ESAY 26. 20. Come my People enter thou into thy Chambers, and ſhut thy doors about thee; hide thy ſelf, as it were, for a little moment, untill the indignation be overpaſt.

THE ſpecial Wiſdome of the People of God in all Generations, under the variety of his diſpenſations, hath been to know what the Lord hath ſpoken, and called his People to, under them, in the knowledge of which hath been bound up their, mercy and peace in every Generation.

All their miſcarriages have been for want of attending hereunto, either in a day of peace and outward bleſſing, or in a day of affliction and judgement. The ſafety of this people to whom this word was ſpoken, Enter into thy Chambers, &c. did lye in the obedience thereof at that day, which let us a little more particularly conſider.

This Prophet, though many years before the day of it, ſpake of the Captivity of Judah, and alſo of her return and reſtauration, with the bleſſings that ſhould attend it, which reſtauration he more at large begins to diſcover at the 14. Chap. For the Lord will have mercy upon Jacob, and will yet chuſe Iſrael, and ſet them to their own Land, &c. Upon which, the Prophet having denounced the burden of the Lord againſt Babylon, Chap. 13. threatens all other Nations to the 25. Chap. that but helped in or rejoyed at the day of his Peoples Captivity, as Moab, and Syria, and Egypt, and Tyre, &c.

As is more generally expreſt, ch. 17. 12, 13, 14. Wo to the multitude of many people, which make a noiſe, like the noiſe of the ſeas, and to the ruſhing of Nations, that make a ruſhing of mighty waters; But God ſhall rebuke them, and they ſhall flee afar off, and ſhall be chaſed as the chaffe of the Mountains before the wind, and like a rouling thing before the whirlewind; what is the reaſon of all this? why, This is the portion of them that ſpoil us, and the lot of them that rob us; The reſtoring and ſalvation of Judah was accompanied with the diſtreſs of all the Nations round abount her, and with the utter ruine of the Babyloniſh Monarchy, ſet forth, chap. 29.

The great revolutions & periods of all the Nations of the World, have been the iſsues of the Captivity or Deliverance of the people of God, and God hath governd the World in ſubſerviency thereunto.

The Prophet having thus ſpoken of Jacobs deliverance, and the great Earth-quake of the Nations that ſhould accompany it, At the 25, 26, and 27. chap. you have ſongs of praiſe referring to that day, mixt with promiſes of the Meſſiah, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Knowledge, Light, Peace, and Glory that ſhould be the iſſue of the diſpenſation of grace by him to the Jews and Gentiles, even all the Nations of the Earth in this 26. chap. You have the ſong of praiſe continued, ſpecially reſpecting Judahs gathering, magnifying the power of the Lord in her ſalvation, and in the ruine of Babylon, v. 4, 5. their poſture in their captivity, v. 8. lo we have waited for thee, &c. Their viſiting the Lord in their diſtreſſe, and powering out prayer before him, v. 16, 17, 18. At the 18th. verſe they are brought in complaining, that they had been in pangs, yet had wrought no deliverance in the Earth, neither had the Inhabitants of the World fallen; At the 19. verſe, the Lord by the Prophet gives an anſwer, that though in their Captivity they did lye as dead men, yet verſe 19. Thy dead men ſhall live, &c. Awake and ſing ye that dwell in the duſt, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the Earth ſhall caſt out her dead; Thy reſurrection from this Captivity and Death, ſhall be as the herbs that lye dead in Winter, but ſhall revive and ſpring forth again by the dews of the ſpring upon them, in the mean time, the Lord calls them to retire, and promiſeth to ſecure them; Come my people, enter thou into thy Chambers, &c.

Where, 1. You have the tender and affectionate invitement and call of God, come my People, whatever the World ſpeaks of thee, and makes thee as an out-caſt, yet ſtill my People, pretious in my ſight, under my eye and care, though no man careth for thee; No matter if all the Nations of the World ſay, go you out-caſts, if the Lord ſay, come my people.

2. Where, and to what he calls, enter in thy Chambers, retire thy ſelf as into thy ſtrong hold for ſafety; and ſhut thy door about thee, as when men retire into their houſes from a ſtorm, and ſhut their doors; further amplified, Hide thy ſelf, how long? but for a little moment, till the indignation be over paſt. Their crying out in pangs, their powering out of prayer, engaged the Lord to full mercy. 1. To hide them under the indignation. 2. To haſten to their Salvation, and that ſpeedily, it ſhall be but for a moment. Then will the Lord come out of his place, and that to admiration and aſtoniſhment; for behold his appearance ſhall be wonderful and glorious, in the ſeaſon of it, and the manner of it; He will puniſh the Inhabitants of the Earth, and the Earth ſhall diſcloſe her blood, the blood of his Servants, ſpilt as water upon the ground by the Babylonians,) and ſhall no wiſe cover her ſlain; Thus you have the words with their coherence opened.

The ſpecial thing I would take notice of (in order to the diſcovery of the mind and call of Chriſt to his Saints at this day) is the Lords calling of them into their Chambers, to ſhut their doors, to hide themſelves; which expreſſions denote this one thing in the general, namely, Retirement, which I ſhall give forth, in one obſervation, naturally and clearly decuced, as the ſcope of the Holy Ghoſt in them.

Ob. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt in his providential Diſpenſations ſometimes calls his People to Retirement.

That I may more particularly diſcover what I mean by Retirement.

Jeſus Chriſt calls his people to retire. 1. Within himſelf. 1. As to all manner of Protection.

2. As to more cloſe and intimate Communion.

2. He calls them to Retirement, as to Publick ſervices, and adminiſtrations.

1. He calleth them to retire under his ſhade for Protection; ſo he was ſaid to ſpread his wings over his People, as an Eagle doth over her young ones, in the Wilderneſs of old, Deut. 32. And in the day of the Nations wrath, when in a confederacy againſt his people, they are called his hidden ones, Pſal. 83. They conſult, but tis againſt thy hidden ones; and ſo that pretious word of grace, where the Lord holds out his arms to his poor ones in a ſtormy day, Eſay 4. 6. There ſhall be a Tabernacle for a ſhaddow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a cover from ſtorm and from rain.

So Ch. 25. 4. (And let them be words of faith, to all Saints) for thou haſt been a ſtrength to the poor, a ſtrength to the needy in his diſtreſs, a refuge from the ſtorm, a ſhaddow from the heat, when the blaſt of the terrible one is againſt the wall, ch. 32. 2. A man (the man Chriſt Jeſus) ſhall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a Cavert from the tempeſt.

And thus the Saints in ſtormy times beſpeak the Lord, and have fled into him as their refuge and hiding place; So David often, keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under the ſhadow of the wings, Pſal. 17. 8. Thou ſhall hide them in the ſecret of thy preſence from the pride of man, thou ſhall keep them ſecretly in a pavillion, Pſal. 31. 8. In the time of trouble he ſhall hide me in his Pavillion, in the ſecret of his Tabernacle ſhall he hide me, he ſhall ſet me upon a Rock, Pſal. 27. In the ſhaddow of thy wings will I make my refuge, untill theſe Calamities be overpast, Pſal. 57. 1. Of which David in all his perſecutions and wandrings, had abundant and ſweet experience in the review and recollection of which he breaks forth into the praiſes of the Lord, his heart being warmed with the ſenſe of the Lords goodneſs and love, Pſal. 18. I will love thee, (or I will dearly love thee) Oh Lord my strength, the Lord my Rock, my Forireſs, and my Deliverer, my God, my Strength in whom ſhall I truſt, my Buckler, and the hope of my Salvation, and my High-Tower.

Upon which experience he gives forth, everlaſting words of grace for all the People of God to truſt upon in all Generations, as Pſal. 9. 9. The Lord alſo will be a refuge for the oppreſſed, a refuge in time of trouble, Pſal. 91. 1, 2. He that dwelleth in the ſecret places of the Moſt High, ſhall abide under the ſhaddow of the Almighty, with many more words to the ſame purpoſe, The Lord at that day of indignation from the houſe of Saul and all the mighty men of Iſrael, againſt David and ſuch as did adhere to him, calling David to retire as into his chambers, from the ſtorm that was againſt him, till the indignation was overpaſt, and the Lord hid him from the wrath of man, as hath been ſhewed.

Of the ſame import is that word, Prov. 11. 10. The Name of the Lord is a ſtrong Tower, and the righteous runneth into it and are ſafe. There are three Names of God to which his people in a day of indignation fly unto.

The name of his Goodneſs; that Name which the Lord made known and proclaimed to Moſes, after the People of God had ſinned, and Moſes had cryed to him for the forgiveneſſe of their ſin, and begs his preſence may go with them; I will make (ſaith the Lord) all my goodneſs to paſs before thee, Exod. 33. 19. and chap. 34. 6. The Lord paſſed by before him, and proclaimed. The Lord God Merciful and Gracious, long ſuffering, abundant in goodneſs, in truth, &c. So when David pleads with God in his diſtreſſe, Pſal. 89. the argument of Faith is, v. 5. For thou Lord art good, and therefore ready to forgive, &c. and when he flyes unto God, Pſal. 31. he makes this as the wing of God, the Name of his goodneſs, verſ. 19. Oh how great is thy Goodneſs thou haſt laid up for them that fear thee, which thou haſt wrought for them that truſt in thee before the ſons of men, thou ſhalt hide them, &c. And Pſal. 144. My Goodneſs, my Fortreſs, and my high Tower, &c. not onely my good good, but goodneſs it ſelf, &c. Yea this Name of God that he proclaimed to Moſes, was as the great refuge of the Saints in the day of their diſtreſſe, and which they urged upon him, as Pſal. 86. and 103. and 145. and Neh. 9. 17. 31▪ becauſe in all Generations hee would be known to his people by this Name, and by Faith they were to live upon it, in all their difficulties; The Lord abundant in goodneſs, and mercy, and truth, &c. And when Judah was going into captivity, the Lord offers himſelf to them by this Name if they would turn unto him, and commands Jeremiah to proclaim it, as it was proclaimed it, as it was proclaimed before Moſes, Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim theſe words towards the North, and ſay, Return thou back-ſliding Iſrael, ſaith the Lord, and I will not cauſe my anger to come upon you, (or to ſettle upon you,) for I am merciful, &c. A heart-breaking word, if that people had hearkened to it.

To this Name of the Lord do his people retire for ſhelter and refuge in an evil day, though they have ſinned againſt him; we have ſinned, yet the Lord is infinitely good, and therefore ready to forgive, Who is like unto him, a God pardoning iniquity, Micah 7. And therefore where ever the Lord gives out promiſes of help and deliverance to his People from captivity and deſtreſſe, hee alſo annexeth free promiſes of grace, in abundant forgiveneſſe, Eſay 43. 16, 17. ſpeaking of the glorious Salvation of his people; though they had wearied them with their iniquities, verſe 24. yet I even I am he that blotteth out thy tranſgreſſions for mine own ſake, and will not remember thy ſins, ſee chapter 24. 22. ſee Jeremiah 33. 5, 6, 7. Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, (though a wounded, broken, ſcattered people) and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth, and verſe 8. I will cleanſe them from all the iniquity whereby they have ſinned againſt me, and I will pardon all their iniquity, whereby they have ſinned againſt me, and whereby they have tranſgreſsed againſt me; though Againſt me, (thrice repeated) againſt all my kindneſſe to them, and my often Salvation of them, yet I will cleanſe them, and though they are become a reproach to all Nations, yet it ſhall be to me a Name of joy, a praiſe and honour, before all the Nations of the Earth; See Jeremiah 51. 5. for Iſrael hath not been forſaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of hoſts, though their land was filled with ſin againſt the holy One of Iſrael. Under theſe wings of grace thus ſpread forth in pretious promiſes, do a poor, ſinfull, broken people ſhelter themſelves, in humbling and turning to the Lord, and they are ſafe, this being the great Covenant Name of God they fly to, and take hold of in all their ſins and diſtreſſes.

