Mount Zion, Part 2

Mount Zion · Part 2

p. 58I ſhall in the next place ſhew you the Power, Strength and Glory of this Kingdom.

FIrſt, In that it ſhall never be deſtroy…. The Church of God is excellently divided into two parts; Militant, and Triumphant; Militant on the Earth, Triumphant in Heaven. The Inhabitants of Heaven are of three ſorts.

The bleſſed Trinity.

The bleſſed Angels.

The bleſſed Saints.

Firſt, The bleſſed Trinity. For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are one, 1 John 5.7. This makes our Salvation to be ſure, our Inheritance to be certain, our Goſpel to be true, our Security to be immortal; this is that our Lord Jeſus declared to the Jews, and teſtified to them, but they underſtood him not. Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them. Though I bear record of my ſelf, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go, but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go, John 8.14. He tha… believeth on the Son of God, hath the witneſ… in himſelf: he that believeth not God, hat… made him a Liar, becauſe he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son; and this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son, 1 Joh. 5.10, 11. The Goſpel is called the everlaſting Goſpel, Rev. 14.6. becauſe it proceeded from God, the everlaſting Father. The Apoſtles did not receive the Goſpel they preached, from men, but from God; it was publiſhed, and preach'd by Chriſt Jeſus, the everlaſting Son of God; it was applied by the everlaſting Spirit of God; and the effects of the Goſpel will be everlaſting. The bleſſed Trinity fills Heaven with light and glory; the glory of viſion, the glory of a full enjoyment of all happineſs. For, as it is written, Eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2.9.

Secondly, The bleſſed Angels of Heaven. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many Angels round about the Throne, and the number of th…m was ten thouſand times ten thouſand, and thouſands of thouſands, ſaying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain, to receive power, and riches, and wiſdom, and ſtrength, and honour, glory, and bleſſing, Rev. 5.11, 12. But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jeruſalem, and to p. 60an innumerable company of Angels, Heb. 12.22. As theſe Angels are great in number, being innumerable; ſo they are excellent in their natures. For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels; but he took on him the ſeed of Abraham, Heb. 2.16. They are inviſible ſpirits, cloth'd with holineſs, covered with glory, enriched with knowledge, arm'd with power, fill'd with love, adorned with heavenly beauty, and ſhine in heavenly glory. Are they not all miniſtring ſpirits, ſent forth to miniſter for them who ſhall be heirs of ſalvation? Heb. 1.14. The Scripture ſpeaks of a threefold Miniſtry.

1. Of the Miniſtry of the Prophets. I have alſo ſpoken by the Prophets, and I have multiplied Viſions, and uſed ſimilitudes, by the Miniſtry of the Pr…phets, Hoſ. 12.10.

This Miniſtry the Children of Iſrael were under, Moſes, and the Prophets; but they did not underſtand them.

