A WORD TO THE SAINTS FROM THE Watch Tower  
By a Faithful Ambassador, In Bonds for the Gospel divers years, F. H.  
LONDON: Printed in the year 1668.   

Cambridge-Castle 27 Decem. 1667. TO THE Faithful Brethren in Christ IN LONDON: FRANCIS HOLCROFT Wisheth Grace, Mercy, & Peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
BEing in the morning before the Throne of Grace yesterday, seeking the face of God, the word of God came with power to my Soul, with respect to the Church of God here, and all the Israel of God with us in the Land: Ezra 9.8, 9 It's said before, Since the days of our Fathers, we have been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our Iniquities both we, our Kings, our Priests, have been delivered into the hands of the Kings of the Lands, to the Sword, to Captivity, and to Spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day: (Which hath been now our case for about seven years, but that in part only, for how marvellously hath our God, through this time of our affliction and confusion of face, stayed the rough Winds and Storms of Persecution, by one or other wonderful and remarkably wise and gracious work in his Providence and Administration of things in the world.) But as if that were not enough for us, a sinful People of his, Mark what our gracious God speaks by his providence and works to us at this time, and that in this word I mention, Vers. 8, 9 And now for a little space grace hath been showed from the Lord our God, to leave us a Remnant to escape, and to give us a Nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage, for we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy to us in the sight of the Kings of Persia, to give us a reviving to set up the House of God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a Wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.  
Having had many thoughts touching this word of God, and the grace of God towards us his People therein declared for the help of our Faith: I found upon further consideration, that it may be you, my dearly beloved Brethren in Christ, both the Prisoners of the Lord with you, and a the rest, are in an especial manner concerned in this word; and that fora● much as this grace hath been now for some time passed given you from the Lord, since the fearful Judgements of God by Plague and Fire have brake out on you. I say, grace hath been showed you from the Lord, to enjoy greater Liberties than your Brethren; and again, our God hath brought you to see somewhat of the glory of the solemn Assemblies, for which you that are Mourners have been sorrowful; our God hath in some measure been gathering you, & bringing you again, the Ministers of God, and others, to the places of concourse. God hath opened a wide door to some of You, which our God make yet more and more effectual; for which things we your Brethren, I hope many of us in the Country, in Prisons, and others, have and do rejoice, blessing God by Jesus Christ.  
I thank our God, I have at some ●●mes, on the Lords Days especially, been at liberty in my Soul; being present in spirit with you somewhat in your Solemn Assemblies, rejoicing with you in this Mercy, brought to you by so wonderful a hand of our God.  
Now observe the Language the Holy-Ghost here useth to set out this thing.  
Now for a little space GRACE. hath been showed from the Lord our God: Mark that word Grace, and that from the Lord our God: It's the language of Ezra, by Faith laying hold of the everlasting Covenant of Grace, on the behalf of Gods own People. Under the Law God spoke so to his people, Leu. 2.13. And every oblation of thy meat-offering shalt thou season with salt, neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the Covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat-offering; with all been offerings shalt thou offer Salt; and so up and down in the Word, we find the holy men of God in their Prayers and Preaching, their spiritual offerings, offering Salt, even the Salt of the Covenant of their God, as Ezra here, Grace hath been showed from the Lord our God; whose Covenant is this, I will be their God, and they shall be my People, saith the Lord.  
Now I desire that you and we may by Faith wrought by the Spirit of grace, savour more the grace of this gracious dispensation of our God and Father; Grace hath been showed us from the Lord our God in it. There is in it especial favour of grace; grace flowing from the Covenant of grace, where our God is making known to the Elect, called Heirs of Promise, the immutability and unchangeableness of his Counsels and eternal purposes of grace, Liberty and reviving in Bondage, given as a fruit of grace, and given with the grace and shinings of the face of God, is a mercy indeed; such as the world have not, they know not what it is.  