Secondly, the People of God retire into the Name of his Almightiness, Pſal. 91. 1. He that dwelleth in the ſecret place of the moſt High, ſhall abide, (or lodg as in a houſe of defence) under the ſhadow of the Almighty, &c. As a God infinitely able to preſerve and keep ſafe all the concernments of ſoul and life, that his people commit to him, able to ſave in, and out of all diſtreſſes, from every ſnare of the Devil, from the wrath of man, as Paul, 2 Timothy 1. 12. For I know when I have believed, and am perſwaded that he is Able to keep what I have committed to him, &c.

Thirdly, The Name of the Lords Everlaſtingneſs, ſameneſs, unchangeableneſs, is a Refuge to retire to; Abraham called on the Name of the Lord, the Everlaſting God, Geneſis the 21. the laſt verſe. So the Lord comforteth his people, Eſay 40. 28. Haſt thou not known, haſt thou not heard, that the Everlaſting God, the Lord, the Creator of the Ends of the Earth, fainteth not, neither is weary, &c. So the People of God in their Plea, Eſay 63. 16. Thy name is from Everlaſting, &c. And Pſal. 102. Where is ſet forth a day of ſore indignation and diſtreſſe, as verſe 10. Thou haſt lifted us up, and caſt us down, &c. What is their ſtay and Refuge in ſuch a caſe, why this, verſe 12. But thou, oh Jehovah ſhalt endure for ever. And ver. 27. But thou art the ſame, &c. And though wee periſh, thou art the ſame; Thou art the ſame in thy Covenant, mercy is from everlaſting and to everlaſting, &c. The ſame in goodneſs, pity, and wiſdom, and power, the faithful God, that keepeſt Covenant and Mercy for ever, as good to ſave as ever thou waſt, and as able to ſave; ſo hee ſtrengthens and comforts his People with the diſcovery of his Name, Mallachi 3. 6. For I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye ſons of Jacob are not conſumed. Let the ſtate of the people of God be what it will, there is ſupport in this, Thou Lord art ſtill the ſame; we have known what thou haſt been to thy people in dayes of old, and what thou haſt done for them; Oh, where are thy former loving kindneſſes, &c. The Covenant of God with his people is built as upon two Pillars, Mercy and Faithfulneſs, Pſal. 89. 2. For I have ſaid, Mercy ſhall be built up for ever, thy faithfulneſs ſhalt thou eſtabliſh in the very Heavens; I have made a Covenant with my choſen, &c. Under theſe two doth David ſhelter, as the Wings of the Cherubims, 57. 1, 2. God ſhall ſend forth his Mercy and Truth, and ſhall ſave me, Mercy to pitty and forgive, Faithfulneſs to fulfil his Word, here is a ſafe ſhelter for Saints; in every ſtrait David, and other of the people of God, get under theſe Wings of God, and are at peace; David near twenty times in the Pſalms is putting theſe two together, thy Mercy and thy Truth ſhall prevent me, and in them I truſt; If all the Mercy of God, and all the Truth and Faithfulneſs of God be my portion, what need I fear? here is ſweet and ſafe retirement for Saints in an evil day.

But how do poor Souls retire into this Bleſſed Name of God, a Merciful, Almighty, Unchangeable God, as a Rock for them.

1. By ſeeing thorough the Light of the Spirit, the Emptineſs and Vanity of all other refuges, that nothing below an unchangeable God of all Grace, through Jeſus Chriſt, can be a refuge for a Naked and Forlorne Soul, in Pſalm 62. David mentions two things, which the heart is apt to make a reguge, Men and Riches, verſ. 9, 10. of both theſe he ſaith, they are a lie, and vanity; And, if riches increaſe, ſet not your heart upon them; do not think them a meet refuge for you in any day, ſpecially a day of diſtreſs; if neither the ſons of men nor riches be a ſhelter, then, in God, ſaith David, is my Salvation and my Glory, the rock of my ſtrength and my refuge is in God; Yea, He onely is my Rock, v. 6. ſeel Pſal. 142. 4, 5. I looked, &c. v. 4. And what did he ſee? Why, Refuge failed him, every refuge was too low, too ſhort, too weak, to ſhelter him, here was conviction of nothing but emptyneſs in them, vanity upon them all; What then? why, verſ. 5. I ſaid, Thou art my refuge, and my portion, there is that in Jeſus Chriſt to enſafe me and ſatisfie me (the two great ends to which the ſoul moves in all its deſires) now I have them not in Creatures, they can't be a refuge, not a portion, but God in Chriſt is both, is All, This is a conviction we ſhould paſs under every day.

2. We retire into this Bleſſed Name of the Lord, by Faith, He is a Rock, Pſalm. 62. the Rock of Ages, or the Everlaſting Rock, nothing below himſelf is ſo; Faith ſees him ſo, as a ſinking man in the Waters ſees a Rock, and makes to it, and ſees him onely, he onely is my Rock; Now heres the enſafeing Act of Faith, it can lay up all concernments of Soul and Life, with an unchangeable God; here I adhere, faſten, cleave; Oh, O that Bleſſed Glorious Name, a Gracious, Almighty or All-ſufflcient, and Unchangeable Saviour, in the day of my trouble. Oh ſet me on this Rock, that is higher then I, Pſal. 61. 2. Then let Waves and Billows beat againſt me, they may break themſelves, but ſhall never break the Rock; I ſhall not be moved, Pſal. 62. Thats the ſtability faith gives the Soul, let Sins, Temptations, Troubles, beat againſt me, I ſhall not be moved; thus Faith can triumph at all times. Truſt in him at all times, God is a refuge for us; In ſhaking times, in dying times, all is ſafe with him, yea when the Heart is overwhelmed and deſolate, Faith thus relieves and fetcheth up the Heart in all its ſinkings; let the Soul ſee a ſtorm coming, away it haſtens into its Refuge, into the Chambers of ſtrength, and ſhuts its door, till it be overpaſt.

Becauſe this is the Work of Saints, and the call of the Lord to them at this day; Conſider it a little further.

Firſt, Jeſus Chriſt preſents himſelf to a poor ſoul as an open refuge, let the ſin, burden, diſtreſs, inward or outward be what it will, this door of Grace ſtands open, the ſinners of the World paſs by it, and will not enter (the more their miſery) but poor ſouls that are beaten out of one hold, after another and ſee at laſt this door of hope opened, in the valley of Darkneſs and Fears runs into it; unbelief would draw the Soul back, Satan would ſhut the Door againſt it, but the ſoul ventures (and venture it muſt or ſink and periſh) and gets into Chriſt, and he holds out a hand, and bears it up, opens Blood, and Righteouſneſs, and Grace, and bids the ſoul make uſe of it; and here the Soul retires every day, under this ſhelter tis driven, and it can be quiet and ſafe no where elſe, if the heart be ſtealing out elſe where, to other ſhelters in the World, or of its own, Satans World and Conſcience ſet upon it; And the Soul flies back, and gets into its ſtrong hold again; No living ſafely elſe where; Now Jeſus Chriſt is an open refuge, in every precious word of free Grace, Eſay 55. 1. Rev. 21. 6. 22. 17. &c. which words Believers ſee as a bleſſed ſafe Retirement, when they are ſtormd out of every thing elſe, and evidences are bemiſted.

Secondly, Jeſus Chriſt preſents himſelf a ſure refuge for Souls to Retire into; He ſprinkles blood, caſts a Mantle of Righteouſneſſe, a Mantle of Love, and Grace, and Power, over the ſoul that gets into him, and who then can harm it? Guilt, and Sorrows, and Temptations, and Preſſures, can follow the ſoul to the Door, but cannot enter with it; He is near that juſtifieth, who then ſhall contend? Eſay 50. 8. there is ſafety. Tis true, the ſoul is not alwayes apprehenſive of its own ſafety, but hath its fits of Fears and Miſ-givings, through Temptation and Unbelief, as in Davids Caſe (and mark it) Pſal. 31. 22. For I ſaid in my haſt, I am cut off from before thine eyes, nevertheleſſe thou heardeſt the voice of my Supplication when I cryed unto thee, here was ſad Apprehenſion,—I am cut off, (though he had words of Promiſe to the contrary) but yet he cryed to the Lord in that diſtemper, but what, did the Lord caſt him off, becauſe of that mixture of unbelief? No, nevertheleſſe he heard and ſaved him; a Caſe of great relief for Dark, Doubting Souls. So that Jeſus Chriſt is a ſafe, ſure, ſtrong, impregnable ſhelter, all the World can't get a ſoul out of it, all is ſafe there.

Obj. But may not my life go for it, for all this?

Anſwer, That which is indeed thy life, the life of thy ſoul, the immortal life, that is moſt ſafe hid (or laid) with Chriſt in God, Col. 3. 3. Becauſe I live, you ſhall live alſo, John 14. your life is as ſafe as my life, tis bound up with my own, yea tis the ſame with my own, the life I live, I live in you. As Chriſt lives in the Father, ſo Believers live in him, and have their life fed in him, and from him, and therefore they ſhall never die, but have Eternal Life; What more? Then to live for ever, and ſo to live for ever, as Chriſt himſelf lives, ſurely thats a Bleſſed, Safe, and Glorious Life; This is your Life.

But ſecondly, If Jeſus Chriſt will uſe thy natural life in all the concernments of it, who ſhall reach thy life? Not the World, not all the Perſecutions of it, no nor thy liberty neither; Jeſus Chriſt hath charged himſelf with both, and all the intereſts of thy life, he will order thy race, and every ſtep thereof, to that end in which he will moſt be glorified in thee, and thereſore be putting it by faith into his hand every day; and ſay as Jeſus Chriſt himſelf did, in the intereſt of his life, Father Glorifie thy Name; John 12. 29. This was when our Dear Saviour (as a man) was ſolicitous about his life, and his ſoul was troubled, and cries, ſave me from this hour, verſ. 27. but yet bows to the Will of his Father, Glorifie thy Name.

No man ſhall touch thy life, till thou ſhalt ſay, I have finiſhed the Work that my Father gave me to do, John 17. 4. So that Jeſus Chriſt hath charged himſelf with the care of thy life, liberty and all the intereſts thereof, as well as with the pretious life of thy Soul.

Thirdly, the looſing thy life, is the ſaving and finding of it, as to life Eternal; the death of thy natural life, makes way for the True, Spiritual, Immortal, Glorious life, The cutting off this momentary life, iſſues in a higher and more excellent life, ſo that there can be no miſs of it, faith ſees, a life in death, and that by it Mortality is ſwallowed up of life; Thus Jeſus Chriſt is a ſhelter to thy life.

And ſo I have opened how Jeſus Chriſt calls his Saints to retire into himſelf, by way of ſafety and protection.

Secondly, Christ calls his own to retire into a more intimate communion with him, in a time of indignation, when ſtorms are up.

The ſecond Thing.

2. This call of Jeſus Chriſt into a more intimate Communion with him, ſhould bleſſed ſouls attend to in ſuch a day; into the Chambers of his Preſence; ſo Song of Solomon, chap. 1. 9. Draw me, we will run after thee, the King hath brought me into his Chambers, we will be glad and rejoyce in thee, we will remember thy love, more then Wine, the upright love thee; there is ſweet and intimate communion.

Now how doth the Lord bring a ſoul to this?

