Mount Zion, Part 5
I am now to ſhew you in the laſt pla…, t…a… t…e true Church ſhall ſtand for ever, a…d this I ſhall evince from theſe following conſiderations.
1. From the Word of od.
2. From the Provi e…ces of God.
3. From the P…ople of …d.
4. From the En…mie of God.
Firſt, from the W rd of God, (th… …s)
The Word of Prophecy.
The Word of Promiſe.
The Word of Threatning.
1. The Word of Propheſie. The Lord God hath ſpoken by the mouth of his Prophets, which have been ſince the World began; that his people ſhould be ſaved from their enemies, and from the hands of all that hate them; That in bleſſing I will bleſs thee, and in multiplying, I will multiply thy ſeed as the Stars of the Heaven, and as the ſand which is upon the Sea-ſhore, and thy ſeed ſhall poſſeſs the gate of his enemies, Gen. 22.17. They that truſt in the Lord ſhall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever, Pſalm 125.1. And it ſhall come to paſs in the laſt days, that the Mountain of the Lords Houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the Mountains, and ſhall be exalted above the hills, and all nations ſhall flow unto it, Iſa. 2.2. The Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people ſhall truſt in it, Iſa. 14.32. behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people, becauſe of them that dwell in a far countrey; Is not the Lord in Zion? is not her King in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven Images, and with ſtrange vanities? Jer. 8.19. And the Kingdom and Dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven, ſhall be given to the people of the Saints of the moſt high, whoſe Kingdom is an everlaſting Kingdom, and all Dominions ſhall ſerve and obey him, Dan. 7.27. And it ſhall come to paſs, that whoſoever ſhall call on the name of the Lord ſhall be delivered; for in mount Zion, and in Jeruſalem, ſhall be deliverance, as the Lord hath ſaid, and in the remnant whom the Lord ſhall call, Joel 2.32. And ſaviours ſhall come up on mount Zion to Judg the mount of Eſau, and the Kingdom ſhall be the Lords, Obad. 21.
2. The Word of Promiſe. God is in the midſt of her, ſhe ſhall not be moved; God ſhall help her, and that right early, Pſal 46.5. 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, for I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Iſrael, thy ſaviour, Iſa. 43.2, 3. 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, Mat. 16.18. let your converſation be without covetouſneſs, and be content with ſuch things as ye have, for he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee, Heb. 13.5.
The queſtion is put by God himſelf, in that great, and known place. Iſa. 49.15. Can a Woman forget her ſucking Child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the Son of her Womb? yea ſhe may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee upon the Palms of my Hands, thy Walls are continually before me. Thy Children ſhall make haſte; thy deſtroyers, and they that made thee waſte ſhall go forth of thee. God did never forſake his people. God cannot forſake his people. God will never forſake his people. And our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath promiſed that there ſhall not an Hair of their Head periſh, Luke 21.18.
3. The Word of Threatning. The Adverſaries of the Lord ſhall be broken in pieces: Out of Heaven ſhall he thunder upon them. The Lord ſhall judge the ends of the Earth, and he ſhall give ſtrength unto his King, and exalt the Horn of his Anointed, 1 Sam. 2.10. Aſſociate your ſelves, O ye people, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces; and give ear all ye of far Countreys: Gird your ſelves, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces; gird your ſelves, and ye ſhall be broken in pieces. Take counſel together, and it ſhall come to nought; ſpeak the word, and it ſhall not ſtand: For God is with us, Iſa. 8.9, 10. And I will make drunk her Princes, and her Wiſe men, her Captains and her Rulers, and her Mighty men: And they ſh…ll ſleep a perpetual ſleep, and not wak…, ſaith the King, whoſe name is the Lord o… Hoſ…s, Jer. 51.5…. Wo unto you that deſire the day of t…e Lord: To what end is it for you! the day of the Lord is darkneſs and not light. As if a man did flee from a Lion, and a Bear met him, or went into the Houſe, and leaned his Hand on the Wall, and a Serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkneſs, and not light? even very dark, and no brightn…ſs in it? Amos 5.18, 19, 20. Though they d… into Hell, thence ſhall mine hand take them: Though they climb up to Heaven, thence will I bring them down. And