Jerusalems Glory Breaking Forth Into the World, Sermon 3
The Third SERMON.
IT's very hard to determine the particular time; but ſurely at the end of Antichriſt's Reign it muſt be: And how long Antichriſt ſhall reign, that we know certainly; only the difficulty is to reckon the very time of the beginning of his Reign: I ſay, how long his Reign ſhall laſt, we have certain knowledge of that, that Antichriſt ſhall reign for 1260 Years. And we have ſuch Parallel Scriptures for this, that there is nothing more evident than it is; and generally Divines agree upon it.
Thoſe two Scriptures in the Book of the Revelations are ſufficient, eſpecially compared with ſome in Daniel. Rev. 11.2, 3. The Court which is without the Temple leave out, and meaſure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the Holy City (which is the Church) ſhall they tread under feet forty two Months. And I will give power unto my two Witneſſes, and they ſhall Propheſie a thouſand two hundred and threeſcore dayes cloathed in Sackcloath. Now theſe forty two Months, and one thouſand two hundred and threeſcore dayes, will come to the ſame, that is, a day for a year, wherein the Church ſhould be under the power of Antichriſt.
And he ſaith, two Witneſſes; not as if he meant only two men, but becauſe by two or three witneſſes every thing is eſtabliſhed. But the Spirit of God means by the witneſſes (whatever they are) thoſe that ſhall witneſs to his Truth in the true Church of God, in all places of the World, thoſe that witneſs to his truth: They ſhall propheſie in Sack-cloath: that is, in a mourning condition, they ſhall go on in their witneſs for 1260 dayes, 1260 years.—And ſo in the 12 of the Revelations, there we read of the wom…n (by which the Church is ſet out) that fled into the Wilderneſs, where ſhe had her place prepared of God, that they ſhould feed her there, even 1260 dayes. The Holy Ghoſt falls upon this number, which is 1260 years.
Now all the difficulty is about the beginning of this 1260 dayes; that is, when Antichriſt did prevail, and when the Church was driven into the Wilderneſs.
I find generally, thoſe that make a computaiton of the Reign of Anti-Chriſt, they pitch it upon two Periods; either upon ſuch a time as will be ended within a very few years, as Mr. Brightman and others; he thinks it will be ended ſo as that the beginning of theſe dayes will be a matter of five or ſix years hence.—And others in the year 1666. But there is another computation of thoſe that think Anti-Chriſt did not begin to reign ſo ſoon, and they conceive it will be a matter of two hundred, or more years before the beginning of theſe times. But I think God hath not left it fully clear to determine about the time, only this, God by his ſtrange kind of workings among us, doth ſeem as if he were haſtening of the time, as if it were near at hand.
Wherefore then, we leave all uncertainties, and come to ſhew you what uſe you are to make of what hath been ſaid about this time, of Jeruſalems being made the praiſe of the whole Earth.
Ʋſe. The firſt is, the conſideration of this, that God hath his time to bring his Church to be in ſuch a glorious condition here in this World, this ſhould be a great incitement to us all to come in and embrace Jeſus Chriſt, to be Godly; —Why, becauſe the Lord intends to glorifie himſelf ſo much in the Church; —and though I dare not tell you the time, yet there's nothing to the contrary but that it's poſſible it may be in your dayes, that you may live to ſee theſe times: or if you ſhould not live, yet in the 12 of Daniel we read of a Reſurrection that ſhould be at that time; However, when we do but think that there is a time that Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be honoured in the World, and Godlineſs ſhall be had in high eſteem in the World, it's a mighty Argument to cauſe man and woman to come in and imbrace Religion. — But if it ſhould prove to be in your days, as nothing appears to the contrary, but many probabilities there are for it; it would go very hard with you, if ſo be theſe times ſhould come upon you unawares, and you not found to be Godly: For the Scripture ſpeaks moſt dreadfully againſt thoſe that have liv'd in the places where Chriſtian Religion hath been known, and yet have been naught and ungodly, and theſe times found them ſo: —After theſe times were deſcribed to John in the Book of the Revelations, then ſaith he in the 21 Chap. 8. verſ. But the fearful, and Ʋnbelieving, and the Abominable, and Murderers, and Whoremongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all Lyars ſhall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimſtone; which is the ſecond Death.
