THESE last dayes, this last part of the time of this old World, in the beginning of which our Lot is fal­len to Be, is that part of time, in which all the Bro­phesies in Scripture (except those that particularly re­late to the World to come, the new Heavens and the new Earth) will have their compleat performance: it's the time in which they all meet, as the lines of the Globe in the Center.

Hence it is, that the Lord doth so complain of his Peoples Deafness and Blindness, and checks them for it ( Isa. 42.18, 19, 20.) Hear ye DEAF, and look ye BLIND, that ye may see. Who is BLIND but my Servant? or DEAF as my Messenger that I sent? Who is BLIND as he that is perfect, and BLIND as the Lords Servant? [Page 2]Seeing many things, but thou observest not: opening the Ears, but he heareth not. Notwithstanding the light of a multitude of Prophesies shining round about him, Jacob is still Blind; notwithstanding the Voice of strange Providences, performing Prophesies sounds in his ears, yet this Blind Servant of the Lord is still Deaf; he opens his ears, but he hears not; notwithstanding he sees the wonderful Works of God performing the Words of God, yet through Blindness he observes not the Lords mean­ing in them; he observes not that which the Lord would have him to observe, and doth so plainly hint out to him by his Word and Works: he sees not the Way the Lord would have him to Walk in; hears not the Voice that cryes, This is the Way, walk in it. Therefore doth the Lord complain with an Admiration; Who is BLIND but my Servant! DEAF as my Messenger! Who is BLIND as he that is perfect, and BLIND as the Lords Servant!

To clear Jacob's Eyes, to take away those thick scales of darkness, that (through various kinds of distempers and temptations) are grown upon them, that they may See; and to open his deaf Ears that he may Hear: the Lord will deal with Jacob according to the tenour of these words I have chosen to treat of.

It seems necessary before I come to the Words, that I mind two things; The Time to which, and the Persons to whom, this Prophesie in a special manner belongs.

In the 24, 25, 26, and 27. Chapters, is a continued uninterrupted Discourse, of what great things the Lord will do for and among his People.

That it hath a particular and peculiar Relation to the last times; and that these dayes wherein we live, are those last times, I suppose will be readily granted, and therefore I need not use words to prove it.

And that this Prophesie hath Relation to the Gentiles, I suppose is as clear; not onely the Prophet's speaking of the Isles (of which the natural Seed of Jacob had no possession) but the Work of God it self treated of, makes it evident.

This- Earth which the Lord saith he will Empty, in the 24. Chapt. some would restrain to these Islands: but I would rather say, we are to understand by it, the whole Antichristian Earth, Babylons Earth, the old Serpents Earth, in which he is bruising the Heel of the Womans Seed; Both, because we find the Prophet speaking of the utmost parts of the Earth (in the 16. ver. of the 24. Chapter) and because he po­sitively saith (in his 28. Chapt. which hath Relation to this time al­so) I have heard from the Lord God of Hosts, a Consumption even deter­mined upon the whole Earth.

But many particulars in these Chapters, tell me also; That this Work of God here spoken of, shall have its beginning in the Islands; and from thence issue forth to the other parts of the Earth: therefore saith the Prophet, Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the WORLD with Fruit.

Further, This People to whom this Prophesie doth belong, are a People, that having been afflicted formerly by their Enemies, the Ser­pents brood, have encountered, Smitten those Enemies of theirs: Hath he smitten him, as he SMOTE those that smote him?

Again, They are a People, that at present are under the Smitings of their former smitten Enemies: Hath he SMITTEN him as he smote those that smote him? And that which strengthens me in inter­preting these smitings, to be the smitings of these two Seeds against each other, is, what the latter part of the Verse speaks: Or, is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him? I can see no rea­son why these smitings, may not be the smiting of the two Seeds of each other, as well as the slaying here mentioned; is their slaying of each other.

Again, They are a People, that foreseeing the rising up of these their old Enemies to smite them afresh, endeavour to prevent them, and bring them under, (in the 26. Chap. 17, and 18. Verses) Like as a Wo­man with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cryeth out of her pangs; so have we been in thy sight O Lord. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind, we have not wrought any deliverance in the Earth, neither have the Inhabitants of the world fallen. Out of a deep apprehension of the evil approaching, great anxiety of Spirit, and pain of Heart, puts them upon earnest endeavours, to bring down the Enemy that is arising, to hinder the old smitings again: But all will not do, nothing is brought forth but wind; no deliverance is wrought in the Earth; the Inhabi­tants of the world fall not; but instead thereof, they fall themselves to the death; Thy DEAD men shall live, &c.

So that now I suppose, I may without presumption say, This is our Scripture; belongs to us, as a teaching Lesson, particularly appointed for us at this day to learn.

The Words contain, the Work the Lord will perform upon Sion and Jerusalem; till which is performed, he will not punish the stout heart of the King of Assyria, nor burn the Rod with which he is scourging and correcting his People for their unchild-like carriage to­wards him their Father.

In which there is,

1. A sore Affliction, Verse 7.

2. A Cordial to bear up the heart of Jacob, from sinking under the severity of the Rod, V. 8.

3. The Cause of it, Sin; implyed in Ver. 9.

4. The End of this Affliction; which is two-fold.

1. To take this Sin away, expressed Ver. 9. And as the proper effect of this,

2. To cause Jacob to take root, and Israel to blossom and bud, Ver. 6.

1. It's a sore and dreadful Dispensation; not only smiting, but smiting to blood; not only drawing blood, letting out a little bad blood, but the very Life blood, SLAYING.

It's the same manner of smiting with which Jacob in former times smote his Enemies. It's the same manner of slaying, as Jacob shall (af­ter he comes out of this cleansing Dispensation) slay his Enemies withal. For, though the Prophet speaks here in the Present tense, ARE SLAIN; yet of necessity we must refer it to the future; for, we cannot rationally conceive, slain men can slay men: Therefore we must look upon this, as one of those Scriptures, wherein the Lord is pleased to call things that be not, as though they were, as the Apostle speaks; and that out of a gracious design, to strengthen our Faith; signifying thereby, the certainty of the thing; that it's as certain as if it were in present action.

Poor Jacob goes into by-wayes, wayes of his own invention, to save his Blood, to save his Life, and behold he loses it; making good that saying of our Lord, He that seeks to save his Life, shall lose it. Sinning Jacob (in his Laodicean frame of Spirit) cryes out with the sloathful person ( Prov. 26.13.) A Lion is in the Way, a Lion is in the Street the Lord would have me pass through; and fleeing from this Lion, a Bear meets him, and tears him and rends him, as Amos speaks.

But lest the drooping Spirits of feeble Jacob should sink and dye, under this trying and rending Dispensation, under these Bloody smitings his Sin hath brought upon him.

2. Here's a Soveraign Cordial ready, to revive him, to sup­port him.

The Lord hath measured out the Affliction of Jacob, and meted it in the measure of Grace and Love. The end of all is, Grace and Love to Jacob, that he may be purged from his Iniquity, and his Sin taken away; that he may be so far from being utterly destroyed, as that he may fill the face of the World with Fruit. Yea, this very Affliction, (these smi­tings and slayings that pass over him) shall have the Love of a Father written upon it, he shall be able to read a Fathers Love in and through all. It shall not be beyond measure, but in measure; God will not suffer Jacob to be tempted beyond what he is able to bear; as the Apostle speaks.

But, fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all Nations, yet will I not make a full end of thee; but will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished; and in the LATTER DAYES ye shall consider it ( Jer. 30.10,11, & 24. V.) When the Affliction hath shot forth to such a measure, to such a degree, to the working such an Ef­fect (which is humbling for, and purging from Sin) then will the Lord DEBATE with it. When the Lord hath finished his whole Work upon Sion, then will he Punish the stout heart of the King of Assyria; when the Assyrian Rod would carry on the Affliction of Jacob farther than the Lord hath purposed it shall be, then will he Debate with it.

How will he Debate with it?

By this Rough Wind, I understand the same with the smitings and slayings before mentioned: onely, by this difference of expression, the Lord would have us to understand the purging nature of the Affliction; that the Lord will by this Wind, by this Affliction, as thorowly purge and cleanse his People from their Sin, as the Husband-man cleanses his Corn from its Chaff by winnowing it in the Wind. And this Rough Wind, these smitings and slayings, this sore Affliction, will the Lord stay, put a stop to.

But when, and how?

In that day in which the Lord hath appointed the East Wind to blow; which is, when the Rough VVind, the smitings and slayings, the Affliction, hath done its work for which it was sent, upon Jacob; then, in that day, will the Lord stay this Rough VVind, put a stop to these smitings and stayings, take away this Affliction: And that, by ‘The East VVind.’

We shall see what VVind this is (that taking place at its appointed [Page 6]time, shall stay the preceding Rough VVind) if we look into the Type ( Exod. 14.21, 23.) Moses stretched out his hand over the Sea, and the Lord caused the Sea to go back by a strong East wind all that Night, and made the Sea dry Land, and the VVaters were divided; and the Children of Israel went into the midst of the Sea upon dry Ground; and the VVa­ters were a VVall unto them, on their right hand and on their left. This East VVind, is that which ( Isaiah saith in his 51. Chapter) dryed the Sea, the Waters of the great Deep; that made the depths of the Sea (dividing it) a VVay for the Ransomed to pass over; and that, when the VVaves thereof roared.

When the Rough VVind, the smitings and slayings, the present Affli­ction hath wrought its proper Effect upon Jacob, then is the time come, and a strong East VVind from the presence of the Lord shall blow and stop the breath of the Rough VVind. The Lord will so deal with this Sea of Jacob's trouble, the VVaves whereof are roaring upon poor Jacob, as that, a VVay through the Sea, a VVay through the Rough VVind, a VVay through the very smitings and slayings of the Enemy, shall be made and found out, for Jacob to escape. And what then? The Light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his holy One for a flame, and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his bryars (that are scratching and tearing the flesh of distressed Jacob) in one day, Chap. 10.17. In ONE day: A day known to the Lord; even that day, wherein he will (staying his Rough Wind by his East Wind, putting a stop to the Ene­mie's smiting and slaying of his Jacob, healing his VVounds) Punish the stout heart of the Assyrian, and the glory of his high looks; consuming his glory, that they shall be (as feeble and weak) as when a Standard-bearer fainteth.

To prevent Objections that might arise, I lay down this Position: That, this smiting and slaying of these two Seeds of each other, hath re­lation, not to several Generations (Father and Son) but shall have its per­formance to the full, in the space of the time of one Generation; And that upon these grounds.

1. Because the Prophet throughout this large Discourse, speaks of a particular day; In that day, and that day, saith he; and that in distin­ction from the VVorlds day. This is a day, wherein the Lord comes to empty the World, to empty the Earth; and this VVork of his upon Jacob, is but in order to it.

2. Because this Evil the Lord brings upon Jacob, is altogether out­ward and temporal; it relates not to Eternal matters; it respects the Body, not the Soul. It's like unto that Affliction the Lord laid upon the [Page 7]Children of Israel in the VVilderness; that, related to their Bodies dea [...]h in the VVilderness, that deprived them of an earthly Canaan: but it would be very uncharitable to say, those that perished in the VVil­derness (because of that Judgement) were excluded the Heavenly Ca­naan, of which the Earthly was a Type.

3. Because otherwise, the Promise of restraining and measuring out the Affliction, stopping it when it hath brought forth such an Effect, would not (nor could not) yeeld such strong comfort and consolation to poor Jacob, as it seems to me the Lord intends it should: for what great comfort would it be, for the Father to know, that his Son, his Child, shall upon such and such conditions be delivered from the Evil that shall yet destroy him.

