the Time of Finding, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. At what Time the Lord will be found of his Praying-Saints.
Firſt.The Times of finding, 1. When Saints are prepared for merciemercy. IT is a Time of finding, When the Lords people are prepared for mercy, that is, thorowly humbled, reformed, ſhaken off their duſt, and have cleanſed themſelves of all filthineſs of the fleſh and Spirit. Thea1 Sam. 7.2. Iſraelites were twenty yeers lamenting after the Lord. In this long time no doubt, they prayed and faſted often, yet was not the Lord found: neither had they found him afterward, had not Samuel took them off from a cold, formal, halting, and half ſeeking of him, to a right humbling and reforming indeed. The veſſel muſt be very pure and clean, be-before we will pow… precious liquor into it: See Iam. 4.8, 9, 10. when had Manaſſeh a Time of finding? b2 Chron. 33.12, 13.the Text ſaith, when he humbled himſelf greatly before the God of his Fathers. What is the reaſon that many pray, cry, weep, &c. and yet no time of finding? the Lord ſees they are not humbled enough, and ſo not fit enough for mercy.
And in truth it is a ſingular favor of God, not to give men the great things they ask, before they are prepared for them; for ſhould they have them before they are truly humbled, and purely purged from all their droſs and tin, they would make very il improvement therof. As ſuppoſe a father ſhould put a great eſtate into the hands of a little childe, what pitiful work would he make in the miſpending of it? I have thought many times, what mercy it was, that in the time of the Little Parliament, the Lord gave us not the things which we then deſired; for had we received them, they had been in our hands, before we were meet for them; and ſo inſtead of honoring God, we ſhould (as Iames cJam. 4.3.ſaith) have conſum'd them on our own luſts.
When I conſider what Gods people are (at leaſt many of them) and yet what they would have, I cannot better liken them, then to a man that hath a plaiſter or ſalve at his ſide; becauſe he feels it ſmart, and puts him to ſore pain, he intreats the Phyſician to take it off: but what ſaith the Phyſician? my friend, you muſt be patient, there is a great deal of corruption and rottenneſs behinde, which muſt be fetch'd out, before the plaiſter can be remov'd. What is now our cry, and dayly complaint? Oh that the Lord would take the plaiſter off, remove the yoke from our necks, ſpoyl the ſpoyers, and them that have dealt treacherouſly, call forth his ſanctified ones to execute the judgment written. But what ſaith the Lord? My dear children, be patient, quiet, contented; I am wiſer then you, and know beſt what is to be done; there is ſome corrupt matter, ſome rottenneſs, which muſt be purged, before I can grant your deſire: I muſt firſt bring away your covetouſneſs, ſpiritual-pride, cenſoriouſneſs, paſſion, &c. then will I ariſe for Zion, and reſtore comfort to her mourners.
The ſins of the Amorites were full at the end of the 430. years, then came indGen. 15.16. the fourth generation; yet it was forty years after, before they came into the Promiſed Land. For howſoever the time (as I ſaid) was expired, as to the Iniquity of the Enemies, that is, they were*Numb. 14.9. ripe for judgment; yet the Lords people not being prepared for the promiſed bleſſing, fell ſhort of it many yeers: The like may be ſaid of things now, the time and times, and dividing of time, which (according toeDan. 7.25 Daniel) the Little Horn is to have, may be already expired, and his iniquity full, and ſo ripe for cutting down; nevertheleſs the Saints of the Moſt High, not being prepared to take away his Dominion, and poſſeſs the Kingdom, there may be ſome yeers (after the three years and an half are expired) before he be deſtroy'd, and his body given to the burning flames: not but that*Namely in June la… the time may be ended, (viz. the three years & half) & the little Horn ripe for judgment; but the Saints are not PREPARED for ſuch a diſpenſation.