Mark, The very Fearful and Ʋnbelieving; and I take it, the Reaſon why the Fearful and Ʋnbelieving are here placed among theſe notorious Sinners, it is becauſe that in the time that Anti-Chriſt ſhall prevail, many out of fear of trouble and danger ſhall deny the truth, and cleave to the Antichriſtian Party, and becauſe they ſee things go very hardly with the Godly Party, they will forſake them through their Unbelief; and therefore they are reckoned in among the notorious vile ſinners, and the rather becauſe that a little before this time ſhall come;
☞ There will be a great tryal and hour of Temptation. Men will be put to it to be tryed what they are, whether they have faith in the Word, or not, or whether they have courage for God, or not.
Now therefore, becauſe God intends to put men to the tryal a little before theſe times come, (therefore he ſaith,) The fearful and unbelieving; he reckons up them among the notorious Sinners: as if the Lord ſhould ſay; When I am about to ſet up this new Jeruſalem, there will come a time of tryal, and abundance of you that made fair Profeſſions, while you met with ſome evils and troubles, through your fear and unbelief you will forſake my cauſe, and will rather cleave to them. But know, you ſhall have your Portion in the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, which is the ſecond death. — And ſo in the 22 Revelations; there the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaks of men that are unjuſt, when this time ſhall come, and ſaith he, He that is unjuſt, let him be unjuſt ſtill, he which is filthy, let him be filthy ſtill: If men will go on in their Injuſtice and Filthineſs, let them go, ſaith God, I intend not now to work further upon them; but as theſe times ſhall meet with them, ſo it ſhall be with them to all Eternity.
The nearer the approaching of theſe times, the leſs will wicked men be wrought upon: Therefore now let us come in, and embrace the truth; for this truth that is preached to you, and the works of God that you are put upon, they will be honoured one day; we love to be of the ſtrongeſt ſide, the ſide that will prevail, we love to joyn unto it: Certainly the ſide of Godlineſs, and the truths of Chriſtianity is of the ſide that will prevail one day, and therefore come in and joyn with them: Though it's true, there are many things now that ſeem to darken Religion, but certainly Religion is getting up in the World; though the Devil doth beſtir him as much as ever he did ſince he was a Devil, to darken Religion, and the Glory of it in the World, yet certainly Religion is getting up, and it will prevail. Take heed you be not like the five fooliſh Virgins, which I find divers do apply to this very time when the Bridegroom ſhall come, when Chriſt ſhall come in his glory to ſet up Jeruſalem as the praiſe of the whole Earth, that then the wiſe Virgins ſhall enter in with him, and be partaker of the glory of the times; but the fooliſh Virgins ſhall knock at the door, ſaying, Lord, Lord, open to us, but he ſhall ſay, I know you not, depart, ye workers of Iniquity. You that make but a meer out-ſide of Religion; and have but a formal profeſſion of Religion, you have Lamps but you have no Oyl in your Lamps burning, when Chriſt ſhall come, you ſhall be ſhut out, and not be Partakers of the glorious Jeruſalem, that ſhall be made the Praiſe of the whole Earth.
And likewiſe this is a great Argument to move you to bring up your Children in Godlineſs, and to inſtruct them in the wayes of Godlineſs; becauſe if you ſhould not live to it, yet your Children may: Therefore labour to infuſe what you can, the knowledge of Chriſt into them now betimes, that ſo they may partake of thoſe glorious things that are ſpoken of in the Word.
But Secondly, Is there a time that Jeruſalem ſhall be made as the Praiſe of the whole Earth? let us be willing to mourn with Jeruſalem while it is in a mourning condition, and be willing to ſuffer for Jeſus Chriſt a while, ſeeing there is a time that all ſorrows ſhall be turned into Joy, and all Sufferings ſhall be done away, and wherein the Saints ſhall be all honoured and recompenſed abundantly. In the eleventh of the Revelations you find, that the Witneſſes were to propheſie in Sackcloath, in a mourning condition, for a long time. It can't be meant of two men, becauſe they were to propheſie 1260 Years; but what made them go on in that mournful condition? they did believe this time.
Therefore in the 12. verſe you ſhall find how they that had propheſied in Sackcloath for ſo long a time, they were ſlain a little before this time came, and for three years and an half together, there was a ſlaughter made of them; and the Text ſaith, After three dayes and an half, that is, three years and an half, the Spirit of life from God entred into them; and they ſtood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which ſaw them; and they heard a great voice from Heaven, ſaying unto them, Come up hither. And they aſcended up to Heaven in a Cloud, and their Enemies beheld them. They were mightily honoured before their Enemies: Thoſe that had been propheſying in Sackcloath, and were willing to ſuffer for Chriſt for a long time, now they were called up, and honoured before their very Enemies. Let us be willing to ſuffer, and that will be an evidence that we ſhall rejoyce with this new Jeruſalem, when it ſhall come to be made the Praiſe of the whole Earth.
