Truth with Time, Title page – Dedication
Truth vvith Time: OR, CERTAIN REASONS PROVING, That none of the ſeven laſt Plagues, or Vials, are yet poured out: neither will the time of their pouring out begin, till after the riſing of the Two Witneſſes, and the fourty two months of the Beast's reign be expired.
LIKEWISE, An ANSWER to the ſaid REASONS; With a REPLY.
FURTHER, The Author hath here ſet down (in a brief Expoſition) his opinion of the FIRST VIAL.
By JOHN CANNE, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
Jer. 51.10. Come, let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.
Dan. 12.10. But the wicked ſhall do wickedly; and none of the wicked ſhall underſtand: But the wiſe ſhall underſtand.
London, Printed by J.C. for Livewe! Chapman, at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley. 1656.
To all the Mourners in Zion, now waiting by faith and prayer, for the fulfilling of the great promiſes of the laſt Times.
Precious Ones,
THe Lord ſaith by his Prophet,*Pſal. 50.5 Gather ye to me my gracious Saints, that have ſtricken my covenant with ſacrifice. Who are meant here, I ſhall not ſay: but this I ſay, The time draws nigh, in which the ſanctified and mighty ones of Jehovah ſhall be gathered together to him; even the hundred fourty and four thouſand ſtanding with the Lamb on Mount Zion.
It is poſſible, this Work of mine at firſt ſight may ſeem ſtrange to you, being contrary to what hath been generally received; and withal, may occaſion ſome diſcouragement, as if the day of the Lords vengeance, and the year of recompenſes for the controverſie of Zion, were further off then you thought before. For the firſt, I ſhall refer you to the Diſcourſe it ſelf: but for the later, that is, taking None of the Vials yet begun, it will be for your encouragement and advantage many ways.
1. Here you may ſee, what choice and ſingular Priviledges the Lord hath reſerved for YOU the Saints of the laſt times as, to be particularly THESE, Rev. 14.1, 2, 3, &c. and the called, choſen, and faithful, Chap. 17.14. The Angels to come out of the Temple, with ſeven golden Vials, full of the wrath of God: *Pſal. 149.7.8.To do vengeance on the heathens, reproofs in the nations: To binde their Kings in chains, and their Nobles in fetters of iron: To do on them the judgement written; this comely honour is to all his gracious Saints. Hallelu-jah. It never grieves a childe, to know more then he did of the Portion which his father left him. I have in this Treatiſe acquainted you with ſomething more, then what (probably) you knew before concerning your lot (how eminent it is) being fallen in the laſt days.
2. If the Lord will thus honour you the Saints of the last times with high and glorious employment, What manner of perſons ought ye to be, in all holy converſation and godlineſs? How ſhould ye ſtudie*2 Tim. 2.21. to be meet for the Maſters uſe; workmen that need not to be aſhamed? Surely*Levit. 16.21. he will ſend by the hand of fit men. Were a man choſen to any great Office in the Commonwealth, he would take pains to have inſight in it, and to have all meet qualifications for the diſcharge thereof. In former times, as Saints ſaw that their work then was to ſuffer for the teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt; ſo they went to God, by inſtant and earneſt prayer, for faith, patience, courage, conſtancie, &c. that they might not love their lives unto the death. We are come, without doubt, neer the time of the end, viz. the period of the Beaſt's reign, and the Vials to begin. Hence we ſhould minde what our Work is NOW, and for THIS be calling upon God day and night, for ſpirits ſutable to the Work.
3. I know nothing (if duly weighed) of more weight then this, to heal all preſent Breaches amongst the faithful of the Land, and to gather them in (as one) with and for the Lamb. Never was there a time more unſeaſonable then now, for brethren to be at oddes, whether about Forms, or the like; but rather (bearing each with other in their Opinions) to joyn together in Faſting and Prayer, that they may all know the Lord, as to the proper work of the day; and therein (as all alike concerned) ſtand fast together in the defence thereof. I have obſerved it a long while, that nothing more draws out the hearts of Chriſtians to peace and oneneſs, then the underſtanding of the Times. Men walking in a dark room, are apt to ſtumble and fall one upon another. It is want of Generation-light, that Ephraim envies Judah, and Judah vexeth Ephraim. Could Saints but ſee, that the day breaks, and the ſhadows are flying away; thoſe Forms and other things which men now are earneſt for, God is ſhaking, and making all things new: they would lay their hands upon their mouthes, and ſay, Once have I ſpoken, yea twice: but I will proceed no further. If a Maſter ſhould come and finde his ſervants quarrelling about ſome ſmall matter, and in the mean time nothing done concerning things of more weight and importance; though ſome might be leſs in fault then others, and ſo leſs blamed; yet they would be all reproved, as having neglected the greater and more weighty buſineſs. It is true, in theſe Controverſies, as ſome have more Truth on their ſide then others; ſo their fault is the leſs: nevertheleſs, not having ſerved their Generation, but contended onelyonly about things of leſſer importance; for this they may ALL ſtand aſhamed before the Son of man at his coming.
