ZIONS IOY IN HER KING, coming in his Glory. WHEREIN, The estate of the poor distressed Church of the Gentiles( travailing in the wilderness towards the new Jerusalem of the Jews) in her utmost extremities, and height of her joys, is lively delineated; In some Meditations upon that prophetical psalm 102. wherein the sense is opened, and many difficult places of Scripture enlightened by a harmony, and consent of the Scriptures. delightful and profitable to be red in these times of the Churches troubles, and much longed for restauration and deliverance. BY FINIENS CANUS VOVE. Compiled in Exile, and lately now revised and somewhat augmented as the weight of the Subject and the revolution of the times required. Isay 33. 17. Thine eyes shall see the King in his Glory, they shall see the Land afar off. Psal. 107. 43. Hos. 14. 19. Who so is wise to observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. MVnDo In reX christus regnabIt VerVs & VnVs. 1643. IT is ordered this three and twentieth day of January, 1642 by the Committee of the Commons House of Parliament concerning Printing, that this book entitled Zions joy in her King, coming in his Glory, be printed. John White. Printed at London for Benjamin Allen, in Popes-head Alley, 1643. TO THE READER. IT was the desire of Augustine to have seen Christ in the flesh, Paul in the Pulpit, Rome in her glory, things that could not be attained; but what Christian is there who is not glad to see Pulpits furnished with men of Pauls spirit, who carry the message of Christ in their mouths, the image of Christ in their lives, the marks of Christ in their bodies, and setup Christ in his Throne in their writings? and would not be glad to see Christ, not in the flesh, but in his power riding on his white horse, Rev. 6. with his bow and arrows in his hand conquering his enemies, and ruling his people with his golden sceptre? to see Rome not in her glory, but ruins, downfall of Rome and Babylon, with all that Antichristian faction? to which purpose give me leave to commend this little Treatise to thee; the main scope whereof is to give notice to the world that Christ is up & at work to make way for his coming, wherein the Author hath taken in hand to lay down the signs of it, both from the word and works of God, that he is not far off; and truly the great shakings that now are in all Christendom, & especially in these Islands, foreshow that God is about some great work, & will shake down( his house) that rotten frame of Hierarchy & Antichristian government before he have done, and not leave till he have made way for such materials as may make way for a better building then formerly; and that there shall be a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness, and that there shall be not onely a reformation, but a resurrection of Christians in the world. Oh how welcome would that day be to the godly, as Noahs Dove when she brought the Olive leaf in her mouth, or the reappearing of the Star to the wise men, as a return after a tedious storm to the master! Amongst the many truths that are abroad, very few have taken any pains in this subject, which is of as great concernment as any one for the present, and therefore thou mayst take some pains to read over and weigh the scope of the Author; let us add our endeavours to the work, by praying, believing, and laying down the old way of superstition, if we may be ready to receive Christ when he doth come, to further him up to his Throne, and bid him welcome. John Allen. The Author to the Reader. Courteous Reader, LArge Prefaces are neither pleasing or profitable, I will not trouble thee with more then needful in reading the ensuing discourse of the state of the Church in her present extremities and future joys: Three things may seem to bee useful for thy consideration. 1. Concerning the psalm itself. 2. The matter handled from thence. 3. The intention and aim of the Author. First, for the psalm itself, the illustration of verse 1. may serve for Preface touching the psalm in general. Secondly, touching the matter handled from thence in particular, it is for substance a harmony and conference of the Scriptures for clearing the scope of this prophetical psalm, and mind of the Spirit of God, in what is there written for our instruction. And these Scriptures are most part prophecies of the old Testament, conferred with the new, and almost every where with the rest of the divine Oracles. In reading of the Prophecies we find, first, some things which have both a spiritual and literal sense, where the spiritual sense hath been usually received, and the literal rejected of most interpreters, as in most of the Prophecies concerning the Jews conversion and coming in to Christs kingdom, and of the flourishing and spreading of Christs kingdom in the world. Secondly, some things have a literal sense onely, and yet taken mystically of many, as most of the Prophecies concerning the Jews return to their own Country, and possessing it in outward prosperity in a flourishing happy condition in this world. Thirdly, some Prophesies have been taken to be fulfilled and past, which here thou shalt find never yet fulfilled, and bee yet to come, and belong to the time of Christs kingdom in the later dayes. Fourthly, some Prophesies which are said in the new Testament to be fulfilled, are but yet in part fulfilled, and have a further reach then we have been ware of, for Christs kingdom is not yet accomplished( saith Calvin upon Esay very frequently) and though they have been taken as fulfilled plenarily under the gospel, it is true in part; but so as yet the gospel hath a further extent then we have yet seen or attained to; and many things in it, as well as in the old Testament, have a further reach then we have been ware of, even to the time of the completing of Christ kingdom in the later dayes, in the glorious estate of the new Church, after the ruin of Rome, the Jews full conversion, and spreading thence to the ends of the earth. That such a glorious state of the Church shall be, is clearly evinced by these reasons. First, the Scriptures teach us abundantly, that the Churches enemies who have long flourished in peace and prosperity, rage and tyranny over the Saints, shall at length be plagued and utterly destroyed. Secondly, it suits with Gods Justice, to render vengeance to them, and rest and peace to the Church even in this world. Thirdly, it suits with Christs kingly glory and honour to make his Church, his kingdom glorious before he resign it to the Father. Fourthly, God hath promised this to Christ and his dear bought Church as a reward of his and their sufferings in this world. Fiftly, experience of former great deliverances teach it. sixthly the fall of Antichrist at hand, and the beginnings of Romes ruin lead to it. Seventhly, strange signs and wonders in the world of late are forerunners of it. Eightly, the changes and alterations the Lord Jesus is daily working in the world, are lively effects of his working in the remote beginnings and preparations to his kingdom: all which in the ensuing treatise thou shalt find cleared from the Scriptures, and we confidently expect to bee fulfilled by such ways and means as men least think of; when the Church is at last gasp, overwhelmed and given for lost in all human eyes, then Christs arm shall put on strength as in the dayes of old and work salvation, Isay 51. and 59. 17. then his works break out in the world, he will do great things, Joel 2. 21. when he arises to build his Zion, he will appear in his glory, and will be glorious in his works to the ends of the earth: for between Christs first appearing in the flesh and his last appearing to judgement, there is a middle or second appearing of his, as Alfonsus Mantuanus and others say, which they call his virtual coming to ruin Antichrist and restore the Church. And whereas here our psalm affords us frequent matter of treating of the Churches low estate in the wilderness: the wilderness I conceive to be every place where the Saints are oppressed and hunted of the enemies like wild beasts for rage and madness, so greedy of their prey as grudge the Saints the very common air to breath in, gape and some with rage to devour them: and so the wilderness is not barely abiding place from their rage and malice, though God even there provides some corners of more safety to some then to others; for the Lord hath promised to make the same wilderness a place of rest and safety, yea a Paradise of all felicity in the end, Isa. 35. 1. Chap. 51. 2, 3. Cant. 7. 11. Ezek. 34. 12. to 29. 3. Lastly touching the intent and aim of the Author, who having sustained some share in the Churches sorrows, and bitter troubles many yeares, tossing in tempests and floods of great waters, in a part of the world, to him a wilderness, under the rage and malice of all sorts of oppressors in Church and commonweal, like wild beasts hunting for their prey, where he some yeares ago by their rage and malice, with a violent tempest was driven into another corner of the world, where he found himself but still in another part of the wilderness, where in his weary pilgrimage he studied to find out some ground and footing of some future rest, at least to his hopeful posterity, even in this world; where he first composed these meditations in his sad condition and exile, from whence with shipwreck in his outward estate, he is now at last wet and weather beaten, through some hazards of person too, returned to his country, in little better then exile, still from his disconsolate family, and finding the Lord Jesus daily working forward in his work of renovation of all things, in some remote beginnings of his kingdom in the world, according to his weak sight and expectation, he could no longer neglect to communicate such things to others, as were the chief stay and support of his oppressed spirits in his bitter troubles: which now he hath also lately revised, seriously examined, and found comfortably confirmed, from the daily workings of the Lord Jesus, towards the setting up of his kingdom to the comfort and consolation of all who wait for redemption in the Churches restauration and full deliverance. If thou that readest be one that hath had a share in the Churches troubles, then here is some good news will be welcome to thee: who ever thou art, if a sincere Christian, thou mayst find somewhat to thy information, and furtherance of future consolation: if any thing suite not with thy judgement or affection, wait on God who may reveal it in due time; Judge nothing rashly, but bury it in that love which thinketh none evil: In which love I leave thee not willing longer to detain thee in too large an entrance, from looking into the varieties following. Scripsit in Exilio, FINIENS CANVS VOVE, constanter expectans Dei promissionis gratiam. Hoc Finiens Canus vove. A brief View of this 102. psalm. In the psalm we have two principal heads or parts. 1. A Prayer, Vers. 1. to the 14. 2. A prophesy, Ver. 14. to the end. 1. Part. In the Prayer we have these 6. things. 1. The prayer itself not ordinary but extraordinary. Ver. 1. 2. Of whom, of the poor afflicted Church. Ver. 1. 3. The time when, in time of great extremity. Ver. 1. 4. The manner of it, very vehement and fervent, wherein she first craves audience, and speedy hearing; secondly, deprecates the Lords angry countenance, Vers. 2, 3. 5. The matter of it; Sad complaints of 1. Consumption of dayes, Vers. 4. 12. of strength, Vers. 4, 6. of Spirits, ver. 5. 12. 25. 2. Sore troubles, such as make her neglect her food, Ver. 5▪ 3. A mournful solitary life in the wilderness, Ver. 7. 4. continual watchfulness in her husbands absence, Ver. 8. 5. The rage and reviling of her enemies continually, Ver. 9. 6. Course diet or homely fare, Vers. 10. 7. The sense of the Lords Anger, in sore desertions, and losses of both inward and outward privileges, brought to extremities, Vers. 11. 6. To whom the Church in these great troubles powers out these her sad complaints, that is to her Jehovah, Ver. 1. Christ the second person, to whose kingly office her deliverance pertains, Joh. 5. 22. her strong God, as able to do it as he is faithful to perform his promises, Vers. 25. and also unchangeable, to make up her full assurance of it, V. 13. 25. 27. 2. Part. In the prophesy or Prophetical part of it we have 2. things. 1. Jehovahs arising for her deliverance, Vers. 14. wherein wee have four things. 1. The grounds of her assurance of it. 1. It is high time to favour her. 2. It is his own set or appointed time. 2. The Arguments that move him to arise. 1. The low estate and ruins of his house and family. 2. The pity his old servants have on the ruins of his house, as scattered stones, & dust, move him much more to pity, Vers. 15. 3. His wonted gracious respect to the prayers of the desolate, Vers. 18. 20, 21. 3. The time of his arising, the set or appointed time, wherein 5. difficulties handled, and 11. signs of his coming prosecuted. 4. The end of his coming, for the Churches deliverance, his high praises, Vers. 22. 2. The manner of his coming, very glorious, V. 17. in three particulars. 1. In himself. 2. In his actions. 3. In the extent of them. 1. In himself; in warlike posture, in 5 things. 1. In his kingly titles. 2. In his royal person. 3. In his apparel. 4. In his riding and coming into the field. 5. In his royal attendants. 2. In his actions; glorious in three particulars. 1. In conquest of his enemies. 2. In conversion of Jews and Heathen, Vers. 16. 19. 23. 3. In building his desolate Zion, and setting up of his kingdom, Vers. 17. 26, 27, 28. where, of the glory of the new Church. 1. In general. 2. In particular, in 7. things. 2. Particular. 1. In a glorious liberty. 2. In healing all distempers. 3. In brightness and beauty, whereupon follows the marriage of the lamb. 4. In fruitfulness and great increase in multitudes of new converts. 5. In peace, plenty, and flourishing. 6. In protection and safety. 7. stability and perpetuity, Vers. 29. 3. In the extent of his Actions to the ends of the earth, and so he will be glorious in all lands, subduing them to his obedience, his Throne exalted above all dominion, as King of all the earth, Vers. 16. 23. MEDITATIONS VPON That prophetical psalm 102. VERSE I. A Prayer for the poor, when he is overwhelmed and poureth forth his Meditations before Jehovah. A Prayer] not ordinary but extraordinary, 1. A prayer not ordinary, but extraordinary. Vers. 1. Beza. Argument upon this Psal. and in time of great extremity, as wee shall see anon; who was the Author or Penman of it, or when it was penned, we find nothing in the Scriptures, some of the Learned have conceived it to bee written by Daniel about the time of the Jews captivity in Babylon, and belongs, saith learned Beza, to the most miserable times of the Church, as appears clearly by Vers. 14. 15. and seems to have some relation to that fervent Prayer of Daniel, Chap. 9. and to resemble the state of the Church mentioned, Ezek. 37. about the time of the calling of the Jews, and uniting of the ten Tribes with the other two, about which time it is like there shall be great troubles in the world. Beza his judgement of this psalm is, that there is no writing upon this Argument comparable to it, wherein the state of the Church in great extremity, and also spreading in admired glory and great majesty through the world under Christ, is most lively set forth, by the spirit of prophesy. And who more like to be the Author of so excellent a piece, then Daniel? one that had so lively a sense of the Churches sorrows, and had such high and excellent things revealed to him concerning her delivery, so that we may say of Daniel in the Old Testament, and of John in the New, who ever had more heavenly visions of the mysteries of Christs kingdom and glory of it in the last times, then they? none excelled them herein. Daniel, a man of an excellent spirit for wisdom and understanding to find out the high and hidden mysteries of God, Dan. 5. 11. and Chap. 6. 3. Daniel greatly beloved of God: and he again dearly loves the Church of God, and sustains her sorrows, spends himself in fasting and Prayer, and mourning sometimes full three weekes of dayes, for her miseries: and by unwearied study searches out the time of her delivery, Dan. 9. 2. and 10. 3. In all the book of God wee find not a more clear and compendious description of the state of the Church in the latter dayes, in her lowest and deepest extremity, and height of her transcendent joy in the sight of her King appearing in his glory, then in this psalm; as it is written, Luke 24. 44. All things concerning him must bee fulfilled which were written in the Law, and the Prophets, and in the psalms. Amongst which, this is one of the principal pieces, and can no way without violence to the truth and Spirit of God, the principal penner of it, be limited to the state of the Church in Babylon, and her delivery thence, as wee shall clearly see in the following Verses, and is clearly applied to the time of Christs kingdom, Heb. 1. 10. from the 26, 27, 28. Verses of this psalm. Some of the Jewish rabbins apply this prophesy of the state of the Church to their present exile and scattered condition, and promised restauration and return to Jerusalem, and their own country: The Lord open their eyes to see him whom they have pierced, and to seek after Jehovah their God, and David their King in these latter dayes, Jer. 30. 9. Hos. 3. 5. Concerning the Author or time of penning this psalm, it is not for us to bee too curious to inquire, where the holy Spirit is silent, it is sufficient that it is penned by the Spirit of God, as a lively portraiture of the Church in these latter dayes, in her humiliation and exaltation of Christs kingdom, which should be the subject of our deepest meditations, and choicest thoughts, daily prayers, desires and longing after it, and shall by Gods assistance be our earnest study, to observe from hence as it may be cleared by the Scriptures, for the consolation of all that partake in the Churches bitter troubles, and wait for redemption in jerusalem, Luke 2. 38. The next thing in this prayer is the persons for whom, 2. For whom, for the poor afflicted Church. 3. When, in time of great extremity, when the Church is even wasted and spent, sunk and gone in all mens eyes. [ For the poor] that is, the poor afflicted Church, or of the poor afflicted Church as some render it, the sense is all one as the next words declare. 3. The time when,[ When he] i. e. the Author or penman, sustayning the person of the poor afflicted Church, as jeremy did, Lam. 3. 1.[ Is overwhelmed] grievously and greatly afflicted in sorrows of all sorts, outward and inward trials, as Psal. 61. 2. like a Ship tossed in tempests in the deep waters, often covered with the lofty waves, up and down, and often sunk under water in all mens eyes, all the waves go over and over her, sunk and gone and given for lost; the word implies such a condition of the Church as when all is turned upside down in a forlorn condition, as Psal. 77. 3. and 142. 3. and 143. 4. & is more then clear in the complaints that follow, of enemies reviling continually, sworn and madly raging against the Church, unto bonds and appointment to death, consuming as smoke, as a shadow declined and gone, the long continuance of afflictions having almost worn out the remembrance of her, body consumed, strength wasted, bones burnt up like an hearth, radical moisture spent in sorrows and tears continually, and in this distress forsaken of friends and driven into the wilderness to be a Lam. 1. 17. companion to owls, & continually mourning as a Sparrow for want of her mate; watching all the long winter night of afflictions, in storms and tempests, & all weathers, winds blowing, waters raging, the heavens sending down thunder and lightning, the sense of her Lords indignation, of all other troubles the most troublesone, as wee shall see in the following Verses, and is not she now overwhelmed? I, but not sunk yet, her head is in heaven, she cannot be drowned, you shall see the storm cease by and by, Vers. 14. by her Jehovahs arising. And poureth forth] 4. Here we have the manner of the Churches 4 Thing in this prayer is the manner of it, and that is very remarkable. prayer suitable to her extremity, illustrated by a similitude taken from a vessel overcharged with new wine or strong liquour, that bursts for vent; Oh the heart bursting cries, shee sends out all the day, as wee shall see anon. Here is no lazy, slothful, lip labour stinted forms of prayer, no empty sounds of verbal expressions, which can never procure her a comfortable answer from her God, or the least ease to her burdened soul; but powred out prayers as Hanna, 1 Sam. 1. 15. and jeremy, Lam. 2. 12. pressed forth with vehemence of spirit, and heart pangs of inward grief: thus the Lord deals with his Church, and people, ere he power out cups of consolation, they must power out tears in great measure. Observe here by the way, that times of the Churches troubles, are times of tears, times of the Churches great affliction, are times of bitter weeping and mourning, times of exile and banishment of the Church into the Desert, and solitary mournful life in the wilderness, are times for frequent and fervent prayers. It is a sad thing that in these times of the Churches bitter troubles, few lay to heart her miseries, few help her with vehement and fervent prayers. On the contrary how deeply the true Prophets and Servants of God have been affencted with the Churches miseries, See Isa. 22. Lam. 1. jer. 4. 21. 31. Dan. 9. His meditation] 5. Here we have the matter of the Churches 5. Thing is the matter of this prayer, sad thoughts and sore complai●…. fervent prayer, and it is deep matter, of the works and wonders of God in the world, Psal. 77. 11, 12. serious thoughts, sad conceptions of many weary night watches, wherein the silent night, and solitary Desert, help her wearied mind against distractions to be deeply affencted with her low and almost lost condition, expressed in the verses following in sore complaints and fervent petitions, Vers. 2. to 12. and again in a new heart qualm revived and renewed, Vers. 25. And in this deep musing meditation of her sad condition, she calls to mind her former privileges in the dayes of her prosperity, comparing it with her present misery, Vers. 11. compared with Lam. 1. 7. and this aggravates her sorrows exceedingly, the sense of her Jehovahs indignation for abuse of high privileges wherewith she was lifted up, but now cast down to utter extremities; for sins against kindness are sins with a witness, highly incense the Lords anger, and bring upon a person or people the sharpest afflictions, though not utter ruin 6. To whom this p●… is powred forth, before or to Jehovah, Christ the second person, to whom all judgement is committed, joh 5. 22. to the Church in general, yet to many in particular, such sorrows as they may never live to see a joyful day in this life again. Before Jehovah] 6. Here wee have the person to whom the Church in her extremity poureth forth her sore complaints in prayer, and it is to her Jehovah, so applied as her God, yea her strong God, Vers. 25. This name Jehovah is full of divine mysteries of his eternal essence and being of himself; in and from whom all created nothings in the world receive their being, as from a full, perfect and pure fountain. The Jews pretend such reverence to this name Jehovah, as they dare not use it in their Synagogues, but in stead thereof red Adonai, Lord, at the naming of which they leap, and dance in expectation of their deliverance out of their wandering condition by the coming of their conceited messiah. This name Jehovah the Church is directed to put up her petitions unto in her extremity, signifies his faithfulness in performing his free & gracious promises for her deliverance in his appointed time, as Exod. 6. 4. And this very name of his shee calls upon, is a sure pledge to her of her deliverance, and therefore unto this name of his, she powers out her complaints, and as here she eyes his faithfulness in performance of his promises, so lest he might seem to be unable to do it, and work her deliverance in such deep distress as shee is now in, under mighty enemies, and when she is consumed and spent with struggling in the great waters, vers. 25. shee( being fallen into a new heart qualm, after she had got a sight of her Jehovahs arising) calls upon him in that name which is most suitable to her weak and wasted condition. My strong God, All-sufficient God, Gen. 17. 1. Her strong God, mighty to save, Vers. 25. Isa. 63. 1. as able, as faithful, and willing to help her, even the God of salvation, Psal. 68. 20. mighty to save, Isa. 63. 1. unchangeable, Vers. 13. 25. 27. Tremelius, whose version I follow, expounds Jehovah here in this psalm, to be meant of Christ the second person, to whose kingly office & administration it belongs, to deliver his Church, for the Father hath committed all judgement to the son, Joh. 22. coeternal with the Father, Joh. 1. 2. 3. And when the Church by an eye of Faith sees a gracious answer of her prayers, and by a beam of new light hath seen in the spirit her Jehovahs rising to have mercy on his Zion in the appointed time of the accomplishment of his promises, and confusion of her enemies, and conversion of Jews and Heathen, and spreading of his kingdom from East to West, Vers. 17. She then changes her note, and gives him a new name, and tells us what she and her new born children will do for him, who hath done such wonders for her, Vers. 19. 22. It shall be written for the generations to come, the new created people shall praise Jah; a name contracted of Jehovah, and seldom used in Scripture, but in Songs of praise, after some great deliverance and performance of his promises, as Psal. 68. 4. and in Deborahs Song, judge. 5. This name Jah is a triumphant name, suitable to Christ the valiant Champion of his Church, as the words import, Heb. 12. 2. and a mighty conqueror triumphing after his victories, as we shall see more anon. As it is the wisdom of the Spirit of God to direct his Church in all conditions to invocate him in such names and attributes, as most suite with her necessities, and his workings for her, so it should bee our wisdom and Christian dexterity, in powring out our prayers, in our own or the Churches extremities, to select, and choose such names of God and of his attributes, as most suite with our present condition in extremities, or greatest joys. Thus of the Prayer in general and the six particulars in it, first the Prayer, secondly for whom, thirdly the time when, fourthly the manner of it, fiftly the matter of it, sixthly to whom it is put up; wee come now to the particulars of this Prayer, both in manner and matter. Vers. 2. 3. Jehovah hear my Prayer, and let my crying come unto thee. hid not thy face from me in the day of my trouble, incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call, hear me speedily. The first thing here the Church craves is audience, or else shee The first thing she craves is audience with all speed, for it is a day of trouble. knew well though she should make the desert sound and resound with her hideous crying, and rend the heavens with her roaring all the day, all were in vain if her Jehovah harken not and incline not his ear; a phrase usual in Scripture, taken from the customary favour of Kings and Princes, and great Judges, it is a great favour to have the Judges ear, a greater honour to have the Princes ear, such a one dare no man attempt to wrong, for he will get justice. The next thing shee begs so earnestly before she powers out 2 Deprecates her Jehovahs anger. her complaints, is the loving aspect and favourable face of her Jehovah. hid not thy face from me, it is a day of trouble with me, and that so great as I need a speedy hearing. This hiding his face, the Church here deprecates as a sign of his anger and displeasure, as Psal. 30. 7. 13. 1. and 27. 9. job 13. 24. Ezek. 39. 29. as is the manner of Princes and great men, when they are displeased at their chief favourites, they will look awry at them, or else frown upon them, or not look at them at all: this hiding the face from a Petitioner is a silent denial of favour, for what can a man expect from one that will not look at him? See Exod. 10. 28. The Church now weary of her wanderings after many lovers, which made her husband withdraw himself, and hid his face, and leave her to the rage and reviling of enemies, and many other miseries, seeks now her onely remedy, where she finds her greatest malady, that is, in the want of the joyful face and favour of her Jehovah, and now longs to come home to him and be in favour again, one lovely look of his sweet countenance, upon her weather-beaten face and withered skin, wasted and spent in sorrows through his long absence, she knows will do all she desires, move him to pity and speedy remedy. And therefore she cries, O hid not thy face from me, be not angry for ever, I am overwhelmed, wasted and spent in the floods of great waters, all thy waves go over and over me, and this great wave is that onely which is ready to sink me, the sense of thine indignation, Vers. 11. apprehended here in hiding his face, and therefore if he still not this great wave, and remove his angry countenance, she is undone, sunk and gone; her earnest desire and love to see the face and favour of her Jehovah, her estranged husband, is dearest of all to her, his hearing ear, his helping hand and all her happiness, lies folded up in the blessed influence of his sweet countenance; and if shee have not this, she is undone, all is nothing to this, and if this, then all she can desire, she will still be getting more, till she bee brought home into his Chambers, Cant. 1. 4. in his Ivory palaces, Psal. 45. it is not a nights lodging will then serve her turn, Jer. 14. 8. but that she may live with him and abide in his house for ever. If she once get him home again, they will never part, she will die first, she hath been so sore pinched and heart-burst for his long absence as hath been the cause of all her woe, and therefore she seeks this remedy, first before she come to unfold her heart and breast in her consuming condition, and sad complaints; this face of God is sometimes taken for the worship of God, as Psal. 27. 8. and therein includes all his pure ordinances, all which are nothing without the blessing of his presence by the influence of his favourable countenance. Vers. 4. 5. For my dayes are consumed as smoke, and my bones are burnt up like an hearth. My heart is smitten and withered as the herb, because I forget to take my food. Here now she begins her particular complaints, continued long 1. Complaint in particular, consumption of d●●es, of strength, and spirit. to the end of the 12. Verse, and renewed again, Verse 24. she here now complains that her afflictions have been of so long continuance, as hath almost worn out the remembrance of her, as smoke soon vanisheth in the air, and no remembrance of it left, Psal. 37. 20. and next that her bones are burnt up like an hearth, scorched and dried up with continued fire of afflictions and heavy trials; the bones here signifies the natural strength, which lies in the bones and marrow▪ See Psal. 38. 4. her radical moisture dried up and spent, and her spirits spent, heart smitten and withered as the herb, black with troubles, job. 30. 30. Lam. 4. 8. as the Heath of the wilderness, black and forsaken, as in a solitary place where none resorts, jer. 17. 6. and 48. 6. withered as the herb, that is struck with lightning and blasted, Deut. 28. 22. Amos 4. 9. Isa. 37. 27. this heart smiting and withering as the herb, would seem principally to come on her, from the sense of the Lords indignation, Vers. 11 of this psalm, which like lightning pierceth the inward parts, even sometimes to the dissolution of nature, or like those arrows of the almighty, 2. Complaint of such troubles as make her neglect her food. job 6. ●. Psal. 38. 2. that pierce the heart principally; and this would seem to be the heart-smiting here spoken of, so painful as made her forget her ordinary food, and neglect herself continually. For any to neglect their food from worldly sorrows and troubles, is a desperate condition of such as desire to shorten their dayes, and have no confidence in God, which is far from the Church and Saints of God. Verse 6. 7. 8. Because of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to the skin. I am like the Pelican of the wilderness, I am like an owl of the Desert. I watch and am continually as the Sparrow alone upon the house top. The third complaint, is of a solitary and mournful condition, 3. Complaint of a solitary life. consuming and wasting of natural strength, as made the bones to cleave to her skin, job 19. 20. in such a mournful condition for the absence of her husband, and want of his presence and protection which shee formerly enjoyed, as shee forgets all outward comforts as before. And mourns, yea roars, Psal. 22. 1. with such a mourning as makes a hideous noise, as the owl and Pelican, mournful birds of the Desert, that make a hideous noise, as makes all other birds afraid, and all the travellors that pass thereby, Isa. 34 11. Zeph. 2. 14. here wee find a lively description of the Church in the wilderness, driven for shelter from the furious enemies, Apoc. 12. 6. shut up from human society, forsaken of friends as afraid of her, and stand aloof wondering at her troubles, as Psal. 31. 10. and 38. 11. yea become a companion to owls, job 30. 29. The next similitude of her solitary condition is taken from 4 Complaint of continual watchings all the time of his absence. the Sparrow, alone upon the house top; the Sparrow is said in ancient writers to be a bide that takes so sore on for want of her mate, as her mourning surmounts all other birds, and how suitable is this similitude to the Church weeping and mourning for the absence of her dearest husband, so as every place is to her a wilderness during his absence, and can give her no content or comsort, until she be brought into his chambers( Cant. 1. 4.) of his presence and chief delights, and live with him, without which she can never be at rest, but watches continually as a Sparrow on the house top, enduring willingly all the storms, and tempests in the dark long wearisome winter night of her affliction, waiting for the dawning of the joyful day of her deliverance from her Jehovahs arising in the appointed time, in his bright shining rays of light and comfort, appearing in his glory, as we shall see anon, Vers. 14. 17. this is a day well worthy her watching for, her patient abiding for, and will make up all her wants abundantly. Vers. 9. Mine enemies revile me all the day, they are mad against me, and sworn against me. Here comes in the Churches fifth and sore complaint of the raging of her enemies, filling up the cup of her afflictions, and 5. Complaint of rage of enemies. this complaint must needs be of large extent since her enemies are great and many in multitude, who revile and mock her all the day, i.e. e. continually without ceasing, Reproach hath broken my heart, Psal. 69. 20. I am still in their cups and pots, they make songs of me and drink their cups with melody of me, consult together to work my woe: great men and Rulers that sit in the gate make their mirth of me in their feasts, Psal. 69. 1. to 13. Luke 22. 2. 4. this reviling makes up the measure of Christs sufferings, prophesied, Psal. 22. 6. &c. fulfilled in him, Matth. 27. 36. to 43. and to be completed in his Church to conform her to his Image, See Luke 6. 11. Amongst the open wicked she also complains, the sons of my mother are inflamed against me, Cant. 1. 6. that is, false brethren, Gal. 2. 4. of whom the Church and Saints of God in their troubles are in most danger, all these seeming friends deal treacherously with her, and become her secret enemies, Lam. 1. 2. nay even natural brethren of her own flesh are amongst the crew, Psal. 69. 8. they all device reproaches and lies against the Church and people of God, new inventions to make her odious in the eyes of the world, and to out her of all mens favours, forge lies, suborn witnesses to take the lives of the Saints, cast them in prisons and condemn them to death, as Vers. 21. of this psalm, and for no other cause but that they bear their fathers name in their foreheads, they can see no fault in them, but they can bear with far greater in such as themselves; yea it is their very nature so to do, the righteous is an abomination to the wicked, Prov. 29. 27. therefore they all conspire against the Church and Saints of God continually, to blot out the remembrance of the Saints, as the Psalmist complains, Psal. 83. 3. &c. the Tabernacles of Edom, and the Ismaelites, Moab and the Hagarens, Gehall and Ammon and Amalek, Antichrist, Kings and Princes, Prelates, Priests and jesuits, and the bastard children, profane persons and hypocrites that go under a name of Protestants, signified by the Hagarenes, even these are amid the throng. But the greater straits they drive the Church unto, turns to her advantage, and moves the Lord Jesus to arise speedily for their confusion and her deliverance, for it is a righteous thing with him so to do, 2 Thes. 1. 6. and in the mean time hath given her a cordial against this their raging and reviling, Isa. 51. 7, 8, 9. from the power of his mighty arm, that shall put on strength as in the dayes of old, and wounded her enemies and dried up the floods, and therefore( saith he) shall the redeemed of the Lord come to Zion with singing and everlasting joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away, and Vers. 17. and 22. he will take away from her the cup of trembling, and put it in the hands of them that afflicted her. The Lord cannot hid his face a little from his Church and people but the enemies take the opportunity to lay load on her, to blot out the remembrance of her, but the Lord takes notice of it, and waxes angry, Zach. 1. 15. he hath his Carpenters ready to cut the horns of the enemies, wherewith they push down and scatter his people, Vers. 20. 21. for they are as the apple of his eye, tender and dear to him, Chap. 2. 8. though he give the wicked liberty to whip them, yet will he not suffer them to be so fancy as to trample them down utterly, they must not perish. Verse 10. 11. Surely I have eaten ashes as bread, and mingled my drink with weeping. Because of thine indignation and thy fervent wrath, for thou hast lifted me up and cast me down. Here we have the Churches sixth complaint, as the ground of all her complaints; the indignation and fervent wrath of an 6. Complaint of course fare or diet. offended God, who for abuse of high privileges, as Lam. 1. 7. hath now cast her down to utter extremities, into a sorrowful and low condition, this is meant by lifting up, and casting down, so as she formerly complained of her sorrows so great as she forgot to eat her bread, Vers. 5. She here tells us when she did eat, she felt as little savour or nourishment in it as if she had eaten ashes or dust, for she being desolate fits upon the ground, Lam. 1. It was a custom of old that mourning people lay upon the ground, or sat in the dust, in token of a dejected condition, 7. Complaint of sore desertions, and loss of both inward and outward privileges. and so their bread and ashes or dust mingled together; or it may be said she did eat ashes in her bread, even as she drunk tears in her drink, she weeps so frequently and continually without intermission, for repast or rest, that as she drinks, the tears trickle down into her cup. For these things I weep, mine eyes drop down tears continually, Lam. 1. 16. the remembrance of the anger of the Lord for abuse of high privileges wherewith she was lifted up and highly advanced above all other people, is now her greatest grief, because this had driven her husband, her comforter that should cheer her soul far away, which was the cause of all her woe; Oh it is his absence by provoking sins and abuse of kindness, that makes up the full cup of the Churches miseries, Psal. 43. 3. Let all the Saints consider this, what sorrows and cups of tears, sin against kindness of a loving Lord will bring upon us. O depth of affliction, what will it not wring out of sinful creatures, though Christ hath taken out the sting of sin that it cannot kill thee if thou be a Saint, yet sin is of a poisonous nature, will make thy hair and nails come off, and make thee look ugly, and thou mayst perhaps carry the scars and marks of it to thy grave with thee, especially sins against kindness and mercy; Oh take heed of abuse of high privileges: it will make a kind God, and a friend God to become a stranger, a seeming foe God for a long time, and may cost thee many tears and long troubles ere thou find his wonted face and favour again. Vers. 12. 13. My dayes are like shadows declined, and I am withered as the herb. But thou Jehovah dost remain for ever, and thy remembrance to all generations. Here we have the Churches complaints summed up together in the total, descending still lower and lower, till now she is almost quiter gone; in the fourth Verse she complained, her dayes were consumed as smoke, that yet takes some time to vanish away in the air, but now the longer the nearer to going away and vanish in these sore troubles, even as a shadow declined and gone, Psal. 109. 23. Tremel. renders it umbrae inclinatae, not declining, but declined and quiter gone, as the shadow of the Sun going do●● at the very skirt of the Horizon, the shadow whereof is gone ere you can turn you; this similitude sets forth the growth of her afflictions to a very period, she wasts exceedingly, sore spent in the floods of great waters, often up and down and ready to sink, and in a manner quiter gone, now the waters prevail above the mountaines of utmost refuge in the world; O now for a rock, O set me upon that rock that is higher then I, Psal. 61. 2. and down she goes under water, but her Jehovahs unchangeableness brings her up again, and she looks upward to her Jehovah, her unchangeable God who still remaines, and his remembrance of his Church, and of his works, for his Church remaines in all generations, his Counsels are of old, and fail not, Isa. 25. 1. and therefore she cannot fail, now she cries to her Jehovah( Christ the second person, as was shewed before) if there bee an appointed time of her delivery, as sure she is from the Word, then now or never I am overwhelmed, sunk and gone; now arise, now look down from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse, and of thy glory, where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels, and of thy tender mercies towards me? are they restrained? doubtless thou art our Father, our Redeemer, thy name is from everlasting. return for thy servants sake, the Tribes of thine inheritance, the people This clearly respects the t 〈…〉 e of the Iewes coming in, and also suits well with the d 〈…〉 ressed state of us at this day. Exod. 3. 15. Psal. 135. 13. of thy holinesse have possessed it but a little while, our adversaries have trodden down thy Sanctuary, wee are thine, thou never barest rule over them, they were not called by thy name: read Isa. 63. 15. to the end. Now of all her Jehovahs attributes, this of his unchangeableness stands her in most stead, his goodness, loving kindness, faithfulness, and ability to performance of his promises, lye all folded up in this his unchangeableness; as the sure and certain chest for all her evidences, so as though she be full of changes, yet he changes not, Matth. 3. 6. and what changes soever be in the world, she is now assured she shall not fail, as his counsels fail not, but are of old faithfulness and truth, Isa. 25. 1. his name is everlasting, that is, his power, and his honour and excellencies, John 1. 3. now his name is as an ointment powred forth, Cant. 1. 3. smelling sweetly and refreshing her fainting spirits, now how sweet are the thoughts of him, Psal. 104. 