to mâ—asure the Ci y and the Gates thereof and the Walls thereof And the City lyeth four-square and tâ—e length is as large as the br dth And he measured the City with the Reed twelve Thousand Furlongs The length the br dâ—h and the heighth of it are equal And he measured the Wâ—ll thereof an hundred and forty and four Cubits accordiâ—g to the measure of a man that is of the Angel. And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper and the City was pure Gold like unto clear Glass And the Foundations of the Wall of the City were garnished with all manner of precious Stones The first Foundation was Jasper the second Saphir the third a Chalcedony the fourth an Emâ—rald the fifth a Sardonix the sixth Sardius the seventh Chrysolite the eighth Beryl the ninth a Topaz the tenth a Chrisoprasus the eleventh a Jacâ—nct the twelfth an Amethyst And the twelve Gates were twelve Pearls every several Gate was of one Pearl and the Street of the City was pure Gold as it were transparent Glass And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it Rev. 21.9 to 22. As the first sight which St. Joâ—n saw here was dreadful and terrible that made him wonder with great admiration to see a Woman drunk with Blood the Blood of Saints and Martyrs of Jesus And after this he saw another sight the Bride the Lambs Wife that great City the Hâ—l Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God! having the glory of God! and the City lyeth four square Now 〈◊〉 was a glorious and a delightful thing to behold â—â—ere is want of words and want in words to express the glory of it There is a vast difference between good and evil light and darkness the works of the Flesh and the fruits of the Spirit the table of the Lord and the table of Devils the Temple of the Holy Ghost and the Synagogue of Satan between the Mystery of God and the Mystery of Iniquity Babylon and Zion the True Church and the Mother of Harlots The True Church may be known by its Purity by its Poverty by its Sufferings by it s not Conforming to this World by its Patience under sore and great Tryals by its keeping the Commandments of God and having the Testimony of Jesus Christ and his Fathers Name written in their Foreheads by the Victory it obtaineth over all Enemies And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12.11 And upon this Rock I will build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16.18 Every Son and Daughter of this Church is a living Member and a fruitful Member and a holy Member and an enlightned Member a growing Member a sympathizing Member a praying Membâ—r a useful Member and a sanctified Member But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 2 Thes 2.13 There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your Calling One Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.4 5 6 7. Now he that hath an Ear let him hear FINIS