ENGLAND'S DELIVERANCE From the Northern Presbytery, COMPARED With its Deliverance from the Roman Papacy: BY PETER STERRY, Once Fellow of Emmanuel college in Cambridge, now Preacher to the Right honourable the council of State, sitting at Whitehall.  
Printed at Leith by Evan Tyler, 1652.   

To the SUPREME AUTHORITY Of the commonwealth of ENGLAND, The High Court of PARLIAMENT.  
RIGHT honourable,  
IT may seem strange, that in the Thanksgiving on this Day I have exalted the praises of the present season above the head of this Ancient Mercy. If I deceive not myself, I have not done this to the disadvantage of those old loving kindnesses, nor without great Examples.  
Is not this the beaten way of JESUS CHRIST with his Church, to make succeeding visits and loves, by being a grave to those that have been already, to become a Resurrection to them, giving them a more Excellent Being in this Relative State and Subordination, than they had in their absoluteness? Did John the Baptist increase his glory by any thing more, than by that sweet readiness to decrease before JESUS CHRIST? How do the holy penmen in all their prophecies, or Praises, frequently make every present subject, but as a sight to direct their eye, while their spirits fly to this mark, the Heavenly glory of CHRIST in this last Appearance, which is now from the midst of its Thunders, Lightning upon the Earth.  
Right Honourable, I hambly entreat your Patience a little further, while I present you faithfully with my Sense in the Comparison which I make between the Papacy, and Rigid Presbytery. I shall do this in three words, spoken to three things; Forms, Persons, Principles.  
1. As to Forms. I grant some to be purer than others. I allow the Church-form of Presbytery, to excel the Papacy, as the fairness of the Moon, doth the darkness of the Night. I allow it to be in the first Rank of the purest outward Forms, although not the first of that Rank. I believe it the duty of every Christian to follow after the best Forms. Yet is there a more excellent way, which is that of Love. My Brethren, our Joseph, our Jesus, chargeth us not to fall out on the way, 
1. Cor. 12. 31.  though we walk in different paths. We are Brethren, let no outward Forms divide us one from another, if they divide us not from CHRIST, if they have not in their own nature an enmity to the natural Image of CHRIST, which is Civility, Morality; or the Heavenly Image, which is Spirituality: Let us receive one another into the Glory of GOD, 
Rom. 15 7.  as CHRIST receiveth us, though that clothing of the outward Form be not of the same fashion upon all, nor on some so well shaped, as on others, to the Proportion of the Body, which is CHRIST The Lord JESUS hath his Concubines, his Queens, his Virgins; Saints in Remoter. Forms, Saints 
Can. 6. 8  in Higher Forms, Saints unmarried to any Form, who keep themselves single for the immediate embraces of their Love. But Christ's Dove in all these is One, the New Creature in CHRIST, the spiritual birth of the Spirit, the only One of her Mother, that Jerusalem above, which is the City compact, that Band of Peace, that Unity of Saints, the Holy Ghost.  
2. As to Persons; Fathers, and Brethren of the Presbytery! You together with me, desire after, sit drwn under the shadow feed upon the sweet fruit of the same appletree, in the 
Can. 2. 2  midst of the trees of the forest, though not of the same Arm and Bough of that Tree. I would not in any thing offend you, who are in the number of the excellent Ones, in which is all 
Psa. 16. 3  CHRIST'S Delight on earth. If I grieve you, what shall make me glad? There are of you, who are ready to answer this government of JESUS CHRIST, as Peter did CHRIST; Thou knowest that I love thee. Feed then the sheep, feed the Lambs, in those fresh Pastures into which He now leads you. You who are of another mind, appear to me, like good old Zachary: Though an Angel from Heaven witness, that the things now come to pass, are the very answers to those prayers 
Luke 1  which yourselves put up many years agone: yet you cannot believe, because the way is not in the ordinary tract of your Principles and Expectations. Therefore are you struck dumb for a season, that you cannot make a good confession of these Appearances of GOD. But when the Child shall be born, the Glory perfectly brought forth then yourselves shall name it John, which being interpreted, is Grace; then shall even your tongues be loosed, to praise this dayspring from on high, which hath visited us; then shall you acknowledge that this was the gate of heaven, though you were not aware of it.  
Now the Lord himself bring it to pass that all you, who in your p●…st dispensations have been fathers to these present discoveries, may suddenly turn your hearts to your children, lest he come, and for your sakes smite the earth, even all flesh with a curse.  
3. As to Principles. The marriage between our Saviour and the Soul is a marriage of Spirits, a marriage in one spirit. No union with any form makes this Marriage, or dissolus it. That which alone stands in enmity to these Heavenly Espousals is union with a strange spirit. This strange spirit is the Great Whore Babylon, Mother of fornications. One of her names is Mystery, because she puts herself into all forms, from the lowest to the highest; from the most outward to the most inward; from the darksomest among men, to the lightsomest amongst Angels. This is the great work of a Saint, to watch, to watch the Spirit of CHRIST, as be makes his removes out of one Appearance into another; to watch the spirit of Antichrist, as that also shifts its forms.  
Right honourable, For this I have desired in my Preaching, in my Prayers, to work with GOD, even for the opening of the eyes of men to see, that the same spirit which lay in the polluted Bed of Papacy, may meet them in the perfumed Bed of Presbytery; that the fornications and sorceries of this Whore are then greatest, when they are most Mysterious, that she is able by her sorceries to bewitch those that have attained to a great degree of spirituality as the Galatians. To this purpose have I in my Sermon represented the same spirit which dwells in the Papacy, when it enters into the Purer form of Presbytery, as fuller of mystery, so fuller of despite, of danger, not to make the form or persons, but that Principle, that spirit unfit to be cherished by any Person in any fo●…m. The Highest godliness, and the Highest Wickeanesses are those, which are most spiritual. Now, O Christians, you fight not with Flesh and Blood, but Principalities and Powers, spiritual wickednesses in Heavenly forms. But this is your comfort, spiritual wickednesses ascend as high as the Heavens, even into Angelical forms: but spiritual godliness goes up above all Heavens, together with CHRIST into the bosom of the eternal Spirit, from whence it looks down upon the Angels, and all forms, as ministering to it. In vain is the snare laid before those Doves, which have these spiritual eyes and wings. In the number of which, that you may be ever found, is the Prayer of  
Right Honourable, Your honour's most faithful Servant in CHRIST, PETER STERRY.   

England's DELIVERANCE FROM THE Northern Presbytery, Compared with Its Deliverance from the Roman Papacy.  JEREMIAH chap 16. v. 14, 15. 
Therefore behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said. The Lord liveth, that brought up the Children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt.  
But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the Children of Israel from the land of the NORTH; and from all the Lands, whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into the Land that I gave unto their Fathers.  
THe LORD, in the Vers●…s before, convinceth the Jews of the evil of their ways, in Doing worse than their Fathers; verse 12. He threatneth for this, to cast them out of their own Land, into a Land which they knew not; verse 13. In these Verses, which are my Text, that ever-gracious GOD, who in the midst of judgement remembreth Mercy, and in the midst of threatenings, delights to drop in Promises, provideth a cordial for his People, to carry with them into the wilderness, and to preserve them from Fainting in their dispersion. He assures them, that after He hath scattered them, He will gather them together, and bring them back again. Yea, to sweeten their Sufferings with the Expectation of a most Glorious Deliverance, He lets them know his purpose of making their bringing up out of Egypt, which was made so Glorious by many Miracles, and Mighty Wonders, to have no Glory, in respect to this Glory, of the Bringing them up out of the NORTH, which should so eminently excel.  
Thus you see my Text to be a Promise expressed by way of comparison, between the Last calling home of the People of GOD out of the NORTH, and their First coming up out of Egypt; Drowning the very Memory, and mention of this first mercy, in the great and wide Sea of that last loving kindness.  
I shall not spend that Time which I would be thrifty of, in any larger opening, or further dividing of the Words, but fall presently upon that Doctrine which I have designed from these words, for the groundwork to my present Discourse. The Doctrine is this.  
Doct. It is the way of GOD to make his last Mercies to his people better than the first. 
Doctrine.   
Reas. I shall give you one Argument from the Scriptures to prove it; which Argument shall be a Demonstration of 
Reason.  this Truth from the proper Reason of it.  
This Argument is made up of three parts, which all three laid together, make one full proof.  
1. Part. The great Design of GOD from the beginning, 
1. Part.  hath been, and still is, to bring forth JESUS CHRIST the second time into the midst of men, in that Spiritual and Heavenly Appearance, in which He now sitteth at the Right Hand of the Father: Our Saviour signifieth to his Disciples this grand Project of the Father. Ioh. 6. verse 62. What, and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up, where he was before? The Weight of the sense in this Scripture, lies upon those two words, See, Before. It is a frequent thing for that which is First in Being, Dignity, Design, to be Last in Discovery. That which GOD hath chiefly in Design all along, is the Manifestation of CHRIST to men at last in that Divine state, in which He was at the first.  