though they hide themſelves in the top of Carmel, I will ſearch and take them out thence: And though they be hid from my ſight in the bottom of the Sea, thence will I command the Serpent, and he ſhall bite them. And though they go into Captivity before their Enemies, thence will I command the Sword, and it ſhall ſlay them: And I will ſet mine Eyes upon them for evil, and not for good, Amos 9.2, 3, 4. Therefore wait ye upon me, ſaith the Lord, until the day that I riſe up to the prey: for my determin…tion is to gather the Nations, that I may aſſemble the Kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: For all the Earth ſhall be devoured with the fire of my jealouſie. Zeph. 3.8. For behold tho… …y cometh that ſhall burn as an Oven, and all t…e Proud, yea, and all that do wickedly ſhall be ſtubble, and the day that cometh ſhall burn them up ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, that it ſhall not leave them neither root nor branch, Mal. 4.1. Theſe ſhall hate the Whore, and ſhall make her deſolate and naked, and ſhall eat her Fleſh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their Kingdom unto the Peaſt, until the words of God ſhall be fulfilled, Rev. 17.16, 17. Therefore ſha…l her Plagues come in one da…, Death and Mourning, and Famine; and ſhe ſhall be utterly burnt with fire: For ſtrong is the Lord God who judgeth her, Rev. 18 8. God hath given aſſurance to all men, that his Church ſhall ſtand for ever. Now he that runs may read, and he that reads may ſee in theſe many Texts of Scripture, I have ſet before you, that the True Church ſhall ſtand for ever.
Secondly, From the Providences of God. God brings forth Time. Time brings forth Providences. Providence brings forth Things. And things work together, yea, all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpoſe. Providence is that ſeal d Book ſealed with ſeven Seals. And I ſaw in the right Hand of him that ſate on the Throne, a Book, written within, and on the back ſide ſealed with ſeven Seals, Rev. 5.1. The Angels were to ſound the ſeven Trumpets. The Angels were to pour out the Vials of the wrath of God. But the Lamb was to open the ſeven Seals, that had ſeal…d up the Book of Providence. And as the Lamb opened the Seals, Providence brought forth th… things that were to be, as God had purpoſed and determined according to his own Counſel and Will; and theſe things knoweth no man till Providence brings them forth. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son, but the Father, Mark 13.32. And he ſaid unto them. It is not for you to know the Times and the Seaſons, which the Father hath put in his own power, Acts 1.7. Surely, the Angels that are in Heaven know more than men that are on the Earth! and yet you ſee they did not know of that day nor hour; nor the Son, as he was man, but the Father.
And after our Lord Jeſus was riſen from the dead the Apoſtles asked of him, ſaying, Lord wilt thou at this time reſtore again the Kingdom to Iſrael? He then ſoon anſwered them, It is not for you to know the Times or Seaſons, which the Father hath put in his own power. No man knoweth what ſhall be on the morrow, what a day may bring forth, Jam. 4.14. No man can ſay, This ſhall be, or that ſhall be, in this time, or at that time. He can go no further than conjectures and imaginations, which have led men into error and confuſion, and into great miſtakes. This is very plain, that men do not know what ſhall befal them, and others, the next hour. And I ſaw when the Lamb opened one of the Seals, I heard as it were the noiſe of thunder; and I ſaw, and behold, a white Horſe, and he that ſate on him had a Bow, and a Crown was given unto him, and he went forth Conquering, and to Conquer. And when he had opened the ſecond Seal, there went out another Horſe that was red: And power was given to him that ſate thereon, to take peace from the Earth, and that they ſhould kill one another: And there was given unto him a great Sword. And when he had opened the third Seal, I beheld, and lo, a black Horſe, and he that ſate on him had a pair of Ballances in his Hand. And I heard a voice in the midſt of the four Beaſts, ſaying, A meaſure of Wheat for a penny, and three meaſures of Barley for a penny, and ſee thou hurt not the Oyl and the Wine. And when he had opened the fourth Seal, I looked, and behold, a pale Horſe, and his name that ſate on him was Death; and Hell followed with him: And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the Earth, to kill with Sword, and with Hunger, and with Death, and with the Beaſts of the Earth, &c. Rev. 6.1, to 8.