4. If so be that this measuring out the Affliction, here spoken of, were only its ending in the destruction of the present Generation, upon whom it falls; then, what difference is there between an Old Testament, and a New Testament Measure? The Measure of the Old Testament, was the destruction of that Generation of rebellious Jacobs, and saving their Children, their little Ones, whom their unbelief said, would be destroy­ed together with themselves; and if it be not otherwise now, wherein doth Christ appear to be a better Mediator, of a better Covenant, established upon better Promises; as is said, Heb. 8.6.

Lastly, The Lord in this very Scripture it self, doth clearly hint thus much, by speaking in the Present tense; Is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him? that the SAME GENE­RATION of Jacobs Seed, who are smitten, and part of whom are slain, by their Enemies, shall get up again and slay them with a greater slaugh­ter: limiting it to a short space of time for performance of it.

3. The CAUSE that brings this Sore & Dreadful Dispensation upon the Seed of Jacob, is, their SIN. This is strongly and closely implyed in the 9. Verse; For if the taking away of Sin and Iniquity be the End of its coming, then of necessity Sin is the Cause of its coming.

This is a People ROBBED and SPOILED; they are all of them SNARED IN HOLES, and they are hid in PRISON-HOUSES: they are for a PREY, and none delivereth: for a SPOIL, and none saith, Restore. VVho gave Jacob for a Spoyl, and Israel to the Robbers? did not the Lord, He, against whom we have SINNED? FOR they would NOT VVALK IN HIS wAYES, neither WERE THEY OBE­DIENT uNTO HIS LAW: Therefore he hath poured upon him the FuRY OF HIS ANGER; and it hath set him on fire round about, &c. Isa. 42.22, 24, 25. Ver.

It's Jacobs Sin that Causes the Lord to visit him in wayes of Affli­ction and Correction; it's his Sin that Causes the Lord to lay upon him his Fatherly Chastenings and Rebukes; and that in Love, that being cleansed from Sin, he might be a partaker of his Holiness.

Consider Isa. 59.1, 2. Behold, the Lords hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But YOUR INIQUITIES have separated between you and your God; and YOuR SINS have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. How nearly this Scripture doth concern us, will appear, if we consider it doth not on­ly speak of what God will do in the last dayes, but to the Islands also, (V. 18.) We see here the Lord in a posture, ready to save and to hear his People: His Hand is not shortened, it's ready prepared to save; his Ear is not heavy, it's open to hear. There's no such thing, as the Time being not come, on the Lords part, to hinder him from saving Jacob: But it's Jacob's Sin, that Causes the Separation between him and his God; It's his Sin, that Causes these Hidings of the face of his God from him: It's his Sin, that retards his Salvation.

It's not any thing in the Enemy, it's not to ripen his Sin, that he may fill his Measure, that so the Justice of God may fully seize upon him (as some vainly conceit) that is the reason, why the Lord suffers this Affliction to befall his People.

No, it's Jacob's own Iniquities [your Iniquities] it's Jacob's own Sins [your Sins] that Causes God to separate himself, and hide his face from him. Was it, think we, for the Assyrians sake, that the Lord might take an occasion against him to destroy him, to be as a fire and a flame to him to burn him up? Or, for Sion's and Jerusalem's sake, for the sake of that Work the Lord had to perform there; that the Lord made him the Rod of his Anger against his People, and by him sorely Afflicted him, suffering him to be as Bryars and Thorns, tearing and rending their flesh? Surely it was for his Peoples sake: Had not their Sins made a Work for the Lord to perform upon them by a Rod of Cor­rection, the Assyrian had never exalted himself over them. No, the Lord loves his People better than so; if he Correct and Afflict them, it's for their own sake; not for the sake of any other, that through his Peo­ples Affliction, he might destroy them. The Lord loveth Jacob so, that he will give men for him, and People for his Life: but we never find the Lord giving up his People for the sake of any other under Heaven; either for their good, or for their hurt. Nothing can bring Affliction up­on Jacob but his own Sin.

And Jacob's Sin brings Affliction and Sorrow upon him; even then, [Page 9]when the Lord is ready (his hand is open, prepared) to bestow Salvation upon him; when the Lords time is come to hear and save him: yea, even then, when the Lord is waiting to be gratious ( Isa. 30.18.) There­fore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you: That the Pro­phet here speaks of the same Time, and to the same People, he speaks of and to, in his 27. Chap. will clearly appear, if the whole Chapter be seriously considered. This waiting of God to be gratious, is while Jacob is under sore rebuke and trouble, as the preceding (17.) Verse manifests. The Lord waits that he may be gracious. Heaven is ready to Save, if Earth were but as ready to be Saved. There's no Obligation, no tye upon God to shorten his hand, to hinder it from Saving, if Jacob were but prepared and ready to receive Salvation. Therefore (saith the Prophet) will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you. How will the Lord exalt himself, that he may have mercy? In Judgement; for the Lord is a God of Judgement. The Lord will exalt himself and his Glory, by his judging of Jacob; and while this correcting Judge­ment is working its natural Effect (by the help of the co-working of the mighty Spirit of God) in the heart of Jacob; he waits to be gracious, waits to Save: he waits the good hour, wherein (his Corrections ha­ving wrought the desired Effect) he may be gracious; his Grace may abound above Jacob's Sin, in delivering him out of the hands of all his Enemies, that he may serve him without fear in Holiness and Righte­ousness before him all his dayes.

Thus was it with Jacob in the Wilderness of Old. The Lord was rea­dy to give him the Promised Land; the Time was come, for him to pos­sess it; the Iniquity of the Amorites was full, the Enemy was ripe for Judgement: yea, the Lord told him so, by the mouth of his two faith­ful Witnesses, Caleb and Joshua ( Num. 14.8, 9.) They are bread for us, their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us. But Jacob was not ready to receive it; his Sin hinders his Possession.

This is our Case. It's our own Sin, (and not anothers) that hath hin­dered our Salvation, and brought a sore Affliction upon us. And that too, at a Time, when the Lord's hand was not (nor is not) shortened (by any Consideration of a Time, or any thing else on his part) but is prepared, ready to Save.

It's only our own Sin that stands in the way of our Salvation; it's that, that Causes the present Hidings of the face of our God from us: by it we have as it were Caused God to go out of that path of Salva­tion, he was graciously and wonderfully going on in; and to steer ano­ther course, that he may take away our Sin, that which hinders his sa­ving [Page 10]of us; and to wait till this Let be taken out of the way, that he may be gratious unto us, and Save us.

Q. It may be asked, What are those sins which have hindered our Salvation; by which we have provoked the Lord our Father so se­verely to chastise us?

An. I had thoughts to have enlarged upon this Subject; but lest I should grieve the Spirits of any; and hoping that a word, a hint, may prove sufficient, I shall do no more.

This SIN, which hath brought Affliction upon us, which hath pro­voked the Father of mercies to chastise us with bloody stripes to take it away, is that which hath made us, both unfit for God to use in, and unable to do the Work the Lord hath appointed to be done by his Peo­ple. Any Sin less than such Sin, the Lord would have born with, and the Intercession of our Mediator would have prevailed for us; as the Children of Israel of old in the Wilderness, through the Intercession of their Mediator, were many times born with, and found favour and grace from God, till they came to sin that Sin which unfitted them, and put them out of a capacity, to receive that great Gift of his Grace and favour he was in a readiness to bestow upon them, and to do that Work the Lord had to do by them.

Now I would only Query, whether some parts and parcels of this provoking Sin, be not these?

First, Love of this Old World. This is a killing Sin, most pernitious to Jacob's Happiness: while this remains, he cannot be a fit Instrument for the Lord to use, and so not fit for Deliverance. See what the Apo­stle John saith of it, (1 Joh. 2.15.) Love not the World, neither the things that are in the World: If any man love the World, the Love of the Father is not in him. The reason of this, the Apostle James tells us, ( Jam. 4.4.) The friendship of this VVorld is enmity with God: whosoe­ver therefore will be a friend to the VVorld, is the Enemy of God. How much, and how powerful this Sin hath prevailed amongst us, and how far it hath hurried us into other provoking Evils, every seeing eye and discerning spirit, cannot but be sensible of. The reasons why I put it upon the Query, whether this hath not provoked the Lord to chastise us; are,

1. Because our Lord Christ doth so severely warn us to take heed of it, (Luke 21.34.) Take heed to your selves, lest at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this Life, and so that day come upon you unawares. In these words, he hath rela­tion to the two extream conditions men are in in this World, Full or [Page 11] Empty; either in a full possession of it, and so out of abundance of Love and Delight they have to it, and take in it, they drown themselves therein: Or, being Empty, out of a Love to it, they are carefully reaching after the possession of it. This he equally warns us of, and commands us to watch and pray against, upon no less penalty, than be­ing not accounted worthy to escape the Judgements of God, and to stand before the Son of man when he Comes; for when he Comes, he will nei­ther have the surfeiting drunken Lover, nor the careful Lover of this World, to be his Follower: This is clearly imployed in the 36. Verse.

2. Because our Lord Jesus, to express his hatred of this Sin, sets forth the wickedness of the VVorld at that Day when he comes in Judgement to it; by this, Love of this VVorld, (Luke 17. from the 26. to the 30. V.) As it was in the dayes of Noah, so shall it be also in the dayes of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married VVives, they were given in Marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and the Flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also, as it was in the dayes of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they buil­ded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven, and destroyed them all. The bare being exercised about these things ( Christ here reckons up as the sinful state of the World) cannot be his meaning; for all these things are either necessary to our Being (as eating and drinking) or else to our Well-Being in this Life: They are such things, as at his coming, he finds also those ex­ercising themselves about, whom yet he takes to himself to follow him, leaving the rest to Iudgement: They were all eating, and drinking, and marrying, and at the Mill, and in the field together; as well those that he takes to himself as his own Peculiars; as those that he leaves as the subjects of his displeasure. Therefore the Evil must lye some where else, it must needs lye more secret and inward; the Sin surely must lye in this, in the hearts standng in, and sitting close to these things. And this seems to me to be clearly hinted to us by Christ, while he com­mands us, though we be but on the House top, and our stuff in the House, not to go down to it; and though we be but in the field (near home) yet not to return to it. He blames us not for having Houses and Stuff, but commands us not to be so in Love with, not to six our hearts so upon our Possessions in this World, as to return to them, and be solicitous in securing of them, when he Comes to take us, to call us from them, to lead us in that Path and VVay, to do that VVork he would have us to walk in, and to do; to enable us to walk in, and to do which, it's ab­solutely necessary we forsake ALL of this World.

3. Because of Christs severity against this Sin; Remember Lots Wife: Whosoever shall seek to save his Life shall lose it. Our Lord is so severe against this Sin, that that Love to the good things of this Life, which the VVorld of Professors call a Vertue, a Duty, he warns us to flee from, lest, with Lots VVife, he make us examples of his Justice. It's not dainty food, not dilicious drinks, but eating and drinking; it's not cozen­ing and cheating, but (that which is at other times lawful) buying and selling; it's not planting curious Gardens, nor building glorious Structures, but bare planting and building; it's not wheredom nor adultery, but marrying of Wives; the Lord instances in, as the sinful state of the World, in which when he Comes he shall find them to their sorrow. So that it's not enough, that we can say, we can part with our dainties, things for delight; but can we say, we can part with, forsake (and love not) our meat and drink; that which maintains the very Being of our Bodies; and with Elijah, live upon the pure Providence of God for our Life and Being? If not, the Love of the Father is not in us, but the love of the World. And this Christ will not bear with in his People. If at such a time as this, when Christ is calling his People out of, and from the World, to his Work and Service, there be but a dram of this Love, a bare looking back towards, a hankering after this Worlds good things; but a little solicitousness after them, a going but from the House-top, a returning but back out of the field (the back-side as it were) into the House; a going but a little out of the way Christ calls us in­to, though it be but to save our Stuff, yea, our Life; this will set us in the path of Judgement, under his displeasure. Remember Lot's Wife, saith our Lord: if when I come, I find this temper in you, as sure as she was, so shall ye become a Monument of my severity. A little love to this World, but a looking back towards it hath turn'd; and as little now, but a returning back (a little way) towards it, shall again turn Living Monuments of Mercy, into Standing Monuments of Justice.