You have the same thing held forth, Ioh. 5. 23. It was said in the verse before, that All judgement was committed to the Son. The reason of it is given in this verse; that all men should Honour the Son, as they do the Father. Behold the Purpose, and counsel of God's Heart, why he doth All, that he doth; why he puts the great, and last judgement into the hands of the Son; namely, that the Son may appear to All Creatures in One, Spiritual, Eternal Glory with the Father.  
2. Part. All the Works of GOD are in order to this Design, 
2. Part.  this Discovery of Jesus CHRIST, Coloss. 1. v. 16. All things are said to be Created for Christ. In what sense is the whole Creation for Christ? Is it to make any Real Addition of blessedness, or Glory to the Person of Christ? This cannot be. For the Person of Christ was complete in Glory before any thing was made, that was made. Nay, when our Lord Jesus took flesh, and in our Nature ascended, was glorified; yet then was there no new Glory put upon Jesus Christ. For, as the human nature was assumed into the Personality, so was it into the Glory of the Son of GOD. It was taken up to subsist in one person, and shine in one glory with the Divine Nature.  
But how then was the World made for Christ? Our Divines answer it by that Distinction of Glorifying GOD essentially, and manifestatively. We say, that all the Creatures Glorifying of GOD is no more than a Manifestation of the Glory of GOD. So GOD in the Creation, in the conduct, and management of the affairs of the Creature, from the Beginning to the End, aims at this mark to manifest Jesus Christ at the end of time, in that glorious Appearance with which He was clothed before all times.  
3. Part. This design of GOD is his last end, the end of 
3. Part.  all his works. When GOD shall have brought forth th●…s Judgement, this Spiritual Discovery of JESUS CHRIST to perfection, to a full victory over all fleshly Appearances; then will he cease from all his works, and enter into this Discovery, as his Rest. When man begins his work, his End lies lowest, and lest appears: but as he goes on, and approacheth to the Finishing of his work, his End riseth up, and makes more clear Discoveries of itself. So it is with GOD, at the beginning of his works, this design, the Discovery of CHRIST, is Little, lies low, and hid But, as GOD goes on to work, and draws to a consummation of all things; this Discovery which was at first as a grain of mustardseed, hidden in the Earth, grows up, and spreads its self. This Manifestation of CHRIST was at the first Creation, as a small spring only, but a living one. From the Fall, to the Giving of the Law, th●…s Spring drives along upon the face of the Earth, thorough all manner of mixtures, a very weak store and strength of Waters. From thence it begins to make a channel to itself, and to run along in a fair stream. At the Incarnation, and Ascension of JESUS CHRIST this Stream enlarged itself into a Broad River. But our LORD shall come the Second time, then shall this River become a great, and wide Sea, covering the face of the whole Earth. Then shall the end be, when the first and fleshly discoveries of Christ shall empty themselves into his last, and spiritual Appearance.  
Now, if you please to lay together these three parts of the Reason, you will have from them all in consort, a full Harmony with, and a clear Demonstration of the Doctrine.  
If this be the design of GOD, to discover Christ in the Spirit; if all God's works, and mercies toward the Creature be in order to this Discovery; if this be the end, and the last of all God's ways; then it follows naturally from hence, that as this discovery grows, so likewise must all God's Works and Mercies to his people grow in the same Proportion; the later discoveries Brighter, the later works Better, and Greater than the former.  
There are two Uses, which I intend; and those are two Exhortations.  
1. Use. An Exhortation to us to be like GOD, to answer 
use 1.  his Blessings with our praises, in the same way and Method. As the pleasant Colours of the morning have a glorious burial in the clearer light of the Day: so is it the way of God to make former Mercies, which are in themselves very precious, yet to be but as thinner ears, as leaner kine to ensuing Mercies, and to be devoured of them, as the fuller, the fatter; contrary to that which was in Pharaoh's Dream. Accordingly my Text commands us to make it our way in our Praises, to wrap up, and overwhel me the memory of precedent favours, with the more joyful mention of succeeding ones; as in the Tabernacle, boards of Wood were hid under, and over-laid with Silver, or Gold. As the Moon ascendeth towards the midst of heaven, so doth the Sea rise, and swell; thus should our praises rise, as the Mercies of the LORD rise, to overflow their former Channels, and Banks.  
This is the Duty which is enjoined in my Text. It shall no more be said, the Lord liveth, that brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt, but the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the NORTH. This is the Duty, which is grounded on my Doctrine; It is the way of the Lord to make his last Mercies better than his first. If the LORD make former mercies in comparison with later ones, but as the footstool to the Throne, but as the tuning of the Instrument to some more excellent Melody: then is it also fit, that our praises for former mercies, in comparison with our Praises for later mercies, should be only as the lifting up of our Feet on the Footstool, in order to our sitting down upon the Throne; or as the tuning of our voices, to sing some Pleasant Song of our Beloved.  
Right Honourable! God hath given us the Former and the Later Rain of his Loving-k●…dnesses. With the Former Rain He preserved us, and cherished us, when we lay, as seed in the Dust of the Earth. Such a former Rain was our deliverance from the Papacy, by many signal providences and preservations, amongst which is this most eminent one of our Preservation from the Gun-powder-Treason, which we celebrate on this Day. But the LORD hath given us the Later Rain also; by which he hath made us to spring up out of the Dust into a Pleasant Garden; He hath made us as a Garden enclosed with the quickset hedge of his Divine wisdom, and Power, that no Wilde-Boar hath been able to break in upon us; He hath watered us with his own Foot, walking up and down in the midst of us, that our Beds and Plants are green. Let us now say with a loud voice of Thanksgivings, The Lord liveth, who hath brought us up from the Romish-Papaoy, which is Spiritually Egypt, by a mighty Deliverance, and manifold preservations, as this Glorious one of the immediate prevention of a dreadful Blow by gunpowder. But then let us say again with a louder Noise of praises, that may drown the former voice: The Lord liveth, who hath brought us up out of the Scotch Tyranny, and Scotch Presbytery, which came like a Tempest from the NORTH. As the husband and children of the Wise Matron say to her; Proverbs 31. verse 29. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all: so may England say now to the LORD; In many mercies, as especially that of saving us from this bloody design of the Egyptian Papacy, Thou hast done Graciously, and Wonderfully: but this last mercy, by which thou hast saved us from the Black plots, and bloody powers of the NORTHERN PRESBYTERY, hath excelled them all.  
Right Honourable! The seed of GOD in this Nation hath had two Capital Enemies, the Romish-Papacy; the Scotch-Presbytery. This Nation hath had a two fold Capital Deliverance from these Two Capital Enemies. Now, that we may rightly savour the sweetness of Both these Deliverances; that we may have a Taste of, nay feast ourselves upon that Good Word in my Doctrine, made Good to us in our Experiences, namely, the LORDS keeping the Best Wine for the Last; that we may answer my Text, and my 
Comparison of Scotch Presbytery and Romish Papacy.  Application, in bringing forth the Best Wine of our praises at the Last; and for the last mercies; I shall compare these Two Capital Enemies of Yours, each with other. My way of proceeding in this Comparison shall be first to show their Agreements: Secondly, those Differences, in which your last Enemy appears to be the Worse. This will let you see how much your last Mercies are the Best, and how much your Last Praises ought to be so too, in answer to your Last Mercies.  
Cautions. Right Honourable, and you Beloved, who 
Cautions.  hear me this Day, I entreat you all to take notice of the Cautions which I here interpose, before I enter upon this Comparison, that I may separate the vile among Principles, from the precious or innocent among principles, or persons. I profess not at all to speak against the form of Presbytery, if considered in its simplicity, in its virginity; as it is merely a way, and order, in which Saints have Communion with GOD, and each with other, according to their present light; as it kisseth the golden sceptre of the Spirit, submitting and subordinating itself unto the rule of that Spirit, being desirous of no more, no other power, authority, or esteem, than what that Spirit shall put upon it, by putting forth itself in it. Much less would I grieve, or cast contempt upon any little one among my father's Children, any honest, sanctified heart, that walks in that form of Presbytery, with humility and integrity, believing that so it ought to worship GOD. But that Presbytery, which I compare with the Papacy, is such, as appropriateth to the Outward Form, those things which pertain only to the Power of the Spirit: such as by virtue of an Outward, Church-form, assumes a Spiritual and Civil power to itself; such as out of the Golden cup of a glorious Profession, makes itself drunk with the wine of Fornications, with Earthly powers and interests; such as takes to itself the Iron Mace of fleshly force and fury, to break in pieces at pleasure commonwealths, crowns, Consciences, Estates, and Hearts of men. Right honourable, this is that Presbytery, on which those Enemies, whom the LORD hath last of all subdued before you, had founded, and built up that Interest and Strength, by which they opposed the Glorious outgoings of GOD before you, and endeavoured your ruin. This is that, which I call the Scotch-Presbytery, and now compare with the Romish-Papacy.  
