the Time of Finding, Title page – Errata
THE TIME OF FINDING: Shewing, When the Lord will be FOUND, and by whom; and when there will be NO TIME of Finding: alſo the Perſons are deſcrib'd, who ſhall not finde the Lord, though they ſeek him with tears.
Likewiſe, Some Reaſons why the Lord hath ſuffered his work, and GOOD OLD CAUSE to be ſtopt, and how it ſhall certainly be REVIV'D again.
Alſo, Something is here ſhewed, about the manner how it ſhall be reviv'd, and the Time when.
By JOHN CANNE.
Numb. 23.21, 23.
Jehovah his God is with him, and the ſhout of a King is among them.
According to this time it ſhall be ſaid of Jacob, and of Iſrael, What hath God wrought?
London, Printed for Livewel Chapman, at the Crown in Popes head-Alley. 1658.
To the Faithful of the Land every where, Mourning and waiting for the APPOINTED TIME OF FINDING; under the name of FIFTH-MONARCHY-MEN, and COMMON-VVEALTHS-MEN.
PRECIOUS WITNESSES for your God and Country:
THe neerer I am ſtill the Throne of Grace, the more is your preſent condition upon my heart; and truly, this I can ſay, it hath been very ſeldome ſince I began this WORK, but poor Zion,aJer. 30.17. (Whom no man ſeeketh after) hath been all along in my eye: It is bIſa. 62.1.for Zions ſake, I cannot hold my peace;cIſa. 60.1. untill the glory of the Lord be riſen upon her. Now is the time, that dMal. 3.16.they who fear the Lord, ſhould ſpeak often one to another, and ſtrengthen the hands which hang down, and feeble knees. I ſhall not ſay any thing of the THING it ſelf, (what is of God ſhall ſtand) only a few words, what hath mov'd me to ſend THIS (as a LOVE-TOKEN) to all the Friends of the Bridegroom.
Firſt, I have obſerv'd of late, that the Intereſt of Chriſt and his People, the GOOD OLD CAUSE, is not (methinks) ſo lively and HEARTY, upon ſome mens ſpirits, as formerly it was; but either ſome diſappointment of time,Mat. 25.5. or the Bridegroom's tarrying long, hath occaſioned a little deadneſs and faintneſs in ſome Choyce Ones. Now that I may ſpeak to the heart of theſe; Wherefore ſhould there be any CASTING DOWN? Iſa. 40.2.Is not your warfare accompliſhed, and the day of the Lamb come? Therefore (O ye worthies,gPſal. 27.14. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he ſhall ſtrengthen your hearts; wait (I ſay) on the Lord. If a traveller by reaſon of a long journey be almoſt tyr'd, yet when he coms neer the place where he would be, and ſees it hard by, this will put new ſtrength into him again. I have in this Treatiſe not only expreſt my opinion, that the Lord is REVIVING HIS WORK; but have given ſome reaſons for it: what incouragement and refreſhing the Lords people ſhall have by it, a little time will ſhew: For I am very confident, as the Lord will ſuddenly check and blast all ways of falſhood, and deceitful pretenders to his Holy Secrets; ſo he will ſhew a TOKEN OF GOOD to what is his own, and is given forth by his Spirit, concerning the Kingdom and Time.
Secondly, As I know hProu. 14.34.Righteouſneſs exalteth a Nation, and iProv. 29.2.When the Righteous are in Authority, the People rejoyce: ſo my deſire and prayer to God is, that every yoke may be broken, the oppreſſed go free, and violence be heard no more in our Land. Indeed we did expect before now, to have ſeen better days, and were in a hopeful way to have had EnglandkIſa. 1.26. call'd the City of Righteouſneſs, the faithful City, by having Judges as at the firſt, and Counſellors as at the beginning. Now I do not doubt, but we ſhall have our Civil Rights, Liberties and Priviledges, more full, and free, and better then ever any men had, ſince England was a Nation. Is any thing too hard for God to do? cannot he raiſe up a Generation of faithful men, and lPro. 31.8.open their mouths for the dumb, and in the cauſe of all ſuch as are appointed to deſtruction: that is, for him that hath not ability to ſpeak for himſelf by reaſon of his ſimplicity, unfitneſs or impediment in his ſpeech, or dare not ſpeak for fear of his Potent Adverſary.