So in the 66 of Iſa. v. 10. Rejoyce ye with Jeruſalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her, rejoyce for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her. All that mourn'd for Jeruſalem when the glory of it was darkened, ſhall come and rejoyce with Jeruſalem, when Jeruſalem ſhall be made as the praiſe of the whole Earth.—And the very Book of the Revelations is written on purpoſe for to encourage the Saints to be willing to ſuffer all the time of Anti-Chriſt's Reign. And hence it hath been, that in the time that Antichriſt hath Reign'd, there hath been ſo little known of the Book of the Revelations, becauſe it hath been applyed only in a metaphorical way, and all the glory hath been interpreted of the glory of Heaven: Becauſe, I ſay, there hath been a darkneſs on the face of the Earth in the time of Antichriſt's prevailing. And it hath been the care of Antichriſt to darken this, and to keep under the Saints, and to make them ſuffer very hard and grievous things. But, as I remember, I have read of Caius the Emperour; that when Agrippa had ſpoken for him before he was Emperour, and ſuffered for his ſake; after Caius came to be Emperour, he put a Chain of Gold about his Neck, and gave it him, juſt as heavy as his Iron Chain had been before. So, look what any one ſuffers for Jeſus Chriſt now, before he comes to take this Kingdom to himſelf, before the time comes when the voice ſhall be heard from Heaven, ſaying, The Kingdoms of the Earth are become the Lords, and his Chriſts, and he ſhall reign for ever; I ſay, look what meaſure of ſufferings any have for Chriſt now, Chriſt will put a Chain of Gold upon them as heavy as ever their Sufferings were.
And eſpecially now we had need prepare for Sufferings, if it ſhould prove that this time be at hand; for we find that a little before this glorious time there's like to be as great Sufferings to the People of God as at any time; as in the 11 of the Revelations, where it's ſpoken of the Witneſſes propheſying in Sackcloath, they propheſied for 1260 Years. But they were not ſlain until three Years and a half before this glorious time was riſen, and then they were ſlain. So that immediately before the time that Chriſt ſhall come and appear in his Glory, there will be greater Sufferings unto his Churches than there were in former times; for you find, that juſt upon their ſlaying, that they were call'd up to Heaven. And the ſeventh Trumpet ſounded preſently after, and there were great voices in Heaven, ſaying, The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt; and he ſhall reign for ever and ever.
As if the Holy Ghoſt ſhould ſay, Now all ſufferings are done with all, and now the Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and his Chriſt; and he ſhall reign for ever and ever.
And the four and twenty Elders which ſate before God on their Seats, fell upon their faces, and worſhipped God, ſaying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and waſt, and art to come; becauſe thou haſt taken to thee thy great power, and haſt reigned. Whereas before men had power, now God hath taken his great power to himſelf.
☞ This follows preſently upon it, which is a very great Argument why thoſe Witneſſes are not yet ſlain,The Witneſſes not yet ſlain. becauſe immediately upon their being ſlain there ſhould follow ſuch ſtrange things as theſe are. And then the Kingdoms of the Earth ſhould be the Lords, and his Chriſts.
You will ſay, Are they not now?
No certainly, not ſo as then, in that we do not ſee ſuch an eminency of Chriſts taking the Kingdoms of the Earth, now more than formerly; and I ſay, this is an evident Argument that the Witneſſes are not ſlain.
In the 12 of Daniel, there you have a Prophecy of the ſame times that we have here. But mark how he begins this Prophecy; there, ſaith he, in the 1 verſ. And at that time ſhall Michael ſtand up, the great Prince which ſtandeth for the Children of thy People, and there ſhall be a time of trouble, ſuch as never was ſince there was a Nation, even to that ſame time; and at that time thy people ſhall be delivered, every one that ſhall be found written in the Book. Though the time of trouble without be great, ſuch as never was the like, yet theſe that are written in the Book ſhall be delivered. And ſo he goes on, deſcribing the glorious condition of the Church of God as it ſhall be: I ſpake ſomething to that in the opening of the Glory of this new Jeruſalem, and ſhewed you, that it could not be meant there of the Glory of Heaven; but of the glory of the Church here that ſhould be upon the Earth.