34. now she is set upon the rock that is higher then all the world, Psal. 61. 3. now is she safe and at rest in her Jehovahs unchangeableness; as is further set forth, Vers. 25. and Vers. 28. of this prophetical psalm. Verse 14. 15. Arising thou wilt have mercy on Zion, for it is time to show favour to her, for the appointed time is come. Wherein thy servants delight in the stones thereof, and take pity on the dust thereof. We are come now to the second part of this psalm, which is 2. Part of this psalm is a prophesy. prophetical of the Lord Jesus his coming to deliver his Church and set up his kingdom, for it is high time, she so spent in troubles and wasted in the wilderness, and brought to utter extremities, and sinking in the great waters, even spent and gone, at the last gasp, as we have seen before, and in her utmost extremity here by the spirit of prophesy; she gets a beam of light of the dawning of the day of her delivery, from her Jehovahs arising, that son of righteousness coming to her with all health and happiness, Mal. 2. 4. and glorious conquest over all her enemies, as Verse 16. of this psalm. [ Arising] as one out of slumber and sleeping, as if he had seemed long to neglect his Church, and not regard her troubles, but it is but in corrupt natures sense, his arising promises her speedy help in his own time, and according to his ancient counsels and will, as is plain by the set or determined time of his coming; her time of greatest and utmost extremity, is his opportunity, to get himself the greatest glory in her delivery, when she is at last gasp, lost and gone, in all human eyes; so as her enemies assure themselves that the day is theirs, and her remembrance shall be no more; then he arises, and not till then. As a mighty King, or general of an Army rouses up himself on a sudden upon news of danger of the inroad, and Invasion of a potent enemy, that will admit no delay, the loss of his kingdom, of his Army lies upon it, he is now upon a great design, to do some famous work in the world, to conquer and subdue all his enemies, growing to a great height through his long patience towards them, and his absence from his Church for her wanderings, and abuse of his favours. But when he now comes he comes to purpose; he is said to arise as a man after wine, Psal. 78. 65. in great rage and fury at his enemies insolency, he comes skipping over the mountaines, and leaping upon the hills, Cant. 2. 8. trampling upon the mighty enemies, in higher and lower authority, Antichrist and turk, and all their kingly authority; he comes in the very nick of time, when she called and cried, so long, so vehemently, powring forth her complaints to him with cups of tears, spent and gone; and now sure he will be most welcome, she now will prise him, love him and never let him go; his absence, his hiding his face hath been so bitter to her, and therein the sense of his indignation for abuse of his favours, and high privileges, had brought her low to grievous extremities, and almost quiter sunk her, so that if he had come sooner, she should not have been so sensible of his love, power, and might in her deliverance, and therefore now it is surely a joyful sight for her to see her long absent estranged husbands beams of light, appearing in the tempestuous morning, that sun of righteousness arising out of the cloud with healing under his wings, Malachi 4. 2. with a cure for all her inward and outward diseases and distempers, as we shall see from Vers. 17. Here she gets a gracious answer of all her sore complaints, a rich return of her fervent prayers; and here observe the great gain and sweet profit that comes in from fervent prayer; when a Merchants ship, and stock comes home from a long and dangerous voyage with great increase; what great joy? how sweet is that gain? Lo here now the great gain of the Churches praying trade. But by the way observe that trade that brings in such gain must be a constant trade, of great adventures, of many hazards, and a skilful trade, full of dexterity in choice of wears, and observing fit seasons, to sand out in, and then all is done, there is no fear of bad market, bad debts, or losses by factors, or danger of Seas, the Lord Jesus is the factor, he takes the adventure of all upon him and assures all, if thou sand him but wears according to his order, be sure of a rich return, gold for dust, pearls for pebbles, job 22. 24. the gold of Ophir for the stones of the river; for all the wears we can sand him, are of no more use or value to him then pebbles, but to show him our nothingness, our poverty and weakness of our estates, it is his onely desire to uphold our trade of nothing, and make us rich of nothing; the wears he desires to trade in and make us rich by, are onely such as carry the stamps and marks of our wants and weakness and extreme necessities, he cannot abide a proud heart or a high thought of any thing in us to enrich ourselves by, or that may make us seem any thing of ourselves, or flatter us in any hope of subsistence in ourselves, or lazy slothful stinted forms of prayer, or verbal expressions, such wears are worth nothing at this great Mart of his, they are for nought but for the fire, vex and grieve him, and will make him sand back the ship of thy soul empty and weatherbeaten, to thy great damage and loss of all thy cost and time, to learn the more skill in thy trade. We see here what wears the Church traded in, Verse 2. to 13. these are such as her Jehovah delights in, and brought her home this rich return. sand him fardles of every sort of sorrows, with variety of complaints from a broken spirit, these he delights in; yea they must bee stamped with the sense of sin, and some with the very sense of his indignation and fervent wrath, and some with heart-bursting love towards him, and longing for a gracious answer from him; O these are rich wears in his esteem, he will look them over and over often, to see what needs to be returned for them. These please him, make room in the soul for him to exercise his skill; here is work for him to show his Excellencies, to exchange with us for our emptiness, here is room for his heavenly trade, sand him great vessels full of tears, and he will sand them home full of Nectar, sweet delicious wines, of cordial comforts to make glad thy heart, and fainting spirits in greatest straits, in a sinking condition; his wines taste of the sweet soil they grow in, even of his unchangeable nature that refresh the fainting spirits, and this is the Churches trade here, hath brought her a rich return, she sends out strong cries and long cries too with hideous mourning as the birds of the Desert, and she gets here a sweet echo, a joyful sound of Christs coming to have mercy on Zion in the appointed time, the return of her prayer now comes home like Salomons ships from Ophir, with Gold, myrrh and Frankincense, sweet odours, and rich stones, to make her mighty and magnificent, glorious with costly ornaments, adorned with sparkling Diamonds, beseeming this stately bride and Spouse of so great a King, as wee shall see in the things that follow in this psalm, when all her rich returns are landed & opened out, this 14. Verse brings the first news of their arrival with the Chargazoone of the rich lading, all safely returned and ready for landing. Happy time she may now say, that ever she was distressed and overwhelmed in extremities, to cause her learn this gainful trade of sending out such wears as bring home such a rich return. O this joyful sight of her Jehovah, her long absent husbands coming, what will the meeting be, what sweet embracings! Cant. 2. 6. O what will the wedding be, the divine music, the marriage song, the going home with the bridegroom and his paranymphs to the Fathers Mansions! is not all this worth her suffering long, all the rage and revilings of enemies, and all other troubles? This is now at this day the very Churches trade here described, and we wait and watch for the rich return, wee hope to hear some good news of it ere wee have done; to tell among the nations, Jer. 50. 2. what the Lord hath proclaimed to the ends of the earth, Tell the daughter of Zion, behold thy salvation cometh, behold his reward is with him, and his works before him, Isa. 62. 11. The nations shall see it and be confounded, Micah 7. 16. for behold Jehovah cometh out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, the earth shall discover her blood and no more hid her slain, Isa. 26. 21. Zion shall then be glad and joyful in her King, Psal. 149. 2. for he is King of all the earth, Psal. 47. 6. 7. Jer. 10. King of Nations, they shall be all subdued to his obedience, Ver. 16. of this psalm; the nations were angry, for he shall now destroy them that destroyed the earth, Apoc. 11. 18. his design is against Antichrist in a special manner, Jer. 51. 11. He cometh very gloriously( as we shall see Ver. 17.) in the eyes of his Church and Saints, but full of terror to his enemies, for this brings sad news to them; they shall be all scattered and fly before him, Psal. 68. 1. they shall be all destroyed, Isa. 66. 16. or vassalled, Isa. 60. 12. 14. But he will comfort Zion, he will comfort her wast places, and make her wilderness like Eden, and her Desert like the Garden of God: joy and gladneffe shall be found in her, and the voice of melody, Isa. 51. 3. Yea he will comfort her, as one whom his mother comforteth, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bones shall flourish as an herb, and the hand of the Lord shall bee known towards his servants, and his indignation towards his enemies, Isa. 66. 13. 14. And is not this good news, as could waters to a weary soul? Prov. 25. 25. And thank fervent prayer for bringing it; yet must we not sit down at rest as if all were done, we must still watch for the signs of his coming, and call and cry, and set all the Saints a praying until he be come indeed; a strong gale of prayer would hasten him, and bring him quickly, riding upon the clouds, with great expedition to finish all our miseries, Psal. 68. 33. Deut. 33. 26. Thus of the Lord Jesus his coming, the next thing in the Text is the time of his coming. [ For the appointed time is come] even the very set time his counsels of old had determined, and set forth in the Scriptures, though darkly in our eyes, in regard of our original blindness, and mistaking of the Scriptures, while we sinful men look upon them, and the works of Christ in the accomplishing of them, in and through our dark vail, of human wisdom, and currupt sense, which make us so short sighted in the Scriptures brightness, to the dazzling of our eyes, and dulling of our spirits, so as we walk heavily, not able to dive into the deep mysteries of the kingdom of Christ, wherein lies folded up all our happiness. But of this more by and by. We return to the Text. [ Wherein] That is, this appointed time of Christs coming to have mercy on Zion is the very time wherein the Saints of God are exceedingly delighted, expressed in these words,[ thy servants] the Ministers and labourers in the Lords husbandry, and building, 1 Cor. 3. 9. Not excluding others of the Saints, who equally with them do[ delight in the stones thereof, and take pity on the dust thereof:] by stones here must needs be meant those scattered members of the Church in several parts of the world, set forth by the lively stones, 1 Pet. though now trampled on of the world, they shall bee bright and beautiful, and shine as the stones of a crown lifted up to the view of the world, Zach. 9. 16. which seems to have an eye to the scattering state of Jews, equally with the scattering ruins of the gentle Churches at this day; though yet unfitted for this building, and whom the Lord Jesus is hewing and hammering for this glorious building, to make them polished stones that shall shine as the Jasper in the new Jerusalem of the Jews; and all the while they are a hammering by his messengers and many afflictions to make them bright and lye close in this building up of Christs body, the Ministers and Pastors, and Servants of Christ must needs delight in them, though yet knotty and unhewen or unwrought to the right proportion and lustre, as being able by the spirit of God to discern, that they shall see sweet fruits of their labours when they shall be fitted for th● master builder to be set up in his glorious structure, in Zion and Jerusalem. By dust here seems to be meant the lowest condition of the rueful building of the Church, as the ruins of the gentle Churches under Antichrist, trod upon continually of all the base abjects and wicked crew, as dust in the streets, wherein yet the servants of Christ have great delight, and can see the glistering pearls and precious stones in this dust and dirt the enemies daily trample upon; or else by stones may be meant the scattered members, and ruins of the gentle Churches, and by dust here may not unfitly be meant the poor distressed Jews in their scattered and most despicable and low condition of any people in the world, yea trampled on and abused of all people and nations, so as no people in so low and hopeless a condition in the world: for dust in Scripture signifies the lowest condition in the world, a dejected estate, 1 Sam. 2. 8. job 4. 18, 19. Psa. 7. 5. Is. 47. 1. who would ever think to see heaps of dust become a Princes Palace? And that the present estate of the Jews in a low condition may here be signified by dust, may seem to be clear from, Isa. 26 19. and Cap. 52. 2. Dan. 12. 2. where the conversion of the Jews is clearly set forth, and to be therefore the more wonderful, because of their arising again out of such a low condition; yet who can count the dust of jacob? Numb. 23. 10. though small and despicable at this day, yet multitudes, multitudes of that precious seed, dear in Christs eyes, do yet belong to the election of grace, Gen. 28. 14. Rom. 11. 5. though called but a remnant, Rom. 9. 27. Isa. 11. 11. in regard of the multitudes that have perished for want of a Saviour these 1600. yeares: How should all the servants of Christ pitty this dust and pray for their returning? As Joseph did with the dead body of Christ, imbalmed it with Spices and precious ointments, that ignominious dead carcase, joh. 20. 39. Oh what a dear esteem had he of it? So should nothing be too dear for us to bestow on the poor body of Christ, Jews & Gentiles, both together at this day in a low condition, how base so ever they seem in the eyes of the world, as what is of more vile esteem then the dust men tread upon? The Church brings in here this sad representation of her members scattered & trampled upon in the world as an argument of her confidence of her Jehovahs arising for her deliverance even in his appointed time, even such a time wherein his ancient family, her children and servants, are ruined, scattered, and all gone to wrack; so as if his servants pity the ruins of his family and children, much more will he be moved to pity, and come speedily, he now must needs arise and help them, though she hath been a wanderer after many lovers, she mourns now for that woeful separation, and useth such persuasive Arguments to his returning home to her, as beseems a mother of hopeful children, whom she knows he can do enough for; and the poor mother driven to great extremities, sees her wandering, and hath been long sensible of his indignation manifested by his long absence, now she invites him home with all the allurements, persuasions, and motives a poor dejected Spouse can use to her husband, willing even to creep in the dust to meet him, and he is of so good a nature, so perfect, so sweet a disposition and tender affection, as he cannot stay longer from her, for it is now high time to help her, to pity his family, yea it is his own time, his set time to favour her. Now to find out this prick or point of the appointed time here prophesied, is the grand difficulty, the great master piece; it is as small as a prick or point, and it is very hard to find it, there be so many cross lines that run through those lines that led an direct us to it, as will cost some pains and a watchful eye to hit the mark. Were wee once sure of this, wee should quickly see it go well with the Church; I do confess it is one of the great difficulties, great scrutinies of these later dayes, almost impossible in humane eyes; yet being one of the revealed mysteries of God, may be found out by the Spirit of God, which searcheth the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 10. and by fasting and prayer, and much pains and watchfulness, must onely be attained by searching the word, and observing the works of God, the goings and doings of the Lord Jesus in the world, in these times of the Churches bitter troubles, and by his working wee must find out the signs of his coming; when he turns his word into works, we may see much of his royal mind. But this discovery I confess is a dangerous voyage, full of difficulties, because of the cloudy times and mists of ignorance arising out of the earth of our earthly minds and darkness of original blindness, yet because the time approaches nearer daily, affording us some more encouragement, we will( Christo deuce) put forth to Sea with the first faire gale of wind he shall please to fill our sails with, and advance forward on this dangerous voyage. The instruments we have for discovery are but few, yet sure and trusty, our compass, and cross staff or Jacobs staff; the Word is sure, as Silver seven times tried and fined, Psal. 12. 6. our Jacobs staff is the observation of the high and great works of God, daily appearing in the world; and from thence we will see what we can find out of Christs coming, the Churches Jehovah she sees here by the spirit of prophesy arising, to build his new Zion, to make new heavens, new earth, a new face of all things in the Church and world, in the new Jerusalem of the Jews that comes down from God in a heaven-like glistering glory, in summa ● new world, as yet like the terra incognita, an unknown world, lyin● within the circumference of this Sunshine of Christs arising, and never yet seen of mortal eye: and because it is an unbeaten path, the adventure we attempt with tears, and trembling, and prostrate humiliation at the threshold of his deep counsels, before wee dare approach to look in the inward splendour of that hidden glory and beautiful structure, entreating him who hath the key of David, that openeth and no man shuteth, to open so much of his rich Cabinet of his great counsels, as may refresh our fainting spirits in these times of the Churches great extremities; to fill our sails with a prosperous gale of his Spirit; to sit at the stern and direct our course by our sure tried compass unto the wished haven of our onely joy in this world, that we may return with glad tidings to all that long and watch for his coming, and for redemption in Jerusalem. In the first place we will lay down before us some grounds of encouragement from the sure word of promises, that with more comfort we may fetch some light from the lamps, burning in the Temple of God, which never go out night or day, to refresh our spirits, and to encourage others of better skill and abilities, to launch forth into this deep with vessels better furnished, and not give over until they have found this pleasant shore and resting place of the Church, where she shall moan no more, 2 Sam. 7. 10. nor the sons of wickedness afflict her any more. Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures, for they testify of me, i.e. of his ways and works, and great designs in the world; in the later dayes especially, because his last works are his greatest works, and most glorious. Isa. 48. 17. I am the Lord thy God, who teacheth thee to profit, and leadeth thee: by the way that thou shalt go; among all his ways this is one of the most honourable, the way to his kingdom. Isa. 2. 3. Mic. 4. 2. He who hath promised that many nations shall flock to his holy mountain, to his house, to bee taught in his ways, will surely teach us the way to his holy mountain; these speak of Christs kingdom. Isa. 33. 17. Thine eyes shall see the King in his glory, they shall see the land afar off. This is clearly of Christs kingdom, this the land afar off that Terra incognita, wee are seeking out. Jer. 33. 3. Call upon me, and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not; this is also meant of Christs kingdom. Isa. 45. 11. ask of me concerning things to come, concerning my sons, and concerning the works of my hands, command ye me; this a clear place of the things to come concerning Christs kingdom, as appears, Vers. 14. 23. 25. What greater encouragement can wee have or desire of our God, then to have him willing to stoop to us base worms to be commanded by us, if we be willing to search and delight to know his mind, his will, and what he will do for his Church and children, called here his sons, and the works he will do for them that are dear unto him; and for whom he is ready to answer our prayers; and let us see what we can desire, according to that, Joh. 15. 7. ask what ye will, and it shall be done. But we are no sooner launched forth into this great deep of the mysteries of Christ kingdom, but we meet with many difficulties, many straite and difficult passages in this discovery, which must be cleared before we can advance further. As 1. that these high mysteries may be found out. 6. Difficulties cleared. 2. To whom the Lord Jesus reveals them. 3. When he usually doth reveal them. 4. By what means. 5. What this appointed time is. 6. How we may find out the prick or point of the appointed time of his coming. 1. difficulty. 1. difficulty. 1. FOr the first, that these mysteries may be found out. 1. They are things revealed long since, to be done in these later dayes, and shall be daily accomplished by the works of Christ, as large Commentaries upon his prophecies, and promises in his word, Apoc. 1. 1. 2. What the Lord▪ Jesus hath commanded us to search, he will give ability to find; but these things concerning him, and his kingdom he hath commanded us to search, Joh. 5. 39. Isa. 34. 16. Luk. 24. 44. Ergo, they may bee found out. 3. Whatsoever things are written, are for our instruction, that we through faith and patience, and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15. 4. But these things are written for our instruction. Ergo. 4. Yea God doth reveal them before hand ere they be fulfilled, lest we should say within ourselves, mine idol of my own invention hath found them out, and the melted Image of my own wisdom hath accomplished and done them, Isa. 48. 5. 5. A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit, Prov. 17. 27. he shall increase in learning, shall attain to wise counsels, to understand the words of the wise and dark sayings, Prov. 1. 5, 6. Psal. 78. 2. and Psal. 49. 4. when the sky is covered with clouds in darksome, troublesone times, he shall see through the cloud, he hath a rare precious spirit, carries him high above the clouds, he lives in another Region, far above this visible world; he lives where he loves, not where he breaths; his country, his conversation is in another world far beyond the sea of this world, there lies his inheritance, his joy, his delight is in the Court of the great King, he is of his counsel, and understands his secrets, Psal. 25. he needs but ask and have, desire and he shall know, John 15. 7. 6. Whatsoever may increase, yea fill up our joy even in this life may be obtained, Joh. 16. 24. But the knowledge of the Churches deliverance, Jerusalems joy and glory, which do all lye folded up in this appointed time of Christs coming to build up his Zion, serve most of any thing in this life, to fill up the Saints joys, Ergo may be attained. 7. What the Lord Jesus as a mighty King hath commanded to be proclaimed to the world, long before it be done, he will surely expect his trusty servants should understand and not bee ignorant of it, but both may and must know it, or lye under the lash for dull schollers. But his coming to set up his kingdom he hath commanded to be proclaimed to the world long before it come to pass, Isa. 61. 2. Jer. 3. 12. 14. Isa. 62. 11. Ergo, wee both may and ought to know it. The second difficulty. 2. difficulty. 1. TO whom the Lord Jesus reveals these things; first, they be qualified persons, fitted for improving of their knowledge, for the spreading of his name and famed, and furthering of the great work of advancing and setting up of his kingdom. 2. They must be such as fear him, Psal. 25. that is, that fear him so as they dearly love him, and for his sake love not their lives to death, Apoc. 12. 11. and will not betray his cause for fear or favour of men, or base things of the world. 3. They must be men of rare and precious spirits, choice men, Daniel-like, John-like, Eagle-eyed men, of candid and clear judgements, of an excellent eye, of an excellent nature, far above the common strain, such as spend their thoughts on the high things of God, not like the ordinary sort of professors, who are of such low, poor, pusillanimous spirits, as they are like the spies, ready to speak evil of the good Land, the great difficulties in the great work of setting up Christs kingdom are still in their mouths, they dare not put hand to the work; the fears of the great enemies damp their poor low spirits; the sons of Anake, Antichrist, and his Prelates, Emperours and great Princes still in their eyes, they dare not follow the Lord Jesus fully, Numb. chap. 14. vers. 22. at Caleb: these are men of another spirit who must go upon this discovery, that shall attain to these wise Counsels, Pro. 1. 5, 6. such men will increase in learning the excellent mysteries of Christs kingdom, and by the Spirit of God be searching out the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 10. of the high majesty of Christ in his throne, in his glory, in his excellent works, and kingly virtues, will be looking into his Princely dwellings, his Ivory palaces, and view the steps and stairs, and several rooms, walks, walls and turrets, and all the form and frame of his house, the out-goings and in-commings, &c. and all the dimensions of it, Ezek. 43. and his chambers of presence, especially the Bride chambers prepared for the new Bride the Iewes, against the marriage of the lamb; and all the brave order of his domestic servants, officers, and offices, even to the very Porters. This great King cannot stir, move or remove, but these Spirits will be up with him, they are of his counsel and must move with him, and work with him while he is about his great works, they daily attend his Court, his Counsels, his Commissions, they observe his works, his ways, his goings, his doings in the world, and learn out much of his mind. They are his tried Servants, old Souldiers, will bide the hottest service for him, he will not hid from them what he will do, Gen. 18. 17. in his great designs he is about in the world, to do wonders in these latter dayes. Thus wee see in the third place, what manner of men they must bee to whom the Lord Jesus will reveal these high mysteries, John-like men, Eagle-eyed men, of an excellent clear sight, of an excellent nature, very spiritual, of a higher strain, above the common strain of the times, children of the woman clothed with the sun, the brightness of Christs Kingly glory, trampling the moon, that is, earthly glory, and all sublunary things under their feet, Apoc. 12. 1. Every Preacher or professor, hath not a sight strong enough to gaze upon the brightness of this glorious building of Zion from Christs appearing in his glory. 4. They must be men deeply engaged in the Churches cause, deep sharers in her troubles, and sorrows, companions with her in tribulation for the testimony of Jesus, Apoc. 1. 9. who make her troubles theirs, and lay her sorrows near their hearts, as Nehemiah cap. 1. Daniel cap. 10. 1, 2. Isa. cap. 22. 2, 3. Jeremy Lam. 1. 20. and with Jacob wrestle with God, though they get a halt a lame may make them go limping to their graves, Gen. 32. 24, 25. nay further, such will hazard soul and body and all like Moses, before they will see the Churches perish, Exod. 32. 10. 32. They will be heard, taken no denial what ever come of it, though the Lord should cry, Let me alone that I may destroy this people, they will not let go their hold, though they should perish for it, using many Arguments to divert his Judgements, and appease his wrath, as Moses did in the place before quoted. These are right sons of Zion, that help the Church and bear her yoke cheerfully, through fiery trials and watery troubles, in watchings, fastings, and fervent crying to her Jehovah, they shall have the first news of her deliverance, a sweet Echo sounding in their ears of Jehovahs arising to have mercy on Zion. They help to make up a hideous noise and cry, to make the sound greater in the ears of her Jehovah, so as he gets no rest for a hideous noise of complaints, and bitter mourning, a sound of crying in his ears, in every corner of the world, until he arise for the Churches deliverance. 5. They must be watchful persons, like the Shepherds attending their flocks, to whom the Lord Jesus at his first appearing first shewed himself, even to these mean persons, of least esteem in the Country, Luk. 2. 7. who watch continually, like the Sparrow on the house top alone, all the long Winter night of the Churches troubles, for the dawning of the day of her deliverance these shall see the first glancing rays of the sun of righteousness, in the dawning, when others lie sleeping and snorting in their ease and pleasures: and well it is for them if they be not awakened with a witness, with some hideous noise and cry of danger in these tempestuous times, falling inavoydably upon them, to make them howl and cry in the midst of great calamities, because they would not trouble their heads, about the Churches extremities. 6. They must be the Lords domestic Servants, that daily attend his designs and employments. Our great and wise Jehovah has reserved many things concerning his Church, and the excellent things of his kingdom, to be revealed onely to his trusty Servants, Apoc. 1. 1. his Disciples, Isa. 8. 16. his Darlings that lean on Christs bosom, these know much of his mind, Job. 13. 23. that have not Lacquyed after the times and pleasures of men: who will scorn to honour his enemies with a beck or a cap, in their greatest glory; the proudest enemy their Master hath shall know they belong to a mighty Monarch, the King of all the Earth, are his sworn servants and their sworn enemies in their Masters quarrel. These, and these alone are they, who shall see this Land afar off, this unknown● world of the Churches glory from the ●sa. 33. 17. Lord Jesus his Arising, they shall see the signs of his coming. The third Difficulty. 3. Difficulty. WHen the Lord Jesus usually reveals these things. And that is especially in times of his servants exile and bitter persecutions for the testimony of Jesus. When they sustain the Churches sorrows, and bear a large share in her heavy pressures, even then the Lord Jesus reveals these high and excellent things concerning his kingdom, then he comes nearest to them and is most familiar with them, communicates his counsels and high designs he is about in the world, and opens their ears to receive instruction, job 33. 16. Thus he did to jacob in P●dan Aran, Gen. 28. 11. 12. to Ezekiel in Babylon at the River Chebar, Ezek. 1. 1. to Daniel in his captivity at the banks of Vlai, Dan. 8. 2. 16. to John in Patmos, Apoc. 1. 9. So now in these times of bitter troubles of the Church and persecution of the Saints, the Lord comes nearest to the suffering Saints, to his exiles. Most excellent fruits do then come from them, their spirits are raised to a high and heavenly strain and temper, then do they sing their sweetest notes, are all upon the triple, quaver out most sweetly the high things of God and of his works, high things do then most suite with their high exalted spirits, their works and actions then are full of beauty, then like the Spices of the Apothecaries being beaten to dust,( in their lowest condition) smell most sweetly, their spirits then are lofty, sore high to the Court of heaven, and converse with Christ about high matters. All earthly things, yea the ordinary affairs of the Church and present times that take up the mindes of most of the Saints, cannot content them, as too low for their high exalted Spirits, too mean for them to bestow their thoughts on, but with Eagles eyes and winged affections sore aloft towards this sun of righteousness, Apoc. 12. 1. they will be prying into his brightness, with Moses, I beseech thee show me thy glory, Exod. 19. 4. and 33. 18. and I will not rest until he show them so much as they are capable of. Had wee such excellent spirits, how should we not with Moses come down from the Mount with our faces shining with the rays of heavens brightness, and light and understanding of the mind of Christ, and mysteries of his kingdom, and be able to hold forth the light thereof unto others, in these cloudy and darksome times, that the drooping Saints might be comforted in bitter troubles▪ when many are offended at Christ, because of his cross, Mark. 14. 27. Luk. 7. 23. many go away from him and follow him no more, John 6. 66. when many stars fall from heaven, Matth. 24. 29. that is, out of the Church, who in time of her prosperity blazed brightly, but now in the stormy tempests of her troubles prove but shining Meteors, who when the matter of exhalation is spent, lose their acquired light, go out like Candle snuffs and leave an ill savour behind them, and like the Figtree cast their fruits upon the first puff of wind before they feel the storm, Apoc. 6. 14. The fourth difficulty. 4. difficulty. HOw and by what means the Lord Jesus makes known these things, concerning his kingdom. And that is ordinarily two ways. First, By hi word. And secondly, by his works. First, by his word, spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets since the world began, Act. 3. 18. and from this sure tried word must we fetch light to dress our lamps, to light our Candles, while we go upon this dangerous discovery to find out this unknown shore, the glorious state of the Church lying within the circumference of the rays and brightness of this sun of righteousness arising in the appointed time. This pure word, this true tried word is our loadstone to direct our course; And as the time of fulfilling these things grow nearer and nearer, a greater light of this word shall break forth by the Spirit of Christ the light of the world, and greater brightness shall bee upon all the works of Christ, making all things more perspicuous and clear unto such as with Daniel delight to search out the yeares of the Churches captivity and time of her delivery, Dan. 9. 2. We will take a walk( Christo deuce) to these limpid waters of Psal. 23. and 46. repast, these crystal streams which make glad the city of God, where the Elephant may swim and the lamb may wade, drink and cool their parched souls, fainting spirits in the greatest times of drought, according to the promise, Jer. 17. 8. There is enough to refresh the weak and feeble spirits, to exercise the skill and art of the greatest Schollers, and wisest headpeeces in the world. Secondly, by the observation of the works of Christ( as our Jacobs staff) we may discover much of his mind; his works are large comments upon his word, are the effects of his prophecies, and the fulfilling of his promises; when he turns his word into works, we may see much of his royal mind. Mundi universitas est Deus explicatus. The invisible things of God are clearly seen by the things that are done, Rom. 1. 20. if wee were well versed in this great book of the works of Christ, we should see more of the mind of Christ, there may wee find his footsteps, his walks, his ways, his goings and doings in the world, as the great Administrator of all things; and as he speaks to us by his word, so also in his works, he speaks aloud in our ears in these later dayes, especially when he is about works of wonder in the world about his kingdom; great Kings and Monarchs, are seen and known afar off by their great works and princely actions, as well as by their Edicts and Proclamations. The works of the Lord are great and glorious, sought out of all that have pleasure in them, Psal. 111. 4. They are a delightful study to his true servants, call upon us for our observance and following of him, and working with him, and the Lord Jesus again delights to see his servants observe his movings, his doings in the world, in his judgements, his mercies, and to follow him in our affections and actions. On the contrary, it is the greatest indignity we can do to him when he is doing great works for us, and wee regard them not, yea it is a brand mark of such as he intends to destroy, that they regard not his works, Psal. 28. 5. And as the time of Antichrists fall, and of the advancing Christs kingdom grows nearer, the Lord Jesus his works, as also his word, will shine forth clearer and be more transparent to all the Saints. Come then and behold the works of the Lord what desolations he hath made in the earth, Psal. 46. 8. what desolations he hath made in Bohemia, Germany, the Palatinate, and those adjacent countries, since the time of the appearance of that wonderful and prodigious Comet, Anno 1618. when being in Germany we beholded its first arising in an unwonted form, with its stupendious movings and removings from South-East, where it first appeared, to the South, West and North; and being shortly after coming for England and arrived in the Thames, wee found it right over our heads, which we beholded with great astonishment & many sad thoughts, as importing many sad changes in the world, as we have seen and heard since, and as if its last influence might seem to end in this iceland, for after it blazed over England it was seen no more. Divers Astrologers in Germany writ upon this blazing star, amongst whom one noted man in astrology, Herlicius Stargardensis did hold that its influence was like to continue between 20. and 30. yeares. Now from the word and works of God we will see what wee can discover of the mind of God, and observe what signs wee can see of the Lord Jesus his coming to build up his Zion. And thus, praise to our skilful Pilate, we have passed some of the dangers, and with a pleasant gale advanced to scape Bon Speranze, or scape of good hope, and here take in fresh water to refresh our spirits, and with next faire Gale put forth to Sea again, when the Spirit of Christ shall move upon the waters, there shall be light, and the dry land shall appear, Gen. 1. 2. 9. and we get some sight of this unknown shore, this land afar off, that Terra incognita, never yet seen of mortal eyes. The fifth difficulty. 5. difficulty WHat is meant by this appointed time of Christs arising. 1. The Lord who hath appointed a time of every thing under the sun, Eccles. 3. 1. hath in his eternal Counsels determined a time of the Churches mourning, and a time of her rejoicing, a time of captivity and of delivery, a time of Jacobs trouble, Jer. 30. 3. and a time of the enemies trouble, Lam. 4. 21, 22. Isa. 10. 12. 25. Numb. 24. 24. And it came to pass( saith the Spirit) that in process of time the King of Egypt dyed( great enemies of the Church are said to die when their power and might failes that they cannot execute their malice upon the Church, their death is the Churches life) and the Church sighed and cried by reason of their bondage, and their cry came up to God, and he heard their groaning, and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and God looked upon them and had respect to them, Exod. 2. 23. and his looking upon them was enough for them, for when he looks upon the Churches great afflictions, and sees her miseries, then he comes down to deliverance, Exod. 3. 7. This time of the Churches greatest extremity, overwhelmed in the floods of great waters, is the very set time of delivery in the Embryo, or remote beginnings of it at this day. This appointed time of Jehovahs arising to have mercy on Zion, is that time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, Act. 3. 19, 20, 21. the time of restauration of all things, that is, of making all things new, 2 Pet. 3. 13. Apoc. 21. 25. these new things come down from God out of heaven, the habitation of his holinesse, Isa. 63. 15. from his eternal Counsels, Isa. 25. 1. and therefore there must be a time of restauration of all things in this world, for at the worlds end the earth ends, and the highest heavens need no making new, or is there any earth in them? therfore this must be meant of a time when all things shall be reformed and reduced to their original and pristine purity, all which is to be accomplished in this appointed time of Christs second coming to set up his kingdom, and therefore it is said there, Act. 3. 19. he must remain in heaven, till he come to restore all things, which shall be begun at this appointed time of his arising to set up his kingdom, and bee in perfecting all the time of his kingdom, until his third and last coming to judgement. There are several Computations of times of the Churches delivery, by learned men from the Scriptures, whereof we will here say nothing, being assured from Christs own mouth, that for the elects sake these dayes shall be shortened, Matth. 24. 22. and therefore we conceive this the nearest way by his working in the world to find out the appointed time, by the forerunners and signs of his coming. All which computations for most part, agree in the time of the Jews coming in about 1650. though the glory of Christs kingdom come not until 45. yeares after, as Dan. 12. 11. which 45. yeares is like to be a time of great trouble to the new converted people. Yet do they conceive that there may be some conception, or Embryo of unshapen, unformed, remote beginnings of Christs kingdom sooner, even presently upon the end of the sixth trumpet which is accompanied with the resurrection of the witnesses and fall of the tenth part of the City( Apoc. 11. 12. 13.) that is, the final falling off of one of the 10. kingdoms, of Romes Pillars, and support, when they see how their witnesses have been suppressed and trodden down both in Church and commonweal, shall by an earthquake, i.e. e. by a commotion of people revolt from Romish Religion totally; which makes way to Romes fall, and then upon the blast of the seventh Trumpet it is said, the Temple is opened, Apoc. 11. 15. 19. compared with, Chap. 15. 5. is the revealing of the truth and worship of God more clearly then was before, and a greater light breaks forth upon the first coming in of the Jews, though the kingdom of Christ be not yet fully framed and set up in its glory, until 40. or 50 yeares after accord, to Dan. 12. 11. and though it be said, Apoc. 11. 15. presently upon the sound of the seventh Trumpet that the kingdoms of the world are the Lords and his Christs, it may be truly said so from the first feaming and beginnings of it, which in so few yeares after shall be fully set up in glory and beauty as never yet was in the world. So that from the week beginnings of reformation now in this iceland, we may find out some of the Lords footsteps in his way to his kingdom; about which his Saints and slain witnesses, with a new spirit and courage, are now exceedingly bu●●ed. The sixth and last difficulty. 6. difficulty. WE are now come unto the last and greatest difficulty of all to discover, by our observation of the works of Christ in the world to find out by his working the signs of his coming. At Christs first appearing in the flesh, what a light came with him, shined very far, that the wise men saw his star in the East, and came to worship him, Matth. 2. 