I finde in our Chronicles, how a Cardinal told the Pope,*Speed, Hen. 3. p. 624. That England was to the Pope as BALAAMS ASS, which being ſo often wrong'd and cudgel'd, it was no marvel if at length ſhe open'd her mouth to complain. What though *Here Gods judgment is a great deep, that England ſhould be the Beast or Aſſe on which muſt ride the Balaams, or Heads of both Apoſtaſies.England have been an ASS, and dumb a long while; yet who can tell, but after ſo often wrong'd and cudgeld, ſhe may ſpeak and complain at laſt. But more ſeriouſly, that England hath been a while dumb, I do not take the cauſe to be (at least principally) of any power or policy in men, or fearfulneſs which hath ſurpriz'd the Nation; but in order to the fulfilling of ſome Decree and Counſel of God, and Scripture-Propheſies, which were to be accompliſhed at this time; the which time being expired, ſuch multitudes will ſtand up for their freedom and Civil-Rights, that were the Enemies ten times more and ſtronger then they are, they would ſignifie nothing. Hence take notice of the blindneſs and folly of ſome men: for if the time of Englands deliverance be not come, there needs not ſuch gathering of horſe and foot together: For I am confident, the Lovers of ENGLANDS-LIBERTIE, will be no ſecret plotters, they ſcorn it, neither will they move till the Lord by ſome ſignal Providence plainly ſhews that the time is come: and when that is, vain will be the help of man to fruſtrate the good purpoſe and work of God. That Doctrine then, which the Army us'd to preach to the Long Parliament, will be often repeated by the people: To puniſh only inſtruments,St. Albans Declarat. No. 16. 1648. p. 50. and let the head (by whoſe power, and in whoſe intereſt all hath been done) not only go free, but ſtand in perpetual priviledge and impunity, to head ſuch inſtruments again, as oft as he can find opportunity, and get any to ſerve him; is a way ſo far far from ſecurity, as it leads indeed to endleſs trouble and hazard, or to perfect loſs of all. Again, in point of Juſtice, with what Conſcience inferior miniſters can be puniſhed, and the principal ſet free, FOR OUR PARTS, VVE UNDERSTAND NOT, NEITHER DOE VVE KNOVV ANY GROUND OR REASON TO EXEMPT KINGS FROM HUMANE JUSTICE. It is a maxime in the Civil Law, Si quis ff. quod quiſque Juris, &c.That of right every man ſhould be judg'd by ſuch Laws as himſelf hath practiſed againſt others.
Thirdly, What I have ſpoken about Profeſſors, I have plain enough expreſt my meaning. I only intend Backſliders▪ who by their Covenant-breaking, Hypocriſie, and Falſhood, have made the Profeſſion of Religion to ſtink among the Nations. It pleaſed the Lord (through his Grace) to inable me to hold forth a publick Teſtimony againſt the Prelats, but never was the great Name of God, his Goſpel and Kingdom, ſo much concern'd in that Controverſie, I mean, between the Non-conformiſts and Conformiſts, as it is at this day between the Lords VVitneſſes and the Second Apoſtacy. The higher a thing is lifted up, and then hurled down, the more it is wrong'd and hurt thereby. The Biſhops never lifted …p the work of REFORMATION in Church or State; they were Profeſſors that did it: and to ſhew their ſpight to it, and that they might wound it, and wrong it the more, when they had raiſed up the Good Cauſe of God, and the intereſt of the Nation, as high as they thought would ſerve their OWN TƲRN, down they threw it with both hands, hoping it ſhould never riſe again. It is but a little which I have ſaid, to that (I beleeve) will be ſaid: for indeed the bottome of the Apoſtacy will not be touch'd, till things be put more home, (as Nathan did to David) THOU ART THE MAN; that is, particularly to name them, and to ſet down their falſhood and treachery, and what wages and hire ſome have had for ſerving the luſts of men.
It was a crime laid to Silicius, Victoria per avaritiam faedata, he diſcredited his victory by his Covetouſneſs: this needs little application. Alas! what credit have they now by oppoſing the Prelates! doe not the people generally ſay (and not without cauſe) it was to have the Biſhops power in their own hands; and having gotten it, are as inſolent and proud, and for covetouſneſs a thouſand times worſe then they? The ſordid covetouſneſs of theſe men, cauſed one to deride them thus: Whitlock, Obſerv. p. 358, 359.Our Proteſtant Jeſuites care not for converting the Indians that have no gold; they know how to interweave the pretence of Gods intereſt with their own, and therewith to advance all their deſignes. Indeed theſe Jeſuites carry not the Goſpel into any beggerly Region; ſpring a mine, and then if you will ſet up a pulpit, and ſhew them gold there, they will barter ſalvation: otherwiſe, no penny, no pater-noſter. Again, Our Fiſhers angle for no fiſh, but ſuch as have money in their mouths; they will only fiſh for ſuch as contribute to their ſuperfluities. Bad times (ſaith he) when he that will not be a knave, muſt be a fool.