2. The Miniſtry of Angels: And they are miniſtring Spirits, ſent forth by God Almighty, to miniſter for them who ſhall be heirs of Salvation, and the Church of God here on Earth, hath received from God many benefits, and great bleſſings by the hands of theſe bleſſed Angels; They hinder evil from us, and further good to us. They execute God's wrath, and vengeance, and judgments on wicked men; and they do comfort, and ſtrengthen and relieve Gods own People. This is very plain in Scripture, that they have done it, and we do all believe, they do it ſtill. Two Angels were ſent to deſtroy Sodom, and Gomorrah. For we will deſtroy this place becauſe the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord hath ſent us to deſtroy it, Gen. 19.13. And it came to paſs that night, that the Angel of the Lord went out, and ſmote in the Camp of the Aſſyrians an hundred fourſcore and five thouſand; and when they aroſe early in the morning, behold, they were all dead Corps, 2 Kings 19.35. And upon a ſet day, Herod arayed in royal apparel, ſat uppon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a ſhout, ſaying, It is the voice of a God, and not of a man, and immediately the Angel of the Lord ſmote him, becauſe he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten of Worms, and gave up the Ghoſt, Acts 12.21, 22, 23. Angels, by a ſpecial command from God, do execute his wrath, and vengeance on wicked men. Perſecutors have been cut off, but no man ſaw the hand, that ſmote them; Gods Arrows have ſtuck faſt in them, though no man ſaw the Arm that drew the Bow, they have been ſuddenly removed, out of this world, into another. O! how many perſecuters have tumbled, fallen and periſhed. Surely thou didſt ſet them in ſlippery places; thou caſtedſt them down into deſtruction; how are they brought into deſolation as in a moment? They are utterly conſumed with terrors, as a dream, when one awaketh; ſo, O Lord! when thou awakeſt thou ſhalt deſpiſe their image, Pſalm 73.18, 19, 20. O! how hath God made his Judgments manifeſt, and been a ſwift witneſs againſt perſecutors. Thoſe who were one day breathing out threatnings, and ſlaughter againſt the Servants of the Lord, the next day have been dead: have we not heard, and read this, the Angels that ſtand before God Almighty, wait but for a commiſſion and a command, but a look, to cut down ſuch wicked wretches. Now as Angels do execute Gods wrath, and vengeance on wicked perſecuters, ſo they do alſo ſtrengthen, and comfort Gods People under their ſoreſt tryals, and greateſt afflictions; when the Prophet Eliſha was beſieg'd in Dothan by the Aſſyrian Army, the Angels of Heaven were ſent down to relieve him. And when the Servant of the man of God was riſen early p. 63and gone forth, behold, an Hoſt compaſſed the City, both with Horſes, and Chariots: and his ſervant ſaid unto him, Alas, my maſter, how ſhall we do? and he anſwered, Fear not, for they that be with us, are more than they that be with them; and Eliſha prayed, and ſaid, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may ſee, and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he ſaw; and behold, the mountain was full of Horſes, and Chariots of fire round about Eliſha, 2 King. 6.15, 16, 17.

After Daniel had been mourning three full weeks, and humbled himſelf before the Lord, an Angel was ſent from Heaven to ſtrengthen and comfort him. And he ſaid unto me, O! Daniel, a man greatly beloved, underſtand the Words that I ſhall ſpeak unto thee, and ſtand upright: for unto thee am I now ſent; and when he had ſpoken this word unto me, I ſtood trembling; then ſaid he unto me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the firſt day that thou didſt ſet thine Heart to underſtand, and to chaſten thy ſelf before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words; but the Prince of the Kingdom of Perſia withſtood me one and twenty days; but lo! Michael one of the chief Princes came to help me, and I remained there with the Kings of Perſia. Now I am come p. 64to make thee underſtand what ſhall befall thy people in the latter days; for yet the viſion is for many days: and when he had ſpoken ſuch words unto me, I ſet my face toward the ground, and I became dumb, and behold one like the ſimilitude of the ſons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth, and ſpake, and ſaid unto him that ſtood before me, O my Lord! by the viſion my ſorrows are returned upon me, and I have retained no ſtrength; for how can the ſervant of this my Lord, talk with this my Lord? for as for me, ſtraight-way there remaineth no ſtrength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and ſtrengthened me. And he ſaid, O man, greatly beloved, f…ar not, peace be unto thee, be ſtrong, yea, be ſtrong; and when he ha… ſpoken unto me, I was ſtrengthened, and ſaid. Let my Lord ſpeak, for thou haſt ſtrengthened me. Then ſaid he, Knoweſt thou wherefore come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the Prince of Perſia; and when I a… gone forth, lo! the Prince of Gr… …a ſha… come, but I will ſhew thee that which is notes in the ſcripture of Truth; and there is m…r… that holdeth with me in th…ſe things, but Michael your Prince, Dan. 10.11, to 21.

When our Saviour was in an Agony there appeared unto him an Angel from p. 65Heaven, ſtrengthening him, Luke 22.43.

Herod, that was a man of blood, ſtretched forth his hand to vex certain of the Church; and he killed James the Brother of John with the Sword; and becauſe he ſaw it pleaſed the Jews, he proceeded farther, to take Peter alſo. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in Priſon, and delivered him to four Quaternions of Souldiers, to keep him, intending after Eaſter to bring him forth to the People. Peter therefore was kept in Priſon, but prayer was made without ceaſing of the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the ſame night Peter was ſleeping between two Souldiers, bound with two Chains, and the Keepers before the door kept the Priſon; and behold, the Angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light ſhined in the Priſon: and he ſmote Peter on the ſide, and raiſed him up, ſaying, Ariſe up quickly, and his Chains fell off from his Hands, and the Angel ſaid unto him, Gird thy ſelf, and bind on thy ſandals, and ſo he did; and he ſaith unto him, Caſ… thy garment about thee, and follow me; and he went out and followed him, and wiſ… not that it was true which was done by the Angel; but thought he ſaw a viſion, Acts 12.1, to 9.