Anſwer, Jeſus Chriſt ſhews himſelf to the ſoul, in a greater Beauty and Glory, then a ſoul had ſeen him before, and thereby Humbles, Empties, and Awakens, brings it lower, and to be viler in its own eyes, takes down all the high thoughts and conceits of it ſelf, makes the Soul know its own poverty, whereby it becomes leſs then the leaſt of all Saints, renders pride, and paſſion, and ſelfiſhneſs, and temerity, and cenſoriouſneſs, and hypocreſie, with all fleſhly corruptions, more abominable and loathſome, and the ſoul abhors it ſelf in the duſt (too good for it) & is burthened, and groans under the preſſuresmentioned, cryes & mourns after, a further cleanſing, healing, and a more pretious conformity to Jeſus Chriſt, cries out for the Spirit, for Holineſs, for Light and Strength, and cannot live without them; this is the way to more intimate communion, here is a Viſion of the Lord Jeſus, in his Holineſſe, Beauty, and Glory, that renders the Soul thus infinitely vile in it ſelf, and draws out ſuch a panting after him; Then it hath further Attractives of love,—We will remember thy love more then Wine; Then, how Free, how Pretious, how Eternal, how Glorious is the Lords love to a worthleſs wretch, whoſe ſin is worſe then the ſin of Devils (for they never ſin againſt this love) Oh that the Lord ſhould not onely in pitty ſave me, but in love die for me; who can reach or underſtand it?

Thus is Glory and Love let in upon the ſoul; And then the upright love thee; Oh that I might love the Lord uprightly; love him, and love him uprighty, love him for himſelf, love his Glorious Perſon, be enamoured with the Beauties of his Holineſſe, that I might ſee his Glory, and for ever admire and adore him; thus ſouls, when he pleaſeth thus to ſhew himſelf, are taken into his Banqueting Houſe, and his Banner over them is love; they retire into him, and ſit under his ſhadow with great delight, and his Fruit is ſweet to their taſt, Song of Solomon, 2. 3, 4. This is pretious and Heavenly employment, in ſuch a day when the Lamb calls to Retirement, when the heat of the Sun begins throughly to beat againſt it, and the ſoul finds little ſhadow in the World, then the ſhadow of this Rock in a weary land (a land of ſin and trouble) is ſweet and pleſant retirement indeed.

The effect of this ſpecial Retirement into the Chambers of our Lord Jeſus, under his ſhadow, is ſweet peace, and reſt of mind and ſpirit, when the Waves and Billows come againſt us, a bleſſed ſtilneſſe, a compoſed acquieſcency in the Lord, and a freee reſignment to him, the allaying and rebuking the tumultuous workings of our hearts, a caſting our care upon the love, and care, and faithfulneſſe of the Lord in every condition; In the Multitude of my thoughts (my careful thoughts) within me, thy comforts delight my ſoul, Pſal. 94. 19. yea in this bleſſed Retirement, cryes out, Return into thy Reſt, oh my ſoul; Thou haſt been wandering after other reſt, too too much, but haſt not found where to put thy feet, therefore now return to thy ſweet, ſafe, proper Reſt; abide and dwell there, and that for ever. So the ſoul can in ſome good meaſure, ſanctifie the Name of the Lord, by believing and truſting on him, and waiting for him, making Chriſt his Portion and Everlaſting ſtrength, and doth in patience poſſeſs it ſelf.

One word by way of more particular Application.

1. If this Retirement into Jeſus Chriſt, into the chambers of his Grace, be the great intereſt of ſouls; What a caſe then are poor forlorne ſinners in that have no ſhelter for ſoul or life, or any thing, but what the wide World (as you ſpeak) can afford them, which will not keep off a ſtorm, not one drop of the Wrath of the Almighty? Verily the Wrath of the jealous God is ready to come forth into the Nations of the earth [after a little ſtilneſs that hath been upon them] who is coming [and ſaints do hear the ſounding of his feet] to tread upon them in his wrath, and trample them in his fury, Eſay 63. and then where will all your ſhelters be? When it ſhall be ſaid to the ſcoffers at the report of his day, Behold you deſpiſers, and wonder and periſh, for the Anger of the Lord ſhall ſmoak againſt you; Oh awake and tremble, believe and tremble, and ſee your confidencies to be lying vanities, men and riches, and ſtrength, are a lye, and they ſhall not, cannot ſave you in the day of the Lords indignation; Oh be convinced of it, ſee the Lord Jeſus, in his blood, righteouſneſſe, free promiſes of Grace, an open ſhelter, where you may fly and be ſafe; Oh get thy polluted, guilty, betrayed ſoul, into thy ſhelter, make haſt to get thy ſoul waſhed, juſtified, ſanctified, renewed in the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jeſus, get the Mantle of his Righteouſneſſe over thee, and his ſpirit to quicken thee, or thou ſhalt periſh from the way without remedy.

2. Doth Jeſus Christ call his Saints into his Chambers, to retire with him, and that for protection and more intimate Communion. Oh let this be the Word of the Lord to all the Lambs followers; Now Jeſus Chriſt hath for a Moment withdrawn, is gon behind the Clouds, cry, draw us, and we will run after thee.

Now know and ſee more Experimentally, that Name that is indeed a ſtrong Tower, that covenanting Name that hath been ſet before you, The Lord gracious and abundant in goodneſſe; let thy ſoul ſay, This is my Rock, a Gracious, Almighty, Immutable God in Chriſt God the ſame yeſterday, and to day, for ever, unchangeable in Grace, Goodneſs, Wiſdom, Power, Love, and that becauſe of a Covenant built upon the Pillars of Mercy and faithfulneſſe that are for ever; This is my Houſe of Defence, here will I dwell; This is my Rock, and I ſhall not be moved; Here is your life, your ſtrength, your ſafety, your all.

Oh ſee what an open and ſure Refuge Jeſus Chriſt is, your ſins and guilt cannot enter in with you, but you leave them at the door, ſay, Ah Lord, ſpread the 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 Mantle of thy Righteouſneſſe over me, let thy banner over me be love, and what ever the ſtorm be, I ſhall be ſafe; in the heat of the day, under the ſhadow of this Rock, will I ſit; put me under unchangeable love and grace, and Lord I ſhall be ſafe; ſay of him, Thou onely ſhalt bee my portion and my refuge, into thy Chambers, Oh Lord, I enter (draw me into them) under thy wings will I make my Refuge, till the Indignation be over paſt.

Oh accept me, heal me, hold me to thy ſelf, keep me, hide me in thy Chambers of Grace, watch over me night and day. Yea, Lord, lead me into a nearer Communion with thee, ſhew me thy Holineſſe and thy Glory, that I may be yet more vile in my own ſight before thee; Ah humble me, empty me of all, new ſeaſon me, new frame me, with ſeven times more holineſſe then before; Conform me to thy ſelf to purpoſe, and for ever Commune with me, Reckon me, my dear Lord, as thy Friend and Companion, as thy ſweet acquaintance; Oh take my heart, fill me with love, and let us never, never part any more; Oh thus ſhould be the breathings and pangs of our ſouls after our Lord Jeſus in ſuch a day. This is to enter into his Chambers, into his Reſt.

Thirdly, As to outward ſafety, Enter into his Chambers, ſay with David, Thou ſhalt hide me in the Secret of thy preſence; Lord, Thou art my hiding place, Yea Lord, let all thy People be thy hidden ones; Call them into thy Chambers, hide them from the pride and rage of man. Seek the Lord, It may be you ſhall be hid in the day of the Lords anger, Zeph. 2. 3. you have at leaſt an It may be, for it; Who knoweth but the Lord will hide, wonderfully (for ſo it muſt be) and keep this Generation of his people, though they dwell in the fire; wonderful it is to ſee the Buſh burning, and yet not conſumed.

The Lord hath gloriouſly triumphed in the death of ſome of his Witneſſes, who by dying have overcome (more than by ſignal battels in the field) and it may be hath ſome more to ſet to their Seal the ſame way, but this Generation of people ſhall enter their Chambers, and ſhall yet be further hid, till the Lord come out of his place, and the earth diſcloſe her blood. As I have believed, ſo have I ſpoken.

Bleſſed be the Lord, who remembers his people in theſe poor Nations, and will not caſt them off: For thou Lord wilt bleſs the righteous, with favour wilt thou compaſs them as with a ſhield. Thou art good, and ready to forgive, and thou wilt forgive the ſin of thy people, (though they have been a rebellious Seed) becauſe they be thy people, and thy Name is in them, and thy great glory is conferred upon them; for the needy ſhall not alwayes be forgotten, nor ſhall the expectation of the poor fail from before thee. And thus much of the firſt branch of the Propoſition▪ We now come to the ſecond thing, Viz.

The Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſometimes calls his Saints to retirement from publike Services, and publike Adminiſtrations of Worſhip.

We would prove this, and when the Lord ſo calls, and why he calls them to ſuch a retirement.

The two great inſtances of the Old and New Teſtament, do confirm this.

1. That of the people of God in Babylon, where the remnant of the beſt people were carryed, according to the Word of the Lord to them by Jeremiah, and there the Lord promisſeth to be a little Sanctuary to them, Ezek. 11. 13. but there they had no Temple nor Sacrifices while they were in their captivity, but were to live in the Faith of their return from the Captivity, when the Temple ſhould be built again; and they were to humble themſelves to the Lord, and to cry to him till it were accompliſht: So that here the Lord in that day of diſtreſs, promiſeth to take care of the Remnant, Ezek. 11. 13. according to the plea of the Prophet, Ah Lord God, wilt thou make a full end of the Remnant of Iſrael; And the Lord promiſeth to reſtore them, to bring them back to their Land, and to give them his Ordinances as in the dayes paſt: Yet during their captivity, they were deprived of all poſitive worſhip, of all publike Adminiſtrations, but lived in the Faith of their return, according to the Word of Lord by his Prophets to them.

So in the New-Teſtament times, during the Captivity of the true Worſhippers and Witneſſes of Jeſus Chriſt under the Myſtical Babylon; The true Church is call'd into the Wilderneſs, where ſhe hath a place prepared of God, where ſhe ſhould be fed, Rev. 12. 6. where ſhe lieth hid: And though there is a Temple meaſured, Rev. 11. 1. yet 'tis as ſhut up, till at the pouring out of the Vials, the Temple is opened, Rev. 15. 5. But eſpecially towards the end of the Beaſts reign, when the Witneſſes have propheſied more openly, and have finiſhed a Teſtimony to all the Offices of Jeſus Chriſt, eſpecially that of his Kingly Power over Saints and Nations, (the Nations that are found in the Spirit of the Beaſt, make war againſt them, and ſlay them; that is, lay their, Teſtimony dead, as if the effects of it ſhould never appear: All publike Propheſying, and publike Adminiſtrations of Worſhip, are cut off, and laid dead (wherein the laſt ſlaying of the Witneſſes doth ſpecially conſiſt) yet the main body and generation of the Saints preſerved; but ſo, as they are in all reſpects, either Civil or Eccleſiaſtical, call'd off from the publike Stage, to a retired condition, and do lye as dead men (onely they are not buryed, but are, as it were, ſtill kept above ground) till the Spirit of Life from God enter into them: So at the Text, when the People of God are called into their Chambers, he ſaid, in the 19th. verſe of the 26. chap. of Iſaiah, Thy dead men ſhall live, &c. while in their captivity, they lay as dead men.

So Hoſea 6. 1, 2. When ſmitten and wounded in their captivity, they ſhall lye as dead; but after two dayes, he wil revive them.

But more particularly, when doth the Lord call them thus to retirement, call them off from the publike ſtage, and bids them enter into their Chambers?

1. In the caſe of the text, When the wrath of man is kindled againſt them, when the Nations and people among whom they converſe, are in a confederacy againſt them, and ſay of Zi▪ on, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion, Micah the 4th. and the 11th. Verſe. Then he knoweth how to hide his people as in his Pavillion; then ſhall they be his hidden ones. Pſal. 83. So he hid the ſeven thouſand in Samaria, that did not bow the knee to Baal, whom the text ſaith, He reſerved to himſelf, Rom▪ the 11th. chap. ver. 4. And yet that people, at that day, were under an obligation of Worſhip at the Temple at Hieruſalem; but God did indulge them, as may further bee ſhewed.

So (as hath been hinted) the Lord hides the Woman in the wilderneſs from the Wrath of the Dragon, who caſts a Flood after her.

