BABYLON'S RUIN, JERUSALEM'S RISING.  
Set forth In a Sermon Preached before the Honourable House of COMMONS, on the 25 Octob. being the day appointed for the Monthly Fast, solemnly to be observed.  
By Henry Wilkinson, B. D. late Divinity Reader in Magdalen Hall Oxford.  
Published by Order of that House.  PSAL. 137. 8. 
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed: happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us. ver. 9 Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.  REV. 18. 2. 
Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.  PSAL. 102. 13. 
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come. v. 14. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones: and favour the dust thereof. ver. 16. When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.  ISA. 65. 18. 
But be you glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for behold, I create jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy.  
LONDON, Printed for CHR. MEREDITH, and SA. GELLIBRAND, and are to be sold at their Shops in Paul's Churchyard. 1643.   

TO The Honourable House OF COMMONS, Now assembled in PARLIAMENT.  
MAy it please you to cast your eye upon that, which once had your ear, and to own that birth which received life at first from you: It desires no other Passport or protection, but your name, (however vilified) nor doth it care to be distinguished or known by any other livery or cognisance, then that which this Honourable House bestows upon those, on whom it looks as faithful and devoted servants.  
It is your fate now (as it never was to any Parliament) to have violences offered you, contumelies and indignities cast upon you; your reputation wounded, and your name, (which had wont to be honoured and accounted sacred) profaned and crucified; yet you may comfort yourselves in this, that those things are done by such whose favour is a blot, and good word an imputation: Your persons and proceed had been rendered suspected if they did been audire amongst vile men, of whom it is said, Is. 32. 6. that they will speak villainy: If they should undertake your vindiciae by their tongues or swords, or be your advocates in any kind, we should suspect your persons, and be afraid to own your cause.  
Notwithstanding all this, it would argue too much weakness of spirit, to resent such injuries too deeply, which can make no such impression as to wound or hurt: Reproaches are Devils 
Tacit.  that are cast out by contempt; spreta exolescunt; si irascare, agnita videntur. It was the honour of Theodosius, 
The ninth Code.  Honorius and Arcadius, that they did make an act upon record to pardon and pity such as for want of modesty and excess of impudence should invade their reputation by insolent slanders, or bitter calumnies. Alexander the Great is famous for this, that he could contemn slanders; And so is Caesar for passing by the detractions of Calvus the Orator, and Catullus the Poet: And so is Augustus for pardoning Timagenes the Historian who had defamed him publicly; as also for conquering the affronts of Pollio, with a fruere mi Pollio, fruere. Tiberius himself had wont to dissemble injuries in this kind, and Titus to scorn them. But our Lord jesus Christ is a pattern beyond all, who ●ut by, and indeed conquered all the horrible insolences that the wit of malice could inflict, with a Father forgive them, for they know not what they do, Luk. 23. 34. However you must have a care to vindicate the honour of Christ and Religion, for though you suffer for Christ, yet you must take care that Christ doth not suffer by you; and though Religion be wounded through your sides, yet you must have a care that Religion doth not bleed to death through your wounds.  
It cannot be expected, but that the eye of envy should be upon you, and the hand of violence up against you, since you are engaged in such a work, as full of envy as it is of difficulty and danger: for since your business lies professedly against the apocalyptical beast, and all his complices; you must expect that the militia of Hell and the trained bands of Satan, (i. e.) those that have received the mark of the beast, shall be put into a posture of war, furnished with all their trains of Artillery, and the whole Magazine of Satan, to put in execution their black Commission, which breathes forth nothing but blood, and slaughter, and ruin of our persons and our Religion. I hope this discourse will furnish and accommodate you with Antidotes and Preservatives, with weapons and ammunition, with cordials and comforts, by which you may be encouraged to go on, and enabled to hold out and Conquer.  
I know you are looked at as a contemptible company, but let those remember (that account you so) that the cake of barley bread which tumbled into the host of Midian, and came into a tent, smote it that it fell, and overturned the tent that it lay down, judg. 7. 13. It is the condition of God's people to appear, and in a sort to be like Christ, of whom it was said, There is no beauty that we should desire him: He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not, Is. 53. 2. 3. And yet as base as he was in the eyes of men, he had the most glorious titles that ever were given, Is. 9 6. 7. So fare should this be from disheartening Gods Servants, that it should be accounted their honour to be like their Master; however it be that men have vilified you, yet certainly God hath honoured you more than ever any Parliament in England was honoured; for he hath done that by you, which our progenitors did but entertain in a bosome-retired thought, and in hopes at so vast a distance from accomplishment, that they seemed rather pleasing fancies, then fair probabilities: There hath been a concurrence of many strange and admirable Acts of Providence, and God hath assembled many and several events, which have issued out of the multitude of affairs clustering together; so that we may truly say, it was the design of Heaven to give you and us a contracted experience of very many mercies, and to instruct us by way of abridgement, and as it were to show us in a few Months the image of many years.  
The birth with which you travel, as it was the expectation of Antiquity and Ages past, so it will be the happiness of Posterity, and Ages future; think not that it is in the power or compass of devils or men, to make that birth prove abortive, which himself has undertaken to bring forth, and to baptise it with the name of Israel, it being a child of Promise, Is. 66. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth, saith the Lord? shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb, saith thy God? That which makes me possess my soul with an assurance of success, and a gracious issue in your great transactions, is this, because I see a jacob and an Esau in the womb of the great design, and I am sure the elder shall serve the younger: I find a competition betwixt the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent, and I am sure the seed of the woman shall break the head of the Serpent; whereas the Serpent shall but bruise the heel of the Church, Gen. 3. 15. the wound in the head shall be incurable, that in the heel shall not be mortal. I perceive there is a great contention betwixt malice, and envy, and pride, and tyranny, luxury, and rebellion, with the rest of that black guard of Hell on the one side; and faith, and prayers, on the other: Now I am sure that this is the victory which overcommeth the world, even faith, 1 joh. 5. 4. And I am sure that prayer can engage the whole Militia of Heaven, and the Lord of Hosts on its side: I perceive that Babylon and its supporters, and Zion and its Builders are put in the Balances as it were: And I find a Mene (i e.) God hath numbered thy Kingdom and finished it, and a Tekel thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting, Dan. 5. 24. 25. written over the one Scale: And I see the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over the other, we are more than Conquerors: Wherefore if Amalek, or Midian, or Canaanites, or Philistims, or Babylonians can Conquer the Israel of God; who was therefore Christened Israel, because as a Prince he did prevail with God, and he should prevail with men, Gen. 32. 28. If now the Lords Counsel may be frustrated, or his strength mastered, or if there be any that can speak the word and it cometh to pass, and the Lord commandeth it not, Lam. 3. 37. then actum est, periistis, You are all dead men, and the cause is gone; but if that be true which the Lord speaks, Ezek. 12. 25. you need not fear: He says, I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak, shall come to pass: I will say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God: Now God hath spoken the word, a terrible word, and a word of confusion against Babylon: and he hath spoken the word, and that a gracious word, for the restauration of Zion, and building up the walls of jerusalem, and therefore let your Faith hang out its conquering and triumphing Flag, and let Emmanuel be the Motto; and than you may bid an open defiance to all your enemies, and with a kind of exultation, say with the Apostle, Rom. 8. 31. Si Deus nobiscum, etc. If God be for us, who can be against us? Now that the Lord may be with you, and for you, it is the constant, instant prayer of  
Your obliged, and most devoted Servant HENRY WILKINSON.   

Die Mercurii 25. Oct. 1643.  
IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That Mr. Poole and Mr. Rous do from this House give thanks unto Master Wilkinson, and Master Salwey, for the great pains they took in the Sermons, they preached this day at the entreaty of this House, at S. Margaret's in the City of Westminster, It being the day of public Humiliation, and to desire them to Print their Sermons. And it is Ordered that none do presume to Print their Sermons but such as shall be authorized under their hands writing.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

I appoint Chr. Meredith and Sa. Gellibrand to Print this Sermon.  
HENRY WILKINSON.   

A SERMON Preached before The Honourable House OF COMMONS, At the Public Fast, October 25. 1643.  ZECH. 1. 18. 19 20. 21. 
Then I lift up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.  
And I said unto the Angel that talked with me; What be these? 
Babylon's ruin, jerusalems' raising.  And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.  
And the Lord shown me four carpenters.  
Then said I, What come these to do? And he spoke, saying; These are the horns which have scattered judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lift up their horn over the land of judah to scatter it.  
IN these words is represented a double vision, and the interpretation of both; here is a vision of ruin, and a vision of rescue; a vision of destruction, and a vision of deliverance; although both of the visions be unlocked and opened, yet some things require some clearing.  
First, let us see what is meant by horns; and secondly, who they are that are pointed at in this place; and thirdly, why four horns. 
In hominibus cornu significat potentiam, virtutem, gloriam, fortitudinem. Glassius de metaphor. lib. 5. Tract. 1. c. 11.   
By horns we understand the enemies of God's people, it being a metaphor taken from those beasts that wear horns, which are the instruments in which they show their strength and fierceness, both in defending and offending also. Cornu, with respect to men, doth signify power, and virtue, and glory, and fortitude, 1 Sam. 2. 1. job 16. 15. Psal. 25. 11. Psal. 89. 18. 25.  