Secondly, I fear upon a serious search, it will be found that our Love to our Stuff, the good things of this Life, (to keep and maintain our possession of these) hath hurried us into such by-wayes, such cour­ses as have brought BLOOD upon us. I shall only mention two Scri­ptures, and leave it to a serious consideration.

1. If Baasha execute Justice upon the House of Jeroboam, according to the Word of the Lord, and become like the House of Jeroboam, in Sin and Wickedness: that piece of justice becomes BLOOD-GUILTI­NESSE to him; is imputed to him as Murder, and he must dye for it, (1 King. 15.29. & 16.3, 7. V.) And it came to pass, when he reigned, [Page 13]that he smote all the House of Jeroboam, he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the Lord, which he spake by his Servant Ahijah the Shilonite. Behold, I will take away the Posterity of Baasha, and the Posterity of his House, and will make thy House like the House of Jeroboam the Son of Ne­bat. And also by the hand of the Prophet Jehu, the Son of Hanani, came the Word of the Lord against Baasha, and against his House, even for all the Evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the House of Jeroboam, and because he killed him. That Blood which Baasha shed (in Obedi­ence to the Command of God by his Servant the Prophet) in a way of Justice, he walking in the same path of wickedness, is required at his hand.

2. If Jehu execute Justice upon the House of Ahab, and do it so exactly too, as that every piece of it is according to the Word of the Lord, (as the story mentions, 2 King. 9. & 10. Chapters) Notwith­standing this piece of Justice, if done so exactly according to the Rule, to the Word of the Lord; yet Jehu, through the Love of this World, not departing from the Sins of Jeroboam, but doing the Work of the Lord negligently, by halves, becomes GUILTY OF THIS BLOOD; this act of Justice is imputed to him for Murder, and the Blood is re­quired at his hand, ( Hos. 1.4.) Call his Name Jezreel; for yet a lit­tle while, and I will AVENGE THE BLOOD of Jezreel upon the House of Jehu. I need not add further.

Thirdly, Another Branch of the present Afflicting Sin, that I would mention, I conceive is, PRIDE; both NATURAL and SPIRI­TUAL PRIDE. How contrary this is to the Lord in all Ages, at al times, I need not mention; the Scriptures are full in expression of it: Therefore, much more at such a time as this, when his design is, to be ALONE exalted; against which, no Sin sets it self so much in opposi­tion as this. This Sin so extreamly unfits Jacob (were he otherwise quallified) for the Work of God, that the Lord Prov. 6.16, 17. & 13.10. Psal. 10.2. & 86.14. Deut. 17.20. Prov. 16.18. Hos. 5.5. hates it, it's Abominable to him. This Sin is the source of wickedness; by it comes contention, which brings forth persecu­tion; and this proceeds to violence, and causes Rulers in Israel to turn aside from the way of the Lord. Therefore this Sin must needs bring down a Correcting Judge­ment. But

Fourthly, And the last I shall mention is, CARNAL Minded­ness; [Page 14]Carnality of Spirit: And this I would expatiate a little upon, because it is the most Spiritual Evil, and so needs the greatest battery gainst it.

The Carnal mind of the Natural man, who is after the flesh, is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, (Rom. 8.5, 7.) this brings Death to him, ( v. 6.) And the preva­lent remainders of this Carnal-mindedness, in the Lords own people, unfits them for the Lords work, makes them uncapable of doing it, or being used in it: for this keeps them from being subject to the Law of God, the Rule of the Lord by which he will square his work: which he hath said, he will Magnify, and make Honorable, (Isa. 42.21.) By this we come to Dye, and to be Dead to the Work of God: If we would live to the Work of the Lord, we must be Spiritually mind­ed; to be spiritual minded is Life and Peace, (ver. 6.) this is that must enable Jacob to take root, and Israel to blossome, and bud, and fill the Face of the World with fruit. Carnal-mindedness is Death to Jacob, by it he becomes as a withered branch, bringing forth no fruit to the Lord: for while he is in that mind, he is not, neither can he be subject to the Law of his Work.

This Carnality of spirit, respects either, Natural worldly flesh, as Paul tels. us, Rom. 8. minding the things of the flesh, this world, and the good things thereof; which are not of the Father, but of the VVorld; for all that is in the VVorld, The lust of the flesh, the lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life, is not of the Father, but of the World: which whosoever loves, the love of the Father is not in him, (1 Joh. 2.15, 16.) of which, the Apostle Paul saith, the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world, (Gal. 6.14.) otherwise he could not have been an Apostle of Christ. Or, it respects

Religious flesh; such a frame of Spirit in matters of Religion, and Worship, as is Fleshly and Carnal; The more gross of this Sort, the Apostle Paul complains of, as those that would make a fair shew in the Flesh, that they might glory in the Flesh; and that to this unworthy end, to avoid persecution for the Crosse of Christ, ( Gal. 6.12, 13.) But (saith he) God forbid, that I should Glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world, ver 14.) This was Pauls frame of spirit, and such only are fit Christians for Christs service: There are a more refined sort of these Carnal-minded Christians; to cure whom, the Apostle Paul takes a a great deal of pains, in his three first Chapters of his first Epistle to the Corrinthians, to the 8th. verse of the fourth Chapter: These Co­rinthians [Page 15]were Christians of such a high pitch, of such high attain­ments, as the Apostle saith of them, In every thing ye are enriched, in all Utterance, and in all Knowledge, so that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Notwithstanding all this, they are yet Carnal; I could not (saith he) speak unto you as unto Spiritual, but as unto Carnal, for ye are yet Carnal.

See what Fruit this Carnal frame of Spirit brought forth in these Corinthians, and then we shall know what it is to be Carnal; to be a Carnal Christian.

1. PRIDE: Proud boasting of their attainments, a puffing up in the conceit of their own Opinion, to be more truth, and higher truth than others; vainly glorying in that wherein they differ'd from others, as if they received it not, but had it of themselves, and from themselves; exalting themselves above their Brethren, as full, and rich, reigning as Kings; looking upon themselves as wise, as strong, as honorable; whilst others (yea Apostles themselves) are accounted foolish, and weak, and are despised, and that by themselves; judged of of them. This the Apostle tells them of, and rebukes them for (Chap. 4.3, 6, 7, 8, and 10. verses) A Spiritual mind would never have brought such Fruit, but this was the fruit of their Carnallity: by this Carnal wisdom (the Apostle tels them) they deceived themselves; if we will indeed become wise, we must deny our selves in this, and become fools, that we may be wise: this is but the worlds wisdom, which is vain and foolish with the Lord; therefore let none glory with this glorying, Chapt. 3.18, 19, 20, 21. verses.

2. ENVY. I am for Paul, saith one; I am for Appollo, saith an­other; and he envies him that is for Paul: I am for Caephas, saith another; and he envies the rest: I, But I am for Christ, saith another, and he Envies all because, they are more for men than for Christ; as he thinks: I am for this, saith one, and I am for that, saith another, and he envies his Brother, because he differs from him, because he is not of his Opinion, of his Judgement, of his way: not considering, that what he hath, is but received from another; and therefore he hath not whereof to glory, nor to exult over his Brother; much less should he envy him: while ( enviously) one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollo, are ye not Carnal?

3. STRIFE. These several parties, Strive against each other, for their Opinions, those things wherein they differ from each other; which of them should be most received, and honoured as the ritchest truth, as the highest attainment; Striving and contending about, whose Parts, and Gifts are most deserving, and worthy of honour, to be fol­lowed after, and hearkned to.

4. DIVISIONS. (Chapt. 1.11, 12. and Chap. 3.3, 4. verses) It hath been declared unto me, of you my Brethren, by them which are of the house of Cloe, that there are contentions among you: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul, and I of A­pollo, and I of Caephas, and I of Christ; ye are yet Carnal: for whereas there is among you, Envy, and Strife, and Division: are ye not Carnal, and walk as Men? For while one saith, I am of Paul, and ano­ther, I am of Apollo; are ye not Carnal? The Apostle blames them not for being for Paul, or for Apollo, or for Caephas, or for Christ; or for being for them all: for saith he, Let men so account of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God (Chap. 4.1.) we are to be accounted of, you ought to honour us as such. But in this they were blame-worthy, in this they transgressed, that they were Enviously, Dividingly, Factiously for one, against ano­ther: and he that is thus for Christ, Sins, as well as he that is so for the Ministers of Christ; his being for Christ, will not excuse him while he is in this Frame and Temper of Spirit: Are not these things a knowing Men, and Christ after the flesh; of which the Apostle tels these very Corinthians, they for their parts (they Apostles) would not be guilty; Wherefore henceforth, know we no man after the Flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the Flesh, yet now hence­forth know we him no more, (2 Cor. 5.16.) The Flesh profiteth no­thing, Its the Spirit that quickneth, John. 16.63.

This Fruit a Carnal mind brings forth; those who are Spiritual (as Paul, and others) brought forth better Fruit, giving every one their Due: Christ his Due, and his Ministers their Due, and every member of the Body its Due, notwithstanding the Differences wherein every Member Differed from another; by this, keeping the Body perfect­ly joined together. Paul being Spiritual tells them, he planted, and Apollo watered, but God gave the increase: and that, neither he that planteth, nor he that watereth is any thing, but God is all, he is to have the honour of all ( Chap. 3.6, 7.) He tells them also, that Christ cannot be Divided; he is not for those that are for Apollo, more than for them, that are for Paul, nor for any party of them in con­tradiction to the rest; though by this their Carnal Spirit, they would Divide him into Parts and Parties. He tels them further, that they were to be only for him, who was crucified for them, and into whose Name they were Baptized: This is the true import of the words, Chap. 1.13, and 15. verses.

5. VVALKING LIKE MEN: Are ye not Carnal, and walk as Men? the works of the Flesh, of the fleshly Man, of the Men of the VVorld; are Hatred, Variance, Emulation, VVrath, Strife, Se­dition, Envy, and such like, (Gal. 5.19, 20, 21.) Now while we walk thus Carnally, we walk like Men, such Men, the Men of the world; not as Christians, as those that are Spiritual, that have the Spirit of Christ in them: For they that are Christs, have crucified the Flesh, with the Affections, and Lusts thereof; if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit; let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one ano­ther, envying one another. 24, 25, 26. verses.