By this you may underſtand the Miniſtry of Angels, and the great benefits, p. 66the Church of God receives by theſe bleſſed Angels.

Thirdly, The bleſſed Saints of Heaven.

But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the Heavenly Jeruſalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general aſſembly, and Church of the firſt born, which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of Juſt men made perfect, and to Jeſus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of ſprinkling, that ſpeaketh better things than that of Abel, Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. And after this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all Nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, ſtood before the throne, and before the lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, ſaying, Salvation to our God, which ſits upon the throne, and unto the lamb. And all the Angels ſtood round about the throne. And one of the elders anſwered, ſaying unto me, What are theſe which are arayed in white robes? and whence came they? and I ſaid unto him, Sir, thou knoweſt; and he ſaid unto me, Theſe are they which came out of great tribulation, and have waſhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb; therefore are they before the throne of God, and ſerve him day and night in his temple, and he that ſitteth on the throne ſhall dwell amongſt them, they ſhall hunger no more, neither thirſt any more, neither ſhall the ſun light on them, nor any heat, for the lamb, which is in the midſt of the throne ſhall feed them, and lead them unto living fountains of water, and God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes, Rev. 7.9, 10, 13. to the end.

I have here ſhew'd you, what the Inhabitants of Heaven are; that part of the Church that is triumphant; and ſurely that can never be deſtroyed; this will be eaſily granted by all men.

And now I am to ſhew you that part of Chriſts Church, that is militant on the Earth; and this is that Kingdom, which ſhall never be deſtroyed. The Church is called a Kingdom, becauſe Chriſt Jeſus is the King of it, Revel. 15.3. he rules in it, and over it; he is the head of this body, Epheſians 4.15. the husband of this wife, Rev. 19.7. the ſhepherd and paſtor of this flock, John 10.11. he is the law-giver to this righteous nation, James 4.12. He is the chief corner ſtone of this building; And are built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles, and Prophets, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner-ſtone; i… whom all the building fitly framed togethe…, groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord; in whom you alſo are builded, together, for …n habitation of God, through the Spirit, Epheſ. 2.20, 21, 22. Here is a building, a building fitly fram'd together, and a holy Temple in the Lord, an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Behold, and ſee a draught of the true Church here on Earth, in theſe following things.

The Materials.

The Glory.

The Security.

1. The Materials. The Church of God is made up of People, but what People are they? The Apoſtle Peter will tell you. But ye are a choſen Generation, a royal Prieſthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People, that ye ſhould ſhew forth the praiſes of him who hath called you out of darkneſs into his marvellous light: which in time paſt were not a people, but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy, 1 Pet. 2.9, 10. Hear the Apoſtle Paul alſo; Who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all in…quity, and purifie unto himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works, Titus 2.14. The Church of God is made up of men and women, but what men and women are they? See p. 69Acts 5.14. And Believers were the more added unto the Lord, multitudes both of m…n and women: They were all Believers. The Church of Chriſt is made up of Children, Young men, and Fathers; but what Children, Fathers, and Young men are they? the Apoſtle John will tell you; I write unto you, little children, becauſe your ſins are forgiven you for his Names ſake. I write unto you, fathers, becauſe ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, becauſe you have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, becauſe ye have known the father: I have written unto you fathers, becauſe ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, becauſe ye are ſtrong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one, 1 John 2.12, 13, 14. Do but ſee here what theſe children were; their ſins were forgiven, and they had known the Father.

See alſo what theſe young men were; they had overcome the wicked one, and they were ſtrong, and the Word of God did abide in them.

See alſo what theſe Fathers were; they had known him from the beginning.

The true Church is the Houſe of God; a houſe not made with hands, neither can hands deſtroy it; a houſe not made of ſtones, and mortar, of brick, timber, and ſuch materials, but of lively ſtones, are built up a ſpiritual houſe, an holy Prieſthood, to offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God, by Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2.5. By this you may ſee of what materials God's Houſe is built.

