Consolation to those Distinguished by Names of Reproach, Text
AN EPISTLE OF INFORMATION, EXHORTATION, AND CONSOLATION.
To all ſuch as are diſtinguiſhed by Names of Reproach and Ignominy; Nevertheleſs, retaining the Teſtimony of a good Conſcience towards God and all men.
Containing alſo, A Sober REBUKE for former Sloathfulneſs.
By John Onley, a Servant of Jeſus Chriſt.
London, Printed for Francis Smith, at Sign of the Elephant and Caſtle, without Temple-Bar, 1661.
An EPISTLE of Information, Exhortation, and Conſolation to all ſuch as are diſtinguiſhed by Names of Reproach, &c.
TO all the Children of God, through Faith and Obedience of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, of what Sect, and by what Name ſoever, diſgraced, dignified, or diſtinguiſhed; Grace, Mercy and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jeſus; With all Spiritual Wiſdom, Strength, Valour, Stability, Patience, Selfdenyal, &c. to you be continued, multiplied and encreaſed; that as on the one hand the Nobleneſs of our Extraction, and moſt Magnificent Poſſeſſion, and yet greater and far more admirable Right in Reverſion, may make us elevate our Minds in the higheſt Region, above that groſs and earthly Body, that the black Monarchy of the Prince of Darkneſs is erected in, & the poor blind World is benighted with, and captivated by, ſcorning and utterly contemning thoſe earthly Pleaſures and faint Conceptions the Earthly Mind is forming to it ſelf, to take Comfort from, that ſhall ſhortly be ingloriouſly daſh'd and precipited, being Expiring Glories; whilſt we, moving in our own Sphear, beyond and above their Region, may be without fear of being Let by their faint Oppoſition, go ſafely on from ſtrength to ſtrength, till we all appear before our God in Sion.
Yet on the other hand, Conſidering, how unworthily we have walk'd of this Vocation, and unſutable to this Profeſſion, and unbeſeeming the Children of ſo high a Father, and Heirs of ſuch a Glory, though we were taken from Priſon, Death and Condemnation, and raiſed undeſervedly to ſuch an Eternal weight of Glory, yet have we grieved the Spirit of our God, by our eſtrayings from him; from the ſight of which (which I ſhall in a few words preſent to my ſelf and you) ſhame, ſorrow and confuſion of face lies before us; yet through a right uſe of it, we may be bettered by it, when we have ſeen it, and have ſmarted for it.
1. What a deal of Ruſt, Droſs, and Corrupted matter hath contracted it ſelf to us, by our Motion through various Diſpenſations, even to the provoking of the Lord to ariſe, and ſhew his Diſpleaſure againſt us, by the Symptoms of ſome ſtraits approaching near us, that are the beſt and only Remedies for us, as of old, when Iſrael was in a waſte howling Wilderneſs, in a Land of Deſarts and Pits, and the ſhadow of Death, ſhe was then Holineſs to the Lord; but when to crown all their Sufferings with ſignal Mercies, the Lord brought them into Houſes that they did not build, and Vineyards that they did not plant, how quickly was thoſe occaſions of Praiſe, turned into a dreadful Apoſtacy from the Father of thoſe Mercies? Shall we need to parallel our Conditions, our former Egyptian ſlavery, with God's eminent Deliverance, by the out-ſtretched Arm of his Power and Providence, with our yearnings of Spirit then after him is yet memorable? and for our after-declinations, we may it's probable, have it ſo legible, that we may run and read our Sin in our Puniſhment: There is a Judgment begun, and it will go round; the Furnace is preparing, and that Fire therein will be that Proving, that will manifeſt the Verity of each man's building, only the Refined Gold will remain, and it's the Droſs alone we ſhall loſe, and by that Loſs become Rich; though the Sinners in Sion be afraid, and fearfulneſs ſurpriſing the hearts of the Hypocrites; our number being thereby leſſened, and much of that bulk we made a ſhew of in our ſelves being conſumed, yet ſhall we be not thereby weakned; But Oh how mighty! Oh how great! Oh how ſtrong ſhall we be by that Loſs, that Little, and thoſe Few that will be left, ſtanding by it ſelf, will exceed even it ſelf as it ſtood in common with the reſt? why then ſhould we ſtand afraid of that Poverty by which we become rich, or that Loſs by which we get gain?