6. UNFITNESS to receive such Truths; a making them not able to bear such discoveries of God and Christ, and his Glory, as Christ hath given him from the Father, to discover unto, and bestow upon his Peo­ple. I could not speak unto you, as unto Spiritual, but as unto Carnal, even as unto Babes in Christ: I have fed you with Milk, and not with Meat, for hitherto ye were not able to bear it; neither yet, now are ye able, for ye are yet Carnal, (Chap. 3.1, 2, 3.) These Corinthians, that were enriched in all utterance, and all knowledge, that came behind in no gift, are yet Carnal; which hinders them, that they cannot (as the Apostles did) with open face, behold, as in a Glass, the Glory of the Lord; and be (as they were) changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3.18.) No, by this Carnality of mind, they become as Babes, not able to bear strong meat, and so not fit for strong work; that VVork, which to enable his people to do, its absolutely necessary, that the Lord give unto them such a full and large discovery of himself, as this Carnality of spirit will not admit them to receive.

From these things,

• Obs. 1. This Carnality of Spirit, bringing forth these Fruits, is such a Distemper, as the Highest Christians, Christians of the Richest attainments, that are enriched in every thing; yea, waiting for the coming of the Lord; are too much, and too too often troubled with, to the great unhappiness of their own Souls, hindring the Work of the Lord, that is to be done in them, and by them: Of this Sort, were those, whom the Author to the Hebrews re­bukes; VVhen for the time ye ought to be Teachers, ye need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the Oracles of God, and are become such as have need of Milk, and not of strong meat, Heb. 5.12.
• Obs. 2. This Carnality of Spirit, opposes not Gifts, but Grace. All Gifts, all Utterance, all Knowledge may be in a Christian, together [Page 16] [...] [Page 17] [...] [Page 18]with this Carnality; So that Christians may think themselves fully prepared to meet the Lord, be waiting for his coming, and be yet Carnal: But it hinders receiving of Grace, it keeps them from being of, and submitting to, such a frame of Spirit, as is absolutely necessary to enable them, to grow from Glory to Glory, to follow Christ whithersoever he will please to lead them.

Therefore saith the Apostle unto these Corinthians, (Chapt. 1.10.) I beseech you Brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly Joined together, in the same mind, and in the same Judgement. This Same thing, this Sameness of mind, and this Sameness of Judgement, which the Apostle exhorteth, and beseeches them to, cannot be that, nor in that, which any one of these Parties strove for, against the other, that wherein any of them Differed from the other: for he rebukes them all for their Striving for, and their vain glorying in that wherein they Differed: He takes not Part with any One of their Opinions, nor Waies, but keeps close to his own Way, and his own Judgement; which was indeed that, which he had Planted them in, and upon; from the Simpli­city of which, they through Carnality had strayed; and that was Je­sus Christ, the only true foundation: Therefore saith he, ( Chap. 2.2. I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified; for other Foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, (Chap. 3.11.) Paul had planted them in this Founda­tion: this is that Same thing, he would have them all to speak of; and towards which he would have them all joined together in the same mind, and of this, he would have them all of the Same Judgement. It's impossible he could mean by this Same thing, this Sameness of mind and Sameness of Judgement in it, any One of the Parties they were Di­vided into: for he rebukes them all a like; as well he that was for Christ (who its the most probable was the best, and surely was of the best side) as he that was for any of the other: and it's as irrational to con­clude, he was for any particular Opinion of any of the Parties, wherein they differed from each other, and so beseeches them all, to be of the Same mind and Judgement with them: For as the Differences were not such as were inconsistant with the Foundation; so he seems to give them all an equal Allowance, as being such things as they had received from the same Fountain, from God: But (saith he) If any man build on this Foundation, Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Wood, Hay, Stubble, every mans work shall be made manifest, for the Day (the further revelation of the Lord) shall declare it is because it shall be revealed by Fire, and the Fire [Page 19] shall try every mans work, of what sort it is; and that which is right shall abide, and that which is wrong shall be burnt: therefore Judge nothing be­fore the time (vers. 12, 13, 14, 15. with the 5th. verse of the 4th. Chapt.) Look to the Foundation whereon ye are planted, Jesus Christ, him that was Crucified for you, him into whose name ye were Baptized, speak all the Same thing, be ye all in this, in the Same mind, and in the Same Judgement; but judg nothing before the time; neither the Gold, nor the Silver, nor the Wood, nor the Hay, nor the Stubble; but be ye Perfectly joined together in waiting upon the Lord, till his Day come, wherein he wil declare what he Allowes, & what he allowes not of, what he will have to abide, and what is to vanish away and perish. Upon this Same Principle it is, that this Same Apostle tels the Philippians, I press to­wards the Mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus: let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you: Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the Same Rule, let us mind the Same Thing. This Same Thing, is even Pressing towards the Mark, waiting patiently and tenderly, when God shall reveal even this, to those, who in any thing are otherwise minded.

This evil of Carnality, is that of which the Lord so Affectionately complains in tendernesse and pitty towards his poor Flock; and for which he so sharply deals with, and Judges the guilty, Ezek. 34.17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. verses. And as for you, O my Flock, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I judge between Cattle and Cattle, between the Rams, and the He-goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you, to have eaten up the good Pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your Pastures? And to have drunk of the deep waters, but you must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my Flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your Feet; and they drink that which you have fouled with your Feet: Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them, Be­hold I, even I will judge between the fat Cattle, and between the lean Cattle; because you have thrust with side, and with shoulder, and pusht all the diseased with your Horns, till ye have scattered them abroad: There­fore will I save my Flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judg between Cattle and Cattle. How nearly this Scripture concerns us, a due consideration of the whole of it, will quickly make us sensible. Here are such proud tramplings of the Pastures, such envious Pudling in the Waters; that though the Pastures of Gods house are good Pa­stures, yet they are made as not so; though the Waters of the Sanctuary are deep Waters, yet they are fouled, that the poor Lean of the Flock [Page 20](those who are hungring and thirsting after the fat things of Gods house) are forced if they will have any food, any relief to satisfie their weary and thirsty Souls, to feed upon that, which the fat Cattle (those who are full and rich in Gifts and Parts, and High attainments, as these Corinthians were) have trodden down, and drink that which they have fouled with their feet; their Carnal, uncomely, unbrotherly walkings. Here are such wrathful strivings, and Pushings of the strong Cattle against the poor diseased Cattle, and the poor weak Lambs of the Flock, that they are scattered abroad: This the Lord takes very much to heart: Seemeth this a small thing unto you, saith he? I have given you good Pastures, enough to feed my whole Flock; and I have given you deep Waters, sufficient for my whole Flock to drink of: And now, through Pride, do you think them not worthy to eat in my Pastures, and to drink of my Waters, (which I have provided for them, as well as for you) and so, what your selves cannot eat, you tread down, and what you cannot drink, you foul with your Feet: If you cannot keep them from it, yet by your Carnal uncomly Walking, you cause their Souls even to loath my good Pastures, and my deep Waters: and I have Lambs, and Lean, and Sick and Broken Cattle in my Flock; and do you proudly and enviously strive against these, to keep them out of my good Pastures, and from my deep Waters, that I have given them to feed upon and drink of, as well as you? Do you thrust with Side and Shoulder, and push with your Horns, these poor needy ones, till ye have scattered them abroad, as if they were not of my Flock, did not belong to my Fold? Know, saith the Lord, if this seem a small thing unto you, it doth not so unto me: I will judge of these matters, I will seek that which was lost by you, by your proud disesteem of them, not looking after them; and bring again that which was driven away by you, by your Envious striving against them; and bind up that which was Broken, by your thrusting with Side and with Shoulder, and the Pushes of your Horns; and that which is sick, will I strengthen: Thus will I deal with them whom you despise; but you, the F at and the strong, that work this mischief in my Flock, I will destroy, I will feed you with Judgement, ver. 16.

By this time (I suppose) it plainly appears, how dangerous and Pernitious this Evil is to a Christian; yea, that its so subtil, so curious a resined Spirit, that it many times enters into, and dwels in the Rich­est Christians, Christians of the highest attainments in Gifts and Parts. These Corinthians were enriched in every thing, in all Utterance, and all Knowledge, coming behind in no Gift; and that which adds to all, [Page 21]they were waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ: yet these kept not themselves free from this evil frame of Spirit. It's only the conformity to a crucified Jesus, that can expel this Evil spirit, that can Cure this dangerous distemper, that can kill this Soul-canker: But we must know, and be conformable to him, as he is a Crucified Jesus, before we can become Spiritual Christians indeed: This the Apostle strongly hints to us, while he tells the Corinthians; I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him Crucified. Also the great displeasure of the Lord, against this Sin, this Carnality of Spirit, which brings forth Proud-boastings, vain-gloryings, which brings forth Envy, which brings forth Strife, which brings forth Divisions, which causes to walk as men, and which so unfits for higher Communion and fellowship with the Lord, than at present is attained, and for higher and more Noble work, than at present the Christian is exercised in; causing an inability to feed upon strong Meat, and so to do strong work; that till Christians are cured of this Distemper, they cannot become a fit Instrument in the hand of God, to do his great Work.

How far Christians (poor sinning Jacob) at this day, have been and are (with these Corinthians) guilty of this pernitious Evil, CARNA­LITY OF MIND: and how far we have been, and are yet, from that Sweet, Heavenly, Thriving, Strengthning frame of Spirit; that Spiritual mind, that Paul, and the rest of the Apostles and compleat Christians were in, in their Day, the Day of the Gentiles (our) Espousals, let every seeing Eye and sensible Heart judge; how far we have been guilty of making a fair shew in the Flesh, glorying in it; how far we have been glorying in the Flesh, our Gifts and Parts, our Differences, our Opinions, waies of Worship, wherein we Differ from our Brethren, that yet are Planted upon the same Foundation of a crucified Jesus, Carnally dividing from each other, upon such Differences, upon such things wherein we Differ from others, as yet are but received, and received from the same Fountain, that gives to One, as well as to the other, what he hath, even the Lord Jesus Christ; Carnally envying of, Striving a­gainst, and Smiting each other, Proudly exalting our selves above, and Despising our Brethren, Thrusting and Pushing the Lambs, and Lean and Sick, and Broken of the Flock to the scattering them abroad: In these things walking like Men, the Men of the World; and not like the Children of the Heavenly Father; whose Conversation (as Pauls was) is in Heaven, above these things: And how far we come short of the Spiritnal mind, that was in the Apostle, and those who were Perfect in that Day, and the Lord expects should be in us at this day, the reflection of but a Dim Eye will clearly Discern. Now that this Evil is a peice [Page 22]of that Sin; for which the Lord is Judging his People, will appear plainly, if we seriously consider, what the Lord saith, Mal. 4.5, 6.

What great and dreadful Day of the Lord is this here spoken of? Surely, its none other, than that Day of God's coming to his People; the Day of the Lords Executing his Judgements, and pouring out his Ven­geance upon the wicked World; wherein the wicked shall be burnt up, leaving them neither root nor branch; wherein this People shall tread down the wicked; and they shall be as Ashes under the solas of their Feet, 1 and 3. verses. Before this Day come; before the Lord will bring his People from under the Mal. 3.1, 2. Isai. 10.5.12. and 27.7. Cant. 6.4.13. Isai. 4.5, 6. Zach. 9.14.15, Refiners fire, and Fullers Sope: Take the As­syrians Rod (the Rod of his Anger) from off their back; deliver them from under the present smitings and slayings of their Enemies, make them terrible as an Army with Banners, as the Company of two Armies; and create a defence upon them, from the Heat, Storm, and Rain, all the rage and malice of their Ene­mies, that they may goe on with Might and irresi­stable Power, as the Lightning, in the work of the Lord, devouring and subduing, treading down the wic­ked as Ashes under their Feet; slaying their enemies with a greater slaugh­ter, than ever they were able to slay them with; so that neither Root nor Branch shall be left them. Before this day of God comes, the Lord ‘Will send Elijah the Prophet.’

