Mount Zion, Title page – To the reader

Mount Zion · Title page – To the reader

Mount Sion, Or, A Draught of That CHURCH WHICH Shall never be deſtroyed.

Together With a Map of That WORLD WHICH Shall be broken to pieces and conſumed

By William Dyer; Author of Chriſts Famous Titles; Believers Golden Chain.

Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the ſtrong came forth ſweetneſs, Judges 14.14.

The wiſe mans eyes are in his head, but the fool walketh in darkneſs, Eccleſ. 2.14.

Licenſed and Entred.

LONDON, Printed for Nath. Crouch at the … in the Poultry near Cheapſide. 1689.

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.

Kind Reader,

THough there is nothing more common with men, than to deſire happineſs, as Balaam did; Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my laſt end be like his, Numb. 23.10. Yet there is nothing that men mind leſs, and endeavour leſs after, and labour leſs for, than true happineſs.

When our Saviour was on the earth, ſome then asked him theſe two queſtions;

The firſt is in Luke 13.23. Then ſaid one unto him, Lord, Are there few that be ſaved? This was the firſt queſtion. Now mark well the anſwer: And he ſaid unto them, Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate: for many, I ſay unto you, will ſeek to enter in, but ſhall not be able.

The ſecond is in Luke 18.18. And a certain Ruler asked him, ſaying, Good Maſter, What ſhall I do to inherit eternal life? Now to this queſtion, our Lord Jeſus gave this anſwer; And Jeſus ſaid unto him, Why calleſt thou me good? none is good ſave one, that is God. Thou knoweſt the Commandments, Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not ſteal. Do not bear falſe witneſs. Honour thy Father and thy Mother. And he ſaid, All theſe have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jeſus heard theſe things, he ſaid unto him, Yet lackeſt thou one thing: Sell all that thou haſt, and diſtribute to the poor, and thou ſhalt have treaſure in Heaven, and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very ſorrowful, for he was very rich.

Theſe Anſwers proceeded out of the mouth of Wiſdom: He that ſpake as never man ſpake, ſaid to the firſt, Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate. And to the ſecond he ſaid, Keep the Commandments of God: do not break them, but duly obſerve them. And what he ſaid unto one, he ſaith unto all, Mark 13.37. For many, I ſay unto you, will ſeek to enter in, but ſhall not be able, This word ſhould ſtrike terrour into the hearts of men, and awaken their ſleepy Conſciences.

Firſt; They that ſeek when it is too late: None ſhall be able to enter in at the ſtrait gate, and narrow way which leadeth unto life without ſtriving; and this ſtriving muſt be before the Maſter of the houſe be riſen up. When once the Maſter of the houſe is riſen up, and hath ſhut to the door, and ye begin to ſtand without, and to knock at the door, ſaying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he ſhall anſwer and ſay unto you, I know you not whence you are: then ſhall ye begin to ſay, We have eaten, and drank in thy preſence, and thou haſt taught in our ſtreets. But he ſhall ſay, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. The reaſon of this is here very plain; they were workers of iniquity, and theſe workers of iniquity did not ſeek to enter in till it was too late. When men live without God in the world; without the fear and knowledge of God, and have no ſence of his love and mercy to them: When men wallow in the filth and mire of ſin, being abominable and diſobedient, and make light of Chriſt Jeſus, and of all the means of grace, till ſickneſs overtakes them, and the terrours of death takes hold on them. And when they find that all hopes of life and recovery is taken from them, that they muſt die; then they will ſeek, and cry unto the Lord, and deſire others to pray for them. But what hath the Lord ſpoken concerning this ſort of ſeekers, theſe late ſeekers? ſee Prov. 1.24. Becauſe I have called, and ye refuſed, I have ſtretched out my hand, and no man regarded it; but ye have ſet at nought all my counſel, and would none of my reproof: I alſo will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as deſolation, and your deſtruction cometh as a whirlwind; when diſtreſs and anguiſh cometh upon you; then ſhall they call upon me, but I will not anſwer; they ſhall ſeek me early, but they ſhall not find me. Seeking without ſtriving will not do, and this ſtriving muſt be with the whole heart, before that midnight cry comes. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him, Mat. 25.6.

O Reader! Seek the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. He now waits that he may be gracious, and ſtands at the door of thy heart, and knocks for entrance, Rev. 3.20. O hear his voice, and let him into thy ſoul, that it may become an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.22.

Secondly; They that ſeek in a wrong way. Eſaias alſo crieth c…ncerning Iſrael, Though the number of the Children of Iſrael be as the ſand of the Sea, a remnant ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 9 27. See the reaſon of this in chap. 11.7. What then! Iſrael hath not obtained that which he ſeeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the reſt were blinded. When men walk not in the way of truth and righteouſneſs, but in a wrong way, that will lead them into the boggs of error and falſhood, and ſtrong deluſions, to believe lies, till they be ſwallowed up. Thus ſaith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways and ſee, and ask for the old paths; Where is the good way? and walk therein, and ye ſhall find reſt for your ſouls: but they ſaid, We will not walk therein, Jer. 6.16. When men ſhall leave the Faith of the Goſpel, and believe as others would have them believe; when men ſhall give up their Conſciences to the government and conduct of others; when men ſhall leave the Scriptures of truth, and follow the Inventions of men; when men ſhall leave the pure Worſhip of God, and worſhip they know not what; when men ſhall leave the good way, and walk in crooked ways, and in by-paths that turn them aſide, and … them into everlaſting deſtruction; no wond… then, that this ſort of Seekers ſhall not be …e to enter in at the ſtrait gate, and narro… way which leadeth unto life.