And then in the 3d. of Revel. verſ. 10. we Read of an hour of Temptation that ſhould be throughout the face of the Earth; there is a time of Temptation that ſhall go quite through the whole world, and whether yet this is come upon us, doth not certainly appear, and therefore let the conſideration of this prepare us for ſuffering before hand. For God will cauſe ſufferings to try men, who are true and will cleave to him, and who are not, but will deſert him: And ſo I remember Lactantius (the former Author quoted) he ſpeaks as clearly of this, as if ſo be that he did live and had ſeen it: ſaith he, A little before theſe times, times wil grow ſo evil in compariſon of the times that we live in now, in which wickedneſs one would think were grown to the greateſt height that poſſibly could be, yet in compariſon of theſe, there ſhall come ſuch evil times juſt before this glorious time of the Church, as our times may be accounted Golden and Happy times in reſpect of thoſe ſad times; for, ſaith he, good men they ſhall be a prey to wicked men, and they ſhall be in contempt and poverty; all right among men ſhall be confounded, all Law ſhall periſh, and no man ſhall know what's his own; things ſhall be in ſuch a cumbuſtion and confuſion that no Law ſhall prevail, and no man ſhall know what's his own; this ſhall be a little before (ſaith he) the glorious ſtate of the Church wherein Chriſt ſhall appear: Now if he could ſay ſo, ſo long before, certainly none then having Scripture ſo ſuitable to it, have cauſe to fear that yet we may live to meet with very hard things.
☞ Although it will be but ſhort, that's the comfort; if there ſhould be great ſufferings juſt before the day break, and it ſhould be darker than it was, yet it will continue but a while, three Years and an half will be the moſt: But the times of the great ſufferings of the Church before Jeruſalem is to be made the praiſe of the whole Earth, theſe three Years and a half will put men ſo to it, that if they have not true grace they will fall off.
The Adminiſtration of Gods Providences are very ſtrange, we have had thoughts that all had been blowing over, that we ſhould have liv'd in ſafety and peace, but clouds gather ſtill: And though the former clouds ſeem'd in ſome meaſure to be gone, yet new clouds are gathering, and therefore it's wiſdom for the People of God, that fear God and look into his Word, to ſee what God hath made known in his Word; I ſay it's their wiſdom to prepare for the hardeſt that poſſibly can come: That they may be bright, and made white with all the troubles that they meet with, and be not among them that ſhall not be found written in the Book, and ſo to be caſt out of all the good of this Jeruſalem that ſhall be made the praiſe of the Earth.
Thirdly, Though we ſhould prepare for ſufferings, yet let us ſtrengthen our faith, and rejoyce in the hope of ſuch times as theſe are, in the midſt of ſufferings rejoyce: it's an Excellent thing when a Chriſtian is able in the midſt of ſufferings to rejoyce in the aſſurance of a promiſe, when things go never ſo contrary, yet to keep in Gods ways upon the expectation of a promiſe to be fulfill'd. You have an Excellent Scripture in the 64. of Iſa. verſ. 5. Thou meeteſt him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteouſneſs, thoſe that Remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth, for we have ſinned. In thoſe is continuance, and we ſhall be ſaved. If you read this Chapter you ſhall find that the Church was in a ſad condition; but mark, Thou meeteſt him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteouſneſs: In the ſaddeſt times there were ſome that did not only work Righteouſneſs, but did Rejoyce and work Righteouſneſs; Though God was wroth, and all things did ſeem to be very diſmal, yet there were ſome that went on in the ways of Righteouſneſs, and rejoyced in the ways of Righteouſneſs: It's a moſt Excellent Scripture, and of marvellous uſe to us if God ſhould bring us into ſad times, for us not only to keep in the ways of Righteouſneſs, but to rejoyce in the ways of Righteouſneſs, to rejoyce that ever we were brought into it, and that's upon an expectation that the Lord will ſave us. Whatſoever ſufferings you meet withall, yet ſtrengthen your faith, and rejoyce in the Expectation of this Glory of Jeruſalem.
The believing of ſuch times as theſe are, really makes Life deſirable, eſpecially becauſe God is ſo ſtirring in this Age; not for any great matters that we ſhall have outwardly in the World for a while, but that we may come to ſee the Iſſue of all theſe ſtirs; and at length, out of all the Confuſion, to ſee Jeruſalem to be the praiſe of the whole world. And therefore in the 102. Pſalm. which I think verily hath reference to theſe times, you ſhall find the Title of it to be, A Prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.
But mark, in his pouring out his complaint before God, how he comforts himſelf, in the 13. verſ. Thou ſhalt ariſe, and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favour her, yea the ſet time is come. For thy ſervants take pleaſure in her ſtones, and favour the duſt thereof, ſo the Heathen ſhall fear the Name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the Earth thy glory. When the Lord ſhall build up Zion, he ſhall appear in his glory. The Lord ſhall appear in his glory in building up Zion that is now caſt down, I ſay it's a Prophetical Pſalm, of the diſpoſition of Chriſtians a little before this Kingdom ſhall be made the praiſe of the Earth.