Either by his Messengers, or by his Providences, or by both co­working together; beget such a frame and temper of Spirit in his Peo­ple, as shall lead them to Horeb, to the Mount of the Lord, where God himself at first revealed his Will to his Chosen; led them into that State and Condition, wherein the Lord met with them, and was with them, and manisested himself unto them at the first, in the Day of their Espousals, that Day of Love, in the glory of which the Lord so much delights, that he remembers it, and forgets it not: Isaiah also strongly hints this, whilst he tells us, The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God, (Chapt. 10.21.) as they [Page 23]shall no more crouch and bend the knee to their Smiters, for their fa­vour; so they shall no more run Carnally after Apollo, nor Paul, not Caephas; after this or that Opinion, or Way, or Party, or Man, but they shall return from these things, from being led Captive by the Pessions and Lusts such courses hurry them into, to the Lord, the Might [...]y God alone, to Jesus Christ the true Foundaton: they shall come into such a Spiritual Christ-like frame of Spirit, as shall ‘Turn the Heart of the Fathers to the Children, and the Heart of the Children to their Fathers.’

Who are these Fathers, and who are these Children, that being at a distance need a Reconciler? Surely these Fathers and Children, are not only of the True Seed of Jacob, but of that part of the True Seed too, who shall be used in the Work of the great Day of God, spoken of before: the Stress, the absolnte Necessity, the Lord laies upon their reconciling and uniting, strongly implies so much. The Apostle John tells us, there are little Children, Fathers, and young men in Christ, (1 John 2.12, 13, 14.) I write unto you little Children, because your sins are for­given you for his Name-sake; I write unto you Fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning; I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have over­come the wicked one. These are the strong and the weak Christians, Christians of several measures, of several Degrees, of a several Pitch, in Grace and Knowledge, these through weakness and imperfection, ha­ving strayed from the Simplicity that is in Christ, run into Variance and Strife, and Envyings, and Divisions, biting and devouring one an­other; Walk like the Men of the World, and not as the Children of one Father, the Father of Mercies, the Heavenly Father: Now this unchild-like temper must be taken away, by a Reconciliation wrought between these Fathers, and Children, turning the Hearts of these se­veral sorts of Christians towards each other, that they may walk as becomes the Children of one Father, of such a Father, as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is.

They shall be of one Heart, serve the Lord with one consent; there shall be such a Heart-love, begotten in them towards each other, as, that all Variance, all Division, all Distance, shall be swallowed up; there shall be no Thrusting, nor Pushing, nor Trampling upon, nor despi­sing one another; being by a reconciling spiritual frame of Spirit, brought to see themselves the Children of one Father; they shall sit at one Table, eat in one Pasture, drink of the same Water together, [Page 24]because the Lord provided the same for all his Children; then we shall not hear them quarrelling with, and judging of one another; but then, this shall be the voice, Come, all ye that love the Lord Jesus Christ, Come, feed in his good Pastures, Come, drink of his deep Waters, that he hath provided for you; all ye Children of our Heavenly Father, who bear his Image upon you. And this must be, saith the Lord, ‘Lest I come and smite the Earth with a Curse.’

There is such an absolute Necessity, that this Reconciliation be wrought in and among the Lords own People, whom he hath ordai­ned to be his Instrument, by which he will do the great Work of his terrible Day; that, except this be done, that cannot be done; a Curse will come upon the Earth instead of a Blessing.

Quest. What Curse is this, the Earth must be Smitten with, in case this Reconciliation between the Fathers and the Children be not wrought?

Answ. It cannot be those Judgements of God, which he will pour down upon the World by the hand of his People in this terrible day; for though that day Begin with Jndgement, it Ends with Blessing. Now a Curse is pure Judgement, without mixture of Blessing, pure wrath, without mixture of Mercy; and this Curse being put in Oppo­sition to those Blessings, which these people reconciled shall obtain; it's as much as if the Lord had said, If these Fathers and Children will be Reconciled, and Turn their Hearts to each other, I will Bless them, to the enabling them to goe forth, and grow up as Calves of the Stall, in treading down the wicked, that they shall be as Ashes under the Soals of their Feet: But if not, I will Smite all with a Curse, not only the Wicked but they themselves too: all shall be Cursed and Perish together, as that Generation that Sinned against me in the Wilder­ness, were Cursed and Perished. Mount Ebal shall be their portion, not Mount Garizim. The Lord will ‘Turn the Heart of the Fathers to the Children, and the Heart of the Children to their Fathers.’

As at the first, he took away the Partition Wall between Jew, and Gentile; between those sheep of his Fold: So now he will again take away the Partition-wall, that Carnal Dividing Spirit, that is among the Sheep of his Fold at this Day. As then he made of Twain, One New man; so now of many, he will make One Rev. 14.1. Ps. 2.6. Isa. 24.23. Mic. 4.7. Isa. 18.7. & 8 18. & 31.4. Obed. 17, 21. Psal. 48.2. Heb. 12, 22. Hill, One Mount for Christ to stand upon, and sit on as King, and [Page 25]Reign, and that for ever: this is the Place of the Name of the Lord of Hosts; the Place where he dwells: it's when his People come into this state, that the Lord will fight for them; it's upon the People of God in this state, that Deliverance shall be; upon this State (upon Mount Sion) shall come Saviours; it's this state of Jacob that makes him the Joy of the whole Earth, the Joy of the whole Earth is Mount Sion; and, this is that state, the People of God in this Gospel Day, are to come unto.

By this we see, what fruit the Lord expects his present Afflicting hand upon us, should bring forth in us; what it is he expects from us, before he will judge us fit for Deliverance, and Bestow it upon us. A forsaking our Carnal Envying, and Striving and Dividing, and the Turning of our Hearts to each other, in a true sincere Love, uniting upon the One True Foundation Jesus Christ: Other than which, no man can lay.

Abundance more might be said, to prove this, both from the Old and New Testament: Pauls Epistles yield plentiful proof, that this frame of Spirit, is the Onely true Gospel frame. But I forbear.

If it be objected, That we are Commanded in several Scriptures, in the Old and New Testament, to be separate and not touch the un­clean thing, and to come out of Babylon, upon the penalty of being partaker of her Sins, and so of her Plagues: therefore how can this union pleaded for, be according to the mind of God?

I Answer. Its a certain truth; that touching the unclean thing, and abiding in Babylon, are inconfistant with this Union pleaded for. A Holy Separation from the unclean thing, and coming out of Babylon, of neces­sity must precede this Union, otherwise it cannot be; for in a Defiled house the Lord will not dwell. But yet we must be careful lest we call that unclean, which the Lord doth not account so; and so cast away that which the Lord will gather up as his; and call that Babylon which the Lord looks upon as belonging to his Sion, though weak and infirm: Therefore, it's necessary, to resolve this Case, that we consider what is to be understood by this unclean thing, and by coming out of Ba­bylon.

1. By coming out of Babylon, we must of necessity understand, com­ing out of whole Babylon; her Civil Tyrannical State, and her Religious Idolatrous State: otherwise, we shall neither be fit for, nor can we come unto this Union. To prove this, a multitude of Arguments and Scriptures might be brought; but taking it for granted, I would one­ly caution this: There are Tyrrannies and Idolatries, which are not Properly her's (for every thing that is like Babylon is not Babylon) and [Page 26]we must be careful lest we mistake one for the other, by which many Erring Inconveniences may follow.

2. By the unclean thing; I conceive we are to understand,

1. What soever is inconsistant with the only true Foundation, Jesus Christ, laid by the Apostles; That we must not touch with, have any fellowship with, or be united unto: for, what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteonsness? what concord hath Christ with Belial? (2 Cor. 6.14, 15.) Now those Petty Differences (I call them Petty, because they can­not so much as move the Spiritual Man; he sees them, what they are, and lives above them; they are onely great and powerful, to the disturbance onely of the Weak and Carnal Christian. I say those Petty Differences) that are among the People of God (who are planted in, and built upon this true Foundation) are so far from being to be cast off (as not agreeing with the Foundation) as that they are not to be Judged, ( Judge nothing before the time, saith the Apostle) but to be let alone, to be born with, till the Day declare of what sort they are. The Apostle reckons up many several sorts; Gold, Silver, Precious Stone, Wood, Hay, Stubble (1 Cor. 3.12.) the Carnal Christian looking upon these, as very Heterogenious matter; such an Impure mixture as is not to be suffered; would burn up the Wood, the Hay and the Stubble in the Fire of his own Spirit (not considering, that thereby he would rob the Gold and Silver, and the Precious Stone, of some part of their Glory, by the smutting smoke of his wrathful Fire: by this manifesting himself, to be one Spi­rit with that combustible matter, which yet he would destroy, seeing he is so easily set on fire) but, saith the Apostle, the Spiritual man; Judge nothing before the time: let them alone, till the Day declares and tryes of what sort every mans work is; till the Lord clearly manifests to the sincere in heart (who are yet otherwise minded, who yet Differ about, and are not able to Distinguish between these things) what he will have to Abide, and what he will have to be Burnt. 13. and 15. verses, com­pared with Phil. 3.15.

2. The meer Natural Man, who hath never passed through the New Birth: the Son of Old Adam, with all his fleshly and Dead Works; Those Carnal uncleannesses under the Law; several Diseases, the Menstruous Corruptions of Nature, the Dead Man, &c. which were then made unclean in that day, as to that worship, were Types of this. This is clearly the scope of the Apostle (2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16, 17.) be ye not un­equally yoked with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidell? wherefore come out from among them, and be ye seperate saith the Lord, and [Page 27]touch not the unclean thing, &c. Believers, and Unbelievers Belie­vers and Infidels, are not to unite together, are not to be Cemented to­gether in one building: The Unbeliever, the Natural man, the Son of Old Adam, is that unclean thing, which the Believer, the Spiri­tual man, the Son of the New Adam, Jesus Christ, is to come out from, to be separated from, and not to touch with, if he will be the Temple of the living God, for him to Dwell in, and walk in.

3. IDOLS: What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, &c. Idols, are a part of that unclean thing, which those who will be the Temple of the living God, must be separate from, and not touch with. Babylon and her Idols, All will grant, yea, the Carnal fry of Christians will grant, that they are to be separated from; even while in the mean time, they are hugging a more Refined sort of Idols in their hearts, crying out against another, as guilty of Idolatry and Wil-worship, while yet they mind not the Idols in their own Hearts: Dividing, withdrawing communion from each other (looking upon each other, as not the Sheep of Christs Fold) for their Opinion, their waies-sake, for the sake of those things wherein they Differ; notwithstanding they all are by the mighty working of the Spirit of God, planted in the true Foundation, Jesus Christ, putting their Opinions, their Waies, their Dif­ferences, in the Room and Place of the Foundation Jesus Christ; ma­king them the Standard and Boundary of their Commu­nion and Separation, by which they become their I­dols; from which the Lord in his due time, will sepa­rate them; induing them with such a Spiritual frame of Spirit, as should abolish their Idols; the Idols he shall utterly abolish, See Tilling­hurst, upon this Scripture. Isa. 2.18.

These things of a Religious Nature, may be, and too too often are, as really the Heart Idols of Carnal Christians, as the Silver and the Gold of this World, are either unto such, or unto the men of the World. Of these Heart Idols, the Lord expresses exstream detestation, Ezek. 14.3, 4, 5. Son of man, these men have set up their Idols in their Hearts, and should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, thus saith the Lord God, Every man of the house of Israel, that setteth up his Idols in his heart; the Lord will answer him accor­ding to the multitude of his Idols.