Some men will not allow themſelves ſo …ch time as to examine matters carefully; to …k on God, and his works and providences, his truth and ways, or to think of another ſtate, or the way that leads to it. He that came and preached peace to us, hath opened a new and a living way for us, for ſo an entrance ſhall be miniſtred unto you abundantly, into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Pet. 1.11. Keep therefore in the way of truth, Reader, and truth will keep thee in the hour of temptation, and in the day of tryal. Let no man take the Crown of truth from thee.

Thirdly; They that ſeek in hypocriſie. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they ſit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouths they ſhew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetouſneſs, Ezek. 33.31. Here were a people that might have paſt very well for Saints; if God had known no more of them than man; for they came together, and ſat before thee as my people, for they heard thy word … and ſhewed much love with their mouths; and yet for all this, they were a company of hypocrites; for their hearts were not ſin…ere, nor upright with God, but their hearts m…n… after their covetouſneſs.

The five fooliſh Virgins were alſo Seekers and great Profeſſors; but they wanted that one thing which is needful; that good part; true and ſaving grace, which no hypocrite hath; and becauſe they wanted this, they were all ſhut out, and were not able to enter in. Then came alſo theſe Virgins, ſaying, Lord, Lord, open to us; but he anſwered and ſaid, Verily, I ſay unto you, I know you not, Mat. 25.11, 12. And what ſhall a man ſay of the Profeſſors in this our day? they do indeed paſs for Saints with men, but will God accept of them, and own them for his Sons and Daughters hereafter? Do they look like a people redeemed from the earth, and from amongſt men; being the firſt fruits unto God, and to the Lamb, Rev. 14.3, 4. Having their Fathers name written in their foreheads? Do they look like a people that walk with God, and have ſweet communion with him, and have fellowſhip with the Father, and with his Son Chriſt Jeſus? 1 John 1.3. and are paſt from death to life? Do they look like a people that have ſet their affections on things that are above, and have laid up for themſelves treaſures in Heaven; and do labour for that bread which periſheth not, that they may be rich towards God, in faith, in hope, in experience, in knowledge, and in aſſurance, and in all grace? Do they adorn the Goſpel, and their Profeſſion, by their good examples, and heavenly converſations? Is there to be found in them an excellent ſpirit, a ſpirit of meekneſs, and patience, a ſpirit of faith and prayer, a ſpirit of love and charity, a ſpirit of wiſdom and underſtanding, a ſpirit of holineſs and purity? And are they filled with the fruits of the ſpirit, which is, love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, faith, meekneſs, temperance: againſt ſuch there is no law, Gal. 5.22, 23. Are theſe the Marks and Characters of the Profeſſors now-a-day? No, no, it is not thus with them; their ſins teſtifie againſt them; multitudes of them are Chriſtians without a Croſs, and Saints without Sanctification; they are Virgins without Oyl in their Lamps; they are gueſts at the Table of the Lord without wedding garments; they are Church-members without fellowſhip with the Father and his Son Chriſt Jeſus; they are Profeſſors of godlineſs, but without the power; they have ſeparated from things, but not from ſin. Ah! the World ſaith this of Profeſſors; they are as proud and as vain as others; they are as covetous and as earthly-minded as others; they are as hard-hearted and as unmerciful to one another as others; they are as falſe and as deceitful as others; they are as looſe and lukewarm as others; let it be then conſidered whether the World hath not juſt cauſe to reproach Profeſſors; and if the World condemn them, and their own hearts too, will not God condemn them, after they have lain under the Rack of their own Conſciences here, and to all thoſe miſeries hereafter, which will be the portion of hypocrites. For many, I ſay unto you, will ſeek to enter in, but ſhall not be able. O Reader! ſtrive thou to enter in at the ſtrait gate, and into the narrow way which leadeth unto life.

If thou ſeekeſt her as for ſilver, and ſearcheſt for her as for hid treaſures: then ſhalt thou underſtand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God, Prov. 2.4, 5. Men will dig deep for hidden treaſures; men will go far to ſeek for ſilver; they will break their peace, and their reſt too, to gain riches; they will labour day and night, to lay up goods for a few years; if they can treaſure up wealth, they will do it, though they treaſure up wrath with it; if they can make themſelves great in this World, they will do it, though they make themſelves miſerable for it in the next World for ever; if they can climb up high, they will, though they fall into the bottomleſs Pit; if they can gain the World, they will, though they loſe their own ſouls: As they ſtrive to be great, do thou ſtrive to be good; and as they ſtrive to be rich in worldly wealth, do thou ſtrive to be rich towards God in all heavenly graces; and if thou haſt taken many ſteps towards hell and damnation, let me now prevail with thee to take a few ſteps towards heaven.

The firſt is Conſideration: Conſider well what thou haſt been doing, and whither thou art going; whoſe thou art, and to whom thou doſt belong, and what will become of thee to all eternity. O Reader! no Croſs, no Crown: no grace, no glory: no holineſs, no happineſs: no regeneration, no ſalvation: and without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14.

The ſecond ſtep is Examination: Examine thy ſelf; turn into thy ſelf, that thou maiſt throughly underſtand thy own ſtate; and when thou haſt examined matters carefully, if thou findeſt thy ſtate to be bad, then flie unto the Lord God by prayer and ſupplication, by faith and repentance, and thou wilt find that the arms of his mercy are open to receive thee. The Lord invites thee to come to him in the ſofteſt and moſt melting language that can be imagined. Come now and let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord; though your ſins be as Scarlet, they ſhall be as white as Snow; though they be red like Crimſon, they ſhall be as Wooll, Iſa. 1.18. And if thou findeſt thy ſtate to be good, that thou art a new creature, and born again, and haſt taſted how good the Lord is, that he hath given thee a new heart, and a new underſtanding, and a new will, and a new nature, and that this hath changed thy life: Now I ſay, upon examination of thy ſelf, if thou findeſt that Chriſt Jeſus is in thee, then thou haſt cauſe to rejoyce; and if Chriſt Jeſus be in thee, then theſe four things will be in thee.