Now (My Brethren) you know the grace of the Covenant of grace, was made known graciously in the in the first Testament. But now in the new and better Testament, whereof our Lord Christ is the Mediator, the Son of God himself, Grace is more abundantly made known by jesus Christ; the great design of the Gospel of God, being the manifestation of the glory of the only begotten Son of God, his Beloved in whom he is well pleased, and so the love also with which God hath loved his Elect, who are by the Father, given to jesus Christ, of whom the Lord Christ thus speaks, john 17. That the World may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.  
Now the God of all grace, pour out richly on you, and us, at this season, through our Lord Jesus, the Spirit of grace and supplication, that he may fill our hearts with the Faith, and sweet Savour of this grace of God, showed to God's people at this time.  
I was glad to observe of late, what is said of Holy Mr. Rutherford (one who faithfully testified and defended in his Generation, the Doctrine of the Gospel of the grace of God) It's said that when the Lord at the beginning of these times, took him to himself; on his deathbed he had on his heart, in some especial manner, a desire, that all the Saints might instantly wrestle with God for the pouring out of the Spirit of grace & supplications, according to the Promise, Zach. 12.10. Thus shall great godly sorrow, working repentance never to be repent of, be given to the House of David and Inhabitants of Jerusalem, both Jews and Gentiles in the last days, who shall wall over Christ, whom they have pierced, even all the Kindred's of the Earth, even so Amen. Thus our Back-slidings from our God, and our Breaches amongst ourselves shall be healed, as it's said by the Prophet jeremiah, Chap. 50. In those days and in that time, saith the Lord, the Children of Judah shall come, they and the Children of Israel together, (amongst whom there had been much bitter and lasting strifes, for ages and generations) they shall come, going and weeping, they shall go and seek the Lord their God: they shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces thither-ward; saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant, that shall not be forgotten.  
(Holy Brethren) Let our hearts, desires, and prayers, be instant with the Lord still, that this grace shown us from our God, may teach us to deny those worldly Lusts, and Covet, and ungodliness, for which our God hath thus wasted us; and that we may be more taught now by the grace of God, that brings Salvation, the grace by which we are saved (that which the Holy Ghost calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, The grace of God that is saving; or that brings Salvation) Bygrace, saith the same Apostle again, are you saved, (2 Eph.) and also by this grace of God, in giving us this reviving, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, waiting, and looking for the Blessed Hope, and the glorious appearings of the great God and our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.  
But I pray let us return again to the Word of God. Now for a little space grace hath been given us from the Lord our God, to leave us a Remnant to escape, and to give us a little reviving in our Bondage.  
Further, Observe this word little; and weigh it well: It is here twice repeated. And therein our God as by a Watchword, speaks to you in London, and to us all (for I am prone to hope that this grace may yet reach further to you, and to your Brethren, than yet it hath done) this grace given he speaks of, is but for a Little Space, and to give us a Little reviving in our Bondage, in brief thus. I have not been alone persuaded of it from sundry weighty grounds, taken from sundry weighty grounds, taken from the word of God, that the fiery Trial that waits yet for us is not over, yet are the ways of our God in the deep; and he oft reputes him graciously of ●he evil he threatens; and so I or others, I judge, ought not to speak peremptorily in these secret things which belong to God. But I oft have thought that word of God is for us, that in jer. 9 after the Prophet had cried out, against the great sins of Gods own Children, vers. 7. saith thus, Therefore, thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Behold I will melt them, and try them: for how shall I do for the Danghter of my People? But now as the Lord speaks by anothe Prophet, And because I will do thus, prepare to meet thy God O Israel. I am prone to think and believe, that grace is now given us in this little space and little reviving from our Bondage that is come, and may be yet coming; For this very end, that Israel may be prepared to meet God in that fiery Trial that may yet be, viz▪ An hour of darkness, before the utter downfall and judgement of the Whore, which also hasteth greatly; when God shall avenge the blood of his Servants at her hand; after which, there shall be heard as the voice of many waters (viz. Peoples and Kindred's) Saying; Alleluja, for the LORD GOD Omnipotent reigneth, as saith the Apostle john, Rev. 19 Then God will hasten the Coming in of that fullness of the Gentiles, which shall be before the jews be converted, For blindness (saith the Apostle Paul) in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved: And the fullness of the jews (Rom. 11.) shall be also the Riches of the Gentiles, as was their Fall and Diminishing: Then the Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and Christ; and he shall Reign for ever and ever. And after this spreading of the Kingdom of God, and the Grain of Mustardseed, (to which the Lord Christ compares his Kingdom) shall be grown; and that Lest of all Seeds shall become the Greatest among Herbs, and become a Tree, so that the Birds of the Air come and lodge in the branches thereof.  