2dly, Jeſus Chriſt calls his people to retirement, when he reſerves them for a Day of Mercy and greater Service, and a more pure Reformation, when hee thus layes them dead in order to a more glorious reſurrection. So in ſeverall Ages have they been wonderfully kept under the variety of the Lord's Diſpenſations to them; as in Egypt, and David, and the remnant of Judab that adhered to them: Many inſtances might be given.

3dly, The Lamb calls to retirement when he hath been conteſting with the Spirit of the Beaſt in any of the Nations, by the called, and faithful, and choſen, Rev. 17. 14. When he hath ſet on foot his controverſie with any of the Horns▪ and hath overcome them, hath often carried it againſt him yet hee ſuffers his Enemies to rally again, and his own followers are ſcattered; when he ſeems to turn aſide from the purſuit, to drink of the Brook in the way, (as it were) to refreſh himſelfe, and then makes a ſhort turn to the Prey again, Pſalm 110. Verſe the laſt, that hee may gather his Enemies as ſheaues into his floor, Micah 4. 12, 13. and will make the Horn of the Daughter of Zion as Iron, to threſh them in ſuch a day▪ The Lamb withdraws and retires, and calls his Saints to retire with him: And this is to follow the Lamb whereſoever be goeth, Revel. 14. to go as he goeth, and to retire as he retires, and not to run out without him, upon any account whatſoever. In ſuch a ſeaſon the Lamb doth indulge them, nay call them off from their publike Adminiſtrations and Services, and Propheſyings, and they are to wait till the Cloud appear and goe before them, in which they can ſee the Preſence of the Lamb, and heare his Voice calling them thereto.

4thly, The Lord (as it follows from the former, calls them to retirement, when hereby he will fit and ſeparate a genetation to follow him in his next appearing, when hee will prepare them in the fire, melt them, and try rhem, Jer. 9. 7. I will melt them, and try them; for how ſhall I do for the Daughter of my people? Then he will caſt out the treacherous dealers from among them, as Verſe 4. of that 9th. of Jeremiah; Take heed every one of his Neighbour, and truſt ye not in any Brother; for every Brother wil ſupplant, &c. And they will deceive every one his Brother, and will not ſpeak the truth, ver. 5. Now God will diſcover and caſt out ſuch a mixture and ſpiri • from among his people, in the day that he will melt them, and try them, v. 7. and Ezek. 22. 18, &c.

When the Lord is doing this work, by letting out the wrath of man upon them, he then calls them to retirement▪

2. Why doth the Lord thus call them? &c.

1. The Lord calls his people into their Chambers, into a retired condition, to expreſs his tenderneſs of them, as he calls them the Apple of his Eye, Zach. 2. 8. He that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine eye, &c. Keep me as the Apple of thine eye, Pſal. 17. and his peculiar Treaſure, Exod. 19. 5. Pſal. 135. 4. Such a day is a day of making up his jewels, Mal. 3. 17. referring to a day of retirement, when the wicked were ſet up, v. 15. then when he makes them up, he not onely purifies them, and puts a luſtre upon them, but ſpares them as a Father ſpares his Son, and doth not ſpend them, but rarely, upon the rage of men.

2. The Lord thus takes them into his Chambers, that the glory of his Power may be ſeen in reſtraining the wrath of man, and cauſing it to praiſe him; that his people ſhould be in the waters, and not be overwhelmed; and in the fire, & not be conſumed; this is becauſe the Lord is with them, becauſe he is the Lord their God, the holy One of Iſrael, their Saviour, Iſa. 43. 2, 3. That the Enemies of his People ſhould not be able to act their own counſels, nor to execute their own rage, by a mighty hand of God reſtraining. This is, and ſhould be marvellous in the eyes of his people.

3dly, The Lord calls to retirement, when the generation of the ungodly and oppreſſors are ripening for wrath; then doth the Lord lay up his people in the ſecret of his Preſence; ſo Pſal. 91. which is a word holding out the Lord's hiding of his people, as hath been hinted, So ſee verſe 8. 9. Onely with thine eyes ſhalt thoubehold, and ſee the reward of the wicked; &c. Thou ſhalt tread upon the Lyon and Adder, the young Lyon and the Dragon ſhalt thou trample under foot, v. 13. Now the People of God will diſcern through the light of the Spirit in the Word, the Marks and Characters of a generation of God's Wrath, which in this place I ſhall not inſiſt on. They are ſuch as theſe:

When a generation of men do worſe then their Fathers, Jer. 7. 2. and chap. 16. 12, 13. Ye have done worſe than your Fathers, for behold ye walk every one according to the imagination of his evil heart, &c. therefore will I caſt you out of this Land, &c. And this in a Land of Viſion, and after the hand of God hath been eminently lifted up againſt them; When a people return to Idolatry, and Antichriſtian abominations, when Jeſus Chriſt hath begun to reform a Nation, as in the dayes of Manaſſeh; When ſuch a generation do declare their ſin as Sodom, Iſa. 5. When abominable uncleanneſs, exceſs and riot, and all manner of villany is acted as at noon-day; When they perſecute the Prophets and Meſſengers of the Lord, that they may not ſpeak unto the people, 2 Chron. 36. 16. But take away the Key of Knowledge, Luke 17. with Mat. 23. forbidding the ſervants of Chriſt to ſpeak unto the people, that they may fill up their ſin alwayes, and wrath come upon them to the utmoſt, 1 Theſſ. 2. 15, 16▪ (which the Spirit of God gives as a Character of a people filling up their meaſure.

When a generation ſhall doingly blaſpheme the Spirit of the Lord Ieſus, calling it an unclean Spirit, Matt. 12. 24. 31. as the Phariſees at that day call'd the Spirit by which Jeſus Chriſt did preach, and pray, and wrought all his works, an unclean Spirit; when in their ordinary language they invoke their damnation, and ſet their mouths againſt the Heavens; and the Spirit, and Holineſſe, and Saints, becomes their by-word and their ſong, and entitle Satan to all the glorious works of Chriſt in Converſion, and call it all Deluſion and Fanaticiſm; when they oppreſs, perſecute, (and worſe) the Saints and Servants of the Lord, filling Priſons with them; when they ſet themſelves in the Throne of the Lord, and will be Lords in the Conſcience, and make the Sons of Zion as the filth of the Earth; and all this after the Lord hath been pleading his Controverſie with them, in very ſtupendious Diſpenſation, and by their hour of proſperity they are but hardened in their way, and ſay they are delivered to all their abominations; that is certainly a Generation of God's wrath. Now among ſuch a generation the Lord calls his people to retirment (into their Chambers) till his wrath come upon the wicked to the utmoſt, and he wil put in his ſickle, & reap down their abominations, and none ſhall ſave them▪

4. The Lord calls to retirement, that they may deal with him by faith and prayer, in their ſecret corners, and may wait for his teachings, &c. as may further be opened in the cloſe of this Diſcourſe.

And thus we have endeavoured to cleare the point, That Jeſus Chriſt calls his Followers from off the publike Stage, into a more retired condition, when, and why he doth it. I ſhall come to ſome uſeful concluſions, and ſo anſwer the objections and diſ-ſatisfactions of any that lye againſt it.

1. If Jeſus Chriſt doth ſometimes in his providential Diſpenſations, call off his people to retirement, & puts them as into the holes of the Rock, then it wil follow that one Diſpenſation calls for that wch another doth not; the Lord calls for that at one time, wch he doth not at another, ſometimes to a more open appearing in their publike ſervices and actings for him, and adminiſtrations of worſhip and propheſying, ſometimes to a more open expoſing to ſufferings, and at another time the Word of the Lord is, Enter into thy Chambers, &c. ſhut thy doors about thee. So what hath been a duty for Saints in one day, hath not been ſo expreſly (I mean the main generation of them) a duty at another; eſpecially in the later diſpenſations of the Lord towards the giving up of the Kingdom of the Beaſt, when the Lords controverſion is now, and of his Kingdome, hath been with a high hand carrying on, as hath been ſhewed; In ſuch a day the Lamb marcheth againſt his Enemies, and then re • reats, and ſounds a Retreat to his called Ones; ſometimes he faceth the beaſt, and then withdraws, and drinks of the Brook in the way; he coucheth like a Lyon, and then anon riſeth up to purſue the prey: Here is the wiſdom of the Saints, here is following the Lamb; this is to ſee his footſteps, to walk after them.

2. Let it be therefore for an humble enquiry at leaſt, to all that are ſober, to weigh what hath been hinted, and to conſider if this be not the Word of the Lord at this day, whether Jeſus Chriſt hath not ſounded a retreat, whether he doth not call off from publike Propheſying, and more publike Adminiſtrations, (though the wickedneſs of men be inſtrumentally in it) yea whether the Teſtimony be not ſlain and lyes dead; and that all the Characters of it have a viſible accompliſhment at this day, a Teſtimony finiſhed, Rev. 11. 7. to all the Offices of Jeſus Chriſt, and of his Kingdom in the world, in all the concernments of it, and againſt the whole Myſterie of Iniquity, and of the Kingdom of the Beaſt, and that eſpecially in this part of the world where the Spirit is given forth.

And when we had been looking for the fulfilling hereof, lo a Death upon the whole, and the Witneſſes lye as dead in all the parts of the world, let the place be named where an open teſtimony againſt all the abominations of the Beaſt, againſt all their National wickedneſſes, and a teſtimony for the Lord Jeſus in the whole of his Kingdom, as King of Saints and Nations will be born; though ſome Goſpel truths will be born, and are practiſed among them: Yea, what a ſtrange healing up hath there been in all the Nations of Europe, among all the ten horns, a General Peace in the Kingdom of the Beaſt, not a Horn or Nation that wars againſt Babylon; not a hand lifted up againſt her in a way of War, to hate her, and make her deſolate; but all preparations from the North and the Weſt, huſht up, levelled, and laid dead, when a few years ſince the Nations were all in a flame, as if the laſt diſtreſs had been upon them: But lo a healing up, a ſtilneſs, and the proud Whore ſits as a Queen, glorifying her ſelf that ſhe ſhall ſee no ſorrow, (which ſhe feared before) and ſhall not be a Wid • w, nor be made deſolate. Which healing & Peace among the horns, is implyed in their ſending gifts (by their Embaſſadors) one to another. Rev. 11. 10. becauſe the People and Spirit which they moſt feared, is laid dead; the propheſying of ruine to the haſtening upon the Beaſt, and wrath upon the Nations, ſeems to have been but a fancy, and to come to nought; for behold, their prayers, witneſſings, propheſyings, Armies, every where in the whole ſtreet of the City are come to nought. Is not this the triumph of the Nations at this day, and of the Beaſt?

Such as ſtate the laſt ſlaughter of the witneſſes to be already paſt, namely about the year 1558. when that general blow was given to the Proteſtant Intereſt in Germany, and other Nations, and by the Marian Perſecution in this Nation, have ſufficient confutation by what hath ſince fallen out in ſeveral Nations, in the perſecuting and ſlaying of the Witneſſes in Poland, France, Ireland, &c. of late years; and the death that the whole Work of Chriſt is under at this day, it being clear, that when the laſt ſlaughter is paſt, and the lying dead three days and an half is over, in the Witneſse reſurrection, that then they aſcend •… to Heaven, into a ſtate of Liberty, Power and Glory, from which they fall no more; but the ſeventh Angel ſounds, and the third Wo cometh upon the World (the laſt Plagues to be executed upon the Antichriſtian World, and Voices are heard in Heaven (amongſt the Churches) proclaiming the Lord Jeſus King of Nations; for that upon the reſurrection of the Witneſses, and ſounding of the ſeventh Angel, the Lord Jeſus comes forth to take to himſelf his great Power, and to reign, to conteſt with the Horns about his Soveraignty, to rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron, breaking them in pieces as a Porters Veſsel; at which time (as ſome eminent Witneſs of the Lord have well ſtated it) The little Stone, cut out without hands (the ſeparated Saints in the Nations) begins in a more eſpecial manner to ſmi • e the Image, Dan. 2. 39. (for the Stone begins to ſmite upon the feet of the Image, the laſt part of the Roman Monarchy, which roes upon the feet ver. 41. are the ſ • me with the ten Horns, as Dan. 7. And the Stone ſmiting breaking in pieces▪ & conſuming the Kingdoms (as the Spirit of God opens the meaning of the Stone, and its ſmiting, v. 44.) And in the dayes of theſe Kings, ſhall the God of Heaven ſet up a Kingdom (the Kingdom of the Stone) which ſhall never be deſtroyed, and the Kingdom ſhall not be left to oth • r people, but it ſhall break in pieces, and conſume all theſe Kingdoms, and it ſhall ſtand for ever) is interpreted further in the Viſion that Daniel himſelf had of the ſame thing, ch. 7. 22. 26 When Judgement is given to the Saints of the Moſt High; And ver. 26. The Judgement ſhall ſit (the Saints judging the tenhorned Beaſt and his Kingdom) and they ſhall take away his Dominion to conſurne and to deſtroy it unto the end. But I do but hint here, what I may give a further account of in due time, to remove the ſtumbling-blocks that lie in the way of many of the Lord's People as to this glorious truth.