1. The Comparison is first to be made in those things 
1. Agreem.  which I call Agreements between them, and these are Six.  
1. Agreement, Both join in setting up the Scriptures, the Word of God outwardly expressed, as the Letter of that Law, by which all things of Christianity and Religion are to be judged. So Scotus himself teacheth in his Preface to his Disputes upon the Sentences, that Religion must be grounded upon a Revelation. In this, not only the Romish-Papist, and Scotch-Presbyter, but all who pretend with any face to any thing of GOD, or CHRIST, do concur. But there are two things in a Revelation. There is Lex Revelata: and Lumen Revelationis, that is, the Law Revealed, and the Light of Revelation. One is the Subject, or Master: but the other is the form, the Life, the Essence of a Revelation. Now these Two Parties meet in this, to magnify the first of these, the Law Revealed. This they make the foundation of their Throne, the sceptre of their Government, which as taken singly by itself, is but a breathless carcase, or a Dead Letter. Herein a Living Member of Jesus CHRIST is in this Point distinguished from all other●…. He receiveth; owns, bows down to the Law revealed upon this account, because it comes down from Heaven into his heart in a Light of Divine Revelation  
2. Agreement. These two of whom we speak, do Both asse●… a visible judge on Earth, upon whom all Particular Persons are to depend for the Determining of those two Grand Questions; First, what is Scripture; Secondly, what the sense of that Scripture is. The Romanists say, that this judge is the Pope, or an ecumenical council. The Scotch Presbyter is for a national Assembly, or rather an ecumenical Assembly, if the Civil Government would bear it. This Presbyter condemns the Papist justly, because he suffereth not the people to read the Scriptures in their own Tongue. But who art thou, O man, who condemnest another, and dost thyself the same thing, while thou forbiddest private persons to read the Scriptures with their own Eyes? Thou confinest them to Spectacles of the Assemblies making, while thou permittest the Reading, but prohibitest the Interpreting of the Spriptures according to that sense, which the Holy Spirit brings forth to every man in his own spirit, if it be not stumped for Currant by the Spirit of the general Assembly. Why dost thou judge the Papist for exalting unwritten Traditions to an equal Authority with the Scriptures, when thy way maketh the Scripture itself, in the Letter and Meaning of it, a Tradition of the Elders?  
3. Agreement. Both these Sects have a very great jealousy over the Spirit of GOD. As the Pharisees said concerning 
3. Agreem.  Jesus CHRIST, Joh. 11 48 If we let this man alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans shall come, and take away both our place, and Nation: So say these two, the Romish, and Scotch Principles in the hearts of men: If we yield to this, to let the Spirit alone, and to suffer all men to believe on the Holy Ghost, as the only witness and evidence of Divine Truth: if we give way to this, as sound doctrine, that it is the proper office of the Third Person, the Spirit, and of him alone, to Apply Truth Authoritatively, as it is of the second Person to Act, of the first Person to Decree: that it belongs to this Spirit alone, authoritatively to testify in the spirits of Men, what those words are which himself hath taught, what the meaning of the Spirit is in those words: if this be once granted, that nothing is to be received, as Divine Truth, but that which brings an Epistle of Commendations along with it, written by this finger of the Living GOD upon the Heart, then farewell all Religion; all manner of Sects, Heresies, heathenism will break in upon us, and take away the very face of a Church from amongst us. It is said of JESUS CHRIST, that He was numbered among transgressors in his death. Such usage as our Saviour himself found on Earth from Pilate, and the Priests; such doth his Spirit find to this day from the Papacy, and that Presbytery of which we speak. The Holy Ghost, as he appears and gives forth his Oracles in his Temples, which are his Saints, is numbered among Whimsies, Fancies, fanatic Furies, enthusiasms, and so is condemned, is suppressed.  
4. Agreement. A watchful Opposition to all Growths 
4. Agreem.  of Truth, above the pitch and stature of Opinions commonly received. Nothing is accounted so dangerous in things pertaining to the Gospel, as Innovation; although S. Paul command us still, to be transformed in the Renewing of our minds, that we may prove what the good and acceptable will of GOD is; and this to Saints already converted, as a continual duty, in which they are ever to be exercising themselves, that they may have new minds to day in comparison with those which they had yesterday, and new minds again tomorrow, in comparison with their minds to day; yet the same Jesus, yesterday, to day, and for ever. As in some places of the River Thames, you have wires set up quite cross the River, and basket nets laid in those wires, to catch those lampreys that come swimming up against the stream: so both in papacy, and in Rigid presbytery, all Constitutions, Methods, frames of Doctrine, and Discipline, seem to be as wires with nets in them, set cross the whole stream of civil and Religious conversation, to catch every discovery of Christ, every manifestation of the Gospel, which comes up against the present Tide, the general Current of Principles and Positions. They labour, as to hedge in the Wind, to bind up the sweet influences of the Spirit, they will not suffer it to blow where it lists, because they know not whence it comes, or whither it goes.  
5. Agreement, in Annexing the Spirit to outward Formalities. 
5. Agreem.  Like Simon Magus, Both seem to believe, that the Gifts, and ministry of the Spirit, may be purchased by the Coin of Education, Parts, Moral honesty, formal Qualifications, Ceremonious Observations of outward Rites. So is their way laid, so are all their practices managed, as if by a kind of Simoniacal magic, that power which alone can awe or secure us from the devil, were shut up within the circle of their custemary, and solemn Forms. when the LORD saith, Neither on this Mountain, nor in Jerusalem, but in spirit and truth shall all men worship the Father: Yea, say they, but spirit and truth dispense themselves within the Jerusalem of this Church-order, on the Mountain of these ritual observations, these consecrated forms.  
6. Agreement in making Religion a Rise to Civil Pomp 
6. Agreem.  and Power. JESUS CHRIST saith, My Kingdom is not of this world. But say these two Factions, Our Kingdom is over this world. We rule in Earthly things, by an Earthly strength, though not from an Earthly Title. The Heavenly power of the Spirit is the sceptre in our Hand: but the fleshly power of the Magistrate, is the sword in the Hand of our Minister, and Guard, which is to be subordinate to our sceptre. By this means they bring all manner of civil affairs within the compass of their Cognisance, by virtue of their spiritual judicatories: they dispose of Governments, Nations, Crowns, by virtue of their ecclesiastic censures. As the Pope baited Queen Elizabeth with his bull, and gave away the Kingdom of England to the King of Spain; so did the Presbytery in Scotland now judge, condemn the Present Government set over us by the glorious might of Divine Power, and give away this Nation to their Scots King.  
I have done with the Agreements of these two; I come now to compare them in their Differences; and that only those, in which the later Enemy appears worse than the former, that so the former Mercy may be made the sweeter to us, in being exceeded and swallowed up by this later deliverance, as a stream running into a greater river.  
The Differences between these two Enemies are four.  
1. Difference. Our first enemies pleased not GOD, but 
1. Differ.  yet were agreeable to men in their ways. Being false to a divine, and spiritual interest, they are true to principles of human policy. Being severe in the imposall of superstitious rites, and those principles which descend immediately into the practice of such rites; they take, and give a large scope to the understanding and affections in generous contemplations, in mystical divinity. Wanting that bread of heaven, that new wine of the Kingdom, the beauties and sweetnesses of GOD in the Spirit, which should feast the inward man; they entertain the fancy, and senses, with all objects suitable to them, with a pretence of a subserviency to devotion, as in the Temple of old.  
On the other side, our last enemies please not God, and are contrary to all men. These contemn the Spirit, and its Impressions upon the heart, when they are set up for Pillars of fire to go before us in this dark night of flesh, as enthusiasms. At the same time they condemn human policy, as profane. They check the delights of sense and fancy, as vain; rejecting also the openings of the glory of Christ, the mutual interviews, walks, embraces, kisses between God and the Soul, in the Spirit, as whimsical.  
It is necessary for me here to profess, that I have no meaning to justify the sensualities of the Papacy in its religion, while by pretending these things as spiritual enlightenings, spiritual warmings; they intend them for a veil upon the Spirit. There is no such way to draw us up to the glory of Christ, as by his cross, to which the pleasing, and heightening of the flesh, for the most part, carries a very great enmity. Therefore do I not desire to cast any dif-esteem upon a severity towards the outward man, even to the enslaving of it, to the beating of it black and blue, as Saint Paul used it, so this be not to the puffing up of the fleshly mind. But my justification, or Condemnation of these things is, as they stand in the comparison between these two parties, and as they may stand upon the root of the same Principle or Spirit in each party. Upon this account, as Samuel was by Witchcraft raised out of his grave, to appear before Saul, with his mantle upon him: So both these, the Romish Papacy, the scottish-presbytery, as it hath been formerly stated by me, appear like the Ghost of Judaism raised from the dead by that Witch of Endor, the fl●…shly principle dressed up in the form of Christianity. But there is this difference; The former is the Ghost of Judaism clothed with the Mantle which it wore in its life time, appearing in the same outward pomp, with the same delicious pleasures of pictures, music, Perfumes, &c. as of old. But the later is Judaism undressed, like an apparition in chains, or Lazarus when he came forth from the grave with the grave clothes bound about him.  
2. Difference. Our Southern enemies are richer: our Northern ones poorer. Prov. 28. 3. A poor man that oppresseth 
2. Differ.  the poor, is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. A legal Spirit having not the seed of GOD, which is CHRIST, at the bottom of it is the poorest, the proudest, the cruelest of all Spirits. Let not this at all discourage any poor soul, which under a legal dispensation waits for Christ. It is spoken only of the proud, poor ones; not of the poor ones oppressed under a sense of divine wrath, but oppressing with the fury of a carnal rage. These poor ones, when they prevail, are even to those other poor and meek ones, as a Ho●…sl●…ech, as a Barren womb, as the grave, ever devouring, never satisfied. The legal Spirit standing in opposition to the Spirit of Christ, is the barrenest of all wombs, the cruelest grave.  