After this shall come, as it is written, The Time of the Dead, that they should be judged; and God shall Give Rewards to his Servants the Prophets, and to the Saints, and to Them that Fear his Name, small and great; and he shall Destroy them that corrupt the Earth.  
Till which time of the Resurrection of the Dead, and of the Eternal judgement, I thank God I dare not, I do not, (with God's Church of old) look for any Personal appearing of Christ: For any Third Personal Coming of the Son of man on Earth; which I judge to be as Apocryphal, and a dangerous Error touching those grand Fundamental Principles of the Oracles of God, viz. The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead, and of the Eternal judgement, Unto them, (saith the Apostle) that Look for him, shall He Appear the second time without sin unto Salvation.  
Dangerous and contrary to Scripture it is, to expect any end to be put to the Ministration of the Spirit, the Comforter, in this World; before the End of it: He is now now come; now jesus, the other Comforter, is Gone away; and now He (the Spirit on earth) continueth to bear witness with the Water and with the Blood; For these three bear witness (saith the Apostle john) on earth, And they agree in one. I say, dangerous is it to suppose a Coming of the Son of Man in Person, that either shall not put an end to the administration of the Lord (the Spirit) here in the Church, (see 1 Tim. 6.14. and 1 Cor. 11.26.) or that shall put an end to it before That moment the Apostle Paul speaks of, when the Trumpet shall sound, and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the Harvest comes which Christ calls the end of the World; how unsafe, I say, either of these Assertions be, let those that fear God judge, viz. the Children, to whom it is given to understand the Mysteries of the Kingdom.  
Now (dearly beloved Brethren) let us mind what now lies before us; and whatever our hand finds to do, in this little space of reviving from bondage, let us do it with all our might; for I am prone to think the night comes again, wherein little work will be done.  
Now I shall conclude in the name of our Lord Christ, earnestly admonishing you to redeem this season of Grace.  
Let the Ministers of God, the Dressers of Christ's Vineyard, that have by Jesus Christ prevailed for the Figtree, that it should not be Cut down, but be let alone this year also; Let us (Brethren) call to mind our Vows and Promises in the days of our wrestle; how that if God would trust us again with an Harvest-Season, that we would be more Faithful and Laborious, etc. So in the Parable, saith the Dresser of the Vineyard, Lord let it alone this year also, till I Dig about it, and Dung it; which was a kind of Promise to God: As if he should say, Ah Lord! Let it yet alone, and how will● Labour and Dig about it; and Dung it, etc. And then Let all the Saints, and also the Land, Mind what follows: And if it Bear Fruit, Well; (Well indeed!) and if not (saith the Dresser, who before prayed for it) Then after that Thou shalt Cut it Down: And there will be then No remedy.  
Now to the end we may wisely improve this Gracious Space of reviving from our Bondage, that is by grace given us; I beseech you, (as a Worker together with the Lord and his Ministers) that you Receive not This Grace of God in Vain: Let's mourn for All the past Grace that we have received in vain; and Watch how we receive, and learn by this Grace that hath been showed us from the Lord: To Him let our eyes be, beyond all Instruments; Let us, I say, Learn Holiness and Godliness.  