2. The glory of this Church, which is both within, and without; the glory of truth, the glory of holineſs, the glory of purity, the glory of ſpiritual worſhip, the glory of ſaving knowledge, the glory of the power of godlineſs, the glory of Goſpel innocency, and the glory of heavenly walking, the glory of fellowſhip, and communion with God: this excellent glory is to be found, and ſeen no where on Earth, but in the Church of God. The King's Daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold, Pſal. 45.13. The Church hath God's glorious preſence with her, and in that glory ſhe ſhines; For I, ſaith the Lord, will be the glory in the midſt of her, Zech. 2.5. This is the woman that is clothed with the Sun. And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven, a woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet; and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars, Rev. 12.1. This glory can no man p. 71ſtain, nor deſtroy; the glory of this World paſſeth away; let a man but ſhut his eyes, and the glory of this World will be darkned; every Saint in Heaven ſhines forth as the Sun, in the Kingdom of their Father, Matth. 13.43. and every Saint now on the Earth, is more excellent than his Neighbour, Prov. 12.26. Men have beſtowed great charge and coſt on their high places, that they might ſet them off, and make them appear glorious to the beholders; and the poor and ignorant people, have been greatly deceived by them, as if there were more holineſs in theſe places, than in others. Now this is not their glory, but their ſhame. The Spouſe of Chriſt Jeſus is glorious, the Lamb's wife: but what is it that makes her ſo glorious? Chriſt's righteouſneſs, that covers her, and his graces that enrich her, and fill her with all ſpiritual bleſſings: That he might preſent it to himſelf a glorious Church, not having ſpot nor wrinkle, or any ſuch thing; but that it ſhould be holy, and without blemiſh, Eph. 5.27. Now when I paſſed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love, and I ſpread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedneſs, yea, I ſware unto thee, and entred into a covenant with thee, ſaith the Lord God, and p. 72thou becameſt mine; then waſhed I thee with water, yea, I throughly waſhed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with Oyl. I clothed thee alſo with broidered work, and ſhod thee with badgers skin, and I girded thee about with fine linnen, and I covered thee with ſilk. I decked thee alſo with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thine hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a Jewel on thy forehead, and ear-rings in thine ears, and a beautiful Crown on thy head. Thus waſt thou decked with Gold and Silver, and thy rayment was of fine Linnen, and Silk, and broidered work; thou didſt eat fine Flour, and Honey, and Oyl; and thou waſt exceeding beautiful, and thou didſt proſper into a Kingdom, and thy renown went forth among the heathen, for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comelineſs which I had put upon thee, ſaith the Lord God, Ezek. 16.8. to 14.

3. The ſecurity of this Church, the decrees, the covenant, the word, Oath, Writings, Seals of the Omnipotent, and Wiſe God, that cannot Lie; that by two immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to Lie, we might have a ſtrong conſolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope ſet before us, Heb. 6.18. the Church of God is ſometimes as a beſieged City, Iſa. 1.8. the Devil and the p. 73World beſiege it round, and the Enemies Joyn together, to devour Gods Iſrael with open mouth. There are three ways, that an Enemy uſually makes uſe of, to take a City that is beſieg'd.

1. By ſtarving of them, that they may have no ſupplies.

2. By undermining them, and blowing them up.

3. By scaling their Walls, that they may come at them to kill them.

But this City, (the Church of God) the Enemies cannot deſtroy it, by any of theſe ways.

1. They cannot ſtarve the Church; He ſhall dwell on high; his place of defence ſhall be the munitions of Rocks, bread ſhall be given him, his water ſhall be ſure, Iſa. 33.16. But my God ſhall ſupply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Chriſt Jeſus, Phil. 4.19. God hath ſet before his people an open door, which no man can ſhut; and this door is continually open night and day, Rev. 3.8. all the Devils in Hell, and wicked Men on Earth, cannot ſhut it, and at this door come in the ſupplies of Gods Spirit, to every Child of God; here comes in that Joy that is unſpeakable, and full of glory, Phil. 1.19. that peace which paſſeth all underſtanding; that love, that many waters cannot quench, nor floods drown it; that light and knowledg, that Gold cannot purchaſe; that ſpiritual ſtrength that makes them conquerers; at this door comes in that Kingdom of God, which is not meat, and drink, but righteouſneſs and peace, and Joy in the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14.17. Ho! every one that thirſteth, come ye to the Waters, and he that hath no Money; come ye, buy and eat; yea come, buy Wine and Milk without Money, and without Price, Iſa. 55.1. And the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come, and let him that heareth, ſay, Come, and let him that is athirſt, come, and whoſoever will, let him take of the water of Life freely, Rev. 22.17. By this you may ſee, the Church of God cannot be ſtarv'd, ſo as to be deſtroyed that way.