3. Difference. The Scotch presbytery hath the purest form, and in respect to the outward form, is a good, and 
3. Differ.  great degree of reformation from the Papacy, both in respect to discipline and doctrine, as to the letter. Now who knows not, that the corruption of the best things is the worst of all corruptions? Naturalists say, that the Marrow of a man, in which his strength lies, the Brain of a man, in which his wisdom is seated, by Putrefaction in death, generates oft times a Serpent. In like manner, the exactest Image of that Heavenly Man Jesus Christ, if for want of the quickening Spirit it corrupt, converts its highest excellency, the strength and wisdom of the letter, to the enmity of the serpent against that Spirit, which is the Heavenly man himself.  
The most implacable hatred is in the nearest competition. The falling out of brethren is as walls and bar●…es. The son of the bondwoman is he, who stirs up the most frequent, and fiery persecutions against the son of the freewoman. It is the son of the freewoman alone, who darkneth the glory of his Brother Ishmael, who puts in between him and the inheritance, who carries away the love of the Father from him. If the spiritual seed were out of the way, the Jew in the letter, the legal professor were the only Saint; neither would there be any, that could step into Heaven before him. If therefore the spiritual seed be not sown in the heart of this Jew, he still cries concerning him who is born after the Spirit; Let us stay him. When the single devil had left the house in the Parable, he returned to it 
Matth. 12. 44.  again, finding it swept and garnished, but empty of that heavenly Man that should inhabit it, he reenters into it, and takes with him seven devils more. The Scotch Presbytery is a house, which the evil spirit of Papacy had left, a house swept clean from the filth of profaneness, garnished with the beautiful things of the letter, far beyond the Papacy: my Prayer is, that being uninhabited by the Lord Jesus, there be not found the more devils in it, besides the reentry of the first-divel, as to his inward principles, though in a more specious form.  
4. Difference. The Popish plot by gunpowder would have taken away our governors only, and those, as they 
4. Differ.  sat on that old seat, in that old form of government which had framed those Laws, which had shed the blood of so many Saints by martyrdom, which had laid so many bonds upon the Gospel. But this Zeal-Plot, laid more deeply, more dangerously than the Powder-plot, even in the hearts of our Brethren, which dwelled in the midst of us; this aimed at the ruin of governors, Government, People, and all, by an Army made up of Highlanders, who never knew Christianity or Civility; whose rage would have blown up, have torn in pieces all before it with a greater fury, than that of gunpowder. All this was intended upon this Government, as it came forth new washed in the blood of many precious Persons, who sought it with the loss of their lives; as it was busy in taking away the lives of those laws, which had shed the blood of the Saints, and in taking off all bonds from the Gospel, that it might run freely, and be glorified. That former Treason was against an old power, founded upon old principles, concerning which (as once before the destruction of Jerusalem a voice was heard, which was the voice of Angels, (as is supposed) saying, Let us be gone from hence;) so the voice of Good men, Good Angels, God himself was heard, saying, Let us be gone. But this later Conspiracy, was against a new power, built upon new principles, concerning which (if I do not deceive myself, and I comfortably hope, that I do not deceive myself) I have heard in my spirit the voice of Jesus Christ, and his Spouse, with the Angels attending, speaking after this manner one to another: Let us make our abode here. Let us go forth into these fields, to see how the figtree 
Cant. 7. 11, 1●…  puts forth its green figs, and the vine her tender grapes. Here will we give one another our loves.  
Thus, Right Honourable! you have seen your two enemies compared. You see how much the later exceeds the former in enmity, opportunity, design. I shall now compare the manner of your deliverances in two things, and so conclude this Use.  
1. In the powder plot, all was ready, brought within a very few hours of execution, the train laid, the Match lighted: yet all vanished without giving any blow, or making any noise. In the Scotch plot, long and mighty preparations were made, a great Army formed, every thing brought to maturity, and ripe for action; the design itself put fur into motion, like a Granado shot up, and falling into the very midst of us. Yet these Preparations Armies, Actions, scatter in a moment, like a Mist. The way of the Papacy, and of the presbytery in both these attempts against us, hath been, through the Blessing of our God, like the way of a serpent upon a stone, rising up out of his nest in the Earth, sliding back into his first darkness, and leaving no tract, or impression behind him.  
Secondly, The LORD first delivered us from the Romish Papacy by a Child, Edward the sixth. But this proved like the Flower, a fading Mercy. When we were relapsed into Popery, we were again raised out of it by the Hand of a Woman, Queen Elizabeth. We had been of late retrived, and brought back under the Power of the same Principles, clothing themselves with the New Garment of Presbytery, if that our God had not again delivered us by those of the New model, who were in scorn, esteemed as Children, in the Eye of flesh; who in simplicity behaved themselves, 
Prov. 30. 19  as Children, to GOD.  
Right Honourable! I humbly beseech you, whose Hearts, Heads, Hands, as Saints, Counsellors, soldiers, the LORD Jesus hath made use of to bring great things to pass; do not (I persuade myself, that you do not) think it your dispa, but your Glory rather, to be accounted, as children, and women, in these Mighty Works: as children, who have been led all along in the Hand of their Father, who have been altogether guided by His Eye; as Women, who have had a Covering upon your Heads, a veil upon your wisdoms, your worths, that Jesus Christ alone may be seen as your Head, the Power, of GOD, the wisdom of GOD to 
1 Cor. 11. 7.  you, the Glory upon you. If this also prove not a fading mercy; as GOD hath founded his Praise, and our Peace; so will he also perfect it in the Mouths, by the Hands of Babes 
Psal. 8. 2.  and Sucklings, such as shall hang wholly upon the breasts of His Consolations, and draw in for nourishment, only the sincere and unmixed milk of the immortal Word.  
But to finish this Use. Right Honourable! Hath the LORD made former mercies as seed, out of which Later Mercies have sprung up as the Ripe fruit? O then, let our present Praises, and Graces, be to those of Former Seasons, as Ripe fruit to the seed. Let them not still be in the Earth of a fleshly Manifestation; but let them come up to a Maturity, a Spirituality. Former mercies stand in the brightness of our later mercies, as the Moon in the Light of the Sun. They have no glory by reason of that Glory which excels. If the holiness, the rejoicing, of your Former Thanksgivings have been as the Moon, legal, literal: let the holiness, the joy of your present Thank●…givings shine out, as the Sun, having an Evangelical, a spiritual Glory in the face of them. Doth our GOD come forth in New ways to save us, and shall we serve him still in the Old way? Let us also lay aside the oldness of the Letter, and answer him again with the newness of the Spirit. Let us sing to him the New song of Moses, and the Lamb; now that he pipes to us the New Tunes of more Transcendent, more spiritual, more Heavenly salvations.  
2. Use. A second Exhortation. It is the way of the 
2. Use.  LORD to make his Last Mercies better than the Former: The Present Salvations of our GOD in the midst of us have exceeded all, that ever were to this day. Let us raise up our expectations, Let us lift up the Eyes of our Spirits unto Loving kindnesses, which shall be yet much more glorious than these, which are at this present come down from Heaven upon us in so Glorious a manner. If we have seen Great things, which we could not have believed, now, that the LORD hath brought us up out of Egypt: what Wonders, what Glory shall our eyes behold, when the Lord shall bring up his People out of the NORTH.  
For the more clear prosecution of this Use, and explication of my intent in it, I must propound, and answer, Four Questions. First, What is signified by Egypt, as to the Jews. Secondly, What by the NORTH. Thirdly, what by Egypt to Christians. Fourthly, What by the NORTH.  
1. Question. What is signified by Egypt to the Jews, 
1. Question  and what by their being brought up out of it?  
Ans. This is plain in the Letter of the Scriptures, and 
Answer.  needeth no answer, to those who have read Moses, and his Book of Exodus.  
2. Question. What is meant by the NORTH, as to 
2. Question  the children of Israel?  
Answer. Babylon stood NORTH to the Holyland, and 
Answer.  the Return from the Captivity at the end of the seventy years, was a Bringing up of the People of GOD from the NORTH. But that cannot be the Meaning here, for Three Reasons.  
1. Reas. The Return from Babylon was not with such an 
1. Reason  outstretched Arm, with such a Glory of Miracles, of the Divine Presence, it was not to such a Rest, as the coming up out of Egypt had been.  
2. Reas. The Children of Israel were not all brought 
2. Reason  back from the NORTH at that time; only Two Tribes, and these but in part.  
3. Reason, My Text joins with the bringing up of Israel 
3. Reason  from the NORTH, the bringing of them from all places into which they have been scattered, which was never yet done. These two universalities of the Promise, for all Israel, and from all places, remain unaccomplished to this day.  
