Echos from the Sixth Trumpet, Part 7 – Part 8
An Interjection, occaſioned by a ſudden Ejaculation, whilst this Review of Neglected Remembrances was tranſcribing; which ſhall here stand inſerted, thought it be no part of what was heretofore expreſſed, or intended to be hereunto added.
ALAS! in this Review, to what good end
My words, my time and labour thus to ſpend
Am I enforc'd? Why am I troubleſome
To others and my ſelf, of things to come
Or paſt, ſtill to make mention? ſince I ſee
Nor Judgments, whereof ſenſible men be
(From day to day) nor Mercies, which betwixt
Thoſe Judgments intervene, or intermixt,
…ch heeded are? although they ſuch have been,
As are not in one Age or Place oft ſeen.
Oh Times! Oh Manners▪ how far wil theſe Nations
Proceed at laſt in their Prevarications,
If GOD thereto a bounder ſhall not ſet,
And they ſeek him no more then they do yet?
Our Poſture at this preſent is the ſame
With Iſr'els when they forth from Egypt came.
Two Mountains on both ſides of them they had,
O're which no Paſs in ſafety could be made;
Before them was a Sea, where Ship or Boat
To waft them over, could not then be got.
Behind them, Pharoah with a dreadful Hoſt
Purſu'de them, to recover what was loſt,
And to reduce them to that ſervile ſtate,
Which they were hopeful had been out of date;
Or to deſtroy them quite, where did appear
No likely hope of a Deliverer:
For means of ſafety they could none eſpye,
Within the proſpect of a carnal eye.
They, thus affrighted, to the LORD then cri'de,
Not as they ſhould, who do in him confi'de;
But with more fear then faith; nay, worſe then ſo,
They murmur'd, and upbraided Moſes too,
In an uncivil and ingrateful mode,
As if without a warranty from GOD
He had imprudently purſu'd a courſe
Which they foreſaw; and told him would make worſe
Their bad Condition; yea, expreſt a will,
Slaves (as they had been) to continue ſtill.
Yet he (the meekeſt perſon who then liv'd.)
As if he neither at that time perceiv'd
How him they injur'd, or how juſ…y they
Deſerv'd what ſeemed probable that day,
(Or how much base, unmanly ſlaviſhneſs
Their own tongues did apparently expreſs)
He wav'd their murmurs, whilſt they were afraid,
As if nought had amiſs by them been ſaid:
And, like a loving Father, ſpeaking to
His Children, (knowing not when they miſ-do)
Said gently thus: Fear not, ſtand ſtill and ſee
With patience, how yeſhall deliver'd be:
For theſe Egyptians who are now before
Your eyes this day, ſhall never fright you more:
And ſo befel it; for next morn they ſaw
Their foes lye dead, of whom they ſtood in awe,
Drown'd by the waves, and on that Sea-ſhore caſt,
Through which they dry-ſhod, and in ſafety paſt.
Yet both that, with thoſe Mercies which before
GOD had vouchſaf…d (with very many more
Soon after) ſeemed to be ſo forgot,
As if they them, or him regarded not.
Now at this preſent time ſuch is our caſe,
We are beleaguer'd as that People was;
With hazards upon every ſide confin'de;
With dangers both before us, and behind;
Not onelyonly having many Foreign Foes,
But ſome likewiſe at home as bad as thoſe;
And, worſe within us alſo, who have brought us
To greater ſtreights then all our Foes without us.
Thoſe Jews we parallel in ev'ry thing,
Who injur'd Moſes by their murmuring:
And, are as thankleſs unto GOD, who hath
Here acted, both in Mercy and in Wrath,
As many Wonders as by him were ſhown
In Egypt when King Pharoh was o'rethrown;
(Though they appear not ſuch unto their ſence,
Who ſhut the eyes of their Intelligence)
We as diſtruſtful are as they, as giddy
In ev'ry Tryal too; we are as ready
To make a Golden Calf, and to prefer
That Idol before our Deliverer.