2. The Enemies cannot deſtroy the Church of God by undermining it, and blowing it up, by all their Plots; for there have been Plots upon Plots, and Conſpiracies one after another, againſt the Church of Chriſt, but all in vain; becauſe the Church of God is builded upon a Rock. And I ſay alſo unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church; and the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt it, Matth. 16.18. Its defence p. 75ſhall be the Munitions of Rocks, Iſa. 33.16. If the Church had not been built upon a Rock, Pharaoh had deſtroyed it long ago. And he ſaid, Come on, let us deal wiſely with them: and they did ſet over them Task-maſters, to afflict them with burthens, and made them to ſerve with rigour; and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in Mortar, and in Brick, and in all manner of ſervice in the field; all the ſervice wherein they made them ſerve was with rigour; and the King of Egypt ſpake to the Hebrew women which were Midwives (of which the name of one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah;) And he ſaid, When ye do the office of a Midwife to the Hebrew women, and ſee them upon the ſtools; if it be a Son, then ye ſhall kill him; but if it be a Daughter, then ſhe ſhall live, Exod. 1. See another like unto this in the New Teſtament. And when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worſhip him alſo. And he ſent forth, and ſlew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the Coaſts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wiſe men, Matth. 2.8, 16. Notwithſtanding, Pharaoh was ſo long before Herod, yet they were both of one mind, and in one ſpirit, and ſerved p. 76one Maſter (the Devil) againſt God, and his People; but what became of them both? God's wrath and vengeance took hold on them; they periſh'd, but God's Church was preſerv'd, becauſe it was built upon a Rock, and the Gates of Hell could not prevail againſt it. This Kingdom ſhall never be deſtroyed, by undermining, and blowing it up. When thou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee; when thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee, Iſa. 43.2. God invades his Enemies on every ſide, and paſſeth through them, and cauſeth his Arrows to paſs through their hearts, and they ſtick ſo faſt, that their Phyſicians will not be able to pluck them out; but that Arm, and Bow, that ſhoots at the People of God, the Lord God will break that Arm and Bow. No weapon that is formed againſt thee, ſhall proſper; and every tongue, that ſhall riſe againſt thee in Judgment, thou ſhalt, condemn; this is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord, and their righteouſneſs is of me, ſaith the Lord, Iſa. 54.17.

3. The Enemies of God's Church and People, ſhall never be able to deſtroy it; by getting over the Wall that is about it.

p. 77Every wicked man is a fighter againſt God, an Enemy of Chriſt Jeſus; and on the Dragon's ſide, that makes war againſt the Church; but God hath given to his Church Armour, and alſo unto every Member of Chriſt. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the Devil, Epheſ. 6.11. Other Armour will not ſerve the turn, it muſt be the Armour of God; put on the Armour of God; this will not do neither, unleſs it be the whole Armour of God; put on therefore the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to ſtand. The Church of God hath not only Armour, but Weapons alſo: For the Weapons of our warfare, are not carnal, but mighty through God, 2 Cor. 10.4. That which makes theſe Weapons mighty, is, that they are through God; and that which makes them pull down ſtrong holds, is, that they are ſpiritual. This holy City, or Church of God, hath Walls and Bulwarks about it, a Wall that the Enemies cannot ſcale, and get over: they that are within need not fear killing. We have a ſtrong City; ſalvation will God appoint for walls, and bulwarks, Iſa. 26.1. For I, ſaith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midſt of p. 78her, Zech. 2.5. This Wall Pharaoh could not break through, with all his Army, nor get over, to come at Iſrael, though he put on with all his might. The Enemy ſaid, I will purſue, I will overtake, I will divide the ſpoil: my luſt ſhall be ſatisfied upon them: I will draw my ſword; my hand ſhall deſtroy them, Exod. 15.9.