When GOD brought up Israel his son out of Egypt, He planted him, as a vineyard, with a legal Dispensation, with fleshly Ordinances, a Tabernacle, a Temple, a worship, a Presence, a Glory, appertaining to these. But Jeshurun waxed fat with these fleshly worships. He kicked the Heel against his Master that fed him, his Father that brought him up. He set up the Temple above the LORD of the Temple: he holds up the Ordinances against him, when he came, who was Greater than the Ordinances, and the End of them all. Then did God thunder from Heaven against his Holy Things, and consume them with his Lightnings, Then did he scatter Israel into a Dispersion, a Desolation, where he wanders, abides shut up, without Priest, or Teraphim, even until now.  
When the Nation of the Jews was taken away, Christians in the Letter immediately succeed into their place. They 
Rom. 11. 17, 18  sit down at a Table of fleshly Ordinances. They also are in▪ snared by their Table. Their Hearts grow fat, their Eyes 
Rom. 11. 9  are closed up with flesh. They see not to the End of the Letter, and therefore cannot own the Lord, that Spirit, 
2 Cor. 3. 13. &c.  when He comes to those who are under the Letter, as to his own, Christians succeeding the Jews in Ordinances, in Idolizings of the Letter, in rejection of the Lord, the life of the letter, for, the leter's sake, succeed them also in their desolations, dispersions; and shall at last accompany them in their return to their everlasting rest. 
Rom. 11. 12.   
3. Question. What Egypt signifies in the state of Christianity? 
3. Question   
Answer, Egypt is Sodom, the Mother of fornications, and Witchcraft. Antichrist is Egypt, and Sodom Spiritually; 
Answer. Rev. 11. 8.  as Jesus Christ is Goshen and Canaan, the land of light, of rest. There are many Antichrists, but two principle ones:  

1. The Anti-christ to the letter.  
2. The Anti-christ in the letter to the Spirit.   
1. The Anti-christ to the letter. This is like the Samaritans of old, a spirit of Heathenism, and profaneness 
1. Anti-  bringing forth itself into a loose profession of Christianity, that it may oppose itself to the purity of holiness, according ●…o the letter, and perseeute Jesus Christ in the fleshly mani●…estations of himself, This is that spiritual Egypt, which will not suffer the people of God to go forth three dayes●…ourney into the wilderness, to worship on Mount Sinai, 〈◊〉 the outward purity of ordinances, and legal cleansings of ●…e flesh.  
2. The Anti-christ in the letter to the Spirit, through 
2. Antichrist.  an anointing in the flesh with many heavenly gifts, unto the illumination and sanctification of the flesh, unto tastes of, touches of a spiritual, a Heavenly sweetness and power, 
Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6.  becometh an enemy to the Heavenly substance, to Jesus Christ, as he is a quickening Spirit. This is that spiritual Egypt, which will not suffer the people of God to go forth free from Mount Sinai, three days' journey further through the wilderness, through the death of Christ, to worship on Mount Zion.  
This is the Abomination of desolation set up in the Holy Place, or where it ought not to be, of which JESUS CHRIST 
Matt. 24. 15. Mark 13. 14.  speaketh. It is the ordinary phrase of Scripture to call an Idol, an Abomination. Now this is the setting up of an Idol, where it ought not to be, even in the Holy place: The spiritual whore clothes herself with the ordinances of Christ; she washes and baths herself in the letter of the Scriptures, until her flesh shine with the exact purity of an outward holiness; she perfumes herself with the sweet savours of the ointments of the spirit, decks herself with the fleshly manifestations of the Heavenly Bridegroom, as with Jewels. When she hath done all this, she shows herself for the Jerusalem above, the true Mother of all the Saints; she persecutes the freewoman out of the world into the wilderness, that she may with the more ease and quiet pass for her. The lovers of this whore, cry up the glory of Christ in the flesh, his ordinances, his outward word his appearances to, his impressions on the earthly man, fo●… a pretence, that they may cry down Jesus Christ, as h●…comes in the glory of the Father, as he is the new and he●…venly man.  
This is the Highest Abomination, being thus set up in t●…holie Place, in the Sanctuary itself, to maintain an opp●…sition to the invisible glory of the most Holy Place, whi●… is within the veil.  
As this is that highest Abomination, so it brings t●… greatest desolation along with it. It makes desolate that h●…ly Place, those holy things, in which it is set up: Ordinances, Qualifications, Manifestations, the Flesh of CHRIST, the letter of the Scriptures; it scatters the flock of CHRIST one from another into the wilderness; it brings the death of JESUS CHRIST, as a sign, upon them; it drives them out into a Cold, Frozen, Barren, Dark, Desolate state, as into the Corners of the NORTH.  
Right Honourable! Twice have those Two spiritual Egypt's, when you have been carried forth from the midst of them with a mighty Arm, followed you with Mighty Hosts, to bring you back again into a Land of darkness, and House of Bondage. Twice hath the LORD overwhelmed them in the Red Sea of their own Blood.  
Two several Quarrels have you had with these two Egypt's. Your first quarrel with the one was for the Purity of the Letter, and Ordinances, against a Spirit of profaneness, and Superstition. Your second quarrel with the other was for the freedom of the Spirit in his holy, his heavenly Outgoings goings before you, both as to Religion, and civil Rule, against the Letter and Ordinances, perversely opposed to the Spirit, which is the Light, Life, Truth, End of both.  
Two several Testimonies hath the LORD given on your side against your Enemies in these two quarrels: as for your Enemies, He hath made them as Dust before the wind, the Angel of the Lord driving them. But these Two times he hath appeared to you, as he did to Solomon; he hath spoken 
1 King. 11. 9  Peace to you his chosen ones. And what hath the LORD spoken to you, when he hath spoken Peace? even this, that his chosen ones return no more to folly; that you no more 
P●…  have any thoughts of Going down again into Egypt, lest you go a-whoring from the living GOD, the eternal Spirit, and forsakethe Guide of this your Youth.  
Right Honourable! Balaam was a Prophet, he was the man, whose eyes were opened, who saw the visions of GOD: 
Num 24. 3, 4.  But he prophesied for the hire of a fleshly Interest. This Balaam hath assayed from several places, to curse the Armies 
Mic. 3 11.  of Israel in the midst of you. But no enchantment hath been against you, while you have walked as Jacob, a Plain man, in the simplicity of the spirit, though a supplanter of his brother Edom. There hath been no Divination against you, while as Israel, Princes with GOD, you have wrestled with GOD, and so prevailed over your Enemies.  
Right Honourable! I do now with bowels tenderly Earning, with a heart bleeding over your precious lives, and this whole commonwealth, how the Knees of my spirit to the GOD of Israel for you; I do earnestly warn and entreat every one of you; that, as this Balaam hath not been able to hurt you by his open curses, so he may not by his close wiles and fair-tongued flatteries, draw you to feast on the Moabitish Dainties, look on the Moabitish Beauties, bow 
Revel. 2. 14.  down to the Moabitish Idols of fleshly Excellencies, and enjoyments. I speak to you, as to wise Men. Why should you fall for your fornications, many thousands of you by the Plague in this wilderness? 
1 Cor. 10. 8. 3. Quest.   
3. Question. What the Coming up out of the NORTH means.  
Answer. You have a full description of this in the prophecy 
Ans. Ezek. 1.  of Ezekiel. As the several prophecies in the Revelation have prefixed to them several Appearances of Jesus Christ, as the Mark at which 〈◊〉 prophecy aims, and as the 
Rev. 11. 12. and 4. 2. 12. 1.  Scene, or Face of things, which the predictions in each prophecy are to usher into the world: so Ezekiel in the Beginning of his Book presents us with a vision Dreadfully Glorious, in which JESUS CHRIST is discovered, as he comes with his people from the NORTH, that this vision may be a Light to all the following prophecies.  
This first Chapter of Ezekiel hath many things to be said of it, which are hard to be expressed, and much more hard to be understood. But I will not trouble you with any of those Mysteries, which require senses well exercised on invisible things. I shall only set before you several particulars, which offer themselves to every Eye, and fall with ease upon every understanding.  
1. The whole Object, which shows itself to the Prophet, is called, the Glory of the Lord; verse 28. This expression imports as much, as the Court of a King, where he is in state, in Glory. The Jews call this vision, the Chariot, alluding to that in the Psalmist, of GOD riding upon the cherubin, 
Psal. 8. 10.  contrary to the figure in the most holy Place where GOD is said to dwell between the Cherubims in respect to the Ark, 
1 Sam. 4. 4. Exod. 25 17.  and the Mercy seat▪ which was under the Covering of the Wings of those angelical Creatures.  
2. He who rides in this Chariot is a Man upon a Throne. This Man is our LORD JESUS in his Heavenly Man, in the Person of a mediator. The Word Amber is so interpreted by very learned Divines, as to represent the Godhead 
Chashmal.  in its Majesty, together with the Humanity, overspread by the Bright Beams of the Divine Nature. This Man appears also in the full Image of the Ever-Blessed Trinity. The fire clothing him from the Loins upward, from the Loins downward, shadows out the Father. The Image itself, the Appearance of a man in the fire, represents the Son. The brightness round about, like a Rainbow, typifies the Holy Ghost breathed forth from the Father, and the Son, the Union of both circling them in as in mutual Embraces; verse 26. and 27.  