But I return to my enquiry, which is, that I humbly judge that the laſt ſlaying of the Witneſ • es was not about the time mentioned, for the reaſons hinted (and others might be given) but rather, that great, ſore blow upon the Proteſtant Intereſt, to be fixed upon that foot of account, namely, of the Beaſt making war with the Saints, and overcoming them, Rev. 13. 7. which War from the time of the Waldenſian people he hath been carrying on, and overcome them: And ſo in Bohemia, Germany, &c▪ upon which Word are all the former Wars and Victories of the Beaſt to be ſtated, and not in reference to the laſt ſlaughter, when the Beaſt makes War with the Witneſſes, and kills them, and overcomes them; which is after a full teſtimony hath been finiſhed to all the Offices, Work and Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus, and then the Beaſt (ſuch as are in the Spirit of the Beaſt, and influenced by him) riſe up (by the wiſe and holy permiſſion and ordering of the Lord to bring about his own glorious deſign) and ſlay the Teſtimony, lay it dead (eſpecially in a civil ſence) in that tenth part of the City where the killing moſt eminently is (which is, where the moſt eminent Teſtimony for the Kingdom of Chriſt is the Spirit, hath been of any of the Nations) and ſo all publike propheſying, in an ordinary way, and with an allowed liberty becomes cut off, & the publike aſſembling of Churches ſuppreſt, in that tenth part of the City, ſo that the Work & Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt being likely to ariſe a few years ſince in the apprehenſion of moſt of the Saints, and to the terror of the Nations, lo it is laid dead; & ſay the ſons of Babylon, we wil ſo bury it that it ſhall riſe no more, though that will be found their great error.

I might •• ſtance the Judgement of ſeveral ancient & holy Witneſſes of Chriſt, who are now in the ſame apprehenſion as to this diſpenſation we are under, & of ſome who in the higheſt day of our proſperity a few years ſince, ſpake of it as to come upon us; & alſo (as is humbly judg'd by ſom worthy ſervants of the Lord at this day, that a more then ordinary diſcovery & revelation hath been given forth to a worthy Miniſter of Chriſt, & ſome others, that this is the 3. days & a half in wch the witneſſes are to lie dead, wch I think meet only to hint at this time.

But if ſo, then the Word of the Lord is, Go and dye, as to ordinary, publike Propheſying; and 'tis the wiſdom of the Saints to ſubmit to the Diſpenſation of God, and to be content even to lye as dead men, in a civil ſence, till the ſpirit of life from God enter, and a voice be heard in the providential workings of the Lord, Come up hither, Rev. 11. 12. And let it be ſoberly conſidered whether the contrary practice be not to croſs the very deſign of the Lord at this day, and to ruine the Churches and whole Intereſt of Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe reſ • rrection and reſtauration we are patiently to wait for.

Yea, (whether this be the laſt ſlaying or not) 'tis worthy a ſerious Judgement to conſider, That in the ſeveral Ages of Perſecucion from the Apoſtles dayes (unleſs where ſome have been carryed forth by an extraordinary impulſe of Spirit) the Profeſsors and Churches of Chriſt met together in ſuch a way as might moſt probably •• nd to their preſervation; in a private and retired way, in the beſt Wiſdom they could; as the Diſciples, John 20, 19. they were aſſembled in an upper Room for fear of the Jews: And the Church of Hieruſal • m ſ • att • red abroad in parties in the ſeveral Provinces upon the Perſecution, Acts 8. when they began to be hal • d to priſon from their Meetings; and thoſe that remained, kept in a private way, Acts 12. And ſo we find the Chriſtians aſsembling ſecretly, & by night, as they had opportunity: As that Congregation that continued together in Q. Mary's dayes in London, and kept up their Meetings ſecretly, and were wonderfully preſerved in that day; though (as I may preſently ſhew) 'tis hard to give out any general, abſolute Rule in this caſe: But 'tis certain, this was their ordinary practice: The reaſons hereof have been ſpoken to. It may further be added, that in ſuch a retired way, they ſhall not ſo much dare and provoke the civil Magiſtrate to greater wrath againſt them, and not lay a ſtumbling block in their way, but ſeem more to walk in the meekneſs of Jeſus Chriſt; and 'tis the liberty that Jeſus Chriſt doth indulge them, and anſwers his promiſe of preſerving, and being a Sanctuary to a holy Seed from one generation to another, and not to be expoſed to the blood thirſtineſs and rage of their perſecutors, though ſtill honoring himſelf by the ſuffering of ſome.

And as this hath been the practiſe of the Churches of Chriſt in times of perſecution, ſo of particular Miniſters and Witneſſes of the Lord in all ages, namely, as they were led by the ſpirit of the Lord to retire from particular perſecution, eſpecially when their caſe was different from the reſt of the ſaints as in ſom ages it hath bin; the firſt blow was at the Miniſters of Chriſt; ſo Moſes fled before the face of Pharoah, and dwelt in the Land of Midean till the time of deliverance came to the Iſraelites in Aegypt, Exod. 2. 15.

So David from the perſecution of Saul, who retired into the Wilderneſs, where the Lord hid him, till the time that the promiſe ſhould be fulfilled in his reign over Iſrael, 1 Sam. 19. 18. though in his retirement he was deprived of the Inſtitutions of the Worſhip of God in the temple, as he complains complains in ſeveral Pſalms.

Elijah had given an eminent Teſtimony againſt Ahab, and the abominations of that day, and propheſied the wrath of God to come upon Iſrael. But when he knew the miſchief that Ahab intended, and he had finiſhed his Teſtimony, the Lord commands him to go and hi •• e himſelf, 1 Kings 17. 2. & 8. and Chap▪ 10. 10▪ And we know Elijah was an eminent Type of the Witneſſes of Jeſus Chriſt under the New-Teſtament Babylon; though in the third year when it ſhould rain again▪ according to the word of the Lord (which made way for Elijah's appearance) he ſhewed himſelf to Ahab, and God was with him to deliver him: But when Jezebel ſought after him again, ch. 19. he went into the Wilderneſs, and hid himſel in a Cave, v. 9.

At the ſame time before the three years were finiſhed, and the Perſecution by Jezebel continued againſt all the Lords Prophets, 1 King. 18. Obadiah hid the Prophets by 50. in a Cave, who at other times were publikely propheſying.

So when the King had ſent out a Warrant and Officers to take Jeremiah and Baruch, Jer. 36. 26. 'tis ſaid, The Lord HID them; which implied their own retirement at that time.

So our Lord Jeſus himſelf, when he heard that John was caſt into Priſon, he retired into Galilee, Matth. 4. 12▪ And when he further heard that he was beheaded, he withdrew into a deſert place, Mat. 14. 13. And ſo when the Jews ſought to kill him, &c. till his hour was come; which places are ordinarily urged by interpreters upon them for the caſe in hand.

So our Lord Jeſus allows his Diſciples, Matth. 10. when he ſent them forth as ſheep among wolves, ver. 10. that they ſhould then be wiſe as Serpents, walk with ſuch a wiſdom as becomes ſheep among Wolves, which is not raſhly to put themſelves into the mouth of the Wolf. And ver. 17. bids them beware of men; and then, being perſecuted into one City, • o flye unto another, v. 23. the 〈◊〉 that word being to direct them, that when Rulers by their Edicts will not ſuffer them to preach in one place, they might go to another; if not in publike, then in private, and from Houſe to Houſe, as the providence of God ſhould lead them.

When the Jews ſought for Paul at Damaſcus, the Diſciples did not preſs him to expoſe himſelf to be delivered up into their hands, in appearing openly there, but on the contrary, at a hard rate conveyed him away, Acts 9. 23. 2 Cor. 11. 32. In Damaſcus, the Governor under Artas the King, kept the City with a Garriſon, deſirous to apprehend me; and through a Window in a basket was I let down by the wall, I eſcaped his hands: which the Apoſtle there ſets down among his perſecutions; when the Governor of the City would have apprended him, he thought good, and the Saints with him ſo judged, to withdraw, and yet he was not judged unfaithful or fearful in ſo doing. So Acts 14. when Paul and Barnabas had ſpoken holdly in the Lord, for a time at Iconium, when they underſtood that the Jews and Gentiles with them made an aſſault (at their meeting) to uſe them deſpightfully, and to ſtone them, they were ware of it, (they thought it ground enough that they were ware of it) and ſo fled into the next Province into Lyſtra▪ When the Jews laid wait for him, Act. 20. 3. he went not into Syria, but returned thorow Macedon • a. And when the Jews had gathered a company of lewd fallows to aſſault the meeting at Jaſ • ns houſe, Paul and Sylas withdrew, Act. 17. 5, 6. for, they found them no • , ver. 6. And at Berea, the Brethren ſent away Paul, ver. 14.

So when he would have hazarded himſelf, the Diſciples ſuffered him not, Act. 19▪ 30. And when he would go up to Jeruſalem, all the Saints beſought him not to go (judging in an ordinary way he ought not,) till they nnderſtood that Paul was under an extraordinary impulſe of Spirit to go, and then they ceaſed.

The caſe of thoſe famous Miniſters and witneſſes of Chriſt at theSee Book of Matt▪ beginning of Q. Maries perſecution, who preached not after the Queens Inhibition and Proclamation, though it were not a binding Law, as appears by the Declaration of their Faith they gave forth when priſoners in the Kings Bench, in which they thus expreſs themſelves; We are not here in priſons as Trai • ors, or ſeditious perſons, or tranſgreſſors of any Laws of this Realm; Inhibitions, Proclamations, or Commandments of the Queens Highneſs, or of any of the Councils, God's Name be praiſed therefore, &c. Subſcribed by Dr. Taylor, Philpot, Bradford, Hooper, Rogers, Saunders, &c. the moſt eminent Miniſters and Martyrs of that day, who it appears preached not publickly after the Proclamation and Act of Parliament, but were committed, as having been men famous in King Edwards days, and had preached to warn the people againſt Popery, in the interval, before the Proclamation was publiſhed, and were taken after, and were put to death becauſe they would not deny the Truth they had formerly preached; which the ſervants of Chriſt at this day hope (through grace) they ſhal not do, if called to a tryal thereof; and how far ſeveral of the ſervants of the Lord have expoſed themſelves, notwithſtanding a former Proclamation, and the latter Act of Parliament, and particular charges that way lye againſt ſome of them, ſober Chriſtians may judge, and not paſſionately cenſure any of them; and the due conſideration thereof, and of what hath been ſaid in this caſe; may be more then enough to remove their prejudice, or miſtaken herein.