As much as they, we long to repoſſeſs
The Fleſh-pots of our Luſts, our Slaviſhneſs,
(Which we did cry to be deliver'd from)
As ſoon as into any ſtreight we come.
Yet, GOD hath been to us (and at this time)
Continues the ſame GOD he was to them.
Though their example, which ſhould make us better,
Hath made our Provocations much the greater,
He with us dealeth, as a Father mild,
Whoſe heart is grieved by a froward Child;
And, as he did with ſtubborn Ephraim
When Anger and Compaſſion moved him
To cry out thus, What ſhall I do to thee?
For at a ſtand with us he ſeems to be,
Both by his frequently himſelf eſtranging,
And by his oft returning, and oft changing
His Judgments and his Mercies, that we may
Be changed, and reform our crooked way.
We have this day (though in another mode)
The daily Preſence of our gracious GOD
To lead us through that Wilderneſs of Sin
In which we have a long time wandring been:
He guides, guards, and provideth us Supplies
In all our wants, (though in another wiſe)
And is with us as wonderfully here,
As when his People brought from Egypt were.
The ſelf-ſame Cloud and Pillar we have had,
(Though varied) and, as effectual made
To all intents and purpoſes, as they
Then had; and to refreſh us in the way
Unto the Land of Reſt, we have that Rock
Whereof they drank, unto that purpoſe broke:
And, though we oft ſtray, ſhall to what we tend
Attain, when we are at our Journeys end;
If we believe, and perſevere to do
So much as GOD enableth us unto.
For, he requireth not from any one
A ſcruple more then may by him be done;
Nor doth expect from any to receive
More then what he at firſt, or laſt ſhall give;
Becauſe of all omiſſions and miſ-actions,
He hath in full accepted ſatisfactions
By his Deſervings, who ſecure us may
From whatſoever Debts we cannot pay;
If on his Mediation we depend,
With Faith and Penitence at our lives end;
That Mark retaining, which diſtinguiſheth
Chriſts choſen Sheep from Goats, in Life and Death;
To wit, that love to him, and to each other,
Which knits for ever, GOD and Man together.
This is that everlaſting Goſpel which
We were foretold, an Angel was to preach
To ev'ry Kindred, People, Tongue and Nation
Throughout the earth to bring men to Salvation:
And, for a preparation thereunto,
He cry'd aloud, (as all true Prophets do)
Fear God; to Him, and to the Lamb give praiſe,
For now the hour is come, (theſe are the dayes)
Wherein his Judgments muſt be pour'd on them
Who ſhall not glorifie and worſhip him
By whom Heaven, Earth, the Fountains & the Seas
Created were, and ev'ry thing in theſe.
The fear of God is that which firſt lets in
True Wiſdom; that brings Penitence for ſin:
By theſe within the heart of man is wrought
Such Faith and Grace, that they then taking root,
Do ſeaſonably bring forth ſuch bleſſed fruit,
As by degrees deſtroys the thorns and weeds
Which either choak or ſtarve the holy Seeds,
From whence the means of thoſe enjoyments ſprings
Whereof to us that Goſpel tydings brings.
This method long ago was practiſed
By John the Baptiſt, when he uſhered
Chriſt and his Everlaſting Goſpel in,
By preaching of true penitence for ſin:
And thereby did prepare before his face,
The way intended, to ſoul-ſaving Grace.
Such Conſequents, as promis'd are to ſpring
From Chriſt and his apoſtles publiſhing
This Goſpel (whether it ſhall come abroad
As preached in the ordinary mode,
Or by the Holy Ghoſt, which oft conveighs
The ſame by extraordinary wayes)
Are without fail to them vouchfaf'd for ever,
Who entertaine it; and ſhall ſtill endeavour
Conformity, ſincerely, that to do
Which Grace and Nature them inables to.
But everlaſtingly it ſhall not be
Preacht in this World: For this believe muſt we,
That his Commiſſion, who Authorized
Thoſe men, by whom it was firſt publiſhed,
Is nigh expir'd; and that it ſhall not laſt
One minute longer, when that date is paſt;
Which will be in that Moment wherein all
Shall die, or changed be; but ſooner ſhall
Be ſo to them, who ſummon'd are away
By Death, before that Grand Aſſizes day.