2. sure they had a glorious sight of him that carried them on in such a large distance from Chaldea, or Persia, to judea, to worship Christ in a manger in Bethlehem. This troubled Herod the King and set all Jerusalem in an uproar, fearing great alterations; Herod calls a council of Scribes and wise men to find out where that Christ was to be born, whom the Scriptures had spoken of, and craftily sought to slay him. Even so no doubt Antichrist the Pope and his crafty Councells at this time of Christs second coming do see some forerunners of great changes in the world, making them shake in aguish fits, and have called up their Astrologers and wise men who can discern by the face of the sky, that a storm is coming upon Rome from the brightness of Christs coming in his glory to set up his kingdom, and therefore wee see the whole papacy and all their prelatical party in the world in an uproar fearing great alterations by the works of Christ of late in the world, and therefore with all their crafty counsels, violence and bloody cruelties( as this iceland and Ireland now are woeful witnesses) are up in their rage and resolutions to oppose and murder Christ in his members, and trouble his working. What? a child born in a manger trouble so great a Monarch as Herod, and make him afraid, and all Jerusalem in an uproar, this made much to augment the glory of Christ in his humiliation, and lowest estate, Herod being not ignorant of the prophecies wherein the Jews had a King promised them, who should rescue them out of their bondage and afflicted state under strange governors, and should swallow up and subdue all other kingdoms and government, Dan. 2. 44. which made him shake. Even so the signs and forerunners of Christs second coming to abolish Antichrist and set up his kingdom, in the least beginnings, must needs be very terrible to Rome and all her confederates, and set them a working to prevent her ruin, but all in vain, for strong is the Lord who judgeth her, Apoc. 18. 8. Before we come to the signs of Christs coming, it will be very useful to consider of the manner of his second coming to set up his kingdom, and how the day of Christ so much spoken of in the Scriptures may be represented to our weak capacities, and how unto each part of the day of Christ, the several ages, times and conditions of the Church, may most fitly be applied. He is sometimes set forth as the bright morning Star, 2 Pet. 1. 19. Apoc. 22. 16. promised to the Church and faithful overcommers, Apoc. 2. 28. very comfortable and refreshing the weary Church in her pilgrimage and troublesone travail to Zion, the sweet influence of this star of Jacob strengtheners her fainting spirits in the darksome stormy time of the morning of Christs day, and fills her heart with cordial comforts, and her affections with joy in the expectation of a glorious day coming. Secondly, he is set forth as the sun of righteousness arising, Mal. 4. 1, 2. a sun for glory and beauty for his Saints to look upon, in whom is all fullness of light and life, and reviving from his sweet influence; and a sun of righteousness, because he comes to do justice both to the Saints and to the enemies, Psal. 72. 2. this day of Christs arising is said to have a cloudy morning, Mal. 4. 1. wherein he will destroy his enemies roote and branch, but( Vers. 2.) unto the Saints who fear his name he comes with healing under his wings, of all their distempers and diseases of soul and body, so as they shall go out and grow as Calves of the stall, or fatlings under the Cow at the dug continually, from whence they shall grow exceedingly and shall faint no more. Thus of the manner of his coming briefly as we find it in the Scriptures. Now concerning the day of Christ. The whole time of Christ since his first appearing in the flesh unto his resigning of his kingdom at the end of the world, would seem to be but all one day of his, though distributed in several parts, to several times and ages of the Church, Luk. 1. 78. Mal. 4. 5. Num. 24. 17. and Joh. 8. 56. himself saith Abraham rejoiced to see my day and was glad; that is sure meant of his day from his first coming in the flesh to work our redemption to the time of his reign and kingdom amongst his ancients gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. and so we find the prophets when they speak of Christs day, to join the beginnings in his humiliation, the progress and perfection of it in his kingdom together as all in one day, as Psal. 22. and Psal. 69. Psal. 97. Isa. 11. Isa. 42. Zach. 3. 8. and 6. 12. Jer. 23. 5. and 33. 15. speaking of things far distant in respect of time, as if they were all one, as is usual in the Scriptures, his humiliation and time of his spiritual reign and kingdoms in the souls of men, and his visible reign and kingdom amongst the Saints, being joined together as one day of Christ, including the whole course of his kingdom inward and outward to the worlds end. And so this day of Christ hath its evening or more obscure Two parts of Christs day. part, and its morning or more glorious part of it as other natural dayes have, Gen. 1. 5. The evening or first and more obscure part, may be said to bee 1. Part, the evening or more obscure part of it. these 1600. yeares past, as the time of great troubles and persecutions of the Saints, and the time of his sufferings in his person and members, to fill up the measure of his sufferings, and yet a time glorious to the Church, in respect of the former time of mosaical shadows, and this is the time of his spiritual reign in the souls and consciences of men to their conviction or conversion, wherein his kingdom hath been and is yet invisible to the world, and little beauty seen in it of most men of the world, but as a darksome night full of troubles, some light and much darkness, some calms and many storms, yet beautiful in the eyes of the Saints, who wait for a more glorious time, even from thence a coming, and of this time of his day, of his spiritual and inward kingdom we red, Matth. 3. 2. the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and within you, Luk. 17. 21. and not of this world, John. 8. 36. that is, not worldly after the fashions and pomp of the world, but spiritually, consists in an unseen mystical and hidden glory, hide from the great and wise men of the world, and revealed to babes in Christ. The second part of Christs day is the morning or more glorious 2. Part of Christs day, the morning or more glorious part, and hath also its degrees of glory as other natural dayes. time of it, and hath its degrees of glory and progress to its perfection as other natural dayes have, as we shall see anon; and is more glorious( as the morning) then the former darksome time of troubles of the evening, and stormy night, which shall not then be remembered, Isa. 65. 17. Apoc. 21. 2. And when the Prophets speak so often of the great glory of Christs day and kingdom, they have an eye upon this second part of it, as when they say it shall come to pass in that day, &c. they mean that time or part of the day, by a Senecdoche membri; Sometimes called the day of Christs power, Psal. 110. 2. that is, that time of his day wherein he will show his power visibly to all the world, overthrowing thrones and kingdoms of all his enemies, Hag. 2. 22. that he may be exalted in his kingdom, and be King of all the earth, Zach. 14. 9. and sometimes the time of the last judgement is called the day of Christ, that is, that part or time of his day, &c. day, and dayes being frequently taken for times, Matth. 9. 15. and cap. 24. 32. 37. Luke 17. 22. Act. 2. 17. All the glory of former times being swallowed up in this time of his reign and visible kingdom amongst his ancient people the Jews in great surpassing glory, Isa. 24. ult. unto which time or part of Christs day the Prophets usually attribute all the glory of his day, as far more transcendent and surpassing all former glory of the Church or times, which now shall be butted in oblivion, Isa. 65. 17. And of this second part or time of Christs day, the Apostles also mean when they speak of Christs reign and kingdom, as 2 Tim. 4. 1. Heb. 2. 5. This morning or more glorious part of Christ day hath also The second part of Christs day hath also its several degrees of progress to the glory of Christs kingdom. 1. The time of preparation to it. ( as we said before) itis several degrees of progress to its perfection, as so many subdivided parts of the day applied to several times of the Church. First the time of preparation or making way to Christs kingdom, which begins with the withdrawing of the former light of peace and comforts, in thick gathering of clouds, in storms and tempests of great troubles in the world universally; as, Isa. 24. to the last, as the darkness breaks in before the dawning, when it is often the darkest time of all the night, yet is but a short time; this is the time of the gentle Churches troubles and strugglings with Antichrist, universally in the world, this is the time wherein the hosts of heaven seem to be dissolved, that is, many stars fall and lose their light, Isa. 34. 4, 5. compared with Apoc. 6. 13, 14. Matth. 24. 29. and belongs to the morning of Christs day, and ushers in the dawning or more glorious morning light. And in this thick and dark time of the Churches greatest distress, in st●uglings with Antichrist, working and labouring in earthquakes and great confusions in the world, and in the loss of her many learned lights that shined as stars formerly in this sad time, Christ first comes as the bright morning star, Apoc. 22. 16. promised to his Souldiers, Apoc. 2. 28. comfortably refreshing the Church, in her weary pilgrimage and troublesone travail to Zion in the new Jerusalem of the Jews, as the star of Jacob promised, Numb. 24. 17. helping the Church and smiting the enemies by his powerful influence; how delightful is this bright morning star to all the Saints in bitter troubles, as the comfortable assurance of the joyful dawning of full deliverance at hand? And still this bright morning Star continues its light and influence unto the sun rising, Christ working wonderfully in and with the Saints, and giving them many victories against the Antichristian crew: this time is Christs virtual coming in his power, to help the gentle Churches, and make way to his kingdom, and may bee said to bee the remote beginnings of Christs kingdom, the time of conception or Embryo, or imperfection of his kingdom, as yet without form or shape, or beauty, scarce discerned or seen into of most great rabbis, and wise men in the world, yet beautiful in the eyes of the Saints, from that spiritual anointing, whereby they can discern the form and frame of the Kingdom in these weak beginnings and confusions in the world accompanying them. And this is the very time of Christs day we are come unto at 2. Degree or part of the morning of Christs day is the dawning of the Churches deliverance. this day, this bright morning star by his light and influence comforting and helping the Saints, and smiting the enemies, breaking their plots, overthrowing their counsels and workings, and giving and getting the Church many victories, praise to his great Name for all he hath done and is still doing. 2. The second degree of this morning or glorious part of Christs day, is the dawning light of deliverance, not yet free of disturbance, yet begins gloriously; how delightful is the morning light to a weary traveller in the former darkness? for it is the suins light though the sun yet not risen or visibly seen, yet the power of the suins light hath scattered the clouds of the former troubles of the gentle Churches very much, but not fully as yet; but this morning is yet subject to some storms, amongst the drops of due and watering showers, and this seems to be the time of the Jews first coming in, accompanied with great troubles to them for their long rejecting the Lord Jesus, in his humiliation and spiritual glory, they shall be driven to darkness of great troubles and be hard bestead before they enjoy his visible kingdom and glory, Isa. 8. 22. Dan. 12. ●. yet from this time and even in their great troubles, shall they grow and increase in multitudes, and prosper in graces, Isa. 26. 19. and this seems to be meant, Psal. 110. 3. from the womb of the morning thou hast the due of thy youth, the breaking out of the light between the clouds being as the opening of the womb with fruitfulness, this morning of Christs day being the birth time of this blessed seed, Isa. 61. 9. and 66. 8. born in Zion, where with the gentle Church travails in pain to bring forth this new birth. 3. The third part or degree of this glorious part of Christs day is the sun rising, still greater in glory, for glorious and 3. Part of this morning or glorious part of the day, is the Sun rising very glorious. delightful is the sun rising to all that dwell on the earth; and thus Christ comes, Mal. 4. 2. Spreading his rays of brightness over all the world, though seen in some regions before other. This is the time of Christs coming to set up his kingdom, yea he brings it with him, 2 Tim. 4. 1. this Sun of righteousness first appears in the east among his ancient people the Jews newly converted, and sets up his kingdom among them, Micah 4. 8. Ezek. 37. 27. Zach. 2. 10. & from thence scatters their enemies & makes them do valiantly, Numb. 24. 18. and subdue all their enemies, and possess their countries, as Obad. 18, 19, 20. Isa. 11. 14. and spreads his light over all the earth as the sun beams do; now all the relics of the power of Antichrist and turk shall be all abolished utterly by this brightness of his coming, 2 Thes. 2. 8. and he with the Saints shall rule the world, Dan. 7. 27. this is the time of putting the kingdom in form and frame, which before was but as an Embryo, and all things in the world now set in a new form and frame as a new world, Isa. 65. 17. which will take up a long time, and be a time of joy and gladness, and all sorrow and lighing flies away, and not remembered, Isa. 35. 10. this is that time the whole Creation groans for, Rom. 8. 19. 22. compared with Hos. 2. 18. This is the time of his appearing in his glory, Vers. 17. of our psalm, to set up his kingdom and spread it over the world, Vers. 16. and 23 of our psalm, this time the Church hath long waited for, long prayed for, Psal. 94. 1. and 68. 1. Isa. 64. 1. and pertains to the time of the marriage of the lamb, Hos. 2. 18, 19, 20. 4. The fourth and last part of the day is the period of perfection Fourth and last part of the day i● the time of judgement of all the world and last▪ a long time, and l●ses no glory, o● admits any d●clining, and so at ●a● differs from all natural dayes. of his kingdom, this sun of righteousness shining as the sun at noon day in his full strength, Apoc. 1. 16. And here the day of Christ is above all natural dayes, it admits of no diminution or declining, but ends with the glory of it at the height, when he resigns it to the Father, having made all his foes his footstool, and is exalted above all dominion, judging the world and giving reward both to Saints, wicked men and devils; this is the last judgement which will last long and take up much time, that every wicked man may be silenced in his reasonings against the just Judges proceedings, and bee convinced of all evils, thought, said or done, judge. 14. 15. and the secrets of their hearts revealed before the whole world, the Lord Jesus sitting on his throne triumphing over all reasonable Creatures and mighty Monarchs, every knee bowing to him, every tongue confessing him Lord alone, both in heaven and earth, and under the earth, that is, devils and Men, Philip. 2. 10. 11. Isa. 45. 23. applied to the last judgement, Rom. 14. 10, 11. which surely must be no short time, being the reward of his sufferings, and undertaking the administration of all things, and support of the whole creation upon mans fall, which otherwise would all have run into a Chaos of all confusion again, if he had not stepped in to uphold it and undertaken the renewing it again, and restore all to their original as the eternal heir of all things, Heb. 1. 2. Apoc. 21. 5. Antichrist hath had a long time, and the other enemies long time of insulting over his Church, and reigning in the world; Satans reign far longer, therefore it seems but equal that Christ have a long time of triumph over all upon his throne, his Saints triumphing with him( as he hath suffered a long time of crucifying in his members) to set forth his glory; for what greater glory out of heavens glory so comely and delightful to the Father, and all the Saints, then to see Christ exalted high in his Throne, all his enemies made his footstool, every knee bowing to him, and every tongue confessing him Lord? which ended, he sends away the wicked to eternal torments and takes home the Saints with him, and resigns the kingdom to the Father, and so the world ends, and as some say, returns to a Chaos again, being consumed by fire, and becomes the hell of the damned, so as the place of sinning becomes the place of eternal torment. And so we proceed to the signs of his coming. The first sign of Christs second coming. WHen the enemy comes in like a flood without resistance in all human eyes, threatening to over swell the banks and bounds of all human power, and swallow up the Church, even then the Lords own arms brings salvation, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him, even then shall the deliverer come to Zion, Isa. 59. 16. 19, 20. and cap. 63. 5. his arm shall put on strength as in the dayes of old, and do wonders for the Churches deliverance, Isa. 51. 9. and as here in our psalm when the Church is overwhelmed, and wasted and spent, and in a manner quiter gone, at last gasp, often under water and even ready to sink, then the Lord Jesus arises, vers. 14. of this psalm, as a mighty King rouses up himself and arms speedily, puts on his garments of vengeance, clad with zeal as with a cloak, and upon his head an Helmet of salvation, Isa. 59. 17. when this mighty King begins to arm, he will go out conqueror out of the field, he will get the day, make his stoutest enemies feel the power of his strong arm, and all the nations from East to West shall fear his mighty name, Isa. 59. 19. work such a deliverance to his oppressed Church, as shall be glorious in the sight of the nations. When this great King, this Redeemer shall come to Zion, Vers. 20. expounded by Paul, Rom. 11. 26. of the Jews conversion, which seems to show that the deliverance of the Gentiles Churches, though begun before, shall not yet be fully accomplished until the Jews come into Christs kingdom; and though this prophesy, Isa. 59. seem clearly to respect the time of the Jews deliverance out of their bondage, and scattered condition now in the world, yet also it includes the gentle Churches deliverance also in a time and way men least think of, and with many wonderful works in great and utmost extremities, then his Army brings salvation, this is Christs virtual power in his workings and making way to his kingdom, and the forerunner of his appearing in his glory among the Jews. Two things here remain to bee opened and unfolded for clearing this point. First, when the enemy may be said to come in like a flood. Secondly, what is meant by the Spirit of the Lord lifting up a Standard against him, this terrible ensign to all the enemies. The enemy may be said to come in like a flood. First, when they at once in all the world make invasion, and inroads upon the Churches in several nations, like a Land flood, or an inundation out of the Sea, swelling so high without resistance as ready to overflow all the banks of the Churches safety and protection; and the Church overwhelmed and quiter swallowed up in all human sight. Secondly, when the foundations are cast down, Psal. 11. the laws of kingdoms, and laws of God overthrown, all wholesome governments in Church and commonweal overturned, which are the banks and walls of the Church, then the enemy comes in as floods irresistibly; for when the foundations are cast down, what can the righteous do? Psal. 11. 5. when the Antichristian party, Prelates, Priests and jesuits, have wrested all the government out of the hands of the Magistrates, and Churches, and make them their servants to execute their wills and pleasures, and by this means rule the nations in anger, Isa. 14. 12. when they have corrupted all judicatures, overthrown all Justice to make a prey of the Saints, Isa. 59. 15, 16. then the enemy hath broken down the banks and comes in like a flood. Thirdly, when the enemies are grown impudent in reviling, reproaching, raging, mad, and sworn against the Saints, and vow their destruction to rid their country of them, nay to make every trifle treason, suborn witnesses to take their lives, condemn them to death, execute some as traytors, whose innocence could never be touched, burn, and brand, and mingle-mangle, cut ears and Noses of Christs true witnesses, hunt and persecute other from place to place, from nation to nation, grudging them the very air to breath in, their rage so inflamed against them beyond and against all civill, all natural bonds of blood and kindred, then the flood sure swells apace. Fourthly, when brother betrays brother, and one kinsman another, but especially such as are professors, though time-servers in Religion, when these turn persecutors, and secretly are among and in the Councells of the enemies, such as have a heart & a heart, one Religion for Summer, & another for Winter, play Jack on both sides, sure on no side, but as the wind blows, turn to the strongest side; When these are thus joined with the enemies in the Churches bitter troubles, the flood swells very high. Fiftly, when hell raiseth up the dead to help Antichrist and overthrow the Church, Isa. 14. Kings, and Princes, and Magistrates who should be protectors of the Church, when they give their power to the Beast to wast the Church and kingdom of Christ, then the Church is very low and the floods swell high: By raising up the dead here is meant dead men in sins, and trespasses, that are still in their natural state, and stand upon natural principles, and have no life of Christ in them. sixthly, when the power of Antichrist and his catholic Son come in with their holy Armado to invade this land, as they did in October, 1639. and the catholic Princes lay aside their private quarrels and join in one design against England that hath been long the Bulworke and fortress of the Christian Churches abroad; and when our Philistim brood at home, Papists, Prelates, and their sons of the Church, and all the pack of Atheists & confederates join in the design to land the Spaniards to cut the throats of the Saints, as Psal. 83. 2. to blot out the remembrance of us, the flood then is swelled very high. The nations about us looked on amazed, and who trembled not at the noise of this flood, of this holy Fleet from Rome and spain; the power of Rome, the Sea of Rome to come rolling and tumbling in into our Channels, to our banks, like an inundation to swallow us up, and overflow this land, that hath been the fortress of the Christian Churches, and bounds to Rome and Spaines ambition, which if it had once been overflowed, how soon would this flood of Romes power have overrun all the other Churches, and subdued them to Romes grand Hierarchy, and Spaines long affencted Monarchy of all the West? Who is so blind as not to see now the enemy coming in like a flood? and therefore they felt of the power of Christ the bright morning star in his virtual influence arising for us, and made the Hollander without us to take vengeance on these his enemies, so proud and contemptuous of the power of the Hollander, in regard of their great Gallyons, like Castles amongst the Flemish ships; now we may say in this great straite that Christ put on righteousness for us, as an habergeon, and clothing of vengeance to repay fury to these his proud enemies; let them that bee left alive go home to Rome and spain and tell that Christ is risen to have mercy on Zion, and how they have felt the power of his strong arm, and if they like this welcome, let them come again and try their fortunes. This was sure a visible effect of Jehovahs arising to the prayer of the poor desolate Church in all the world, so greatly concerned in this our delivery. Seventhly, In the last place we may bring other of the late designs of the Romish party against England, Scotland and Ireland, to regain them to Romes subjection, and making the flood swell to its utmost height, as to engage England and Scotland in a national quarrel, to set us on fire, that they disguised as friends to help to quench the flamme might get opportunity to devour the three nations at once; also the many secret plots to cut off the Protestants, the plots against the Nobles and Worthies now assembled in Parliament, the plots in Scotland, the breaking of all which hitherto are so many certain signs and effects of the Lord Jesus his arising for Zions deliverance. Thus was our estate before this happy Parliament. We come now to the second thing to be cleared. What is meant by the Lord Jesus his lifting up a Standard against them: Tremel. reads the Spirit of the Lord shall invade them. This Standard is sure that ensign of the Gospels light set up to the nations, Isa. 11. 12. a sign of astonishment to the wicked of the world, but of great acclamation and joy to his people to gather them together in his cause and quarrel▪ Some render it a sign to the nations, as Tremelius and others; a sign betokens strange things, great wonders to follow, as Exod. 4. 8. if they will not hear the voice of the sign, then follows greater wonders upon wonders, these signs speak a strange kind of language; when the Lord Jesus sets up his signs to the nations, let them look about them, for great works of wonder will assuredly follow, these are his Harbingers, as more anon. Whether you read it after our translation, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against them, or with Tremelius, the Spirit of Jehovah shall invade them, it is all one, for the Spirit of the Lord in the gospel ●●irres up m●ns spirits, and gathers his Souldiers together, to encounter with the enemies, and so the Lord Jesus invades them by stirring up his people and nations professing the gospel to oppose the inundation of the enemies, as wee see he hath done of late both in England and Scotland, or else 〈◇〉 had been overwhelmed, and swallowed up in this flood ere now; when the Lord raises up the spirits of the people in Parliament, to stand up in his quarrel, to pled with and impeach the enemies of Church and State, and to stand for Christ and their country against all oppositions, and with hazard of life and estates and liberties, and struggle daily towards reformation; when he stirs up the people in London, and several Counties on all sides, to come flocking in with Petitions for reformation and justice against the Antichristian rabble, resolute to maintain their Religion and Liberties with their dearest blood, then surely may we say, the Lord Jesus now hath set us up his banner, to the nations, his peoples come flocking to his colours, bloody colours to the root of Rome; let them see what will follow, when thus the Lord Jesus begins to invade them in their princely Palaces, in their cathedrals, Courts, high Commissions and their dearest holds and strongest Forts of temporal authority, whereupon they have been built so long; and see how the Lord Jesus, hath cut their sinews, wounded and slain their power, captivated and taken prisoners by his worthy souldiers in Parliament, 13. of the principal Prelates and Pillars of the Popish party, and I believe the rest are as good as routed and put to flight already, like the mighty men of Babel have forborn to fight( except at foul play, at under ground mining with the jesuits) and are become as women, Jer. 51. 30. stand amazed one at another, with their faces like flames of fire, enraged and inflamed at this work, and yet as men without comfort or counsel looking upon one another confounded and ashamed, Isa. 13. 8. where is now their glory? Isa. 10. 3. praise to our Jehovah, our strong God, for these beginnings as the first fruits of his glorious victories, he will shortly accomplish for his Churches in all the world. Now is the time of the slain witnesses standing upon their feet and ascending to heaven,( to a pure reformation, to a pure state of the Church, which they stand up for, and ascend towards in their affections, and Petitions, and actions to assist and promove the work, though it bee in a cloud, in a darksome, troublesone time, with hazard of their lives, and in a darksome manner of going into a pure Church, as many, yea most eyes see not, Apoc. 11. what they are doing. The second sign. WHen the enemies of the Church are at their height, and their sins made full, Gen. 15. 16. Psal. 10. 7. and 33. 10. and 74. 20. and 75. 8. First, when the Romish whore is lifted up in pride and power, is set in the clefts of the rocks, and be like the most High, Isa. 14. 14. and thinks shee shall be most cocke-sure, sit as a queen and never be moved, then shall her plagues come in one instant, for the Lord that judgeth her is a strong God, Apoc. 18. 7. then shall she come down and sit in the dust, and no more bee called tender and delicate, Isa. 47. 1. Now as Rome wee say was not built on a day, so her destruction comes by degrees, her power, her pillars in other Nations must be shaken and fall before the great city fall: let none bee then discouraged at these weak beginnings, wherein wee have already seen the power and pillars of Rome shaken in this iceland, the very outworks and Forts of the great city, and if shee once have left these, her fall will come speedily. Secondly, when the Antichristian agents, Prelates, Priests, jesuits dare affront Princes, and Parliaments, and trample upon all authority, laws of God and of the Land, as ours in England and Scotland of late have done, then may wee say their sins are full. Thirdly, when Priests and Prelates dare assume a kind of authority to do what they list in Church and commonweal without control, become the onely fac-totums, and chief rulers in all affairs in Court and Country, subvert the laws, subvert Religion, and fill the house of God with the smoke of their abominations, set up their Altars, Images, Crucifixes, and all sort of superstitious and filthy idols close by Gods posts, Ezek. 43. 8. to make the Lord abhor his Sanctuary, and drive him out of house and home, from his rest he delights to dwell in, psalm 132. then sure their sins must needs be full. Fourthly, when the Antichristian brood and their sons of the Church are combined against Christ, and justle with him for the crown and throne, and regal dignity, and work strongly to bring in a foreign papal authority of Romes supremacy, and papal blasphemy, exalting themselves above God, worshipped in Nations where his power hath been long abolished, and the gospel embraced and purely preached, then may their sins be said to be full. Fiftly, when Antichrist and his vassals think to set themselves The plots in Rome, and of her confederates in England, Scotland, and Ireland, to reduce all to Romish subjection, discovered by the Scottish converted jesuit Mr. Thomas Abernethy, 1638 And the confederacy of the Irish Rebels, and English Papists, to root out our Religion in all the three kingdoms, and extirpation of the professors of it, set forth in the late examinations sent from Ireland by Dr. Jones, do all give large testimony of this. in sure possession of England, as witness their blasphemous boasting of their late holy Fleet before mentioned, coming to possess our pleasant land, with all provisions to plant and till the gound, and Spanish women to make a new brood of, and to root out the remembrance of the English and of England, that hath been Gods fruitful hill, as carmel and Bashan, and brought forth many famous lights of the gospel, as any Nation since the Apostles times; then their sins may be said to be full, and they set in the clefts of the rocks. Then was it high time for the Lord Jesus to arise and scatter them, and break their designs, for he will not suffer proud Antichrist to perch it so high, as to justle him from his crown and Throne. sixthly, when the enemies are grown from thirsting to get power to make themselves drunk with the blood of the Saints, belch out blasphemies, breath out threatenings against the very name of godliness, and at a defiance( as it were) with God, and no power to oppose them in the Saints of God, they are upon the very pinnacle of pride, then is it high time for the Lord Jesus to take them in hand, Apoc. 6. 15. and Psal. 46. 10. he will then be exalted in the earth. The third sign. WHen we hear of warres and rumours of warres, and a rushing of the Nations, Nation against Nation, and great Earthquakes, shaking and turning kingdoms and Nations upside down, and about the gospel and kingdom of Christ especially, as it is clear at this day in the original and first quarrel, though our wise God lets loose the Common enemies upon other gross attempts on mens lives and liberties, to draw into his service, and engage such in his quarrel against Antichrist, as otherwise would little regard the cause of his Church; and so the Lord Jesus by his omnipotence, as great King of all the earth, sets transgressor against transgressor, to help his Church thereby, and yea also sets other Nations of Enemies a rushing one against another to weaken and waste one another, that they may not be able to execute their malice upon the Church; great Earthquakes, saith our Saviour, shall be in the later dayes, Mat. 24. 7. And at the noise of the taking of babel, the whole earth is moved, Jer. 50. 46. Joel 3. 16. An universal Earthquake shall go through the Nations, to weaken the Foundations and pillars of Rome, until at length it tumble into Italy, and overturn the seven hilled City, and make it desolate, and never again inhabited, but become a habitation of Devils and unclean spirits, Apoc. 18. 2. 22. Jer. 51. 26. Isa. 34. 17. Isa. 13. 20. then shall Rome fall in an horrible Earthquake, Apoc. 16. 9. tumbling it up side down, and make that great mountain a plain, Zac. 4. 7. a burnt mountain, Jer. 51. 25. It is probable that this Earthquake is begun, and that Romes fortifications in this iceland( as the tenth part of the City, Apoc. 11. 13. of late become the out-worke of Romes fortification, and means of the Churches wastings and scatterings) are shaking and falling as a faire beginning of that Cities fall, and that our share in that Earthquake is now in hand. When the sufferings of our brethren are fulfilled, Apoc. 6. 10, 11. When Antichrist shall have accomplished the scatterings of the Saints, Dan. 12. 7. then shall his ruin be accomplished. When may the scatterings of the Saints be said to be accomplished nearer then now? all the Churches generally wasted and scattered beyond the Seas, and those that yet in Helvetia or France that have a little rest, are nevertheless under the power of the Antichristian party, ready to be wasted, when they see it fit and most for Romes advantage, though in politic respects they suffer them to enjoy a little: rest and for the Churches of the Netherlands, how quickly would they be ruinated if once the Romish party should prevail upon this iceland? yea, England especially hath suffered such scatterings of the Saints, as few Nations have, witness America, and other foreign parts where they are scattered by the rage of the enemies, yea, the remnant at home scattered from friends, families, and all outward comforts, and the rest almost scattered from communion, from comforts of all sorts, from shelter and protection of the laws, and all means of safety through the malice of the Popish and prelatical party, until the Lord Jesus by his Spirit did of late invade these raging enemies, first by the Scots, and now by our Parliament, by his Spirit and presence there, with his trusty servants daily invading this Romish rout and rabble: a forerunner of their fatal ruin, though but yet as an Embryo, not come to perfection, yet is such a work as the Lord will bring forth with joy to the Saints, and shall not miscarry, but be accomplished by such ways as men least think of. The welfare of all the Christian Churches at this day, lies folded in this clew of this work now the Lord Jesus is doing in this iceland, and especially in England, the strength of the other. The fourth sign. WHen there is an universal defection and darkness upon all the Churches, darkness of false Doctrines over some, of superstition and blindness upon others, of persecution and bloody cruelties over others, deadness, security, and neglect of discipline, and a formality in Religion, generally in the most Reformed Churches, not minding the things of Christ, or a full Reformation, the love of all sorts and degrees waxed could, yea, heart frozen, without natural affection; All these make up a thick cloud of darkness and trouble to the Saints. This is a sign of Deliverance, though it may be with a storm, with a rousing Judgement. For it is observed to be the darkest time of all the night, a little before the dawning. So in the day of Christs power, Psal. 110. there must be darkness of great troubles before the dawning, for Christs kingdom begins with the withdrawing of the former light, of peace and comfort in great troubles, through great opposition of the work by Antichrist and wicked men, who cannot endure Christs yoke; then is it high time for the Lord Jesus to arise and scatter the clouds lest the spirit in frail men should fail, Isa. 57. 16. this is the hour of temptation upon the whole world, Apoc. 3. 10. and is now the very state of these times, wherein the whole earth mourneth, Isa. 24. 4. when Sharon is a wilderness and Lebanon is ashamed, Carmel and Bashan cast their fruit, then will I arise saith the Lord, I will lift up myself, Isa. 33. 9, 10. as a great Monarch, or general when all his dominions are ready to be lost, he will do great exploits. The fifth sign. WHen all the Churches have drunk of the cup of trembling, it shall pass into the hands of the enemies, and they shall drink, and be drunk, and spew, and fall and rise no more, Isa. 51. 17. to the end, Jer. 25. 27 Jer. 49 12. Lam. 4. 21. Ezek. 23. 31, 32. Psal. 73. 10. and 75. 8. Isa. 10. 12. Then will the Lord Jesus make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the enemies Zach. 12. 2. fire, and brimstone, and horrible tempests shall bee the portion of their cup, Psal. 11. 6.▪ The poor Churches of Germany, Bohemia, Helvetia, and the Palatinate, have drunk long many a bitter draft, the Churches of France have drunk some bitter draughts, the Neatherland Churches, and Wallones have drunk long, Scotland hath had a little draft, and Ireland now is drinking, so as we in England onely may be thought to be behind, and what measure the Lord Jesus hath for us to drink, we have to deprecate; yet all things considered, the true Church, the persecuted Saints in England have drunk very bitterly, both formerly in the Marian dayes, and much more since, from the open professors of the Protestant Religion, persecuting the very known truth against their light and conscience, which makes our cup more bitter, nay beyond all parallel of any age or time of the Church in the New Testament, where it can be found that ever such persecution of Religion hath been exercised upon the Saints, by men that profess the same Religion, which we may hope is the making up of our cup full, and are instantly to beg of God, that he will now remove our bitter cup and put it into the enemies hand, since we may be said to be behind no Nation or Churches in the world in this bitter drinking; wee have drank long and very bitterly, and the Lord will not be angry for ever, lest the spirit in his sight should fail, and the souls that he hath made, Isa. 57. 16. The sixth sign. WHen all the Churches, as the people in Egypt, Exod. 3. 7. groan and sigh under their oppressors, Antichrist and his taskmasters, and fall a crying mightily unto God with a hideous noise as the Church here doth, Vers. 5. 2. 6. of this 102. psalm, with bitter mourning, make an universal and loud cry to Jehovah, as of a woman in travel for speedy help, or else she is ready to perish; This is that voice of the Temple, Isa. 66. 6. Apoc. 22. 17. that is, the pure Church, then the Lord hears, and gives the Church a speedy deliverance: which place though it clearly mean of the wonderful birth of the new Church and Nation of the Jews, as appears Vers. 8. yet doth it hold equally of the deliverance of the gentle Churches, who travail in pain to bring forth this glorious birth of the Jews, whereby our greatness of glory and fruitfulness shall be wonderfully increased, and from this womb of the morning of the day of Christs power, it is the Church of the Jews shall enjoy the due of her youth, Psal. 110. 3. 4. that is, her former flourishing and growth into multitudes of multitudes, as in the Land Egypt in the dayes of old. When now the poor Church, as here in our psalm, is overwhelmed, wasted and spent in struggling in the great waters, oft up and down, and at last ready to sink under water and rise no more, and the Saints from all quarters of the world, make up a lamentable loud and hideous cry to Jehovah for help at last gasp, in a sinking condition, when they cry goes high and great, loud and shrill in every corner of the world, so as the Lord gets no rest, in his holy habitation, Isa. 62. 1. then he hath respect to the prayer of the desolate, as Vers. 18. and 20. in the ensuing part of this our psalm; then he looks down from his Sanctuary, Vers. 20. and from heaven beholds the earth, sees all the Churches in a combustion, all on fire, and ready to be quiter consumed, the enemies strong and mighty, and no power to help the Church found in all the world, forsaken of all her lovers, and former seeming friends that should be her defenders. Now will I up, saith the Lord, and set at liberty him whom the wicked hath snared, Psal. 12, 5. become now even sons of death, as we shall see anon, Vers. 21. of this psalm. Now he comes, now he arises and arms himself, as a valiant Champion that never lost a battle, and will go out Conqueror out of the field, he comes in a time when the enemies least think of it, and his people most needs it, he seems to tarry long till the enemies bee at the height of pride against him, and cruelty against his Saints, till the stroke be ready to be struck, the decree sealed by the Kings seal for the destruction of the Church, easter 3. 12. till the arrows bee set upon the string, to give the Saints the mortal wound, Psal. 11. 2. then the Lord shall shoot at them suddenly, their stroke shall be at once, Psal. 64. 7. then will he be Jehovah Jireh, in the Mount he will be seen, Gen. 22. 14. Then he arises, comes riding upon the clouds with great expedition, Psal. 68. 33. this strong gale of prayer brings him at length, it was not strong enough before, he stayed but for it. The seventh sign. WHen the Lord sends out variety of strange signs and wonders in the heavens, in the earth and in the waters, strange Fishes, strange births, variety of Monsters, declaring to the world that men are become monsters of men in all wickedness; and strange wonders, storms, and tempests and thunder, fire and hail and strange sights, and that especially in and about the Churches that have been filled with the smoke of abominations of the whore of Rome, in late innovations, filthy pollutions of Gods pure worship, as the Lord hath done herein England, especially of late in many Churches in several Counties, as if he pointed with his finger, that there is his quarrel. These signs and wonders are the Lord Jesus his Harbingers, that go before this mighty King of Kings, and declare that he is risen, and arming, and upon his march, as a mighty man of war, with all his hosts of heaven, all his troops and attendants, to encounter Antichrist and all his mighty Princes and partakers, and suppress these Rebells, and settle his kingdom in peace, Joel 2. 30. The Lord Jesus sets not his signs and wonders in the heavens in vain, Gen. 1. 