Now mark, what thoſe do deſire that ſhall live a little before theſe times. In the 24. verſ. I ſaid, O my God, take me not away in the midſt of my days. As if he ſhould have ſaid, O Lord, I hope that e're long thou wilt build up Zion, and appear in thy glory, and fulfill thy promiſes concerning Jeruſalem; O Lord, take me not away in the midſt of my days: It is (I ſay) a Prophetical Prayer of the Chriſtians that ſhall live a little before Gods building up of Zion.
But you will ſay, Why ſhall any deſire to live, for if one ſhould die (if he be Godly) he ſhall go to Heaven; and will it not be as good to be in Heaven, as to live to ſee Jeruſalem the praiſe of the Earth?
To that I anſwer, that though it's true, It will be as good for the Soul; but for Soul and Body, to live here to ſee that glorious adminiſtration of God in the World, to ſee God honoured upon the Earth, where he hath been ſo much diſhonoured, certainly it cannot but be an abundant ſatisfaction and contentment to thoſe that are gracious, and that it is deſirable; notwithſtanding the objection, I make it clearly thus, from the promiſe that God gave to Children that did obey their Parents, in the fifth Commandment, Honour thy Father and thy Mother; why? That thy days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. God makes a promiſe that they ſhould enjoy the Land of Canaan. And why? Godly Children, ſhould go to Heaven if they had died: But it was accounted a mercy to live long in the Land of Canaan.
Now the Land of Canaan was but a Type of the glorious Church, ſo that this is a more glorious promiſe: Therefore (I ſay) it is deſirable to live to ſee what God intends to do in theſe Concuſſions. It is obſerv'd by ſome, that John did never fall down to worſhip the Angel but twice, and twice he fell down and worſhipped the Angel. But you ſhall obſerve it, if you examine the places; It was when the Angel brought him the tidings of this glorious Jeruſalem: and Johns heart was ſo taken with theſe tidings, as indeed he forgets himſelf ſo far as to fall down and worſhip the Angel, which was ſinful: but I note it for this end, to ſhew how mightily the heart of John was taken with the tidings of this new Jeruſalem: And God expects that though we have but a glimpſe of it now, yet that our hearts ſhould be much taken with the tidings of this glorious Jeruſalem, when it ſhall be made the praiſe of the Earth. Chriſt hath humbled himſelf in this world, and hath been diſhonoured here, and therefore the Father will advance him, and honour him in this World as well as in Heaven.
And the Heathen, and uttermoſt parts of the Earth, are given to Chriſt for a poſſeſſion, but Chriſt hath not had it yet, and therefore let us ſtrengthen our Faith, and joyfully expect ſuch a time as this is. Thoſe whoſe hearts are carnal and ſenſual, they mind only carnal and ſenſual things, and cannot believe theſe things; but ſuch as have Faith to believe, they are able to rejoyce in the Expectation of this glory that is to be revealed.
Fourthly, Theſe truths that have been delivered about this glory of the new Jeruſalem, they call for heavenly hearts, they call off all our hearts from the Earth, why ſhould we have our hearts: groveling upon the Earth, when as God hath revealed ſuch glorious things as theſe are? In the 60. of Iſa. v. 1. Ariſe, ſhine, for thy Light is come, and the glory of the Lord is riſen upon thee.
I may make uſe of it, at leaſt by way of Alluſion, thus: O ariſe, and ſhine in heavenlineſs, and ſhake off the duſt of this Earth, for here you hear of the glory of this Lord, and who knows but it may very ſuddenly, within a little time ariſe upon us? yet the very hearing of it were enough to cauſe us to ſhake off all Earthlineſs from our Spirits: when John was ſhown the new Jeruſalem, he was carryed up upon the mountain; ſo if we would underſtand the glory of this Jeruſalem, we muſt get up our hearts on high. It is an Obſervation of Mr. Brightman, upon the 4th. of Revel. Where we have deſcribed the four living Creatures, the Lyon, the Oxe, the Man, and the Eagle. Now (ſaith he) theſe four living Creatures do ſet forth the four Eſtates of the Church. The Lyon ſets forth the ſtate of the Church in the Primitive times, they had Lyon-like Spirits, that were able to encounter the rage of perſecuting Emperors, to endure all kind of Torment without having their hearts daunted at all.— The ſecond State of the Church was the Oxe, that is, Antichriſt prevailing, they were as an Oxe that is a heavy and dull Creature, fit to bear burthens.—But then the third is the Man, that is, a man comes to inquire after the reaſon of things, and to underſtand things, and doth deſire liberty. Why now (ſaith he) in the beginning of the Reformation, the ſtate of the Church was like a Man. They would not be under ſuch baſe Thraldom to take the yoke of Antichriſt as they did before; before they were lead like beaſts, but now they were as Men, they would underſtand what they did.—And then the fourth was like an Eagle, that is, ſoaring aloft, on high. When the Church ſhall be in this glorious condition, Men ſhall be of Heavenly minds, they ſhall ſoar up like the Eagle, to be above the Earth. And certainly ſuch diſpoſitions are fit for this new Jeruſalem, and though it be not yet come, yet we ſhould labour to be of ſuch diſpoſitions as are fit for it.