4. If no Vial yet be poured out, and the Vial-Angels are to come out of the Temple; this conſidered, ſhould ſtir up the Churches of the Saints to hear what the Spirit ſaith unto the Churches. They have ſeen thy goings, O God; Rev. 2.7. Pſal. 68.24even the goings of my God, my King, in the Sanctuary. My opinion is, near the time of the Vials, the Spirit of God will move among the Saints at their holy Meetings, in ſome ſtrong and extraordinary way; as to the ſhaking of the houſe, as Act. 4.31. or as in Acts 13.2. And the Temple was filled with ſmoke from the glory of God, and from his power. And therefore,Rev. 15.8. as eminent and infallible confirmations and aſſurances are to be ask'd; ſo God's Anſwers and Returns are to be heeded: for now Believers are to expect the great promiſe of the Father, to be endued with power from on high; and to have the Spirit of truth, Joh. 16.13.to guide them into all truth, and to ſhew them things to come. Again, as wonderful and extraordinary things are to be attempted, things new, and in former ages unheard-of: ſo the wonderful appearances of God, as moving and leading men thereto, are to be obſerv'd; which are no other then Gods call to the Angels of the Vials in the Temple: Go your ways, and pour out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. Rev. 16.1.Who is wiſe, and he ſhall underſtand theſe things; prudent, Hoſ. 14.9.and he ſhall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, and the juſt ſhall walk in them; but the tranſgreſſors ſhall fall therein.
5. To hold that ſome of the Vials are begun, it draws ſuch a cloud and darkneſs over mens eyes, as it cannot but diſadvantage Saints many ways. For, 1. Thoſe who now ſuffer upon the account of the Fifth Kingdom, and run not after the errour of Balaam for reward; what improvement can they make of their Teſtimony? I ſay, how little (comparatively) doth it tend to? If the Sackcloth-Witneſſes have poured out Vials upon the Earth, Sea, and Fountains of waters; truly the houſe of Auſtria is a buſineſs far off, and the following Vials yet further; and in my underſtanding, all yeelds very little comfort to thoſe whoſe preſent expectation is raiſed up after great and high things nearer home.
Again, granting ſome Vials poured out; but how many, and when, where, and how; here all uncertain: This muſt needs wrap a ſoul into a world of doubts; as, what to pray for, and where we are, and what work to prepare for. Paul ſaith well, It is good to be zealouſly affected always, Gal. 4.18.in a good thing. For my part, I ſincerely ſpeak it, taking the Vials begun, the more I conſider where we are, and what to pray for, and prepare for, (as to preſent Generation-work) the leſs I am ſatisfied, as to have things bottom'd and well grounded.
But on the contrary, taking the Vials not begun, here methinks things are eaſie and plain to him that hath underſtanding, as to the knowledge both of our Time and Work. Beſides, for the Priſoners of hope, here is that will ſtay them with flaggons, Eccl. 4.14.and comfort them with apples. For out of priſon he cometh to reign. The riſen Witneſſes are to begin the work upon the Earth-ſtate Apoſtacie. After three years and half, (which I take to be the whole time of the laſt State-Apoſtacie, and the Witneſſes lying ſo long ſlain) that in Job will be made good:Job 17.8. The innocent ſhall ſtir up himſelf againſt the hypocrite.