14. they are set for signs and seasons, as at the beginning of the world, so also in these later dayes when the world is so corrupted, as the whole frame of it as he first made it so defaced and deformed, that he must break it down and quiter dissolve it, Isa. 24. 20. and set it up again anew, as a new world, a new face upon all things, in Church and Commonwealth, Apoc. 21. 1. 2. his signs and wonders declare that the Lord Jesus is about to do great things, Joel 2. 21. These signs and wonders speak aloud in our ears a strange kind of language, if men will not harken to the voice of the first sign; then comes a second with greater astonishment, greater wonders, if we will not hear the voice of the second sign, then comes the third sign, and so wonders upon wonders until the wicked enemies like the Egyptians be destroyed, and lye dead on the shore, Exod. 4. 1. to 10. And the Saints shall stand and see the salvation of the Lord, Exod. 14. 13. the Lord of hosts sighting for us, when the enemy is grown past our dealing with, he will take them then in hand, he will be exalted in the earth, Psal. 46. 8. The eighth sign. WHen the Lord is hammering and squaring fit and choice instruments for his great works he is about in the world, as he hath done in all times of the Churches extremities, as Moses in Egypt, Joshua and the Judges, Othniell, Ehud, Shamgar, Gide●n, Jeph●hah, Baruk, samson, David, Solomon, Cyrus, zorobabel, and many others in all ages; so in these times of the Churches extremities under Antichrist, when wee see the Lord Jesus raising up and hammering many crooked instruments, setting them strait in his work, when he raises up men of another spirit for zeal, wisdom, spirit and courage, and of all divine and human accomplishments; it is a sign he hath work for them for the Churches deliverance. And thus he hath done of late, raised up in England and Scotland a number of worthies, of excellent Spirits both in the Nobility and Gentry, as fit to Brash the walls of Rome in due time, when the words of God shall be fulfilled, Apoc. 17. 17. A pattern of such spirits as the Lord will honour, to be instruments of his Churches deliverance, we may see in Moses, Exod. 2. 11. in his very childhood, how affectionate, how valiant, when he looked on the burdens of his brethren, and saw an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew one of his brethren, he rose up and flew him; he stood not disputing doubts or difficulties, or what dangers it might bring upon him, but seeing his brother in danger, he will rescue him upon all hazards: when Pharaoh heard this he sought to slay Moses, but God hide him; God will be careful( in greatest dangers) of the savers of their brethren, and hid them and protect them, so as all the plots of the enemies shall not touch them; this our present Parliament have had some experiences of, and I hope shall still have more to the astonishment of the Romish crew, and great rejoicing of all the Saints; he who employs them for his Churches deliverance, will also deliver them, to make them her deliverers, his instruments to work with him, in his excellent workings, as the great wheel of the Universe, setting all the wheels in the world a going to the accomplishment of his high designs; great difficulties in his workings are but matter of exercise of his heroic mind, make but room for him to show his high art and skill, all the powers of Hell shall not be able to hinder his workmen, or spoil his work, he turns the great Globe of the whole world upon his little finger, Heaven and Earth shall fail ere one jot of his word, one prick or pin of his Tabernacle fail. The ninth sign. BEfore the coming of mighty Kings, there is great preparations, and first, whispering amongst his domestic servants of his intentions in these preparations; then go out proclamations of his designs; then go forth his Harbingers, as wee have seen before; and about the time of his arming and arising, a general voice spreads from the Court to Country, that the King is coming, the King is coming, this voice, this noise of his coming comes out of the Temple, the Court of the great King, Psal. 48. the pure Churches of Christ where he resides, Psal. 132. and so becomes the common news that Christ is arising, Christ is arising, and will do great things, Joel 2. 20, 21. this noise, this voice out of the Temple sounding abroad in the world is about the dawning of the day of deliverance, or day of Christs power, Psal. 110. 2. As about the dawning all cocks fall a crowing, so multitudes in the Church ere long shall give notice of his coming, though now wee hear but a whispering amongst some of his privy Chamber servants. A sound shall be heard ere long of the rushing of his Chariots, the neighing, stamping and pransing of his horses, the noise of the whips, the rattling of the wheels of his jumping Chariots, of the sound of his Trumpets and Alarum to the battle, Jer. 47. 3. Ezek. 3. 12. Nahum. 3. 2. with a woe to all his enemies. But mean while it is the persecuted Church driven into the wilderness that hath the first news; the suffering Saints in their bitter exile, as here the Church is described in our psalm, mourning and making a hideous cry for her husbands long absence, watching for his coming as the Sparrow alone upon the house top, in all the storms, and darksome long winter night of troubles( when others sleep upon beds of Ivory in ease and pleasures) calling and crying uncessantly, Lord Jesus come quickly, come quickly, or wee perish speedily, it is the spirit of the Bride cries, Come, and the voice of the thirsty soul cries, Come, come Lord Jesus, Apoc. 22. 17. they that are most exercised in the Churches troubles and extremities, and sustain her sorrows, and are most frequent in prayers and tears for her, shall have the first news of Christs coming for her delivery, they shall have a gracious answer, a most sweet echo sounding in their ears, Behold I come quickly, quickly; behold I come quickly, I, I, I; yea a long sound and a strong sound too, to assure them that as he that testifies these things is faithful and true, Apoc. 22. 20. So as surely they shall not be deceived or disappointed. The tenth sign. WHen great Kings arise to do great works in the world, to encounter with their enemies, they will be known in the world by their princely Acts, and great exploits; no sooner a mighty hero arms, and comes into the field, but he will fall upon some notable design, some valiant achievement, some actions to make his name and famed to spread to the terror of his enemies, so the Lord Jesus his arising must be seen in his Princely actions, when he comes to build up Zion, it will be sure a work of great wonders. Now his Princely actions are to recover his many Crownes, his many kingdoms detained by Antichrist, and injustly usurped by tyrannicall government over his Subjects, and so when he arises he scatters those his enemies, and they fly before him, and dare not abide the brightness of his coming, he overthrows their mighty enterprises, breaks their designs, discovers their counsels in their secret Chambers, and turns all their plots to the Churches greatest advantage. And thus he did clearly in the scattering the Antichristian Prelates in Scotland, and thus he is also doing in England, he hath scattered some, and taken others prisoners, trapped them in their own devices, according to the Psal. 9. 16. The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth, the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands; Higgaion Selah, or excellently, as Treme●. reads it. Thus he did for England in the overthrow of the late holy fleet from Italy and spain, in October 1639. he performed a princely action, a noble exploit, made his name and famed spread through christendom; the generations to come shall talk of that Princely action, noble victory( over an Armado, that scorned and despised all the Churches power) as a sure sign of his arming and arising for all his oppressed Churches, equally interested in that danger if he had not prevented mightily by a weak means and despicable power of the Hollanders( but a matter of mocking to the proud Dons of spain) whom Christ armed and fought among, till the mighty were fallen, and the power of Rome like a swelling Sea, was swallowed up in our narrow channel; and thus ever since what wonderful designs of the Romish crew hath the Lord Jesus brought to nothing, ever since that overthrow, so that since, none of their plots have taken, but been all discovered and broken, and all as so many lively effects of the Lord Jesus his arising, and as his famous princely actions, for the defeating his enemies, and making way to the advancing of his kingdom; when the Lord breaks Pharaohs Coach wheels, and they drive heavily, and nothing prospers with them, then immediately follows their utter confusion, and all from the power of the Churches Jehovahs Arming and arising. All these signs belong to the darksome time of the morning before the dawning of the day of Christs power, as the time of the greatest darkness, to which time of the Churches troubles, he comes as the morning star, by his light and influence in his workings, comforts the Church and strikes his enemies courage, counsels, and breaks their designs, as the effects of his virtual coming helps the Churches and makes way to his kingdom, and may be said to be the remote beginnings of it from the resurrection of the witnesses, ascending towards reformation, to which is joined the fall of the tenth part of the city( Rome, the tenth part whereof is these three kingdoms) by an earthquake, wherein we are now shaking at this day, to cast off Romes authority and Religion, as the event will shortly show, clement Deo. The eleventh sign. BEfore this sun of righteousness his arising to build his Zion with a glorious brightness round about him, Matth. 17. 2. as we see about the time of the sun rising, he is the light of the world, John 8. 12. appearing in his glory, as Verse 17. of this our prophetical psalm tells us, before this his beautiful rays and brightness as the lightning out of the East, shineth into West, declare his appearing, Matth. 24. 27. the earth shineth with his glory, Ezek. 43. 2 he brings it with him; we have but a sudden short glancing light at first of his coming, that is, some times frightful for fear of a storm, and sometimes a joyful and comfortable sign of faire weather, as the similitude of lightning applied to Christs second coming importeth, Matthew 24. 27. His brightness is as the light, Habakkuk 3. 4. his lightnings give light unto the world. A fire goeth before him and burneth up his enemies round about him, the earth saw it and trembled, Psal. 97. 3, 4.( Earthly men are afraid at these signs of Christs coming.) A fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him, Psal. 50. 3. These places are clearly meant of Christs second coming to set up his kingdom, and not to end the world. This last sign belongs to the time of Christs second coming in his kingdom, 2 Tim. 4. 1. not to end but renew the world, and is in that time of his day which we compared to the Sun rising, which in regard of the cloudy morning is scarce believed, even of many of the Saints, Luk. 18 8. The morning of this day of Christs power, is like to bee very cloudy, and tempestuous and full of troubles, but it is to the enemies, A fire shall burn up and consume them, but shall but scar●● and fright the Saints, the flamme shall not kindle upon them. I cannot conceive this to be altogether meant of a material fire, but allegorical, showing forth all consuming plagues and judgements, amongst which no doubt some may be by material Fire, Sword, and Pestilence, yea Tempests, hail and whirlwinds, as the portion of the enemies cup, Psal. 11. 6. strange and uncouth Plagues shall fall upon the Churches enemies, when he appears in his glory, as our psalm imports, Vers. 17. for he cannot appear in his glory to build his Zion, but his enemies that hinder the work must be rooted and confounded, for till then they will never be quiet, or suffer the Lords workmen to build, and some of the greatest and most mighty enemies that are past mans meddling with, are very like to have the wrath of the lamb visibly from heaven to fall upon them and destroy them. This glancing light of the bright rays of Christs appearing in his glory is in Goshen amongst the Saints not, in Egypt; nor in all Goshen at first neither, but first seen of his watchful servants, the meanest often and most despicable in the eyes of the world, as the shepherds to whom he at his first coming first appeared, Luke 2. 8. Also to his suffering servants, as to Ezekiel, cap. 1. 8. Daniel, John, in their visions in their captivity, Dan. 8. 16. Apoc. 1. saw such a brightness of Christ as made them fall upon their faces astonished, if the sight of Christ coming in his kingdom and glory so far off, so long ago, was so glorious to their astonishment, what will the glancing rays of his brightness be to his Saints near the time of his coming and appearing in Action in the building his desolate Zion, and possessing the kingdoms and dominion of all the world under the broad heavens? sure it will be glorious; his witnesses shall have the first sight of it, who have been slain in these late dayes, killed with sorrows of bitter sufferings, sons of death in all mens eyes, yea in their own too, as dead men out of mind, Psal. 79. 11. separated from their brethren, as Joseph, forsaken of all friends and strangers to their acquaintance, Psal. 69. 8. crucified to the world and the world to them. Who with Moses converse with Christ in the Mount, they shall have his light reflecting on them to make their faces shine, yea their garments shine as the Children of the woman clothed with the sun, Apoc. 12. 12. The brightness of Christs kingly power and glory, as the two heralds of Christs resurrection in shining garments, Luke 24. 4. two Angels who kept the sepulchre of Christ, John 20. 12. When Joseph of Arimathea, and the women that came with them from Galilee were going to the sepulchre to embalm the body of Christ with costly spices and ointments( as the custom among the Jews was) they saw the brightness of Christ now risen( beyond their expectation) in the two Angels, his heralds declaring to them that he was risen and was not there, the sight whereof astonished them, and whiles Joseph with Mary Magdalen, Joanna and Mary the mother of James and other women with them told these things unto the Apostles, they seemed to them as idle tales which they believed not, because as John saith, cap. 20. 9. they knew not the Scripture that he must rise again from the dead; yea Peter & John running to the sepulchre and seeing the linen clothes that Christ was wrapped in as tokens of his resurrection, yet did not believe it that he was risen, but rather stolen away, Vers. 13. as appears by Maries weeping, to whom on a sudden Christ appeared, yet she knew him not but took him to be the gardener until Christ speaks to her, Mary; this speech carried such a power with it as she replies with joy, Rabboni or Master, and then he bids her go and tell these things to the Disciples, who after divers times of his appearing visibly to several of them, the rest to whom they told it believed not the news of his resurrection, Mark. 16. 11, 12. Nay Matthew saith cap. 28. 8. while Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary, as the angel commanded them, ran to tell the news of Christ arising to the Disciples, they went with fear and great joy, tossed with distractions and distrustful thoughts between faith and doubting, that darkened their comfort and joy they had in their sight of Christ visibly speaking to them. So are the faithful Saints, even in these times much perplexed about the time of Christs second coming to build up his Zion, a thing wee are subject to by original blindness, and troublesone passages, as ignorant of as the Disciples were of his resurrection, and when we have seen the signs of his coming very brightly, wherein he often shows it to us, yet how many contrary thoughts distracted and trouble us, and hinder our faith from budding forth in the joy of the small and weak beginnings of his arising until the Lord Jesus stablish our mindes by his spirit and presence in a more then ordinary manner, no testimonies of men or Angels can do it, Christ himself must do it by breaking into the soul with his beams of light, as he did by his visible appearance to these two women messengers running with the news to the Disciples, confirming them therein, in the midst of their fears and joys, Mat. 28. 9. which makes much for the consolation of the Saints in these times, that though wee see Christ coming but darkly through the vail of original blindness, yet wee shall not want daily more confirmations of our saith in his coming by his excellent working and glorious appearing in the scattering of his enemies, and the tempests of troubles, until he appear in his glory for he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working, Isa. 28. 29. In the interim when the Lord Jesus shows us any signs and forerunners of his coming by his excellent working, yea when he comes hearer then ordinarily to any of the Saints in their bitter sufferings, think it not an ordinary thing, but rouse up our spirits and look about us, for some great things are near, some great works at hand. Thus in our dangerous and tedious voyage, and traverse in the great deep, praise to our Jehovah, who sends the winds out of his treasures, for a pleasant gale and prosperous passage through many dangers, and clear weather, to see the land afar off, Isa. 33. 17. a glimpsing sight of an unknown world, large and wide, reaching to all the four winds, praise to our skilful Pilate, who hath conducted us to the pleasant shore, to see afar off the high Land appear like snow on Salmon, very beautiful, Psal. 68. 14. and as wee drew nearer to the shore, wee found the favour of the pleasant fertile soil as the smell of Lebanon, Cant. 4. 11. Hosea 14. 6. sweet and delightful to all the Saints. The same great conductor bring us with time and tide, and clear weather to a safe landing, to view this new Country, this unknown Land of the new Jerusalems, new world full of heaven-like, glistering glory, and to walk through the streets of the city of the great King, view his princely Ivory palaces, and taste of the delicates in his enclosed gardens, and pleasant fruits of his planting, who is the Prince of delights, all lying within the circumference of this Sunshine round about the Hemisphere arising to have mercy on Zion; that so we may return like Caleb and Joshua, bring home to our friends some of the delicious fruits of the Land, to the praise of our Jehovah and Zions joy in the assemblies of the Saints, and so we come in to the Text again. Vers. 16. Then shall the Heathen fear the name of Jehovah, and all the Kings of the earth shall honour him. [ Then] When he arises to have mercy on Zion( having a relation to the former verse) when this bright morning star, this sun of righteousness shall arise, his influence is of large exlent, of long continuance, according to Vers. 23. to the Nations from East to West, that is, all under the broad heaven, and he shall be King of all the earth, Zacb. 14. 9. Mal. 2. 11. Isa. 59. 19. Psal. 72. 27. Dan. 7. 14. his kingdom shall last for ever, Luk. 1. 33. that is, to the worlds end, when he resigns it to the Father, 1 Cor. 15. now shall he be great to the ends of the earth, Mic. 5. 4. a great King, and dreadful among the heathen, Mal. 1. 14. Isa. 59. 19. as we shall see anon, Vers. 19. 23. these things here in this verse from the first time of Christs arising clearly include the conquest of all his enemies under the cope of heaven, and seem to invite us to look further into the great things that follow from Christs appearing in his glory, and also may seem to bee placed here for instruction and consolation from the first sight of his glorious working in the cloudy and tempestuous morning of his day full of troubles, and his brightness and power not so clear and conspicuous to the world, doth yet bring in all these great joys to the Church that follow, as the Spring before the Harvest, as the summer grapes before the Vintage, the glancing rays of his arising and the first works done therein, seen in the spirit,( though not with carnal eyes) are even the first fruits of the kingdom and glory following in the next verses, a taste whereof the spirit here holds out to us before-hand, for our comfort and consolation in these our times of these weak beginnings, to strengthen our fainting spirits in midst of troubles, and to assure us of the Harvest coming, and that when he once arises, Kings of the earth, the proudest enemies of earthly men, the greatest Potentates in the world, who stand out against him and think themselves too stout to stoop to him, to his sceptre and Dominion, shall be subdued, fear his power and do homage to him; so that when he once arises his work shall go endway, no power shall be able to oppose him, he is the great wheel of the Universe, who sets all the other wheels in the world a going, to accomplish his high designs, and shall, will they nill they, serve to his ends; See more at large of this in the extent of his kingdom in the things following. Vers. 17. When Jehovah shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. We have been long in the discovery of the darksome morning, The manner of Christs second coming very glorious or full of glory. now comes in the glory of the day, as the sun shining very gloriously, scattering and destroying his enemies and building his Zion, Isa. 44. 28. Jer. 31. 4. ●8 he is set forth of old in that great deliverance at the read Sea, Ex. 15. glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders, but now in the setting up of his kingdom and conquest of all the earth to his obedience, he will do great things, Ioel 2. 21. greater wonders then ever yet were seen in the world since its beginning, for now he appears in his Kingly glory, as King of all the earth, by right of inheritance, which he will now subdue to his obedience, his kingdom is an uncouth thing, not known yet in the world till the Jews come in, then will he build his Zion, set up his kingdom amongst them gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. then shall that of Isa. 33. 17. be fulfilled, Thine eyes shall see the King in his glory, in his greatest works far surpassing all his former works, his building his Zion, the court of this great King, the erecting his Throne, in his Princely Palaces will be a glorious fabric, a curious masterpiece as was never yet seen of mortal eyes. 1. The Lord Jesus was very glorious in his first conception in the womb of a pure Virgin by the overshadowing of the holy Ghost. 2. He was glorious in his birth, and appearing in the flesh, though born in a manger, made great King Herod tremble and all Jerusalem in an uproar, Matth. 2. his brightness by a star shined into the East gloriously, bringing in the wise men from far to worship him, these wise men Calvin calls the first fruits of the Gentiles. 3. When he was but 12. yeares old, Joseph and Mary found him in the Temple, disputing amongst the Doctors and great rabbis, who were astonied at his understanding and answers, Luk 2. 46. Another time of his preaching, the very Officers who were come to apprehended him, were so convinced as they confessed that never man spoken like this man, John 7. 46. Here the Lord Jesus begun to triumph in his prophetical Office very timely, which adds much to his glory. 4. In his sufferings very glorious, his death glorious, so as his enemies confessed he was the son of God, Matth. 27. 54. here his Priestly office triumphed. 5. How was his resurrection glorious, Luk. 24. John 20. his transfiguration glorious, Matth. 17. 2. his ascension glorious? here his kingly office in a spiritual manner triumphed in conquering the root of all the evils of his Church, as sin and death, hell and the grave, and ascending to the Father after his victory. 6. Yet he foretells of another glory that should bee seen in him after he was ascended and left the Earth, ye shall see the Heavens open, and the Angels ascending and descending upon the son of man, coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory, John 1. 51. Matth. 24. 20. in like manner as he ascended into Heaven, Act. 1. 11. But where do we find that ever Nathaniel or the Disciples ever saw this accomplished? therefore it is to be accomplished at the Lord Jesus second coming, when the dead Saints be raised to meet him and possess the kingdom promised, then shall all his offices shine forth more gloriously then ever yet in the world, at his second coming to set up his kingdom, set forth in our psalm in building his Zion, when he shall appear in his glory; yet principally I conceive this glory to be meant of his kingly glory, amongst the Saints visibly upon Earth, and in the conquest of Antichrist and turk, and all the enemies, this his appearing in his glory being the same with that, 2 Tim. 4. 1. Luk. 19. 11, 12. to renew the world, and restore all things to their original, at the Creation, Act. 3. 19. to make new Heavens and new Earth, and a new face of all things, Apoc. 21. far surmounting all former glory of any times of the Church, which places are not meant of his last coming to end the world, for then his kingdom ends and he delivers it up to the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24. Christ hath been hitherto but a suffering King, a persecuted, scoffed, despised King, of the Kings of this world, but the former Verse of this psalm tells us he will be a reigning King, and all the Kings of the Earth shall honour him when he comes in his glory to build his Zion; he will be King of Kings, and King of all the Earth, as Vers. 16. 23. of this psalm, the Church by the spirit of prophesy sees all the kingdoms of the world gathering to serve Christ. Now this is a work of so large extent, and accompanied with such great difficulties and oppositions from Antichrist and his Kings and Princes, as he had need when he comes about it, to appear very gloriously, as a mighty conqueror of all the world. Thus of his appearing in his glory in general. Now of the same in more particular; he shall appear in his glory, and be wonderful glorious. 1. In himself. 2. In his actions, and effects of his coming. 3. In the extent of them. 1. In himself glorious. 1. In his Kingly Titles. 2. In his person. 3. In his apparel. 4. In his riding. 5. In his attendants. 2. In his actions, and effects of his coming. 1. In conquest of his enemies, Antichrist and turk, and all the rout. 2. In conversion of Jews and Heathen. 3. Building his Zion and setting up his kingdom in great glory; wherein of the glory of the new Church, when the new created people shall praise Jah, Vers. 19. of this psalm. She shall be glorious, 1. In liberty. 2. In healing of all her distempers. 3. In brightness and beauty; then follows the marriage of the lamb. 4. Glorious in fruitfulness and wonderful increase and spreading in multitudes of believers in all Nations. 5. Glorious in peace and plenty. 6. In protection and safety. 7. In stability and perpetuity. 3 In the extent of these his kingly actions to the ends of the Earth, as Vers. 16. and 23. of this our psalm. 1. Glory in himself. 1 Glorious in himself. 1. In his Titles. The first glory in himself is in his Titles. The Lord Jesus assumes to himself a new form different from that natural form of a servant at his first coming, when now by his second coming he sets up his kingdom, he comes in such a form as may represent both to his Saints & to his enemies the great and high designs he is about in the world, and that is a form lovely in the eyes of the Saints, but terrible to his enemies, Heb. 9. ●8. He is now to come into the field as a mighty conqueror, in his kingly titles, and so we find him, Apoc. 19. 16. in a warlike posture, upon his Vesture and upon his Thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So also Apoc. 17. 14. the blessed and onely potentate, 1 Tim. 6. 14. King of Nations, Jer. 10. 7. King of Saints, Apoc. 15. 3. A great King, Mal. 1. 14. King of all the Earth, Zach. 14. 9. King of glory, Psal. 24. 8. All power is given to him both in Heaven and Earth, Matth. 28. 18. faithful, and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war, Apoc. 19. 11. For he is the Word of God, Vers. 13. A man of war, Exod. 15. 3. An expert and valiant Champion, hath fought many a bloody battle, Heb. 12. 2. mighty in battle, Psal. 24. 8. Isa. 9. 6. mighty to save, Isa. 63. 1. The God of salvation, to whom belongs the issues of death, Psal. 68. 10. Jehovah of hosts, Psal, 24. 10. All the creatures in heaven and earth are at his royal command, the hosts of heaven attend him, Apoc. 19. 13. A strong God, Vers. 25. of this 102. psalm, able to do all; God the avenger, Psal 94. 1. of all his Churches wrongs; wonderful counsellor, Isa. 9. 6 can find out all the stratagems of his most subtle enemies; can grapple with the greatest Politicians and cunning head pieces, knows all advantages, all the holds and strengths, waves and passages of his greatest enemies, and can defeat them at his pleasure. There is nothing hatched in Rome or spain, or in the cardinals conclaves, or jesuits closerts, or in Hell itself, but he discovers, overturns all their works, deepest designs and underminings of his Saints, upon any sudden exploit or danger: the greatest difficulties are but matter of exercise of his mighty mind, his pastime and pleasure fit for the mind of so great a King. In sum, he wants no abilities, no princely accomplishments to attain his designs. On the contrary his counsels are deep, the enemy can never find them out, there is no wi●do 〈…〉 counsel against him, Prov. 21. 30. and 1●. 21. 〈…〉 hath 〈…〉 me which n● man knows but him 〈…〉 which Master ●r●ghtman saith shall bee onely 〈…〉 comes ●o ●et up ●● kingdom among the Jews; O that name shall then alone be excellent▪ Psal. 148. 13. above all names, Philip. 2. 9. Zach. 14. 9. no name or power but his, or in comparison of his. 2 Glory in himself. Secondly, His second glory in himself is in his person, Comely & lovely. 2 Glorious in his person. 1. His head and his hair, white as wool, white as snow, Apoc. 1. 14. Dan. 7. 9. signifies his simplo and pure nature in himself, as the lamb of God, and head of his Church; and upon his head many Crownes, Apoc. 19. signifies his title to all the kingdoms in the world, Psal. 2. 8. Heb. 1. 2. 2. His face as the Lightning, Dan. 10. 6. discomfits his enemies, Psal. 18. 14. but lovely towards his Church, it shines as the sun, Apoc. 1. 16. in brightness and beauty, and influence of his Kingly power, that shall be seen in the world, and in the Churches, when his kingdom shall be accomplished; The earth shines with his glory, Ezek. 43. 2. 3. His eyes as flames of fire, Apoc. 1. 14. seeing clearly into all the hide secrets of his enemies deeds of darkness, and burns up their works and devices, contrived in their secret Chambers, cells, and dark dens, but as Doves eyes to the Saints, bright and lovely, Cant. 5. 12. 4. His nostrils breaths strongly, shows his Kingly spirit is up, see Psal. 18. 8. and 68. 2. Nahum 1. 5. 2 Thess. 2. 8. melts mountaines of greatest enemies as wax before the sun, Psal. 97. 5. 5. Out of his mouth goes a two-edged sword, Apoc. 19. 15. the sword of his Spirit, sharpening and thrusting out the sword of the Magistrate to execute the Judgement written, Psal. 149. 9. Isa. 11. 4. Apoc. 1. 16. Whereby he smites the Nations of his Enemies, Apoc. 19. 15. destroys them that destroyed the earth, Apoc. 11. 18. 6. His voice as the sound of many waters, Apoc. 1. 15. signifies mighty tumults in all Nations, when he begins to roar in Mount Zion, Joel 3. 16. It is a strong voice, makes the earth to tremble with Earthquakes, and cleave asunder and drink up the flood, the Church was like to sink in, Apoc. 12. 16. if he once begin to roar, he shakes the Nations, and weakens the Pillars and foundations of Rome, spain and Austria, France and all their confederates, and makes way to the overturning of the seven-hilled City, See Jer. 25. 30. Amos 1. 2. Joel 3. 16. Hos. 11. 10. Isa. 42. 13. 15. 7. His arm is strong and will get the victory, Psal. 98. 1, 2. Isa. 63. 5. and 59. 17. 8. His right hand shall do terrible things, Psal. 45. 4. make waste mountaines and hills, and dry up the floods, Isa. 42. 15. and 51. 10. 9. His sceptre is a sceptre of righteousness, will do justice, Psal. 72. 2. Psal. 45. 6. A rod of Iron will crush the Nations of the enemies as a Potters vessel that cannot bee set together again, Apoc. 19. 15. Heb. 1. 8. 10. His arrows are sharp and keen, Psal. 45. 6. mortal darts, Psal. 7. 13. Instruments of death shining as the lightning that strikes suddenly, Zach. 9. 14. Jer. 51. 16. secretly, and deadly. 11. His sword upon his Thigh, Psal. 45. 3. made bright to the slaughter, Ezek. 21. 15. shall eat flesh and drink blood, and bee made drunk with blood of the people of his curse, Isa. 34. 5. and cap. 49. 26. Jer. 19. 11. he will strike through Kings in the day of his wrath, Psal. 110. 5. and spare no persons. 12. His feet like fine brass burning in a furnace, Apoc. 1. 15. his meanest parts are glorious, wherewith he will tread down his enemies in anger, Isa. 63. 6. Apoc. 19. 15. as mire in the streets, Zach. 10. 5. he is a mighty King, of a mighty spirit, will now revenge all the affronts of his enemies; and what are the noble acts of Princely heroic spirits, but to protect their servants and subjects, and punish proud Rebels, Parcere subjectis & debella●● superbos? His third glory in himself. Thirdly, he is glorious in his apparel; clothed with Majesty 3. Glorious in his apparel. and honour, clothed with light as with a garment, Psal. 104. 1, 2. the earth shines with his glory, Ezek. 43. 2. he is clothed with a garment down to the feet, Apoc. 1. 13. which is his righteousness covering all the infirmities and deformities in the Church, extending and descending to the meanest members; these are his sweet smelling garments to the Saints, Psal. 45. 8. garments of salvation of soul and body, Isa. 61. 10. and upon his head a helmet of salvation, Isa. 59. 17. a joyful sign of the Churches deliverance, he puts on righteousness as an habergeon or Breast plate declares a just quarrel, and is clad with zeal as with a cloak, Isa. 59. 17. now his spirit is up, he changes his apparel, as great Princes do upon a day of battle, and fits for the battle, comes towards his enemies in his bloody colours; puts ●● garments of ven●eance, Isa. 59. 17. garments dipped in blood, Apoc. 19. 13. and stains all his raiment in the bloody fight, Isa. 63. ●, 2. he now repayes fury to his adversaries, and to the islands afar off, Isa. 59. 18. Now if the great general of all the Armies stain his raiment with the blood of the Antichristian rabble, what blood-shed is to be expected? surely it will be a bloody day. He hath to do with great, mighty, and many enemies, Antichrist and all the rabble in the West; turk and Tartar, and all those in the East from Java to Japan, and therefore he appears in the field in his bloody colours, to fight many great and bloody Battailes. His fourth glory in himself. Fourthly, as great Princes and Generalls come into the field 4. Glorious in his rid●ng. bravely mounted, according to their state, triumphs and conquests: So we find this King of Kings coming in his glory into the field as a great conqueror in his state, bravely mounted upon a white horse, Apoc 19. 11. the word of truth, Psal. 45. 4. in meekness and gentleness towards his Saints, in truth and righteousness both to them and to his enemies, 2 Thes. 1. 6. This white horse is a warlike stately swift beast, such as great Generalls, triumphing Conquerors used of old amongst the romans, and still used to this day, a horse of strength and swiftness breaks through all impediments with great celerity, a horse very suitable to the rider in his high designs, and signifies great joy and triumph to the Churches. He hath also change of horses, as he changes his apparel into bloody colours, he also changes horses, and so wee find Zachary describe him, upon a read horse, signifying his fury and bloody revenge he will take upon the Churches enemies, Zach. 18. who have drunk the blood of Saints, he will now give them blood to drink, for they are worthy, and that double upon them, double for all their cruelty, Apoc. 16. 6. and cap. 18. 6. and 19. 2. He hath also light Horses for his speedy expeditions, he rides upon the clouds, Psal. 68. 33. upon a Cherub, flying upon the wings of the wind, Psal. 18. 10. shows his readiness at hand to help his Saints, at all assaults, in all parts of the world, with great expedition into all quarters in an instant, no straight or trouble can befall his Church, or any danger break out on a sudden, but he is at it, ready to help and relieve them, and settle and order all the great affairs in the world. 5. Glory in himself. Fifthly, he is very glorious in his Attendants. 5. Glorious in his attendants. This great King comes into the field royally attended, and strongly armed, with all warlike preparations for long and bloody warres, for he being once risen, he will not sit down, until he have made all his foes his footstool, Psal. 110. 1. The hosts of heaven follow him upon white Horses, Apoc. 19. 13. clothed in fine and pure linen, white and clean, i.e. e. Christs righteousness, made the righteousness of the Saints, these are this Generalls guard attend his royal person as becomes his state, and thus stately mounted to solemnise his victories. His Captaines, Curreres and Commanders, for bloody service, are mounted on read Horses, Zach. 1. 8. for these read Horses signify bloody slaughters of his enemies, as also, Apoc 6. 4. bloody troubles, such as shall take away peace from the earth; the Nations that are his enemies, he as the great wheel of the Universe sets on work by his omnipotence, to rush one upon another in their private quarrels, in bloody warres to waste, and weaken, and rain one another, as Isa. 17. 13. to further the ruin of Antichrist and is Kings and kingdoms, Apoc. 6. 4. We find also in his Army black Horses, Apoc. 6. 5. and their Riders with a balance in their hands, to sell corn and bread by weight, signifies famine and great dearth, a companion of bloody warres, which also this sable colour is a symbol of. Here be also pale horses, and their Rider is death, Apoc. 6. 8. The next companion of war, Famine and bad diet, brings in Pestilence, Ezek 6. 11. striking down by heaps such as escape the Sword, and such as by reason of their wealth the Famine cannot touch. He also hath his Chariots coming with him like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury and his rebuk with flames of fire, for by fire and sword will the Lord pled with all flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many, Isa. 66. 15. As he hath Chariots of destruction, so also he hath Chariots of salvation, Hab. 3. 8. for his Churches deliverance. He hath his Heralds to proclaim woe and ruin that stand out against him, and also his Harbingers, his great and strange signs and wonders going before and declaring his coming. Now is the third and last woe at hand, which brings in the woe to all the Churches enemies, Apoc. 11. 14. Woe to thee O idol shepherd, Zach. 11. 17. Jer. 25. 34. O Antichrist the grand usurper of Christs kingdom, with all thy cardinals, Jesuits, and hellish orders; Woe to you Prelates, Prebends, Priests, and all your sons of the Church, the spawn and young fry of the Beast of Rome, for his design is against Babylon, Jer. 51. 11. Woe to Rome, spain and Austria and all your confederates; Woe to Elam that bare the Quiver in the day of the Churches distress, Isa. 22. 6. Ezek. 32. 24. Elam was a people joined to the Church, Ezek. 2. 7. 31. and 8. 7. Nehem. 7. 12. and 12 42. and yet in the day of the Churches trouble among the enemies, Ezek. 32. 24. and therefore shall perish with them, Jer. 49. 36. Your lofty looks shall be all laid low; howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand, it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty, Isa. 13. 6. for the day of vengeance is in his heart, the year of his redeemed is come, Isa. 63. 4. A joyful day to the Saints, they will be glad to see their King, though coming in fiery Chariots of his judgements on the world; A terrible sight to all the enemies, See Isa. 34. 8. for his camp is very great, his day is very terrible, Joel 2. 10. 11. 2 ●● a● of his glory in his ●●ons, as the ●s●cts o● his 〈…〉 king. Thus of his glory in himself; in his kingly Titles, Person, apparel, Riding and Attendants, now follows the second general head of his glory, and so we find him very glorious in his actions. First, in his kingly victories and conquests, of Antichrist, and of the turk, and other Nations. Secondly, in the conversion of the Jews, and Heathen, Vers. 16. and 19 23. of this psalm. This is his kingly glory to be manifested in these latter dayes, in the setting up his kingdom, which before he can do he must subdue the enemies of it, as is clearly implyed Vers. 16. of this psalm▪ Now the Lord Jesus no sooner arises to this high design, but Antichrist begins to look out and prick up his ears, at the first beginnings of Christs working; calls up his Astrologers and Wise men, as Herod did at his first coming in the flesh, fearing great alterations in the world and hazard to his kingdom; and they are cunning Artists, can discern by the face of the sky, and strange signs and wonders, Christs Harbingers and forerunners, that a storm is coming upon the seven-hilled city, and therefore dig deep for counsels, Acheronta movendo: and who are the counsellors? John tells us, Apoc. 16. 13. his Prelates, Priests and jesuits, the great incendiaries of all the world, like Frogs for multitude, who delight to live in pounds, lakes, and filthy puddles of Romes superstitious and false doctrines, called unclean spirits, or spirits of Devills, for they come out of the mouth of the Dragon and the Beast; the whole fry of the Romish clergy and sons of the Malignant Church, and spawn of Antichrist, croaking and crying night and day incessantly, in the ears of the Kings of the earth and men of the earth, to make war against the Saints in whom the Lord Jesus is begun to work the advancement of his kingdom, breathing out threatenings of ruin and destruction by their armadas and Invincible Forces, but this their blasphemous threatening doth the more hasten the Lord Jesus his coming to their utter ruin, Apoc. 11. 18. and 19. 2. when he shall roar in Mount Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, Jer. 25. 30. Joel 3. 16. Amos 1. 2. Hos. ●1. 10. his voice is terrible and full of majesty, Psal. 29. 4. he will make waste mountaines and hills of greatest enemies, Isa. 12. 15. And thus no sooner the Lord Jesus begun to scatter his enemies in Scotland, Anno 1638. in casting out the Prelates, and overturning Antichrists Foundation, but these Frogs, these unclean spirits, croake and cry uncessantly without rest or sparing of cost to stir up war against the Scots, but the Lord Jesus hath broken all their designs, and scattered these his enemies, who arose in that quarrel against him; and being foiled there, what new devices, plots and conspiracies have they since assayed? as witness their last and great attempts in England and Ireland, the plots in Rome to reduce these three kingdoms to Romish subjection, discovered by the Scottish converted jesuit Master Thomas Abernethy, Anno 1638. also the examinations of late from Ireland give large testimonies hereof, and all to maintain Romes outworks and fortifications reared of late in England( which heretofore hath been the Balwark and fortress of the Churches) like expert souldiers knowing if the outworks be lost, the city is in danger, so that if they lose the day here, they lose all ere long. And therefore be awakened all ye that be trusty servants, expert souldiers, and loyal subjects of Christs kingdom within these Islands, and quit yourselves like men for Christ, and your Country, and posterity, 2 Sam. 9. 