3. This man hath a firmament under his Feet, Behold here the Pavement of the Chariot, if I may so speak. This firmament 
2 Cor. 12. 2,  is the third heavens, where Jesus Christ is, where Paradise is, whither Saint Paul was rapt. These are the Lord's own Heavens which the Lord bows, and upon which He descends, when he comes down, according to the Prophet. 
Psal. 14●…  This is that Pavement which the Elders of Israel saw under the Feet of the God of Israel. That was represented 
Exod. 24. 10.  by sapphire; so is this here, vers. 26.  
4. Four living Creatures stand under this firmament, and draw this Chariot, verse 26. They sparkled like burnished brass, verse 7. They were as burning coals of fire, and as Lamps, verse 13. See here the horses in the coach, which are the Elect Angels, the second heavens, the holy Powers, and high Principles, or Principalities, in the secret of the Invisible part of this Creation. These have their Proper forms, as Angels, verse 4. They have all one common form of a Man, verse 5. which is the Divine Image of our glorified Saviour, in which everyone of them possesseth his own distinct-image, to show them to be the Angels of Jesus Christ. Such is the Majesty of God riding upon the Cherubims, as his horses, who have the heavenly image of their glorious Rider himself, as trappings cover them all over.  
5. The wheels to this Chariot are, the visible Part of this Creation, as it is restored, and made new by Jesus Christ. The word translated wheels, signifies very properly globes, round globes, such as the round world of these Heavens, and Earth, which our eyes behold.  
6. One Divine life acts this whole piece of Glory, from the Man upon the Firmament, to the wheels, which stand by the Living Creatures. That fire which is a Robe of Glory upon the Man, verse 27. That is the spirit of Life, which goes up and down in the midst of the living Creatures, verse 13. This Spirit of the Living Creatures is in the wheels also, enlivening, and acting them, ver. 20.  
7. This flaming Chariot comes forth from the midst of a whirlwind, and a great cloud, and a fire, v. 4.  
8. This sweeping, Devouring Tempest comes from the NORTH, v. 4.  
These are the Particular Notes upon this chapter, which I have collected out of it unto this End, to found upon these Notes, three Observations.  
1. Observation. When the Lord brings his People out of 
1 Observat.  the NORTH, he comes in a tempest of a whirlwind, a Great cloud, and of fire. He comes to bring Desolation upon the Holy city, the Jerusalem which now is. He comes, 
Ezek. 43. 3.  as a whirlwind, to shake dreadfully the whole Earth. He comes, in a cloud to bring darkness, Trouble, Confusion upon the Spirits of all mankind. He comes as a fire, to burn upon all flesh, till he have quite consumed it. When He ariseth, to raise His Spouse from under the Power of his Death, which is the scattering of his People among the Nations, and under the rage of Anti-christ, who sits in the sides of the NORTH, driving his people into the wilderness of the Nations: 
Isa. 14. 13.  then will our Lord Jesus after this manner take vengeance of all the Nations among which they have been scattered, and bewildered.  
2. Observation. Jesus Christ, as He is the Glory of God, comes riding in the midst of this whirlwind, cloud, and fire. 
2 Observat.  He taketh up his Saints also, whose Hearts are upright with the Father, as his heart is, into His Chariot. They also, though in their flesh they melt away with the servant heat of this fire; yet in their spiritual Man they come riding on upon the Third Heavens together with their King. The Lord my God thus comes, and all the Saints with thee. While 
Zach. 14. 5.  a cloud of darkness covers the whole World, you, O ye Brethren of the Great King, sit in the secret of this darkness, upon a Th●…one of Light; you l●…e in the midst of this cloud upon a Bed of Love, in fellowship with your beloved Jesus Christ. While the Tempest tears up this Creation from the very Roots of it; you sit within it, as above it, as ruling it, as flying upon the Wings of it: you see a new Heaven, and a New earth in the midst of it, as in a womb, from which they together with yourselves are ready to spring forth. Fear not you, O ye meek ones, when the storm rageth most violently, they are the Swift motions of your Chariot-wheels, which now make haste, that raise this Storm. Fear not you, when the starry roof of the kingdom of this World, shall drop like melted Lead upon the Heads of the Inhabitants of it; when the Foundations of it, laid in the Dark parts of the Earth, shall be devoured by fire. While all this is working, you have the firmamen of the third heavens, the True Mercy-Seat for a Pavement under your feet.  
3. Observation. When Jesus Christ shall have sufficiently 
3 Observat.  avenged himself of his Enemies, then shall the whirlwind, cloud, and fire, altogether vanish in a moment, as by a Divine Appointment. The old heavens, and the old earth shall vanish in the midst of this storm. Then shall the Lord appear on his Chariot, and fill All. The bright Wheels, with their high and dreadful Rings full of eyes, shall shine out, as the New Earth of this visible frame, made all of One Precious stone, The Living Creatures, which draw those wheels; shall sparkle forth, as the New Heavens of the Elect, and Holy Angels, who are burnished brass in respect to their natural, angelical Glory; but flaming 
Ezek. 1. v. 7. v. 13. 2.  lamps, filled with the oil and fire of the Spirit, in respect to their New State in the Kingdom of Christ. But above the Heads of these, in that Day, shall discover themselves the Third heavens, which are that firmament, that expansion of Divine Glory. These Heavens shall be seen only, as a floor or Ground for the Throne, the New Jerusalem, the city of the Great King. Then shall the Heavenly man, and the Glorious Trinity standing each in other, God and Lamb, appear as the Temple in this heavenly Jerusalem. 
Rev. 21. 22.  In the midst of this Temple are seen all thy Saints, O GOD. Here they have their Mansions, as the Priests, and Levites had their Chambers round about in the Temple of old. Here they live continually with GOD, as Kings, and Priests, never to go forth more. From hence they extend the Line of their Divine Priesthood the sceptre of their Everlasting kingdom, all over the New heavens, and the New Earth. From hence they sow themselves over all things, as a seed; they grow up out of all things, as the fruit, of joy, glory, and immortality, O! who is there now among all the Saints, that can forbear to cry; Blow ye Whirl winds, fly ye clouds, thou fire make haste, and bring my Beloved: come thou, come quickly Lord Jesus.  
As surely as the Lord liveth, and hath of old brought up the Children of Israel out of Egypt; so surely will our Lord Jesus thus come, and bring his Saints with Him, out of the NORTH. But why do I say, that he shall come thus? Ezekiel saith in the last verse of his first chapter, that all this is but the likeness of the Appearance of the Glory of God. As much as Earthly similitudes fall short of heavenly things; as much as fleshly shadows and Types fall short of spiritual Substances, and Truths: so much doth all the Glory, that can be now expressed, or thought, fall short of the Glory of the Appearance of our heavenly bridegroom. All former glories shall be remembered no more for ever. A new, a New glory shall fill thine Eyes, thine ears, thy heart, O thou the lamb's Bride; even such a Glory, as thine Eyes never saw any Image of, thine Ears never heard any tidings of, thine Heart never took in any Degree of, until that Day.  
Right Honourable! I shall not conclude, until I have endeavoured to raise your joys, and your Praises yet higher by setting before you a Double interest, which (to say no more) you seem to have in This coming of the Lord Jesus with his people out of the NORTH. One is the interest of this commonwealth. The Other is the interest of this Age, and time of the World, in which you live.  
1. Interest. Of this commonwealth in the coming up of the People of GOD out of the NORTH. I shall take the 
1. Interest.  boldness here to Propound to you several considerations, which may be, all put together, the Ground of a Modest Hope to a Sober Christian, that the LORD JESUS intends that Honour to this Nation, that it shall be said to it first of all the Nations, concerning the heavenly bridegroom, that, he was born here; here he first of all appeared in an Eminent and signal Manner, to bring his People up out of a fleshly servitude, and Death, into a spiritual Glory, and Immortality.  
1. Consider. This is one of the Remotest Parts of the 
1. Consid.  world to the NORTH, whether the Rule of Jerusalem, and Rome, Christ, and Anti-christ hath extended itself. It is Master Brightman's observation in his Commentary upon the Revelations, that, Among the Seven Churches of Asia, 
Pergamut hath the NEW name Rev. 2. 17.  the Sun of righteousness after his withdrawings began to return from that Church which stood most NORTH, to make a Spring upon the Earth.  
2. Consid. I have heard it often observed by Judicious 
2. Consid.  Christians, who have traveled over Books, countries, and Spirits of men, that nowhere upon the face of the Earth do there appear to be any Number of hearts Spiritually Acquainted, Spiritually conversing with our Lord Jesus, in any Degree of Heavenly Purity, and Power, save in this Poor, small spot of Ground. This looks, as if Christianity, and Spirituality were driven hither, as to the Outmost Bound of the Habitable World, here to make a Stand, here to gather Head, from hence to reinforce itself upon the Nations.  
Let me add to this, that the Power of our Dear saviour's Death (so far as ever I could know or learn) lies with so much Sense of it, with such Gaspings under it upon no Spirits, which at this Day live in Flesh, as upon the Spirits of English Christians; though, alas! upon too too few of them. Now our Lord foretells us, that Where the carcase is, thither will the Eagles be gathered together: Matthow 24. 28. Where the most considerable Part of the Body of our Lord Jesus shall lie, most eminently moulded into a fellowship with him in his most Precious Death: there, upon that flesh will the Heavenly Appearances, the Divine powers, the immortal Glories of the Holy-Ghost, who is represented by Seven Spirits, for the variety of His Powers and Appearances, first, and most Eminently alight, as Eagles upon the carcase.  