And these Religious Heart Idols, when we are joined to them, make us so tenatious, so obstinate, so perverse, that there is no dealing with us: God himself thinks not fit to deal with us while in this [Page 28] Condition, (except in a way of Correction, to scourge them out of us) but saith, Ephraim is joined to Idols, let him alone (Hosea 4.17.) when men have Idolatrous hearts, adoring either the Idols of this World, the Silver and the Gold, the good things of this Life; or those more curious Idols, those Religious things; wherewith a world of Professors cheat their own poor Souls (while they hug their Form for the Power, while they make their Opinion, and Way, the Measure and Standard of their Religion) there's so little hope of them, that saith God, He is joined to Idols, let him alone; as Solomon saith of his Conceited man, (Pro. 26.12.) Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a Fool than of him: So it's as true, there's more hope of a meer Natural man, that never knew what be­longs to making a Profession of the Name and worship of God; than of such a one, whose Opinion, or Way, or Judgement, are his Heart Idols; Let him alone, saith God, I will answer him (deal with him) by my self, and that so, as ye shall know that I am the Lord, (Ezek. 14.7, 8.) None can deal with such, but the Lord, and he deals with such a People by terrible things, utterly abolishing the Idols, that the Lord alone may be exalted, See Isa. 2.17, 18, 19. verses.

4. Covetousness, which is Idolatry, (Col. 3.15) This is another part of the unclean thing, which must be separated from, and not touch­ed with. This Sin was then, of such an unclean Nature, that it caused the Lord, (who was among them, and in the midst of them) to with­draw from Israel, upon which they fell before their Enemies; neither would the Lord be with them, till they had cleansed themselves by separating from it, ( Joshua 7.1. and 12. verses) It was Covetousness made Achan put forth his hand to the accursed thing, and to steal from the Lord part of his due, that he had consecrated to his use (as appears by ver. 11. compared with Chapter 6.18.) And the same that the Lord Consecrated to himself in that day, he hath said, he will again consecrate to himself in these last daies, when Sion shall arise and thresh, and beat in pieces many People, (Mich. 4.13.) and he will as little bear with it, in his People now as then; for this is One of Babylons Sins, for which the Lord Judges her, (Jer. 51.13.) and it's for the Iniquity of our Covetousness, that the Lord is wroth with us, and smites us, (Isa. 57.17.)

Now it's worth our searching into, whether Achans sin, hath not been one great cause of that Stop put to the Work of God, and of that great Affliction which is fallen, and is yet falling upon poor sinning Ja­cob, at this Day? Instead of Consecrating the gain unto the Lord; [Page 29]have we not taken it to our selves, and put it among our own Stuff? From this Sin will the Lord separate his People, making them his Redeemed from the Earth, (Rev. 14.3.) Notwithstanding this, and that the Apostle tells us, ( Eph. 5.3.) that Covetousness ought not to be so mnch as named amongst us, as becometh Saints: Yet, how parti­al have poor Carnal Christians been in this day! a small difference, an Opinion, hath caused them to Divide, to Separate and Flce from each o­ther, as from Monsters; while in the mean time, this pernitious, Ido­latrous Evil, is not so much as taken notice of: Nay, looked on as a Vertue, or at least past over as an Infirmity: For this (as well as for other Evils) the Lord is Judging his People.

Let these things be Separated from, and I think I may safely with­out presumption say, the People of the Lord will quickly come into such an undesiled united State, that all that see it, will praise and bless it, as the Daughters, the Queens, and the Concubines did, Cant. 6.9. such a Light will shine round about it, and such a Glory will arise up­on it, that there shall be such a Confluence unto it, of those who being in Love with its Glory, are converted into it; that we shall cry out with Isaiah, Who are these that flee as the Clouds, and as the Doves to their Windowes, Isa. 60.1, 5, 6, 7, and 8. verses.

I shall conclude this part of this Discourse, with the words of the 133. Psalm, Behold! how good and pleasant a thing it is, for Brethren to dwell together in (this pure) unity? It's like the precious Ointment upon the Head, (this Ointment was made of the most sweet and Odori­ferous Spices, ( Exod. 30.23, 24.) so that when it was poured out, it made a most fragrant savour, in the Nost­rils of all those that were near unto it) that run down upon the Beard, even Aarons Beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments; it's the very Image of the holiness of God, stampt upon the Royal Priesthood of the Lord, his Holy Nation and Peculiar People, that must shew forth the praises of him, that hath called them out of darknesse, into his marvellous Light, (1 Pet. 2.9.) And that wrought by the mighty working, and Annointing, of his Holy Spirit) It is as the Dew of Herman, and as the Dew that descended upon the Mountains of Sion, which made them both pleasant and fruitful, for there the Lord commanded the Blessing, even Life for evermore.

This is the State and Condition of his People, which the Lord will Blesse with an Everlasting Blessing, LIFE FOR EVERMORE: which State shall suffer no alteration nor Change, so long as the Son and Moon indure, till the time of the Fabrick of this World cea­ses [Page 30]to be: For upon the dwelling places of Sion, and upon her Assem­blies, (come into this State and frame of Spirit) will the Lord create a Cloud, and Smoke by Day, and the shining of a flaming Fire by Night (he will work as wonderfully as ever he did of Old) to de­fend this Glory: And there shall be a Tabernacle, for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from Storme and from Rain; even from ALL that their Enemies, can (by the help of the Powers of Darkness) be able to do against them.

We come now to consider the END of the Lord, in Correcting and Afflicting his People; which is, ‘1. To take this Sin away. This is fully expressed, By this therefore shall the INIQUITY of Jacob be PUR­GED; and this is all the Fruit, to take away his Sin.’

This Verse gathers up the preceding verses into it.

By this! by what? By the means fore-mentioned; by the Smi­tings, and the Slayings of the Enemy.

By this therefore! wherefore? Why will God make use of those means to purge Jacob? First, because the Lord will measure out the Affliction, that it shall continue no longer then this effect is wrought in Jacob. Secondly, because he hath in a readiness wherewithal to stop the Current and Stream of this Affliction, to stay this rough-wind, as soon as ever it hath wrought its effect. If the Lord did not take care of this, these means would not do the work, to which the Lord ap­points them; instead of purging only, they would destroy Jacob; in­stead of taking away his Sin only, they would take away his Being in this World.

By this therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be Purged; and this is all the fruit, to take away his Sin.

The End of God in this Affliction, is to Cleanse, and Purifie Jacob from his Sin; yea, from those sins already hinted at: From hence we may lay down this Position.

Therefore it is, that the Lord will wait to be gracious; he is waiting upon Jacob, till the means he hath appointed (the Affliction) hath wrought its effect (Washed and Cleansed Jacob from his Sin, and the Daughtets of Sion from their Filth, and Jerusalem from her Blood) that he may Deliver and Save him; that he may blesse Jacob, that [Page 31]he may Take root, and Israel may blossome and Bud, and fill the Face of the World with Fruit.

The Lord will put a Glory upon Sion; and then create a defence upon all that Glory: but first he will Wash and Purge her from her Filth, and from her Blood, (Esa. 4.) and that by the great and terrible work mentioned in the second and third Chapters; Christ will make his Spouse, Terrible as an Army with Banners, yea, as the company of two Armies: But first he will make her sick of Love, exercising her under sore Afflictions, the Smitings, and Woundings of the Watchmen, and the Robery of the Keepers of the Wall; till she be­come undefiled, looking forth as the morning, fair as the Moon, and clear as the Son, ( Cant. 5. and 6. Chapters) God will enable his People to tread down the wicked like Ashes under the Soles of their Feet: But first he will sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver, Purify­ing them, and Purging them as Gold and Silver is Purged in the Fire; Purging away their dross, and taking away all their Tin (Mal. 3. and 4. Chapters, compared with Isa. 1.15.) The Lord Christ, hath a great and glorious work to lead forth his people to do in the World: but first he writes his Fathers Name in their Fore-head; he redeems them from the Earth, from among men; makes them Pure Vir­gins, having no Guile at all in them, without fault before the Throne of God, and then they follow the Lamb whithersoever he leads them, into what Path, or whatsoever work he pleases, ( Rev. 14.) Yea, Christ hath Vials full of wrath, to pour out upon the Earth: But he will pour them out, by Angels cloathed in pure and White linen, having their Breasts girded about with Golden Girdles ( Rev. 16.) The Lord will destroy Babylon; but he will do it by his Sanctified ones, such as rejoice in his Highness, ( Esa. 13.3.) Christ hath a People that shall Reign with him; but they must first suffer with him, (2 Tim. 2.12.) If Christs Witnesses will ascend up to Heaven, as Christ did, they must first be conformable to his Death, (Rev. 11.) If it were necessary that Christ himself, though he were a Son, should learn obe­dience by the things which he suffered, (Heb. 5.8.) much more will it appear necessary, that we should through suffering learn to obey those commands, which God in these last daies hath laid upon his people, as his will they should do, which are so contrary to flesh and blood, and hard for it to bear. And if it Became the Captain of our Salvati­on, to be made Perfect through Suffering, (Heb. 2.10.) how much more Becoming is it, that his Followers, his Members, should goe on to Perfection through the same Path of Sufferings? hence it is, that [Page 32]the Apostle Paul makes this the Path, through which he expected to attain that Perfection, he so earnestly prest after, ( Phil. 3.10, 11, &c.) That I may know him, and the fellowship of his Sufferings, be­ing made conformable unto his Death: If by any means, I might attain to the Resurrection of the Dead; not as though I had already attained, either were already Perfect, &c. So here in this Prophesy, Jacob must take root, and Israel must blossome and bud; but, that he may be thus Blessed, the Lord will first Purge him from his Iniquity, and take a­way his Sin, and that by a Sore and Sharp Affliction, a Smiting, and Slaying Affliction.

I have Enumerated these Instances, to hint these two things.

1. The Agreement that there is between the Old and New Testa­ment, in holding forth to us, the Manner of Gods proceeding with his People, in order to fit them for his Salvation, and so for that Work he hath to do by them.

2. That God will not have his Work done with Defiled, but with Pure hands, according to that word, ( Job 22.30. ( He shall deli­liver the Island of the Innocent: and it is delivered by the Pureness of thine hands, or (as it is in the Margent of some Bibles) The Innocent shall Deliver the Islands. Impure, foul and dirty hands, will so sully and Besmear the Work of God, that it will appear more like Mans Work, than Gods Work; and so the Lord loses the Glory of his Works: now because he will not lose this Glory, nor suffer it to be given to A­nother; he therefore comes to his People with Smarting and Bloody Strokes, with Fire, and with Sope, to Purge and Cleanse them, that they may do his Work so, that it may Evidently appear to be Gods Work, had not Mans.

How far what hath been done, and befaln us in our daies, doth confirm this; let the Seeing Eye, and understanding Heart judge. I shall give but one Instance more to confirm the Position, and that is, Num. 23.21. and 23. verses. He hath not beheld Iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen Perversness in Israel; the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them: Surely there is no inchantment against Jacob, neither is there any Divination against Israel; according to THIS TIME, it shall be said of Jacob, and of Israel; What hath God wrought? the Sinning rebellions of Jacob was Judged, Died in the Wilderness; but this Judgement of God upon him, having Purged Jacob from his Iniquity, and taken away his Sin; that the Lord, beholds not iniquty in Jacob, neither sees perversness in Israel: but they are brought into a Purified, humble, Obedient State; According to THIS TIME it shall be [Page 33]said of Jacob, and of Israel, what hath God wrought? This is the Time, wherein they shall be Blessed with Blessings that men cannot reverse, verse 20. and no Inchantment nor Divination shall prevail against them: wherein God wil Bless him that Blesses them, & Curse him, that Curses them, Ch. 24.19. From this Time it is, that such Blessings shall attend Jacob, such great things the Lord will do for him, and by him, that those who believe the Works of God, shall with great Admiration cry out, What hath God wrought! while Jacobs Sin was upon him, he could not Possess the Promise, but is Smitten by his Enemies: But when the Corrections of the Lord upon him, had Cleansed, and Purged him from his Sin, and taken away his Iniquity; then the Promise was his Porti­on, he entred the Good Land, and none could hinder.