2. What a Stir and Commotion, and Hurli-burly hath been raiſed in our Souls? partly by falſe and contrary Intereſts we had eſpouſed to our ſelves, partly by our various Expectations, Helps and Reliefs, to ſecure them to us (having plodded on in a heartleſs, lifeleſs Profeſſion, in conjunction with a vigorous purſuit after, overtaking of, and being poſſeſſed with Reſt, as we thought, in the World) running in the way of Egypt, after Aſher and Jareb, putting Confidence in an Aim of Fleſh, ſaying to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods, when in Returning and in Reſt we ſhould have been ſaved, Quietneſs and Confidence ſhould have been our Strength, but we would not, &c. Therefore are we like to be left as a Beacon on the top of the Mountain, our way hedged up with Thorns that we may no more find thoſe Paths, but reduced into the Wilderneſs, a place of Deſarts, Pits, Drought, and ſhadow of Death; that neceſſity and want of what we would have enjoyed, might we had our wills, may inforce us with the proud Prodigal, to return to our Father, thankfully accepting what we formerly lightly eſteemed, which his ever-to-be-magnified Grace ſtill holds forth to us, which now we begin to experience the worth of, the Commotions in our Souls being ſtilled, and our prodigal Expectations come to nought, that formerly ſo clamored in our Souls, that the Voice of the Lord could not be heard. Oh how attentive, watchful and diligent are we now, for which formerly we took little notice of, how home, direct and facile is its entrance! Now, ſpeak Lord, ſaith the Soul, and I will hear; appear, and I am ready; lead, and I will follow; command, and I will obey: wee'l never ſay more to the works of our hands, Ye are our gods; for in Thee alone the Fatherleſs findeth Mercy.
3. What a large meaſure of Light, Time, Peace and Liberty have we had from the Lord, beyond what former Times, and, it may be, latter ſhall enjoy, whereby through the faithful Improvement of which, what manner of Perſons might we have been, not only in our own inward Injoyments and Fellowſhips, but alſo to the poor, blind World, captivated by the Devil; as alſo to thoſe who hang in the Birth betwixt Heaven and Hell, that ſee but like the half-cured Blind-man, Men like Trees, that fain would move toward Sion, but through the weakneſs of their ſight, the falſe Repreſentations of the Devil, together with the Duſt we by our Contentions have raiſed, and darkned the way with, that he knows not how hardly to ſet one foot forward, in order thereto.
And yet, Oh how too truly may we behold how we have hid our Talent in a Napkin, put our Light under a Buſhel, whilſt we induſtriouſly imployed our Wit and earthly Mind in making proviſion for the Fleſh, merchandizing with the Commodities of this Life, or elſe either exerciſing them in ſuch a cold frozen, heartleſs, lifeleſs, cuſtomary manner, that we have neither felt, taſted, nor experienced that Strength, Life, Health and Nouriſhment we might have done, nor by Example, Doctrine and Converſation, &c. have we ſet others ſo much as we might have done in the way thereto; or, which is worſe, than if we had been born dumb, We have by our time, Light, Knowledge, &c. but for the moſt part got ſuch an opinionative Profeſſion, centring in certain external Inſtitutions (being by Chriſt appointed not for Reſt but Motion) which, although ſome of which was perſpicuous enough in the word, yet others being of doubtful Interpretation, have (in the way that ſome have practiſed them) found ſtrong oppoſition; We have ſo ſtudyed and imployed our Abilities thereabouts, that our participation of the Knowledge of Chriſt hath got from our hearts into our heads, that inſtead of ſweetning our Souls therewith, and refreſhing, enlivening and uniting our Souls to every one in whom the Image of the Lord Jeſus doth appear, thereby upholding that admirable and ever bleſſed Communion of the Saints in the Unity of the Spirit and the Bond of Peace, we have (as naturally conſequent thereof) ſo rent the ſeamleſs Coat of Chriſt; ſo broken and divided the Saints in pieces; ſo wounded and tortured the Conſciences of the Tender; ſo obſtructed the Goſpels Propagation; ſo rejoyced the World, making the Wicked to triumph, erected ſuch Trophies to the Devil's praiſe, that many have been even Factors for Satan, Fewellers for Hell, labouring to bring in more matter for the Everlaſting Burning, under pretence of beating down Babylon, &c. Chriſt's Life hath been ſtifled, and Sion crucified. Oh what a potent deadly Engine of the Devil have we managed, inſenſibly and by unobſerved degrees promoted to many-headed Babel, by ſuch as would aſcend into Heaven alone, the language of whoſe Workmen the Lord is now confounding, reducing them into one Common Calamity in order to their Re-unity: The Lord give all his people a Sight, a Sorrow, a Repentance to Amendment, with Pardon for this thing.