And that we may herein be furthered,  
Consider for what Ends our God may Vouchsafe us this Breathing: Call to mind what I said partly before, that our Father seeing, how Back-slidden, how Lukewarm we are, how unaccustomed to his Yoke, and Cross; and how Averse we have showed ourselves to bear them; how readyto walk after the Carnal Imaginations of our Own hearts; He will give us a Little reviving in our Bondage, to further the Reviving of our Souls by Faith and Sound Repentance, and Recovering; that thereby our first Love may be restored, and that we may be put into Heart for the Storm that is Coming; for it will put All that is within us to it. If the Righteous shall be there in Scarcely saved, where then shall the ungodly and Sinners appear, even, when this Judgement shall again begin at the House of God?  
Beware of False Mistaken Prophets, that say the bitterness of death in these things is over, lest you find at last they By't with the Teeth, though you now love to hear them cry to you, peace, peace. There hath been too much of this daubing with untempered Mortar already: The Lord Spare us.  
Here is more than two years, and an half, twice told, passed over us, since our Affliction began: and yet I think we hardly judge the Witnesses are yet risen. And how many then, herein already, have been found false Witnesses, that have presumed far and much about Set times, see you to it.  
In this season, Cry out in the Spirit every one, O spare me that I may recover strength, before the evil day come! How loud doth God call in that word to us, in the words of the Prophet, jer. 12. If thou hast run with the Footmen, and they have wearied thee then how canst thou contend with Horses? And if in the Land of Peace wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee; then How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? The Race with the Horsemen, and the Sivelling of Jordan are yet (I judge) to come: And now a season is given you to prepare for them, improve it; and with dread call to mind how many have in these Nations, by as it were the very Looking out of Tribulation, not only been found fainting too much, which Gods Own must Mourn for; but they have been Tired outright, and are turned Apostates, Perjured, Covenant-Breakers, Propliane, and Superstitious, etc. and that after enlightenings.  
Furthermore (Brethren) to the end you may husband and improve this little space aright, Mark in the Text for what ends there mentioned, it is Given to us, as to them of old; and Let us See to it, that we do not forget or overlook them, and trifle about them. Now for a little space (saith he) Grace hath been given us from the Lord our God, to leave us a Remnant to Escape. Call to mind the time, when not so long since, you lay in fears in your Beds, night by night, because of the Fury of Bloody Papists, as if they were ready to destroy: and Where is the fury of those Enemies? How doth God at present Say to the Floods of the Ungodly, Stand still? The captive Exile hasteneth that he may be Loosed, and that he should not Die in the Pit, nor his Bread should fail.  
Again, read on, This is to give us a Nail in his holy Place; and it is repeated, vers. 9 To give us a Reviving to Set up the house of our God, and to Repair the Desolations thereof, and to give us a Wall in Judah and Jerusalem: Let all of us now see to it, that 
† Ezek. 22.8.  we Despise not, as formerly, God's Holy things; and that we yield ourselves unto the Lord, and Enter into his Sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever; 
* Hag. 1.2, 3, 4. etc.  And according to our Light, and in our Places, Mind the Building of his House, and Mourn over the Spiritual Desolations thereof: Zion, in this sense, is a Wilderness in too many places, and amongst too many of Us. And then this is added, That God may Lighten our eyes, and give us a little Reviving in our Bondage. Which Lightning of eyes, Ah that it may also reach the eyes of our Understanding; that through the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the eyes of our understandings may be opened, and our Faith in the Lord Jesus Increased: That when Fiery Trials may come, such as the Primitive and Latter Churches also have seen, shall come; we may then, both Rich and Poor, all be like the Wise Merchant, Who when he had found the Pearl of great price, went and sold all, that he might Buy it. And that we may do this also with Joy, and full choice of heart: hating Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Brethren, Sisters; yea, our own Lives also, taking up the Cross, and following Christ, like Disciples indeed, Beloved and Taught of God, according to the Promise of the New-Covenant. Amen.  
Remember (I beseech you) still in prayer my Bonds, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, Amen.  
F. H.  
FINIS.