But Pharaoh did but one of all theſe, that was, he purſued the Church, becauſe the Lord was between the Egyptians and the Iſraelites, as a Wall about his People; this wall the perſecuting Kings of Iſrael, and Judah, could never break through, to deſtroy Gods Church, and People. For he that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of his Eye, Zech. 2.8. when the Jews and the Gentiles both made an aſſault to uſe them deſpitefully, and to Stone them, Acts 14.5. God was then a Wall about his Church, that the Enemies could not deſtroy it; they are kept by his power, aſſiſted by his Spirit, comforted by his promiſes, ſtrengthned by his preſence, confirmed by his word. The Lord God is their Sun and Shield, the Lord will give grace, and glory; no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly, Pſalm 84.11. Truſt ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting ſtrength, Iſa. 26.4. p. 79the Church of God hath the ſame ſecurity now, that it ever had in all times, and it is the ſame ſecurity that Angels have, for their ſtanding and continuing for ever, in Heavenly glory and happineſs, for they are upheld by the word of his power: Who being the brightneſs of his glory, and the expreſs image of his Perſon, and upholding all things by the word of his Power, when he had by himſelf purged our ſins, ſate down on the right hand of the Majeſty on high, Heb. 1.3. Gods truth and faithfulneſs in his word confirms, and fixes them; they take hold of this as we do, and rejoyce in it: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be made known by the Church the manifold wiſdom of God, Eph. 3.10. Ʋnto whom it was revealed, that not unto themſelves, but unto us, they did miniſter the things which are now reported unto you, by them that have preached the Goſpel unto you, which the Holy Ghoſt ſent down from Heaven; which things the Angels deſire to look into, 1 Pet. 1.12. And I fell at his feet, to worſhip him, and he ſaid unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-ſervant, and of thy Brethren that have the Teſtimony of Jeſus; worſhip God, Rev. 19.10. And I John ſaw theſe things, and heard them, and when I had heard and ſeen, I fell down to worſhip p. 80before the feet of the Angel, which ſhewed me theſe things: Then ſaith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-ſervant, and of thy Brethren the Prophets, and of them which keep the ſayings of this Book; worſhip God, Rev. 22.8, 9. If the heavenly Angels ſhould ſay to God Almighty, Lord, what aſſurance haſt thou given unto us, that we fall not, and be not caſt down to the fallen Angels? What ſecurity have we, for our ſtanding, and abiding here in Heaven, and to continue in this glory and happineſs for ever and ever? Would not God Almighty then anſwer, and ſay unto them, You have my Word, my faithful ſayings; the Word of a God that is true and certain, Pſal. 119.87. They had almoſt conſumed me upon Earth: but I forſook not thy Precepts. For verily I ſay unto you, Till Heaven and Earth paſs, one jot, and one tittle ſhall in no wiſe paſs from the Law, till all be fulfilled, Mat. 5.18. Heaven and Earth ſhall paſs away: but my words ſhall not paſs away, Mar. 13.31. And it is eaſier for Heaven and Earth to paſs, than one tittle of the Law to fall, Luk. 16.17. This is the aſſurance that God hath given both to Angels and Men; if there were as many Enemies, as there be drops of water in the Sea, they ſhall not be able to deſtroy this Kingdom (the p. 81Church of God on Earth) There ſhall not an hair of your head periſh, Luke 21.18. Perſecutors may kill, but they cannot overcome; they may lay low, but they cannot lay waſte; they may ſpoil, but they cannot utterly deſtroy; the Martyrs won the day. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their Teſtimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death, Rev. 12.11. Men live upon their Inheritance, and therefore are not willing to part with that, at any rate. The Church is God's Portion, and his Inheritance; For the Lord's Portion is his People; Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance, Deut. 32.9. The Saints are God's Jewels, which he will not ſuffer to be deſtroyed, but will make them up. And they ſhall be mine, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, in that day when I make up my Jewels, and I will ſpare them as a man ſpareth his own Son that ſerveth him, Mal. 3.17. They are the Sheep of his Paſture, that enter into his Gates with thanksgiving, and into his Courts with praiſe, Pſal. 100 4. Theſe are they that God holds faſt in his hand, ſo faſt, that no man can pluck them out. I give unto them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of my hand: my Father that gave them me, is greater than p. 82all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand, John 10.28, 29. The Church is Chriſt's body, and this body can never be drown'd, as long as the head keeps above water: He is an Advocate for his Church in Heaven, and fights againſt the Dragon and his Angels here below. And there was war in Heaven, Michael and his Angels fought againſt the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his Angels, Rev. 12.7. The Church hath been a long time on a Sea of Glaſs mingled with Fire, and there ſhe will continue till the fourth Kingdom, that of Iron mixt with Clay, be broken to pieces, and become like Chaff of the Summer threſhing-floors, and the wind carry them away, that no place be found for them, Dan. 2.35. Notwithſtanding, the Spouſe of Chriſt ſtands on a Sea of Glaſs, mingled with Fire, ſhe is not deſtroyed; And I ſaw as it were a Sea of Glaſs, mingled with Fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the Beaſt, and over his Image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, ſtand on the Sea of Glaſs, having the Harps of God; and they ſung the ſong of Moſes the Servant of God, and the ſong of the Lamb, ſaying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; juſt and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. Who ſhall not fear thee, O Lord! and glorifie thy Name? for thou only art holy: for all Nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee; for thy Judgments are made manifeſt, Rev. 15.2, 3, 4. John the Divine, that out-lived all the Apoſtles, he being the laſt of them, as is believed, wrote this Book of the Revelations, in an excellent ſtile; the matter of it being excellent; it was ſent to him from Heaven: Write the things which thou haſt ſeen, and the things which are, and the things which ſhall be hereafter, Rev. 1.19. That is, from that time to this, and from this time to the end of the World, of all the things concerning the Church of God in the latter days, and in the laſt days. Here we have a ſight of the Church often, in the fifth chapter of this Book. And they ſung a new ſong, ſaying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof: for thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, v. 9. This is a thankſgiving for their Redemption; being redeem'd by the blood of Chriſt, and delivered from wrath to come. In the twelfth chapter you have another ſight of the Church, A Woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars, v. 1. But againſt this Woman came the Red Dragon, with the power of Hell, to devour her Child as ſoon as it was born. The Devil and the World cannot endure the pure Worſhip of God, and the true Religion that is profeſs'd by God s Children.