4. How have we took up our aboad in the Wilderneſs, ſaying in our hearts, It's good for us to be here! Or, upon the diſtruſt of this Security, removed but to the Suburbs of Sion, from whence we might either with eaſe, Retire at pleaſure to the old Reſidence, or enjoy them in Common together; reſting in thoſe things, as the End, that by Inſtitution was appointed but as a Mean thereto. How violent hath been our motion after Air and Emptineſs, whilſt the Eternal Pearl hath ſtood as a thing not worth the laying out our time, ſtrength and induſtry for the obtaining of? How comfortable hath the Intelligence of our likelihood of enjoying the Worlds Felicity been unto our Souls, whilſt thoſe Eternal Enrichments of the Kingdom of Glory have in their moſt powerful and lively Delineations, made upon us ſuch faint Impreſſions, eſteeming and rather chooſing to abide in theſe dirty houſes of Clay, enſlaved to the World, our Souls impriſoned from God, and in our earthly dark mind, which is too much predominant; pore up and down with the poor blind World after Reſt and Felicity in thoſe uncertain things, that have it not in themſelves, Rather than with Noble, Saint-like Reſolutions, contemn thoſe childiſh Gew gaws (that pleaſe but the ſenſitive and moſt ignoble part) and raiſe up our Souls into the apprehenſion of, and purſuit after, and reſtleſs motion, till we are poſſeſſed with thoſe heavenly Treaſures, thoſe durable Riches that give full, comfortable and perpetual Satisfaction; which, till the Soul light upon, and center in, as its End of Motion, Oh how ſad and lamentable (by accident) how deceitful and damnable is every ſublunary thing that we give our minds to, that we might gain Reſt and Comfort from!
5. How little did we hearken after, or take delight in the Appearance of the Harbingers and fore-runners of our Lord's Preſence? how little have we been affected with the approach of the Year and Day of our Deliverance, with the Apprehenſions and fore-thoughts of our purchaſed Poſſeſſion, and Eternal Unity and Communion with Chriſt and all Saints in Light; yea, when the Lord hath by the mighty Power of his Spirit in the Mouthes of ſome of his Servants brought theſe Things ſweetly to our Ears, with the danger of Negligence, Key-coldneſs, Formality, and the love of this preſent World, that ſo interpoſeth, eclipſeth and hindreth the Influences of theſe things from our Souls, that they can take neither Life, Strength nor Refreſhment therefrom: How formally, ſleepily and forgetfully have we given them Entertainment, as things we were not concerned in, or had no need as yet to trouble our ſelves about; yea, even in that very Inſtitution by which Chriſt in what he hath done, is a doing and will ſpeedily do for his Saints, is exhibited and repreſented? How little have we been refreſhed, ſtrengthened, and made watchful to the Day of his Appearance, many rather eating and drinking Condemnation to themſelves? firſt, obſtructing and ſhutting out its Operation from their Souls by their own Unpreparedneſs, and then go away and report that God was not there to be found, &c.