In special, Cornu signifies a Kingdom, whose majesty consists in power and fortitude, 1 Sam. 2. 10. So that the strength and 
In specie significat regnum, cujus majestas in potentia, fortitudine, & ●obere consistit. Glass. ibid.  greatness and fierceness of a Nation is hereby set forth, 1 Kings 22. 11. & Dan. 7. 7. 8. & 21. and Dan. 8. 3. 4. Rev. 12. 3. & 13. 1. & 17. 3. 7. 12. 16. So cornupetere, to push, is all one with praeliari and potentiam pugnando exerere.  
Observe. 1 Whence we may note, that the enemies of God's people are both fierce and powerful fighters against them.  
The other two things to be considered both for the persons and number, they will fall in together: Some understand by the four horns, the four Monarchies of the world. But as Luther, Melanchthon, and Calvin say, it cannot be in regard this vision respects a thing actually done; but some of the Mornarchies had not their being in the world for many years after; and therefore they conjecture better, who by four horns understand the enemies of God from the four quarters of the world; On the North the Assyrians and Babylonians, as our Babylonian enemies lie most northward; on the East the Ammonites and Moabites; on the South Egypt and the Edomites; on the West the Philistines.  
Observe. 2 It is the lot of God's people to be environed with fierce and powerful enemies, on all sides, from all quarters of the world. It is the lot of the godly to be beleaguered with horned Beasts.  
Now let us see what these Carpenters are; here is four to 
The Original word signifies, Omnis generis Artifices, Luth.  four; Luther observes out of the original, that by Carpenters we must understand Artificers of all sorts, whose skill and industry God made use of in the building of the Temple: The truth is, Luther understands by fabri Angelos, quibus haec imperia demandata sunt; by Carpenters, he means the Angels to whose care the custody of those Empires was entrusted; But it seems more congruous to take Carpenters here in this place for such as God did raise up to be the Executioners of his vengeance upon the horns that had so afflicted and scattered his people, and hindered the building of the Temple; he calls them Carpenters, to intimate that their work is twofold; First, for plucking down; Secondly, for rearing up. Cyrus who was the chief Carpenter which God employed to saw off the Babylonian horns, was to pluck down that vast Fabric of the Assyrian Monarchy, and so by that make way for building of Jerusalem.  
It is considerable to take notice of the alteration of the expression used in the two visions; It is said, I saw the four horns, but the Lord shown me the four Carpenters.  
Observe. 3 Whence observe, That which way soever we turn our eyes we may quickly see horns, enemies of the Church of God; but deliverers must be showed us of the Lord.  
Before I come to the observations concerning the Carpenters, I shall take notice of the time when the horns appeared and the Carpenters were raised.  
If we look back we shall find ver. 16. 17. the most comfortable and precious promises that we read of, and presently these horns show themselves, so that assoon as Zechary had received comfort from the promises made, he immediately saw an obstruction cast in, he saw all his hopes dashed, if we look with the eye of reason.  
Observe. 4 Whence we may observe, That difficulties always attend deliverances; if the Church be in travel to be delivered of a comfort, the birth of a promise and the issue of prayers, you shall immediately find some horns, some fierce and potent enemies ready to stifle the birth as it comes forth, or to strangle it in the womb.  
It is further observed concerning the time when these Carpenters were showed; the enemies they appear most when the Church hath any promise drawing towards an accomplishment, but the deliverers are showed when the Church seems to be drawing towards her end, when she is gasping for life; for the time when these Carpenters were showed, was when the Church was at the lowest ebb; 
* Zecharias eo tempore vixit, quo summe necessarium fuit consolari pop. venturo regno Christi, etc. ne● enim antea vel posthac unquam pop. fuit ita dissipatus, disjectus, a● tanto terrore percuisus quamdiu pop. Dei dictus est, quam illo Babyloniae capivitatis tempore, Luther.  Luther observes how that the Church was in the saddest and most miserable condition that ever she was brought to.  
Observe. 5 God than raiseth up deliverers to his people, when there be least hopes and most enemies appear: When the enemies be most in sight, (I saw the horns) then most unexpectedly God shows deliverers, (He shown me the Carpenters.)  
In the last place it is said these Carpenters came to fray the horns, etc. That is, utterly to destroy them, or to remove them out of the way, so as that they should not hinder the building of the Temple.  
Observe. 6 Those that God employs as Carpenters in his service, they shall carry on the work both for plucking down and rearing up, maugre all opposition whatsoever to the contrary.  
You have seen what is meant by the vision in the letter of it, (viz.) the enemies of the Church of God anciently, 
The same things which anciently were acted, are now brought upon the Stage by Satan, whom Epiphanius calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, draconem sese in orbem volventem: he brings about the old malice, rage, subtlety, and tyranny against the Church of God: So that I may make use of the words of Ludovicus Laurentius taken by him out of Thucydides, semper eadem geri in mundo, mutatis tantum personis.  which were a Type of the enemies of the Church of God now: for as Babylon of old, and that Monarchy was the chief enemy under whose yoke the Israelites did then groan for seventy years; so is mystical Babylon, which is Rome the antitype, under which the Church of God hath and doth most suffer. I shall therefore with Calvin and others, speak of the enemies of the Church of God, and of deliverers also, with respect 
Calvin after he had spoken of the business in the Type says thus, Videmus hoc vaticinium non modo atati Zachariae suisse util●, sed omnibus seculis, & ad totum Ecclesiae corpus respicere.  unto the Anti-type in both; the horns in the former vision being but a type of our Antichristian enemies now; and the Carpenters being a type of our Reformers under the Gospel, and those that are to build the spiritual 
Licet enim haec i● ludaeorum ex captivitate reductorum & urbem & templum ad ficantium consolationum d●ta sint, complementum tomen habent praecipuum in N. T. in Ecclesia quae urbs Dei est, Tarnovius in locum.  Jerusalem, even the Church, and to pluck down mystical Babylon, that is, Rome; for though this was showed for the comfort of the Jews, yet (says Tarnovius) the accomplishment is and shall be under the Gospel.  
For this present I shall fix upon the two last propositions, and handle them distinctly and severally.  
The first of the two which is the fifth, is this, That God then raiseth up deliverers, etc.  
This is the method which God useth to take; Our account and his in respect of times and seasons differ like as the Gregorian and the julian, the one outruns the other; we in our account commonly antedate deliverances and mercies; but God he seems to us to postdate them, and his appointed time seems to be past the time appointed, his set day of deliverance, seems to be a day too late commonly, a year sometimes; Jer. 8. 20. The harvest is past, the Summer is ended, and we are not saved: God's time of help is when the time of help is past. Deut. 32. 35. It is said concerning the enemies of God's people, That their foot shall slide in due time, and God will render vengeance, and v. 36. he will repent himself for his servants: now it is observable when the due time spoken of is, in the 36. v. it is said, when he seethe that his servants power is gone, then is the Lords due time to take vengeance of their Adversaries and to deliver them.  
So Jer. 31. 16. 17 the Lord gives comforts, and the ground is this, There is hope in thine end, saith the Lord; when there was an end of hope in a manner, it is said there is hope in their end: When the knife is at the throat, then, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, God then interposeth he puts in then unexpectedly and to admiration, Is. 33. 7. 8. 9 you shall read of a strange preface to a deliverance spoken of v. 10. when hopes are cut off; Then will I arise, saith the Lord, now will I lift up myself, now will I be exalted: God raised up Moses and Aaron to deliver his people, even when Moses himself thought the business of such difficulty and impossibility, that he was very unwilling to adventure, Exod. 4. 13. Nay, Moses thought that God had even forgot himself, Exod. 5. ult. Whereas the time promised was not come, though it were near; the deliverance seemed to be farther off, by how much the nearer it approached; Exod. 10. 28. Pharaoh quarrels with Moses and bids him get him gone, but Exod. 12. 40. 41. God observed his time even to a day: Gods appointed time is ever seasonable, though sometime it seems late: Instances are many, Exod. 14. at the red Sea, God appeared in the Mount: Look throughout the Book of Judges, and Samuel, and Kings, the Scripture is plentiful in this argument.  
But here a question may be seasonably made, Why doth God put off the deliverance of his servants even to the last moment, when things seem to be past recovery?  
Reason 1 Because God hereby will show to us how that his way of delivering is fare different from ours, as much as his power is different from the power of the creature: for he can raise up Carpenters, when there is nothing in view but opposition, he shows how that he can recover when things are past recovery, and he can deliver when things are desperate, he shows us that he hath power in his hand to make a season for deliverance, when the season for our account is past, jer. 30. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 17. It is said concerning God's people, Thy bruise is incurable, thy wound is grievous, v. 12. & 15. thy sorrow is incurable, and yet v. 17. it is said, I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, etc. when the matter is past cure, than it is fittest for him to cure, who can heal incurable wounds.  