We read that in all Iehoſhaphats reign,f2 Chron. 20.33. the high places were not taken away; and the reaſon is given, for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers: as if he ſhould ſay, As other abuſes and corruptions were removed, ſo had theſe high places been alſo, but that the people were not enough humble, holy, ſincere, to receive ſuch a mercy: the like may be ſaid of the high places remaining with us, as the carnal-miniſtry, Tythes, Tryers, the corrupt Law, &c. theſe (Gillulim) filthy things, would ſoon be taken away, were Saints prepared to meet their God in his judgments. See Pſal. 81.13, 14, 15, 16. It is with Chriſt and a ſoul ſeeking him, as between the load-ſtone and iron: if there be any duſt or filth that ſticks to the iron, the ſtone refuſeth to cloſe with it, ſhe will not be touch'd, nor touch where there is foulneſs; but take off the filth, and let the iron be clean, then they ſweetly cloſe together: ſo is the Lords heart open, and his arms abroad, to take into his boſome ſuch as are pure and clean in heart, have no defilements upon them, are pure veſſels,g2 Tim. 2.21. meet for the Maſters uſe, and prepared unto every good work; here the Lord will command the bleſſing, even the bleſſed TIME OF FINDING.
2. When the Saints have nothing left them for help but God.Secondly, It is a Time of Finding, When the Faithful have nothing left them for help, but the Lord only: MANS EXTREMITY IS GODS OPPORTƲNITY. The Tide (you know) turns, when the water is loweſt; would yee know the time of the Lords turning and returning to his Church and people? It is at low water, hDeut. 32.36.when he ſeeth that their power is gon, and there is none ſhut up or left: iPſal. 107.27, 28. ſee alſo v. 3, …, 5, 12, 13.when their ſoul is melted becauſe of trouble, and are at their wits end. Then (crying unto the Lord) he bringeth them out of their diſtreſſes: he maketh the ſtorm a calm, and bringeth them to their deſired haven.
Among men, to plead poverty and want, experience ſhews it ſignifies very little: ſhould a poor man goe to a merchant, and tell him nothing but of his nakedneſs and miſery, this would not prevail with him for clothing and other relief; but with the Lord, no better argument to ſpeed, then to ſpread miſeries and wants before him. Hence the Saints uſually in their prayers have mentioned their DISTRESS, as a great reaſon to move the Lord unto pity: thus did Iehoſhaphat, (k2 Chron. 20.12. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? FOR we have no might, neither know we what to do. So David lPſa. 6.2.Have mercy upon me, O God, FOR I am weak: O Lord heal me, FOR my bones are vexed. Again,mPſa. 8….2. & 109.22, 23. Bow down thine ear O Lord, hear me, for I am poor and needy.
And for our encouragement herein, the Lord hath promiſed that it ſhall be A TIME OF FINDING, whennPſa. 50.15. in trouble we call upon him. oPſa. 9.9.He will be a refuge for the oppreſſed, a refuge in times of trouble: pPſa. 102.17.he will regard the prayer of the deſtitute, (or, naked ſhrub) and will not deſpiſe their prayer. Iſa. 41.7.When the poor and needy ſeek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirſt, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Iſrael will not forſake them. The poor woman that had the iſſue of blood twelve yeers, and in that timerMark. 5.26, 27 had ſpent all that ſhe had on phyſicians, when ſhe came to Chriſt in that extremity, was it not a time of finding? the Text ſaith, Straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up, and ſhe felt in her body, that ſhe was healed of that plague. And indeed her caſe is much like Ours; ſhe came not to Chriſt, till all was ſpent. As long as we had a Parliament, a Councel of State, an Army, a General, &c. we too much reſted on them, as our Saviors and Deliverers: it is therefore well for us, that Iehovah hath broken theſe Egyptian reeds, and that we have at preſent none in Heaven nor in Earth but Jeſus Chriſt to truſt in; for now we may confidently expect A TIME OF FINDING.
When Chriſt ſaw that thoſe who had continued three days with him in the wilderneſs,fMat. 15.32. had nothing left, he took compaſſion on them, and fed them by a miracle. Again, when he was at Nazareth preaching in the Synagogue, he needed not to have been led from thencetLuk. 4.29. unto the brow or edg of the hill, he might have eſcaped long before; but he would ſuffer the enemy to go ſo far, to ſhew, that it is his time to work deliverance for his people, when they ſeem to be in the greateſt danger. Is there nothing left? no Parliament, Councel, Army, Navy, General? HaveuLam. 1.2. all Zions friends dealt treacherouſly with her, and become her Enemies? Is the GOOD OLD CAƲSE brought to the brow of the hill? Then lift up your heads ye naked ſhrubs every where; now pray, pray, pray; you are come to the Finding time, and the mount where God will be ſeen.