6. How ſeldom have we come with hungry and thirſty Souls to, and after the Bread of Life, whereby we might have experienced the Word of the Lord to have been more reviving and delightful to our taſte than Honey and the Honey-comb, or any temporal Food to the outward man; and more ſatisfactory, enriching and deſirable than Gold, yea, than much fine Gold? Oh how oftner rather have we ſo filled and glutted our Appetites and Affections with Fleſhly Proviſions, being rich, full and ſatisfied before-hand with the World, that the Word of the Lord hath been but as an empty ſound, which we have only lent our Ears to, going away, poor, empty, miſerable, blind and naked, though we ſee and knew it not!
7. How common hath it been with us to ſpend much of our time in diſcourſe of the World, our Imployments therein, and trading therewith, our Gains and Loſſe thereby; which, after News from Heaven, our Title thereto, and Intereſt therein, our thriving or loſing in and about thoſe Means of Grace that are Aſſiſtants thereabout, in breathing forth our Experience of God's Love, in praiſing the Lord for his admirable Love to us-ward, when we were in our Blood, in the eſtate of Wrath, Death and Condemnation, ſhut out from the Preſence of God into Priſon, Captivity, &c. that then by the precious Blood of the Son of his Love, He ſhould not only ranſom and redeem us therefrom, but by the Power of his Word and Spirit, call us into the inſight thereof, and Everlaſting Reſt, Peace and Comfort thereby; being brought into the Arms and Boſom of himſelf, and made Heirs of Eternal Glory; alſo, in magnifying his Mercy to us-ward, in reſtraining the Power of Unreaſonable men, from exerciſing their Cruelty upon us, who would have devoured us quick, whom yet the Lord would not ſuffer, but was a brazen Wall round about us, that we might have gone freely about the work of our God without moleſtation; to have enlightned the eyes of the poor blind World, enlivened, warmed and ſtrengthened the weak Saints, confirmed the Feeble, and rejoyced in and with the Strong; in laying in all ſtrength together, with one heart and one ſhoulder, to bear up, increaſe and ſtrengthen the Kingdom of the Lord Jeſus; rejoycing with the Strong and Honourable, and weeping with the Poor and Miſerable, &c. beating with the Weak and Feeble; and, as Members of one Body, joyned together, and compacted by that which every Joynt ſupplyeth, according to the Effectual working in the meaſure of every part, making increaſe in the Body unto the Edifying of it ſelf in Love. Oh! how negligent have we been in theſe neceſſary heavenly Duties, bearing the name of Churches, Saints and Chriſtians, when to the Life of Chriſt we have been almoſt ſtrangers!
8. How little have our hearts been rent, our ſouls grieved, and we ſighed and cryed, pouring out our ſouls before the Lord for the Abominations committed in theſe Nations, not being inferiour, if not exceeding the Wickedneſs of Sodom, for, and on which God rained down from Heaven Fire and Brimſtone, and made an utter deſolation thereof! How is the Name of our God every day blasphemed, his Laws and gracious Precepts derided, and his People ſhamefully entreated; and, as Mr. Baxter ſaid of the Times ſome late years paſt, That it was as much as a Mans Eſtate at leaſt was worth to hear, Saints Reſt, pag. 251. Part 2.a Sermon abroad, when he had none, or worſe, at home; to meet for Prayer, or any godly Exerciſe; and that it was a matter of Credit, and way to Preferment, to revile at, and be enemies to thoſe that are moſt Conſciencious; and every where ſafer to be a Drunkard, or an Adulterer, than a painful Chriſtian; and that multitude of humane Ceremonies took place, when the Worſhip of Chriſts Inſtitutions was caſt out!