12. to prevent the Inroads of all our enemies; if we stand to the cause of Christ stoutly, wee shall no doubt see him work wonders for our delivery, yea it may be he may account us worthy to bee his chosen and faithful, to set up his trophies of triumph upon the walls of Rome, which will not be long delayed. Romes ruin must bee accomplished by a mighty earthquake turning kingdoms and Nations upside down. At the taking of Babylon the whole earth is moved, &c. Jer. 50. 46. Isa. 13. 13. Apoc. 16. 18, 19. to unroote her, and make her holds and pillars fall, great troubles and bloody warres, and changes in governments, must go through the Nations about us, ere this work bee accomplished; every one must endure a shaking in this great earthquake, and our share therein is now a working in this Land. Those that think the fall of Antichrist to bee an easy work, let them read Isa. 24. cap. throughout, Jer. 25. 15. to the end, Isa. 65. 11. to Vers. 16. Isa. 66. 15, 16. and cap. 13. Vers. 11. to 17. Ezek. 7. and cap. 9. Isa. 6. 11. and cap. 17. 12, 13, 14. cap. 18. 3. to the end, the Lord a Consumption upon the whole earth, Isa. 28. 21, 22. Isa. 33. 1. to 6. Jer. 47. throughout, Ezek. 25. to cap. 32. Ezek. 21. throughout, Joel, Chap. 2. and Chap. 3. Ezek●el 32. throughout, Psal. 37. 20. and 50. 1. 3. and Isa. 34. 8. it must bee with a shaking the earth, with earthquakes to make her open and drink up the flood, and so help the Church from sinking, Apoc. 12. 12. And This Earthquake●s of such s 〈…〉 and spreading power as no kingdom or government shall be able to stand against the kingdom of Christ. there read what wasting of Nations, consuming one another until Christs enemies be consumed, and his Church delivered; such Nations as have formerly flourished in peace and prosperity, contempt of God, and enmity to the Saints, shall suffer a terrible shaking, without escaping the force of this great earthquake, as no kingdom or government shall be able to stand that shall oppose the great designs of the Lord Jesus, wherein he will do such wonders as no records of any times can parallel. Therefore lest the hearts of the Saints should faint at the sight and sudden approaches of these great changes, and sore judgements upon the world, before Christs kingdom bee accomplished, it is exceeding profitable to look into these Scriptures and prophesies, wherein the Lord Jesus lets us see his mind as in a glass, representing his actions, that when wee see his word turned into works we may not be dismayed. Those who would read of the destruction of Antichrist fully, read at large, Isa. 13. 1. to the end, where the Lord Jesus cries to his Souldiers his sanctified ones, set apart to the work; Lift up the Standard upon the high mountain: as also Jer. 51. 12. this high mountain is the power and magnificence of Antichrists kingdom, Zach. 4. 7. the noise of a multitude in the mountaines of the kingdoms and Nations gathered together, and the Lord of hosts mustereth them to the battle, the day of the Lord is at hand, Vers. 6. pangs and sorrows shall come upon the root of Antichrist as upon a woman in travail, they shall stand amazed one at another as helpless and confounded without counsel or courage, the Lord shall now double to them double of all the cruelties done to his Saints and people, read Vers. 6. of this 13. Isa. to 15. 16 a black day to them, as appears Vers. 10. wherein they shall be deprived of all aid, Silver and Gold shall not be able to deliver them, those Souldiers will take no bribes, will have the full prey and spoil, Castles, strong holds, Forts and Fortresses, shall not avail them, when their hands shall wax feeble, and their hearts shall faint, and all that join with them shall fall by the sword, their children be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses spoyled, and their wives ravished, ver. 15, 16. for the Lord Jesus will have in his Army of all Nations, yea of the wo 〈…〉 and most barbarous, as Goths, vandals, Hungarish Crabats, ●olish Cossak●s, Rhetian Swizzers, Scottish Red-shankes, of all sorts of plunderers, so greedy of their prey upon Rome, as will spare no Sex or age, in this service, for the Lord general who called them up and mustered them to the battle, has given them the word of command, Apoc. 18. 6. Jer. 50. 42. and 48. 10. to give them double for all their out-rages and cruelties they have long exercised upon the Churches, Rome shall have a crew of cruel execution●rs, ere i● be long. See pag. 25. The Lord Jesus will as the mighty Champion of his Church, act his part very valiantly, he will now at last ease himself of all his adversaries, Isa. 1. 24. his kingly spirit is up, he will stir up jealousy as a man of war, Isa. 42. 13. will strike through Kings in the day of his wrath, Psal. 110. 5. 6. fill the place with dead bodies and make a bloody slaughter, and wound the head( viz. Antichrist) of many countries, he shall drink of the brook in the way( as a mighty conqueror, so eager in pursuit of his enemies, as seems expressed in the heat of a conqueror cooling his thirst with the running brooks in stead of all princely repast, as the Israelites in the pursuit of the philistines, 1 Sam. 14. 24.) he shall dip his feet in the blood of his enemies, and his dogs their tongues in the same, Psal. 68. 23. sure the Antichristian crew shall have a bloody day, the Church a bloody revenge, therefore shall he lift up the head, Psal. 110. 9. as a triumphing conqueror glorying in his great victories, his Captaines and Commanders leading about their mighty enemies captives, Kings and Emperours and great Princes, in token of joy and triumph, riding about and viewing the bloody field and heaps of dead carcases of the Antichristian crew,( Isa. 66. ult.) made as dung for the earth, that the world may see the wonderful overthrow of Antichrists huge and mighty Armies, * Cast●o●um ●eges ●edant cedantque phalances, Quaeque d●mi resident spoliis one●entu● opimis. Armontanus. See Psal. 68. 13. Brightman upon Apoc. 19. 17. saith that some member of the western Church shining in the brightness of the Scriptures, meant by the angel standing in the sun( but I think rather shining in the bright light of Christs kingly glory) shall sound the Alarum to this great battle, by stirring up the Saints to make war against Rome and her Champions, calling up the nations to the rich spoil, so as all the territories of the Papacy shall become a prey to the Church and her Champions, who shall be enriched with her spoils, meant by fowles being filled with their flesh, Apoc. 19. 21. and thus shall at last Antichrist b 〈…〉 utterly abolished by the brightness of Christs coming, 2 Thes. 2. 8. And Babylon the glory of the kingdoms and princess of the Provinces, the excellency of many Countries shall bee overthrown as sodom, and never inhabited from Generation to Generation, Isa. 13. 19. compared with Jer. 51. 25. Jer. 50. 39. 40. Zach. 4. 7. Apoc. 18. Isa. 47. 1. 10 the end, Isa. 34. 11. The root and branch shall bee cut off and wholly destroyed, Isa. 14. 21. Mal. 4. 1. all they that forsake the Lord and turn to Idols, shall be consumed, burn together and none shall quench them, Isa. 2. 28. 31. and many shall hid themselves in the Caves of the rocks from the brightness of Christs glorious appearing, and in heat and indignation of spirit cast away their Gods of Silver and Gold,( their real idols, and also their riches they made Gods on) and curse them and cast them to the Moles and to the bats( Isa. 2. 20. and cap. 31. 7.) that is, to the plunderers, who like Moles and Bats, shall search out all the darkest corners, and turn up houses for greediness of prey. Thus of Christs great victories over Antichrist, of his funeral obsequies, performed of some in derision and of others in real mourning and howling, read Isa. 14. to the end, and Apoc. 18. throughout. And that in that destruction of old Babylon, in Isa. 13. and cap. 14. is meant and typified the ruin of Rome, the apocalyptic, mystical Babylon, is clear from their ruin foretold after one and the like manne●, in the prophecies, the ruin of the old, by a great millstone cast into the great River Euphrates, Jer. 51. 63. the River running down by Babylon, & the ruin of the mystical Babylon by a millstone cast into the Sea, Apoc. 18. both signifying a fatal ruin as irrecoverable as to rear a millstone out of the bottom of the deep Sea. The next great and glorious victory of Christ at his appearing The second great victory over the Turk. in his glory is over Gog and Magog, turk and Tartar, or Scythian, and all the root of their Princes and confederates, huge and mighty Armies of many potent Nations. Those who delight to red of this great work of Christ, read Dan. 11. 44, 45. Ezek. 32. 18. 26. Ezek. 38. and cap. 39. throughout, Apoc. 19. 6. and cap. 20. 8. See also Brightman on Dan. 11. 44, 45. and on Apoc. 20. 8. when the turk shall compass the beloved city with huge multitudes of Armies, the Lord Jesus shall by fire and tempests from heaven devour these devourers; wherein also he will employ the Sword of the Jews, and Israel shall do valiantly, Numb. 24. 18. until the Turkish name and Empire bee utterly extinct and blotted out in a miraculous manner, with such a mighty overthrow, as the people shall be seven months in burying of the dead of them, and the burial place appointed of the Lord for this great Prince of Meseck and tubal, shall bee called the valley of Hamon-Gog, Ezek. 39. 11, 12. This star of Jacob the Lord Jesus appearing in his glory, shall smite the Coasts of Moab( the ancient enemies of the Church, as Moab was of old) and shall have dominion over the sons of Seth, Numb. 24. 17. S●●h was the son of Adam, whom the Lord gave him instead of Abell, whom Cain slay, Gen. 4. 25. now Caines posterity, all perished in the flood, so as all the world at this day are the sons of S●●h, signifies Christs dominion shall be over all the sons of men, as either his servants and subjects of his kingdom, or his conquered vassals and slaves, as Psal. 72. 8. his dominion shall be from Sea to Sea, the ends of the earth be his possession, Psal. 2. 8. Edom and Seir shall bee his possession, Num. 24. 18. the Country of the Edomites, Psal. 83. 6. Isa. 63. 1. The sons of Esaus line, meant by mount Seir the place where Esau dwelled, Obad. 1. 18. 21. See Ezek. 32. and 18. to the end, Jer. 25. 15. to the end, the overthrow of all the Nations of the enemies, and the subduing of all the Nations under the broad heavens to Christs kingdom, and he will gather all Nations and tongues, and they shall come and see his glory, Isa. 66. 18. Some of those that shall escape in the great deluge of destructions upon destructions, he will sand as his Heralds to summon other Countries to come in, and submit to his sceptre, as to Tarshish,( or Cilicia & all the coasts of the mediterranean Sea) to Pull,( the King of Assiria, 2 King. 15. 19. 1 Chron. 5. 26.) lord,( Libia and all Asia) and those that draw the bow, Some mean the Parthians and Africans, tubal and Javan, the Isles afar off and all the remote Regions, from Java to Japan, round about to America, and all the Regions under the whole Hemisphere, which have not heard of his famed or seen his glory, and they shall declare his name from one to another among all the Nations, and them that were strangers before now as brethren they shall bring upon Mules and Dromedaries, and upon Horses and Chariots, and Horselitters for the sickly and infirm, signifying means of bringing in the most despicable creatures into Christs kingdom, that none that belong to the election of grace shall bee left out, none of Christs lambs be lost or left behind, but there shall be means enough to bring in all the Saints to jerusalem, his holy mountain, and he will take of them for Priests and Levites( i.e. e. officers for holy offices) Isa. 66. 19, 20. without difference of Jew, gentle, greek, Barbarian, bond or free, Colos. 3. 11. but all shall make up o●e royal priesthood in the kingdom of Christ, 1 Pet. 2. 9. Apoc. 1. 6. and 5. 10. And all the enemies, secret enemies and hypocrites as well as open and discovered ones, secret contemners of Christ and his kingdom, and secret wonders of their brethren that followed Christ afar off, as fearful and unbelievers, ashamed of his cross, drinking the puddle waters of Romish superstitions, set forth, Isa. 66. 17. by sanctifying themselves( i.e. e. in their own opinions, placing their happiness in and esteeming themselves holy in using their own devices, to serve their own desires, lusts and worldly ends of profits and pleasures) and purifying themselves in G●rdens( i.e. e. in private places of obscurities, and of sensual delights) behind a three,( a shelter of their own choosing to avo●d troubles) others take this place in gardens to mean Ido●●tr●●s places, Isa. 1. 29. gardens of idols( and so it is truly, whether mean● of open or secret mental Idolatry) where under green●●rees of old men used to offer sacrifice to idols, usually in Scripture called the sacrifice of Devills, Isa. 65. 3. 1 Cor. 10. 20. Set forth further, Isa. 66. 17. by polluting themselves with Swines flesh, and abominable things of that unclean Beast of Rome and her superstitions, abominable to Christ, and things which his soul hates, and all the secret walkers after these vile things, signified by the mouse; all together, the most secret superstitious persons and close hypocrites, and open, detected, profane and Idolatrous, shall be all together consumed, in the great deluge of calamities, which shall sweep away the wicked when the Lord Jesus will visit all the secret wanderings of men, as well as their open ways and walks. Quere. Whether there shall be an interval, or space of time between the final fall of Antichrist and the fatal fall of the turk, or be both about the same time, the one in the East, and the other in the West assaulting the Church; a few yeares will discover. mean while we find clearly in the Scriptures that the trophies of this great triumph of Christ in his wonderful victories over the Antichrist and the turk are reserved to the time of the Jews coming in, who shall sing forth most sweet●y the praises of this victory, as of old at the read Sea, Exod. 15. Then shall the new created people praise Jah, Vers. 19. of our psalm, Apoc. 14. 1. Therefore after a brief discourse of Christs actions and glorious victories over his greatest enemies, wee come now to his actions, in the conversion of Jews and Heathen, and of all the Nations, and making a new world, as so many mysteries folded up in the Verses following of this 102. psalm. And so wee return to our Text, to dress our lamps and renew our light, for our clearer sight and passage towards this unknown shore, and great mysteries of Christs kingdom following these high actions and victories, all lying within the circumference of his Sunshine, and appearing in his glory, as in the foregoing verse. Vers. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. He hath had respect to the prayer of the desolate, and hath not despised their prayer. This shall be written for the Generation to come, the new created people shall praise Jah. That hath looked down from the height of the place of his holinesse, from the heavens Jehovah did behold the earth. To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose them that are appointed to death. And they shall declare Jehovahs name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem. These words show that Christs appearing in his glory, to do his great works in the world, to be the harvest of the Churches seed time of fervent praying, this shows this glorious appearing of Christ to be his second coming, for all these things follow it. And so we may say the Church was in a deep muse in the former verse in the sight of her Jehovah coming in his glory, and exceedingly taken up with the thoughts of his kingly actions when he appears so gloriously to build up his ruinous desolate Zion; and now in these five Verses she tunes up her spirits to the highest strain to sing out his praises for his high actions, from the power of his appearing, as the answer of all her Prayers, & long crying in the wilderness in a desolate condition. We put all these sieve Verses together, because they seem to be the pleasant strains of the Churches voice, with one breath sending out the high praises of her Jehovah in a joyful and triumphant manner, like the Nightingale, in great variety and changes of her notes, according to the high delight she finds in those great works of Christ when he appears in his glory, by an eye of Faith and spirit of prophesy, beholding all her mighty enemies laid low, and Christs kingdom advanced in great glory, majesty and beauty throughout the world. In the the eighteen verse she begins sweetly her first note of her song of praises, for the answer of her prayers in her Jehovahs coming in his glory, now he hath had respect to the prayer of his poor distressed desolate Church and people, and not despised their prayer; these words, their prayer, in the plural number, shows this prophetical prayer in this psalm clearly belongs to the universal Church militant on earth, and not to any particular person or people; and also being the very words of Psal. 22. 24. applied to Christs kingdom, Heb. 2. 12. shows it to pertain to the state of the Church in the latter dayes. Verse 19. shee rayses her voice higher, and tells us what shee and her new born children will do for him, who hath done these great things for her; his high and noble acts shall be written for the generations to come,( this again shows it a prophesy of these last times whereto wee are come, to bee had in remembrance for after generations, as Exod. 17. 14. Deut. 31. 19. 21.) the new created people shall praise Jah. [ The new created people]( So Tremel. renders it, populus recreatus) restored and made new, out of a low condition, out of the dust, Isa. 26. 19. Ezek. 37. 13, 14. seems clearly to intend the Jews, a people that shall be born, Psal. 22. last, a psalm clearly meant of Christ in his humiliation, and exaltation in his kingdom, and so applied, Heb. 2. 12. as before; this great work of their conversion is so wonderful as a new creation, Isa. 65. 18. of the Creator of Israel their King, Isa. 43. 15. as more anon, Vers. 26, 27. of this psalm. [ Shall praise Jab] A name contracted of Jehovah, and onely used in songs of deliverance, as Isa. 12. 2. Jah my strength and song, Psal. 68. 2. and my salvation; here she is mounted in the highest strain of mortal creatures, all upon the triple, in her ravishing delightful melody, quavering out the high mercies of her Jehovah, when her new born children her new people the Jews shall praise Jah. She is now in the top of her joys, she is now upon the Center like the Needle upon the Loadstone, she is now upon her rock that is higher then all the world, now no note so sweet as Jah my song, O Jah my song and my salvation. Verse 20. and 21. her voice seems to fall a little, looking back to her former distressed condition and low estate in the wilderness, on which her Jehovah from the height of the habitation of his holinesse, in the highest heavens, Deut. 26. 15. Isa. 63. 15. was pleased to look down and cast his eye, and turned his ear unto the sighs and groans of her poor and desolate children, to loose the chains of such as were cast into prisons and condemned to die as sons of death in all mens eyes, as Psal. 79. 11. The doleful state of the Jews at this day, shut up in prison and fetters of sin and Satan as in a dungeon, without Christ the light of the world and life of men, John 1. 4. and under sentence of death for rejecting him, John 3. 19. Isa. 42. 7. and 49. 6. 9. and cap. 51. 14. may not unfitly be here in our psalm represented, and so not onely meant of the Saints under Antichrists tyranny, but also the Jews as prisoners of hope, Zach. 9. 12. who shall be the radiant stones in the crown of our royal King in the day of his espousals, Ver. 16. of Zach. 9. Vers. 22. After rising and falling of her voice and change of notes she concludes her song, with the joy of her new created peoples of the Jews coming into Christs kingdom, they shall declare his name in Zion, that is, in the new Jerusalem, new Church in the new world, as a new Creation of a new state of all things, as a paradise or new habitation of all felicity for her new created people, when all sorrow and sighing shall fly away, Isa. 51. 3. 11. and 59. 20. She now quavers out sweetly the praises that shall be in the new Church, of his name in Zion, and as in an ecstasy sings out most melodiously of his praises that shall be in Jerusalem: O Jerusalem, her highest thoughts of all her happiness here on earth lies here in Jerusalem, as never enough to be delighted in, as appears from her repetition of Jerusalem again after Zion, since they both signify one thing, the glory of the new Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. the new Church in the later dayes; O her joys in this Jerusalem, with which she ends this song, Jerusalem, never enough to be rejoiced in. O this Jerusalem! far more in it, in her high thoughts, then can bee expressed in words; O Jerusalem. And thus without doubt the Jews conversion, as the prime and most honourable matter of this building of Zion by Christs appearing in his glory, must needs be here included, and in no place of the psalm more probably then in these Verses, of the new created people praising Jah in Zion and in Jerusalem. Observe by the way, the Lord Jesus his high and great works and in his Churches praises, as the Church sings sweetly, Isa. 12. 6. Great is he in the midst of thee. Since we are now treating of the high designs and noble actions of Christ from his appearing in his glory to build his Zion, after his famous victories over his enemies, we cannot omit to speak something of this wonderful work of the Jews conversion, seeing they are to be the main materials of this glorious building, and the sparkling Diamonds in his royal crown and ●iade●; and also the manner of their conversion, like to be very wonderful and accompanied with miraculous works, a taste whereof may help much to set forth this kingly glory of Christ in his kingly virtues and actions in the world. That such a wonderful work shall be accomplished by Christ in the latter dayes, the Scripture testify plenteously, as we shall see anon, in some notable places especially. 1. And that this great work is such a Mystery as not seen into of many. 2. And the accomplishing of it shall be wonderfully in such strange things, as not seen in any age of the world before. That it is a Mystery, we have Pauls Evangelicall undoubted This fullness of the Gentiles must be meant of the mea●ure of the Gentiles light, and nor of any fullness of number of believers, for that shall bee wonderfully increased after the Jews coming in, in the conversion of the Heathen from East to West, Mal. 1. 11 as was never yet in the world, and what measure of the Gentiles light shall make up their fullness, onely time must discover. testimony, Rom. 11. 25. a Mystery he would not have us Gentiles ignorant of. And John in the Reve●ation, cap. 9. 10. 7. tells us that in the dayes of the seventh Trumpet, the Mystery of God shall be fulfilled, as he had declared to his Servants the Prophets. So that this Mystery is to be found in the old Prophecies in the old Testament, speaking of Christs kingdom. It is a Mystery many way●s, as that dry bones should live again, Ezek. 37. 1. to 15. be raised out of the dust( a lost condition) and sing, Isay 26. 19. that a Nation should be brought forth in one day, Isa. 66. 8. 9. but especially in one thing Paul mentions, Rom. 11. 25. wherein lies this Mystery, as yet hide from our eyes, that blindness hath happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. What is this fullness of the Gentiles, but of the measure of the Gentiles light, which shall be so much as shall suffice to provoke the Jews to jealousy and emulation, and be as a Beacon to guide and bring in the dispersed of Israel, such a fullness of the light of Christ, as wee Gentiles shall be capable of, and shall bee swallowed up in the Jews fullness, Rom. 11. 12. when the light of the moon shall bee as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun as the light of seven dayes, Isa. 30. 26. In sum, it is such a mystery as no sharpness of wit, or depth of judgement can reach, until the fullness of the Gentiles come, so as mean while we may with admiration cry out with Paul, O the depth of the wisdom and counsels of the Lord, &c. Rom. 11. 33. 2. And that the accomplishing of this great work shall bee very wonderful, we shall see anon. Is it not a wonder that the ten Tribes of Israel carried away Union of the Tribes again, a wonder. Hos. 1. 11. Obad. 20. Zachar. 10. 6. Ezek. 37. 16. 21. Isa. 11. 12, 13. Ezek. 47. 13, 14 and cap. 43. 7. jer. 30. 36. and 32. 37. by Salmanaser, 2 King. 17. and lost at this day none knows where, but mingled so among the northern Tartars and eastern Regions, as the other two Tribes at this day know not where to find any of their line or succession, that these should be gathered to Zion and united to the other two Tribes, as Ezek. 37. 16. Jer. 50. 4. Jer. 3. 12. to 18. Though Israel be not gathered they shall be glorious in the eyes of Jehovah, Isa 49. 5. though man despise them and the Nations abhor them, yet shall Kings arise and worship, and see the glory of the Lord in the midst of them, Isa. 49. 7. and cap. 60. 3. 10. and cap. 62. 2. yea Kings shall bee their nursing fathers, and all that see them shall know they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed, Isa. 61. 9. they shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, a people sought out and not forsaken, Isa. 62. 12. 20. And that these lost scattered people in far remote Regions Their return to their own Country, another wonder. under the tyranny of Turkes and Tartars, and other oppressing Nations in the world, should ever again return to jerusalem and build it again, and inherit the holy Land, build houses and plant Vineyards and possess it peaceably, As Zach. 2. 12. Ezek. 45. 1. and 37. 22. 24. 25. Isa. 65. 9. 21. jer. 23. 3. to 9. Zach. 10. 6. jer. 3. 16, 17. Isa. 14. 1. Amos 9. 14, 15. Obad. 15. 18. Isa. 61. 4. notable place, Ezek. 36. 24. Ezek. 34. 23, 24. and Vers. 29. jer. 31. 16, 17. to the end, Obad. 17. Psal. 69. 35, 36. Zach. 14. 9, 10. Ezek. 47. 13, 14. Isa. That they shall obtain the kingdom and dominion above all Nations, another wonder. That Christ will dwell among them in a peculiar manner, another wonder. 37. 30. jer. 31. 5. 28. and 29 5. 28 O ye mountaines of Israel shoot out your branches, yield fruit to my people Israel, for they are at hand to come, Ezek. 36. 8. and 38. 8. That they that shall obtain the kingdom & dominion in pre-eminence above all other Nations in the world, according to Mic. 4. 8. Pen. 7. 27. Isa. 61. 5. 9. Isa. 14. 1, 2. Micah 5. 8. Isa. 49. 23. and 61. 5. Isa. 60. 3. 6. 9. 16. Zeph. 3. 19, 20. Apoc. 21. 24. Anid the Lord Jesus will set up his Tabernacle amongst them, Ezekel 37. 27. Ezek. 43. 7. Apoc. 21. 3. Zach. 2. 10. and reign amongst them gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. in such glory as never in age or time of the world. And the Country become more fruitful and more populous, And settle them in a far better estate then at the beginning, their country more populous and more fruitful then ever, Another wonder. And possess and conquer the Countries of their enemies, of Turks, Tartars, of egypt, and Ashur, and great potent Nations, amongst whom they now are kept in sore bondage; Another wonder. and their estate therein better then at their beginning in the former times of old. Amos 9. 13, 14, 15. Ezek. 36. 35. 38. Hos. 1. 21, 22. Joel 3. 18. Zach. 14. 10. Isa. 49. 20, 21. Ezek. 34. 31. Zach. 8. 4, 5. Isa. 4. 2. And possess the Countries and inheritance of their enemies who have long been their oppressors, Obad. 19. 20, 21. Isa. 11. 14. Isa. 19. 15. to the end, Numb. 27. 17. to 22. Dan. 2. 34, 35. Isa. 60. 12. according to the ancient promise, Gen. 22. 17. And that the ways whereby the Lord Jesus will accomplish all this will be wonderful, we shall see anon. But least these things should seem to be but Cabbalisticall conceits, rabbinical constructions, and Jewish fables; wee begin with Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, whose ardent affection to the Jews, his kindred in the flesh, and endeavours for their conversion to Christ, is very notable and may shane us now adays, who so little mind the advancement and enlargement of Christs kingdom, or the salvation and welfare of our kindred and posterity. In his divine and learned Epistle to the Romans, he stiles the believing Romans brethren, Rom. 11. 25. and Saints, Rom. 1. 7. as he doth also other Gentiles frequently in his Epistles, to show that though he was a Jew by nature, yet he accounts such his especial brethren as are the called of Christ, for whom he is frequent in prayer, and all apostolical duties in the service of God in the gospel of his son, Rom. 1. 6. to 10. whereby he seems to insinuate into their affections, to make way afterward to the discovery of this great mystery of the Jews conversion in the later dayes, that they might be one in Christ and be saved with them, which should be both his, and their earnest prayers and utmost endeavours for the spreading and enlarging of Christs kingdom, as he could even wish himself separate from Christ for his kinsmen after the flesh, the Jews, to whom belong so many privileges, as the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the service of God, the promises, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, Rom. 9. 4, 5. yet shows that the privileges of fleshly generation from Abraham, avail them not, for all not Israel which are of Israel, and quotes a place of Isa. cap. 10. 12. that onely a remnant shall be saved, because they sought not after righteousness, by faith in the Lord Jesus but by the works of the Law, they stumbled and fell and Christ became to them a rock of offence, Rom. 9. 27. 32. In the 10. Chapter he declares( vers. 1. and so forward) his hearts desire and prayer for his kinsmen the Jews, that they might bee saved, and shows the lets and hindrances that lye in this way, as mainly their ignorance of righteousness by Christ, and thence going about to establish their own righteousness, and that though they had heard the sound of all the Prophets going to the ends of the earth concerning Christ, yet understood them not; he shows another way whereby their conversion shall bee partly accomplished, from a saying of Moses, Deut. 32. 21. I will provoke them to jealousy by them that are no people, and anger them by a foolish nation, Rom, 10. 19. In the 11. chap. vers. 1, &c. he declares that these poor christless creatures, are not yet left hopeless, are not cast-aways, have not so stumbled as to fall for ever: no, God forbid, none are cast off whom God foreknew, for he himself is a Jew of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin, and that there is yet a remnant of that stock that belong to the election of grace, Vers. 5. and the rest were blinded, Vers. 7. as it was foretold, Isa. 29. 10. Isa. 6. 9. Psal. 69. 22, 23. so that through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy, and Vers. 12. he begins to frame several arguments to evince the truth of their conversion. 1. If their fall be the enriching of the world of Gentiles, how much more their fullness? But the first is true, Ergo the latter. This argument shows there is a time of the Jews fullness shall bring honour and great happiness to the gentle Churches, See Isa. 66. 11. 12. even a new resurrection in a new state of the Church even as life from the dead, Apoc. 20. 5. Rom. 11. 15. the Apostle tells the Romans, this his endeavour of his kinsmens conversion is exceeding advantageous to them and all the Gentiles, in the enlargement of Christs kingdom, the endeavours wherein he calls a magnifying of his office of his Apostleship, if by any means he might provoke them to jealousy and emulation, as before was foretold by Moses; this jealousy, is a godly jealousy of the favour and love of Christ, as of a chast spouse of her husbands love, lest the Gentiles should wholly go away with it, and that they might be provoked to emulate our happy estate in the Lord Jesus, wherewith we should provoke the Jews at this day by holding forth a bright light of Christs shining amongst us in his pure ordinances, as to make them emulate our happiness, so also to invite them to come and walk in the light of the Lord, Isa. 2. 5. 2. Argument from Vers. 16. if the root be holy, then the branches are holy. But the root is holy, Ergo the branches, though some broken off by unbelief. 3. If they be the natural branches, and there be enough sap, sweetness and fatness in the root the fruitful Olive three to spread and revive the branches, and God able to graffe them in again, then shall they blossom and bud and flourish again. But the first is true, Ergo the second. 4. If we Gentiles, branches of the wild Olive three, be contrary to nature graffed into the roote of the sweet, fat, and fruitful Olive three, much more easy it is for the natural branches to bee graffed into their own natural stock again. But the first is true, Ergo the second. 5. If we Gentiles feed on the fatness of the true Olive three, which should refresh and nourish the natural branches, then shane is it to us to engross it to ourselves and not to 'allure them to partake of our sweetness, how should we love the branches for the roots sake? But the first is true, Ergo the second. 6. If the gifts and calling of God be without repentance, and he God who cannot lye or deny himself, but that his counsels shall stand, and all that belong to the election of grace be saved, then how hard so ever it seem in mens eyes, it shall be yet accomplished, for they are beloved for the Fathers sake. But the first is true, Ergo the second. 7. If wee in times past in unbelief have obtained mercy through their unbelief, then these natural branches though now in unbelief, shall through the same mercy in our belief obtain mercy, But the first is true, Ergo the second. From many such arguments the Apostle insinuates the conversion of the Jews again, into the heads and hearts of the believing Romans, to move us Gentles to further this great work, which shall be such an enriching to all the gentle Churches, as a new resurrection to a new life in a new estate of the Church and world, even as life from the dead, Rom. 11. 15. Therefore saith Paul, I would not have you ignorant brethren of this mystery, lest ye be puffed up, or wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part( not total and final) is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel shall be saved as it is written,( viz. Isa. 59. 20.) Out of Zion shall come the Deliverer, and shall take away iniquities from Jacob, and Zach. 2. 12. The Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent O all flesh before the Lord, for he is raised up out of the habitation of his holinesse, Vers. 13. Behold with what a sweet Epiphonema or joyful acclamation of spirit and great admiration, here the Prophet Zachary concludes this great mystery, as Paul also in this Epistle, Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! As Paul treating of this mystery looks upon the old prophecies, so wee from Pauls Evangelicall testimony, are lead to the Prophets, where observe by the way in reading of the prophecies of Isay, jeremy, Ezekiel, &c. the things concerning Christs kingdom are of two sorts. First, such as are said in the new Testament to be fulfilled: Many whereof are but in part fulfilled, and shall be more clearly fulfilled in the kingdom of Christ among the Jews; that which is but darkly seen to be fulfilled in his first coming, shall be more gloriously seen and fulfilled in his second coming in his kingdom. Secondly, many things that are fulfilled in a spiritual sense, shall be more clearly fulfilled in the literal sense, as having a further eye towards the Jews, and the visible glory of Christs kingdom upon earth. Yea wee may say truly that all shall be fulfilled then more gloriously, so as wee must look for other and clearer interpretations of the Prophets then hitherto is found in most expositors. It seems the Jews shall be in their greatest distress about the time of their conversion, as dead men out of mind laid in the dust, Isa. 26. 19. and dead in sin, especially under that mortal blow of that guilt of crucifying the Lord of life, saying in themselves, Our bones are dried, our hope is lost, and wee are cut of, Ezek. 37. 11. they shall seem to bee forsaken, Isa. 49. 14. but behold, saith the Lord, I will open your graves and cause you come out and bring you to your own land, and ye shall know that I am the Lord, and that for my names sake I do all this, Ezek. 36. 19. 22. And they shall pass through great troubles, hard bestead and hungry, Isa. 8. 21. soule-starved for want of a Saviour, the onely bread of life, they shall fret themselves, and curse their King and their God,( i.e. e. in anguish of soul curse their conceited messiah they have so long learned on, and to their heart grief and loss so long waited for) and seeing themselves so soully deceived they shall look upward, O now for a Christ, what would not poor wandring christless creatures do now to see a lovely look of a Saviour! and when they look to the earth they see nothing but trouble and darkness, dimness and anguish, and shall be driven to darkness, yet not such darkness as of old, Isa. 8. 21. 22. Jer. 3. 23. 25. but a darkness of trouble and anguish of spirit they shall get out of in a little time by the lovely look of Christ upon them; for what can be greater darkness then to want Christ the light of the world, John 14. 7. and life of men, John 1. And then in those dayes the children of Israel and Judah together shall come, going and weeping shall they go and seek Jehovah their God, they shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thither-ward, saying, Come let us join ourselves to Jehovah in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten, Jer. 50. 4, 5. And when they shall thus seek after Christ in distress and anguish of spirit, he will power out his spirit upon them, and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn for him in bitterness as one mourneth for his onely son, Zach. 12. 10. Apoc. 1. 7. Happy those Churches that shall shine most brightly in the glory of Christs kingly power, and purity of his worship, and ordinances; happy those ministers of Christ, who Paul-like shall magnify their office, in holding out a bright light of lovely Jesus to these poor wandring christless creatures, and shall use all means to bring home this ancient bride, to her devorced husband, and further this great and last marriage of the lamb, when he shall stretch out the cords and enlarge his love bed, to the ends of the earth, to take in his old beloved bride, from all the four winds, with all her virgins and damsels, when his house shall be exalted upon the top of the mountaines, and all nations flow in into it, and flock into his kingdom; these that shall be instruments to further this great work, shall be called to the marriage supper of the lamb, and eat of his delicates, they shall have a sumptuous feast, not for a meal, for a day, a month or a year, but such a feast as shall last to carry them home with the bridegroom into his Fathers Mansions into eternity. O all ye servants and Saints of God, lend now your aid to set lovely looks upon Christ the chief of ten thousand, such beauty in him as Angels blushy at, and stand amazed in the beholding of it, Cant. 5. 10. set forth the excellency, glory and kingly virtues of this Prince of life, to these poor lost creatures: O set open the wine Cellars of love, this glorious bridegroom hath prepared for this last marriage supper of this never enough admired and praised lover of his poor lost people, help to discover the land afar off, that pleasant land, the delicious fruits, the new wines of the Paradise of God, the Gardens of Spices, and high delights, where the bridegroom walks, the green pastures, the still waters, the cool shades, where he feeds his flocks, upon the mountaines and in pleasant valleys in the noble land of the new Jerusalem coming down from God, where this plant of renown resides, this King of Saints, King of kings shall reign before his ancients gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. when it shall be made the praise of the whole world, Isa. 62. 2. when his throne, his princely Ivory Palaces, his Court, his residence shall be so glorious; What splendour of unseen, unheard of glory is in the face and presence of this mighty potentate, the King of all the earth, never enough to be looked into, set forth and admired of all the Saints and Subjects of his kingdom? Rouse up your drowsy spirits all ye Saints, slumber not ye virgins that wait for this glorious Bridegroomes coming, skipping upon the mountaines, leaping upon the hills, to meet his old beloved Spouse, his long forsaken house and Bride; O mend your place( all ye the bridegroomes friends and paranymphs) to meet him; O prepare for the wedding, for behold he is at hand, he will not tarry many yeares, harken to the sound of his wheels of his Chariots of salvation, bottomed with gold and lined with love for the daughters of Jerusalem, Cant. 3. 10. he will come quickly to the prayer of the desolate, when the spirit of the bride fainting & almost spent, cries, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, he will not tarry; keep your posts daily running to his holy habitation to watch and listen, and bring the news of his coming. O for the glad tidings, the messengers whereof, will sure be welcome! But because this great work of Christ, in the Jews conversion and planting them again in their own land, is a thing so incredible to most men; we will show something● from the Scriptures, how wonderfully the Lord Jesus will accomplish it, he did many wonders for this people of old, in egypt, and at the read Sea, and in the land of Ham, Psal. 106. 22. and he will now work a second wonderful deliverance, wonders upon wonders, such things as he never did for any other people, or yet before, for them in any age. The Jewish rabbis had a purblind sight, a glimpse of these wonders of Christ in the latter dayes. In their book of blessings, the things done in egypt, say they, were but tappilath( i.e. e. accidents or by-workes, in respect) but the works done in the time of the Messiah shall be, gnickner, that is, the substance thereof * Du-plesse, trueness of Christian Religion. p. 548. . And it shall come to pass in that day, Isa. 11. 11.( that day in the 10. verse when the Lord Jesus goes about this great work of setting up his kingdom amongst the Jews, to be his rest, he will make his rest glorious) That the Lord shall stretch out his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people which shall be left, from Assyria, from egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, & from the * Islands. Islands of the Sea; compare with this place, Jer. 31. 7, 8. 16, 17. 23, 24. when the Lord Jesus sets to this great work, he stretches out his hand; a metaphor taken from strong and valiant men, who going about some noble act stretch out their arm, as if the Lord Jesus would let the world see what a strong hand here he hath to do great things for his kingdom, crown and dignity: What is it this strong arm and hand cannot do? as Isa. 63. 5. this hand brought them out of egypt long ago, for whose sakes it did many wonders, Exod. 12. 31 & 14. 21. Joshua 3. as never for any people, this hand dried up the read Sea, made Jordan stand still, that they might pass over; and now when he stretches it out the second time, shall now put on strength as in the dayes of old, Isa. 51. 