So it stands firm, both upon Old and New-Testament grounds; that the Cause that brings Correcting Afflictions upon Jacob, is his Own Sins, and his Own Iniquities: and the End of the Lord in Afflicting, and Correcting of him, is to take his Iniquity away, and to Purge him from his Sin.

The Lord Loves Jacob, and all his waies towards him are pathes of Love: Love is in the Bottom and End of all his Dealings with Jacob. If he Correct and Afflict him; it's in Love, in Measure, to Purge him from his Iniquity, that he may become Precious in his sight; and then in the same Love that he Corrects him, he will give men for him, and People for his Life, (Isa. 43.4.) God will deal in wrath with the Na­tions, I will make a full End of all the Nations, (Jer. 46.28.) but he loveth Jacob; though he Frowns, it's in Love; though he strike it's in Love; though he visits so sorely, that the Rod even threatens the Destruction of Jacob, yet it's Still in Love; for though Jacob provokes the Lord to Command his Enemies, to go upon his Walls and Destroy; yet this Love gives them a Check, their Measure, but make not a full End, (Jer. 5.10.) yea, though Jacob's Sins provoke the Lord to make a Desolation in the Land, his Love will not suffer him to make a full End; yet will I not make a full End, saith Jacobs Father, ( Jer. 4.27.) No, the Lord Lo­veth Jacob with an Everlasting Love. If he Correct, if he Smite, and that to the drawing of his Blood; yet, it's not to destroy, but it's only in Love, to Save him from his Sin, and so from that Destiuction his Sin would bring upon him. If the Lord be Wrath, so that he Hides his Face, it's not with Jacob, but with his Sin: The Lord Loveth Jacob [Page 34]still: In a little wrath, I hid my face from thee, for a moment, but with Everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee, saith the Lord thy Re­deemer, Isa. 54.8.

So that here's the Great End of God in his Dealings with Jacob, that he may Fit him for, and so Bestow upon him Everlasting kindness, Ever­lasting Mercy.

Though the Lord in a little wrath against our sins, Afflict so Sorely, Smite so Smartingly, that he seems as if he watched over us, to Pluck up, and to Break down, and to Throw down, and to Destroy, as he did his People of Old, (Jer. 31.28.) yet, it's in Much Mercy, Everlasting Love. If that he may ‘Cause them that come of Jacob to take Root.’

Though he seems to Pluck us up by the Roots, it's but to Transplant us into a Better Soil; To cause Jacob to take Root: Hitherto Jacobs Seed have had little or no Rooting, have only spread a little over the surface of the Earth; but now when the Lord hath Purged and Clean­sed, Lopped and Pruned Jacobs Plant, it shall take Root; He will cause them that come of Jacob to take Root; and such Root too, as that all our Enemies shall never be able to Pluck us up any more, for the Lord will watch over us to Root us and to Plant us. The same Mighty Arme, that hath Pluckt up all our Defences; even then, when we could not believe it possible (being lifted up and set on high) because ( Isa. 1, 2, 3. Ch.) the Cedars of Lebanon and the Oaks of Bashan, were the Stakes in our Hedg; and the high Mountains and Hills, and High Towers, and fenced Walls were our Defences; and Pleasant Pictures, Gold and Silver were our Ornaments, and we were strengthned by the Mighty Man, and the Man of War, the Judge and the Prophet, and the Prudent, and the Ancient, and the Honourable man, and the Counsellor, and the cunning Artificer, and the Eloquent Orator. The same Mighty Arme of the Lord of Hosts, that hath been, and still is upon all these in the midst of us, Plucking them up, and Beating them down with the Rod of his Anger, shall put forth its Almighty Power, in Rooting and Planting them that come of Jacob; I shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root; and not only so, But ‘Israel shall Blossome and Bud.’

It's not a Bare taking Root, but such a Rooting as shall bring forth a Blooming, Budding, Flourishing State; though this Winter night of Affli­ction, may cause Israel in appearance to be as a Withered Dead Tree, yet his Life shall appear in its Season, he shall Blossome and Bud; spring forth into a Flourishing State.

Israels Tree shall so flourish, so spread forth its Boughs, as that the Beasts of the feild shall have shadow under them, and the Fowls of the Heaven shall dwell in them; the fruit of the Tree shall be much, yea so much as it shall be meat for all, all flesh shall be fed of it, the whole World shall be filled with its fruit. The Isa. 27.4. and Mal. 4.1. Bryars and the Thornes ( the worldly Professors in the midst of Jacob, in his faln State) shall be burned up, and Israel the true Seed shal fill THEIR place with fruit: the Proud and the Wicked of the world shall be burnt up as stubble, and Israel shall fill THEIR place with fruit: Though through our Sin and Stubborness in it, we provoke the Lord to suffer us to be slain, to be as Dead; yet when our Sin is done away, and our Iniquities purged, we shall Arise; though we be brought to dwell in the Dust, yet, we shall Awake and Sing, our Dew shall be as the Dew of Herbs, (Isa. 26.19.) such Influences from Heaven shall descend down upon us, as that we shall Spring again, and Live and Flourish, and fill the Face of the world with fruit.

What Fruit this is, would require a large discourse to tell; and it not being my work at this time to treat of, therefore I leave it.

I shall only say this, That it's such Fruit, such excellent Fruit, of such a Divine Nature, that it causes glorious effects, that men shall fear the Name of the Lord from the West, and his glory from the Rising of the Sun; the Spirit of the Lord by his mighty working, brings forth this fruit, Isa. 59.19.

It's to this People, who are put into a capacity (by the means appoin­ted of the Father) to bring forth such fruit, that the Redeemer comes; It's this People, who are brought into this Light, upon whom the Glory of the Lord is thus Risen, that must Arise and Shine; upon whom the Lord shall Arise, and upon whom his Glory shall be Seen, (Isa. 59.20, and 60.1, 2.) These are the People to whom the Great gathering shall be, mentioned, Isa. 60.

Having Fixed the Prophesy, and Opened it, and shewed the Cause and End of the Present Affliction: I would now draw a few Con­clusions from the whole.

1. That in the Last Daies, at this Day, the Lord will use the same means to Purge, and Cleanse, and Purifie his People, that he makes use of to Destroy his and their Enemies, Outward and Sore Afflictions, Smiting and Slaying, Death it self. Jacob the true Seed, Smites the Enemy to Destruction, and the Lord permits the Same Enemy to Smite Ja­cob [Page 36]to Blood, to Pnrge him from his Iniquity, and take away his Sin.

2. That this Sore Affliction, the Lord makes use of as the means, where­by he will Purge and Cleanse his People; Ends not in Smiting only, but Proceeds to Slaying, to Blood; slain according to the slaughter of them, that are slain by him. It seems Jacobs Disease is so highly Pluretick, as the skilfullest Physitian in Heaven and Earth, can find no way to cure Jacob of his Distemper, but by letting out his Blood.

3. The sharpness of the Affliction, clearly shewes to Jacob, the Hai­nousness of his Sin. The tender Fathers of our flesh, will not lay sharp and Sore Corrections upon their Children, but for exceeding great Faulti­ness: If we see a tender Father, whipping a beloved Child till the Blood run down his back; we say, surely that Child hath committed some exceeding great fault; Much more may we say Jacob hath Sinned a Great Sin, when we see the God of Jacob, (who is the Father of Mercies, whose thoughts of Mercy are as far above our thoughts, as the Heavens are Higher than the Earth, ( Isa. 55.9.) when we see him) Smiting Jacob, and Smiting him to Blood, that he even faints under his Correcting hand; yea, so Sorely Afflicting Jacob, that were it not measured out in measures of mercy; did not the Lord in tender­ness (as it were) stand upon his watch, to put a stop to it when it comes to such a pitch, it would deprive poor Jacob of Being: This surely is an open Declaration of the Greatness of Jacob's Sin. In a case like this, we have the Lord mourning over him, ( Hosea 11.8.) How shall I give up Ephraim! How shall I deliver thee Israel! How shall I make thee as Admath! How shall I set thee as Zeboim! mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

4. The continuance of this Sore and sharp Dispensation, will be either Lengthned or Shortned, according as Jacob behaves himself under it; as he is Obedient or Disobedient to the voice of the Rod, (Isa. 1.19, 20.) If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the Land; but if you re­fuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the Sword. Jacob's willingly do­ing the will of God, may prevent this devouring Sword's passing over him; but if Jacob will not, it must have its course, saith the Lord of Hosts. This Affliction must abide till it hath wrought its Effect, Purged Jacob of his Iniquity, and taken away his Sin: So that the sooner Jacob departs from his Sin, the sooner will the Rod of Gods displeasure be taken off his back. Consider again, that place we have already discanted upon, ( Isa. 59.1, 2.) Behold the Lords hand is not shortned, that it cannot save; but your Iniquities have separa­ed between you and your God; and your Sins have hid his Face from you [Page 37]that he will not hear. The Lord is now as Able, so Ready to bestow Salvation; it's only our own Sin, that hinders his hand from Saving, and his eare from Hearing our cry: If we would but turn from our Sin (which brought the Rod upon us) the Lord would Hear and Save us immediately. The Lord is so ready to save, that he is waiting (up­on his watch) to see when we will return to him, that he may save us. Deliverance is fixed to no Time, but only to the Time of our Turning from our Sin; the sooner we Turn from it, the sooner we shall be Sa­ved; till we turn from it, we shall not be Saved; for the Rod is brought upon our back to Turn us from it; till which is done, it will not be taken off; and as soon as ever we Turn from our Sin, the Lord will take that oportunity, that Time to shew forth his Almighty power, and get him self a Name, and a Praise in the Earth, in Saving of his People.

5. From hence we may behold, The Exceeding Riches of the Grace and Love of God to his People. Though Jacob Sin, and Sin at such a rate, that compels the Father of Mercies (who had rather be giving men for him, and people for his life, giving them as the dust to his sword, and as the driven Stubble to his Bow; for precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints: notwithstanding this Father of Mercies, is so highly provoked, as that he is compelled) to give up Jacob into the hand of his Enemies; that so, (by such a sever Correction) we may be brought to return to the Rock of his Salvation, which he hath light­ly esteemed; then the remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, un­to the Mighty God, (Isa. 10.21.) yet through this dark cloud of dis­pleasure, he manifests a Fathers Love, to uphold the drooping Spirits of Sinning Jacob; In measure when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it, &c. as if the Lord had said, Fear not Jacob, though I deal thus sharp­ly with thee; know it's only to Purge, and Cleanse thee from thine Ini­quities and Sin; to Cut out the remainders of that rotten Core of Ini­quity that is in thee; to Lance those Boils of Corruption, that are yet in thy flesh unbroken; this Smiting and Cutting Dispensation, shall pro­ceed no farther. My Rough Wind shall only blow away thy Chaff, and then will I debate with it, put a Stop to its rigorous proceedings. I have an East-wind in my hand ready (as soon as ever this potion I have given thee, hath done its work, for which I intend it) to send forth, to Turn this Rough Wind backward, and make a way for thee to e­scape; for this is all the fruit, to take away thy Sin. Thou wouldest not give me that Praise, which was my due, and I expected from thee, for former kindnesses; therefore thou hast compelled me to gain [Page 38] that Praise, by making use of the Wrath of Man to Correct thee; but the Remainder of wrath will I restrain, (Psal. 76.10.) They are only the Bryars and the Thornes in the midst of thee, that set themselves against me in Battel, that oppose my Work, and my Intendments, that I would bring to passe to get my self a Name and a Glory in the Earth: it's only these, that I would Destroy and Burn together; but my End in all this, is to fit thee for (that I may bestow upon thee) Salvation; therefore take hold of my strength, and make peace with me; and thou shalt make peace with me, as it is in the 4th. and 5th. verses.