1. Light.

2. Life.

3. Holineſs.

4. The Spirit of Truth.

Examine your ſelves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own ſelves; know ye not your own ſelves, how that Jeſus Chriſt is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Cor. 13.5.

The third ſtep; Read much, and often the Scriptures of truth: if thou art willing, they will direct thee; if weak, they will ſtrengthen thee; if troubled, they will comfort thee; if tempted, they will aſſiſt thee; if aſſaulted, they will defend thee; if diſtreſſed, they will relieve thee; if wavering, they will confirm thee. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the ſoul. The Teſtimony of the Lord is ſure, making wiſe the ſimple. The Statutes of the Lord are right, rejoycing the heart. The Commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightning the eyes. Moreover, by them is thy ſervant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward, Pſal. 19.7, 8, 11. And that from a child thou haſt known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wiſe unto ſalvation, through faith which is in Chriſt Jeſus, 2 Tim. 3.15. And this voice which came from Heaven, we heard, when we were with him in the holy Mount. We have alſo a more ſure word of propheſie, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that ſhineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ſtar ariſe in your hearts, 2 Pet. 1.18, 19. Conſider well theſe ſix things.

1. The Authority of the Scriptures.

2. The Power of the Scriptures.

3. The Excellency of the Scriptures.

4. The Truth of the Scriptures.

5. The Comfort of the Scriptures.

6. The Benefit of the Scriptures. O dwell much upon this.

The fourth ſtep; Keep thy ſelf from lewd, and wicked people: bad company is infectious; it hath poyſoned, and deſtroyed many: it maketh men bold to commit the greateſt wickedneſs. The ſad effects of this is too often ſeen and heard at the place of execution of Malefactors, who do there lament their miſerable ends, and deſire that all others may take warning by them, and not to keep lewd and wicked company, as they had done, which had led them into all wickedneſs, and had brought them to that ſhameful end; which ſhews it ſelf in the ſad looks they then put on, and the ſorrowful words they then ſpeak, and doleful crys they then make. O! refrain from lewd men and women, and from every evil way. The keeping of bad company hath brought many men to ſhame, and poverty, to diſgrace, and to everlaſting miſery. O! flie from this as from a Lion; as from people that have plague-ſores upon them; as from poiſon that is ſet before thee in a diſh. And with many other words did he teſtifie and exhort, ſaying, Keep your ſelves from this, untoward generation, Acts 2.40. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. And have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, but rather reprove them, Epheſ. 5.11. Let them be thy companions that fear the Lord, and keep his Commandments, and walk in the way of truth and righteouſneſs. For the path of the juſt ſhines as the perfect day, and he that walketh with the wiſe ſhall be wiſe.

The fifth ſtep; Hear and hearken carefully to the voice of God that ſpeaketh to thee, and in thee. This voice is from Heaven, and it ſpeaketh peace and good will to men on Earth. Every man hath in him a Teacher, and this Teacher is from God. The ſpirit of man is the Candle of the Lord, ſearching all the inward parts of the belly, Prov. 20.27. Say not in thine heart, Who ſhall aſcend into Heaven (that is, to bring Chriſt down from above?) or who ſhall deſcend into the deep; (that is, to bring up Chriſt again from the dead?) But what ſaith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach, Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. Which ſhew the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conſcience alſo bearing witneſs, and their thoughts the mean while accuſing, or elſe excuſing one another, Rom. 2.15. God hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly, with thy God, Micah 6.8. And if a man continueth in well-doing, he hath peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt; but if he do that which is evil, then his Conſcience accuſeth him, and reproacheth him. And if he continue in it, then Conſcience condemns him, and lays him under condemnation, and will be a witneſs againſt him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God, 1 John 3.20, 21. If men cannot ſtand under the guilt of their Conſciences here in this life, there is little hopes, that ſuch men will be able to ſtand before God in the next life, upon which the happineſs, or miſeries of another ſtate do depend.

The ſixth ſtep; Imploy thy thoughts, ſtrength and time, to make thy Calling and Election ſure. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure: For if ye do theſe things, ye ſhall never fall, 2 Pet. 1.10. Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, foraſmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. Heaven is won or loſt on Earth. There are treaſures of grace in Chriſt Jeſus, and this grace hath appeared to all men, and this grace is ſufficient, it is the grace of God; O ſtrive to gain this grace, that it may give thee a title to the heavenly glory. This grace is ſo excellent, that it teacheth men, that denying all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, they ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world, Tit. 2.11, 12. Now if thou wilt but take theſe ſteps towards Heaven, then thou wilt be bleſſed in life, and happy at death, and glorious after death. The principal deſign of this ſmall Treatiſe, is to comfort the people of God, the ſubject whereof is exceeding weighty, and of great uſe to all that deſire to know the truth, as it is in Jeſus.