And that's the fifth Uſe, To prepare for theſe times, fit our ſelves.
Firſt, By the Wedding Garment, for now comes the Bridegroom, and we ſhould prepare for him by the Wedding Garment.
You will ſay, What is the Wedding Garment by which the Saints are prepared to meet with Chriſt?
The applying of the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt by Faith, that's the Wedding-Garment; when Chriſtians come to underſtand clearly the point of Juſtification without miſtake. There are ſome kind of haſtenings about it in theſe times more than before, and inquiring after the very grace of God in the point of Juſtification, but certainly that point is darkened much by many errors: But now the clear underſtanding the point of Juſtification, of Gods Righteouſneſs applyed by Faith, this is the Garment by which we are to meet with Jeſus Chriſt, when he ſhall appear in his glory; and I verily believe, that in the time of the new Jeruſalem, the point of the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt will be the main point of Religion that then will be known, and that the hearts of the Saints will be taken up withall, the main point of Religion; and as we ſee, the nearer we grow unto theſe times, the more clearer is the point of Juſtification revealed to us: O what ſtrange conceits in times of Popery had People of Juſtification, and I verily believe that many of your Conſciences may tell you, that a very few years ſince, you had very ſtrange thoughts about that point, and underſtood but little of it; but it begins to be clear more and more, and we ſhould ſtudy that point more; for ſurely it is that point of Religion that will take up the heart of the People of God moſt in ſuch times as theſe are. It is called the fine Linnen of the Saints, which is the Righteouſneſs of the Saints: That that's Tranſlated in your Books Righteouſneſs, it is the Righteouſneſſes of the Saints, that's this.
Not only the knowledge of the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt applyed by Faith; But Righteouſneſs before Men too, is the fine Linnen of the Saints, they ſhall appear Righteous before men, and Righteous, being cloathed with the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt. And I would therefore commend that to thoſe that ſpeak much of the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt; know, they muſt have Righteouſneſſes, in the Plural Number; that is, not only be careful to have Righteouſneſs before God through Chriſt, but Righteouſneſs before Men: and that's the ſecond thing that is to be done for preparation of us for Chriſts coming, to have our Lamps burning, Holineſs ſhining in our converſations before Men, to live convincing converſations, to make the ways of Godlineſs amiable.—And then let's watch, O take heed of ſlumbering.—And let us be conſtant in our holy profeſſion, take heed our Lamps do not go out.—And let us humble our ſelves for our former defilement; we have defiled our ſelves by ſuperſtitious vanities in former times; O let us humble our ſouls for them, thereby ſhall we be fitted for this glorious time. If new Jeruſalem ſhould come, and you not humbled for your former defilements, you would be unfit for this time.
Sixthly, Seeing there is ſuch a time for this new Jeruſalem, why then let us labour to further what we can the cauſe of God in his Church, to make the Church as near to Jeruſalem as we can now.
For though it's true, it ſhall be brought to paſs by the Almighty power of Jeſus Chriſt, yet he requires that his Saints ſhould put their hands to it, and indeed, this ſhould be the care of all that make profeſſion of Godlineſs, to do what they can to make Jeruſalem to be the praiſe of the world now. O 'tis a bleſſed thing to live to ſee the glory of God as it ſhines in this new Jeruſalem. But if it be bleſſed to See it, it is more bleſſed to have a hand in it: O let us be willing to conſecrate all that we are, or have, for the furtherance of the glory of this new Jeruſalem; let us labour to draw all that we can to Godlineſs, and be Godly our ſelves: That ſhould be the work of all thoſe that profeſs Godlineſs, to labour now to walk ſo as to make every body in Love with Godlineſs, and to labour to wipe off all the aſperſions that are caſt upon the ways of Godlineſs; there are ſtrange errors and miſcarriages of men, why now thoſe that are faithful ſhould labour to wipe off all thoſe things.