6. Were this Doctrine concerning the Vials rightly underſtood, it would awaken many carnal and corrupt Profeſſors; as Formaliſts, Neuters, Time-ſervers, &c. It is no marvel that this ſort of men are ſo little affected or affrighted with the ſeven laſt plagues: For if three of the Vials (as it is commonly held) are poured out, and yet all things continue as they were from the beginning; Why may not the later do as little as the former did? Whereas, did the Hypocrites and Apoſtates of this Age know, that none of them are yet poured out; and withal, were they informed who will be the ſubjects of each Vial, and what the effects: this would be like thunder in their ears: Alas, who ſhall live when God doth this? Num. 24.23.Now we ſhould ſee the ſinners in Sion afraid; fearfulneſs would ſurpriſe the hypocrites.
Specially when they ſhall hear, that the firſt Vial, whoſe ſubject is the Earth, is ſhortly to be poured forth upon an earthly and carnal Intereſt, to wit, the Grand Apoſtates of the laſt times, deſcribed in 2 Tim. 3.2, 3, 4. For the time is come, 1 Pet. 4.17that judgement muſt begin at the houſe of God; according to his way of old; and begin at my Sanctuary: Ezek. 9.6.And in taking this courſe, all mouthes will be ſtopp'd: Be ſilent, Zech. 2.13O all fleſh, before the Lord: for he is raiſed up out of his holy habitation. What will Rome, Spain, France, Germany, &c. have to ſay, when it comes to be their Turn to feel the weight and wrath of the Vials, when they ſhall hear how the Lord began firſt at his Sanctuary; namely, with thoſe had a Form of godlineſs, but denyed the power thereof?
7. Neither is the knowledge of this, altogether without ſome uſe to the preſent Powers of the world, eſpecially ſuch, who ſay they believe that Christ ſhall have a viſible and glorious Kingdom; onelyonly they differ from their Brethren in point of time. It was much, that Saul ſhould tell David, I know well (ſaith he) that thou ſhalt ſurely be king, 1 Sam. 24.20.and that the kingdom of Iſrael ſhall be eſtabliſhed in thine hand. One would think he ſpake not as he thought; or at least, not as he would have it; when no ſooner were the words out of his mouth, but he ſought by all the ſubtil ways he could deviſe, how to take away Davids life, that he might not be king.
But now, to remove jealouſie from men in Authority, in relation to thoſe who already cry Hoſanna to the Son of David, GOD SAVE KING JESUS, bleſſed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; and do aſſert him the onelyonly Potentate, and that he ſhall break all other Potentates and Powers of the world, and alone be exalted: This Apologie I dare give forth to the whole world, in their behalf, I ſpeak of thoſe who bear witneſs to the fifth Kingdom, That they do abhor all ſecret Deſignes and Plots; neither is it in their hearts to act as men, nor for men; no, nor to appear in the work of the Lord, till they ſhall ſee one of the days of the Son of man, that is, the Lord eminently riſen, in lifting up the Standard for his People. So that as they ceaſe from man, and from truſting in Chariots and Horſe-men; ſo it is belowe their Principles, to provide Pikes and Muskets, or any ſuch Ammunition: for they know, when their time and work comes, if they ſhall need then any ſuch Weapons, their Enemies will ſpare them enough, as caſting away all they have, that they may flie the faster to Rocks and Mountains, whereby to be hid from the fierce wrath of the Lamb.
But whereas there is a great Rumour thorow the Nations, of wonderful Actions and Changes at hand;Mat. 2.3. (When Herod heard theſe things, he was troubled, and all Jeruſalem with him:) hence it is ſuggeſted, as if the Aſſertors of Christ's glorious and viſible Kingdom, had fix'd a certain, definite & determinate Time when the Stone cut out without hands, ſhould begin to ſmite the Image upon his feet that were of Iron & Clay, and break them in pieces. But this is not true. Yet this we confeſs, (for we deſire, as our hearts are known to God, ſo to have them naked and opened unto the eyes of all men) we are of opinion, That the Lord will ariſe, Pſal. 102.13.and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea the ſet-time is come. The viſion which was for an appointed time, Hab. 2.3.is at an end, and will ſpeak. The fourty and two months, and one thouſand two hundred and ſixty days, are neer their periods; and there ſhall be time no longer, either for the Beaſt, or other Tyrants, to bear rule over the Saints of the moſt High. But what of this? Here is no ground for action: for until the Lord himſelf make it clear and certain, by his own infallible appearance, that the time is come; mens Conjectures are nothing, as to move any to ſuch undertakings.