None can ſay of this, as the man ſaid of the Axe-head that fell into water, And he cryed, and ſaid, alas Maſter, for it was borrowed, 2 Kings 6.5. I have not entered into other mens labours; neither have I built upon their foundations, but upon the Prophets, and the Apoſtles, Chriſt Jeſus himſelf being the chief Corner-ſtone, Eph 2.20. If any ſhall ſay of this, when they have read it, that this man, or that man, could have done it much better, I wiſh then they had done it. Every one cannot be excellent, who yet may be uſeful. However it is not yet the twelfth hour, there is yet time, and room in the Lords Vineyard for others to come i…, and labour alſo. So far have I been led into theſe things; I will detain thee no longer, but intreat thee to accept this my labour. Read it conſideringly, and carefully, regard not ſo much the dreſs and ſtile, as the weight and ſavour of what thou readeſt. Remember thou art at the door of Eternity, and it will not be long before thou muſt ſhoot the gulf of Eternity, thy ſoul lies at ſtake: O work therefore while it is called to day, the night cometh wherein no man can work, John 1.4. That thy heart may be won to God, and kept with God. Now, or never! Now, for ever. O Reader, I have prayed, and ſhall pray for thee, that the God of all Grace may open unto thee his Breaſts and Arms of Mercy, and the Treaſures of his Grace, and that he may ope… thy heart to him, as he did the heart of Lydia, Acts 16.14. and open thy underſtanding, that thou mayeſt underſtand the Scriptures, Luke 24.45 And fill thee with the knowledge of his Will, and with the graces of his Spirit, and wit… all the bleſſings of the Goſpel. That thou mayeſt be made meet to be partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, Col. 1.12. is the hearty deſire of thy faithful … aſſured Friend,

William Dyer

p. 1Mount Sion, Or, A Draught of the CHURCH.

Daniel 2.44. And in the days of theſe Kings ſhall the God of Heaven ſet up a Kingdom, which ſhall never be deſtroyed: And the Kingdom ſhall not be left to another people, but it ſhall break in pieces, and conſume all theſe Kingdoms, and it ſhall ſtand for ever.

GOD leaves not himſelf without witneſs, nor his Church without the knowledge of good, and great things to come; great things, becauſe they are good, and good things, becauſe they are glorious things to come. Glorious things are ſpoken of thee, O City of God! Pſalm 87.3. God p. 2ſpake to Abraham on this wiſe, For becauſe thou haſt done this thing, and haſt not withheld thy Son, thine only Son; 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. 22.16, 17. When Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and propheſied, he then ſpake of this Oath, and of the glorious things contained in it. As he ſpake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which have been ſince the world began; that we ſhould be ſaved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us, to perform the mercy promiſed to our Fathers, and to remember his holy Covenant; The Oath which he ſware to our Father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might ſerve him without fear, in holineſs and righteouſneſs before him all the days of our life, Luk. 1.70. to 75. Three things were here ſpoken of by Zacharias when he opened this Oath.

Firſt, Of the deliverance of the people of God out of the hands of their Enemies; when their Enemies think to hold them faſteſt, then God takes them out of their hands.

Secondly, Of the ſerving of God without p. 3fear: To ſerve God without fear, that will be your joy, but to ſerve God in holineſs, and righteouſneſs that will be your glory.

Thirdly, Of the time here ſpoken of, that will be all the days of their lives: Firſt being delivered out of the hands of their Enemies, then comes the ſerving of God without fear, in holineſs and righteouſneſs all the days of their lives.

The Jews and their Rulers heard the words of the Prophets, that were read to them every Sabbath day, yet they knew not the voice of the Prophets, Acts 13.27. They were under an excellent Miniſtry, Moſes and the Prophets, but they did not underſtand them. So there be many now, that do read theſe words, and ſay theſe words devoutly of Zacharias, but they know not the voice of God in them. All the calamities and miſeries, that the people of God have paſt through in this World, were but as ſo many fore-runners of this great deliverance. O let no improbabilities hinder the exerciſing of your Faith in God; God will perform the mer…ies promiſed, and fulfil the Oath which …e hath ſworn to Abraham: His Seed ſhall …oſſeſs the gates of their Enemies.

Moſes ſaid to the Fathers; A Prophet p. 4ſhall the Lord your God raiſe up unto you of your Brethren, like unto me, him ſhall you hear in all things, whatſoever he ſhall ſay unto you, Acts 3.22. Deut. 18.15. This Prophet was our Lord Jeſus: In the fulneſs of time he came into the World, and in the acceptable time he wrought the works of him that ſent him while he was in the World.

To the Gentiles he was revealed by a Star, Mat. 2.2. To the Jews he was revealed by an Angel, Luke 2.10. To the Saints of God he was revealed by the Holy Spirit, Luke 2.26. O what a bleſſed time will that be! when the bleſſed Jeſus ſhall be heard in all things; then every knee ſhall bow to his Authority, and every tongue will confeſs to the glory of God the Father, and to the joy of all his Saints, that Jeſus is both Lord and King. I have ſet thee to be a light to the Gentiles, that thou ſhouldeſt be for ſalvation unto the ends of the Earth, Acts 13.47.

David being a Prophet ſpake in Spirit, The Lord ſaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine Enemies thy Footſtool, Pſal. 110.1. Men that are Enemies to goodneſs for goodneſs ſake, Enemies to holineſs for holineſs ſake, and Enemies to truth for truth's ſake, are of all p. 5men the worſt of men, and though there be nothing more curſed than this, yet there is nothing more common than this.

They are Enemies to God in their minds, Rom. 8.7. They are Enemies of the Croſs of Chriſt, Phil. 3.18. They are Enemies to the Saints of God by cruel and wicked works, 2 Theſ. 2.14, 15.