9. he by this strong hand will dry up the Egyptian Sea, to make them pass to their own land again; this second time time of stretching out his hand implies this second deliverance to be more famous then the first, for this great Kings last actions, are his greatest, as for such a kingdom and glory which he never yet had upon earth, but is now to be accomplished, his last works are his greatest works, it is now a greater work to raise his Jacob out of the dust, and to gather them from all the four corners of the Earth, scattered and lost, then to bring them out of egypt, when they were all together, under one governor Moses, though under great oppressions: and this their scattering being of so long continuance, the ten Tribes since Salmanasers times, 2 King. 17. and of the rest above 1600. yeares, the ten Tribes, quiter lost, and not known to the other their Brethren to this day, the gathering must be wonderful, a great deliverance above, and beyond all former experience, or in any Record, Divine or human, to be found, therefore now this mighty hand, stretched out the second time, reaches further then ever yet was manifested, even to all the four winds, that is, all the parts of the known Inhabited world, from thence together in his remnant that are left in the world, from Assyria, egypt, Pathros,( or Arabia) Cush( or Ethiopia) Elam, and Shynar,( Media and Ethiopia) Hamath,( or Cilicia) and from the Islands of the Sea,( many out regions of the world) what a wonderful gathering shall this be of this people, out of all these several remote parts? What a sound of noise and admiration will it make in all the world? That this place, Isa. 11. is clearly meant of a new restauration of the Jews, and not of that out of Babylon, by the hand of zorobabel; Is clear, in that the Jews were not then carried into Egypt, or Aethiopia, or any of these remote Regions here mentioned, but is clearly from the former part of the Chapter, spoken of their last, and greatest deliverance in the time of Christs kingdom, and as yet unaccomplished: Besides, the Lord wrought no such wonders,( as here mentioned) at the deliverance out of Babylon. Therefore, this great wonder is yet to come. And when the Lord Jesus goes about it in the next Verse, Isa. 11. 12. he will set up a sign to the Nations:( So Tremel. renders it, not ensign as our Translation hath it) this sign is a sign of great astonishment to the Nations, and amazement to all the world,( as signs betoken great wonders, strange things to follow, Exod. 4. 1. to 10.) And as a sign of astonishment to the world, to all the enemies of his Church especially: So may it be as a Beacon, to guide these poor wandring Jews, to Jerusalem, again from all quarters, as the star in the East guided the wise men from Chaldea or Persia, to Judea, and to the very town of Bethlehem, to worship Christ there, this star was not ordinary, but extraordinary: and if Christ used such an extraordinary sign to bring in these wise men( whom Calvin upon Matth. 2. calls the first fruits of the Gentiles) what a wonderful sign will this be, that shall gather in the dispersed of Israel, from all the four corners of the earth, his old beloved people, dear in his affection? And their coming shall be in great unity and concord, Ephraim shall not envy Judah, &c. verse 13. And in an uncouth manner, upon the shoulders,( or strength) of the philistines, towards the West, as Isa. 49. 22. and shall spoil them of the East, and subdue Edom, Moab, and the children of Ammon, verse 14. And in the next verse, the Lord prepares a way for their passage Nylus dried up for their passage to Jerusalem again. home to Judea again, verse 15, 16. The Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian Sea,( or mouth of the Egyptian Sea, that like a tongue flows into the River between the banks, as between the chaps of the hills on each side) and with his mighty wind, shake his hand over the River and smite it in the seven streams thereof, and make men go over dryshod, or in shoes. And there shall be an high way for the remnant of his people which shall be left, from Assyria, as it was to Israel in the day they came out of the Land of egypt, Exod. 14. 29. This River is without doubt Nylus which is the great River of egypt, and watereth it by his floods, and overflowings, and as Authors report, hath seven streams flowing from several heads out of the Mountaines on several parts of Aethiopia in the South, and fals into the Mediterranean Sea, at Alexandria, the chief City of egypt, which the Lords hand shall smite in the seven streams of it, with a mighty wind, suppose some strange whirlwind, raised miraculously, for which the Lords mighty hand is in it, shall cast the waters upon the banks, or drive it out into the Sea, and smite the mouth of the River also, that the Sea shall not be able to flow in, but all shall run out, until a dry and safe passage be made here for his people to come over in multitudes, with Camels and Horses, with their Wives and Children, Cattle, and Carriages, out of Ethiopia and egypt, and those southern Regions; as by the drying up of Euphrates, Apoc. 16. 12. a way also be made for the passage of those that 2 Wonder here in their passage the drying up of Euphrates, which according to Pliny, is twelve miles broad in some places, & was the outborder of the promised Land Gen. 15. 1●. reaching from the river of egypt to Euphrates. Isa. 51. 9. come out of Assyria, and Persia, and the northern and eastern Regions, unto Jerusalem, and their own Country again. And so as they shall go in shoes over it, as before they did through the read Sea, when they came out of the Land of egypt, Exod. 14. To which the Prophet here alludes in setting forth the wonders, the Lord Jesus will do to bring home this his wandring people to a place of their own again, that they may move no more, 2 Sam. 7. 10. This Exposition we have confirmed from Isa. 27. 12, 13. the words are plain and clear to this purpose. In that day it shall come to pass, that the Lord shall beate off from the channel of that River,( i.e. Euphrates) unto the stream of egypt,( i.e. Nylus) and ye shall be gathered one by one O ye children of Israel, and it shall come to pass in that day, that the great Trumpet( as Apoc. 10. 7. and 11. 15. The sound of the seventh Trumpet, when the mystery of God shall be fulfilled) shall be blown( or sounded) and they shall come which were ready to perish in the Land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the Land of egypt, and shall worship Jehovah in his holy mountain at Jerusalem. Euphrates lies in their way from Assyria, and the eastern Countries, and Nylus in their way out of egypt, Ethiopia, and all the South, which shall now be made a dry passage for them to their own Country again on both sides, See Zephania 3. 10. Thus we see what great wonders this arm of the Lord shall do when he stretches it out the second time, when it shall awake and put on strength, as in the daies of old: Art not thou that same arm that hath cut Rabab( i.e. egypt, Psalm. 89. 10.) and wounded the head of the Dragon?( i.e. Pharaoh King of egypt, Ezek. 29. 3.) art thou it( i.e. e. that same arm) that dried up the Sea, and made the great deep a way for the ransomed to pass over?( as Exod. 14. 21.) then the redeemed of the Lord shall come to Zion, with songs and everlasting Joy upon their heads, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away, Isa. 51. 9▪ 10, 11. So Isa. 44. 27, where the Prophet also speaks clearly of the Jews conversion. When the Lord shall say unto the North, Give, and to the South, keep not back, bring my sons from far, and my Daughters from the ends of the earth, Isa. 43. 4. it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth who brought his people out of egypt, but the Lord liveth, who brought his people out of the Land of the North, and out of all the Countries where he scattered them, Jer. 16. 14, 15. Thus by these other Scriptures we have the right sense and meaning of this notable place, Isa. 11. 11. of the great wonders the Lord Jesus will work for his ancient peoples restauration. And then in the next Chapter, Isa. 12. we find the triumphant song of the Church for this great deliverance, and joy in the high works of Christ. Then shall the new created people,( verse 19. of our psalm) praise Jah. The trophies of triumphs over the great enemies, and songs of victory over the Beast and his Image, and joys and praises in the Churches, after these great deliverances, and glorious advancement of Christs kingdom in the building of Zion, it seems are reserved to the time of the Jews full conversion, Apoc. 14. 1. to 6. & 15. 3. Observe by the way, the Churches fervent prayers in bitter troubles end in high praises. Then n● note so sweet as Jah my Song, My Strength and Song, and my Salvation. Sing unto Jehovah, for he hath done excellent things, known in all the earth; Cry out and shout O Inhabitant of Zion, for great is the holy One of Israel in the midst of thee, Isa. 12. 6. Exod. 15. 2. Psa. 118. 14. It is probable that in those dayes the Jews shall amongst many other things, be restored to the use of the Tabrets, and Harps, with timbrels and dances, to solemnize the great deliverance( Isa. 30. 29. 32. Jer. 31. 13. and Psal. 68. 25. 27. applied to Christ( verse 18. Ephes. 4. 8.) and pertains to his kingdom, as verse 12, 13, 14. 31. of Psal. 68.) as in the dayes of old, and times of great deliverances, feasts and solemnities, as 1 Sam. 10. 5. Exod. 15. 20. Psal. 81. 2. judge. 11. 34. 1 Chron. 13. 8. 2 Sam. 6. 5. 1 Sam. 18. 6. Jerusalem shall be again adorned with her Tabrets, and go forth in the dances of them that make merry, Jerem. 31. 4. There shall be voices of Joy and melody with thanksgiving in all the Churches, when the Lord shall comfort Zion, Isa. 51. 3. They shall come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy and gladness, Isa. 51. 11. and chap. 35. 10. all the Churches sounding and re-sounding the high praises of God in his great victories. And in those dayes these victorious triumphant songs of the Church, shall be composed with most exquisite art and skill, and sung with ravishing delight, and melody. As far beyond all former songs of Moses, Dehorah or any times of the Church as these high works of Christ shall exceed all the former: and so the greatest works shall have the highest praises. mean while the courteous Reader may please to peruse these few lines of praises composed for our recreation, in these sad times of troubles, and in thankfulness of mind and Spirit to our Jehovah in the dark sight a far off, he hath pleased to impart concerning those his high and excellent works approaching apace in the world. And from these small beginnings in our times we shall see his light shine forth more and more unto the perfect day of Zions full deliverance, and height of glory. O Jah my strength, and eke my song, How glorious thy Saints among! Thou hast triumphed gloriously, And glorious art in victory. In victory, O Jah on high. As sun arising full of light Thy face did shine so bright, O bright! Dispersing clouds of darksome night, Unto thy Saints a joyful sight. O shining light, O joyful sight! Mountaines as wax did melt away, When thou thy banner didst display, Clad both gloriously and gay, And shining in thy bright array, Thy bright array, Thy bright array. Thy nostrils breathed consuming fire, Like burning coals in thy hot ire, Thy sparkling eyes inflamed with rage, Did wound like darts thy foes courage, In flower of age, As well as Sage. As waters roaring in each ground, Thy voice did sound and eke re-sound, Which made the wilderness to quake, And all the lofty hills to shake: And tumbling all, On heaps did fall. Thy jumping Chariots, Horses neighing, Thundering, flaming, Canons playing, With dust and smoke, and arrows flying, Laid lofty looks on heaps a dying, Ith' dust of ground, To sleep full sound. Jehovah is a man of war, His troops and companies from far, With shining shields, and glistering spears, That stout and strong in field appears, Fought valiantly, O Jah on high. Thine arm was strong, thy Sword was long, struck through great Kings amid the throng, Their sturdy Steeds, barred Horse and strong, Lay tumbling their own blood among. O Jah my Song, Thine arm was strong. Great Kings did fly, O they did fly, Their holds and forts built cunningly, Huge magazines of Artillery, And all at thy strong battery, Fell suddenly, With shout and cry. Crownes, sceptres, Jewels, Earings, Gold, rich Robes and costly things, Thou gavest thy Souldiers to the spoil, And women weak, with little toil, Went laughing some Well laden home. And thus at last thou hast brought down The Crozier staff, the Triple crown, Which ruled the nations in great fume, And did almost the world consume. Hallelu-jah Hallelu-jah. Gog and Magog from far Country, Who like a flood, and Sand of Sea, encamped about thine own City, Thou hast consumed from heaven on high, Eternally, O Jah on high. Young Maids arise, arise and sing, With timbrels, dances, to our King. Sing out your skilful notes, O high, With most exact, sweet melody. To Jah on high Make melody. Praise Jah ye Saints who love and see His noble, famous acts so high, His valiant acts sing out aloud, Give praise, O greatness, to our God, For great is he In midst of thee. O King of Saints, O King of Kings, Of Earth and all thy conquerings, Tune up our strings to highest strain, Which mortal creatures here attain. Hallelu-jah, Hallelu-jah. From North to South, from East to West, All ye that now in Zion rest, Jew, gentle, greek, Barbarian, From America and Java to Japan, All praises sing To Zions King. My King, my King, O Zion sing, Oh boon accord, make Heavens to ring, With songs delectable and sweet, Before his Throne at's royal feet. My King, my King, To thee we sing. From the beginning to this day Were ever seen such works, I say; A flourishing Church, like Spring in M▪ Now shall Jehovah reign for ay, reign for ay, reign for ay. Now Jah shall reign for ever and ay, Cant. 8. 14. Arise beloved and come away, As pleasant row on banks so stay, That we may reign with thee for ay. Come away, Come away. That we may reign with thee for ay, Come away, come away. That we may reign with thee for ay, For ever and ay, for ever and ay. Hallelu-jah, Hallelu-jah. Amen. Let none think that what ever is, or can be said of the glory of the Church, here or elsewhere, to be any way derogatory to the glory of the Saints in the heaven of heavens, in the blessed vision of God, which are such things as neither eye hath seen, ear heard, or ever entred into the heart of man to understand, 1 Cor. 2. 9. but the things concerning the glory of the Church on earth, are to be seen in the Scriptures, in his works and wonders, and understood of reason enlightened by the anointing of the Spirit, which teacheth all things, 1 Joh. 2. 27. even the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 10. The time of Christs kingdom, being a middle condition of the Saints, between the formee troublesone times, and the perfection of all happinesses in the Fathers kingdom. Even as paradise far exceeds the earthly estate now, and as far again comes short of Heaven, of heavens glory. And so we need not be afraid to affirm, then when the kingdoms shall be gathered together to serve the Lord, as verse 23. of this 102 psalm, compared with Apoc. 11. 15. there shall be such a glistering glory of the Church and kingdom of Christ, both inward and outward, in the new heavens and new earth, Apoc. 21. 1, 2. So heaven-like, so glory-like, as the very gate of heaven, Gen. 28. 17. that the Church having tasted of the Summer fruits, and drunk sweet draughts of the new Wine of the Paradise of God, Cant. 8. 2. Joel 3. 18. Amo. 9. 13. shall cry out for a larger, new, and stronger vessel, of a glorified body, that she may drink and be fully satiate, longing to be at home. For all the glory can be expected on earth, is but as the taste of the Summer fruits, as some sweet draughts of this new Wine prepared for the Marriage of the lamb, in comparison of the ripe Harvest, and full Vintage: And so we come in the next place to speak, Of the Glory of Christ in his Church and kingdom. THus of the Lord Jesus his glorious actions and victories from his appearing in his glory, and the glorious event thereof, his high praises in Zion and Jerusalem, as verse 22. of our psalm, so in the next place, we are lead by a Divine Manuduction to look into the glorious state of his kingdom, so far as our weak sight shall be able to discover, and being the last of this great Potentates works will sure be the best, he will make his new built Zion, his kingdom very glorious before he deliver it up to the Father at the end of the world. What time it may take to make up this beautiful structure, we have here no ground from our Text to discuss, but sure will take up a long time. And since it is a proper work, and sure effect of his appearing in his glory, verse 17. of our psalm, we may conclude with safety and certainty, that it being the work of such a cunning workman, the Prince of all Arts, it will be sure a Masterpiece, a glorious structure. And so we shall see him appear in his glory, and be, Glorious in his Church Glory in his Church . and kingdom, 1. In general. 2. In Particular. 1. In general. FOr it is his rest, and his rest shall be glorious, Isa. 11. 10. his 1 In general. house he delights to dwell in, Psal. 132. 14. It is the City of the great King, Isa. 60. 14. the throne of the Lord, Jer. 3. 17. the Court of the great King, Psal. 48. 2. the Throne of his glory, Jer. 14. 21. which he will glorify, Isa. 60. 7. and he will make it the praise of all the world, Isa. 62. 2. It is the Tabernacle of God with men, Apoc. 21. 3. Ezek. 37. 27. walking in the midst of them, Apoc. 2. 1. Luk. 22. 27. 1 Cor. 6. 16. and therefore to be made glorious, For great is he in the midst of thee, Isa. 12. 6. Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God, Psal. 87. 2. the very gates whereof he loves above all the habitations of Jacob, ver. 7. It is the Zion of the Lord, the House of his glory, Isa. 60. 7. 14. The mountain of his holinesse, Mount Zion, beautiful for situation, on the sides of the North, Psal. 48. 12. A type of the new Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. 10. that high mountain, Ezek. 43. 12. that shall be in the latter dayes set in the top of the mountaines, and exalted above the hills, Isa. 2. 1, 2. Micah 4. 1. that is, above all, higher and lower authority, above all former glory, The Eastern & Northern Jews it seems shall be first converted, who have heard least of Christ, which shows their conversion must be by some wonderful means. A tincture of Eternity, that is of such an excellency, as shal last to eternity, and never again sade or decay. conspicuous to all the world, Ezek. 17. 22, 23. Dan. 2. 35. for it is the joy of the whole earth, the City of the great King. beautiful for situation, on the sides of the North, a type of the new Jerusalem, whose first three gates open towards the East, and next three to the North, to invite and welcome in the Jews( saith Brightman) out of the East and northern Regions, Apoc. 21. 13. Ezek. 48. 1. 4. 13. 30. The Jerusalem which is above, Gal. 4. That is, not onely above the legal Jerusalem, and worship, of more exceeding beauty, but as far above all former glory, as heaven is above earth, in transcendent brightness and glory, and called the Mother of us all, that is, of all the Saints, born in Zion, Psal. 87. 5. And lest she should want any thing to add to her glory, above all former times of the Church, he gives her even a tincture of eternity, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a Joy of many generations, Isa. 60. 15. For brass I will bring Gold, and for Iron I will bring Silver, for Wood, brass, and for Stones, Iron, and I will make thine Officers Peace, and thine exactors righteousness. The sun shall be no more thy light, nor the moon thy brightness, for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and thy God thy glory, verse 17. 19. still a type of the new Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. with streets of Gold, the meanest part of it glorious, the paths men walk in; and I saw( saith John) no Temple there, for the lamb is the light thereof. Every thing here is changed to a greater height of glory, Gold for brass, &c. streets of Gold, a golden conversation must needs be there, where the lamb is the light, and walks in the midst of them, the glory of the Lord shall fill the House, and make it the house of his glory, Ezek. 44. 4. Isa. 60. 7. And that she may want nothing to make her delightful, he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her Desert as the Garden of the Lord, Isa. 51. 3. Ezek. 36. 35. compared with Apoc. 2. ver. 7. and 22. 14. where Paradise is clearly meant of Christs kingdom, in this world, and not of the Fathers kingdom in Heaven. Therefore rejoice and joy with Jerusalem all ye that love her, that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations, that ye may milk out and be delighted in the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a River, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, and be born upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees, Isa. 66. 10, 11, 12. When the Lord Jesus comes in his kingdom, and building of his Zion, he comes with his breast and bosom open, and his arms full of all spiritual and temporal blessings, for so it hath pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell, Colos. 1. 19. His kingdom is the greatest kingdom that ever was in the world, higher then the Kings of the earth, Psal. 89. 27. It is a portion with the great, Isa. 53. 12. which the Father hath given, Psal. 2. 8. with great Monarchs of the world, yea greater then any of the four Monarchies, for it shall extend to the ends of the Earth, as more anon. And good reason for it, he hath purchased it at a dear rate, with his own blood, who was the son of God, yea, yet dearest of all, no Monarch in the world ever obtained his monarchy at so dear a rate, he lost not onely a temporary life for it, but he suffered his fathers wrath for it, made him sweat drops of blood in the garden, praying that the cup might pass from him, Luk. 22. 4●. and, I have( saith he) a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I pained till it be ended? Luk. 12. 50. this sure was his death he meant of, whereinto all the Saints were afterward to be baptized, Rom. 6. 3, 4. he bare our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace was upon him, Isa. 53. 5. O the pangs and horrid pains he endured on the cross for his Church, his kingdom, that he might purchase( out of the lost, sinful mass of mankind) a peculiar people to himself, zealous of good works, Tit. 2. 14. and as he purchased his kingdom dearly, he will make it beautiful and lovely, and full of glory, he hath paid well for every grass pile in it, therefore he will make it a glorious inheritance, so rich and profitable, so pleasant, so honourable, as he that can get the meanest coat house there, shall live like a King for ever; the meanest office, a door keeper there above the dignity of Alexander, or greatest Monarch that were able to conquer( or with King Cresus his wealth to purchase) the glory and magnificence of all the world, and therefore this being our country, our kingdom, our dignity of us and our posterity, we will with favour of our great King( who sets the gates open, Apoc. 21. 25. and bids all his servants and subjects welcome, to come and see into his glory) and according to our weak capacity, approach to behold and further look into this new country, this new world prepared for this new created people of the Jews, to which all the Gentiles glory shall be brought and swallowed up in it, in one sheepfold under one shepherd, and under one King. And thus of the glory of the Church and kingdom of 2. Glory of his Church in particular. Christ in general. Now follows the glory thereof in more particular. The first whereof is, A glorious liberty. 1. Glorious liberty. WHen the Lord Jesus comes in his Church and kingdom appearing in his glory, he proclaims liberty to the captives, Isa. 61. 1. to the prisoners of hope, Zach. 9. 12. Isa. 49. 9. to all that were in setters and chains, and stinking dungeons, as sons of death, as the Church complains, Vers. 21. of this psalm, all sons of death under Antichrists tyranny, and the Iewes under sentence of death for the rejecting of Christ so long, here is a general gaole delivery of Iewes and Gentiles, their chains shall be broken, their bands loosed, their fasts turned into feasts with great joy and melody, Zach. 8. 19. The gates of this new Church stand open continually, Apoc. 21. 25. to give liberty and entrance into Christs kingdom unto all the elect; and a general pardon proclaimed to all that have stood out, and are now coming in into Christs kingdom, Apoc. 22. 17. to drink of the water of life freely, Christs well of life stands now open to all thirsty drinkers; the poorest, languishing, weary soul, shall be most welcome, their want shall magnify his fullness, his great delight to ease and help, and refresh all fainting spirits: for he is, fons semper ebulliens, an ever and overflowing fountain, never exhausted or yet diminished, if there were a thousand worlds for drinkers, there is enough for all, none need to grudge anothers drinking, and enough remaining. Sumit unus, sumunt mill, Quantum ipsi, tantum ille, Neque sumptus consumitur. The second is a healing glory, after liberty out of long captivity. 2. Glory, is a healing glory. WHen the Lord Jesus, this sun of righteousness arises and appears in his glory to build his Zion, to set up his kingdom, he comes with healing under his wings, Mal. 4. 2. of all his Churches distempers, so that the Saints shall grow as Calves of the stall or calf fatlings under the Cow, growing exceedingly and suddenly, having the dug continually at pleasure; sure then they shall faint no more, Mal. 4. 2. his fruit is for meate, his leaves for medicine for the healing of the Nations, Apoc. 22. 2. and cap. 2. 7. he will heal all the Churches backslidings, jer. 3. 22. all her infirmities, Hos. 6. 1. All the rebellions of a stiffnecked people, Hos. 14. 4. he will heal all her diseases inward and outward, which the Church here complains of in this psalm, all the scars, wrinkles, and withered skin, through course diet and unwholesome food, of ashes as bread, and tears for drink, he will heal her consumption she complains of, and she shall sing as in the dayes of her youth, Hos. 2. 15. her flesh shall grow as a childs flesh, and no spot or wrinkle in it; she that complained of her Jehovahs hiding of his face shall see his face with joy, job 33. 25. she shall revive as the corn, flourish as the Vine, Hos. 14. 7. she that looked black and ugly, as the owl of the desert, as the Heath of the wilderness, shall flourish as the Rose, Isa. 35. 1. as the Rose of Sharon, and lilies of the valleys, Cant. 2. 1. her withered cheeks shall be white and ruddy, faire and pleasant as a Love for delights, Cant. 7. 6. her eyes that were grown swelled and dim with continual weeping and watching, as the Sparrow on the house top alone, shall be like Doves eyes, Cant. 4. 1. piercing bright and lovely to see her king in his glory. She that drunk her full cups of tears, shall bee stayed with flagons, Cant. 2. 5. of new wine of the Kings wine Cellar, Cant. 2. 4. shall drink of the waters of life that flow out of the Kings Palace, Ezek. 47. 1. her bones that she complained were burnt as an hearth, scorched with fiery trials, shall flourish as the herb, Isa. 66. 14. shall now be full of marrow and fatness, when she shall think on her beloved in her night-watches, Psal. 63. 5. her meditation which before was of her sore troubles, deep musings, serious thoughts in the silent night of her weary nightwatches in his long absence, shall now be sweet, O how sweet the thoughts of him! Psal. 104. 34. she that was smitten at heart and withered as the herb struck with lightning, in the sense of the indignation of her Jehovah, shall have cool refreshing waters flowing from under the threshold of the Sanctuary, Ezek. 47. 1. and the due of her youth, Psal. 110. 4. to revive her, and make her fresh and green, fat and flourishing, Psal. 92. 14. as the laurel three, which Pliny saith is not struck with lightning or blasted; she shall have oil of gladness for the spirit of heaviness, Isa. 61. 3. shee that was driven into the wilderness and forsaken of friends, shall bee brought into the Princes Chambers, Cant. 1. 4. she that poured forth her sore complaints as a vessel bursting for vent, shall now poure out her spirit in high praises, most sweetly, melodiously, now no note so sweet as Jah my Song. O Jah my Song. She that was clad in sackcloth, shall now be decked with garments wrought with needle, Psal. 45. 14. Isa. 61. 10. She who was a stranger to her acquaintance shall now have honourable attendants and be brought home, &c. brought home to the Kings presence in his Ivory palaces, Psal. 45. 8. for her shane she shall have double recompense, everlasting joy shall be unto her, Isa. 61. 7. for her Jehovah comes to take away all iniquity from Jacob, Rom. 11. 26. makes all sound and whole, no cure or medicine like to this of this skilful chirurgeon, and wise physician: I will restore health to thee and heal thy wounds; Jer. 30. 17. Psal. 103. 3. The third glory is of brightness and beauty. 3. Glory, In brightness and beauty. AS after liberty of Captives, follows healing of all diseases, so after healing a perfect cure, follows brightness and beauty, to make the Church comely and lovely in Christs eyes, all this he works by his appearing in his glory. And when the Lord Iesus thus arises in his glory, then shall she also arise and shine, Isa. 60. 1. then he cries to her, Arise O Zion, put on garments of beauty, Isa. 52. 1. this shining signifies inward and outward splendour, in a flourishing condition in the world, and therefore saith the Lord to her from his arising, Arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee; the nations shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising, they shall bring gold and incense, and show forth the praises of the Lord, Isa. 60. 1. 3. 6. compared with Apoc. 21. 24. The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven fold as the light of seven dayes, Isa. 30. 26. All shall be taught of God that are within this holy city of God, Isa. 54. 13. the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea, Isa. 11. 9. Hab. 2. 14. A brightness of glory of Christ shall cast rays of lustre all over the known inhabited world. Here shall bee no cloudy brained humanists, who in these dayes of ours, darken Gods counsels with human knowledge, job 38. 2. and frame all things in the Church and worship of God, according to an Idea of their own brains, yea Idolize their own inventions: for the whole earth shall shine with his glory, Ezek. 43. 2, 3. And as great brightness of knowledge, so there shall be great glory in holinesse, beauties of holinesse, Psal. 110. 4. upon all the vessells in Jerusalem, Zach. 14. 20. that is, upon all the pure ordinances, yea great holinesse of conversation too, in mens ordinary callings, Holinesse writ upon the horse bridles, No unclean thing shall enter into the new Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. 27. Isa. 57. 1. the false Prophet and unclean spirit shall depart out of the land, and the Canaanite shall be no more in the house of the Lord, Zach. 13. 2. and 14. and the false prophets shall no more wear a rough garment to deceive, Zach. 13. 4. no canonical coats there. The Church shall bee very glorious within( in glorious inward graces) so also outwardly in glorious ornaments of all pure ordinances, officers and offices; her clothing is of broidered gold, glistering in the eyes of all the world, to their amazement and wondering, she shall bee brought to the King in raiment of needleworke, with her virgins and companions, Psal. 45. 13, 14. she shall be decked with shining ornaments, golden ordinances, golden worship, and a golden and bright shining discipline, answerable to her bright light of doctrine, she shall be so completely accomplished with all inward and outward beauty, as the King her bridegroom shall exceedingly delight in her beauty, Psal. 45. 11. beautiful as Tirzah( a pleasant place where Princes dwelled, 1 King. 14. 17. and cap. 15. 27. 33. and 16. 6. 23.) Comely as Jerusalem, Cant. 6. 4.( the chief city where the Tribes all resort, which made it beautiful, Psal. 122. 3. as the Hall or Court of Solomon, Cant. 1. 5. for glory, peace and safety; in sum, she shall now be faire and delightful, and no spot in her, Cant. 4. 7. and 2. 14. bright as the morning, faire as the moon, clear as the sun, terrible as an army with banners, Cant. 6. 10. Such a brightness of this new Church, as like the morning moon pleasant in its first beginning, proceeding still to more glorious brightness and terror to the enemies, in her growth and riper age like the sun in brightness, a pleasant sight saith Brightman in Cant. 6. 10. Come Lord Jesus( saith he) and bring in the gathering of our dispersed brethren the Jews, that all flesh may know thee to be the Lord. Yea the Lord Jesus discovers in the Scriptures such brightness of glory wherewith he will deck and adorn this new Church of the Jews, in such variety of similitudes as may any way bee set forth to human capacity, I will lay thy stones with beautiful colours( of glistering stones of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, 1 Chron. 29. 2.) and thy foundations with authors, and I will make thy windows of Agates, thy gates of Carbuncles, and thy borders of pleasant stones, Isa. 54. 11. all which sets out the glory of this building of Zion from the Lord Jesus his appearing in his glory; he will make it a glorious structure, as is set forth Revel. 21. 1, 2. in the glory of the new jerusalem, descending from God out of heaven, having the glory of God and her brightness as a ston most precious, as the Jasper ston, shining as crystal, and the whole building of Jasper, shining as crystal, like the heavens brightness without clouds very transparent, and of a refreshing delight and brightness as of a precious ston that strives with the sun for brightness and is not diminished but increased by the sun beams, shows the brightness of the Church in worship and ordinances, clear of all clouds of false doctrines, and not duskish or muddy with mens inventions. And the wall of this city the new jerusalem is built of Jasper, Apoc. 21. 18. bright and clear, and also firm and impregnable, as a wall of Adamant glistering with the Diamond, signifies the purity of discipline and safety of the Saints under Christs government. And the city itself and the streets thereof is of pure gold, like to clear glass, that is, the matter of this new Church is made of and built of, is pure and holy, Saints by calling, 1 Cor. 1. 2. lively stones for making up of this building, 1 Pet. 2. 5. tried metal in the furnace of long and hot fiery trials, such as no fire could consume or floods of waters make dusky with mud and filth of Idolatry and superstition, of mens inventions, no way losing their lustre and brightness, as gold which wastes not nor rusts not, admits of no corruption or change in the worst times, such spiritual materials for the building of Zion as shall be beautiful in Christs eyes, and in a sort be perpetual in lustre and excellency until she be translated to glory in eternity. This golden lustre is also said to be as clear as glass, through shining with brightness, that all men may clearly see the graces and favour of God, and even God himself shining in the Saints, and so are the very streets of this holy city where the Saints converse of the same golden brightness of life and conversation in all their dealings, without such fraud & circumventions as now the world is full of. And the foundations of the wall of this city were twelve foundations, and in them the names of the lambs twelve Apostles, that is, the doctrine of the twelve Apostles; it is the wall, not the city that hath this foundation of her stability, Christ himself is foundation of the city, 1 Cor. 3. 11. this doctrine of the twelve Apostles is also meant of the doctrine of the faithful pastors, and teachers, as the off-spring of the Apostles succeeding them in their holy functions in splendour and brightness of light and graces and gifts of Christ, wherewith the Church officers shall shine above others▪ and this is the same meaning of that * Isa. 54 11, 12. mentioned before. The twelve several foundations of twelve several stones bright and precious, sets forth the variety of gifts and graces there of all sorts needful for the Church, as knowledge and candid clearness of judgement, fiery brightness of zeal, accompanying light and knowledge, others setting forth the delight in mens mindes in the knowledge of divine things, the sweet humanity of mens dispositions, ingenuously embracing and walking in the light, great majesty mixed with gentleness and meekness, to keep all within compass, and make up the Churches Communion in happiness in the enjoying of the Lord Jesus in his worship and ordinances. Of the gates of pearl and further glory of this new Church, see learned Brightman upon Apoc. 21. and the gates of this holy city standing open night and day, continually to receive in all that belong to the election of grace both of Jews, Gentiles and heathen, with their glory and riches to serve the Church for propagation and spreading of Christs kingdom, according to Isa. 60. 11. 16. so as the Church shall not want any flourishing of temporal blessings, as well as spiritual, to complete Christs kingdom and make it glorious. This is the Bride, the lambs wife, the new Jerusalem of the Jews coming down from God, full of heaven-like glistering glory, Apoc. 21. 2. prepared for the bridegroom the chief of ten thousands, and therefore she must be glorious! this now bride, new Jerusalem cannot bee meant of heavens state of the Church which shall be triumphant for ever, for that shall not descend, but the Church shall ascend to it at the last end of the world, as appears, job. 14. 3. and cap. 17. 24. and 1 Thes. 4. 17. and therefore it must be meant of the glorious sta●● of the Church on earth, prepared and trimmed as a Bride to meet her husband in brightness of glory, as Isa. 62. 1. 2. when the Lord Jesus shall deck and adorn her with all her ornaments of pure and precious ordinances in great glory and brightness as was never yet seen in the world, in such brightness and beauty as may The marriage of the lamb. make the King delight in her. And then follows the marriage of the lamb, but before the marriage he also provides a new A new name for he new Bride name for his glorious bride, Isa. 62. 3. thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord hath spoken; Thou shalt be a crown of glory and a Diadem of beauty in the hand of thy God. The Church the new bride is set forth here by the most excellent and delightful things in the world, as a Princes Diadem beset with Diamonds and sparkling stones, which kings hold in their hands, protect with all their power, and hold out to the admiration of others to satisfy their eyes with delight in looking upon it, but this glory is such as can never be enough beholded and delighted in. But above all the rest this new name the bridegroom prepares for this new bride, this new Church of the Jews, is a thing remarkable. It seems he will let her want nothing to make her stately as becomes the Bride, the Spouse of such a husband, so great a poten●●●e, and that is a new name out of his own mouth; a new name which the mouth of her Jehovah shall name, she shall now forget the shane of her youth, and reproach of her widowhood, Isa. 54. 4. she shall be no more called forsaken,( as Hos. 1. 10.) nor shall thy land bee any more called desolate, but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah,( my delight) or love for delights, Cant. 7. 6. & thy land Beulah( or married) for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married, for as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the Bride, so shal thy God rejoice over thee, Isa. 62. 2. to 6 And as he gives her a new name, so he puts a new name of himself her bridegroom, into her mouth at this new marriage, he will tip her tongue to a higher strain then before, teaches her a new kind of language different from that she used in her former wanderings after many lovers, many Idolaters and Idolatries in time of her divorcement; she must now forget her fathers house, the mosaical shadows, and all the fashions of it, Psal. 45. 10. and the names of her idols shall be no more in remembrance, Zach. 13. 2. 3. 5. and 14. 21. And it shall be in that day saith Jehovah, that thou shalt call me Ishai, that is, my husband, and shalt call me no more Baali, that is, my Lord, Hos. 2. 16. or my master, a name appropriated to her idols, now there shall be nothing but tokens and titles of love and terms of marriage in an everlasting covenant shall never be forgotten or yet dissolved or broken again, Cant. 8. 6. 7. Now the Lord Jesus looks upon his new Church, his new Bride most amiably and sweetly delighted; Now my delight saith he, now my husband for ever saith she, for as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the Bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee, Isa. 62. 5. And I will mary thee unto me for ever, in righteousness, in judgement, in loving kindness and in mercy, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy, Hos. 2. 19. 25. Now shall the marriage of the lamb be, Apoc. 19. 6, 7. And I heard, saith John, like the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying Hallelu-jah, for the Lord that God our Almighty one hath begun to reign, or begun his kingdom, as Beza reads it; Let us be glad and rejoice, & give glory to him, for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready, i.e. by putting on her ornaments, her wedding garments, the bridegroom hath not onely given her freely of his free grace and love, but also given her the power to lay hold on, and to array and deck herself in fine linen, white and pure, which is the righteousness of the Saints, Apoc. 19. 8. these are the beautiful garments Christ calls upon her to put on, to make her lovely in his eyes, Isa. 52. 1. called also garments of salvation, Isa. 61. 10. delightful for her to behold and rejoice in, and to make her stately with ornaments and jewels, beseeming the state and magnificence of the Bride of so great a King, who hath wonderfully wrought out her deliverance out of the dust of a low condition; now is the marriage of the lamb come, first of the Jews, then of other nations, as egypt, Ashur, Tyre, Ethiopia, Cilicia and the remote regions of the world, whom Brightman on Cant. 8. 5. 8. calleth the second sister or Spouse of a new gathering into the Church of the Jews. This marriage is full of divine Emphasis, setting forth the marriage of the heathen Nations after the marriage of the ancient Spouse of the Jews, and so of all nations, tongues and languages that belong to the election of grace, and be written in the lambs book of life, as Psal. 87. 4. and 45. 9. 12. these several voices set out the joy and acclamation that shall be in and among all sorts of people higher and lower in the Churches of the Gentiles at the first beginning of Christs kingdom; great joy shall be in the gentle Churches at the coming in of our elder brethren the Jews, the natural branches of our sweet vine we live in and feed upon, our fat and full and fruitful Olive, when they come in to walk with us in the light of the Lord, and flock together to his holy mountain, as Doves to the windows, Isa. 60. 8. the first marriage of the Gentiles was honourable, and a joyful feast, Matth. 22. 