So, by reaſon of the abuſe of the King's Indulgence, of about Thirty Perſons, whom in that we had no compliance with, nor knowledge of, together with the over-violent activity of his Majeſties ſubordinate Miniſters in executing of his Proclamation againſt us (though we believe they know in their own Conſciences we are free from the firſt, and conſequently not concerned in the laſt) with their negligence, in not executing his Proclamation againſt Debauchery and Prophaneneſs; ſuch into many places having free liberty to act Villany: It's come to that paſſe, that if a few ſincere Chriſtians meet together in the fear of God, to build up one another in their moſt holy Faith; to exhort, comfort, confirm and ſtrengthen each other in the Wayes of God, according to the Command of Chriſt, and the Example of the Primitive Saints; to which Work the Lord having promiſed, and God's People ſweetly experiencing his Preſence; We muſt be preſently apprehended, and carried to a Juſtice, and ſo to the Jayl; yea, ſome of us threatned for reading the Scriptures in our Families; when if we would ſwear, game, be drunk, and lie at an Alehouſe, Twenty together day after day, or ſtand in a Market an hour or two together, to hear the Apoſtles of the Devil and Factors of Hell, about and on the Market-Croſs, with their Ungodly Songs and Speeches, and idle, ſhameful Deeds and Geſtures, to provoke to vanity, both Hearers, Speakers and Singers, ſhall have free Liberty; when if in the ſame place, (as ſome with grief of heart can witneſs) one doth but ſay, [Repent of this Folly, and turn to the Lord, His Day is at hand] he ſhall have company about him preſently to lag him forth of Town, as not ſufferable therein; Which had it been amongſt Pagans and groſs Heathens, we might have the leſs marvelled; but to ſee it amongſt thoſe, that profeſs in words to be Chriſtians: Oh! what Lamentations, bitter Cryes, Sighes and Tears, and heart-rendings doth this call for! what Humiliations, Watchings, Faſtings, Prayings, Speakings often one to another, and to the Lord, to forgive, to ſtrengthen, uphold and comfort his People in this day; and to Inform, counſel and direct the King, with the Magiſtrates of this Nation, in the performance of that which may bring down a Bleſſing therewith, and a Settlement of Peace with Truth thereby, and that they may ſee in what the Strength and Safety of a Nation ſtands in; In the performance of Righteouſneſs, Juſtice and Equity; breaking every heavy Yoak, and letting the Oppreſſed go free; in ſetting free the Gospel and the VVord of the Lord, the Profeſſion and Profeſſors thereof, (that hath ſo long been confined within the narrow limits of ſome mens particular Apprehenſions) that it may run and be glorified, and prevail and prosper in its own ſingle Evidence; and that the Lord would cauſe them to ſee the Hamon-like Deſigns that ſome purpoſe againſt all the Sons of Sion, that refuſe to bow to the Pride of their Hearts; and that the Innocency and Righteouſneſs of the Lords People may be brought to light, in despight of thoſe wicked Ones, who ſeek to impeach and darken it; that ſo their Covering may not prove like that of Judah's, In looking to their Armour, and making up the Breaches, and fortifying of the Walls, ſtaying on Horſes, and truſting in Chariots, becauſe they are many, and in Horſemen, becauſe they are very ſtrong; and then joy and be glad, ſlay Oxen, and kill Sheep, eat Fleſh and drink Wine, thinking all ſecure; when they ſhould rather call to Mourning, to Weeping, to Baldneſs, and to girding with Sackcloath, if the Glory of the Lord and the ſaving ſtrength of himſelf, be not the Foundation thereof, Iſa. 22.8.—14.31.1.
Oh! how little have we been ſenſible of, affected with, and imployed about theſe things? though the Lord hath neither been a Wilderneſs nor a Land of Darkneſs to us, but planting us a Noble Vine, a holy, a right Seed, walling us about, ſuffering no man to do us harm; yet have we degenerated into a ſtrange Plant; our Silver become Droſs, our Wine mixt with Water, &c. Therefore the Day of Viſitation is come, it is come, we ſhall know it: We have dealt treacherouſly with the Lord, we have begotten ſtrange Children: now ſhall a Moth devour them with their Portions; for, the Lord is ariſen in the fury of his Jealouſie, being provoked through the abuſe of his Mercy, to laſh us to himſelf, and correct us for our out-goings from his Grace, and hath prepared his Furnace in Jeruſalem, and his Refining Pot in Sion; in which two parts may be conſumed, and a third brought through the fire; being thereby made meet for our Maſters praiſe, we may ſerve him with one conſent.