So that here is both precept, and multiplied examples both of the Old and New Teſtament, of the Prophets and Apoſtles, and the ordinary Miniſters of Chriſt, that when particular and perſonal perſecution hath been againſt them, a deſign to apprehend them, and a lying in wait for them, they have at ſuch a time withdrawn, and retired themſelvs from their more publick Miniſtry.

In the ordinary providence of God, theſe Reaſons of it may be inſtanced:

1. When publick Preachers are ſent to preach to the world, and the people will not receive them, but perſecute them, they, after ſome patient waiting, may withdraw for a teſtimony againſt them, Mat. 10. 14. which is too often the caſe of the ſervants of Chriſt, though it doth not fully reach the caſe in hand.

2. When the Lord Jeſus hath more wo • k and ſervice for his ſervants,, and will preſerve them to a day of liberty (as hath been ſhewed of the whole generation of Saints) then he hath uſed to hide them by his gracious providence in a wonderful manner, and hath called them off from the publick ſtage, and kept them in the midſt of the perſecutions they have been under, or ſnatcht them out of them, as abundant inſtances might be given; ſo it is propheſied, Iſa. 30. 20 That their teachers ſhould be removed into corne • s, till the Captivity was over, &c.

3. In mercy to the Churches, that the liberties and lives of the ſervants of Chriſt may be preſerved, to ſerve them more publickly when the Lord by his providence ſhal make way; and in the mean time may be uſeful to the Churches in a more private way; and not to ſpend them (in a kind of paſſionate courage) upon the implacable fury of their perſecutors: whence it was, that the Diſciples at Ceſarea ſo paſſionately beſought Paul not to go up to Hieruſalem; And when he would have entred in among the people, the Diſciples ſuffered him not.

This may ſuffice to ſtate and clear this caſe • o the conſciences of ſuch as may be differently minded herein, which may at leaſt call for a mutual forbearance in love, and that Satan get not an advantage to ſtir up heats, heighten prejudices, beget a greater diſtance among the people of God; and ſo in ſtead of cloſing, widen the ſad breaches that have been amongſt us,

And yet when I have thus ſtated this caſe, that the call of Jeſus Chriſt may be to retire; and that 'tis lawful upon particular perſonal perſecution, for the Miniſters of Chriſt to do ſo; yet I alſo ſay with bleſsed Bucer, as he ſtates this caſe on the 4th. of Matth. upon our Saviour's retirement, That there can be no abſolute, binding, unlimited Rule laid down in this caſe, that ſhall be binding in all times, and to all perſons. And 'tis hard for others to determine when a ſervant of Chriſt may more honour the Lord by retirement or by a publike expoſing himſelf▪ Every man in ſuch a caſe is to give up himſelf to the leading of the Spirit of the Lord, which hath carried ſome of the ſervants of Chriſt in one way, and ſome in another, in all times of perſecution accordingly, as Chriſt will be glorified by them. Though the ſame Bucer (who alſo retired in the Germane perſecution) concludes thus: Where by retirement & flight thou mayeſt ſee an advantage of honoring Chriſt (tuae te horae ſervans) by withdrawing thou doſt as Chriſt himſelf did, and as Paul at Damaſcus.

Yet that the minds of Saints may be fully ſatisfied herein, I will conſider what is uſually urged by ſome to the contrary.

Obj. How do the ſervants of the Lord give forth a full Teſtimony, if they retire when Edicts are given forth againſt them, ſeeing 'tis ſaid they overcome by the Wo • d of their Teſtimony, Rev. 12. That we may therefore conſider how far this may reach, and when Saints may be ſaid to keep the Commandments of God, and to have the Teſtimony of Ieſus Chriſt, ver. laſt.

1. A Teſtimony is given firſt by the Preachers & Witneſſes of Chriſt, by diſcovering the ſins and the Antichriſtian abominations of the age & day they live in, and witneſſing for all the Offices, Worſhip, Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, according to the Scripture, as the Spirit of the Lord gives light, and acts them thereunto; and as the Providence of God opens a door to them: Bleſſed be the Father of Spirits, that through the Grace and Power of the Lord Jeſus ſuch a Teſtimony hath been given ſorth; to the glory of God, the conviction and eſtabliſhment (as is hoped) of the people of God, which teſtimony, no doubt, the Lord will make good in his beſt time; and which they leave with God, being ſatisfied they are called by the providence of God to a more retired way.

2. All other Saints do keep the Teſtimony of Jeſus (and the Commandments of God as oppoſed to the Commands of men in the matters of Chriſt and his Worſhip) when they are (through the teaching of the Spirit in the Word, and the Power of the ſame Spirit reſting upon them) kept from partaking of the ſins, polutions, and Anti-chriſtian abominations of falſe Worſhip which men would impoſe upon them, Acts 2. 40. Save your ſelves from this untoward generation, Eph. 5: 7. Be not ye therefore partakers with them, v. 11. Have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, &c. Touch not the u • clean thing, be ye ſeparate, 2. Cor. 6 Come out of her my pe • ple, that ye be not pa tak • rs of her ſins, that ye receive not of her plagues, Rev. 18. 4.

When the profeſſing people ſhall obey the Lord in ſuch words as theſe, and not defile themſelves, nor provoke the Lord to jealouſie againſt them, this is a good Teſtimony, and ſuch Saints who call for extremities from others, may find this to be a Teſtimony hard enough to be kept, when they are tryed, as th • y have in leſſer matters already.

This Teſtimony the 7000. kept in Samaria, that bowed not their knee to Baal, and God accepted them in it. And let all the Miniſters of Chriſt who would approve themſelves as ſuch, to God and his people; take heed that they are faithful in this teſtimony (as well as others of the people of God) and that under pretence of having the liberty of their Miniſtry, they are not found in compliance, with Humane Invention • , againſt light, to render themſelves a ſcorn to the prophane, and a grief and ſtumbling block to the godly, eſpecially when ſuch eminent and ſevere ſtrokes from Heaven have been upon many for ſo doing.

3. Saints do keep the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt when they are found in the practice of Chriſt's appointments, though in a more private way, which is a teſtimony againſt the perſecutions of the World, and the abominations thereof, as the primitive Chriſtians practiſed.

4. Saints do keep the word of Teſtimony when any of them are called before men, for not partaking in falſe ways of Worſhip, and being ſo called, do not deny the truth, but confeſs it before man, M • t • h. 10. 32, 33. Whoſoever therefore ſhall confeſs me before men, him will • co • feſs b • fore my Father which is in Heaven; But whoſoever ſhall deny me before men, him nill I alſo deny • efore my Father w • ich is in Heaven. So • s ſaid, I • ſus Chriſt wi • neſſed a good •• n •• ſsion before Po • tius Pilate, 1 Tim 6 Though in this caſe alſo, 'tis not eaſie to lay down the u • moſt extent of duty; ſometimes the Witneſses of Chriſt have •• eely and openly, upon their convention and examination, without any proof againſt them, witneſ • ed to the whole t • uth and ma •• er of Fact, as carryed • orth, 'tis to be charitably judged by the Spirit of the Lord thereto, as in Stephens caſe, and Peter's Acts 3.

Others have kept ſilence; and held their perſecutors to proof of matter of Fact againſt them; yet ſo as they would not deny the Truth, which is a Teſtimony to it. Now ſuch a witneſsbearing before the Judicatories of men, as the Spirit of the Lord carries forth our ſpirits, is another way of having the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt.

Now if the Lord help this generation of his people to be faithful to their Light in theſe particulars, they shall be found the Lambs followers, keeping the Commandments of God and the Teſtimony of Jeſus▪

But for any to judge, that nothing elſe is a finiſhing a faithful teſtimony, (but for the ſervants of Chriſt to put themſelves into the mouths of thoſe whom they know wait to devour them, and have laid a ſnare for them, and that ſuch are un • aithful, or fearful, or worſe) that think i • not their duty; certainly when good • ouls are come to themſelves, and ſhall particu ••• ly know and weigh the caſes of the Lord's poor ſervants, (without which 'tis unreaſonable to judge) we ſhall all have a tender hearted forbearance one of another, as that caſe requires.

Obj. 2. But was not this the practice of the Apoſtles, Acts 4. when commmanded not to preach any more in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, they anſwered, They • ught to obey God rather than men.

Anſ. 1. I humbly conceive, that the ſervants of God at this day if they were in the like manner called before Magiſtrates, and were charged by them, as the Apoſtles were, namely, Not to preach at all, nor to teach in the Name of Jeſus (for ſo it was, they would anſwer as the Apoſtles did, & would continue preaching, where the providence of God opened a way to them, as they did.

2: We do not find it expreſt that Peter and John preached openly in the Temple after that, though they witneſſed and preached elſewhere, until the Angel of the Lord opened the Priſon doors, and commanded them to go and ſpeak in the Temple, Acts 5.

3. The Apoſtles having an extraordinary Annointing, were to witneſs to all Nations that they had ſeen the Lord, and that he was riſen from the dead; which is not the caſe of every particular Miniſter: They went and preach't by the ſpecial dictate of the holy Spirit in one place, and not in another; 'tis not ſo with ordinary Preachers: And the ſame Spirit that led them forth ſometimes to expoſe themſelves to hazards, at another time led them to withdraw from danger, as hath been ſhewed. Beſides, it doth not appear that there was any more than a meer prohibition not to preach, to Peter and John, by the Council of the Iews, without any penalty of impriſonment or baniſhment expreſsed.

3. Obj. Is not there a ſtrict command, that the Profeſsors of Chriſt ſhould not forſake the aſſembling themſelves together, Heb. 10.

Anſ. Let it be conſidered what forſaking of aſsembling this was; It was the departing from all Chriſtian worſhip and fellowſhip; a caſting off their p • ofeſſion, as ver. 23. Let us hold faſt our profeſſion: ſuch a forſaking, as was a leading to an Apoſtacy, as is clear in the following verſes; For if we ſin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, &c. which is annexed as a reaſon of not forſaking their aſsembling; this will not be judged the preſent caſe.

2. Saints therefore do not forſake their aſsembling, in that ſence while they hold faſt their profeſſion, and labour to keep up, worſhip in a more private way, where they may likely aſsemble more peaceably, and with leſs diſtraction▪ for ſo thoſe Hebrews did, and all the Churches, as hath been ſhewed.

Meeting is a duty; but meeting openly is an accidental thing.

4. Obj. But▪ how are the ſervants of Chriſt conſiſtent to their own Doctrine, who preſs others to be partakers of the ſufferings of Chriſt, and would prepare them for it; when they do not expoſe themſelves to the utmoſt.

Anſ. There may be a prodigal caſting away of liberty or life, as well as a giving them up upon the Call of God; 'Tis certain, that 'tis a duty to offer up every Iſaac to the Lord when he Calls for it, but we muſt ſee our Call to be clear: we ſhould through grace be ready rather to ſuffer the loſs of all things, then to deny the truth, and to follow▪ the providential leadings of God thereto: But that 'tis our duty and call from the Lord to continue publikely witneſsi • g▪ and to expoſe our ſelves to the utmoſt hazards, rather then give place▪ though we know the ſnare is laid for us, and we in all likelihood put an end to our Work in ſo doing, is not yet proved to our Conſciences from any Word of God; but indeed the contrary is cleare to them.

If it be ſaid, that the judgement of ſome Saints is a Call herein; I anſwer, That the Judgement of many more may be put in the ballance againſt them, who judge otherwiſe▪ which may have as great, or it may be a greater weight with them.

Obj. 5. But did not Daniel worſhip openly notwithſtanding the Decree, Dan. 6.

Anſ. Whatever is ſaid to the contrary, it will eaſily appear that the prohibition and Decree was, that Daniel ſhould not pray unto his God at all, as v. 7. That whoſoever ſhall ask a Petition of any God or man for thirty dayes, ſave of thee Oh King, &c. Not that Daniel and the Jews ſhould not pray towards Jeruſalem: So that the Decree concerned natural moral Worſhip, and not poſitive inſtituted Worſhip, which may ſometimes be diſpenſed with.