6. Though the Immediate Minute of the Time of Jacobs Comfort is not yet come; the Time wherein Jerusalem can say her warfare is accomplished, Isa. 40.1, 2. Mal. 3.2. Isa. 27. com­pared with Cant. 5.7. she hath received of the Lords hand double for all her Sins; notwithstand­ing this terrible tryal may be as Hot as the Refiners Fire, and as sharp as the Fullers Sope; this Smiting may be to Wounding and Blood; yet do not despond, let not thy heart sink under it, for the Lord hath not only said he will measure it out for thy good; but he hath also said, there is Hope in thine End.

This Affliction though it may be Sore and Terrible, Smarting and Bloody, yet it shall not make an End of Jacob.

Jer. 31.16, 17, and 30.10, 11. and 46.27, 28, and 4.27. and 5.10, 18. Fear thou not O my Servant Jacob, saith the Lord, neither be dismaid O Israel; for loe I will save thee, for I am with thee, saith the Lord to save thee; though I make a full End of all Nations, yet will I not make a full End of thee; though I leave thee not wholly un­punished, yet will I Correct thee but in measure; though the whole Land be desolate, yet will I not make a full end; though I command the Enemy to goe upon thy Walls and destroy, yet not to make a full End: yea, in those daies saith the Lord, I will not make a full End with you. Though these Scriptures speak but Co­laterally to us, yet they speak as fully, and as strongly to us, as they did to them in the same Condition: For if the Lord under the Old-Testa­ment Administration, bore so much Love to his Servant Jacob, as not to suffer the punishment of his Sin to make a full End of him in that day; much more will he not suffer the punishment of our Iniquities to make a full End of us, in this day of the punishment of our transgressions, under the New-Testament Adminstration.

Therefore let not our Hearts sinck under our Affliction, but let [Page 39]us lift up our heads, for our Redemption draweth nigh; there is Hope in our End: the Lord will yet Cause them that come of Jacob to take Root, Israel shall Blossome and Bud, and fill the face of the World with fruit; though to Cause us to Isa. 10.21. Deu. 32.15, 36. compared with Isa. 59.16. return to the mighty God, the Rock of our Salvation, which we have lightly esteemed, to bring us quite home to himself: the Lord may fuffer the Afflictton to arise so high, that it may be even ready to overwhelm us, that there is no man left to stand up for us, no Intercessor to plead on our behalf, No Saviour; our power is gone, and there is none shut up or left; then will the Lord repent himself for his Servants, and his own Arme shall bring Salvation.

7. As the Great End of the Lord in all, is GOOD to Jacob; all things, ( the Smitings, the Woundings, the Slayings of his Enemies) work together for good to Jacob: So the Lord hath engaged to debate with, and stay his Rough-wind; the Smitings and Slayings of the Enemy, the Pre­sent Affliction, when it hath shot forth to that measure, to that degree, to the bringing forth of that Good he intends to Jacob by it; it shall proceed no further: if the Enemy of Jacobs Happiness offer to carry it on further (to Jacobs hurt) the Lord will by his East-wind (that he hath in readi­ness for that purpose) put a stop to it. He stayeth his Rongh-wind in the Day of the East-wind: Though our Sin and Perversness in it, compel the Lord (for our Good) to suffer the Isa. 10.24, 25, 26. Deut. 32.37, 41, 42, 43. verses. Assyrian to Smite us with a Rod, and to lift up his Staff against us after the manner of Egypt; yet saith the Lord, O my People be not afraid of the Assyrian; for yet a very little while, and the Indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their Destruction: The Lord of Hosts shall stir up a Scourge for him, according to the Slaughter of Midian, at the Rock of Oreb; and as his Rod was upon the Sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. Though we by our Stubborness force the Lord to afflict us after the manner of Egypt, to Purge us; and Cleanse us from that which keeps us from him, and him from us; to do which, his Glory engages him: yet when that is done, as our Affliction is, so shall our Deliverance be, after the manner of Egypt; a stronger hand shall come to Deliver us than came to Afflict us. What though the Assrrian our Enemy think not so, but exalt himself saying, where are their Gods? their Rock in whom they trusted? The Lord saith, If I whet my glittering Sword, and mine hand take hold of Judgement; I will render vengeance to my Enemies, and will reward them that hate me; I will make mine Arrowes drunk with Blood, [Page 40](and my Sword shall devour flesh) and that with the blood of the slain, and of the captives from the beginning of revenges upon the Enemy: Rejoice O ye Nations with his People, for he will avenge the blood of his Servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful to his People.

8. Let us not say with Gideon ( Judg. 6.13.) If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befaln us? Now the Lord hath forsaken us, and de­livered us into the hand of the Midianites. But as our Lord Je­sus Christ said of himself to his Disciples, ( Luke 24.26.) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into his Glory? So Consider all the Prophesies in the Old and New-Testament, that con­cern these last Daies, and then judge whether the body of Christ, his Members, Distressed Jacob, at this Day, ought not to suffer these things, to undergoe this Trial, the Refiners Fire, the Fullers Sope, the Smitings and Slayings of their Enemies now at last, to fit them for Glory. If this be the way through which Christ entred into his Glory, surely his Mem­bers, his Followers, must enter the same way into their Glory. Yea this is the Great End wherefore the Lord is Afflicting Jacob, that he may become glorious, with such a Glory, as may Deserve, and upon which he will Create a Defence, such a Defence, as shall never be taken away, as all their Enemies shall never be able to rob them of. And the Lord is Waiting the Time, wherein he may be thus Gracious; he desires on­ly our Acknowledgement of our Sins, and then he will work his Great Work, ( Jer. 3.13, 14, 15.) Return thon Back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine Anger to fall upon you; for I am mer­ciful saith the Lord, and I will not keep Anger for ever; only ACKNOW­LEDG thine Iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy waies to the Strangers, under every green Tree; and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn O back-sliding Children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you; and I will take you, one of a City, and two of a Family, and I will bring you to Sion, and I will give you Pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and un­derstanding.

Lastly, this Prophesie, and what hath been drawn from it; doth Earnestly Call upon Sinning and distressed Jacob, to Isa. 1.19, Za. 8.12. Isa. 10.21, & 37.32. & 66.19. & 24.15. Joel 2.32. Isa. 1.20. Mal. 4.6. wash and Cleanse himself from all these Evils laid down before him; If thou dost hearken and do, thou shalt live, and eat the good of the land; par­take of those Blessings the Lord hath in store for the Remnant; that by a true and through Repen­tance, [Page 41]shall escape the Evil of the Day, returning from their Idols un­to the Mighty God, shall again take root down-ward, and bear fruit up­ward, declare the Glory of the Lord, glorify the Name of the Lord God of Israel, in or among whom shall be Salvation. But if thou wilt not, but dost resuse and rebel; know of a truth this present Affliction, shall devour thee: If the Hearts of the Fathers, and Children in Jacob, will be still stubborn against, and not be turned to each other; the Lord will Curse instead of Bless, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it; the Glory of the Lord is engaged in it. Know of a truth, that till you come into your Cleansed, Undefiled, United Sate, you will not be a fit Instrument for the Lords Work. Surely, Jesus Christ had much of this in his Eye, when he prayed so earnestly to his Father, that they all might be Joh. 17.20.21, 22, 23. verses One; not only his then Disciples, but those also that should Be­lieve on him, through their word; and that he would give so great a price for it, as the Glory which the Fa­ther gave him: and that he should lay so much Stress upon this, as that which is Necessary, to make it mani­fest to the World, that he was Sent of God, and that God bears the Same Love to his People that he doth to Him.

I shall conclude this Discourse, with this Word.

As an Afflicting Wilderness State, is that into which the Lord will bring his People, to Plead with them face to face, as he Pleaded with them in the Wilderness of Old; causing them to pass under the Rod, to Purge out from among them the Rebbels, and the Transgressors, Ezek. 20.35, 36, 37, 38. verses.

So, it's that State, into which he will bring them (in the last Daies) and give them as a DOOR OF HOPE. I will give her the valley of Achor, for a Door of Hope. The valley of Achor, this Day of Trouble, this State of Lowness and Affliction, which Achans Sin hath brought upon us, is given to us as a Door of Hope (under the New Co­venant in these last Daies of Jacobs Affliction, in New-Testament Times) a Ground to Hope the Lord hath Smiles for us after these Strokes; the fruits and tokens of a Fathers Love, after these Stripes of his Fatherly Displeasure; a morning of Joy after this evening of Trouble; he only waits till we have done Justice upon Achan, that Sin that hath Troubled Israel; and then ‘I will allure her, and bring her into the Wilderness.’

Into the Wilderness of this Wilderness State: He will Allure us by the Glorious manifestations of himself, by the Mighty Workings of his Spirit, into such through forsakings of all things, of all of this World, for him­self, [Page 42]and for his Sake, that this State shall be unto us, as the Holy of Ho­lies comparatively; wherein he will speak Comfortably unto us.

Better words than ever we heard before from him; such as shall make us forget all our Trouble and Sorrow. And he will not only give Good Words, but Gracious Gifts too.

And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi, (my Husband) and shalt call me no more Baali, (my Lord.)

Behold he hath been a Gracious Lord, but now he will be a Tender Loving Husband unto us: he will bring us into more Near and Inti­mate Converse, and Communion, and Fellowship with himself, than ever we enjoyed all our Days before. And this Grace extends, not only to our Inward Man, but to our Outward Man also.

Whatsoever we forsake for his Sake, to follow him, and keep close to him, he will not suffer us to be losers by it; if we lose a Vineyard, any possession in this world, to follow him, to keep him company in the Wilderness, he will give it us again there with advantage, according to the Promise of our Lord Jesus: Every one that hath forsaken houses, or Brethren, or Sisters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, for my Names sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit Everlasting life, Mat. 19.29. Yea, so great shall be the manifestation of the Love of God, and so abundant shall be the Gifts of God, to us there, as shall Cause our Exceeding Rejoycing.

She shall sing there, as in the Daies of her youth, and as in the Day when she came up out of the Land of Egypt.

Though this Day of Wilderness-Troubles, and Straits, brings Sorrowes hard to be undergone; yet, such shall be the Gracious dealings of the Lord with us, as that we shall be made to forget all our Sorrows; there's no Day, that ever we yet enjoyed, yeelding so much cause of Joy, as this shall do; the Lord will make us Sing for Joy.

And now who would not rather choose the Trouble of this Day, the very Wilderness of this Wilderness State, than the Serenity and Glory which the Children of this world are drowned in; which shall be consu­med by the burning, like the burning of a fire, which the Lord of Hosts, the Light of the Holy one of Israel, shall kindle under it.