Wherefore, dearly beloved Brethren, you who Fellow-Citizens, and of the Houſhold of God, Members one of another, One Body, of which Chriſt is the Head; Children and Heirs, Heirs of God, yea Joynt-heirs with Chriſt; and all Strangers and Pilgrims here on Earth, having no continuing City, but are looking after one that hath a foundation, whoſe maker and builder is God, &c. Let's lay aſide our dividing Principles, and formal, lazy, key-cold Profeſſion, and Unchriſtian-like Imployments, and with one Conſent make exact and ſpeedy ſearch into thoſe things in which we have grievouſly offended, and pour forth our ſouls before the Lord, Repenting and humbling our ſelves, and that with all ſpeed; Peradventure we may prevail to a diverſion of God's intended Judgments againſt us; if not, that then they may be of excellent uſe to us: for when we have once ſeen the want of that, which when we had, we ſaw not the worth of, nor had no hearts to uſe; It will then be more precious in our eyes, more deſirable and delightful to our ſouls; Should the Lord ſcatter us abroad into other Nations, to wander up and down amongſt Mountains, Deſarts, Dens, Caves, and Deſolate places of the Earth, deſtitute, afflicted and tormented; yea, from Sea to Sea, from North to South, running to and fro to ſeck the Word of the Lord, and ſhall not find it; Oh how precious would the Communion, the Company, the Fellowſhip of thoſe be then, notwithſtanding circumſtantial difference, with whom now we have been at Irreconciliable Variance! how delightful that Preſence of the Lord that once we enjoyed in his Sanctuary! how piercing and lively would the fence of thoſe former neglected Mercies come freſh and bleeding in our memories! how ſatisfactory would the Word of the Lord be to our hungry, ſtarved, empty Souls then! how vivifying and comfortable to our Hearts, though now being full, we loath the Honey and the Honey-comb! how little ſhould we value a weeks time then, in the performance of that, which a dayes time now hath wearied us in! how near would our Hearts be brought to God, our Affections to Heaven, and from the World! how un-interrupted the courſe of our Faith, and dead and crucified to the Pleaſures of this Life! how deſirous to be diſſolved, how pained to be delivered! how watchful for our Redemption, and Day of our Lord's Appearance! how attentive to our main work, preparing our wedding Garment! how quick in our motion, and ſteady in our expectation, looking right on, moving regular in our Journey, turning neither to the right hand, nor to the left! &c. Should we then be, when the Lord with a Witneſs hath diſcovered, and uncovered our Covering, which He is now about, and hunted us out of our Reſts, that were polluted, and would have deſtroyed us with a ſore deſtruction, and ſcorched us with the fire of our own kindling, and made thoſe ſparks we incompaſſed our ſelves about with, and walk'd in the light of, like thoſe Oaks we have deſired, of which we are now aſhamed, going away from them, the Lord having rejected that Confidence which we put in them.