2. Daniel in this caſe had an extraordinary Annointing upon him, as a Prophet, which carried him forth in this particular, which in every circumſtance is not to be made a ſtanding Rule: Beſides, we do not hear of ſuch an open appearing of the reſt of the people of God then in Babylon.

And let it be ſeriouſly conſidered, that ſometimes God hath indulged his people in the matter of poſitive Inſtitutions; as the Iſraelites in Egypt, who were obliged to ſacrificing, if they could have had liberty; but we do not find it practiſed while they were in Egypt: So of Circumciſion in the Wilderneſs there was an indulgence of it; and that rolling away the reproach of Egypt, mentioned at their circumciſion; Joſh. 5. 9. was not the reproach (as ſome learned Interpreters judge) of not being circumciſed, but of not being brought for ſo many years, into the promiſed Land, which 'tis like the Egyp ians reproached Iſrael with. So the Building of the Temple (which was Inſtitution) ceaſed, Ez • a 4. laſt. upon the prohibition till the 2d. year of Darius, whoſe indulgence they might have ſoon had, but neglected it, and built their own houſes, and were reproved by the Prophets for their neglect therein.

And that word (as urged by bleſſed Mr. Burroughs in this caſe, and other of the Servants of Chriſt) is not to be ſlighted, Mal. 9. I will have mercy, and not ſacrifice, which may wel hold forth this, That the Lord hath more reſpect to a Work of Mercy, than to a Sacrifice; a lawful preſervation of a man's ſelf is a moral duty; a work of mercy not only to himſelf, but others; to which end a Sacrifice of inſtituted Worſhip at certain times, and in ſome caſes may be omitted.

Obj. 6. But 'tis objected, That the caſe is not the ſame with that of our Saviour and the Apoſtles, whoſe lives were in hazard, but now it is not ſo, the Liberties and Livelyhoods of the Miniſters of Chriſt are onely endangered.

Anſ. 1. The loſs of liberty & livelyhood, with the ruine of their Families, is as a l • ſſer death, the preſervation of which is a moral duty.

But, let the caſe well be conſidered, what three Months Impriſo • ment in ſuch naſty holes as the Lon • on Priſons are, and it may be underſtood to amount to little leſs than life; and upon what terms liberty may be had at the three Months end, is not ſo eaſie to determine; it coſt one eminent Mr. S. Miniſter his life already. But if it be ſtated to be onely the loſs of liberty, it will be a tender caſe of Conſcience, whether for once or twice appearing in publike, a Miniſter is to hazard his ſervice of the C • u • ches a • d People of God, to whom h • may be uſeful in a more private way.

Obj. 7. But ſuch a withdrawing may be a • offence • o ſome S • ints, though moſt othe •• be ſat • fied.

Anſ. I ſh • ll here ſpeak a little to the caſe o • offences, becauſe Satan hath formerly had great advantage upon the Spirits of the L • rd's people this way.

1. There are o •••• ces that com by the ungodly, per • ecuting world, who lay ſtumbling blocks in the way of the people of God by their perſecuting them; to ſuch it is ſaid, Wo to the • orld becauſe of offences, Mat. 18. Saints are not ſurely to pronounce thoſe woes one upon another upon different apprehenſions of duty.

2. There are offences that ariſe among the Churches and people of God themſelves; ſuch are,

1▪ Either really given one to another. Or

2dly, Through miſunderſtanding, weak • eſs, paſſion or temptation, are unduly taken, and not given.

1. Concerning the former, namely, offences really given (which will too often be, while we ſ • e but in pa • t, and are holy but in part) the Spirit of God calls for all forbea • ance, compaſsion and reſtoring one another, and bearing one anothers burdens, according to the Royal Law of L • v • , Gal. 6. 1, 2. Eph. 4. Ph • l. 2. Col. 3. 12. 1 Pet. 3. 8. • rom which Scrip • ures let Saints and Members of Churches learn what Spirit and carriage is required one of another in caſe of offences; which through miſcarriages, miſtakes and hours of temptations, will befall the poor children of God while they are in the fleſh, and therefore do call for ſuch an exerciſe of grace one towards another; and not for rigid cenſuring, debaſing, treading one anothers names under their feet (or worſe) if it may be) which are fruits of the fleſh, and of the pride of our own hearts, when we ſet up a Throne in our own ſpirits, and all muſt bow and • all down to it, to be judged either as to matter of Judgement or Practiſe, and wonderfully pleaſe our ſelves in it, which will not well conſiſt with a wel humbled heart.

2. There are Offences upon the Spirits of Saints, that are taken, but not really given, through weakneſs of Judgement, miſ-guided Zeale, Raſhneſs and Paſſions, and not attending to a well ſtudyed and rightly informed Judgement; whereby the Tempter waits to ſtumble good ſculs, and to hinder their peace and communion with the Lord.

Hence▪ the Wiſdom of God take • ſpecial notice of the evils that befall the ſpirits of men in this caſe; A Brother offe • ded, is ha • der to be non than a ſtrong City, and their conte • tio • s are li • e •• e •• rs of a Caſtle, Prov. 18. 19.

Yea, let it be ſeriouſly attended to by all that fear the Lord, whether all the Teachers that have been among the People of God, have not ri • e • either for want of a compaſſiona •• bearing of offences given, or by taking offences unduly, when not really given, and by which Satan hath been gra • fied, and the u • converted world hath been ſtumbled; and all for want of thorough-heart • umiliation, Wiſdom, Love in the Spirit, whereby they ſhould be able to • udge • oberly, and walk in peace, as becometh Saints.

But oftentimes this temptation hath not reſted here, but as it hath been obſerved by holy men, that all backfliding and apoſtacy begins in taking offence, firſt offended at one thing or perſon, then at another; and • o at more, till they drink in prejudice againſt the Servants of the Lord, and the Way they walk in▪ ••• l from all ſound and ſearching Miniſtery, and ſo run from M • u • tain to Hill, from one thing to another, till they come to nothing▪ un • eſs the Lord in rich 〈◊〉 •• cov • r them by a ſound W • rk of Humiliation upon them. 〈◊〉 laid in that Parable Matthew 1 • . 12. That he that hath not r • ot in hi • ſelf in • time of perſecution, is offen ••• . Various wayes hath Satan to offend and ſtumble them: Our Lord Jeſus warned his Diſciples of this, Matth. 26. 31. Then ſaith J • ſus unto them, All • e ſhall be offended becauſe of me this Night, &c.

And when the Lord promiſeth to bring back the Captivity of his people, he ſaith to his ſervants, Caſt ye up, caſt ye up; prepare ye the way; take up the ſtumbling block out of the way of my people; Then will the Lord remove their offences, and heal their ſpirits, and they ſhal walk on in the way to Zio • , and ſhall not ſtumble any more.

Obj. 8. But doth it not proceed from carnal fear in ſuch, as judge that retirement is the duty of this day.

Anſ. A grain more of love may caſt it, that the Lord's ſervants, and ſuch of the Churches that ſo judge and walk, do walk after their light, conviction, and ſatisfaction of conſcience, which happily a little time may determine.

Truly moſt of the ſons of men have an Abſoloms ſpirit, and ſay in our hearts, What would I do, if I were in ſuch, or ſuch an ones caſe? wherein our own hearts wonderfully deceive us. Yet if any of the ſervants of the Lord have a more then ordinary impulſe of ſpirit at this time, (as it may be ſome have had, ſince this diſpenſation of giving in their teſtimony) 'tis b • ſt to leave them to the Lord, without judging each other.

Concerning the Miniſters of Chriſt, I would humbly ſay thus much; That i • they ſhal be found in their particular practice faithful to the light and teſtimony they have given forth, through the ſame grace upon them, and chuſe the greateſt of ſufferings rather then defile themſelves, and continue edifying of the Saints and Churches of God in a more private way, as they have opportunity, I humbly judge they ſhal be accepted with the Lord as his faithful witneſſes, and be juſt fied in the conſciences of all ſerious people; eſpecially when the iſſue of this diſpenſation ſhall be made manifeſt.

And thus have we ſtated this caſe, we hope, according to Scripture light, and leave it with the Lord, to make it a bleſſing to any of his.

But what doth the Lord call for, by way of duty, of all his people in a time of retireme •• .

1. To ſp • ak often one to another, Mal. 3. It was a time when there was hardly a Prieſt to ſpeak publickly to them, but ſuch as corrupted • he worſhip of the Lord: Then they that feared the Lord ſpake often o • e to ano • her, an • the Lord bearkened and hea • d it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that ſe • red the Lord, and that thought upon his Name. They had great thoughts of heart for the Name of their God, and they ſpake, no doubt, of his diſpenſation, and of the ſigns of the times, and what he call'd for, to ſtrengthen, ſettle, and comfort one another; this is the practice Saints ſhould be ſerious and conſcientious, and often in, in ſuch a day, and ſo keep up the practice of Ordinances among them.

2. To bee found as the mourn • rs of Z • on: In the day of Zions breach and Captivity, the promiſe of mercy runs to her m • urn • rs, to the humble and contrite ones, Iſa. 57. 15. & 18. with thoſe hee will dwell, thoſe hee will revive and heal. Hee wi • l not c • ntend always; leſt their ſpirit fail; but will reſtore comfort to the m • u • ners. So • ſaiah Chap. 61▪ ver. 2, 3. And Chapter 60▪ verſ. 10. This was Jeremiahs▪ ſpirit, In that day, Jeremiah 14▪ ver. 17. let mine eyes run down with tears, and let th • m not ceaſe; for the Virgins Daughter of my p • ople is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous • l • w.

Oh that the Lord would give down this Spirit upon his people; as we would call for a Spirit of Bravery and Courage, which in its ſeaſon is honorable, and hath appeared upon many of the Miniſters of Chriſt) ſo let us call upon one another for this Spirit alſo, to be found mourning apart, and together in our retirements, for the abominations and blaſphemies of the land, for our former un profitableneſs, unholineſs, ſecurity, formality, hypocriſie, pride of life, diviſions, frowardneſs, back ſhdings, breach of Vows and Covenants with the Lord, ſelf-ſeekings in the management of the precious cauſe of the Lord Jeſus, which now lieth as crucified: Oh! do we mourn over it, as wel as talk of it?

3. Jeſus Chriſt calls to heartſearching: In ſuch a day is every one to be retiring into their own hearts, and finding out the plague of them, Lam. 3. 40. In the day of their captivity, then ſaith the Prophet, let us ſearch and try our ways, &c.

Then is every one to be awakening his own heart, every ſoul attending to a renewed repentance and humility, to renewed mortification in the ſpirit, that it may be as a day of a new converſion upon all our ſpirits.

4. In ſuch a day, Jeſus Chriſt calls his to uniting, that we get all our prejudices to be removed and healed, though under different meaſures of light; as we are upon the enquiry of our way to Zion (after the long night of Antichriſtian darkneſs) we have many ſtones in our way, and much remaining darkneſs) upon our ſpirits, and the Lord gives out light gradually to his people in the Churches reſtoration, which calls for a mutual forbearance from all, that would ſee the beauty of Zion, and preſs after it, and not impoſing one upon another, much leſs devouring one another by the way. Ah! when our ſpirits are more melted by the Goſpel, and we are more in the ſpirit of the Goſpel, it ſhall be ſo; then ſhall wee know one another as Saints, and upon that account have Communion together, and not bee bound up to any Form, and make it a Law of Communion, which is indeed no better then a dreg of chriſtia • iſm upon our ſpirits. Union with the Lord Jeſus is the ground of fellowſhip with him, and lo • t ſh • uld be one with another, 1. Joh. 1▪ 3 Let us all contend together for the great intereſt of the • oſpel; power of Godlineſs, purity of Worſh • p as as the great and common intereſt of all that fear the Lord.