Fourthly, When I conſider what famous teſtimonies the LORDS-WORTHIES have left behind them of their faithfulneſs and great zeal unto the glorious cauſe of Chriſt, not only ſpeaking againſt the corruptions and abuſes of their times: (For had they done no more, what had we known now of the Hypocriſie and Apoſtacy of Profeſſors then?) but have left behinde them (in white and black, as we ſay.) Living Monuments of their Love to God and his people. Truly this takes very much with me, and exceedingly condemns the neglect and backwardneſs of this age. I am thinking many times when, an AFTER-GENERATION ſhall hear of this Second Apoſtacy, and how far it exceeds the former, in breaking Oaths, Vows, and Ingagements, and the name of God and Religion more diſhonored by Church-members, and Church-Officers, and other Profeſſors, then ever before in any age; how ſtrange it would be to them, and admir'd, if nothing ſhould come to their hands from us, as there doth to our hands from the Witneſſes before us.
Beſides, I am now an old man, and expect every day to lay down this earthly Tabernable; it will be therefore ſome comfort to me, whenſoever my changeing coms, that I have left a PUBLICK TESTIMONY againſt this preſent Apoſtacy, as formerly I did against the other: and howſoever I bleſs the Lord that hath kept my feet out of the SNARE of both, yet this I ſhall leave behind me under my hand, i. e. The Free Grace, and Goodneſs of God, hath more abundantly appeared towards me, in preſerving me a poor worm, from this Laſt Apoſtacy, then from the former: not onelyonly becauſe of the two, I take the Laſt to be the worſt; but becauſe the later hath in it much more of the depths of Satan then the former had. As for their jeerings and reproachful ſpeeches, I paſs them by: ſuch things are not new with me; the Biſhops and their Creatures uſed them: yet thus much I muſt ſay for the Biſhops, which I cannot ſay for them, ſo far they ſhewed us FAIR PLAY, not to impriſon us, nor baniſh us, till they had told us the cauſe, and heard what we could ſay for our ſelves; yea, and would ſeem to be very pious and charitable in taking great paines with ſome of us, to bring us out of our errours, (as they cal'd it:) but I have found no ſuch piety or charity with theſe men, for I have been baniſhed now almoſt two years, but never to this day knew the cauſe of it, neither hath there been any thing laid to my charge. I ſhall not ſpeak of the ſad calamity which they have brought ſince upon my Family, by the death of my dear wife and daughter. Again, for the Biſhops, this I may ſay further, for many of them (I think the moſt part (when they baniſhed any of us, or cast us into priſon for Non-conformity) they thought they did well, and did God good ſervice in it. Thus they were like Saul before his converſion, they did things ignorantly in unbelief: But for men to perſecute the people of God for no other cauſe, but becauſe they reprove them for their hypocriſie and falſhood, (and they know in their own conſciences what is ſpoken is very true) of ſuch men we cannot have the charity which we had of the Biſhops. Indeed they are like Saul too, but it is another Saul, i. e. that Saul which perſecuted David, ONE who knew he did not well in it, but acted againſt his light and conſcience.
Fiftly, But one word more to you Mourners in Zion: I am very ſenſible that many of the Lords people have other thoughts of the TIME then I have, and do think I am miſtaken concerning the period of the one thouſand two hundred and ſixty years. Indeed to know what I do (in reſpect of ſo many good men diſſenting from me) would very much diſcourage me from ingaging again in the ſame thing; but that I have more encouragement TO HOLD FAST then I think meet to expreſs: I know whom I have believed, in him I truſt, and will truſt; and do know I ſhall not be aſhamed of my hope. What David prayed for, is a great strengthning to me; Be ſurety for thy Servant for good: let not the proud oppreſs me. Humbly be it ſpoken, I do believe he will anſwer for me, and defend me. Pſa. 91.14.Becauſe he hath ſet his love upon, therefore will I deliver him.
Lastly, I deſire in the Spirit of meekneſs to commend theſe few things to all the faithful of the Land.