How admirably lovely and deſirable will Chriſt, his Truth and Kingdom be, when it ſtands in competition with Goods, Liberty, Wife, Children, and it may be our own Life alſo, when we ſhall be brought to that parting-point, to receive Him ſingly, or reject Him wholly, Then will be the time to ſee the worth of that, which whilſt other things ſtood betwixt, we ſaw not the full glory of! Oh then let's not fear, nor be diſmayed at that which, if rightly uſed, we ſhall be ſuch gainers by, but rejoyce, and leap for Joy, in that Day when men ſhall hate us, impriſon us, ſeparate us from their Company, and ſpeak all manner of evil of us falſly, and take away our Goods, our Houſes and Lands, and Liberties from us, &c. For if we ſtoop under the Croſs, and deny our ſelves, and forſake Houſes, Brethren, Siſters, Fathers or Mothers, VVife or Children, or Lands for the Name ſake of Chriſt, we ſhall receive un hundred fold, and ſhall inherit Everlaſting Life, Matth. 19.29. Only let's be careful to ſuffer as Chriſtians, not as Thieves, Murderers, buſie bodies in others matters, ſelf-revengers, &c. for which we ſhall have a double puniſhment; but if as Chriſtians, let's not be aſhamed, but glorifie God on this behalf, and commit the keeping of our ſouls in wel-doing as to a faithful Creator; Conſidering Him that could have called for the Hoſt of Heaven to have reſcued Him, and avenged Him of his Enemies; yet endured the Croſs, despiſed the ſhame, and the Contradiction of Sinners againſt Himſelf, and is ſet down at the right-hand of God, expecting till his Enemies be made his Footſtool: And let us not envy the Proſperity of them that know not God, that laugh whilſt we weep, and ſing whilſt we mourn; for they have received their Conſolation, and are in the flower of their Kingdom; but ours is in Reverſion, which when we come to the poſſeſſion of, out Sorrow ſhall be turned into Joy, our Tears to Praiſe, our Poverty to Plenty, and we ſhall come to Sion with Songs, and Everlaſting Joy upon our heads; Sorrow and ſighing ſhall flee away, when we ſhall be made an Eternal Excellency, the Joy of many Generations: For, behold, the Lord will take out of our hand the Cup of Trembling, even the Dregs of the Cup of Fury we ſhall no more drink, but it ſhall be put into the hand of them that afflict us, that have ſaid to our ſouls, Bow down, that we may go over; And we have laid our body as the ground, and as the ſtreet to them that went over; when he hath purged away our Droſs, and performed his whole work upon us, He will extend Peace to us like a River, and Judgment ſhall dwell in the VVilderneſs, and Righteouſneſs remain in the fruitful Field; and the work of Righteouſneſs ſhall be Peace, and the effect of Righteouſneſs Quietneſs and Aſſurance for ever: Which when we ſee, our hearts ſhall rejoyce, and our bones flouriſh, and we ſhall diſcern the difference betwixt them that ſerve God, and them that ſerve Him not; though now the Proud are called Happy, &c. The hand of the Lord will be known toward his Servants, and his Indignation toward his Enemies, when he ſhall render his Anger with Fury, and his Rebukes with flames of fire. For, behold, the day cometh that ſhall burn as an Oven, and all the Proud, yea, and all that do wickedly ſhall be as Stubble, and the day that cometh ſhall burn them up, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, that it ſhall leave them neither root nor branch; … in flaming Fire will He take Vengeance on all that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jeſus Chriſt: For, behold, He cometh with Ten Thouſand of his Saints, to execute Judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them, of all their ungodly deeds, they have ungodlily committed, and of all their hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have spoken againſt him.
Wherefore let us enter into our Chamber, and ſhut to the doors, till the Indignation of the Lord lie over-paſt, and bear it with patience, for we have ſinned; and gird up the loyns of our mind and be ſober, and hope to the end; and take up the Croſs and walk on with patience, lifting up our hands that hang down, and making ſtrait paths for our feet; lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, and run with patience the Race ſet before us, not being mindful of that Country from whence we came out, though we may have opportunity to return, [Remember Lots Wife] but deſire a better, that is, an heavenly; And God will not be aſhamed to be called our God, for he hath provided for us a City: and let us not draw back, leſt the Lord take no pleaſure in us: for, he that ſeeks to ſave his life, ſhall loſe it, whilst he that ſeeks to loſe it ſhall find. Let's not then caſt away our Confidence, that hath great Recompence of Reward; for we have need of Patience, that after we have done the Will of God, we may receive the Promiſe: For yet a little while, and he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry: whoſe Reward is with him, and his Work before him, to give to every one as his deeds ſhall be. In the Expectation of which, and waiting therefore, I am, and remain
Your Brother in the Faith, Patience, and Tribulation of the Gospel, John Onley. 3d day of the 3d Month, 1661.
End of the text · John Onley, Consolation to those Distinguished by Names of Reproach (1661)