5. In retiring times the Lord calls to much ſecret duty, eſpecially of prayer; Cant. 2. 14. Oh my Dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, &c. Jeſus Chriſt behold his Dove in the clifts of the Rock in her retirement) as hid from the wrath of her Enemies) and there ſhe mourns in a Dove • ike ſpirit, and the Lord delights to ſee her face, and hear her voice.

Some have more fully heard what great things ſingle Saints have • one in prayer for the people of God, how they have prevailed with God, as J • cob, Moſes, Joſhua, Samuel, David. Elijah, Iſaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, &c. in their ſeveral generations, who were men of like paſſions with us: Let me alone, ſaith the Lord to one Moſes. Every praying ſoul ſhould be ſo awakened and engaged in this Work at this day, as if the whole lay upon his, or her ſhoulders; as if his cryes (even alone) were to prevail for Zion's deliverance.

Oh my dear Companions in the Kingdome and Patience of Jeius Chriſt, cry mightily, and ſigh with • itrerneſs and unutterable groans, pour out your ſouls as water before the Lord, becauſe of the ſinne and breach of the people of your God; Oh cry for Healing for Zion▪ cry for your Bread, thoſe precious Goſpelfeedings of which you are bereft; cry againſt Babylon, and the Horns that are pouring ou • the blood of your Brethren: Cry • or the ruine of the Beaſts Kingdom, and the exaltation of the Throne of Jeſus Chriſt in the world. 'Tis ſaid Dan. 7. 13. One like the Son of Man came to the Ancient of Dayes, and they brought him near before him. Saints by Faith and Prayer do bring the Son of Man near before the Father; And then there was given him Dominion, Glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations and Languages ſhould ſerve him, ver. 14.

If ſuch a Spirit be given forth in the entering into our Chambers, verily the wind thereof ſhall put ſuch an Earthquake into the tenth part of the City, and the Foundations that are now laying, that it ſhall be like a breach, ready to fall, ſwelling out in a high wall, whoſe br • aking come • h ſuddenly a • ani • ſtant. Iſa. 30 13. 14. And the Adverſaries of the Lord ſhall not ſee whence their blow cometh. Certainly never did ſuch a praying generation miſcarry.

6. In retiring times the People of God ſhould walk w • ſely, at ſuch a time when a man is made an offendor for a word: Let us all labour to do all in the Wiſdom of Jeſus Chriſt, in our walking towards the World, in 〈◊〉 aſſembling, in our particular walkings, in our ſilence and in our ſpeaking▪ leſt not onely themſelves, but their Brethren alſo ſuffer by their weakneſs and folly: Whoſo •• lketh wiſely, ſhall be delivered, Prov. 28. 26.

7. In retiring times Jeſus Chriſt calls for bowels towards the affl • ctions and neceſſities of Brethren; this is a ſpecial duty of the day; ſome thouſands of Families are bereft of their bread, while the Lord hath ſpared to others a full portion, not onely in m • r • y to themſelves, but to be a bleſſing to their diſtreſſed Brethren. Bleſſed be the Lord for what he hath done upon the ſpirit of his ſervants in this thing already; A • the diſtreſs will encreaſe, ſo ſhould the hearts and bowels of ſuch in whoſe hand it is, be enlarged, elſe let not them think to partake of the day of mercy, if they ſhew no mercy to their Brethren, when the preſent diſpenſation ſo eminently calls for it. A blaſt from Heaven wil come forth upon the Eſtates, Families, Names, Spirits of ſuch profeſſors who with-hold bread from the hungry, and caſt it not upon the waters in ſuch a day. Never was ſuch an opportunity put into the hands of any generations, to ſhew much kindneſſe to Chriſt and his Saints, as at this day, never ſuch a time to lay up much treaſure in Heaven▪ 8. The day calls for reſignment to the will of God, to ſuffer or to do according to his good pleaſure. The Lord hath triumphed in ſome of his ſuffering ones, who have gloriouſly overcome by the Blood of the Lamb; not loving their lives •• to the death; 'tis poſſible ſome others may be called forth in the ſame way, many to priſons, and much hardſhip; Oh! let us be reſigned up to the will of Jeſus Chriſt, to be contented he ſhould glorifi • himſelf upon us which way hee pleaſeth: Live upon that faithful ſaying, 2 Tim. 2. v • r. 11, 12. If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo re • gn w • th him; what more can be • eſired▪

You have the p •• miſe of Jeſus Chriſt to be with you in what he calls you to, and you have the rich experience of your Brethren of his faithfulneſs therein, who triumphed over death, in a ſpirit of glory that was upon them; for the Lords Priſoners, even in every Priſon of England, their hearts are full of the praiſes of the Lord, crying (to the amazement of their Perſecutors) Bleſſed be the Lord for a Priſon; let not our Brethren be diſcouraged, for Chriſt w • ll meet them, and walk with them there: This may quiet the hearts of all Saints, and not be troubled, in caſe the Providence of God ſo diſpoſe of them; and yet they are to walk wiſely in this, not expoſing themſelvs beyond what they ſee the Lord clearly calling themto, and their own conſcience ſatisfied therein: A good Cauſe, a good Call, & a good Conſcience makes a mans ſufferings ſweet to him. A ſervant of Chriſt may be in a good Cauſe, and in a good work, in a Chriſtian du • y, ye • no • have a clear Call at that time and ſeaſon to it.

9. The Lord calls for Cruci • iedneſs to the world; a weanedneſs from all Creature comforts; Redemption from all Earthly Intereſts, that their hearts be looſned from them. The world was got into the hearts of Profeſſors, now it muſt be caſt out, and the heart crucified to it, if they think to follow the Lamb at this day. Let every Believer improve his fellowſhip with the death of Jeſus Chriſt to this purpoſe, and by Faith realize Chriſt, and heaven, and glory, and for the heart to feed upon them, that the world be not as a weight upon their ſpirits; which hath already drowned, enſnared, perverted too many, and is the very bane of profeſſion, if not to the falling ſhort of the Kingdom of God, yet as to their own comfort, & their ſerving the Lord in their Generation. Jeſus Chriſt never much honored a worldly Profeſſor, or if ſo, if the world at laſt • ook hold of him, • b • aſt w • s upon him.

1. In retiring times the Lord calls to waiting, a patient waiting; I charge you that you ſleep not, nor awake my Lov • till he pleaſe, ſaith the Spouſe, Cant. • . 7. The Soouſe was contented to wait for him: That word of Eſ • y chap. 52. 12. ſhould be pondered by all that fear the Lord; For ye ſhall not go out in haſt, nor go by flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Iſrael will be your Re • eward. The word refers to the day of the Captivity; they ſhould not go out by haſt, but ſee the Lord going before them by ſome ſignal providence or other, as a call to them to go forth: Then the Lord faith he would be their Rereward, though the Enemy purſue them, they ſhould not be able to harm them; the Lord in ſome Cloud or Pillar of Providence or other, will call • orth his People, and they ſhall hear his voice, and follow him.

Precipitancy is the iſſue of unbelief, men do not hang upon the Arm of the Lord, when impatiency carries them to ſuch precipitancy.

Specially let us take heed to this, When the Lord is caſting in ſuch Harbingers as fore-runners of his coming, by ſigns and wonders in the Heaven • , and on the Earth, and on the Seas; yea, it may be by special Viſiſion to ſome of his Servants, and the expectation of Saints generally raiſed to look for him. Oh let us wait, for he will bring diſtreſſe upon his Enemies, that they ſhall walk as blind men; Neither ſhall their silver nor their Gold be able to deliver them in the Day of the Lords Wrath upon t • em, Zeph. 1. 17. For behold the Lord cometh out of his place, to puniſh the inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity, and the Earth ſhall diſcloſe her • lood. Iſa. 2 • ▪ v. laſt.

11. As Saints are patiently to wait, ſo alſo to take heed that they do not fall aſleep: I ſay, the Lord delayeth, &c to let them be girt up, as expecting their Lord calls▪ and be ready to follow him whereſoever he goe • h, &c. let them not ſay in their hearts, that the Lord hath for • aken his people, that he is carrying the goſpel from England, that it is like to be as in the Bo • emian day; and ſo be conſulting to make haſte by flight into other Countr • ys (unleſs ſuch whoſe caſe may be pe • uliar) verily this would be for a provocation; this would be the bitter fruit o • unbelief: lo, the Lord will hide you in your own land, and keep you as the apple of his Eye, (hid • thy ſelfe as it were for a little moment) fre • not againſt the Lord, though you are called off from your publike Aſſemblies, and your Miniſters laid as dead: Verily the Lord, who holdeth his Stars in his right hand, will cauſe them to ſhine • orth again, and they ſhall give a more glorious light; the Lord will be againſt the fooliſh Shepheards that would devour the Flock, and wil deliver them out of their mouths, and he will make them as the dung of the Earth; they ſhall no more ſpeak l • es in the Name of the Lord; but the Haileſtrom ſhall ſweep away the refuge of lyes, and the eyes of this generation ſhall ſee it. Be making ready for the glorious appearance of the Lord, and cry, Mak • haſt my bel • ved, and be thou l • ke • o • Roe, or to a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices.

12. Wait for an Annointing of Light, Zeal and Magnanimity, to execute the vengeance of the Lord upon the beaſt; for Wrath is determined from the Lord, and the Nations ſhall tremble becauſe of it, and the Cup of it ſhall ſpeedilybe put into theirhands, • hough they have ſaid, A confederacy, and there is a healing and peace among them, and the Teſtimony lyes dead, yet the Lord will come upon them as the breach of many waters. Let that word of our Lord dwell upon your hearts, for the day of it is coming upon the World, Luke 21. 25. &c. An • there ſhall be ſignes in the Sun, and in the Moon, and in the Stars, and upon the Earth DISTRESS of NATIONS, with perplexity, the Sea, and the waters roaring, mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after thoſe things which are coming on the Earth; for the Power of Heaven ſhall be ſhaken; and th • n ſhall they ſee the Son of Man coming in a Cloud, with Power and grea • glory▪ And when theſe things begin • o come • o paſs, then look up, and lift up your h • ads, FOR YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH.

No age of the world hath produced ſuch a ſeries of Signs and Wonders as this hath done, in theſe two years laſt paſt, (which are ſtill multiplied) which though neglected and blaſphemed by a generation of ſcoffers, yet are to be had in reverence by all that fear the Lord, and regard the 〈◊〉 of his hands: Which ſigns uſu •• ly be ſpeak diſtreſſe of Nations; and th • S •• n • s that obſerve them, are called to li • t up th • ir • ead • . The voice of the Lord • o Egypt in the ſignes and wonders of that •• y, was, Let my people go, that they may ſerve me, Exod. 16. 14, 16. •• . 8. 1. ch. 9. 1. 13. ch. 10. 3. And when Ph • roah refuſed • o l • t the People of God go free that they might ſerve the Lord, and hard • ned himſelf againſt the wonders of God, it proved his and the Egyptians deſtruction, and wrath was upon them, and the Lord by a ſtrong hand let his people go. But this Conſideration would require a larger diſcuſſion. Let what hath been hinted, help you to a patient waiting; let us ſay with good Jeremiah, Chap. 14. verſ. laſt. Art not thou he, Oh Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee, for thou haſt made all theſe things.

The Lord will raiſe the expectation of his Saints, (as he hath already begun) and then he will come into them, Pſal 9. 15. then, 'tis but for a moment, a little moment, nay, but as it were, a little moment, ſcarce to be call'd a little moment, but as it were ſo; and the indignation ſhall be over-paſt: The Lord would aſſure his poor people▪ That he waits but his ſi • teſt ſeaſon, as if delay were more grievous to him than to his people: Who would not wait for ſuch a God? Oh! bleſſed be all they that wait for him, Iſa. 30. 8. Take that word which the Lord hath ſpoken to one or another of his poor ſ • rvants, Pſ. 3 • . 34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he ſhall exalt thee to inherit the land when the wicked are cut off: THOU SHALT SEE IT.

Amen. FINIS.