Reason 2 God will hereby try whether you be the true children of Abraham, that you can hope above hope, whether you can believe deliverance when you cannot see deliverance in probability, Rom. 4. 18. 19 20. there is your pattern, he will put you to it whether you will take out that copy, he will try whether the faith of his servants be so quicksighted as to see deliverance through destruction, and a horn of salvation, Luk. 1. 69. exalted above all the horns of confusion.  
Reason 3 He raiseth up Deliverers, then when his Church's enemies appear most fierce and insolent, and his people are at the lowest; that he might show himself most glorious on his people's behalf, against their Adversaries. God never appears so glorious as when he appears both for confusion and consolation at once, with his golden Sceptre held out to his people, and his Mace of Iron brought forth to break his enemies in pieces like a Potter's Vessel; when he is a Light and a Flame at once, Is. 10. 17. when he appears as he did Exod. 14. 20. in the Cloud, which was bright and black, a cloud of comfort and a cloud of confusion at once; his two great attributes by which he is known amongst the children of men, I mean his justice and mercy, when they do show themselves together, than they do mutually illustrate each the other, and render God much more glorious to the world. Whence it is that you shall find in Scripture, that the greatest mercies fall in with the greatest vengeance; Deut. 32. 43. there is vengeance and mercy together, and Is. 61. 2. the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance both proclaimed at once. So also Is. 59 17. 18 there is the helmet of salvation, and the breastplate of righteousness, and the garments of vengeance at once upon God. So also Nah. 1. 6. 7. you have God very fearful and terrible, and a strong hold etc. likewise Luk. 21. 25. 26. you shall seldom read of such times, fuller of confusion, and v. 28. the day of redemption is close by this day of destruction. It is therefore God's course to raise up the greatest comforts to his people, when their enemies are most proud and intolerable, that so he might appear the more glorious in his works of mercy and fury, of consolation and confusion.  
Reason 4 A fourth reason, why Carpenters are brought in to deliver when the horns are most exalted, is in respect of the Deliverers, for by these means they appear more conspicuous and eminent: Moses had not been so notable, if Pharaoh had not been so hardened; neither had joshuah appeared so brave a Soldier, if he had not found so great opposition from Giants and Anakims, from stout and strong enemies; David's valour was the more taken notice of, because Goliahs' pride and valour was so daring and terrible; the antidote never shows itself so Sovereign as when the poison shows itself most malignant. Austin had not been so renowned to posterity, but for the obstinacy and subtlety 
Vid. con Nic. Tom. 1. conc. Gener. & conc. Eph. Tom. 2. conc. Gener. ex Ed. Bin. & Tom. 1. con. Ep. Leo●is 81. ●5 & ed. 1● S●rii.  and learning of Pelagius; nor Athanasius but for Arrius; not cyril but for Nestorius; nor Gregory Nazianzen but for Macedonius; nor Leo but for Eutyches; nor Hierom but for Russinus; Constantinus had never been called Magnus, if the Persecutors had not proved cruel: he never had been so famous for building the Church of God, if they had not been famous in the butchery of it; jewel had not showed so orient but for Harding who was his foil; nor had the Synod of Dort been so much spoken of but for Arminius: none of all these had proved so good Carpenters, if they had not met with such horns so full of fierceness, rage, power, and tyranny; Nor had the eyes of Protestant Christendom been so much fixed on this Parliament, if the horns of Papal Christendom had not pushed with such violence against this Parliament.  
Use 1 This reproveth those that murmur and repine and cry, Where is the promise of his coming? where are the Deliverers so much expected, so long looked after, they are much to be blamed that will measure God's times by their glass, and if he doth not strike with their clock and go by their dial, than there is no hopes, the time appointed is past, and they will wait no longer. It is a great boldness that men take to themselves, they would deal with God's Providence as they do by their Watches, set it backwards or forwards according as they have a mind to have things fall out sooner or stay longer: It is a very great fault in Christians, they outrun Providence, and they are impatient to stay for deliverance, never considering the vast difference betwixt God's Chronology and ours: By this means it falls out that they have spent their stock of hopes long before the time and season, in which we should most hope.  
Use 2 This teacheth us to wait the Lords leisure, although we do see horns that have pushed the Church and scattered it, it will not be long before we shall see Carpenters; nay our comfort is, we do see them, and they are at work already on the horns and have knocked some of them off; Since God stays long (in our apprehensions) before he delivers, and we cannot accelerate or hinder the course of his Providence, it behoves us to wait upon it, and to follow it, but not to outrun it; considering also that as we cannot conduct and lead on the motions and periods of Providence, so (it often falls out) that when things are desperate in the eyes of man, then in the course of God's Providence and Chronology, there be the greatest emergencies for new expectations. This therefore should teach us dependence on this God, which commands deliverances, when things are deplored and desperate, that can work salvation out of ruins. Let us remember that he which believeth will not make haste, but as it is, 2 Chron. 20. 12 he will have his eyes on the Lord; remembering that Hab 2. 3. 4. The vision (I may say of the Carpenters) is for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry, yet wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry, etc.  
Use 3 This should comfort God's people very much in regard they have a God who can and doth bring in a full sea of comforts when they are at the lowest ebb of misery; there is always a remedy very near their misery. The Church may be in Hagars' condition, all her stock of hopes may be spent, and she may give her children for lost, as Hagar did; she may sit and weep for want of relief, and yet there is a well of mercy close by her, though she doth not see it, as there was close by Hagar, Gen. 21. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Here is a comfort, that for every danger there is a deliverer laid in for, and bespoke beforehand that he should be in a readiness; the provident God hath forecast for every horn a Carpenter, and the Carpenter which God sets on work proves too hard for the horn; there is a builder for every breaker down, and a repairer for every destroyer. It must needs be a very great comfort, whilst we consider how that the Church never did receive any great blow by a push from any horn, but God provided a present remedy. God that foresaw the enemies of the people of God, provided a joshuah, raised up the valiant judges, and Kings, and Prophets, and Apostles, etc. for his people; God provided a David for a Goliath, a Mordecai and Hester for Haman, a Cyrus for Babylon; You shall find for your comfort in Ecclesiastical story, that if any heresy did arise as a horn against the truth, God provided a Carpenter with his Mallet to knock down that horn, whence our famous Divines are called Haereticorum mallei. For the 
a Hist. Conc. Nic. prae. Con. Nic. ex ed. Bin. Tom. 1. Conc. Tom. 1. Conc. Gen. & provi●. Ephes. Conc. par. 〈◊〉. Act. 1. ex ed. Binii ex lib. Nestor. collect.  Arrian Heresy that struck at the Divinity of Christ, you had the first great Council of Nice: Then for the Heresy of Nestorius 
b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, etc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, then follows the sentence of condemnation from the whole Synod. (c) Tom 2. Gen. & provin. Conc. ed. 〈◊〉. Bi●. Ephes. Conc. par. 2. act. 1. (d) Tom. 1. Con. Ep Leonis 81. & 95. de blasphemiis Nestorii & Eutych. ex Sur ed. Tom. 3. Conc Chalced. 2. par. Act. 4. ex ed. ●in. Vid. 〈◊〉 Conc. Constant. 〈◊〉. 1. Conc. Bin.  that made two persons in Christ, the Ephesine Council was called, and the heresy condemned: As for the heresy of Macedonius that denied the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, the Council of Constantinople to suppress that. And then for the heresy of Eutyches, which affirmed but one nature in Christ, the Council of Chalcedon was called for the extirpation of that. I might be large in this kind, but I forbear.  
I now come to the second Proposition which was the sixth: That when God raiseth up Carpenters, they shall carry on the work, 
The 2. Propos.  both for plucking down, and building up, maugre all opposition whatsoever to the contrary.  
The Babylonian horns which hindered the deliverance of God's people, and the building of the Temple, were knocked off and broken down by Cyrus and others that God raised up, and the building of jerusalem went on, Ezra 1. 1, 2, 3. etc. Then afterwards the enemies prevailed so far, that they hindered the building, Ezra 5, 6. & 24. then cap. 6. 1, 2. etc. you have a Decree for the building: Then Haggai's and Zacharies prophesies stirred them up to build, Ezr. 5. 1. Zech. 4. 7. the Mountain that stood before Zorobabel is made plain.  
The reason of this is plain, Zech 4. 6. because when God sets men on work where there be least hopes of doing any good, yet the work shall go on, Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says God. It is not thus to be understood, as if he would make use of no instruments, for he did then make use of Carpenters for the building of jerusalem, but by my Spirit, i. e. I will so rule, and order, and dispose of things by my Spirit, those means that I shall use, that it shall appear I did it, and that my name was written upon every part of the business.  
It appears to be God's Spirit and hand in bringing things to pass; first, when a matter falls out unexpectedly, and strangely, and suddenly, as we see that deliverance of David, 1 Sam. 23. 26, 27. Or secondly, when God works by contraries, Psal. 112. 4. as when light springs out of darkness, or when that which was intended for ruin, becomes an Antidote, when the wicked are taken in their own crafts, Psal. 7. 15, 16. Thirdly, when God works by weak and contemptible means, 1 Cor. 27. 28. Fourthly, when many casualties and accidents falling in together, are wisely ordered to advance a business, as appears in Mordecai's case, Esth. 6. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7.  