This Woman, the true Church of God, fled into the Wilderneſs, where ſhe had a place prepared of God; but the Dragon followed her, and made war with the remnant of her ſeed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, v. 17. that in the generation of the Juſt▪ in all times, the Church is the Mother, and the Womb that brings forth Gods faithful people in all ages; and though the Dragon in perſecuters hath made war againſt them, yet they could never deſtroy them.

In the fourteenth Chapter you may ſee this Church following the lamb whereſoever he goes, and were redeem'd from among men, and from the Earth, and having his fathers name written in their foreheads, and in their mouths was found no guile; theſe were Virgin Saints, that had not drank of the Whores cup, nor been defiled with her abominations.

You have a ſight again of this Church p. 85in the fifteenth chapter, which I mentioned before. And I ſaw as it were a ſea of Glaſs, mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beaſt, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, ſtand on the ſea of Glaſs, having the Harps of God. See then theſe following things.

Their place.

Their poſture.

Their Victory.

Their thanks-giving.

1. Their place, as it were on a ſea of Glaſs, that is, the World, and the People that are in it, Pſal. 46.2, 3. And four great beaſts came out from the Sea, divers one from another, Dan. 7.3. And I ſtood upon the ſand of the Sea, and ſaw a beaſt riſe up out of the Sea, having ſeven Heads and ten Horns, and upon his Horns ten Crowns, and upon his Heads the name of Blaſphemy, Rev. 13.1. This Sea then, is the World, and in this World you ſhall have trouble.

2. Their poſture, They ſtand on the Sea of Glaſs; Glaſs is that which lets light into a room; wherever the Church of God is, there is light; light ſpringing up, light breaking forth, light ſhining out. Believers are Children of the day, and of the light; God hath ſhin'd into p. 86their hearts, in the face of Chriſt Jeſus. Now the World, and the Devil cannot endure this light, but blow up the coals, and kindle the fire of perſecution, that they may put out, and deſtroy this light of ſaving knowledg. Beloved, think it not ſtrange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though ſome ſtrange thing happened unto you, 1 Pet. 4.12. This is the ſea of Glaſs, mingled with Fire; the fire of contention, the fire of perſecution, and the fire of tribulation; yet however Gods people ſtand, they ſtand faſt, and having done all, they ſtand, having their loins girt about with truth, and having on the breaſt-plate of righteouſneſs, and their feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace, Eph. 6.13, 14, 15.