Now, whereſoever God opens a door of Goſpel-light, grace, and liberty, there the Devil ſtirs up many adverſaries and enemies, and fills them with wrath and rage againſt the Goſpel, and the Profeſſors of it. This he did in the Apoſtles days: For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adverſaries, 1 Cor. 16.9. And thus he hath done in theſe days; but alas! How can ſuch men be friends to others, that are ſuch enemies to themſelves? How can they be kind to others, that are ſo cruel to their own ſouls, that treaſure up wrath againſt the day of wrath? But after thy hardneſs and impenitent heart, treaſureſt up unto thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous Judgment of God, Rom. 2.5. Their ſins bring down God's wrath upon them here, that makes them …s miſerable as they have made them…elves ſinful, Eph. 5.6. O! pity ſuch, that p. 6pity themſelves no more, that God may pity them: but all enemies muſt come down; God the Father hath declared this; Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footſtool, Pſal. 110.1.

Chriſt Jeſus the Son of God expects this: From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footſtool, Heb. 10.18.

All the Saints of God live in the faith of this; that all enemies will be made Chriſt Jeſus's footſtool; let one then ſpeak for all the reſt; the Apoſtle Paul; For he muſt reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet, 1 Cor. 15.25.

The Prophet Iſaiah hath ſpoken of good and great things to come; And it ſhall come to paſs in the laſt days, that the Mountain of the Lord's houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the Mountains, and ſhall be exalted above the Hills, and all Nations ſhall flow …nto it, Iſa. 2.2. See here five things▪

1. The true Church is the Houſe of God, 1 Tim. 3.15. Heb. 3.6.

2. This Houſe is a Mountain, Jer. 31. v. 23. Iſa. 2.3.

3. This Mountain of the Lord's Houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the Mountains, and exalted above the Hills, Micah 4.1.

p. 74. All Nations ſhall flow unto it. They ſhall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, ſaying, Come, let us joyn our ſelves to the Lord, in a perpetual Covenant that ſhall not be forgotten, Iſa. 50.5.

5. Of the time when; It ſhall be in the laſt days, Iſa. 2.2.

The Prophet Daniel that was after Iſaiah ſpake of this glory. And the Stone that ſmote the Image became a great Mountain, and filled the whole Earth, Dan. 2.35. And there was given unto him dominion and glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations, and Languages, ſhould ſerve him; his dominion is an everlaſting dominion, which ſhall not paſs away, and his Kingdom that which ſhall not be deſtroyed, Dan. 7.14.

The holy Saint John, that was long after Daniel, ſaw this glory more clearly, and hath ſhew'd it more fully; And the ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there w…re great voices in Heaven, ſaying, The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall reign for ever and ever, Rev. 11.15. For all Nations ſhall come, and worſhip before thee, Rev. 5.4.

1. Here is then all Nations, not a part, but all; not ſome out of all Nations, but … Nations.

p. 82. They ſhall come to him that is the deſire of all Nations, Hag. 2.7. That which Gods mouth hath ſpoken, his han… will fulfil, Behold the Nations are as a dro… of the Bucket, and are accounted as the ſma… duſt of the Ballance, Iſa. 40.15. A dro… that the Lord can dry up, and duſt that h… can blow away.

3. The end of their coming; To worſhip before the Lord. For all Nation ſhall come, and worſhip before thee, and man… Nations ſhall come, and ſay, Come and let u… go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and t… the Houſe of the God of Jacob, Mic. 4.2 And many Nations ſhall be joined to th… Lord in that day, and ſhall be my people Zach. 2.11. O who will not wait for thi… with the greateſt patience, and pray fo… this with the greateſt fervency, that God ways may be known upon earth, and his ſavi… health among all Nations, Pſal. 67.2.

The Prophet Jeremiah hath ſpoken … glorious things to come, But this is … Covenant that I will make with the Houſe Iſrael after thoſe days, ſaith the Lord, will put my Law in their inward parts, a… write it in their hearts, and will be their G… and they ſhall be my people. And they ſh… teach no more every man his Neighbour, … every man his Brother, ſaying, Know … p. 9Lord, for they ſhall all know me, from the leaſt of them to the greateſt of them, ſaith the Lord, Jer. 31.33, 34. They ſhall not hurt nor deſtroy in all my holy Mountain; for the earth ſhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea, Iſa. 11.9. For the earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea, Hab 2.14. Many ſhall run to and fro, and knowledge ſhall be increaſed, Dan. 12.4. This running will be from error to truth; from the traditions of men, to the holy Word of God; from ſuperſtition, to the power of godlineſs, and from idolatry, to worſhip the living God in ſpirit and truth. This running will be from prophecies to providences, and from precepts to promiſes; from one part of God's Word to another; and from leſſer light to greater light, till all men come to know and enjoy the true light of God, the light of his countenance, the light of his ſpirit, the light of his providences, and the light of his Word: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, Pſa. 119.105. This li…ht ſhines out of darkneſs, and ſhines into the hearts of men; to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jeſus …hriſt; and in his light they ſhall ſee light. p. 10To know God is mens greateſt wiſdom, and to enjoy him for ever will be their greateſt happineſs.

Ezekiel the Prophet hath ſpoken of bleſſings, of great bleſſings, and of ſhowers of bleſſings to come. And I will make them, and the places round about my Hill, a bleſſing: and I will cauſe the ſhower to come down in his ſeaſon: There ſhall be ſhowers of bleſſings, Ezek. 34.26. This Prophe… hath ſpoken much concerning the Jew▪ reſtauration, and of the glory that ſhal follow; and let the Reader conſider the… theſe four things.