So that when God calls men to any special service, it shall be done for he engageth himself in a special manner for the doing of it: Whence it is, that God for the encouragement of his servants in great businesses, tells them, ●o I am with you, as if he should say, my wisdom and power shall be with you, both for the ordering and effecting of the design. When God called Moses to that great work of leading his people out of Egypt, he speaks that encouraging language, Exod. 3. 10, 11, 12. I will be with thee, and chap. 4. 10, 11, 12. he confirms him in like manner, though Moses did shrink, and distrust, and was very hardly brought on to the work. Whatever the work be, yet it matters not, so God be in it, he fits men for the work, and carries them through it, though it may seem difficult and impossible, jer. 1. 17, 18. 19 If God makes use, though of a worm, that worm shall thresh Mountains in pieces, Isa. 41. 14, 15, 16. The poor Church trampled on like a worm (which as it is least able to help itself, so it is most exposed to injury) yet it shall crush in pieces those that tread it under foot; the wheels moved as the living creatures moved, and the living creatures moved as the Spirit moved, Ezek 1. 19, 20, 21. when he sets the wheels of the creature going, there is nothing can stay them; there is no standing against those whom God sends on his errand, Deut. 30. 32. jer. 51. 20, 21. It is spoke of Luther how 
Coelesti● ille Germanus Lutherus Antichristum antea terribilem omnibus, so â oris buc●ina conterruit, & parva sodalium, infirm. tatis contra potentiam, simplicitatis contra frauds, humilitatis contra fastum, contra crudelitatem patientia, arma coniungentium stipatus manu, in restitutione evangel fecit progressum, ●ans. in Orat. pro German.  invincibly and irresistibly he went on in the opposing of the whole body of Antichrist, the whole Kingdom of Satan and the beast could not stand before him.  
Whence it follows by way of inference and corollary full of sweetness and comfort, that those whom God employs in his service, they shall conquer all opposition; Mountains shall be plained, Zech. 4. 7. Anakims shall lie prostrate like Dagon before the Ark, 1 Sam. 5. 3. jericho walls shall fall down, josh 6. 20. If God gives commission to Armies of Flies and Locusts, they will make a puissant people stoop, Exod. 8. 21, 25. and 10. 16, 17. though the opposition be great, and the means to encounter it small, that is all one; one to a thousand, and two to ten thousand is mighty odds in number and strength, and yet they shall conquer, Deut. 32. 30.  
It follows, secondly, for encouragement, that no plots or designs, no conspiracies and combinations against those that God sets on work shall prosper, Isa. 8. 9, 10. job 12. 16, 17. Isa. 29. 14.  
Honourable and Beloved, this Truth hath been sealed to you by many experiments, and by a concurrence of providences, many, and strange, and visible; so visible indeed to any (but he that will not see) that you and we must needs confess and say, there was Digitus Dei, and another time brachium Altissimi, and here again jehovah-iireh; and again, If the Lord himself had not been on our side, Psal. 124. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. etc. This deliverance you may ascribe Deo liberatori, to God our Redeemer, and this Victory Deo adjutori, to God my helper; and this blow and wound given to the adversary, Deo vindici, to God to whom vengeance belongeth; you and we must needs say here, This is the Lords own doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes; How often hath it been made good to you, that surely there is no enchantment against jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel? Num. 23. 23. Here you may write a Selah, here an Higgaion Selah, there being matter of astonishment and admiration in God's mercies to you; How often has God showed himself then, when indeed there was dignus vindice nodus, it being past humane help? How often have you been brought to those straits, that you have been all puzzled, and non-plussed? you have been at a stand, and when you stood still, you then saw the salvation of the Lord, your standing still was Gods chief time of working, Exod. 14. 13.  
The truth is, the House in which you sit hath been the Mount of the Lord, a Mount of mercies, and a Mount of deliverances; so that you of all men may truly say, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble, Psal. 46. 1. and the Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, v. 7. Selah. The vessel hath been so near sinking, that with the Apostles you have cyred out, Lord save us, we perish; and he hath saved you, and you have not perished.  
Object. But it may be said, that you find many encumbrances and difficulties, 
by way of discouragement.  more horns seem to spring up in the place of the old, and when one mountain is removed, it doth but give place and make room for a greater, as if the removing of one difficulty, were but the creation of a greater.  
Answ. This should be so fare from discouraging you, that it should cause you rather to double your files, this should increase your 
by way of retortion for encouragement the more.  zeal and courage for true Zeal increaseth by opposition and like the Palm, riseth up with a kind of indignation against that weight that is laid upon it. You may well think, that when the Carpenters fall upon the horns with their hammers, axes, and saws, the beasts that wear them will be outrageous; this should encourage you the more, it is a sign you draw nigh the root: It is a hopeful sign that many a devil is near upon casting out of the Land; It is to be hoped that many a drunken, profane, formal, superstitious, idolatrous, ceremonial devil, many a foul spirit is ready to be dispossessed in regard they have rend and torn our Kingdom so miserably, like that Devil, Mar. 9 25. 26. when he was to be cast out, rend the possessed ●ore, insomuch as he was a dead man for the present; we hope that whole legions are ready to be cast out: you must conceive that those that rake in wasps nests, and in the holes of Asps and Cockatrices, may meet with stings and poison.  
Besides, by how much the more diligent you be in your work, by so much the more diligent will Satan be to resist you. Rev. 12. 4. The Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, to devour the child so soon as it was born; now that you are in travel ready to be delivered of a male child, of some good design, the Dragon stands before you, not to be a Midwife to deliver, but an Executioner to strangle the child in the birth, or to devour it so soon as it is borne: Since you have to do with a brood of Serpents, you must expect, that the Serpent will send out of his mouth a flood, as he did after the woman, Rev. 12. 15. waters of Persecutions from all parts; When joshuah the High Priest appeared before the Lord, Satan stood at his right hand to hinder him, Zech. 3. 1. but God rebuked him, ver. 2.  
Furthermore, whatsoever may be objected almost by way of discouragement 
Particular objections answered by way of parallel drawn from the Type, and the antitype, from the bvilders of jerusalem of old, and the bvilders of God's house under the last times of the Gospel.  to you, you may find to have fallen upon those that built the Temple of jerusalem, who were your Type, and you shall find that notwithstanding all discouragements the building went on; which certainly must needs animate and quicken you, when you find the parallel to be suitable.  
It is said, that the business is very sad and mournful? Ans. It is true, there is cause of mourning, but there is cause of rejoicing too. Ezra. 3. 12. at the laying of the foundation of the Temple there was weeping, (I confess upon another stile) and there was rejoicing to, because the foundation was laid, that there was some pregnant hopes of a building towards, which they might hope would come to an accomplishment in due time  
Secondly, we are scandalised and reproached, and the work vilified and scorned. Answ. Ezr. 4. 12. there you have an invective; and Neh. 2. 19 when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem heard of it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the K. but take notice of the pious answer, ver. 20. Again, Neh. 4. 1. 2. 3. You shall find reproaches full of venom and indignation against the building and the bvilders; but yet for all this the building went on.  
Thirdly, we are not only reproached, but the Adversary is in Arms against us. Answ. This was the case of the bvilders of jerusalem, for when the enemies saw they could not laugh and scorn them from the work, they then levied forces to beat them from the work, Neh. 4. 8. but yet the work went on, and by that means it went on, see v. 9 But if it be so, how can it be expected that we should both defend and build? Answ. How did the bvilders of jerusalem? they fought and built at once, Neh. 4. 16. 17. 18. and they did prosper and go on. Nay, such was their constant opposition, that they were compelled to watch so constantly and diligently, That they did not put off their clothes, saving for washing, ver. 23.  
Fourthly, the business is now grown to that pass, that it is so heavy and so chargeable, that there is a great cry and clamour of the people by reason of taxations, and by reason of continual watching and labouring at the works, men are constrained to leave their Trades, and Trade decaying, men now spend upon the stock; nay, many a man's stock is already spent, so that they are compelled to borrow upon use, whereupon there be many murmur and repine amongst us. Answ. This was just the case of them that built Jerusalem, Neh. 5. 1. 2. 3. 〈◊〉. the very selfsame words that were then spoken are now taken up, and there is much like the same reasons and grounds: But observe the wisdom and zeal of Nehemiah in this case, how he behaved himself in the verses following, from the 6th to the 12th and consider the issue most happy, in the verses after.  
Fifthly, but the people of the land are disaffected both to us, and the work. Answ. Ez. 4. 4. 5. The people of the land weakened the hands of the people of judah, and troubled them in building, and hired Counselors against them, etc.  
Sixthly, our Adveriaries lay their designs deep, they work under ground. Answ. So it was with them anciently, Neh. 4. 11. their Adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.  
Seventhly, many great ones draw back, the Nobles many of them will not put their hand to the work. Answ. So it was anciently, Neh. 3. 5. The Nobles put not their neck to the work of the Lord.  