Thirdly, It is a Time of Finding,3. When the Enemies of Zion are at the higheſt. When the enemies of Zion are at the higheſt, that is, Tryumph and inſult as if all were theirs, and that they ſhall ſee ſorrow no more:xPſa. 10.3 the wicked boaſteth of his hearts deſire: that is, perceiving his deſigns and actions to proſper by hypocriſie, apoſtacy, falſhood, &c. he glories in it, and thinks now, that neither God nor man can reach him:yPſa. 119.119. Thou putteſt away (ſaith David) all the wicked of the earth like droſs: the ſcum or droſs when it is upmoſt and covers the liquor, then it is taken off and thrown away; ſo when tyrants and perſecutors have Saints under them, make account to wear them out by cruel uſage, and cry victory, victory; then coms the revenging hand of God upon them, & treads them as dung under his feet. Thus was the Lord found of good Hezekiah: noteaIſa. 36.13, 14, 15. & chap. 37.10. the meſſage which Rabſhakeh brought to him from his maſter, and what was in the letter which Sennacherib ſent him, Let not thy God in whom thou truſteſt deceive thee: hath any of the gods of the Nations delivered his land out of the hand of the King of Aſſyria? Oh the height of this filthy ſcum! but how did the Lord meet with him? not onelyonly in giving a wonderful deliverance to his people, but by deſtroying his Army, and the blaſphemer alſo. Thus likewiſe it was withbExod. 15.9, 10. Pharaoh, cEſth. 5.6.Haman, dAct. 12.Herod, &c. and in our time with the King and Biſhops; when they were higheſt in pride, pomp, and inſolent practiſes againſt the Lord, his cauſe and people, he cut them off with a witneſs: and the like may we expect upon thoſe, who domineer, hold up their heads and look big,eExo. 5.2. Who is the Lord that I ſhould obey his voyce? fIſa. 51.23.Bow down, that we may go over. gDan. 3.Whoſo falleth not down and worſhippeth the golden Image, ſhall the ſame hour be caſt into the midſt of a burning fiery furnace. But whereunto may I liken ſuch men, and others following their ſteps? to nothing fitter, then to a boil or botch, when it is ſwoln big, and riſen high, then it breaks; and what follows? rottenneſs and ſtink. Are they ſwoln big, and riſen high in power, titles, places? &c. it is a ſign they will break the ſooner: and as the waves of the ſea after their lifting up, and roaring a while, leave behind them nothing but mire and dirt; ſo when the Lord ſhall cut them off, what then will remain? but the infamous memory of their former Apoſtacy, hypocriſie, and lies? It is truly my opinion, were Gods people as fit for mercy, as their enemies are for judgment; were they as low… humiliation and Reformation, as the other are high in pride, blaſphemy, atheiſm, we ſhould ſoon ſee a vial pow… ed out upon them.
That placehJer. 12.1, 2, 3. in the Prophet, me thinks notably agrees with our time They are all happy that deal very treacherouſly. But how doth he deſcrib… them? Thou art neer in their mouth, bu… far from their reins. As the water-ma… in his boat, rows one way, and looks another; ſo theſe profeſs great things, and talk much of God and his ways, but in their practiſes and actions, are moſt vile and wicked: what follows? Prepare them for the day of ſlaughter. When the beaſt is fat and ful fleſht, then the butcher knocks him down. We know now well enough, why the Lord hath ſuffered the Apoſtates to enjoy ſuch fa… paſture, viz. the very paſtures (or places) which fatted other beaſts before them, it was (asiHoſ. 13.6 the Prophet ſaith) that they might be filled, and their heart exalted, and ſo made fat, and fit for ſlaughter.kPſal. 119.126. It is time for thee O Lord to work, for they have made voyd thy Law. He doth not ſay, It is time, &c. becauſe they ſpeak againſt thy …aw, ſlight it, and regard it not; but, …ave made it voyd: ſignifying, when …en are grown to ſuch a height of wic…edneſs, as the Laws of Chriſt are de…troyed by them, his cauſe and intereſt …hrown down to raiſe themſelves, righeouſneſs and truth made voyd, to ſet up oppreſſion and falſhood; then indeed it is high time for the Lord to work, yea, and then is the TIME in which he wil be FOƲND of his faithful ones, hungring and thirſting after righteouſneſs.