2. but yet many were called to it, and but few chosen, Vers. 14. but this marriage is more highly honoured; for all that are called to this marriage supper of the lamb are blessed, Apoc 19. 9. and he said these words of God are true, let men take heed of calling them ●antasies or fables, though strange in mens eyes, not so in his, Zach. 8. 6. This new Church of the Jews is the Bride, the lambs wife whom John was taken up into a high mountain to view, to wit that great City the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, Apoc. 21. 9. as a Bride prepared and adorned for her husband, Ver●. 2. which John is called to behold again a second time after the first sight of her, as never enough to be delighted in, to behold the walls of Jasper, the foundations of precious stones, of several virtues and glorious lustre, the building and city itself of fine tried Gold, the walks and streets of Gold, and all the form and fashions of this city, this house of the Kings Palace, and all the brave order and government of this never enough admired beautiful structure, as the curious workmanship of the Prince of all arts, who now will make it his delight, his rest, and his rest shall be glorious, Isa. 11. 10. Such a like sight of the glory of this stately Bride this new Church of the new Jerusalem of the Jews, wee are called upon to behold in that prophetical psalm of Christs kingdom, psalm 48. throughout, as wee observed before, to bee a type of this new Church of the Jews. So stately a building as when Kings were assembled, they wondered and were troubled and hasted away, fear took hold on them and pain as of a woman in travail; and why? Because God is known in her Palaces for a refuge, they might well assemble together, with no want of will to assault it, but they hast away and dare not attempt it, but go away wondering at her glory as men astonished. The psalm is full of delighfull meditations of the glory of the new Church, this stately Bride the lambs wife; the holy Spirit calls unto us to walk about Zion, tell her towers and observe her bulwarks, that we may tell it to the generation following. Thus also was ezekiel taken up in a vision into a high mountain Ezek 40. 2▪ and 43. 10. to view all the fashions, frame and dimensions of the house of the Lord, that shall be in the later dayes in this new Jerusalem; all the springs of the Saints joys, and high delights are in her, the mountain of the Lords holinesse, Psal. 87. ult. All my Springs are in thee, words of wonderful Emphasis, wherewith the Psalmist shuts up that psalm with a sweet Epiphonema of a 〈◇〉 strain of joy in the beholding of this new Churches glory, as if he wanted words to express it fully. They must be the Saints, and also such of the Saints as are often in the mount with Christ, Moses-like importuning him to show him his glory, to whom the Lord Jesus will give a sight of his last marriage glory with his old beloved Spouse; they must be lively stones, fitting to be members and Citizens of this holy City, polishing daily, and waxing brighter and brighter in light and life of Christ, they shall see this goodly Land▪ afar off, Isa. 33. 17. There shall be many Johns( saith bright Brightman) who in the latter dayes, shall leave all their own possessions, & habitations, to take a full & delightful view of this holy City, not in a superstitious manner, as pilgrims use to go to the ruinous material Jerusalem, now under the guilt of the blood of Christ, and so a sad spectacle to behold, until it be renewed and made new. Thus have we had a little view of this stately Bride, the Lambs wife, decked and adorned for the marriage of the lamb, those who desire and delight in a more full view of her beauty and glory, red Master Brightman upon Apoc. 21. In the next place this marriage of the lamb, wants not its solemnities, suitable to this our royal Solomons espousals, there shall be ravishing music, and the Marriage song with great delight and melody. First, the sweet music is great delight in the Bridegroomes voice, John 3. 29. wherewith the Bride and her train and attendants shall be exceedingly joyed and ravished, Cant. 2. 12. and Cant. 8. 13. The companions( or Virgins the Brides attendants) harken to thy voice, O cause me to hear it( saith the Bride) as never enough to be heard again and again, because of her great delight in it. The voice of the Bride, Isa. 61. 10. shall be most sweet in the ears of all her attendants. I will wholly delight in Jehovah, and my spirit shall exceedingly joy in my God: and all the other particular Churches shall join with the Bride in this sweet voice, from henceforth perpetually sounding out their delight in the sincere worship and faith of Christ, Cant. 8. 13. Secondly, The marriage Song is sung of the Bridegroomes friends, Joh. 3. 29. his paranymphes, who have furthered this new Marriage, and the coming home of the ancient Spouse the Jews: these Bridegroomes friends, who sing this wedding song, are the pure Churches of the Gentiles, that have followed the lamb through great tribulations, and stuck close to Christ in the sharpest trials and sorest troubles, who have not been defiled with the filthy pollutions of the whorish Woman, Apoc. 14. 1. nor lacquyed after the times, but kept the word of his patience, and have had a dear love to the lamb, Cant. 1. 2. these Bridegroomes friends are they that be come out of great tribulations, companions with Christ in his sufferings, shall be brought into the Kings presence, into the Bride chambers, Cant. 1. 4. and be the chief singers of this nuptial Song, with hearts boiling within them for vent, full of heavenly and high meditations of the excellencies of the bridegroom and Bride, with high praises and commendations, wherein her tongue runs swiftly, as the pen of a swift Writer, with a voice tuned sweetly, as the Nightingale, to quaver out her several strains of joys, in praises of Christ and his kingdom, Psal. 45. 1, 2. This Marriage Song we find clearly written before-hand, by the spirit of God, the divine penmans skilful hand, Psal. 45. a type of our Royal Solomons espousals, & must be fulfilled whatsoever is written of him in the Law and Prophets, and in the psalms, Luke 24. 44. And by the judgement of the learned, this psalm is a prophetical song of the Marriage of Christ and his Church, and then it must be surely belonging to this last marriage, as the things following will show, as the daughter of Tyre bringing presents, verse 12. and of the children of this married Bride, who shall be Princes in all the Earth, which sets forth the spreading of Christs kingdom in all the world, and subjecting the rich Nations to his obedience, which was never yet fulfilled in the Marriage with us poor Gentiles, who have yet seen little of his kingdom and conquests, but rather suffering and subjection under Princes and rich Nations. So then, this psalm is clear to be belonging to the time of Christs visible kingdom and marriage of the lamb. And so we come to some observations from the psalm itself, Psalm. 45. 1. To the chief musician upon the lilies, saith Calvin, upon Sh●shannim saith Ainsworth, that is, six stringed instruments, or six leaved flowers, that is, the lilies, Cant. 2. 16. signifies the faire flourishing graces that grow in the Church and Communion of the Saints, by the watering of the Scriptures, and sweet breathings of the Spirit of Christ, unto which the Church compares herself, Cant. 2. 1, 2. for beautiful and lovely is the lily, Solomon in all his glory was not like one of these, Matth. 6. 29. and therefore of some is translated agreeing with our last translation, a song of Loves, Tremelius renders it a Song of the beloved Virgins, Bridegroomes friends, or Bride-maydes, who solemnize this Divine and mystical Wedding. This divine Love-song is committed to the sons of Core, sons of a wicked Father, who perished with Dathan and Abiram, yet these sons devout and godly men, endowed with excellent gifts, and called to a holy Office, to be the chief singers, in the Temple, 1 Chro. 26. And in as much as it is called a Song for instruction, it shows us that much is to be learned in it; and from the stately style of the Song, Calvin observes, that this is no ordinary matter, the Holy Ghost( saith he) useth not to puff up mens cheeks with a vain sound, but with some high and mystical matter excellently, which hath not been heard of. The common interpretation of this Song, hath been long in the Church applied to Solomons marriage with Pharaohs daughter, set forth in allegorical phrases, as in the type of Christ and his Church; but that sense, first, fals too short of the aim of the Spirit: secondly, there was no one thing in that marriage of Solomon, that can hold ground in the Mystery of the type, which Paul applies to Christ, Heb. 1. 8, 9. and so reaches unto Christ, as principally pertaining to him: and if to Christ, to what time of Christ, but this marriage of the lamb and glory in his kingdom, which is yet to come, as before? And so these Paranymphs or Bridegroomes friends, begin the first strain of their Song in high exalted terms of praise, and commendation of the bridegroom, verse 2. his person and lovely beauty, and then his eloquence, and then of his actions and Kingly virtues, and graces; then of the glory of his Throne and kingdom, and the beauty and glory of the new Church, and high commendations of the Bride. The first strain is of the Bridegroomes person, Thou art fairer then the children of Men, full of lovely beauty, above all the sons of Adam, the chief of ten thousands, Cant. 5. 10. his looks are lovely, and most worthy of the Brides most choice and best affections, his worth, noble disposition, and Kingly virtues shine forth in his very countenance. And in this faire and lovely beauty of his, faire, white, and ruddy, Cant. 5. 10. above all sons of men, the Paranymphes, with ravishing delight behold, and also sweetly sing out the high praise of his pure innocence in himself, his righteousness and free mercy, and pure love to his Saints, shining in his pure whiteness; and whereas, to make up this fairness and beauty, there is a mixture of ruddinesse, wherein the Church beholds and sings out the praise of his Justice, and vengeance now executed upon all her enemies, and his wrath and angry countenance now removed and ended in their overthrow, Isa. 10. 25. So as now they set him out highly, in all lovely, pleasant, and ravishing beauty, to 'allure the Bride, the new Church of the Jews to set her full delight upon this lovely bridegroom her King, as in an ecstasy, assuring her by all these insinuations, she shall find much more in him, then can be expressed. In the next strain of this Song, they sing out highly his delightful language and eloquence. Grace is powred into thy lips. The gracious words that come out of his mouth full of admiration, Luke 4. 22. wherewith his lips drop down pure myrrh, Cant. 5. 13. Sweet and delightful to 'allure the Bride to his obedience, who will let her want nothing may accrue to her happiness, for he is one whom the Father hath blessed, and that for ever, and in whom all fullness dwells, and of this the Bridegroomes friends assure the Bride, from their experience of the kisses of his mouth, and savour of his ointments, Cant. 1. of all refreshing soule-fatting graces, they have found in him abundantly, and daily fresh and springing in this sweet and fat Olive three, by long experience of 1600. yeares and more, rejoicing and alluring this new Bride to taste of their delicates that grow and blossom in his Garden, from the word of his mouth, and sweet breathings of his Spirit. Their next commendation is of his triumphant riding, sets out the remembrance of his victories, and valiant acts, ver. 3, 4, 5. the glory and stability of his Throne and kingdom, his government with great Majesty, Justice, and equity, in great state and princely magnificence, above all the glory of all the Potentates in the world, verse 6, 7. See Psal. 2. 6. and Psal. 89. 28. The delight the Saints find in his sweet smelling garments, garments of righteousness, garments of salvation, whereby he hath wrought his Churches wonderful deliverance, wherein he himself is glad, and the Church much delighted, smelling sweetly, as of Aloes and Cassia,( whereof the Incense was made Exod. 30. 21.) signifying his mediation, and intercession and offerings of his blood and prayers, shall now smell sweetly in the pure Churches, here set out in a stately Portraiture as of Ivory Palaces, when this great King comes forth to his Bride, in his royal Robes, whereby he hath both wrought her salvation and great deliverance, wherein he is glad and much delighted in his great works, and which must needs engage the Brides affections dearly to him, this we find, ver. 8. Thus of the high praise of the bridegroom. The next strain of their song is of the glory and magnificence of the Bride, suitable to the state of such a Bridegroom, and that we find from verse 9. to the end. The first glory of the Bride in her royal attendants, Kings Daughters of heathen Nations, new Converts, shall help to solemnise this great Marriage. Next in the placing of the Bride at the Kings right hand, the place of greatest honour, 1 King. 2. 19. 3. in her attire very stately, of Gold of Ophire, or India, gay and glistering in glory of her ornaments of all pure ordinances, verse 9. The glorious Mysteries of Christs kingdom, are set forth to us in various similitudes and figures of earthly things, to help our weak capacities, as when we red of Ivory palaces, Gold, sweet perfumes, precious stones, and sweet savouring ointments, they set forth the glory and abundant variety of gifts and graces, and beautiful worship and government, wherewith the Lord Jesus dignifies and adorns his Church. These paranymphs ver. 10, 11, 12. seem to let their voice fall a little, of their commendations of the Bride, and direct some speeches, or exhortations to her. harken O Daughter,( meaning the Bride, the lambs wife, the new Jerusalem, as Ainsworth expounds it) and consider, and be content to forget thy Fathers house, and all the fashions of it, all the houses of Idols, corruptions, Jewish superstitions▪ rites, and shadows of mosaical worship, now a blind Religion and vanished, and look upon and cleave to thy bridegroom, in whom all these are fulfilled, as a Bride must leave all, friends and Fathers house, and cleave to her husband, Gen. 4. 24. Matth. 10. 37. harken now and incline thine ear and cleave to him, and then will he delight in thy beauty, Cant. 2. 14. and Cant. 6. 4. and thou shalt be honoured of all rich and wealthy Nations, the daughter of Tyre shall bring presents, and rich people shall entreat thy favour and promote thy welfare: Tyre here is brought in by a synecdoche for many wealthy Nations, for Tyre was the most rich and flourishing State in the world in those dayes, as Ezek. 27. Isa. 23. 8. and 60. 1. 11. Apoc. 21. 24. 26. Then these Bridegroomes friends, verse 13. seem to raise their voices again in a high strain of praise of the Bride, of her inward beauty, and outward glory and magnificence, The Kings Daughter is all glorious within, with inward graces, Ephes. 3. 16. and her outward clothing with rich and costly ornaments of pure ordinances, glistering in the eyes of all the world; her clothing is of wrought or broidered Gold, adorned and beset with Jewels and precious stones, Isa. 61. 10, 11. and chap. 54. 11, 12. shows her excellent fruits of her inward graces, shining before men, full of delight and great variety, Matth. 5. 16. The Bride thus stately decked shall be brought forth to the King the bridegroom in great state and magnificence, set forth again in another stately habit, beseeming the state of so great a King in raiment of needlework, or garments of Phrygia, curiously broidered with several colours wrought with needle, signifies the same variety of gifts and graces, set forth before in other similitudes, as Ezek. 16. 10. to 14. and to augment her state she is brought forth with her Virgins and Bride maids, or companions to the greater solemnising of this great and divine wedding with great joy and rejoicing: these Virgins and companions of the Bride are the converts of the heathen Nations that shall attend on this glorious Bride, and come flocking into Christs kingdom, as Cant. 6. 8. and this we have verse 14. of this 45. psalm, and verse 15. we find the Bride brought home with all her state and troops of attendants, with great joy and gladness, into the Kings palace, the stately structure in the new Jerusalem, the Tabernacle of God with men, Apoc. 21. dwelling in the midst of them. And not onely into the Kings palace, but she shall be brought into the Kings Chambers, Cant. 1. 4. of his presence, of secret delights, hide from the world, and the safest and quietest room in his palace, as Isa. 26. 20. and into the beds of Spices, Cant. 6. 1. where the immortal seed of the word is sown, and becomes very spreading and fruitful, Matth. 13. 23. whereby multitudes of souls are begot to God, to the spreading and flourishing of Christs kingdom, as in the next verse, v. 16. Instead of thy Fathers shall thy children be, who shall be Princes in all the earth; lo here a rich reward of her forsaking her Fathers house and fashions there, she shall have an honourable spreading off-spring, to the ends of the earth; new Converts of all Nations, and far remote Countries that shall be as Kings and Princes, having great dominion in all the earth: in sum, rule the whole world, with excellent glory in princely virtues, and eminent graces, and greatness of number, as the stars of heaven for multitude, Gen. 22. 17. far transcending all her forefathers, in any age of the world. And so verse 17. and last, those Bridegroomes friends shut up this delightful Song, with a perfumed remembrance, and renown, this glorious Bride shall henceforth obtain in all Nations, throughout all ages and Generations for ever, that is, to the worlds end. Which no way agrees with Solomons Bride, or yet himself, who rather deserved to have his memory and name blotted out for his strange wives and Idolatry, nor did ever his posterity so spread in renown through all the earth, but on the contrary, his son by following ill counsels, lost ten parts of his kingdom. So that from the beginning to the end, we may clearly see this triumphant Marriage Song to belong to Christs kingdom and last Marriages of the Jews and heathen. The fourth glory of the Church. 4 Glory of the Church in fruit fullness. ANd thus we have seen a little into the third glory of the Church, in brightness & beauty, and Marriage of the Lamb. From whence we are again lead by a divine manuduction, to look into her fourth glory, in fruitfulness and great increase and spreading in the world. When the Lord Jesus calls up his Zion, out of the dust of a low condition, and bids her arise and sing, Isa. 26. 19. as in the dayes of her youth, when she came out of the Land of egypt, Hosea 2. 15. with great joy and gladness, her due shall be as the due of herbs, which makes them fresh and green and flourishing, by the doctrine of the holy word distilling from heaven, as due upon the earth to make it fruitful▪ Deut. 32. 1. and sand forth a sweet smell as Lebanon, Hos. 14. 5, 6. clearly meant of Christs kingdom spreading and flourishing, as the lily, and as the Rose, Isa. 35. 1. Israel shall blossom, and bud, and fill the face of the earth with fruit, Isa. 27. 6. This fruitfulness and increase of the Church shal be very wonderful, as every thing in this new Jerusalem, this new Church shall be full of admiration and wonderment to the whole world. Such an increase as the Country shall be too narrow for them, Isa. 49. 17. to the end, but the Lord shall enlarge their borders, and make them overspread many Countries, when the Lord Jesus shall set up his holy mountain in the top of the mountaines, and exalt it above the hills, above all former glory of all higher and lower authority, all Nations shall flow into his kingdom like an inundation irresistible, Isa. 2. 2. they shall come flocking as Doves to the windows, Isa. 60. 8. then indeed shall the kingdom of heaven suffer violence, Mat. 11. 12. the new convert shall come willingly in the day of Christs power, like an Army in holy beauty, flocking to the Gospels brightness, as Doves to the Cant. 6. 4. windows; from the womb of the morning, she shall have the due of her youth, Psal. 110. As the breaking out of the light of the morning, from between the clouds, like the opening of the womb, sends out a sweet and fertile due that waters the earth, and makes it fruitful, so shall it be in the day of Christs power, the Church shall be very fruitful, both in growth of Graces and increase, and multitudes of believers, from heavens divine watering, there shall be green pastures continually, no Winter or withering any more: Basan was a fruitful hill, but mount Zion far excels it, it is the hill of delights; Sharon was a fruitful Valley, but the green pastures here far exceed them: for here the Mountaines drop down new Wine, the hills flow with milk, and the Rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a spring shall come out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the Valley of Shittim, Joel 3. 18. The valleys shall be full of Springs, Isa. 41. 18. and covered with corn, they shout for joy and sing, Psal. 65. 13. The Churches fruitfulness shall be accompanied with the fruitfulness of the Land also: For the Lord will settle this new people of the Jews in their oldest estate; and not so onely, but he A better estate then at the beginning promised to the Jews. will do better unto them then at the beginning, Ezek. 36. 8. 11. to 16. 35, 36. Of this fruitfulness of the Country above former times, see also, Ezek. 34. 25. 26. Isa. 49. Zach. 8. 4, 5. and 14. 10. But the Churches increase and flourishing is the main thing we look upon, the number of believers shall be innumerable as the drops of due upon herbs and trees, multitudes of all nations, tongues and languages under heaven shall bee partakers of this due, and divine watering of the Lord Jesus from the morning of the day of his power, it shall be said of Rahab( that is, egypt) and Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia, that they were born in Zion, Psal. 87. 3. and become her sons and children from this womb of the morning. Avaunt ye Prelates and all your bastard sons of the Church, if ye be not born here, ye shall be excluded, none of your unclean fry, bastardly brood, for all your pure lawn sleeves, and linen garments shall enter here in the new Jerusalem, Isa. 52. 1. Apoc. 21. 27. as was typified 2 Chron. 23. 29. the Church shall want no children by the loss of you, she shall be honoured with a more noble race, of her seed shall be Princes in all the earth, Psal. 45. 16. yea even Kings of remote nations shall lick the dust of her feet, bring their glory and riches to serve the Church, but not for the building of your abbeys and monasteries and filthy nests of your uncleannesses, as you have deluded them by the abuse of these Scriptures, but Kings & Princes from all quarters shall leave their countries and dignities they so much delighted in, and count it their greatest honour to become Citizens of the new Jerusalem, true born sons in Zion, to be joined to the pure congregations there, to be a door keeper there above the dignity of Alexander, above all the titles of honour, they shall esteem it the greatest to be written that they were born sons of Zion, and entred in her records, see Isa. 44. 5. and Zach. 8. 23. Mount Zion shall be a fruitful hill, as the garden of Eden, Ezek. 36. 35. as the garden of God far above Eden, Isa. 51. 3. a garden enclosed, Cant. 4. 12. and fenced strongly, from wild beasts, outrageous enemies and crafty Foxes that spoil the vines and tender grapes; and a fountain sealed, none but her own Citizens can come to drink of her pure waters that flow out of the Sanctuary, Ezek. 47. 1. clear as crystal coming out of the throne of God and of the lamb, Apoc. 22. 1. promised to all thirsty drinkers, to all overcommers, as the cool waters to refresh them after victory, whose crystal clearness is very delightful to the Saints, clear in those dayes to the meanest capacity, and of a wholesome and healing quality, a draft whereof is an antidote against the poison of the old Serpents sting, and quenches his fiery darts, puts out his wild fire he secretly throws into our breasts and bosoms. This fruitful hill is the planting of Jehovah, Isa. 61. 3. with variety of trees of righteousness, and useful members, and holy vessels in Jerusalem, of all sorts, for all uses, Zach. 14. 20. bringing forth goodly fruits of variety of graces and gifts for all seasons, upon all occasions, for all diseases, new fruits monthly for meate and leaves for medicine, Ezek. 47. 12. for healing of the Nations, Apoc. 22. 2. because they are nourished at the roots by the wholesome waters that flow out of the Sanctuary and throne of the lamb, making them blossom and bud and fruitbearing, continually some budding, some ripening, some full The Turtles voice is more unpleasant than the singing of other birds, and is onely delightful to his mate or she Turtle, who answers him in a laughing manner▪ so the voice of Christ is delightful onely to his Spouse, carnal men find no pleasure in it, but▪ rather sorrow, though they dissemble and hid it often, and often again rage against it, as a harsh thing not to be endured. laden, affording still supply to the Churches necessities,( as the trees of paradise should have done to mens bodies continually if man had not fallen) The Winter now is past and the Spring appears with all flourishing in the Church, the Fig three putteth forth her green Figs, Cant. 2. 12. a sign of the Summer of all prosperity, Matth. 24. 32. and the voice of the Turtle,( that is, of the bridegroom Christ) is heard in the land with great delight and high praises, sweet fruits of pure incense, holy offerings, Mal. 3. 4. the vines budding, the tender grapes appearing, spikenard, and Saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, Frankincense, myrrh and Aloes and all chief Spices, Pomegranates and all pleasant things, Cant. 2. 15. and Cant. 4. 13. 14. Exod. 30. 23. O what variety of all gifts and graces, pure worship and spiritual sacrifices of prayers and praises, and fruits of the Spirit, for all the members, all the necessities of this holy Church! Gal. 5. 22. John 7. 38. fruitful flocks shall then be from the feeding and watering of this plant of renown, this great shepherd, and royal bridegroom, Ezek. 34. 26. to the end, John 10. 1. And also the Church become thus fruitful shall be very communicative, liberally affording them to others not yet converted, to 'allure them to come in to Christs kingdom and taste of her delicates she so abounds in, since the time of her graffing in again, and sends out a sweet savour of Christs ointments to all that come near, with an ardent desire of gaining souls to Christ her soule-refreshing and delightful husband, in whom she is now fully happy, his left hand under her head and his right hand embracing her, Cant. 8. 3. sustaining and comforting her with the kisses of his mouth, and draughts of his love far above wine, Cant. 8. 1, 2. now saith she, Arise O North wind and blow O South,( that is, the sweet breathing of the Spirit, John 3. 8.) and blow upon my garden: She invites these gentle winds to blow upon her buds and blossoms, and sweet flowers to disperse the sent of her Bridegroomes graces, to the use and delight and allurement of others, Cant. 4. 16. And then to make up a feast of thankfulness to her bridegroom, she invites him to come to his garden and feast upon his own delicates and dainties, to sup with her,( as shee had done with him at the wedding) and to eat of his own precious things, Cant. 4. 16. wherewith he is so well pleased, and the Church so delighted and satisfied, as they will never part again, she will now never let him go. Thus of the Churches glory in fruitfulness. The fifth glory of the Church is in peace and plenty. 5. Glorious in peace and plenty. NOw the Churches warfare is accomplished, Isa. 40. 2. her dayes of sorrow ended, Isa. 60. 20. when once her Jehovah appears in his glory, he brings down the noise of strangers and song of the mighty, their lofty looks he hath now laid full low, Isa. 25. 5. The sons of them that afflicted thee, shall come bending to thee, and they that despised thee shall come bowing to the soles of thy feet, in token of subjection, as the Churches servants, and Christs conquered vassals, Isa▪ 60. 14. Her husband, her King, Isa. 43. 15. is the Prince of peace, Isa. 9. 6. King of peace, Heb. 7. 2. and speaks peace, and proclaims peace to all that are far off and near, who will come in and submit to his royal sceptre and government, Isa. 57. 19. when he comes in his kingdom he brings peace with him to his people before oppressed, in his dayes shall the upright flourish, none shall hurt or destroy in all his holy mountain, Isa. 65. 25. but abundance of peace shall be while the sun and moon endureth, that is, for ever; the mountaines shall bring forth peace and the little hills righteousness, for he shall break in pieces the oppressors, Psal. 72. 3. 7. great Princes and their inferior officers, who as mountaines and hills overtopped and oppressed and sent down floods of troubles upon all the Churches, shall now delight to serve the Church to work her peace by judgement and justice; no oppressor shall trouble them any more, Zach. 9. 8. Isa. 11. 9. The Citizens of this new Jerusalem, this holy city, shall have continual peace, sweet and refreshing walks in faire and pleasant valleys and green Pastures, by the still and limpid waters. A covenant of peace the Lord Jesus makes with them, and will cause the evil beasts, devouring tyrannous oppressors of the Church to cease( or go) out of the land, and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods, Ezek. 34. 12. to 16. and Vers. 25. 28. go out and lodge in the villages, Cant. 7. 11. the Church who before was so increased and multiplied, as she complained, The country was too narrow for me, the place too straite for me, give me place that I may dwell, Isa. 49. 19. 20▪ shall now have room to enlarge her borders, plant Colonies, and safely where tyrants ruled, sit down in places of these wild beasts, before as woods and wildernesses, and the most desolate places where the Church could formerly have no rest from tyrants, shall bee now peaceable and quiet, and they lye down and sleep in the woods, and none make them afraid, nor wild beasts devour them, Ezek. 34. 28. Jer. 23. 3. 5, 6. their corn shall no more be given for meate to the enemies, Isa. 62. 8▪ they shall be brought to a land of corn and wine, Joel 2. 19. corn shall make the young men merry, and new wine the maides, Zach. 9. 17. the pastures shall be clothed with flocks and the valleys covered with corn, they shout for joy and sing, Psal. 65. 13. the earth shall yield her increase, and God our God shall bless us and all the ends of the earth shall fear him, Psal. 67. 6, 7. in sum, all things shall be restored in a peaceable and perfect state again, without changings, when now the Lord Jesus hath scattered the people that delight in war, Psal. 68. 30. men shall now break their swords into plough shares, or mattocks to till the ground, and their spears into pruning hooks, Nation shall not rise against Nation, or shall they learn war any more, Isa. 2. 4. compared with Hos. 2. 18. The Churches of Christ among the Gentiles who have been over-run with Antichrist and enemies, full of troubles, shall now enjoy their sweet share in the kingdom of Christ, as a kingdom of peace; peace we say is the most beautiful thing in the world and most desirable of all people, and most honourable to the government of great Monarchs; and not onely this, but peace and truth shall kiss one another under this King of Kings, and his dominion and government, peace amongst all his subjects, to them a far off and them that are near, Isa. 57. 19. the greatest spirits shall not offend the meekest lambs, or dove-like innocents, both the woolvish spirits of men who have been as wild beasts upon the mountaines of prey, but also even the rapacity, and fierceness, and devouring and offensive nature of the creatures shall bee all removed from the whole creation, Hos. 2. 18. which is in the time of this marriage of the lamb, as appears Vers. 19. and suits with that, Isa. 11. 6. compared with Isa. 65. 25. are promises clearly belonging to the time of Christs kingdom, and never yet accomplished. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the Leopard lye down with the Kid, and the calf and the young Lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them, the Cow and the bear shall feed and their young ones lye down together, and the Lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play upon the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice den, they shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, Isa. 11. 6. There is doubtless both a spiritual and a literal sense of these things; men of woolvish, ravening, lionish, raging, serpentine, subtle and stinging spirits, and great enemies to the Church and Saints of God, shall be so changed, converted or vassalled by the sceptre of Christ, and their wild dispositions so tamed, by the power of pure discipline, that children in simplicity and understanding to them shall guide them, even babes in Christ shall rule subtle wits, and great spirits of lofty Statesmen, such peaceable spirits Christ shall make them as all contentious and self-seeking shall bee laid aside, men shall not seek their own things but the things of God, and good one of another, be wholly taken up with the glory and excellency and high thoughts of Christ and of his kingdom, the beauty of his house in his pure worship and ordinances, and strive to walk in all well pleasing before him, studious of that above all things, provoking one another to love and to good works, and to walk in the light of the Lord, as children of light, in a sweet communion of gifts and graces, and of all temporal things for the building up and completing of the body of Christ, together with a sweet temper of disposition towards all men, within and without the Church, in all holinesse and conversation, shining as lights in the world, as the stars in the outspread firmament, as the glistering stones in the new Jerusalem: but yet this glory reaches further, even to the common weal too, wherein the Saints shall shine in godly government, when the seed of the Church shall be Princes in all the earth. For the Church and commonweal are like Hippocrates Twins, mourn and rejoice, suffer and flourish together; O then what a beautiful and desirable thing is this glorious state of Christs kingdom which is to be in the world, in these later dayes! Calvin upon this 11. of Isay verse 6. saith the Prophet aims at a further thing then we are ware of; for it is, saith he, as he would promise a new world, or re-establishing of all things in the order at the beginning before the fall, as if the Prophet The golden age, from Calvin. should say the golden age shall come in which all felicity shall flourish, as Hos. 2. 18. in the restauration of the creatures: the sum of all, saith he, Christ shall come to chase away all hurtful things out of the world, and restore it to its original beauty; for if the contagion of sin had not infected the world, the creatures should not have been given to blood or prey, but the fruits of the earth should have sufficed them; so he: So that wee may see a literal sense of these things, there shall none hurt or destroy in all his holy mountain, for it is his rest, and his rest he will make glorious, Isa. 11. 10. this rest is meant of the time of his kingdom, when after his valiant exploits and noble victories, he builds up his Zion, and sits down at rest in his kingdom, having made all his foes his footstool, and all the world brought under his obedience, he then will sit down with rest and delight in his great works, and be refreshed in the restauration of the world to its original at the creation, as he at the first creating of the world, on the seventh day he restend and was refreshed, Exod. 31. 17. which signifies a rest full of sweetness and delight in his works which he had made, and not onely a bare rest from creating the world, defaced by Adams fall before the seventh day of rest, but the Father in this rest also was delighted and refreshed in, beholding Christ undertaking to restore his workmanship which man had defaced, and not onely mankind now fallen, but all the creatures by his fall brought into bondage, Rom. 8. 19. Now as he had his day of rest after creating the world, and was refreshed in beholding Christ undertaking the restauration of it, so when Christ hath accomplished this great work, the Prophet Isay here cap. 11. 10. tells us the great restorer of mankind hath a day a of rest after this shall be done, in this mountain he sets his rest, all his works end herein, Isa. 25. 10. and the Apostle to the Hebrewes, cap. 4. 8. evinces this rest in the day of Christ, for saith he, if their Jesus i. e. Joshua, had given them( that is, the Jews) rest, he( that is, David) would not have spoken of another day, or rest so long after: but David did so, Psal. 95. therefore the Apostle concludes there remaines a rest to the people of God, Heb. 4. 9. and being remaining in the Apostles time, it must be meant of the time of Christs kingdom,( whereof the Apostle onely speaks there, and nothing of the Fathers kingdom in heaven) after the restauration of the world again, according to 2 Pet. 3. 13. in making new heavens and new earth, and a new state of all things in the Church and in the world, wherein the creatures brought into bondage by mans fall, not willingly of themselves, but because of him( i.e. e. the Lord) who subjected them to vanity under hope that the same whole creation shall be restored from the bondage of corruption to the liberty of the glory of the Sons of God, Ro. 8. 20. 21. the words in Beza are more significant then in our translation by much, the whole creation is said to wait with an earnest expectation of this day of Christ and restauration of all things to their original; a new world indeed, which the same Apostle Heb. 2. 5. calls the world to come, whereof wee speak, even a new creation for this new created people in our 102. psalm, Isa. 65. 17. 18. by the creator of Israel our King, Isa. 43. 15. as we shall see more anon. Thus of the fifth glory of the Church in peace and plenty. 6. Glory, is in protection and safety. The next and sixth is of her protection and safety. WHen the Lord Jesus appears in his glory and makes his Church, his kingdom glorious, as he gives great glory, so he will bee careful to protect it gloriously. For it is the city, the Court of the great King, his throne is there, his house, his palace there, his rest, his residence there, in his Ivory Palaces, he will be known for a refuge, Psal. 48. and shelter from all storms and tempests, Isa. 4. 6. it is his inheritance, Zach. 2. 10. 12. no designs against it shall prosper, Isa. 54. 17. Zeph. 3. 17. This new Church, new married bride shall be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty in the hand of her God, Isa. 62. 3. this King of kings sure will be careful of his crown and Diadem, and therefore there shall be safety and protection, he will defend it, Isa. 31. 5. This is implyed also in that he carries it in his hand, that is, keeps it in his own power, yea her Citizens shall be in stead of strong Garrisons, the inhabitants shall not say I am sick, Isa. 33. ult. There shall be no more an infant of dayes, nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes, for the child shall die 100. yeares old, Isa. 65. 20. for as the dayes of a three are the dayes of my people, Vers. 22. The streets shall be full of boyes and girls, ancient men and women with staves in their hands for very age, Zach. 8. 5, 6. a little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong Nation, Isa. 60. 22. The least of them shall be as David( who slay great goliath) that is, a mighty Champion, and the house of David as the angel of the Lord before them, and the Lord will destroy all the Nations which come against Jerusalem, Zach. 12. 6. 8. 9. Salvation shall be for walls and bulwarks, Isa. 26. 1. in stead of ramparts and fortresses, and ditches and double walls, for the Lord shall create safety and defence upon mount Zion, and upon all her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for upon all her glory shall be a defence, Isa. 4. 5. his defence shall be strong, as a munition of rocks, Isa. 33. 16. as the mountaines about Jerusalem, Psal. 125. 2. there the glorious Lord Jesus will be to her a place of broad rivers and streams wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ships pass thereby, for the Lord is our King, our Judge and Law-giver,( shall they say) he will save us, Isa. 33. 21. there shall be no means or ways by ships, &c. for any to come to assault this holy city; What greater strength can bee devised to a city then Walls and bulwarks, and broad rivers, environed with mountaines? and if that bee not enough, he will be a wall of fire about them, Zach. 2. 5. to terrify any enemy from approaching. And upon her gates shall be written Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there, Ezek. 48. 35. and then who dare come against her? And thus we see this new Created people in our psalm, shall have varieties of new created glory, a new created glorious protection and safety, such as never any people had before, Zach. 12. 1. to 10. The seventh and last glory of the Church is in a state of stability, and perpetuity. 7 Glory stability and perpetuity. THis is the last thing the Church can desire to be added to all her glory, that she abide in his house for ever, without any more tumbling and changing, till she be translated to glorified endless glory in the Fathers kingdom in all eternity, which the Lord Jesus will also grant her, and accomplish for her, for he is her King of old, Psal. 74. 12. he is the first and the last, his hand also( as coeternal with the Father, John 1. 1, 2, 3.) laid the foundations of the earth, and his right hand hath spanned the Heavens and they are moved by him. Isa. 48. 12, 13. compared with Apoc. 1. 17. and 22. 13. he is the heir of all things, and great administrator of all the affairs in the world, Heb. 1. 2. and whatsoever he hath done, or doth daily, or is needful to be done for his Church, is done by an eternal decree, his Counsels are of old, they are faithfulness and truth, Isa. 25. 1. his tender mercies have been of old, Psal. 25. 6. his ways everlasting, Hab. 3. 6. Micah 5. 2. from everlasting to everlasting, he is ever her God, Psal. 90. 2. and 103. 17. he hath saved her with an everlasting salvation, she shall not be ashamed or confounded world without end, Isa. 45. 17. for he is her everlasting King, Isa. 40. 28. Jerem. 10. 10. 1 Tim. 1. 17. his name is everlasting, Isa. 63. 12. and hath loved his Spouse with an everlasting love, and given her also an everlasting name, shall not be cut off, Isa. 54. 8. and 56. 5. Jer. 31. 3. and he makes now an everlasting covenant with them, that shall never be broken any more, Jer. 32. 40. Isa. 59. 21. everlasting joy shall be to them, Isa. 61. 7. who are his everlasting inheritance and sure possession, Gen. 17. 8. and 48. 4. Zach. 2. 12. his everlasting kingdom, Dan. 4. 3. 34. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Dan. 7. 27. and of his kingdom shall be no end, Dan. 2. 44. Luk. 1. 33. he will strengthen and stablish, and confirm them to the end, 1 Cor. 1. 8. And they shall reign with him for long lasting evermore, Dan. 7. 18. and 12. 3. Apoc. 22. 5. 2 Thes. 4. 16, 17. Isa. 9. 6, 7. And if now any object doubts and difficulties, how ever all this glorious estate shall be accomplished to this new created people: The answer is at hand, it is a new Creation, Isa. 65. 