Firſt how they went into the land o… Canaan and poſſeſt it in the days of Joſhua, they were as terrible as an Arm… with Banners, Cant. 6.4. The dread an… fear of them fell upon their enemie▪ And ſhe ſaid unto the men, I know that t… Lord hath given you the Land, and that yo… terror is fallen upon us, and that all the I… habitants of the Land faint becauſe of yo… For we have heard how the Lord dried up t… waters of the Red Sea for you, when you ca… out of Egypt, and what you did to the t… Kings of the Amorites that were on the oth… ſide Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye … terly deſtroyed. And as ſoon as we had hea… theſe things, our hearts did melt, neither i… p. 11there remain any more courage in any man, becauſe of you: For the Lord your God, he is God in Heaven above, and in the Earth beneath, Joſh. 2.9, 10, 11. They ſaw the glory of Gods miracles in their paſſing over Jordan, the waters fled from them, they ſtood up in heaps, and were cut off, Joſh. 3.13. They then had Gods glorious preſence with them, and he made his glorious Arm bare for them, and the Angel of his preſence went before them. And it came to paſs when Joſhua was by Jericho, that he lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there ſtood a man over againſt him, with his Sword drawn in his hand: And Joſhua went unto him, and ſaid unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adverſaries? And he ſaid, Nay, but as Captain of the Hoſt of the Lord am I now come. And Joſhua fell on his face to the Earth, and did worſhip, and ſaid unto him, What ſaith my Lord to his ſervant. And the Captain of the Lords Hoſt ſaid unto Joſhua, Looſe thy ſhooe from off thy foot, for the place whereon thou ſtandeſt is holy: And Joſhua did ſo, Joſh. 5.13, 14, 15. By this you may ſee they entered into the Land of Canaan with glory and triumph, with joy and gladneſs.

Secondly, Conſider of the time and manner that theſe Jews were taken Captives, and carried away out of their own Land. And there came up Shalmaneſer King of Aſſyria, and he took Samaria, and carried away Iſrael into Aſſyria, and placed them in Halah, and in Habor, by the River of Gazon, and in the Cities of the Medes, 2 Kings 17.6. And the Lord rejected all the Seed of Iſrael, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of ſpoilers, until he had caſt them out of his ſight, verſe 20. Until the Lord removed Iſrael out of his ſight, as he had ſaid by all his ſervants the Prophets: So was Iſrael carried away out of their own Land to Aſſyria, unto this day, verſe 23. They were carried away with ſhame and reproach. God was not with them, but againſt them, and was become their Enemy, becauſe they did ſecretly thoſe things that were not right againſt the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their Cities, from the Tower of the Watchmen to the Fenced City, and they ſerved Idols, whereof the Lord had ſaid unto them, Ye ſhall not do this thing. And they left all the Commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten Images, even two Calves; and made a Grove, and worſhipped all the Hoſt of Heaven, and ſerved Baal. And they cauſed their Sons and p. 13their Daughters to paſs through the fire, and uſed Divination, and Inchantments; and ſold themſelves to do evil in the ſight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Iſrael, and removed them out of his ſight, that there was none left but the Tribe of Judah only. By this a man may ſee the evil of ſin: It was ſin that turned Angels into Devils, and their Heaven into a Hell; it was ſin that turned Adam and Eve out of Paradiſe; it was ſin that turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into Flames and Aſhes; and it was ſin that turned Iſrael out of Canaan, that good Land that flowed with Milk and Honey.

Thirdly, Conſider how long theſe Jews have been hid and concealed from all other people on the face of the Earth, that were carried away by Shalmaneſer King of Aſſyria ſo long ago, 2 Kings 17.6. No Hiſtory can ſhew where they are, in what Land or N…tion. No Travellers can tell us, that go from Nation to Nation, and from Kingdom to Kingdom, to Countreys that are afar off, even to the utmoſt parts of the Earth, what is become of that people, that are uſually called the Ten Tribes. I have often asked the Jews that live amongſt us, this queſtion, whether p. 14they have heard of them, or did know in what part of the World they were, their anſwer to me was, That God Almighty had hid, and concealed them in ſome part of the Earth or other, but they did not know where, but they did verily believe, that God would ſome time or other bring them forth in the eyes of all the Nations, and all the ends of the Earth ſhall ſee the Salvation of the Lord. And he ſaid, Go thy way Daniel, for the words are cloſed up and ſealed till the time of the end, Dan. 12.9. And when the ſeven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write, and I heard a voice from Heaven, ſaying unto me, Seal up thoſe things which the ſeven thunders uttered, and write them not, Rev 10.4.