Fourthly, It is a Time of finding,4. When Saints make Jeſus Chriſt their all. When SEEKERS make Ieſus Chriſt their ALL: all their hope, ſtay, and truſt, and can truly ſay with the prophet,lPſ. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides thee. If we diſcern ſuch as will not truſt in us, but love to ſtand upon their own ground, we leave them to themſelves, to ſhift as they can: as on the contrary, the more we ſee our ſelves truſted to, the more we take care for them. When the Lord ſees a poor ſoul gives up ALL to him, leaves hi… caſe wholy with him, depends altogethe… upon his power, goodneſs, faithfulneſs; as he delights to ſee his children in ſuch a frame, ſo they may be ſure, he will take care for them, and it ſhall go well with them.mPſa. 18.6 In my diſtreſs (ſaith David) I called upon the Lord, and cryed unto my God: he heard my voyce out of his temple, and my cry came before him even into his ear. But when did David cry, and found the Lord thus good to him?nver. 2. after he had made him his rock and his fortreſs, his ſtrength, his buckler, the horn of his ſalvation, and his high tower. A man that ſtands upon a rock, when he hears the ſea roar, and the waves violently beating againſt the rock, all this puts him not into any fear, for he knows where he is; to wit, out of danger: ſo it is with every gracious Saint, he is beyond the reach of men and Devils, no adverſary power can hurt him. I do remember what I was once told by a good old man, a*Mr. Pateman dwelling at Moſley neer Brimmingham. Nonconformiſt-Miniſter dwelling nigh me: a neighbor of his being in priſon for witch-craft, he went to viſit him: this wretched man confeſt to him, that he had hated him a long time, and fought to do him miſchief; and for this end, there was a compact between the Devil and him, to deſtroy him; the witch ſpoke often to the devil for to haſten their deſign: now the devil told him, he had ſeveral times attempted it, but could not effect any thing; and gave this for the reaſon, becauſe he found him ſtill either in prayer and communion with God, or had commited himſelf into the Lords hand. This I mention, becauſe I had it from the mans own mouth: and what may we learn from it? how ſafe and happy they are, who make Chriſt their ALL: It is not Satan, nor any of his curſed imps and inſtruments that can harm them:oRom. 8.31. If God be with us, who can be againſt us?
That people truſting in God, ſhall have A TIME OF FINDING, appears in the example of thep1 Chron. 5.20. Reubenites, q2 Chron. 14.11, 12.Aſa, r2 Chron. 20.12, 17.Iehoſhaphat, ſJer. 39.17.Ebed-melech; ſotPſa. 17.7 & 91.2, 3 12, 13, 14 David aſſerts it often. But what was the reaſon that the Lord would not be found of Saul, u1 Sam. 28.6.neither by Dreams, nor by Ʋrim, nor by Prophets? He had rejected the Lord, and would not depend upon him, but would do what ſeemed right in his own eyes: hence being left of God, he runs to a witch, to the Devil, to any thing. How comes it to paſs that ſome men make Soldiers their Saviors? their dependence is on the arm of fleſh; viz. Ahitophels, Machiavels, Cardinals, Atheiſts: doubtleſs they ſee the Lord God hath forſaken them, for their abominable hypocriſie; and therefore being left of God, they are neceſſitated to make the beſt ſhift they can. In a ſore famine, when wholſome meat cannot be had, people will eat dogs and cats, rats and mice, yea, and worſe things too, rather then ſtarve: many at this time are under a great famine; the Lord they cannot finde, and therefore to keep themſelves from ſtarving, they will make uſe of any unclean thing; ſteal, murder, ſwear falſly, and make lies of all ſorts and ſizes their refuge.
David ſaithxPſal. 73.28. It is good for me to draw neer to God: and he gives the reaſon: I have put my truſt in the Lord God; that is, I may be aſſured by ſeeking to find him, having made him my hope and confidence alone: but ſaith he,yver. 27. Thou haſt deſtroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. What is it to go a whoring from God? I anſwer, To caſt off his work and cauſe, turn with the dog to the vomit, and truſt in lying vanities. I have read of a Tyrant, by his cruelties had ſo diſpleaſed the people, as he would not truſt himſelf with men, but committed the guard of his body to dogs: ſome men by their SPIRITƲAL WICKEDNES IN HIGH PLACES, do bring themſelves into ſuch a Caſe, God nor good men they dare not truſt, having ſo highly diſpleaſed both; but rather confide in dogs, ſwine, foxes, wolves, as the Scripture terms wicked men.5. When the enemies of God are plotting miſchief againſt Chriſt his intereſt and people.