But on the other ſide, let them know, that make profeſſion of Religion now, and walk ſcandalouſly, and are abominably erroneous in their Opinions, they do what they can to hinder the glory of this Jeruſalem: though it's true, God will bring it about, but thou doſt what thou canſt to hinder it. O wo to thee that thou wert born to ſuch a time as this is! It's ill that thou ſhouldeſt live in ſuch a time as this is, to caſt any ſtain upon Religion, that Religion ſhould ſuffer any thing for thee.
Now every one that makes but any profeſſion of Religion, O they ſhould labour to walk exactly, and humbly, and faithfully, and conſcionably, that they may win others, and ſo others being won by their converſation, why then the People of the Land might joyn together, and ſay, Well, verily it is theſe are the ſervants of the living God, and we will joyn with them, and ſet up their ways, for we ſee them to be the ways of God; I, this were very hopeful, that Jeruſalem were lifting up indeed; if ſo be we would convince men by our holy converſation: But now when there appears ſo much folly and baſeneſs of Spirit in thoſe that are Profeſſors, why it makes men hate Religion more than ever they did; and indeed, but that we know God can bring the greateſt good out of the greateſt Evil, one would think that there were as great a ſtop to the glory of the Church in theſe times, as ever there was, but wo to thoſe that are the ſtoppers. And howſoever ſome cry out, ſuch men ſtop it, and ſuch men ſtop it, but the Lord I hope will come e're long, and will make it appear who hinders the glory of his Churches; whether it be thoſe that in the ſincerity of their hearts labour to raiſe up Godlineſs to the ſtricteſt form of all, or thoſe that will content themſelves with a form.
Certainly thoſe that give up themſelves to promote the moſt ſtrict way of Godlineſs, and the moſt pure Ordinances, they are not thoſe that hinder the Reformation; but Chriſt will own them to be thoſe that further the Glory of this Reformation.
The Scripture ſpeaking of this Jeruſalem, ſaith, that no impure thing ſhould enter into it; that is, Men ſhould be as careful as poſſibly they can, to keep out all things that are impure, and ſo to raiſe up the ways of Godlineſs to the ſtricteſt and higheſt rule that poſſibly they can; theſe are they that further the glory of this Jeruſalem.
The Laſt thing is that we have in the Text, Give God no reſt till this be. We might make it a ſeveral point of Doctrin, but I only bring it in here by way of Uſe. The truth is, when Chriſt taught us to pray, Thy Kingdom come, he had an Eye at this; for the Kingdom of Chriſt is not fully come till this time be come; and as in that 36. of Ezek. 37. When the Lord had promiſed there ſuch glorious things to his People, ſaith he, I will yet for this be enquired of by the Houſe of Iſrael, to do it for them. So though God doth intend to raiſe up Jeruſalem thus, yet the Lord will be ſought unto, for it muſt be furthered by Prayer: All Gods People ſhould cry out, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly! how long, how long, holy and true, will it be before thou doſt this, before theſe things come to paſs, my precious Lord! God loves importunity, eſpecially in ſuch things as theſe are.
Divers motives I had thought of to have put you on to this, to be mighty in Prayer.
Firſt, Till this time, till Jeruſalem be thus raiſed, the truth is, the Earth is under a Curſe, a Curſe all that time.
For, Firſt, all Creatures are ſubject to vanity, and that vanity ſhall not be taken off, nor the bondage, till this time.
Secondly, There will be trouble and Wars continually till this time, there will be no certainty nor ſettledneſs of things till Jeruſalem come to be made as the praiſe of the Earth.
There will attend affliction to the people of God; yea and to others too.
Yea, and there is a Curſe upon mens Spirits, which will not be taken off till this time comes.
The truth is, when we look upon what is in the Earth, we can ſee little that ſhould make us deſire to live, in reſpect of the earthly comforts that are here; and for my own part, thinking in my thoughts about this point, this Meditation came into my mind: I wonder why men that live here, and are not uſeful, and ſerviceable, to do ſervice for God; I wonder why they ſhould deſire to live! for what pleaſure is there in the Earth? The Earth is under a curſe. Now were it not for this one thing, that we might live to make our peace with God, and to do God ſervice; I ſay it's a wonder that any ſhould deſire to live; for the truth is; Afflictions, and Fears, and Troubles, will countervail the Comforts of any that do live: But indeed, that will countervail our affliction, if we may live to do ſervice for God, but let us give God no reſt till this be; becauſe till then, the Earth is under a curſe: It is this that brings a glory to the Earth; O! it will be worth living in the World, when God ſhall be ſet up in the World, (when Jeſus Chriſt ſhall rule in the World,) it will be worth the living, and not till then.