Eightly, we are dealt withal by way of treaty and friendly accommodation, places of meeting are proposed, and the truth is, their trains of love, are trains of powder to blow us up. Answ. So it was with Nehemiah, 6. 2. he was sent to by Sanballat and Geshem, saying, Come let us meet together in some one of the Villages in the plain of Ono; but they thought to do me a mischief: Whether the case at a Town not fare off be not much like this, and whether mischief were not intended, let the event speak; but observe what answer Nehemiah made, v. 3. Nay, they sent to him four times, but he gave them the same answer, He had a great work in hand, so that I cannot come down, etc. I will not undertake to prescribe what answer you should give.  
Ninthly, we have open Declarations against us, and the world is told that we rebel, and that we think upon strong matters, such things as never entered into our hearts. Answ. Just so it was with Nehemiah, c. 6. v. 5. 6. they send an open letter to them to that purpose it might be known to the world, and that they might affright them with that terrible word of Rebellion. Nay, it is said that they employed Prophets to Preach their Rebellious intentions, that they might be communicated more easily and effectually to the people; this was said then, v. 7. and let the same answer that Nehemiah made, be now made also, ver. 8.  
Tenthly, we had those that are set on purpose to draw and entice us into unwarrantable courses, that so there might be a just matter of acculation against us; some have been tempted on purpose for that end, that so we might lie open to their imputations. Answ. This was Nehemiahs' case, c. 6. v. 10. he was alured by Shemaiah to go with him into the house of God, pretending it was not safe for Nehemiah to be in the City; now this would have engaged Nehemiah in a dishonourable act, to fly into the Temple, this might have favoured of fear, and then others might have been disheartened, and therefore he entertains the offer with indignation, and said, Should such a man as I flee? v. 11. Secondly, it would have engaged Nehemiah in an unlawful act; for junius and Tremelius observe, that it was not lawful for him to go into the Temple, and to that purpose they urge that Law, Numb. 3. 38. and Nehemiah seems to intimate the unlawfulness of the thing, v. 12. he says, and lo, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he was hired to make him afraid, and sin, v. 13.  
Eleventhly, but we have those that do entertain commerce and intercourse with our Adversaries. Answ. So it was anciently, Neh. 6. 17. It is said, in those days the Nobles of judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them: It seems the Nobles were rotten in those days, some of them; nay more, many of them, in judah some were sworn to Tobiah, because he was the Son-in-law of Shecaniah, it should seem he was well allied, ver. 18. & in the 19 ver. you may see the end of the letters, why they were sent, and why they told the proceed of Nehemiah to his Adversaries.  
Twelfthly, the people of the Land are unprepared, and are apt to draw back and hinder the work. Answ. so it was in the time of building the Temple, as appears, Hag. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.  
Thirteenthly, Our enemies are not only potent, but crafty. Answ. So were the enemies of those that built jerusalem, but that is no matter, for Is. 47. 10, 11. it is one of the judgements against Babylon, For all her divinations and subtlety, that they shall not know how and whence their evil shall come upon them. These be discouragements I confess, for Neh. 6. 9 it is said they made us afraid; but for all this the building went on, and prospered.  
Fourteen, it may be added further, That there be mighty Commotions, and stirs, and tumults here and in other parts of Christendom. Answ. That must be expected; The overturning and casting down of Babylon, which is a great part of the Carpenter's work, must be with great Commotions; When the days of old Babylon's ruin did approach, there was a noise of a multitude, a tumultuous noise of the Kingdoms and Nations gathered together, Is. 13. 〈◊〉. 4. Do but look over Jer. 50. & 51. chap. to this purpose: And so it shall be in the plucking down of mystical Babylon, Rev. 16. 17. 18. Kingdom's shall be turned upside down; Do you think that when God raiseth up the hearts of men to wound the beast that hath seven heads and ten horns, Apoc. 17. 7. the horns that are upon the head of the beast, which are ten Kings v. 12. will not lay about them, when they see the very head of the beast which bears the horns struck at, that it may be quite struck off never to rise more?  
Besides for further answer to this, you must expect great noises and tumults upon another ground, Rev. 11. ult. The Temple of the Lord was opened, and the Ark of his testament; That is, those mysteries that were shut up and were not discerned formerly, but by learned men and great Scholars, these only were admitted into the Temple, to look into the Ark; but now the Temple is opened, and the Ark discovered, any Christians (though weak) yet might go and see and know the mysteries of Religion, anciently hidden from the eyes of the Vulgar; What followed upon this? Lightnings, and noises, and thunders, and earthquaks, and a great hail; that is, great tumults, and commotions, and troubles; for the world envying the happiness of God's people in this great discovery, did fret, and by't the tongue, and murmur, and trouble the people of God.  
Fifteenthly, we have of the most religious people that are discontented. Answ. There are not many of them: godly men may be 1 ignorant, and so misled; and they may be 2 froward and pettish, and so may fret; or they may 3 have interests and relations that look another way. Now when godly men look upon you through these glasses, they may be allowed to judge amiss; However it was the case of Paul, he had not only wicked and ungodly men that did oppose him, as you read, Act. 17. 5, 6, etc. and Act. 21. but Act. 13. 50. The devout women, and the chief men of the City raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas.  
Sixteenthly, it is said, we go on slowly. Answ. The Temple was many years in building: Blessed be God you do go on, great bodies move by leisure; Reformation work is heavy work; and there be many obstructions: There is much rubbish, as there was Neh. 4. 10. so that they were not able to build the wall; But blessed be God, many of the utensils, and moveables, and much of the trumpery are cast out already; a vast old frame must be plucked down; many horns must be knocked off; many rough stones and knotty pieces you shall meet withal, to be squared and polished: And there be more bvilders of Babel then there are bvilders of jerusalem, more that would pluck down, then rear up the walls of Zion.  
Lastly, it may be said that you shall never live to see or enjoy your labours in this great work; it being a business so vast. Answ. If you do contribute any thing to so blessed a work, your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord: David thought himself much honoured, that he might prepare materials for the Temple. It is a happiness to you to begin that, which is the hope of the present age, and shall be the rejoicing and the glory of posterity: And yet it may be that that promise may be made good to you, Is. 65. 22. 23. what is said of houses there, perhaps may be made good in this building, and that to you, That you shall build and inhabit, you shall plant and eat the fruits of the planting; and mine Elect shall long enjoy the work of their hand.  
Thus have you had the discouragements removed, I come to 
Encouragements to the work laid down.  the encouragements to the work. 1. The Word is gone forth for ruin against Babylon, Rev. 14. 8. & 18. 2. Babylon is fallen, is fallen: the word is doubled, so that her ruin is certain, it is irresistible, and irreparable; a great part of your work is done to your hands; so that though all the World cry up Babylon, it shall not be able to rear one stone of it again; So that for plucking down, which is a great part of your work, it is already done: She is fallen in God's sentence, and she is falling, her execution draws nigh. 2. The word of promise is gone forth, Aedificabo Ecclesiam, Mat. 16. 18. Now let all the world cry it down, they shall not prevail, the word of God's command is a word of power, it is invincible, there is no standing against that word: Is. 44. 20. 2●. 28. there is a commanding promise full of majesty and might, and upon this promise follows the work, and the workmen fall to the business, Isa. 45. 1. 2. 3. I might give many promises to this purpose, but they all empty themselves into that which is named; now although the Decrees of Princes should stand in the way to oppose the Decree of God, they shall do no good, Micah 7. 11.  
3 Many prayers are sent up to heaven for these very purposes; the cloud that was no bigger than a man's hand, 1 King. 18. 44. was a token of a great deal of rain, but that could of incense, Levit. 16. 13. compared with Psal. 141. 2. that is ascended to heaven, has covered not the Mercy seat only, but the Heavens, and certainly this cloud will fall down in showers of mercy.  
4 The eyes of all true Christians are upon you, and their hopes and interests seem to be embarked in you: certainly a Vessel laden with so precious engagements and interests of the present and future ages, cannot miscarry. Caesarem vehis, was thought encouragement enough to the boat-man, who wafted over the great Commander of the world in a tempest; you carry the interests of Christ, and therefore although the Sea be rough and dangerous, you need not fear.  
5 The late Covenant is none of the least encouragements, that triple combination of three Kingdoms will shake the Triple Crown; for it was the course that Antichrist took to establish his Throne, by confederacies and oaths, Rev. 13. 16, 17. the mark there may be taken for that indelible character which those that were in orders did receive, (as the Papists affirm) when they did bind themselves by oath to defend and promote the Papal See; or it may be taken for that solemn Oath which 
a So Ot●o primus anno 942. sworn to john 12 Pope. Se●sanctam ecclesiam Rom. & johan. rector 〈◊〉 ej●s exaltaturum, s●cundum posses●u●. Distinct. 63. 〈◊〉. Tibi domino. And lib. Pontifical. the Emperor's Oath is set down: prom●tut, spondet, polli●●tur, at que jurat coram Deo, & ●ea●o Petro, se de caetero protectorum, procuratorem & difeaserem ●ore summi 〈◊〉, & sancte Ecclesiae Rom. etc. Clement, Lib. 2. Tit. De jurejurand●.  Emperors took, in which they did swear allegiance to the Pope; others also did usually swear to maintain the Church of Rome; and there was an oath framed not long since with an etc. in it, in which we must have sworn up Prelacy, and something else: Now as the Papal Hierarchy hath been sworn up, so it must be sworn down; the sealed servants of God, Rev. 7. 2. i e. those that have bound themselves by oath and Covenant to him, (for oaths are seals) shall confound the marked servants of the Beast.  