And therefore I ſay further, Had theſe men who believe that Christ will ſhortly deſtroy all worldly powers, as great advantages againſt any of them, as David had againſt Saul when he fell into his hands, they would not (I ſpeak as I believe) ſtir, or act any thing, meerly as having ſuch an Advantage or Oportunity: for they eye more then what men call Providence, (which Thieves of all ſorts may pretend to:Num. 23.21.) The Lord God muſt be with them, and the ſhout of a King among them. And until the Lord of hoſts muſter the hoſt of the battel, Iſa. 13.4.thoſe that rejoyce in his HIGHNESS will remain in their Chambers, having their doors ſhut about them.
I ſpeak not this, as if there were the least unwillingneſs in the Aſſertors of the Fifth Kingdom to ſuffer in the behalf thereof. For I am confident, they are as willing as ever were Saints in any Generation, to hold forth (with their lives in their hands) this Testimony of Jeſus Christ, namely,1 Tim. 6.15. THAT CHRIST AS MAN SHALL BE THE ONELYONLY POTENTATE, INSOMUCH AS ALL WORLDLY DOMINION,Dan. 2.35. RULE, GOVERNMENT, &c. SHALL BE BROKEN TO PIECES, AND BECOME AS THE CHAFF OF THE SUMMER-THRESHING-FLOOR, AND NO PLACE FOUND MORE FOR IT:Dan. 7.14, 2.7. BUT CHRIST WITH HIS SAINTS SHALL HAVE THE DOMINION, GLORY, AND GREATNESS, UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN.
But what I write, is to wipe off the Scandal and Reproach which ſome ſeek to faſten upon them, by matching them with Cavaliers and Malignants; and as if great Plots (I know not what) were under Conſultation amongst them: A thing deteſted, as moſt unſutable to the glorious Cauſe and Interest which they profeſs. Beſides, they know well enough, as Christ will take the Kingdoms of the world into his own hands: ſo, when that time ſhall come, (as we hope it is not far off) he will come with power enough: we need not to take any thought about it: For the zeal of the Lord of hoſts will perform this.Iſa. 9.….
Having thus far endeavoured to remove needleſs Fears, it were well (notwithſtanding) if the Great Ones of the world would take notice of what was hinted before, That Jeſus Chriſt is deſigning against them, (though we are not) to root them out, and to pull them down, and to deſtroy and overthrow them. Iſai. 28.22.Now therefore be not mockers, leſt your bands be made ſtrong. For I have heard from the Lord God of hoſts, a conſumption even determined upon the whole earth. Iſai. 23.9.He hath purpoſed to ſtain the pride of all glory, and to bring to contempt all the honourable of the earth. What greater folly in men, then to take care to have the walls of their houſes high and ſtrong, but no covering to it, whereby to keep off hurt and danger from above, and over head? That BLOW which the Powers of the world may expect next, it's from above, even The finger of God: and therefore if they have not made it well and ſtrong over-head, (ſtrong enough to keep off the hand of God) what will their Souldiers and Guards about them, ſtead them? Your Covenant with death ſhall be diſannulled, Iſai. 28.18.and your agreement with hell ſhall not ſtand: when the overflowing ſcourge ſhall paſs thorow, then ye ſhall be trodden down by it. Iſa. 8.9, 10.Alſo, aſſociate your ſelves, O ye people, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces; take counſel together, and it ſhall come to nought. When fire takes hold of ſticks bundled together, the one rather furthers then hinders the others burning. When the day of the Lord of hoſts ſhall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, Iſai. 2.12.the more they combine together by Power and Policie, the faſter they will run, and deſtroy one the other. No man (I think) could have done more (whether Machiavilian or Atheist) then Herod did, to prevent the great Deſigne of God, when Jeſus Christ came first into the world!Pro. 21.30. But it would not do. For there is no wiſdom, nor underſtanding, nor counſel, againſt the Lord. So a while after, to hinder Chriſts Reſurrection, what could the devil have ſuggeſted, (as a Plot more probably to take effect) then to make the ſepulchre ſure, Mat. 27.66ſealing the ſtone, and ſetting a watch? But this would not do neither: for Christ aroſe in the appointed time, notwithſtanding all the depths of Satan in the chief Priests and Phariſees; notable Types of the Rulers and Priests of the last days. Whilst ſome, like the Wiſe-men, are asking, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? and mourning with the Diſciples, to ſee him crucified in his Cauſe and Witneſſes: others, with Herod and the Phariſees, are taking crafty counſel how to hinder his Kingdom, Power, and Greatneſs: But this will not do:Pſal. 2.6. Yet have I ſet my Son upon my holy hill of Sion.