Fifthly, It is a Time of Finding, When the enemies of God are plotting miſchief againſt Ieſus Chriſt, his intereſt, and people. Thus the Iſraelites found him, when Pharaoh ſayd,aExod. 1.10. & 2 23, 24. Come, let us deal wiſely with them. So afterwards when Haman took crafty counſel againſt them, you know how the proud tyrant was taken in the pit he had dig'd for others: ſo again, whenbAct. 12.1, 2, 3. Herod had deſign'd the taking away of Peters life, the Lord ſo graciouſly anſwered the prayers of the Church, as Peter is not only inlarged, but the bloody wretch a little after miſerably periſheth under Divine wrath. According to that ſaying,cProv. 11.8. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his ſtead. As ſome fiſhes are taken whilſt they are making ſnares, and in the very traps and gins which they lay for others; ſo perſecutors very oft, as they are plotting miſchief, and at work, are trapt in their own wickedneſs.
Iulian the Apoſtate had a deſign at his return from the Perſian wars, to have ſacrificed the blood of Chriſtians to his Idol gods. The like plot had the Conſtable of France; after the taking of St. Quintin, he vowed to deſtroy Geneva: now howſoever their deſigns took no effect, yet the Lord's did againſt them, for he gave them their own blood to drink, and ſo ſav'd his people. He that moves the week of candle with his finger, mends the light, but burns and blacks his fingers: certain it is, the crafty plots of Gods enemies, have very much profited the Saints, though it have been to their own ruine.
And many of Chriſts little flock can ſpeak it by experience, ſince the Laſt plotters came up, the Lord hath been very good to them, and they have found him more ſweetly, and heart-feelingly then ever in their lives before. It was the ſpeech of an honeſt man, being pitied that he had ſo bad a wife; Oh, ſaid he, ſhe is a good wife for me, ſhe brings me often upon my knees, and to ſighings and mourning before the Lord. In ſuch a ſence may many of the Lords people ſay, Whereas hypocrites reign, truly it is good for us; we ſhould not be ſo often with our God, and pour out tears day and night, nor have ſuch times of finding, did not theſedPſal. 129.3. plowers plow upon our back, and make long their furrows.
In great mens kitchins there are certain ſcullions, to rub ſpits, and make clean the diſhes; and howſoever they are black and foul themſelves, yet they are of neceſſary uſe, to have the veſſels meet for ſervice: what a great deal of filth and dirt hath the Lord lately remov'd from his little remnant, by his kitchin-drudges? of a truth, they were not half ſo fair, pure and lovely, ſome few years paſt, as they are now.ePſa. 52.1 Why boaſteſt thou thy ſelf in miſchief, O mighty man? This may ſerve to take down the pride of Tyrants, and inſulting hypocrites; for what are they? (though Emperors, Kings, Princes, Protectors, &c.) if they perſecute the witneſſes of Ieſus, for ſpeaking againſt their wicked ways, but as Chriſts SKƲLLIONS and DISH-CLOƲTS, to wipe off the duſt and filth from the Saints, that they may be meet for the Maſters uſe.
When it was told David that Ahitophel was amongſt the Conſpirators with Abſalom, he knew then there would be deep and deviliſh plotting againſt him; and therefore preſently cries out,f2 Sam. 15.31. O Lord I pray thee, turn the counſel of Ahitophel into fooliſhneſs: and here David had a time of finding. g2 Sam. 17 14, — 32.For Ahitophels deſign is not only fruſtrated, but the traytor himſelf, (as a juſt reward for his villany) for very ſhame hangs himſelf: from hence this may be gathered, when we underſtand there are any wicked deſigns ſet on foot againſt the Kingdome of Chriſt, (whereof Davids Kingdom was a type) we muſt pray earneſtly to God for the confuſion thereof, it being then a TIME OF FINDING.