And then further, give God no reſt, becauſe that the time is near now; howſoever, it is near in reſpect of what it was when this Prophet thus ſpoke, for …t was above two thouſand Years ago …hat the Prophet ſpake theſe words.
Now the end of the world it's even up on us, and Chriſt ſeems to be even at the door. Now as it is in nature, a heavy thing, the nearer it comes to the center the faſter it moves; ſo the nearer we are come to this time, the more ſhould our hearts be ſtirred, for the time is even at hand, and therfore let us pray now mightily: as we find in the 9th. of Daniel; Daniel did underſtand by Books that the time of their deliverance was near: Mark at the third Verſ. the Text tells us, that Daniel ſet his face to ſeek the Lord, O then he faſted and prayed indeed. My Brethren, when you have ſuch things as th…ſe preſented to you, and ſome h…l Arguments preſented likewi… are near; learn to ſet your … the Lord, and reſolve never to …king, till he make this Jeruſalem to be the praiſe of the whole Earth. O my Brethren! now a praying heart is worth ſomething; it is a miſerable thing for any Man or Woman not to have a Spirit of Prayer in theſe times, a dangerous ſign that ſuch a one ſhall never be partaker of the glory of this new Jeruſalem, that hath not a praying Spirit in theſe times.
Yea, now we find there are mighty ſtirrings abroad in the world, the hearts of men are more raiſed to expect it than ever they were before. I remember it's obſerved of the woman of Samaria, you may ſee by her that there was a general expectation raiſed of the Meſſias, at the time that he came; ſaith ſhe, when the Meſſias comes, he will tell us all things: and truly there is the greateſt expectation of the Saints of God, and thoſe that are the moſt ſtrict and holy, the greateſt expectation of theſe times, as ever yet was, and we find the Lord is ſo ſtirring in the world, as makes us think that he is bringing about ſome glorious things; and therefore pray, pray, pray; and you that want matter to pray, among other things, put this into your prayer, both in your Cloſets and Families, pray the Lord, and cry to him ſo as to give him no reſt every day: O Lord, make Jeruſalem the praiſe of the Earth! O Lord, we ſee abundance of darkneſs in thy Churches, and Godlineſs is little Honoured in the world, but O Lord, make thy Churches glorious, ſet up the glory of Godlineſs in the world! pray thus privately, and ſo publickly.
And a further motive to give God no reſt, is this: That in this your heart doth joyn with the work of God that is moſt acceptable to God, and that his Soul doth take delight in; and that's a comfortable thing.
And beſides, give him no reſt, for God hath appointed Prayer to be a ſpecial Engine, and a great means to further this. In the 102. Pſalm (ſaith the Text) The Lord will regard the Prayer of the deſtitute. Alas! may ſome ſay, I am a poor weak Chriſtian, a poor Body, I am able to do but little, I may Sigh to God, but what are my prayers worth? Mark the Text, ſpeaking of the glory of theſe times, and of the way to further it; The Lord will regard the Prayer of the deſtitute: Though thou beeſt but as a poor ſhrub, the Lord will regard thy Prayer; and mark what the Text ſaith, This ſhall be written for the Generation to come, verſ. 18. This is written for thee, Prayer hath done great things, hath made a mighty change of things; and if ever People were encouraged to pray, now they may be encouraged, becauſe they have ſeen ſo much that Prayer hath done already.
We have many Scriptures which I had thought to have ſpoken of, for the encouragement of you in Prayer for theſe things, that you might go on and not faint. Though you ſee things ſeem to go very Croſs, yet be not troubled at it, but ſtill go on, give him no reſt; it may be God will do nothing now, yet ſtill give him no reſt, but be conſtant till the thing be done; for certainly it will be done at length, and if it ſhould not come to paſs in your life, yet this I will conclude withall, When you die, die in the Faith of it: Any of you that have been earneſt in prayer for this thing, and yet you ſee little come of it, yet die in the Faith of it, when you die; as it is ſaid of Joſeph, in the 50. of Gen. 24. Behold I die, and God will ſurely viſit you, and bring you out of this Land, unto the Land which he ſware to Abraham, &c. So you may ſpeak to your Children, I die now, I muſt not ſee this new Jeruſalem, but there is hope that God will bring you into it, though I perhaps ſhall not ſee it: and cloſe your Eyes with this belief when you are to die, I die, yet in the Faith that there is a time a coming, that the Lord will make Jeruſalem as the praiſe of the whole Earth.
FINIS.
End of the text · Jeremiah Burroughs, Jerusalems Glory Breaking Forth Into the World (1684)