17. After the manner of the first Creation, it was wrought by Christ as coeternal with the Father, his hand was in it, Heb. 1. 2. Isa. 48. 12. John 1. [ First, Making all out of a Chaos of confused nothing. Secondly, Without resistance, nothing opposed his mighty hand, his powerful word, he spake but the word and it was done: Even so shall this great and difficult work of restauration of all things, as a new Creation, be wonderfully accomplished by the same hand; who created at first all out of nothing, as ver. 26. of this 102. psalm, now shall also bring forth this glorious state of the Church, and of all new things in the world, out of all the difficulties and confusions, we see or can imagine in the world, in a wonderful manner, for there is no wisdom or counsel against him. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this, Isa. 9. 7. I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more, neither shall the sons of wickedness afflict them any more as before time, 2 Sam. 7. 10. Amos 9. 15. there shall be no backsliding there, or decay of graces or gifts, no sickness or grief or troubles to waste or consume their strength, or violent and untimely death, for then all sighing and sorrow should not fly away, Isa. 35. 10. Apoc. 21. 4. for there is the three of life and a right to eat of it, therefore they shall not decay, for there is both meate and medicine, Apoc. 2. 7. and 22. 3. and mine elect shall long enjoy the works of their hands, Isa. 65. 22. Thus we have darkly viewed some of the high designs of the Lord Jesus from his appearing in his glory, so far as our weak sight can reach, and he pleased to discover, of his glory in himself, and in his actions and wonderful works: now remaines onely the last general head, of his glory, and that is in the extent of his noble actions, and therein also we shall find and see him, Glorious in all Lands, as verse 16. and 23. of this psalm. 3 general head of Christs glory is the extent of it. When he, this sun of righteousness arises and appears In his glory, his glory spreads irresistibly, as the sun beams cast rays of brightness to the ends of the earth. First, We have seen him wonderful glorious, in himself; first, in his person and princely parts; secondly, in his Kingly Titles, very glorious; thirdly, in his apparel; fourthly, in his stately riding; and fifthly, in his royal attendants, very Glorious. Secondly, we have seen him very glorious in his noble actions; first, great conquests of his enemies; secondly, in building his Zion, and setting up his kingdom gloriously, or in great glory: first, of Liberty; secondly, in a healing glory; thirdly, in glorious brightness, and beauty, fit for the marriage of the lamb; fourthly, glorious in fruitfulness and increase of all inward and outward gifts and graces, and innumerable multitudes of believers and new converts, Kings, and Princes, and great ones, of all ranks and qualities; fifthly, accompanied with glorious peace and plenty; sixthly, under his glorious and wonderful protection and safety; seventhly, in a glorious estate of stability and perpetuity. Thirdly, But the extent of his noble actions and spreading of this his glory to the ends of the earth, is the wonder of wonders to see that accomplished, this shall make up the top of his glory, and the Churches Joy, now he will be as good as his word, all now shall be accomplished that he hath promised to be fulfilled in this world, now the Church sets out her breasts to all Nations, to suck and be satisfied with her consolations, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory, Isa. 66. 11. now she hath asked and received, and her joys made full, John 16. 24. she can ask no more, but to be gone home with her husband to his Fathers mansions, where her cup shall so continually run over, as she shall never be able to drink it down or diminish it in the least measure. Now of the large extent of his kingdom and glory, we will speak somewhat, and that but briefly, of his spreading glory in all Lands, and so return to our Text again. This the Church had a glimpse of at his first arising, verse 16. of this 102. psalm, and sees it working afar off; in midst of great confusions, and combustions in the world, ver. 23. as we shall see anon. The kingdoms gathering together to serve the Lord, and his Christ, Apoc. 11. 15. Gathering to the people of the God of Abraham, Psalm. 47. 9. His dominion shall be from Sea to Sea. The ends of the earth shall be his possession, Psal. 2. 8. Zach. 9. 10. see Isa. 19. 23. 25. egypt, and Assyria, shall be converted and serve the Church of the Jews, the Lord Jesus his special inheritance, see the words at large, Psal. 72. 8. 27, 28, 29. All they that be fat upon the earth shall come and worship, that is, great potentates, and rich Princes, the Kings of Tarshish, and of the Isles shall bring presents, Ethiopia and Sheba shall bring gifts, all Kings shall serve him, all Nations worship him, Psal. 72. 10, 11. The Daughter of Tyre shall bring presents; the rich peoples and Nations shall serve the Church and kingdom of Christ, and seek favour of acceptance amongst his Subjects, his Citizens, Psal. 45. 13. Tyre there being the most flourishing rich state in the world in those dayes, is brought in by a Synecdoche membri, for multitudes of rich States and Nations, that shall bring their glory to Christs kingdom, and seek to enter there, Isa. 60. 5. 9. 16. Apoc. 21. 26. I will make mention of Rahab, and Babylon, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia, Psal. 87. 4. here Tyre is but one of the number of many Nations, egypt, and Assyrla, and Philistia, and Ethiopia, Zions new born children, and shall be Princes in all the earth, Psal. 45. 16. shall be Subjects of Christs kingdom, as the seed of the Church, great Princes in all the earth, and shall rule the whole world, and yet but Subjects of Christs kingdom. Amongst whom the Jews shall be the chief. And thou O Tower of the flock, the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion, the kingdom shall be given to the daughters of Jerusalem, Micah 4. 6. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, it shall come to pass in those dayes, that ten men out of all Languages, of all Nations, shall take hold of the skirt of a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. Zach, 8. 23. And that Nation and kingdom that will not serve this new Bride, the new Jerusalem of the Jews, shall perish, Isa. 60. 12. red the Chapter throughout; the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it, and bring their glory and honour to it, Apoc. 21. 24. 26. the other Nations and kingdoms that will not serve the Church. shall be utterly wasted, Isa. 60. 12. of the large extent and greatness of this kingdom of Christ, red Dan. 2. 34. 35. from small beginnings, it shall grow up into a mountain and fill the whole earth, which shall be accomplished in the dayes of the seventh Trumpet, Apoc. 11. 15. this is that mystery then fulfilled, cap. 10. 7. then shall the kingdom and dominion & greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, be given to the people of the Saints of the most high, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him, Dan. 7. 27. all dominion shall be Christs and the Saints; and none shall have dominion but he, all haughtiness of people shall bee brought low; the high ones that are on high, and kings of the earth that are on the earth, that is, all kingly power, now the pride of the earth, and all higher and lower authority shall bee brought under, and he alone shall be exalted, Isa. 2. 11. explained further by sun and moon that shall be ashamed and confounded, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem before his ancients( that is, his ancient people) * Isa. 24. 23. gloriously, that is, all kingly glory and majesty which men of the earth now so much glory in, and all majesty of inferior dignity shall vanish before, & be swallowed up in his kingly * Apoc. 2●. 23, 24. glory; there shall be no need of Sun or moon there, for the lamb is the light thereof, and in stead of all. * Apoc. 22. 20. 21. 24. Kings bring their glory to it, that is, to this kingdom of Christ, and lay down their honour and riches here at his feet this seems to be meant by shaking, not the earth onely( that is, the customs of the world by changes) but heaven also, that is, kingly power and glory, and therefore the Prophet to the shaking of heavens he adds, overthrow thrones, and kingdoms, Hag. 2. 6. 21, 22. which the Apostle applies to Christs kingdom, Heb. 12. 26. 27. and in that Haggai saith the Lord will shake all Nations, Heavens and earth, Sea and dry Land, it seems clearly to have relation to the times of setting up Christs kingdom amongst the Jews, when he overturns the world with Earthquakes, Isa. 24. and dries up the floods for his redeemed to pass over( as we saw from, Isa. 11. 11.) and come into his kingdom, and then saith the Spirit, Zach. 14. 9. Jehovah shall be king of all the earth, and in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name one, no more Lords but he, that is, in comparison of him who shall bee exalted above all dominion, and his name shall be great from East to West, and and amongst the heathen, as never yet it was, Mal. 1. 11. 14. Micah 5. 4. Isa. 59. 19. Isa. 11. 9. the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as waters cover the Sea. Nec ma●is ac terrae spatium, nec terminis aevi, Finiet imperium. Buchan. in Psal. 45. Thus from beholding the glory of Christ, in his Church and kingdom in these later dayes, and the Churches joy and rejoicing in the sight of her Jehovah arising, and appearing in his glory to do great things, Joel 2. 21. wee return to our Text again, and there wee find the Church down under water again, and very low before these things be accomplished, wherewith she was highly delighted and ravished in the sight of them afar off by the spirit of prophesy, but now again renewing her sore complaints, in the two verses following. Vers. 23, 24. The kingdoms gathering together, and the people to serve Jehovah. He weakeneth my strength in this way, he shorteneth my dayes. The Church having been taken up in the Spirit, as John was into a high mountain to view the new Jerusalem and the new world, Apoc. 21. and having gotten a glimpse of her glory to come in these later dayes, she looks downward to the estate of the world, and her present condition in it, and to the way of the accomplishing this her never enough desired glory with Christ in this world, and sees also in the spirit of prophesy the people in several kingdoms joining to serve the Lord Jesus, and to unroote Antichrist, and in this great work she beholds the earth shaken in earthquakes, broken down and quiter dissolved, reeling to and fro like a drunken man, Isa. 24. A rushing of the Nations one against another, Isa. 17. 13. and all the world almost on fire, in great combustions and confusions, and inundations of great troubles, before that Antichrist and turk, and other mighty Nations of mighty enemies be brought under, and the kingdoms of the world eased of their oppression, and hindrance of setting up Christs kingdom, and now gathering together to this great work, which seems to point at these very times we are come to at this day; the Church in the spirit beholding the great troubles, changes, and difficulties accompanying this great work, in the way of her weary pilgrimage towards the New Jerusalem, and still new troubles a coming, new floods and inundations shee must swim through before shee attain to her rest, and top of her joys, in her meeting and reigning with her Christ her king, shee is so full of faintings, weakness and doubtings she shall never outlive these troubles, and see her joys fulfilled, that shee like a woman oppressed with fears, and faintings, cries out, O he weakeneth my strength in this way( i.e. e. the way to these great works of setting up his kingdom) O he shorteneth my dayes, and I am fainted and quiter gone! and here she goes down again, quiter under water, sunk and gone, falls into a deep swoon, for she is still in the wilderness, tossing in tempests and in her travail to her rest, the land afar off seen by the eye of faith in the spirit of prophesy, and the difficulties shee hath yet to pass through, weakens her strength, faints her spirits, she sighs and sobs and cries, Alas who shall live when God shall do this! Numb. 24. 23. The joyful sight of the great works Christ will do for her on the one side, and the fearful sights of sad spectacles of great troubles shee hath to pass through on the other side, work so strongly upon her as we find her here fallen into a trance, into a deep swoon, and quiter gone in her own sense and apprehension, but her faith breaths under water, and lays hold on her Jehovahs unchangeableness in the next Verse, which brings her up again as it had done often before: this last sinking is a long one and a sore one too, the nearer deliverance, is the very time of her greatest dangers, out of which wee shall see her Jehovah deliver her, so as we find her no more in such qualms, pangs, and faintings again, but going on in this prophetical Song with many sweet strains of joy in her Jehovah and his works, ending in a most sweet Epiphonema or triumphant strain of her stability and perpetual happiness in a sure condition without any more changings. Vers. 25. O my strong God, take me not away in the midst of my dayes, thy yeares are throughout all generations. The Church here prays for perseverance. The Churches faith, we see here, no sooner begins the work in laving hold of her Jehovahs unchangeable love and Counsels and Decrees, as her strong waters, or cordials to recover her fainting spirits, but presently it works in her soul a new strength to prayer, she looks upward to the rock of her hope and health, and now in this sorest time of all troubles of all sorts, and of greatest straits and dangers in the world, and time of her greatest wastings, weakening of her strength and faintings, she implores her strength as most suitable to her present state and necessity, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength, Isa. 26. 4. and calls upon him, O my strong God, able to effect and accomplish wonderfully all that thou hast promised to do for me, and hast a little darkly revealed to me, Take me not away in the midst of my dayes, thy yeares are throughout all generations, shee looks here upon her husband Christ the second Person, to whose Kingly office it belongs to effect all these great works, John 5. 22. and from her confidence in his strength and ability to do all, and in his unchangeable love and counsels which are not blotted and transcribed or printed and reprinted with any alteration or changes, in any times or ages; she from hence deprecates the present calamities she is tumbling in, and prays for supportation and strength to hold out and persevere to the end.[ O my strong God] This name of his is now like an ointment powred forth, smelling sweetly to her fainting spirits, Cant. 1. 3. and 4. 10. the champion of her faith, Heb. 12. 2. who hath wonderfully delivered her in former times of great troubles by his strong arm, this refreshes her fainting spirits, and then she comes out with her petition or deprecation rather,[ Take me not away]( cause me not to ascend out of this life, Joh. 12. 32. by perishing in these great troubles)[ In the midst of my dayes] that is, her present most troublesone time that ever was in the world; between the former time of the promising, and the future time of accomplishing these great works in the advancement of his kingdom, is said to be the middle time of the Church or midst of her course upon earth, and therefore she prays she may persevere and not perish in her pilgrimage, as the midst of her dayes, until his promised glory be fully accomplished, for his yeares are throughout all generations, as before, Vers. 13. pag. 6. seen in his works and wonders, yesterday and to day and the same for ever, without so much as the least shadow of changing in all his ways in all generations: though I be full of troubles, full of faintings and many changings, yet thou art Jehovah and changest not, therefore I am not, I shall not be consumed, I shall never be confounded, Mal. 3. 6. See page. 125. of the Churches perpetuity. Vers. 26, 27, 28. Of old thou hast laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands. They shall perish but thou shalt endure, all these shall wax old as doth a Garment, and as a Vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy yeares have no end. The Church finds here such sweet refreshing and delight in the Lord Jesus his unchangeableness for ever( the onely reviving of her fainting spirits) that she repeats it over and over again, as never enough to be delighted in, as the foundation of her comfort and confidence in midst of the great unheard of changes and alterations that she yet foresees to fall out in the world, but from her Jehovahs unchangeableness she gathers strength of assurance, that all these changes, and troubles, and turning upside down of all things in the world shall all contribute and serve to accomplish the great work of Christs kingdom in her glory; she ascribes the great Creation of all the world here to the Lord Jesus as coeternal with the Father, and the Spirit, John 1. 2. 3. Isa. 48. 12. who as they consulted together to give her being in the first creating of the world, Gen. 1. 26. she is now confident will consult together to work out her promised restauration in the glory of his kingdom, by all such ways and means as his counsels of old have determined, Isa. 25. 1. and all the changes that shall fall out are but effects of his eternal decree, and deep counsels, who changes not but abides the same for ever, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, without shadow of changing, James 1. 17. Apoc. 1. 8. Thou art the same and thy yeares have no end. These changes and alterations here spoken of in our psalm, wee find clearly applied to the time of Christs kingdom, Heb. 1. 10. 11. in the very words here in our psalm, as we shall see more clearly in the things following. The main difficulty here is in the changes here foretold, and these changeable things, of heavens and earth, what thereby is meant and to what times applied, which shall be our endeavour to fetch light from the Scriptures to discover, that the changes here spoken of are not meant of the matter of heaven and earth, or the material elementary heavens & earth at the end of the world, for they shall not then be changed but wholly destroyed by fire, 2 Pet. 3. 10. and resolved to nothing, but of the change not of the matter or substance of the present frame of the world, but of a change of qualities and accidents, a making of all things anew as Christ himself saith, Apoc. 21. 5. a new face of the Church and of the world and all things in it, in stead of the hitherto state of the Church and world so full of troubles and oppression under mighty enemies, a state of the Church and world, wherein dwelleth righteousness, 2 Pet. 3. 13. Apoc. 21. 1. which cannot be meant of heaven eternal, for there is no earth there; again this change from old to new Heavens and new Earth is according to his promise, but we find no promise of any such change; but Isa. 65. 17. and 66. 22. which clearly do speak of the advancement of Christs kingdom among the Jews, as so great a work as a new Creation of new Heavens and new Earth, a new frame of the world after the old frame is broken down with Earthquakes, Isa. 24. 19, 20. a new face of all things in the Church, and in the world, a new Heaven-like state of the Church, and a new frame of the world for a new habitation for this new created people, Vers. 19. of our psalm. So that the change of Heavens and Earth here, Vers. 27. is such as they shall not utterly perish in, but in regard of the opposition to Christ who is without shadow of changing, their change is a seeming perishing, for it shall be such a change they shall suffer, as shall set a new face upon all things, a state equivalent to perishing, as the words clearly evince, Vers. 27. both the Church-state and the world shall suffer such a change as the former Heaven and Earth, that is, the troublesone state thereof shall not be remembered, Isa. 65. 17. Apoc. 21. 1. but be butted in oblivion; all former glory of any thing that could bee gloried in in the Church or world, shall be swallowed up in the glory of the new Heavens and new Earth, in the new Jerusalem of the Jews. That this is no new thing that often in the Scripture Heaven is meant of the state of Church, and Earth of the world, See Isa. 44 23. and cap. 49. 3. Isa. 13. 13. Joel 2. 30. and cap. 3. 16. Hag. 2. 6. 21. Heb. 12. 26. Yet for the further clearing of these changes of heaven and earth we will open some places of Scripture which may give some light to the former; Esa. 34. 1. to the end, a clear place of the universal overthrow of all the Churches enemies, where in particular under the name of Idumea or Edomites This is a map of the state of the times after the slaying of the witnesses, Apoc 11. the Antichristian state is shadowed, compared with, Esa. 14. and if again we compare this place of Isa. 34. Vers 4. with Apoc. 6. 14. we shall find it to be the judgement upon the Churches enemies which the souls under the Altar, slain for the testimony of Jesus by the Antichristian crew, have long cried for, and waited, and at the opening of the sixth seal the judgement comes in with a horrible earthquake, and the sun became black as Sackcloth and the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell into the earth, as the Fig three casteth her untimely fruits or green Figs by the shaking of a mighty wind, and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were removed out of their stations: the meaning whereof is opened in the next words, Apoc. 6. 15. the fall of kings and great men, rich men, Captaines and mighty men by the wrath of the lamb when his great day of conquest shall come; this is the dissolution of the heavens Isay speaks of in the same words, signifies all the glory that the former state had in the world, in Church or commonweal, shall be confounded, and come to nothing, as kings, great men, Captaines, rich men wherein the world so glorieth, as also in great Doctors and shining lights, like stars, in the former state of the Church, shall lose their light, in the day of Christs kingdom, yea many fall like shining Meteors, who blazed and made a great show in the former state of the Church, so as the heavens, that is, the former state of the Church, shall be in a manner dissolved, as here in our psalm they are said to perish, by suffering such a change as is equivalent to total dissolution or perishing, wherein the former state of all things shall be butted in oblivion and swallowed up in the Creation of all anew; so that by conferring these * Isa 65. 17. Scriptures together, we find the meaning of this place of Isa. 34. that in the great day of the destruction of the Antichristian Apoc. 21. 2. Matth. 24. 25. to 31. mark 13, 14 to 27. Luke 21. 25. 30. state and the Churches enemies, the calamities shall be so great as the enemies involved in these troubles shall think the whole frame of the world and of nature itself to bee dissolved, all helps and succour of great men and glory of the Church that Church shall fail them and come to nothing, all their temporal glory falling in the slaughter of their great men, Kings, Emperours, Princes, rich men and mighty Captaines and Commanders and stout Souldiers shall fall in such multitudes as their carcases shall stink for want of burial and the mountaines and barren places be made fat with their blood, as see at large, Revel. 20. 8, 9. Ezek. cap. 38. and cap. 39. Joel 3. Isay 31. 8. and all their heavenly glory of their Church and Churchmen, of Popish Doctors, Astrologers and wise men, Churches, and Temples, and whatsoever Church glory men gloried in, shall also fail them in that day of calamity, signified by the stars falling and losing their borrowed light, Apoc. 6. 13. called the host of heaven by Isay, falling as the leaf from the Vine, and Figs from the Fig-tree, and by the heavens rolled up as a scroll, out of date or use, thrown by for the besom or the fire; and therefore this cannot be meant of dissolution of the heavens at last day, for Vers. 5. he saith, the Lords Sword shall be bathed in heaven in blood, and come down upon the Edomites to judgement, and upon the peoples devoted or appointed to the slaughter: here heaven seems to be set forth, the habitation of his holinesse, as Isa. 63. 15. from whence he looks down upon the distressed state of his Church, and where by his eternal counsel he hath decreed and prepared this sword to be bathed in the blood of all his enemies under the Cope of Heaven, whom his counsels of old had devoted to destruction; and though it bee sent down from heaven by heavens decree upon them, yet is it not dangerous or improper to expound here this Sword of the Lord is bathed in heaven in blood, to mean the pure Church after her begun glory, out of which the Lord shall sand this sword upon the enemies, and that there amid the pure Churches where they made the seat of their war, and drunk themselves full of the blood of the Saints, in bloody butcheries, even there shall the Lord sand a revenging sword to be bathed in their blood and make the barren mountaines fat with their stinking carcases as dung for the earth: and this great victory say some shall be in Armageddon, Gods hill of delights, Apoc. 16. 16. the mount of comeliness in the holy land, or in the valley of Jehosaphat, Joel 3. 2. to 20. in the view of Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 20. when Gog and Magog in the East, and the Antichristian power that shall be left after Romes destruction, from the West shall both together encompass the beloved city, Apoc. 20. 9. Ezek. 39. 16. the body of the Army lying by the Sea of Gennesaret, otherwise called the lake of Tiberias, Ezek. 39. 11. no wonder was it to see the poor Church in a swoon or qualm, fainted and gone almost to see these troubles, great changes afar off in the spirit of prophesy, as Vers. 24. Another place which may give us light in these changes in the world, our Psalmist speaks of, is Isa. 51. 6. where we have the very words of our 102. psalm: the Prophet Isay throughout the Chapter speaks clearly of the Jews conversion and the Churches glory flourishing in all felicity, as Eden, as the garden of God, Vers. 3. compared with, Apoc. 2. 7. and 22. 14. where Paradise is clearly meant of Christs kingdom in this world, in the confusion of all the enemies in the two last Verses, before which great work can be effected it will produce great and wonderful changes, such as the Prophet stirs us up to behold afar off with amazement, Vers. 6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth below, for the heavens shall vanish like smoke,( i.e. e. bee made black with troubles, Isa. 50. 3.) and vanish as smoke, soon gone and no more remembered, Isa. 65. 17. and the earth wax old as a garment,( that is, the men of the earth and glory of the earth and earthly dignities signified by the next words) and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner, for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them as wool( signifies a consumption determined upon the whole earth, Isa. 28. 22. as before it had done his people for their sins, Jer. 4. 23. to the end, this consumption shall now come upon the enemies) for the Lord Jesus his righteous salvation of his Church and plaguing of his enemies shall be for ever, never abolished▪ Vers. 6. 8. of this 51. Isay, such judgements shall come upon the enemies as shall seem to make the earth empty without form and void, and the heavens have no light, no peace or comfort left almost in the Churches, because of great calamities, as if the whole frame of the world, and course of nature were dissolved in these long and great troubles which the world shall raise against the advancement of Christs kingdom, Isay 24. laying nations waste and desolate, Isa. 13. 10. Ezek. 32. 7. Joel 2. 31. when the Lord shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem, the heavens and earth shall shake, but the Lord will be the hope and strength of his people, Joel 3. 16. this shaking is in great earthquakes, Matth. 24. 7. overthrowing thrones and kingdoms of the Churches enemies, H●ggai 2. 21. 22. and in this shaking of the old rotten foundations of the world and all things in it, both in Religion and governments of the world, comes in this wonderful change, the filling of Gods house with his glory, Haggai 2. 7. not meant of the second Temple, as ending or fulfilled there, but applied to Christs kingdom in the later dayes, Heb. 2. 12. and Ezek. 44. 4. of which the second temple was a type of a surpassing glory above all former glory of the Church in any age. So now we see by the light of the Scriptures this change mentioned in our 102. psalm, in the heavens and earth, is not meant of the end of the world, but of such a change wherein the matter of heaven and earth, or elementary firmament and earth, shall not perish or yet be changed, but onely the qualities and fashion and face of all things in Churches and commonweals, kingdoms and Nations, the old rotten frame of all things in Religion and governments shall bee broken down in earthquakes, turning all the world upside down, so as it must bee all made new again, the old fashion of Church and world being waxed old as a moth-eaten garment, having so many moths freting in it as not a sound part left in it, good for any thing, cannot abide a shake or a pull but falls in pieces, therefore it must bee laid by as men do old clothes that bee good for nothing, quiter worn to pieces, and then he that laid the first foundations of the world, Isa. 48. 13. Heb. 1. 2. will make all new again, Apoc. 21. 5. and plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth anew, Isa. 51. 16. as a paradise of all felicity, clearly meant of the time of the Jews coming in, and setting up of Christs kingdom in all the world, as appears vers. 9. 11. the new Church of the Jews being called the planting of the Lord, the work of his hands, Isa. 60. 21. and 61. 3. his pleasant plant, Isa. 5. 7. when Antichrist and all the enemies are unrooted and fallen in these great earthquakes of troubles, that overturns the frame and fashion of the whole world and all things in it, there shall bee a blessed change, and new face of all things, a new foundation and frame of all the whole Creation, as the very creatures shall partake of this new estate of restauration, Rom. 8. 22. and Acts 3. 21. as we shewed before; this is clearly implyed in our psalm, Thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed, that is, made new; new heavens and new earth, and the former shall not bee remembered, Isa. 65. 17. a new creation for the new created people, Vers. 19. of our psalm, a new habitation, a new life, life from the dead, Rom. 11. 15. a new resurrection out of the dust of a low condition, Isa. 26. 19. Apoc. 20. 5, 6. This state of the Church and of the world had need be a new creation, because men are so carnal and sensual and wedded to their own fantasies, old customs and forms of worship, and all things of the frame of their own brains in matters of the Church and of religion, so opposite to spiritual things, that God must create the glorious state of the Church he hath promised, out of nothing, yea out of contraries, and with such a power as no creature can resist, such a work is Creation out of a Chaos, of all confusion and nothingness, the whole frame and fabric of this new world must be a creation above all mens capacity or imagination, Isa. 4. 5. and 65. 18. a work onely fit for the art and skill of so brave a workman, for the honour of so great a king, the creator of Israel, Isa. 43. 15. And that this creation of new heavens and new earth, Isa. 65. 17. is meant of the state of the new Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. coming down from God out of heaven, so not of heaven of the glorirified Saints, for it comes down from God out of it; besides what the glory of that heaven shall be, is not revealed, Paul who was taken up into Paradise, tells us no more but this, they are such as eye hath not seen, ear heard, or entred into the heart of man to understand, 1 Cor. 29. it is said he heard such things as might not be uttered, it may be if he understood any thing of the triumphant state of the Church in perfect glory, he was commanded silence, and therefore wee have nothing to do to inquire where the word of God is silent. It is the glorious state of the new Church, wee have leave to look into, and are invited to come and see into this new created glory of the new Jerusalem of the Jews, Apoc. 21. 9. which wee find in this new creation, Isa. 65. 8. in the beginnings and gatherings, and in the glory and perfection of it, Vers. 17. to the end of the Chapter, and Chap. 66. Vers. 6. to the end. In the beginnings, of gathering in the remnant of that holy seed, as the new wine in the cluster of grapes not yet pressed forth, not known in its excellency before the vintage, a remnant of the elect that shall inherit the holy mountain,( out all the 12. Tribes, meant by Jacob and Judah, by a Synecdoche) of this remnant, so Rom. 11. 5. all that belong to the election of grace, the rest shall perish in their sins and rebellion and refractarinesse, Vers. 11. 12. and Isa. 66. 17. these inheritors of his holy mountain, shall have a passage prepared for their return to their own country, Vers. 10. Sharan( that was wasted as a wilderness before, Isa. 33. 9.) shall bee a fold for their flocks, and the valley of anchor, a place for herds to lye down in; this valley of anchor the place where Achan was stoned with his sons, Josh. 7. 26. is now promised them for a door of hope, Hosea 2 17. or hopeful entrance into the land of Canaan, as it was of old, a fruitful valley affording them much comfort and refreshing in their return out of Egypt through the wilderness, the promise of which now again this second and last return, is a ground of hopeful possession of their own land again, whereunto they shall have this sweet refreshing entrance, after a tedious and long travail out of the North, and East, and South, and utmost regions of the world; the rest or second part of the Chapter is of the Churches glorious estate from, Vers. 17. to the end, in such a flourishing condition as never was in the world, we have spoken at large in the things wee have passed through, and so we hasten now to an end. Thus by the coming in of the Jews great glory and benefit shall be unto all the true gentle believers, if their fall was the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness? Rom. 11. 12. that is, there is a time of the Jews fullness shall wonderfully enrich the whole world of the believing Gentiles, in a new world, a paradise of all felicity for soul and body, as long as the world endures, in a new life as life from the dead, Rom. 11. 15. Let none now stumble at this kind of speech of the state of those times approaching in the glory of Christs kingdom, to be a new world, A golden age, as if all were novelties, fantasies and fables, No, no, it is as ancient as Calvin and Beza,( the two great lights of these late times) to rise no higher, as some do even to the primitive times, yea as old as the Apostles & Prophets; Calvin upon this place of Isa. 65. 17. brings in Christ as by a prosopopeia saying, I have both will & power to deliver my Church & restore her in a such manner as she shall seem to have a habitation in a new world; and that the Prophet means not of Christs first coming, but of the progress of his kingdom to his last appearing, and so brings in the Apostle, Heb. 2. 5. calling it a new world, the world to come whereof we speak. Beza upon Heb. 2. 5. calls it a new world, and upon Rom. 11. 11. when the Jews come in, the world shall be restored from death to life, so he; all which implies a more glorious state of the Church then ever yet in the world; for Christs last works are his best and most skilful and wonderful, he will surely make his Church and kingdom very glorious before he resign it up to the Father and end the world, which will take some time to accomplish, and will be such a time, as Calvin upon Isa. 11. 6. calls the golden age wherein all felicity shall flourish, as before. Be silent at this O all flesh, Zach. 2. 13. cease your carnal reasonings and shut you mouths at the great things God will do in the later dayes, Joel 2. 21. wonder, but with holy reverence, cry O the depths, &c. what a new world and restauration of all things to their first purity as at the creation, yea Christs hand was with the Fathers in making them; so when man fell the whole creation had fallen into the old Chaos again, if Christ had not stepped in to uphold it, Heb. 1. 3. and undertaken to restore it and make all up anew, as a new creation, Isa. 65. 17. for a new created people, himself dwelling in the midst of them, Ezek. 37. 27. Apoc. 21. 3. and then the world must needs be glorious and holy, and all the creatures happy, this is that the whole creation groans for, Rom. 8. 19. the time of restitution of all things to their original, Acts 3. 21. Brightman on Dan. 12. 12. calls it the golden age and height of all holy felicity, which mortals can expect. This glorious state of Christs kingdom is prophesied of, Psal. 8. 4. alleged by the Apostle in this place, Heb. 2. 5. as a state of the Saints glory above the Angels, to whom Christ hath not subjected this world to come, whereof he speaks, but unto the Saints who shall possess the kingdom and dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, that is, rule the whole world, Dan. 7. 27. the Lord Jesus sitting in his throne, and tabernacle in midst of them, Zach. 2. 10. the Angels as ministering Spirits attending him, Heb. 1. 14. Then shall our eyes see our King in his glory, Isa. 33. 17. Then shall that bee fulfilled the Church sings out sweetly, Isa. 1●. 6. Cry out and sing thou inhabitant of Zion, that great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of thee, O great is he in midst of thee! sing unto Jehovah for he hath done excellent things, make it known in all the earth, that great is he in midst of thee, Zach. 2. 10. 12. then shall Jehovah( that is, Christ) possess Judah his portion( or special inheritance above all others as the root of Jesse and seed of David, Isa. 11. 1. Acts 3. 23.) in the holy land( or Palestine) and shall choose Jerusalem again( above all other places of the world to be his new habitation) be silent at this O all flesh before Jehovah, for he is risen out of his habitation of his holinesse( the highest heavens, Isa. 63. 15.) to dwell with men again in a new world, Apoc. 21. 3. Zach. 2. 12. 13. Apoc. 2. 1. Luke 22. 27. O how great are his wonders, his kingdom is everlasting, Dan. 4. 3. Vers. 29. The children of thy servants shall dwell, and their seed shall be established before thee. Here the Church hath got out of all her heart-qualmes and her fainting spirits, now fully refreshed concludes triumphantly, with a most sweet Epiphonema or acclamation of joy in her stability, that what changes soever fall out in the world all shall contribute to her happiness in the end, though the world bee turned upside down in earthquakes and combustions when those great works are accomplishing, though the heavens and the earth be changed all former glory of the world vanish as smoke and bee no more remembered, yet she shall bee in a sure condition without any more changes, till she bee translated to glory in eternity, she with her Zion born children( Psal. 87. 6.) shall dwell in a stable condition, in a peaceable habitation, Isa. 32. 18. and surely they may dwell safely when the Lord Jesus dwells in the midst of them, Isa. 12. 6. Ezek. 37. 27. Apoc. 21. In mount Zion and in Jerusalem, the place of his praises, as Vers. 22. of this psalm, and Psal. 65. 1. where he shall reign before his ancient people gloriously, Isa. 24. ult. and the seed of the Church who shall still be born in Zion shall bee established before him, who lives for evermore, Apoc. 1. 18. This word dwell is full of sweet Emphasis, implying they shall wander no more, they shall dwell in a place of their own and move no more, 2 Sam. 7. 10. Amos 9. 15. the covenant now made with them is firm and sure as the rainbow in the Clouds, Psal. 89. 34. 37. the Church shall bee safe and sure doubtless when her seed shall be Princes in all the earth, and rule the whole world, Psal. 45. 16. Dan. 7. 27. and long enjoy the work of their hands, Isay 65. 22. For as the new heavens and new earth which I will make shall remain, so shall your seed and name remain before me, Isa. 66. 21. as long as the sun and moon endures, Psal. 72. 5. 17. or to the worlds end, and in such a state as shall led the Church to eternity, for she shall have an eternal excellency, Isa. 60. 15. that is, such as shall last to eternity and never fade or decay. And in that it is said they are the children and seed of the Church, her legitimate and true born children that shall enjoy this stable and happy condition with Christ in the later dayes in Zion and Jerusalem, wee see that all the promises of all this happiness pertains alone to such, and not to the rabble of hypocrites and false Churches, Arminians, Libertines and all sorts of non-reformists, who reject the Lord Jesus and will not be subject to his sceptre and dominion, but oppose his kingdom and will not admit of a full reformation, that he may rule over them. O the sad news of a fearful rejection long forewarned of, Rom. 11. 21, 22. If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold the bounty and severity of God, towards them that fell severity, but towards thee bountifulness, if thou continue therein, or else thou shalt also be cut off. Oh sad Catastrophe of these divine mysteries to all unfruitful gentle Churches and professed Christians, that have lost their light and love of the truth of right reformation for worldly respects! the unfruitful Figtree shall be cut down, Luke 13. 6. and the vineyard let out to other husbandmen, Math. 21. 41. those that glory now adays so much in the name of the Church, the Church, and look not after, or will not hear of a full reformation, though now they be accounted as heaven, as pure Churches in their own eyes and in the eyes of the world, in whose applause they glory, God will gather out his elect from amongst them, and their heaven shall bee folded up as a scroll, out of date, out of use, and left to the besom, or to the fire, or as a garment old and moth-eaten, cast away and never partake in the renovation here promised, for giving the Lord Jesus so ill entertainment, be shut out of this new Jerusalem into which shall enter no uncircumcised or unclean, Isa. 57. 1. or nothing that worketh abomination or maketh a lye, Apoc. 21. 27. They have no spiritual eye-sight, who see not great decays, great defections of late in the Churches called Reformed; and boast of reformation, and yet far from it, nay it were well if not hinderers of it, and from thence just fears of a woeful separation of many of them from Christ, if they awake not and be zealous and amend. The Lord open our eyes to see the excellency and beauty of, inflame our hearts with the love of, teach us the great benefits of, and pardon our too much neglect, of searching into, delighting in, and endeavouring for, the advancement of Christs kingdom and glorious brightness of Zions beauty, which will we, nill wee, shall ere long be the joy of the whole earth, the glory and praise of all the world, Psal. 48. 2. Isa. 62. 7. maugre the malice of men and devills, and all the powers of the world, and of hell itself. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, and take away all iniquity from Jacob, Amen, Amen. FINIS.