By this you may ſee things did not appear until the Seals were opened! but as ſoon as the Lamb had opened any of the Seals, Providence brought forth the things that did appear to the ſight and view of men: Then that came to be known, which before was unknown: When he had opened the firſt Seal. I ſaw and behold a white Horſe, and he that ſate on him had a Bow, and a Crown was given unto him, and he went forth Conquering, and to Conquer. This was the Preaching of the Everlaſting Goſpel; Chriſt Jeſus in the Miniſtry of the Word, conquering and overcoming rebellious Sinners; working in them by his Word and Spirit, Life and Light, Love and Grace, Holineſs and Truth, and filling them with all Spiritual Bleſſings; and being changed into the ſame Image, from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord: The Preaching of this Goſpel did then raiſe a great Tumult, and made the World to Arm, and put them into a great Rage; and men were filled with Enmity and Prejudice againſt the Truth: then they conſulted, and took counſel together how they might deſtroy Gods Faithful Servants, which keep the Commandments of God, and the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt; and the Perſecutors in that day, did ſlay and deſtroy many thouſands of Gods dear Children. And when he had opened the fifth Seal, I ſaw under the Altar the Souls of them that were ſlain for the Word of God, and for the Teſtimony which they held. And they cryed with a loud voice, ſaying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, doſt thou not judge and avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth, verſe 9, 10. Then the Lord puniſh'd the Inhabitants of the Earth, by many heavy and ſore Judgments, War and Peſtilence, and Famine, and Death; as appears by the opening of the other Seals. Thus it was then, and ſo it hath been ever ſince. Now all the things that Providence hath brought forth at any time, hath not overthrown the Faith of the Goſpel, nor ſwallowed up the true Church; neither hath it deſtroyed Gods truth from amongſt men! neither hath it thrown down that Spiritual worſhip which God hath ſet up, but all the things that Providence hath brought forth at any time, have all workt together for the good of Gods people. Whatever things have happened, have …ln out to the furtherance of the Goſpel, and to the increaſe of the Faithful. The Mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it: Say ye to the righte…us, … it ſhall be well with them, for they ſhall eat t…e fruit of their doings. Wo to the wicked, it ſh…ll be ill with them, for the reward of his hands ſh…ll be given him, Iſa. 3.10.11. Let the Reader conſider well theſe three things.
1. That Providence is a ſeal'd Book.
2. That the Lord Jeſus opens the Seals of this Book.
3. That whatever things Providence ſhall bring forth in the World, ſhall not hurt the Church, but help it; ſhall not deſtroy the Church, but p…e…erve it; ſhall not lay the Church waſte, but ſhall increaſe it, and exalt it above the …ills.
The thin…s that Providence brings forth may be known and underſtood by two things.
Firſt, The Voice of Providence.
Secondly, The Signs of Providence.
Firſt, By the Voice of Providence. There are, it may be, ſo many …in…s of Voices in the World, and …ore of t…em are w thou… ſignifi ation, 2 Cor. 14.10. Whoſe Voice t…en ſhook the Earth, but now he hath promiſed, ſaying, Yet once more I ſhake not the Earth only, but alſo Heaven. And this word yet once more, ſignifyeth the removing of thoſe things that are ſh…en as of things that are made, that thoſe things which cannot be ſhaken, may remain, Hebrews 12.26, 27.
Secondly, By the ſigns of Providence. O ye Hypocrites, ye can diſcern the Face of the Sky, but ye cannot diſcern the Signs of the Times! A Wicked and Adulterous Generation ſeeketh after a Sign, and there ſhall no Sign be given unto it, but the Sign of the Prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed, Mat. 16.3, 4. By this you ſee Providence hath a Voice, and a Sign; the Voice of the Times, and the Signs of the Times. And both theſe ſhew Knowledge, and give Underſtanding to Men that duly mind and obſerve them. Every Providence is not a Trumpet; but the mighty Things which Providence ſometimes brings forth are as a Trumpet! the ſound thereof goes unto the ends of the Earth. Whatſoever things Providence brings forth, they ſhall work together for the good of the Church. For the Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in the behalf of them, whoſe Heart is perfect towards him, 2 Chron. 16.9.