3 Consideration. The Dispensations of God in spiritual 
3 Consid.  privileges have been Peculiar to this Nation in many things, as to a Beloved, a First-born child; The First King that became Christian, reigned in this Land. The First Emperor, 
Lu●…ius A. C. 170. Constantine he Great. A. C. 270. born in Britain of Constantius and Helen, daughter to Coil Duke of Colchester.  by whom Jesus Christ with his Saints came up out of the fires of Heathenish Persecutions, and appeared upon the Throne, came from hence, was born here. Wickliff, that daybreak of Evangel call Light, from whom the First Glympses of Truth, and Christ appeared to the World, lying in the deepest Night of Anti-christian darkness, He dawned from this Quarter of the Heavens. He was borne an Englishman, lived fruitfully, died Peaceably in London. From him did the Gospel shine forth upon the Bohemians, and so upon that Blessed pair of Martyrs, Hierom, and Hu●…, who prophesied of Luther, the Morning star. I cannot pass over in silence, that Darling of Jesus Christ's, Edward the sixth, a child, a King, a Saint, all three in one, He, as a forward Plant, though nipped in the Bud, yet was a Declaration, that Spring and Summer were coming.  
But how in these last times have the People of God in the midst of this Land been, as his Joseph among the Nations? Joseph hath been despised by his brethren, divided from his brethren, as an Ambitious dreame●…. Yet Joseph hath been like a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches have run over 
Gen. 49. v. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.  the Wall, for the goodwill of him who dwelled in the bush. Joseph is that bush, which burns with fire, yet hath not been consumed. The Archers sorely grieve him, and shoot at him, and hate him. But his how abideth in strength; his arms are made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. 
Deut. 23 v. 13. 14, 15, 16, 17.  From thence shall be the shepherd, the stone of Israel, the blessing upon his head unto the bounds of the Everlasting hills. His Glory is as the firstling of his bullock: his horns as the horns of an unicorn; with them he shall push the People together to the end of the Earth.  
If the blessings on the Tribes be Types of the last days, the days of the Messiah, I hope, I have not done amiss in transferring the things of Joseph, as a Figure to the Present 
Gen. 49. v. 1.  state of the Church in this Land. I formerly showed you, O my fellow-members, whose Lot is fallen in this Age, and island, your face in the glass of David's Story. These two seem to me parallel figures of yourselves. Both were drawn out of the Pit to be Princes. Both ruled in the midst of domestic, foreign Reproaches, and ruins. Both were blessed with the Precious things of Heaven, of Earth, of Sun and Moon, Grace and Nature; Flesh and Spirit. Yet both died in the Land of Egypt; in a state of Trouble. Both are happily succeeded by the fullness of Peace and Glory, David by Solomon: Joseph by Benjamin, brought forth by the death of his mother, the Jerusalem below: but the Son of the right hand of his heavenly father's righteousness, Power, and Majesty, of whom Moses sings, The beloved of the Lord shall 
Deut. 13. 12.  dwell in safety by him; the Lord shall cover him all the day long; he shall dwell between his shoulders.  
4. Consid. I have received from the Mouth of a Gentleman 
4. Consid:  of understanding, and integrity in his Testimony, a Discourse, which himself had from one of the most Learned among the Jews, at Venice, as I remember: that; A general Tradition divides the prophecies of the old Testament into unfixed; fixed. The fixed are such, as be determined to some certain Place. In the number of the fixed prophecies is that of Isaiah, chap. 24. and 13, 14, 15, 16. [When thus it shall be in the midst of the Land, among the People; there shall be as the shaking of an Olive Tree, as the Gleaning of Grapes, when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the Majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the SEA. Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires; the Name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the Sea. From the UTTERMOST Parts of the Earth, have we heard Songs, Glory to the Righteous.] The place, said he, on which this prophecy is fixed by the constant Reception of the Rabbins, is this I'll of Great Britain.  
I cannot but lay to these verses before cited, another verse out of the same chapter: verse 21. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the High Ones, on high: and the Kings of the Earth, on the earth. Of a truth, he that peruseth this whole chapter, and compares it with the first of Ezekiel, will find Both to speak of the same season and affair; with this Difference: isaiah is full in Desoribing the storm, Brief in the Glory: Ezekiel spends one verse only on the storm, all the chapter besides on the Glory. I appeal to those hearts who have a spiritual Eye opened in them, how far they see the Letter in both those chapters, answered by the life of the Letter acting itself forth on this land: how much they discover of Glory wrapped up in a storm, and ready to issue forth from it, as lightning from a cloud.  
2. Interest, of the Present times in the coming of the 
2 Interest.  children of GOD out of the NORTH. I shall here humbly offer to you three prophetic Scriptures, which seem to be contemporary and jointly to have their Proper influences on these days.  
1. The First Scripture is, Dan. 7. ver. 9, 10. and verse 22, and verse 26. The End of the Fourth Empire is here described in the vision, and in the Interpretation.  
2. The second Scripture is, Rev. 3. v. 14, &c. The Epistle to the seventh Church.  
3. The last Scripture is, Rev. 16. 10, & 13. The Opening of the fifth, and sixth Seal.  
These three Scriptures manifestly agree in four things.  

1. A Party judging.  
2. A Party judged.  
3. A Kingdom sinking.  
4. A Kingdom springing.   
1. A Party judging. Laodicea, the Name of the seventh Church, made by Master Brightman a Type of England, is compounded of two words; {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, which signifies the People of God in Greek, according to the most frequent use of it in the sacred Writings; {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, which signifies judgement. Both together represent the judgement of the people of God; or the people of God in judgement.  
How is this Laodicea interpreted by the Angels, that pour the fifth vial upon the Seat of the Beast, the sixth vial upon the River Euphrates, the Defence of the Great Babylon? These Angels are described, Rev. 15. ver. 6. The seven Angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues clothed with white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. As the seven Churches had their several Angels, Rev. 1. v. 1. so have several Dispensations of God to the Saints, whether they be at once or in Different seasons. Angels are the Ministers of the Divine dispensations, as they descend from the Spiritual unto the natural man of a Saint. These seven Angels pouring forth these vials, do upon this account denote seven dispensations, or Appearances of JESUS CHRIST coming forth from the secret of the spirit into an outward manifestation, through the flesh of the Members of Christ. These pour forth the vials of Wrath upon the children of Wrath, by the pouring forth of Grace upon their lips; as the LORD consumes the Man of sin by the brightness of his coming.  
But you have this Laodicea, these Angels from the Temple plainly discovered by Daniel, 7. 9 The Ancient of days did sit, whose garments was white as snow. Behold One in the same Raiment with the Angels of the Vials, ver. 22. Until the Ancient of days came, and judgement was given to the Saints of the most High, v 26. The judgement shall sit, and THEY shall take away, &c. Behold the Angels in white! Behold the judgement, and Judges in Laodicea! The Ancient of days coming forth, appearing in his Beloved. These are his judgement Seat, his judges. This is the sitting of the judgement.  
2. A Party judged. The sixth vial falls upon the River Euphrates, which encompasseth Babylon, mystery, the mother of fornications. Waters hold forth a Spirit, in which the flesh, or letter stands, lives, and flourisheth, as the Earth in the Waters. A River is a Spirit, either having the power, or putting on the form of Light, and Purity. Under the same Vial is made mention of the false Prophet, out of whose mouth, an unclean spirit, yet a spirit of miracles, goes forth. See the River, which defends the spiritual Egypt, and Sodom.  
Is not this false Prophet he, who would seem to be the River of Jordan, making glad the City of Laodicea with his pleasant stream; when he is as the dead Sea in the midst of her; who saith, I am rich, and want nothing; and knows not, that he is miserable, poor, blind and naked? This is he, 
Rev. 3. 14.  who falls in to uphold the Dragon, and the Beast, who summons all the Kings of the Earth to battle in this common Quarrel against the Saints.  
Is not this that very little horn, of which Daniel speaks, Dan. 7. vers. 8. There came up another little horn: and behold in this horn eyes, like the eyes of a man, (a show of divine Light, a plain character of the River Euphrates, the false Prophet) and a mouth speaking great things, that is, I am rich, and need nothing, This little horn, had a look more stout than his fellows; vers. 20. He makes war with the Saints; vers. 21. He speaks great words against the most High (GOD the Father, and our LORD JESUS, as he is in the most High, the most holy place of Spirit, and Truth above Flesh, above Types) he wears out the Saints, until this judgement sits, ver. 25. This is the party judged.  
3. The Kingdom sinking is the Seat, or Throne, as it is in Greek, of the Beast, filled with darkness, Revel. 16. vers. 10. The drying up of Euphrates by the Beams of a spiritual Glory; vers. 12. The battle of the great Day of God Almighty against all the Kings of the Earth; v. 14. The spuing of the false Prophet out of the mouth of Christ; Revel. 3. 16. The Thrones cast down, Dan. 7. vers. 9 The Beast slain for the great words, which the Horn spoke, vers. 11. The taking away of his Dominion, consuming, destroying it unto the end.  