3. Their victory over the beaſt, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name; you ſee here who they are that get the victory, and this victory was got on the Sea of Glaſs mingled with fire; that is in priſons, and in dungeons, and in great tribulations, and in times of great calamities, under ſore trials. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? ſhall tribulation, or diſtreſs, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſs, or peril, or ſword, (as it is written, for thy ſake p. 87we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as ſheep for the ſlaughter,) nay, in all theſe things we are more than conquerers, through him that loved us, Rom. 8.35, 36, 37. who through faith ſubdued Kingdoms, …rought righteouſneſs, obtained promiſes, ſtopped the mouths of Lions, Heb. 11.33. for whatſoever is born of God, overcometh the World, and this is the victory that overcometh the World, even our faith, 1 John 5.4. the victory then the Saints get, is over the Devil, over his temptations, over his devices, and over all his aſſaults, and wiles. For we wreſtle not againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt principalities, againſt powers, againſt the rulers of the darkneſs of this World, againſt ſpiritual wickedneſs in high places, Eph. 6.12. this victory is over the World, the pleaſures, of the World, and the profits of the World, and over the frowns of the World. Who is he that overcometh the World, but he that believeth that Jeſus is the Son of God, 1 John 5.5. this victory is over the beaſt, his ordinances, and laws; over his image, his worſhip, and doctrines; over his mark, his profeſſion, and perſwaſion; over the number of his name, his agents, and inſtruments. This work is hard, and difficult, but the victory is ſure and certain, and the reward will p. 88be great. To him that overcometh, will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne, even as I alſo overcame, and am ſet down with my Father in his Throne, Rev. 3.21.

4. Their Thankſgiving: They ſung a double ſong, the ſong of Moſes, and the ſong of the Lamb; a ſong of Mercy, and a ſong of Judgment: They ſtood on the Sea of Glaſs mingled with Fire, and bleſt and prais'd the moſt high God, and gave thanks unto him for that Victory they had got over the Beaſt, and over his Image, and over his Mark, and over the number of his Name, and for the many mercies and bleſſings they had received from God Almighty; that their Conſciences were not in captivity; that their Principles were not in chains; and that their Underſtandings were not in the Precepts of men. The Lord doth multiply mercies, and magnifie mercies, delight in mercies, and follows his People with mercies and goodneſs all their days. Who delivered us from ſo great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we truſt, that he will yet deliver us. The Father of mercies fills his Children with mercies, and their mercies he fills with comforts; and for this they bleſs and praiſe his holy Name in all the Congregations of the Juſt: And as p. 89the mercies of God do always abound towards the righteous; ſo the Judgments of God are made manifeſt againſt the wicked.

When the Church of God went out of Egypt, Pharaoh with his Army purſued after them, but he could never overtake them; and yet the Judgments of God ſoon overtook Pharaoh and his Army. Then ſang Moſes and the Children of Iſrael this ſong unto the Lord, and ſpake, ſaying, I will ſing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriouſly; the horſe and his rider hath he thrown into the Sea: The Lord is my ſtrength and ſong, and he is become my ſalvation: He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my Father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. Pharaoh's Chariots and his Hoſt hath he caſt into the Sea: his choſen Captains alſo are drowned in the Red Sea; the depths have covered them, they ſank into the bottom as a ſtone. Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power; thy right hand, O Lord, hath daſhed in pieces the Enemy. And in the greatneſs of thine excellency thou haſt overthrown them that roſe up againſt thee; thou ſenteſt forth thy wrath which conſumed them as ſtubble, Exod. 15.1. to 7.

This was the ſong of Moſes, a ſong of p. 90Mercy, and a ſong of Judgment; and this is the ſong of the Lamb, Mercy to his Church, and Judgment on his Enemies; he ſends forth his wrath, and conſumes his Enemies; he ſends forth his Mercies, and ſaves his People; and this is that which fills God's People with joy and gladneſs, and his Enemies with rage and madneſs. For when thy Judgments are in the Earth, the Inhabitant's of the World will learn righteouſneſs, Iſa. 26.9. Where God's Mercies do not melt men, there his Judgments will teach them, or overthrow them; where his Love doth not draw men, there his Power will break them, or deſtroy them; where his Truth doth not conquer men, there his Wrath will conſume them.