6 There be many intimations and prognostics of the overthrow of Babylon, and of the re-edifying of jerusalem; of the rising of the one, and of the ruin of the other; amongst many, I will point out some few.  
1 The Churches of God are brought to a very low ebb, and a most past hopes, they have traveled with sorrow, and brought forth Benonies, tears, the issues of sorrow; now the time of the Churches groaning and sighing, is the time in which the Embryo of deliverance and mercy is begun in the womb, and the acutest throws and pangs of the Church have been immediate forerunners of some child of promise, of some Isaac to the Church; In the mount it shall be seen: So it was with Israel, Exod. 2. 23, 24, 25. and Psal. 102. from the 2. to the 13. is set forth the low condition of the Church, and vers. 13. is Gods time set forth, to arise for the help of his people.  
2 The pride, cruelty and impudence of the Church's enemies, show that they are ripe for ruin; the iniquity of the Amorites is almost full; the filling up of the measure of their iniquity is not only a forerunner, but a cause and provocation to their ruin, and the emptying of the vials of God's wrath; when they are on the highest pinnacles of glory, and ambition, and insolency, than they are nearest their downfall, Isa. 14. 13, 14, 15, 16. and Apoc. 18. 7, 8.  
3 The general shake and earthquakes of Kingdoms. For when Christ doth do any notable things for his Church, against his adversaries, he shakes the foundations and pillars of States and Kingdoms: The truth is, when the Lord doth any notable things in the world, you shall find that there hath been great tumults and commotions in States, Jer. 5. ult. joel 3. 16. At the ruin and fall of the Caesarean Empire after the death of julian, there was mighty earthquakes, and also great commotions and shake of Nations 
a Ammian. Marcel. l. 26. c. 31. H●ron. vita Hi●ionis. Ammian. ibid. in c. ●0. Socrat l. 4. c. 27. Paul. Diac. Hist. Miscell. lib. 12. c. 14. Med. Apost of the latter times, into Christi 367. which was about the time of the ruin of Rome heathen. gravis extit●t terrae m●tus, & velut per universum orbem Rom. bellicum canontibus buccinis, excitatae gentes saevissimae, limits si●i proximos persultabant; Gallians, Rhaetiasqu● simul Alemann● popu●abantur: Sarmatae l'ann●n●am & Quadi●●icti, saxons, & Scoti, & A●●acorti Britannos aerumnis ve●avere continuis; A●oriani Ma●r caeque a●iae gentes Africam solito acrius incursabant: Thraci●s diripiebant praedatorii 〈◊〉 Gothorum: Persarum Rex Armeniis manus ini●ctabat C●luver. hist. Epit. 〈◊〉. Oros. lib. 7. cap. 3●. : Certainly, God hath some great work in hand, otherwise he would not thus shake the Heavens and Earth, as he now doth.  
4 The great number of choice and excellent spirits, ●itted on purpose for some extraordinary employments: you shall find still when God had any notable design, he raised up some eminent instrument which he would honour so fare as to make use of to bring the business to pass. The truth is, those that have appeared in the world in any more notable degree of eminence, and have been singled out for noble and heroic services, it hath pleased God to imprint some special characters upon their spirit, that so thereby he might as it were authorise them for employments. So Moses, joshuah, Samuel, Deborah, Gedeon, Samson, David, Solomon, Cyrus, Zorobabel, Nehemiah, I might instance in Prophets and Apostles which came to those great places and designs, to which they were called, with certain impressions of a Divinity upon them; this makes me think there is some notable design which God is now bringing 〈◊〉 in regard he hath prepared so many instruments to set on work; I do believe the world never had the spirits of men more elevated and raised up to the highest pitch, aiming at nothing under a thorough Reformation; Zion and jerusalem is in their eye and in their heart continually: Men seem to be aspiring and even ambitious to contribute something to that work which shall be the glory of the world.  
5 The general talk throughout the household among the domestics, is, that Christ their King is coming to take possession of his Throne, they do not only whisper this, and tell it in the ear, but they speak it publicly; now you know that before that Kings do go to a place, their purpose is first known among their domestic servants, it is talked of within doors first, and then it is published abroad, and you shall have harbingers to prepare their way: This hath been the news quite through the household, and harbingers have been sent abroad, it is a sign that he is not far off, it will not be long before he will come.  
6 The Gods of Babylon are in disgrace, and scorned and trampled on, an evident sign of approaching ruin; if once the Gods of a Nation be taken, and captivated, the Nation must not, cannot stand long. Now the Idols of Rome are in great discredit, and those are the gods of Rome; for the Idols of a place are called in Scripture the gods of a place, jer. 16. 13. The Idols, the Pictures, Images, Crucifixes, superstitious practices, Relics, and Ceremonies, Rites, and Customs, with the Laws of their Gods, are scorned, and disdained, and loathed. Is. 46. 1. 2. It is said, Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, etc. the famous Idol gods fall down; God's judgements were executed upon them; Babylon doth not stand long after, for ch. 47. 1. God says, Come down, and sit in the dust, &c dost thou think to stand when thy gods be down? So jer. 50. 2. speaking of Babylon's destruction it is said, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces, her Idols are confounded, her Images are broken in pieces: And jer. 51. 44. God says, I will punish Bel in Babylon; than it follows, the wall in Babylon shall fall: and ch. 48. 7. speaking of Moabs' captivity, he says, Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his Priests. Chemosh was the Idol of the Moabites. Thy gods, O Rome, are captivated, banished, scorned; Rome look to thyself, thou canst not stand long; the gods are 〈◊〉 out of their strong holds spoken of Dan. 11. 39 (i. e.) out of the Temples which are the Ecclesisticall holds, dedicated to the true God and the Mahuzzims Deo & Sanctis, as Master Mede very well expounds it, in his Apostasy of the latter Times. Now we see that the very names of Saints set up with God and assigned to days and places are almost cast off, and the Images of Saints, which are strong 
a Crosses have been esteemed Fortresses and Ammunition, whence that usual expression among the Ancients, munire signo crucis. And Constantius Ma●ssa inve●giling against 〈◊〉 for demolishing Images, 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 at● muni●ones ve●gios● cultus.  holds too, are broken down: Wherefore as L. Florus said concerning the taking of Carthage, after Carthage none need be ashamed to be conquered 
b L. 2. c. 7 Post Cart 〈…〉 etc. ; So I say, after the Conquest and captivity of the gods of Rome, Rome need not blush to follow; The very Heathens when they besieged a City 
c 〈◊〉 sets down the Charm used against 〈◊〉, l. 〈◊〉 c 8. , in the first place they charmed the gods of the place, and then they doubted not of the City: The gods of Babylon are charmed, and therefore it cannot be imagined that Babylon should hold out long.  
7 The Prophetical Calandre in which the time of the ruin of Babylon, and the building of Zion is foretold, seems to intimate that the time is near approaching both for the one and the other. For there is the same measure of time, the same synchronismes of the 1 woman, (i. e.) the Church of God living in the wilderness, which is for a time, times, and half a time: And 2 of the seaven-headed beast, (i. e.) Rome, which should reign 42. months: And 3 of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth 1260. days, Rev. 11. 3. & 12. 6. & Rev. 13. 5. Then 4 there is the same measure of time, of the treading under foot of the Court and the holy City by the Gentiles, Rev. 11. 2. As for time, times, 
Mr. ●rightman in Apoc.  and half a time, it is expounded, c. 12. v. 6. compared with 14. to be three years and a half: And three years and a half contain 
Mr Mede in 〈…〉.  42. Months, and likewise in three years and a half there be 12●0 days. Now it is frequent in Prophecies to set down a day for a year; so then by that account the witnesses sufferings under the Beast, and the Church's persecution by the Whore, and the tyranny of Antichrist, reckoning a day for a year, must be 1260. years, which is just so many years as Christ Preached days (as is conjectured:) Now some take the beginning of this account from Hildebrand, for then Antichrist was very high, Anno 6●6. according to the number of the beast, Rev. 13. 18. I will not undertake 
Mr. Mason in a Prof. to his Histo.  to determine when we should begin and when to end the account, but it is clear that there is the same beginning and the same ending. However take your level where you will, there cannot be many years remaining of 1260. not many weeks of the three years and a half, not many days of the 42. Months. I may add to this, that the Vials that are poured forth already upon Babylon, and the evident Declinations of the Papal state, are as so many steps to ruin; the deadly wounds given to the Whore-ridden Beast are so many prologues to the Tragedy of Rome: It would be too long to go over all the particulars severally.  