Thirdly, From the people of God. They are all labourers together with God, and workers together with him for the good of the Church. 1 Cor. 3.9. By Faith, by Prayer, by Hope, by Holy Deſires, and by all Good Endeavours; that they may further the Churches Peace, and Happineſs, and enlarge her Borders; and for this end God hath given Gifts unto Men. But unto every one of us is given Grace, according to the meaſure of the Gift of Chriſt, Wherefore he ſaith, when he aſcended up on high, he led Captivity Captive, and gave Gifts unto Men. Now that he aſcended, what is it but that he alſo deſcended firſt into the lower parts of the Earth? He that deſcended, is the ſame alſo that aſcended up far above all Heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave ſome, Apoſtles: and ſome, Prophets: and ſome, Evangeliſts: and ſome Paſtors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the Body of Chriſt: till we all come in the unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Eph. 4.7, to 13. Whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or things Preſent, or things to Come, all are yours; and ye are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods, 1 Cor. 3.22, 23.
By this it appears, that the Gifts and Parts, and Abilities, that Miniſters have, are given to them of God! not to gain filthy Lucre, but to gain Souls, that they might gather them unto Chriſt Jeſus. They are Builders, but not to Build up themſelves in worldly Wealth; but to Build up the Church of God, to perfect the Saints; they have Talents given them, but for what end? For the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying the Body of Chriſt; and for this end God gives grace unto men. Unto me, who am leſs than the leaſt of all Saints, is this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles the unſearchable riches of Chriſt, Eph. 3.8. Chriſts Miniſters have heavenly Treaſures in them, that they may make many rich, Preaching to others the unſearchable riches of Chriſt; and in this way will Chriſt Jeſus be with his Church to the end of the World, raiſing up faithful Witneſſes in all Ages, and filling them with his holy Spirit, that rich Anointing which is from above, that they may be able Miniſters, not only of the Letter, but of the Spirit, and this ſupply the Church will always have to the end of the World; every Saint that is on the Earth is in Arms, upon Duty and Exerciſe, for the good of the Church; every Saint is a Soldier under Chriſt Jeſus the Captain of our Salvation, fighting under him againſt the Devil and the World, againſt Sin and Luſt, againſt Principalities and Powers, againſt the Rulers of the darkneſs of this World, Eph. 6.12. Every Saint is a petitioner, and a wreſtler with God, by prayer and ſupplication, for the peace and happineſs of the Church. Every Saint is a labourer and a worker together with God, that Gods glory may be advanced, and his holy name lifted up in the Earth, that his ways may be made known to all Nations, and his ſaving health to all people; that the work of God may go on and proſper in theſe Nations, which the Lord hath begun, and hath been carrying on theſe many years; that Babylon may become a deſolation and the hiſſing and loathing of all Nations, and the Zion of God may become the joy and praiſe of the whole Earth; and this is the Faith and Hope, and Deſires of all Gods people.
Fourthly, From the Enemies of God: Surely there is no enchantment againſt Jacob, neither is there any divination againſt Iſrael: according to this time it ſhall be ſaid of Jacob, and of Iſrael, what hath God wrought, Numb. 23.23. The Phariſees therefore ſaid among themſelves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing! behold, the world is gone after him, John 12.19. And now I ſay unto you, Refrain from theſe men, and let them alone; for if this counſel, or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, leſt haply ye be found even to fight againſt God, Acts 5.38, 39. We have here a Cloud of Witneſſes, the Teſtimonies of good men, that the True Church ſhall ſtand for ever; and here are alſo the ſayings of bad men, and it is agreed on all hands, That the Church of Chriſt cannot be deſtroyed, but it ſhall ſtand for ever. Can men pull out the Rocks that are in the Sea with their Teeth? Can men blow away the Mountains of the Earth with their Breath? Can men reach up to Heaven with their Hands? Can men dry up the great and wide Sea, where Ships go from Nation to Nation? Can men draw a Curtain before the Sun, that it ſhall not ſhine on the Earth? Can men Seal up the Wind that it ſhall not blow where it liſteth? Alas, this will be ſoon granted by all, that men, the greateſt of men cannot do any of theſe things; ſurely then men cannot …eſtroy the Church of God; for the Lord God is a Wall of Fire round about it. For I, ſ…ith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, an… will be the glory in the midſt of her, Zech. 2.5. One of the ſeven Angels ſhewed St John two things, which made him wonder with great admiration. And he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wildern…ſs: And I ſaw a Woman ſit u…on a Sc…rlet coloured Beaſt, full of Names and Blaſphemy, having ſ…ven Heads, and ten Horns. And the Woman was arayed, in Purple, and Scarlet colour, and decked with Gold, and precious Stones, and Pearls, having a Golden Cup in her Hand full of Abominations, and filt…ineſs of her Fornication. And upon her Forehead was a Name written, (Myſtery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth.) And I ſaw the Woman drunken with the Blood of the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus: And when I ſaw her, I wondered with great admiration, Rev. 17.3, to 6.