Fourthly, Conſider the reſtauration of Iſrael to their own Land; they ſhall return to that Land which God gave them for an Inheritance. The Scriptures of truth do fully and clearly ſhew this. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet chuſe Iſrael, and ſet them in their own Land, Iſa. 14 1. But the Lord liveth, which brought up, and which led the Seed of the Houſe of Iſrael out of the North Countrey, and from all Countreys whither I had driven them, and they ſhall dwell in their own Land, Jer. 23.8. For I will take you p. 15from among the Heathen, and gather you out of all Countreys, and will bring you into your own Land, Ezek. 36.24. Thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the Children of Iſrael from among the Heathen whither they be gone, and will gather them on every ſide, and bring them into their own Land, Ezek. 27.21. And at that time ſhall Michael ſtand up, the great Prince which ſtandeth for the Children of thy people, and there ſhall be a time of trouble, ſuch as never was ſince there was a Nation, even to that ſame time: And at that time thy people ſhall be delivered, Dan. 12.1. For behold, in thoſe days, and in that time when I ſhall bring again the Captivity of Judah and Jeruſalem, I will gather all Nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoſhaphat, and will plead with them there for my people, and for my heritage Iſrael, whom they have ſcattered among the Nations, and parted their Land, Joel 3.1, 2. And I will bring again the Captivity of my people of Iſrael, and they ſhall build the waſte Cities and inhabit them; and they ſhall plant Vineyards, and drink the Wine thereof: They ſhall alſo make Gardens, and eat the Fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their Land, and they ſhall no more be pulled up out of their Land which I have given them, ſaith the p. 16Lord thy God, Amos 9.14, 15. And in that day, ſaith the Lord, will I aſſemble her that halteth; and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted. And I will make her that halteth a remnant, and her that was caſt far off, a ſtrong Nation; and the Lord ſhall reign over them in Mount Zion, from henceforth even for ever, Micah 4.6, 7. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee, and I will ſave her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praiſe and fame in every land, where they have been put to ſhame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you, for I will make you a name and a praiſe among all people of the Earth, when I turn back your Captivity before your eyes, ſaith the Lord, Zeph. 3.19, 20. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, there ſhall yet old men and old women dwell in the ſtreets of Jeruſalem, and every man with his ſtaff in his hand for very Age. And the ſtreets of the City ſhall be full of Boys and Girls playing in the ſtreets thereof. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, if it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people, in theſe days, ſhould it alſo be marvellous in my eyes, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts? Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, Behold, I will ſave my people from the Eaſt-Countrey, and from the p. 17Weſt-Countrey: And I will bring them, and they ſhall dwell in the midſt of Jeruſalem, and they ſhall be my people, and I will be their God in truth and righteouſneſs, Zech. 8.4 to 8.

Nine Prophets have declared this great truth, the Reſtauration of Iſrael, and their teſtimony is true: God that ſcattered the Children of Iſrael will gather them, and bring them again into their own Land. How much more ſhall theſe, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own Olive-tree? Rom. 11.24. For God is able to graff them in again, verſe 23. But what ſhall the receiving of theſe Jews be, but life from the dead, they are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, and are under hardneſs of heart, and blindneſs of mind, full of envy, and unbelief, haters of Chriſt Jeſus, and deſpiſers of that grace and truth that came by him. Now when it ſhall pleaſe Almighty God to gather the diſperſed Jews, and bring them to their own Land, as he hath ſpoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets; Then they will be converted, and give glory to God by repentance. There ſhall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled, and ye ſhall loath your ſelves in your own ſight, for all your evils that ye have committed, p. 18Ezek. 20.43. Now when ſhall they do this? ſee verſe 42. And ye ſhall know that I am the Lord, when I ſhall bring you into the Land of Iſrael, into the Countrey for which I lifted up mine head to give it to your Fathers. See a farther proof of this, Ezek. 36. For I will take you from among the Heathen, and gather you out of all Countreys, and will bring you into your own Land. Then will I ſprinkle clean water upon you, and ye ſhall be clean: From all your filthineſs, and from all your Idols will I cleanſe you. A new heart will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you, and I will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, and I will give you an heart of fleſh. And I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and ye ſhall keep my Judgments, and do them. And ye ſhall dwell in the Land that I gave to your Fathers, and ye ſhall be my people, and I will be your God. I will alſo ſave you from all your uncleanneſſes, and I will call for Corn, and will increaſe it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increaſe of the f…eld, that ye ſhall receive no more r…proach of famine among the Heathen. Then ſhall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and ſhall loath your ſelves in your own ſight, for your iniquities, p. 19and for your abominations, verſe 24. to 31.

The Seed of Abraham became the Enemies of the Faith of Abraham, that the bleſſings of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, Gal. 3.14. The many miſeries of the Jews under the Gentiles have been long and great, but the great troubles that will be upon the Nations of the Gentiles, will bring the Jews forth from under that yoke, Dan. 12.1. Zeph. 3.8, 9. When the tongue of the Egyptian Sea is deſtroyed, Iſa. 11.15. And the water of the River Euphrates dried up, Rev. 16.12. Then the way of the Kings of the Eaſt will be prepared: When great Babylon ſh…ll come in remembrance before God, to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the fierceneſs of his wrath, Rev. 16.19. Then the Earth alſo ſhall diſcloſe her blood, and ſhall no more cover her ſlain: Then will this Song be ſung in the Land of Judah, We have a ſtrong City, ſalvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks, Iſa. 26.1. When the face of the covering is deſtroyed that is caſt over all people, and the vail that is ſpread over all Nations; then the glory of the Lord ſhall be revealed, and all fleſh ſhall ſee it together, Iſa. 40.5. When the fulneſs of the Gentiles ſhall be come in, & the Jews that are afar off are made nigh, p. 20by the Blood of Chriſt, Rom. 11.25. then the way of Gods truth will be fully known upon Earth, and his ſaving health among all Nations, Pſalm 67.2. Then there will be but one Sheep, and one Sheepfold: And I will ſet up one Shepherd over them, and he ſhall feed them, even my Servant David; he ſhall feed them, and he ſhall be their Shepherd. And David my Servant ſhall be King over them; and they ſhall have one Shepherd: They ſhall alſo walk in my Judgments, and obſerve my Statutes, and do them; my Tabernacle alſo ſhall be with them. Yea, I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people.

I ſhall come now to the Chapter out of which my Text is taken, and I have taken theſe Prophets in my way, that by them I might light you along, and open a way to this great Prophecy, that I have here ſet before you, Dan. 2.1. Nebuchadnezzar in the ſecond year of his Reign dreamed Dreams, wherewith his Spirit was troubled, and his ſleep brake from him. God Almighty can trouble Great Perſons by very little and ſmall things, as Dreams and Viſions, by thoughts that ariſe in their Hearts, and by their own Conſciences. King Saul when he ſaw a form of ſomething aſcending out of the Earth like Samuel, p. 21he was ſore troubled, 1 Sam. 28.20. A Hand-writing made Great Belſhazzer change his countenance, and his thoughts troubled him, ſo that the joints of his loins were looſed, and his knees ſmote one againſt another, Dan. 5.6. A Dream ſo troubled Nebuchadnezzar's Spirit, that his ſleep brake from him.