Neither will Christ ſtand to that Diviſion and Share which theſe men have ſet out to him, viz. Spiritualties: for ſo they have divided the Government of Nations between Him and Themſelves. As for all outward things, Crowns, Kingdom, Compare Luke 4.6.Power, Greatneſs, Glory, Riches, Laws, &c. this is their Share. Now there is another thing, which they call Spiritual, or inward and inviſible; this they allow to Chriſt; and no marvel: for they know not how to get it out of his hands. But the Prophet ſpeaks of another Decree, which is,Pſal. 2.7. That Jeſus Christ ſhall have all; and their fleſh (that is, their Revenues, Riches,Rev. 19.17, 18. Greatneſs, Power, Places, &c.) ſhall be given to the fowls that flie in the midſt of heaven.
But I ſhall ſay no more, as having little hope that ſuch ſayings as theſe, will take with them. For the old ſubtil Serpent, who loves to be with them in the Garden, tells them, (when ſuch things come to their ear) YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE.Gen. 3.4.
8. And here I may not forget, what help and advantage Saints have, by the knowledge of theſe things: as, to be kept and preſerved from the Errours of the laſt times. For, what is it that doth occaſion many poor ſouls ſo eaſily to be led aſide into that NOTHING of the Quakers, but their ignorance of the Viſions and Prophecies of the Scriptures not yet fulfilled? Hence (knowing little of the viſible and glorious Kingdom of Chriſt, as the Son of man) they turn all things either into Allegories, or a Chriſt within them; and ſo make all the great counſels and purpoſes of God of no effect. As for this ſort of people, truly I love them, and pity them: I love them, for many good things which I ſee in them; as, their honeſt walking, and civil righteouſneſs; and for that Publike Teſtimony which they hold forth againſt the ſcandalous practices of corrupt men. And I pity them much, to ſee how, pretending to Perfection, and to have the higheſt Light and Diſcoveries of Truth, there is nothing to be found in their Writings, Speeches, Lives, but what is very lowe, and ſignifies NOTHING, as to be a People raiſed up for the work of the laſt days. They tell us of Chriſt and Antichriſt, of Babylon and the New Jeruſalem; of the Seals, Trumpets, Vials; the Beaſt, falſe Prophet, and the Great Whore, &c. But alas, poor hearts, nothing do they make of it, either as to the truth of the matter in it ſelf, or in their own way, as they apply it, and would be underſtood. And therefore well may their Way be call'd NOTHING: for nothing is held forth by them concerning the great things of Christ which Saints now wait for, according to the promiſe of the Father.
But to return to you, who are haſtening the day of the coming of Chriſt: Give me leave in the Cloſe to ſpeak one word more. As the expectation of Saints everywhere is exceeding high, after ſtrange and wonderful things: ſo the Prophecies of the Scriptures (ſuch I mean as reſpect the laſt days) are the more diligently to be ſearch'd, as the Grounds of our Faith and Hope. And howſoever all of them are of excellent uſe, whereby to know what muſt ſhortly come to paſs, and how to be in readineſs: Nevertheleſs, the matter of the Vials (in my opinion) is a thing wherein Chriſtians ſhould labour to have ſpecial light and knowledge, as containing the whole Work of God, till the ſinners be conſumed out of the earth, and the wicked be no more.
Neither will there lie ſuch Darkneſs on the Vials, if we once (through Christ) have found the beginning. For as in reading Books, the last word of the Page gives direction to what follows, and how to finde it: ſo (I conceive) in every Vial, there is a light of ſome direction, whereby to carry us over to the knowledge of the next, and from it to what follows▪ and ſo of the reſt: which will occaſion the humble ſearcher to ſay, O the depth of the riches both of the wiſdom and knowledge of God! But here no common or ordinary frame is ſufficient: but we muſt labour for high and choice ſpirits, to be ſtrengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man, and filled with all the fulneſs of God.
Now that ſuch a meaſure of the Spirit may be poured out upon all the Lords Servants and Handmaids waiting everywhere for the ſame, is the daily prayer of him who is
Yours In the love and ſervice of the Truth, JOHN CANNE. From Hull, the beginning of this HOPEFUL YEAR 1656.