8 I might add the Predictions of Astrologers, and those that study the Almanac of Heaven written in visible Characters 
* Nuntius Prophet. It were worthy to be considered who they are that he charges with Rebellion and Treason, and Murders, and Thefts, etc. whom also he calls by that opprobrious name of Ca●uli Calinarii. pag. 28. : there is one that is so fare from favouring your proceed, that he hath most unworthily reproached you, in a book set forth by him in which he hath collected some choice observations, (give him his due) out of the most learned Astronomers, which seem to give great light to all that I drive at: 
a Alsted. Spec. Mundi insert. Chronol. & in Encyclop. absolatâ, Septimâ hâc revolutione Pla●ctae redeunt ad sua initia, unde finis regnorum Mundi à pe●itis rei Astronomicae codigitur. Encyclop pag. 46. fol. edit. 1630. & in Chron. (b) Sabbatismi quandam o●cultam rationem obtinet (speaking of this seventh revolution) & prae caeteris peculiar, & magni momenti quid denuntiat. Tych. Brahe.  Alsted, and he out of Tycho Brahe, says that from the year 1603. to 1642. the world will receive great mutations, because in those 40. years comes to a period, the seventh revolution of the Planets; besides the numbers in Daniel and the Apocalypse confirm the same: (a) Tycho Brahe says, that this seventh revolution hath somewhat peculiar and singular above all the former, he speaks as if it pointed at a Sabbatime, and that by this means a preparation or protasis were made to the apocalyptical thousand years. Alsted speaks peremptorily concerning the conjunction of Saturn and jupiter in Aries, in February last, 1642. portendit (says he) novi alicujus imperii revolutionem: It is remarkable what Kepler said concerning the influence and effects of that portentous star in Serpent which appeared in Octob. 1604. and vanished in Febr. 1606. 
a Kepl. de Stella Serpent. p. 6. Haec particula respite for●an conc●. ●ordrectanum 148. session●u, celebratum, 618. & Magnum 〈◊〉. Ang●c. qu●m 〈◊〉. conventu● praesenti hoc anno 1642.  he says that Ecclesiastical Discipline shall be restored by a public Council, the Church shall be reform, licentiousness of youth shall be clean taken away, and the madness of the people shall be restrained, and an Aristocracy Collegiorum, which may be capable of more constructions, shall prevail. The Author of Nunt. Prophet. says, that he may aim either at the Synod of Dort 1618. or (laugh not Nuntius) The Assembly of Divines now called. Keplers' Prediction is very strange, and is yet to be fulfilled, and although some scorn that it should be meant of this Assembly, yet even they (if vengeance suffer them to live) may see the business in a good forwardness toward an accomplishment. I could tell you of much more in this kind out of Astronomers and Divines, who speak strangely of the Climacterical year of the Beast, and the horns upon the head of the Beast, as also of those glorious times approaching; but this would ask larger compass than the time will bear, or a Sermon will contain. Wherefore now I suppose I may encourage you as the Apostle did the believing Jews, Heb. 10. 23. 25. Let us (says he to them) hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. What day? That day in which your faith shall be confirmed in the Doctrine which I have Preached, which is the abolition of the Priesthood, (of which he had spoken before) and the legal Ceremonies; for nothing could add a greater confirmation to their faith, which were believing Jews, then to see the desolation of the Temple of which Christ had prophesied, and of the whole Religion of the Jews as touching Ceremonies, foretold by the Prophets: So also may be understood, v. 35. & 37. of the same chap. Cast not away your confidence, etc. For yet a little while, he that shall come, will come, and shall not tarry: What he is this? but even he that Daniel had prophesied of, 9 26. The people of the Prince that shall come, shall destroy the City and the Sanctuary. That is, T. Vespasian, the R. Emperor, that was to come: I confess others interpret the day spoken of, of the day of judgement but without any colour of truth: Now as the Apostle did encourage the believing Jews from the time approaching in which they should see the end of daniel's 70. weeks, and the legal Sanctuary abolished, and so by that they might know the Messiah was come; So I may encourage you from this, that the time is very nigh in which you shall see the utter abolition of the stability and glory of the Romish Religion and State, the time is nigh (as may be conjectured) the expiring, set forth in the 42 Months, and 1260. days, and the three years and a half, and in the mystical language of a time, times, and half a time: Since it is so, the same words may be spoken to you, as David spoke to his Son Solomon, when he was to build the material Temple, which was but a Type of this about which you are employed, 1 Chron. 22. 11. 12. 13.  
I come now to a Use of direction, in which (with all humility and submission) I shall endeavour to lay down some Rules.  
1. Remember that those are Carpenters that are employed in this great work; Therefore you must do as they that are to build, you must always go by rule, and by line, and plummet; you must be most exact in the business, and have a care to go by rule yourselves, to keep close to Law, and cause others to walk by rule and measure, and steer by compass; those that forsake rule, they may perhaps be said to build, but as those spoken of Micah 3. 9 10. they build up Zion with blood, and jerusalem with iniquity.  
2. Prepare choice materials for the house of God, you must do what lies in you for it; here must be no hay nor stubble, no humane inventions in this frame, they must be all cast out, and kept out.  
3. Seek out wise master bvilders, choice instruments, which must be more immediately employed in the service, and rearing up the Tabernacle of jacob, lest in stead of a uniform building you have a Babel: Those that build with untempered mortar, they do but patch and dawb, but they do not build; you must have a special care to set up lamps, and you must see that they be furnished with store of oil; choose Aholiabs and Bezu●ls, men throughly furnished to every good work.  
4 Take heed of doing the Lords work negligently and by halfs; It is a terrible word that was spoken, Jer. 48. 10. Remember what was said, Ezr. 7. 23. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done, for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the Realm of the King and his Sons? Consider that Saul did the work almost, but for that he was altogether rejected of God, 1 Sam. 15. 9 26. therefore go you thorough with your work; the King of Israel being bid to smite upon the ground by the Prophet Elisha, he smote but thrice, but the man of God was angry with him and told him, he should have smitten five or six times, and then he should have smitten Syria till he had consumed it, but now he should smite it but thrice, 2 King. 18. 19 What ever horns stand in the way, smite them, till you have knocked them off. The King of Israel paid dear for sparing, when he was to have destroyed, 1 King. 20. 42. his life went for that life of him whom he spared, and the King of Israel's people for his people. The Law concerning Oxen that push with the horns, and gore, is set down, Exod. 21. 28. 29. It is not said his horns shall be sawn off, but he must be stoned, and if the owner had warning of the beast, and would not take a course with the beast that he should hurt none, he was to be put to death; you have to do with horned beasts, and they have pushed and killed, and you have had warning; I say no more, These very beasts are much more outrageous, like a Stag that is wounded, or a Bull that hath received a knock at the Shambles, will make him that shot or struck them the object of their fury if they can; certainly the very worst use is made of suspensions and delays, according to that Eccles. 8. 11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil: Remember likewise that there is a stigma and a brand of infamy set upon those Kings, that did not go thorough with the business of Reformation, 2 King. 14. 4. & 15. 4.  
5. Take heed of building upon an old frame, that must be all plucked down to the ground; take heed of plastering when you should be pulling down; now it is apparent that the old house built up by the faction of Antichrist is leprous, the plague of leprosy hath appeared in every part thereof; it has been scraped and the stones plucked out, and plastered up again, and yet the leprosy breaks forth, therefore according to the Law of leprosy. Leu. 14. 44, 45. it must be pulled down, and you must not make use of the materials of it, but according to the Law they were to be cast out into an unclean place; what ever we have had from Rome to patch up a Church withal, you must take care that it be cast out of the Church, let them be cast back to Rome, which is Sodom, a beastly unclean sink, from whence we had them; there was a curse upon jericho, josh. 6. 26. it was razed down never to be built, so must Babylon be plucked down, and every part of it, therefore take heed there be no building upon any part of that frame that is cursed.  
6. Have a special care that none of the horns that are knocked off spring up again; what ever locks of the sampson's of state you have shorn off, take heed they do not grow again; remember the house that he plucked down upon the heads of his enemies, and remember that envenomed spirits, by how much their power is abated, by so much the more their malice doth increase.  
7. There should be a special care had concerning those that are admitted to the work: Ezr. 4. 1. 2. you have some offer to build with God's people, but they would not admit them, v. 3. First, take heed that none of a different Religion be employed in this work, neither false Teachers, and those that are heterodox in their tenets; for if they be true to their own principles, they must advance and promote their own faction and way; 
a Ludovic. Laurent. pag. 53. Ecclesia vetro nova 〈◊〉. cura Abrah. Sculteti. Pet. Gregor. l. 23. c. 3. the rep. Anton. Theorem. 30. Bod. l. 4. c. 1. Scipio Amirath. joh. Althus polit. cap. 31. etc.  There be that have taken good pains to show divers reasons of this caution; Secondly, it is no ways fit that those that are engaged in the work should speak half the language of Canaan, and half the language of Ashdod; they ought not to be linsie-woolsey men, neutrals or uterques, these will daub, they will not build; Thirdly, no Novelists, these will much disturb proceed, for novelties at the first are taking, these will raise a dust, which will not easily be allayed: Fourthly, no Formalists and Ceremonious men to be admitted, these will be bringing some straw and stubble in stead of precious stones; all these kind of men will distract and trouble the workers they will never advance or promote it, they are fit for the building of a Babel, than the Zion of God.  