4. The Kingdom springing is the everlasting dominion given to the Son of man by the Ancient of days, Dan. 7. vers. 13, 14. This everlasting Kingdom is given also to the Saints, who must reign together with their Saviour, vers. 27,  
Sweetly harmonious with this, is that pleasant melody in the ears of Laodicea. At the beginning of the Epistle our glorified Jesus is held forth to be, the beginning (the Head, the Principle) of the creation of God, the New, and eternal Dominion: Revel. 3. vers. 14. At the end of the Epistle, He promiseth his Saints, that they shall sit with Him in His Throne, as He sits down with his Father in his Throne. Thus the Ancient of days gives the Kingdom to the Son of man. The Son of man gives it to his Brethren. All Three reign each in other, are Thrones, and Kings, each to other.  
These are the Kings of the East, for whom way is made by the drying up of Euphrates, Revel. 16. vers. 12.  
These Kings from the East bring into my mind a place of Ezekiel, to which St John seems to relate, as pointing at the same Time, and Thing. It is chap. 43. vers. 2, 3. And behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the East and his voice was as the voice of many waters (the Kings of the East, which come with him) and the Earth shined with his glory. And it was according to the Vision which I saw, when I came to destroy the City; the vision that I saw by the River Chebar: vers. 4. The glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate, whose Prospect is to the East. Ezekiel in his first chapter saw the glory of the Lord come from the North with a dreadful tempest. He saw it come to destroy the City. He saw it: remove from the old temple, and City of fleshly Administrations. Here he sees it come from the East, with a most blessed Serenity and Sunshine, which clothes the whole Earth: he sees it enter into the New-built Temple, to take up Its rest there for ever.  
Remember, O Christians, to distinguish between these two comings of the LORD Jesus at the end of days: 1. From the North: 2. From the East.  
1. When your Saviour comes from the North, he comes upon his chariot, He comes in the glory of the Father, with all his holy Angels; Thus he comes unto your inward man. But he comes flying upon the wings of a whirlwind, Ezek. 1. 4. He comes upon wheels of Fires, with a flame of fire issuing forth from him: Dan. 7. 9 10. He comes with rebukes and chastenings; Rev. 3. 19 He comes as a thief in the Night, covering himself with a cloud, and thick darkness; He comes as a warrior to the battle of that great day: Revel. 16. v. 14, 15.  
This coming from the North is that hour of temptation upon the Whole Earth, which is threatened in the time of the Sixth Church; Rev. 3. 10. but falls out in the times of the Seventh Church; the fifth, and Sixth vials.  
Woe to you, Ye Glorious Hypocrites, who say, you want nothing, but indeed are Poor: who wear your Garments loosely about you. My Heart aketh for you. The LORD cometh upon you as a Thief in the Nigh, unawares, unseen, to steal your particoloured coverings from you, and dip them in Blood; to uncover your nakedness, and lay open your shame to every Eye.  
Alas for you, Ye daughters of Jerusalem! You who live under the Sabbath of a legal Dispensation; you who are big with child of the spiritual Seed, but have not yet 
Mat. 24. 19  brought forth That Spirit, which is born of the Spirit; You who have that spiritual Seed brought forth in you, but still feed it, as a Babe, with the Milk of carnal Administrations: you, with whom it is winter, whose Spiritual sap is sunk down into its Root, while you sleep: My bowels earn and sound within mefor you, Ye daughters of Jerusalem. How hard will your flight be from before the whirlwind from the NORTH? how great will your Amazement be, when your Eyes shall behold the Glory of the LORD to depart from off the Temple of Outward Administations, on which it hath long stood; nay to destroy both this Temple, and this Jerusalem? As for you, whether will you go for comfort, when the fiery Wheels, of my saviour's Chariot shall be brought over all your fleshly Excellencies, and Enjoyments? But be of Good cheer, These throws, this dissolution of the earthly mother, shall bring forth a heavenly manchild, into the World, in which she shall live again, and remember her Sorrow no more.  
This coming of your GOD from the NORTH, is as Joseph's Rule in the years of Famine; as David's reign in blood. It ushers in Benjamin's Glorious Rest, Solomon's Temple. It prepares the way for the Kings of the East.  
2. I should now speak of the coming from the East, But the time is not yet.  
If Master Brightman do not err in placing Laodicea on this Land, I hope I have not done much amiss in fixing on these times, that Church, the fifth, and sixth vial, the sitting of the judgement in Daniel, the coming from the North in Ezekiel, in my Text: For all these Scriptures seem to me to be manifestly parallel, and Contemporary.  
Blessed are we, who have lived to see this coming of the Glory of God from the NORTH. But blessed and happy are they, who shall live then, when this King of Kings, with his Race of Kings, shall come from the way of the East to go into the House of his Rest.  
In the mean time, this is thy comfort, O thou Sister-Spouse of the Lamb, He comes; Behold! he comes to thee in this stormy night, not as a Thief, but a Guest, a Bridegroom. Behold he stands at thy door, and knocks by all these loud noises. Open the door, let him in, he will set up his chariot in thine heart, he will come into thy spirit, he will sup with thee, feast with thee upon this glory, and jye with thee all this night.  
Object. Perhaps some will say; changes and expectations 
Object.  were as great in Luther's time, as now. Yet what hath the issue of all those things been but desolation?  
Answ. 1. What hath the issue of all those things been? 
Answ. 1.  Desolations on the Earth; but discoveries, increases of light upon the Saints, even unto this day. Luther had this honour to live to see his Doctrine received, publicly professed, established by many populous countries, and Cities, many great Provinces, and Princes, in Peace, for many years. There was peace all his days. Immediately after his death, the sa●…e or the very next year, that fire of War broke forth, which hath never been well quenched since that time.  
Answ. 2. Noah was a Preacher of righteousness. He 
Answ. 2.  prophesied of the Flood 120 years before it came. The like figure unto this doth Luther seem●… to be. He was the Preacher of justification, only by faith, by Christ, by the righteousness of God in Christ. He prophesied of a deluge of fire, while he often witnessed to the World, that Antichrist was to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming. This was 1520, or 30 after Christ. Compute from thence 120 years, the sum will amount to 1640, or 50, which falls upon the present season.  
The Flood came accordingly in the year from the Creation, 1656. How near is that year 1656 from Christ? Of what Eclipses, what dreadful signs in heaven above, in earth below, do we hear to come to pass in the years immediately preceding this?  
Tremble, O ye Inhabitants of the Earth, a flood of fire is coming upon all the World. The windows of heaven are already open, and begin to rain down streams of fire. The springs of the great deep are broken up, and send forth their flames,  
Ye meek Ones, enter into the Ark which your Saviour and you have been long making ready in your spirits, against this day when the flood should come. What is this Ark? Is it not the chariot of the Lord? the appearance of the glory of God, of your beloved Jesus in heavenly state, within you? Go in to this Ark, the Lord shall shut you in till the storm be past. Go up to this chariot, sit quietly there by the side of your Saviour, till that cloud break up, and show you in glory.  
But it is now time to conclude. Is it so? Is this then the Age? Is this the Land, in which our Lord Jesus ascends from the NORTH? Doth he now call up the clouds, and winds, to minister to him? Doth he now from hence begin, as a Bridegroom to come forth from his Chamber, as a Giant, or warrior refreshed with wine, to run his race, unto the ends of the Earth? Speak, ye Virgins▪ who are not fall'n asleep; Is your Lord on his way? Is this the noise? Are these the fires, flashes of his chariot-wheels.  
You, who have eyes exercised on spiritual sights, who watch for the Morning, tell us; Have you seen your Beloved look forth like the morning, a sweet light out of a 
Cant. 6. 9  black darkness? fair, as the Moon, in his natural Image, the first Creation? Pure, as the Sun, with the essential, substantial glory of his spiritual Image? Terrible, as an Army with Banners? The horses, and wheels of his chariot are his Army, Angels, Stars, Elements n●…w made, fighting for him in the newness of their courses. Himself in his flaming person above the heads of these, is the terrible Banner lifted up.  
It is so. The Lord is upon his white-horses of divine discoveries. He rides on prosperously with his Sword girt upon his thigh.  
Right Honourable! Princes, Prophets, People, remember now your dyiug saviour's charge! Take heed of surfeiting on the comforts, or cares of this Life. Watch, and be sober. As Elijah girt himself, and run along with Ahab's chariot: So gird up the loins of your mind, run along with the chariot of your King. If through sloth, or sleep, you be cast behind, if the bridegroom enter into his chamber, and the door be shut upon him; you will be left without in utter darkness, where is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. But woe to those who resist the progress of his outgoings! The wheels of his chariot shall be brought over these, the feet of his horses shall tread them in pieces, and dogs devour that which is left of them, as it was with Jesabel.  
But you, which have heard the Lord Jesus plainly saying to you; When you were under the figtree of outward dispensations, and expectations, I saw you: run to him, call him Master; follow him still, you shall see greater things than these; you shall see the heavens opened, Angels descending and ascending upon the heavenly person of Christ discovered, as a ladder joining heaven and earth, in which ladder every Rowel is a spiritual, a living glory.  
FINIS.