Sixtly, It is a time of Finding,6. When Saints are importunate beggars, and will take no nay at Gods hand. When Saints are BOLD-BEGGARS, and will take no nay, or denyal at the Lords hand. hJam. 5.16.The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, availeth much. A mother ſometimes refuſeth to give her breaſt to the childe, though he ask it; but if he beg it with tears, cries, ſhrieches, ſhe cannot but grant it: ſuch was Iacobs ſeeking the bleſſing,iGen. 32.26. I will not let thee go, except thou bleſs me. But how did he hold the Angel?kHoſ. 12.4 He wept and made ſupplication unto him. As if he ſhould ſay, I am reſolv'd never to ceaſe weeping and crying, here will I abide in mourning and bitterneſs of Soul, till I am bleſt.lExod. 3 2.10. Deut. 9.14. Let me alone, ſaith God to Moſes: In which words we have not onelyonly a condeſcention of divine Grace unto the cryes and tears of the Godly, as if the Lords hands were to be diſpoſed by their prayers; but Moſes importunity, as if he would not let go his hold, except his ſuit were granted. A man under a tree may reach ſome fruit, but if he clime up, and get to the top, there he ſhall have more fruit; and better fruit, riper, ſweeter, larger. That prayer may AVAIL MƲCH, it muſt be more then common or ordinary, ſtrong crying, and without ceaſing.
It is ſaid of Elias, mJam. 5.17, 18.By his praying, he did ſhut and open Heaven: But how prayed he? earneſtly, ſaith our Tranſlation; the*foreign. Text hath, He prayed a Prayer, or, in praying he prayed: ſo that there is ſingle-praying, and double-praying, and they have theirs accordingly.nIſa. 64.7. There is none that calleth upon thy name, that ſtirreth up himſelf to take hold on thee. Theſe people are not blam'd ſo much for not praying, as for not putting forth themſelves in prayer; they ſhould (like Iacob and Moſes) have taken faſt hold on God, and never have left off weeping and crying day and night, until their ſupplications had been granted: as an Arrow fals ſhort of the mark, when the Bow is not well bent, the Arrow drawn up to the head, and delivered with ſtrength: So our prayers oft-times fall ſhort of anſwer, becauſe we do notoPſa. 63.8 preſs hard after God, pMat. 11.12.take him by violence, follow him from place to place, and not let him go, till he qPſa. 10.17.cauſe his ear to hear.
This our Savior in one of his Parables notably ſhews,rLuk. 11 … Though he will not riſe and give him, becauſe he is his friend, yet becauſe of his importunity, he will riſe and give him as many as he needeth. The word rendred importunity, is properly*foreign impudence: and it hath this meaning, Though among men it would be thought too much boldneſs and impudence, for a man not to be ſaid nay; yet the Lord is ſo far from diſliking it when it is his own caſe, as he would have his children to force (as it were) a grant from him: the like we have in the importunate widow. ſLuk. 18.7 8Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them, I tell you he will avenge them ſpeedily. Methinks this bearing long, and avenging ſpeedily, will not well accord, unleſs we take the ſence thus: When the Lord ſhall raiſe up a poor deſtitute remnant, who (like the widow) will never ceaſe weeping and crying to him, then he wil ſuddenly come forth to pour out the vials upon the Little Horn, the laſt Apoſtaſie, Babylon, though formerly he kept ſilence a long time. I queſtion whether that in the Prophet be yet fulfill'd:tIſa. 62.6, 7. I have ſet watchmen upon thy wals O Ieruſalem, which ſhall never hold their peace day nor night; ye that make mention of the Lord keep not ſilence, and give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Jeruſalem a praiſe in the earth. As things when they come neer their Centre, move more ſwiftly and ſpeedily then before; It ſeems to me, neer or about the breaking forth of the Great work in the laſt dayes, there will be a people ſo ingag'd for Zion, that they will make it their whole work to mourn and weep before the Lord, never ceaſing till he break the Heavens and come down. uIſa. 66.8Aſſoon as Zion traveled, ſhe brought forth her Children. I think indeed, when the Lord ſhall put ſuch Travels and Birthpangs upon the hearts of his people, as that they will give him no reſt, but mourn like Doves perpetually before him, and make it their meat and drink day and night; we ſhall ſuddenly ſee the Lord bringing the Rod of his ſtrength out of Zion, and to work terrible things in the Earth. A Bleſſed TIME OF FINDING. xRev. 22.20.Amen: even ſo come Lord Ieſus.