8. Labour to get faith and to increase it, study holiness and be inflamed with love, and zeal to the cause of God; he that wants ●aith, wants an engine that can move the Globe of Heaven and Earth, and that engageth the arm of God to advance the building; faith is very necessary, for the walls of Babylon, as well as the walls of jericho, will fall down before it: holiness must be their study, your work is to build the Lords house, within your line and compass: now they that are to be employed in this business are called Gods sanctified one's, Is. 13. 3. therefore let holiness to the Lord be written upon your hearts, upon your foreheads, and upon your actions: zeal is necessary; Christ said, that the zeal of God's house had even eaten him up, joh. 2. 17. and Psal. 69. 9 David who was a type of Christ, he speaks the same language either of himself or Chri●; if any thing swallows you up, let it be the care of this business: then for love and strong affections to the business, it is most requisite you should have them; Love puts oil to the wheels, and zeal drives them with more speed and swiftness: It is not a few sparks of either will serve the turn, now you should be all in flames; for by you life, and heat, and activity, are to be communicated to many a dull and lumpish and leaden spirit: It is said of David, 1 Chron. 29. 3. that he set his affection to the building of God's house; and Neh. 4. 6. it is said the people had a mind to the work: Zeal is winged with watchfulness and diligence, and the work calls for all these; you have an excellent pattern in Nehemiah, ch. 2. 12, 13, 14, 15, & 4. 9, 14, 15, etc.  
As for you (honourable and beloved) there be the greatest engagements 
Engagements to quicken to your duty.  upon you to excite you to your duty that ever were upon mortal men; for if honourable Services and Employments be engagements, you are called to them, and they call for duty: If fasting days, and days of humiliation be engagements, you have had them: If great advantages, and precious opportunities of being and doing good be engagements, you have them presented every day, they come petitioning to you and desire to be entertained, they come a wooing to you, and beg your favourable acceptance: If deliverances, and thanksgiving days be obligations on you, you have enjoyed them: If strange and admirable providences be strong bonds, you have had them: If prayers and tears of Saints, if the hopes and expectations of the people of God concerning you be mighty engagements, then surely you have them all: If God's honour and his Church's interests, whose bvilders you are, and his cause, whose Vindices and Assertors you are, be engagements, these you have deposited to you: If the Interests of Towns and Countries, and a Kingdom of Christendom in a great measure, carry any weight in them, you have them cast upon you: If difficulties, and oppositions, and malice of Devils and men, be engagements (as certainly they are) to stir you up to zeal, etc. then I am sure you have them declared against you; here be incentives (I suppose enough) to quicken you.  
When I consider the work with all the concomitants and consequences 
Some pressing considerations to the Honourable House.  issuing from it, the weighty and ponderous circumstances attending it; me thinks a Parliament of glorious Angels should be fit to be employed in such a business as this, then of weak and sinful men. I cannot but break forth into admiration, and make use of those words of David, Psal. 8. 4. 5. What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou vistest him! for thou hast made him a little lower than Angels, and crowned him with glory and honour: I may say, What are you that God should single you out for this great work, which the holy Angels, if they were to make their option and choice, would as soon pitch upon, that they might lay forth their excellencies, and engage their perfections in, as soon as any that ever was transacted among the children of men! May not therefore every one of you speak as David did to Saul when he offered him his Daughter, 1 Sam. 18. 18. Who am I? or what is my life, or my Father's Family in Israel? I may likewise use the words of Peter in another case, 2 Pet. 3. 11. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? Honourable and beloved, you are chosen men all, but are you all choice men? you are men picked and called out of thousands that you might be Carpenters, (it is the Lords own word) have you prayed and wept, that you may be fitted for the building of the Lords house? you are chosen out of all the Tribes of Israel, and it is supposed that you represent the virtues, godliness, the humility, the zeal, the prudence, etc. of whole Towns, and Countries, and of a Kingdom. For it is supposed that those Towns and Countries from whence you are sent, would make choice of such, who being most eminent in these things and other excellencies, are most fit to advance the good of Church and State, and to represent Laconically, and by way of abridgement, the piety and holiness, etc. of a Kingdom; the thousands of Israel speak and vote in you, consider well whether you speak as if thousands of men's interests did depend upon your words. Let me use the Apostles words, speaking concerning godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7. what carefulness should this work in you; yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge? Let it be your constant endeavour, in all things to approve yourselves clear in this matter.  
Consider well, are you the men that have taken pains with yourselves to humble yourselves before the Lord, that so he might show you the form of his house, for it is said concerning the house of Israel, Ezek. 43. 11. If they be ashamed of all that they have done, then show them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, etc. If you have not done this, then certainly you are much indebted, and in great arrearages, you are much behind hand, me thinks this should cast you flat upon your faces this day: It must needs humble you exceedingly, if it may be truly said by Almighty God concerning any of you, My work goes on slowly, because you are sluggish, because you want zeal, and love, and courage to my cause: My building is at a stand, because you are at a stand, you make no progress in holiness, therefore you make no better progress in the great affairs committed to you; Reformation goes on slowly, because you yourselves that should be Reformers, want reformation. It will be a heavy charge if it may be truly said, the hopes and expectations of a Kingdom are suspended, because you are not humbled, because some of you have by-ends, carnal and collateral respects, private engagements and particular interests, which bias you a wrong way: That the Kingdom groans and weeps, because you will not weep for your sins; if any of these things may be truly said of any of you, it will prove a very weighty and a terrible charge. It is said of jeroboam the Son of Nebat, that he made Israel to sin, and because David sinned, 70000. men must die; public persons and a representative Body may cause a Kingdom to sin, and a Kingdom to be plagued; take heed it be not said, that England sins because of you, or that England suffers because you sin.  
You are the first fruits of a Kingdom, chosen on purpose for special service; the whole lump was sanctified and blessed, for the first fruits sake, Rom. 11. 16. Rev. 14. 4. If any of you should be swearers, or covetous, or unclean, or profane, you may bring a great curse, fare greater than ordinary; If our blessings be cursed, as it is, Mal. 2. 2. how great is that curse! A Nation is represented by you, (and truly a very miserable Nation, because a very sinful one) I could wish your sorrow were such this day that it might appear you represent a Kingdom's sorrows, and a Kingdom's tears; I could wish that it were so great, as that God would accept it for a Kingdom, for so God doth sometime; you being the first fruits, who knows but you may be accepted, and the whole lump for you? I would to God it were proportionable some way to the Nations sins which you represent; so that as it may be said, never any sin like England's sin, so it may also be said, never any sorrow was like your sorrow: The greatest mourners in Zion, are the best bvilders of Zion: every sin you subdue this day, you knock down a horn that pusheth against the building of God's house; every lust that you slay this day, you dash out the brains of a Babylonian that hinders the building.  
God forbidden that that complaining reproof of God against the Elders of Israel, Ezek. 14. 3. 4. should be true of any of you; God would not be enquired of by them, because they had Idols in their heart, and put a stumbling block of their iniquity before their face, and this made God a stranger to them, v. 5. The very first work in any Reformation was the casting down of Idols and removing stumbling blocks; let it not be said of any of you, that you carry any Idols in your hearts, which are the greatest stumbling blocks, or that you should harbour any Babylonians in your bosoms, which secretly undermine and pull down that which you seem to build; let this day be a day of throwing down the strong holds of sin, and I assure myself it will be a day of rearing up and building.  
The ruin of the Kingdom of Satan, Antichrist, and Sin, is the raising up of the Kingdom and Church of Jesus Christ.  
I shall, lastly, suggest some consolation to you; to this purpose 
A word of comfort for conclusion.  let me use the words that Moses spoke to Joshuah and the children of Israel, when they were to enter Canaan, Deut. 31. 6. Be strong, and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee, he will not fail thee nor forsake thee: I do not doubt but that Prophecy concerning the jew, may in a good measure have its accomplishment upon you also, Zech. 8. 23. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, In those days it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the Nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you: God will (I doubt not) make it appear so visibly that he is with you, that although for the present you and we have such a day as is spoken of Zech. 14. 6. in which the light is neither clear, nor dark, yet if you commit your way unto the Lord, and if you trust in him, he will bring it to pass: and make that blessed promise good unto you which follows in the next verse, Psal. 37. 5. 6. he will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgement as the noonday: And although you are for the present both in sweat and blood, yet you must remember that promise to God's people, Is. 9 3. their joy should be according to the joy in harvest, that is a joy cum sudore; harvest work is sweeting work, sweat goes before and attends that joy; and they shall rejoice as men that divide the spoil; that is, their rejoicing should be like the rejoicing of those who by blows and blood had gained the conquest: so that your labour is cum sanguine to, but your rejoicing shall be like theirs that divide the spoil, a victorious triumphant rejoicing; so that although God doth promise great things, yet they shall not be accomplished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, he sets out great mercies to sale for sweat and blood: for those that he doth employ in any great design, he puts them upon the exercise of their faith and patience, as well as their parts and prudence: I do not doubt but that are long it shall be true of you and all that join with you, as it was of the jews Eph. 8. 16. 17. The jews had light and gladness joy and honour: And in every Province and in every City, the 〈◊〉 had joy and gladness a Feast and a good day: and many of the people of the Land bec●me jews for the fear of the jews fell upon them.  
FINIS.