Dan. 2.2. Then the King commanded to call the Magicians and Aſtrologers, and the Sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to ſhew the King his Dreams: ſo they came and ſtood before the King, verſe 3. And the King ſaid unto them, I have dreamed a Dream, and my Spirit was troubled to know the Dream; but this was without ſucceſs, for they anſwered not the Kings deſires, becauſe they could not; The ſecret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will ſhew them his Covenant, Pſalm 25.14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſs unto him, neither can he know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned, 1 Cor. 2.14.

Then ſpake the Chaldeans to the King in Syriack, O King live for ever: Tell thy ſervants the Dream, and we will ſhew the Interpretation, verſe 4. Here they promiſed to do more than the King asked, that which was required of them, was to ſhew p. 22to the King his Dream, but they promiſed to ſhew him the Dream and the Interpretation alſo, but could do neither, the King remembred that he had dreamed a Dream, but the matter he had forgot.

The King anſwered and ſaid to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me. He had forgot it, but was ſo d…ſirous to know the Dream, and the Interpretation thereof, that he threatened them, Ye ſhall be cut in pieces, and your houſes ſhall be made a dunghil, verſe 5.

But if ye ſhew the Dream, and the Interpretation thereof, ye ſhall receive of me gifts, and rewards, and great honour: therefore ſhew me the Dream, and the Interpretation thereof, verſe 6. Theſe promiſes and threatenings prevailed not.

They anſwered again, and ſaid, Let the King tell his Servants the Dream, and we will ſhew the Interpretation of it, verſe 7.

The King anſwered and ſaid, I know of a certainty, that ye would gain the time, becauſe ye ſee the thing is gone from me. Here the King gives his opinion of the Wiſe Men of Babylon, that they were no other than flatterers and liars, For ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to ſpeak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the Dream, and I ſhall know that ye can ſhew me p. 23the Interpretation thereof, verſe 8, 9.

The Chaldeans anſwered before the King, and ſaid, there is not a man upon Earth that can ſhew the Kings matter, verſe 10. Here they make their defence for themſelves, and pleaded the unreaſonableneſs of the thing, that was required of them, Therefore there is no King, Lord, or Ruler, that asked ſuch things at any Magician, or Aſtrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the King requireth, and there is none other that can ſhew it before the King, except the Gods, whoſe dwelling is not with fleſh, ver. 11. That they ſhould be put to death for not making known that to the King, which themſelves did not know; that indeed was like a Heathen.

And the King commanded to deſtroy all the Wiſe Men of Babylon, verſe 12.

And the Decree went forth, that the Wiſe Men ſhould be ſlain, verſe 13. Daniel hearing of what had paſſed between the King, and the Chaldeans, and fearing leſt himſelf and his Fellows ſhould have been ſlain with them, he went firſt to the King, and deſired of him, that he would give him time, and he would ſhew the King the Interpretation. That was granted, verſe 16.

Daniel then went to his houſe, and made the thing known to his companions, that they would deſire mercies of the God of Heaven concerning this ſecret; that Daniel and his Fellows ſhould not periſh with the reſt of the Wiſe Men of Babylon. Then was the ſecret revealed unto Daniel in a Night-viſion: then Daniel bleſſed the God of Heaven. By this the name of God was bleſſed and praiſed, the King was ſatisfied, the Wiſe Men of Babylon ſaved: Daniel honoured, and rewarded, and this great ſecret revealed, verſe 17, 18, 19.

Firſt, Daniel ſhews King Nebuchadnezzar the Dream or Viſion. Thou, O King, ſaweſt, and behold, a great Image: this great Image, whoſe brightneſs was excellent, ſtood before thee, and the form thereof was terrible. This Images head was of fine gold, his breaſt and his arms of ſilver, his belly and his thighs of braſs, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou ſaweſt till that a ſtone was cut out without hands, which ſmote the Image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them in pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the braſs, the ſilver and gold broken to pieces together, and became like the chaſt of the ſummer threſhing-floors, and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the ſtone that ſmote the Image became a great mountain, and filled the whole p. 25Earth, verſe 31. to verſe 35. This is the Dream that is certain.

Secondly, Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar the Interpretation thereof. Thou, O King, art a King of Kings, for the God of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdom, power, and ſtrength, and glory. And whereſoever the children of men dwell, the beaſts of the field, and the fowls of the Heaven, hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all; thou art this head of gold. And after thee ſhall ariſe another Kingdom inferior to thee, and another third Kingdom of braſs, which ſhall bear rule over all the Earth. And the fourth Kingdom ſhall be as ſtrong as iron: Foraſmuch as iron breaketh in pieces, and ſubdueth all things: And as iron that breaketh all theſe, ſhall it break in pieces and bruiſe. And whereas thou ſaweſt the feet and toes, part of potters clay, and part of iron: the Kingdom ſhall be divided, but there ſhall be in it of the ſtrength of the iron, foraſmuch as thou ſaweſt the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay; ſo the Kingdom ſhall be partly ſtrong, and partly broken. And whereas thou ſaweſt iron mixt with miry clay, they ſhall mingle themſelves with the ſeed of men: but they ſhall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

This hath brought me to the words of my text.