1. Howſoever I ſhall diſcourage none (but rather encourage them) to keep cloſe to all Chriſts Appointments; yet to be watchful that their affections run not out after any form or particular judgment; but that the great cauſe of Chriſt and Zion may ſtill (if poſſible) have moſt weight upon their hearts.
2. You that know what it is to watch, now double your watch,Hab. 2.1. ſtand (with the prophet) upon the Tower, and go not off day nor night: If there be any noiſe or ſtir in the night, who firſt hath knowledge of it? not ſuch as are gone to bed, or fallen aſleep, but are up, and waking, and watching to hear what is doing. Methinks I hear the ſound of a going in the tops of the Mulberry-trees:2 Sam. 5.24. There is ſomething already ſtirring, A ſound of abundance of rain.1 King. 18.41. Now the Lord keep us watching one hour: the viſion is ſpeaking, and the wiſe ſhall underſtand.
3. Where you ſe moſt of God, moſt plainneſs, truth, faithfulneſs, and endeared love to the intereſt of Chriſt and his people, rather cloſe there, then upon the account of one-neſs in ſome opinion or judgment. You will ſee ſhortly, that ſome will be lay'd aſide, notwithſtanding their opinions, when others will be choſen and taken, for the abundance of their integrity and ſingleneſs of heart.
4. Labour to experience the power and leading of the Spirit: it is very dangerous to reſt in any thing that comes from the Creature, till you have the witneſs of the Spirit, which is not fleſhly, heady, or empty, but powerful, inward, and abides, and ſettles the ſoul: Pſal. 36.9.In thy light ſhall we ſee light, and no where elſe, let them pretend never ſo high Attainments.
5. There is a path which no fowl knoweth,Job 28.7, 8. and which the vultures eye hath not ſeen. The Lyons whelps have not troden it, nor the fierce Lyon paſſed by it. Why may not this be the way of which the Lord ſpeaks, Iſa. 42.16.I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not: I will lead them in pathes that they have not known? Surely Gods leading his friends into his COƲNCEL-CAHMBER, where he ſhews them great and mighty things which they knew not,Jer. 33.3, is an untrodden path. A Soul may be in the Chamber of preſence, yet not be in the COƲNCEL-CHAMBER. We may experience much divine love, and taſte ſweetly and largely of Free-Grace, and yet not be brought where his great ſecrets are broken open. But I ſhall not ſpeak of this, for it is too wonderful. But who think ye are the perſons whom Jehovah leads into his COƲNCEL-CHAMBER? verily, the poor and the maimed, and the halt and the blind; ſuch as he gathers up in the high-ways and hedges; a people lying at his foot ſtark naked: have no parts, no abilities, no underſtanding or judgment; altogether and every way helpleſs, ſo that if they have any light, it is from the Lord: for in themſelves they are ſure is nothing but darkneſs. That which I aym at is, to perſwade Chriſt's Little Flock in all places to renounce their own reaſon, judgment and understanding, and to be poor, blinde and naked worms, in the high ways and hedges: for ſuch now will be taught of God, in things appertaining to the Times and Kingdom. Mat. 16.17Bleſſed art thou Simon Bar-jona, for fleſh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven.
I ſhall ſay no more: But PRAY, PRAY for this poor worm, that I may finiſh my courſe with joy: Indeed this I earneſtly beg of all the Saints every where, who am through grace preſerv'd, to be
Your Brother and Companion in tears for Zion, beleeving the day of her inlargement is BREAKING: JOHN CANNE.
Reader,
THere are the more faults, becauſe the Author ſaw very little of the Book until it was printed: Beſides others, thou art deſired to correct theſe.
Page 22. l. 20. f… theirs, read their anſwer. p. 58. l. 27. onelyonly, ſave out. p. 65. l. 16. for ſay they, r. they ſay. p. 101. l. 4. for him, r. them. p. 143. l. 16. for his people, r. ſuch people. p. 153. l. 13. for begon, r. begin. p. 169. l. 26. for neer, r. never. p. 175. for more, r. man. p. 195. l. 13. for thumming, r. múmming. 244. marg for Truth with Time, r. Time of the End. p. 252. l. 23. for would, r. wilt. p. 294. for ſtokels, r. ſicles, p. 296. l. 8. ſtrong, r. ſtranger.
The Time of Finding.
Pſalm 32.6.
For this ſhall every gracious Saint pray unto thee at the time of finding.