But where did John ſee this ſight? In the Wilderneſs. And have not many Thouſands of Gods faithful Servants ſeen the ſame ſight in the Wilderneſs which John ſaw, ſince that time; and are ſtill li…e to ſee until the Myſtery of God be finiſhed, and the Myſtery of Iniquity be removed.
In the Second place; There came one of the ſ…v…n Angels, which had the ſeven Vials full of the ſeven laſt Plagues, and talked with me, ſaying, Come hither, I will ſh…w thee the Bride, the Lambs Wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high Mountain, and ſhewed me that great City, the Holy Jeruſalem, deſcending out of Heav…n from God, having the glory of God: And her light was like unto a Stone moſt precious, even like a Jaſper Stone, clear as Cryſtal; and had a Wall great and high, and had twelve Gates, and at the Gates twelve Angels, and names writt…n thereon, which are the Names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Iſrael. On the Eaſt three Gates, on the North three Gates, on the South thr…e Gates, on the Weſt three Gates. And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations, and in them the Names of the twelve Apoſtles of the Lamb. And he that talke… with me had a Golden Reed to m…aſure the Ci y, and the Gates thereof, and the Walls thereof. And the City lyeth four-ſquare, and t…e length is as large as the br dth: And he meaſured the City with the Reed, twelve Thouſand Furlongs: The length, the br d…h, and the heighth of it are equal. And he meaſured the W…ll thereof, an hundred and forty and four Cubits, accordi…g to the meaſure of a man, that is, of the Angel. And the building of the Wall of it was of Jaſper, and the City was pure Gold, like unto clear Glaſs. And the Foundations of the Wall of the City were garniſhed with all manner of precious Stones. The firſt Foundation was Jaſper, the ſecond Saphir, the third a Chalcedony, the fourth an Em…rald, the fifth a Sardonix, the ſixth Sardius, the ſeventh Chryſolite, the eighth Beryl, the ninth a Topaz, the tenth a Chriſopraſus, the eleventh a Jac…nct, the twelfth an Amethyſt. And the twelve Gates were twelve Pearls, every ſeveral Gate was of one Pearl, and the Street of the City was pure Gold, as it were tranſparent Glaſs. And I ſaw no Temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb are the Temple of it, Rev. 21.9, to 22.
As the firſt ſight which St. Jo…n ſaw here was dreadful and terrible, that made him wonder with great admiration; to ſee a Woman drunk with Blood; the Blood of Saints and Martyrs of Jeſus. And after this he ſaw another ſight▪ the Bride, the Lambs Wife! that great City, the H…l Jeruſalem! deſcending out of Heaven from God! having the glory of God! and the City lyeth four ſquare. Now … was a glorious and a delightful thing to behold. …ere is want of words, and want in words to expreſs the glory of it. There is a vaſt difference between good and evil, light and darkneſs; the works of the Fleſh, and the fruits of the Spirit; the table of the Lord, and the table of Devils; the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, and the Synagogue of Satan; between the Myſtery of God, and the Myſtery of Iniquity; Babylon, and Zion; the True Church, and the Mother of Harlots. The True Church may be known by its Purity, by its Poverty, by its Sufferings, by its not Conforming to this World, by its Patience under ſore and great Tryals, by its keeping the Commandments of God, and having the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, and his Fathers Name written in their Foreheads; by the Victory it obtaineth over all Enemies. 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. And upon this Rock I will build my Church: and the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt it, Mat. 16.18. Every Son and Daughter of this Church is a living Member, and a fruitful Member, and a holy Member, and an enlightned Member, a growing Member, a ſympathizing Member, a praying Memb…r, a uſeful Member, and a ſanctified Member. But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you, Brethren, beloved of the Lord; becauſe God hath from the beginning choſen you to Salvation, through ſanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth, 2 Theſ. 2.13. There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your Calling. One Lord, one Faith, one Baptiſm, one God, and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the meaſure of the gift of Chriſt, Eph. 4.4, 5, 6, 7. Now he that hath an Ear, let him hear.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Dyer, Mount Zion (1689)