If it be ſo, let us take timely heed
What Doctrine thence, doth by reſult proceed:
For Chriſt himſelf, is he who did predict
The Judgments which we both feel and expect.
He is that Angel in a Myſtery,
Who through the midſt of the Heavens did flye.
Twas he, whom 'twixt the Heavens of the Law
And Goſpel many Prophets flying ſaw,
To bring the News and Means to every Nation
Of Peace on Earth, by reconciliation
'Twixt GOD and Man. We have already ſeen,
Some of thoſe Tokens, which foretold have been,
To ſignifie to us the General Doom,
That ſhould ſoon after their appearance come;
And ſhould they be commemorated here.
It very evidently would appear,
That hitherward it ſpeedily advances
To them who heed well the known Circumſtances
In GOD's and humane Actings. He hath pour'd
The Viols forth, whereby ſome are devour'd,
And ſome tormented; yet, moſt men grow more
Blaſphemous, and more wicked then before.
And had we no ſign elſe to predeclare
The ſounding of the Seventh Trump, is near,
Save that, and thoſe Diviſions, which of late
Republicks, Realms, and Perſons ſeparate
From others, and themſelves; we need not ſhew
Another Symptome of what will enſue.
To haſten ſuch Dooms (among other Crimes
Which are predominant in theſe our times)
One I have ſeen reiterated here
With impudence in publick ev'ry year,
Which will not go unpuniſh'd, though the Nation
Hath entertain'd it with much veneration:
But I have yet no warrant to declare it,
And therefore till I have ſo, will forbear it.
With theſe, there is likewiſe one ſpecial Sign
Concurrent, mention'd in Records Divine,
(Not leaſt conſiderable) 'tis a defection
By wanting of that Natural affection
Which conſtitutes the Manhood; for that ſin
Doth to be Epidemieal begin;
Yea, ev'n the natural Act of Generation,
Which was ordained for our preſervation,
So is corrupted into an exceſs
Of brutiſh Luſtings, beyond beaſtlineſs,
And filthineſs, grown up to ſuch a height,
That many in their ſins take leſs delight
Except they lawleſſy be carried on,
And ſhall be likewiſe impudently done.
To which end, ev'n our honeſt Recreations
Are lately ſcandalized by theſe Nations,
And oft abuſed; yea, the Tunes and Songs
Which to a ſober merriment belongs,
Are ſo eſtranged now from what they were
In former times, (and within Sixty year)
That in my apprehenſion there doth ſeem
So vaſt a diffrence betwixt theſe and them,
As 'twixt the croakings of a Ravens throat,
And Linnets, or a Nightingales clear note.
Which unto me appeareth to portend
Our pleaſant things are drawing to an end;
And, that our ſins, and their deſerved doom
Are now almoſt to their laſt period come.
One Sign more I will add unto thoſe many
Foremention'd, which as ſignal is as any:
Some of the true Chriſt do begin to doubt,
And where to find another, hunt about;
Not wanting ſuch as will be undertaking
To bring them unto one of their own making.
Thus much, as I believe, his words implies,
Who ſaid falſe Chriſts and Prophets ſhould ariſe
In latter times; for I have in my dayes
Seen that to be fulfilled many wayes.
The greateſt number Chriſtians now profeſt,
Send one another unto Antichriſt,
And ſay that's he: In Turky at this day,
He is expected, (as reports do ſay▪)
And many laſt year were in expectation
To hear thereof, ere now, a confirmation.
And I, becauſe I credit not that Fame,
A man of little Faith reputed am.
Some confidently tell us he is here,
To wit, in this Church whereof now we are;
And, ſo I hope, although it may be thought
We have not entertain'd him as we ought;
Nor are ſo charitable unto them,
Who conſcientiouſly do worſhip him.
Some ſay, he's there, in ſuch or ſuch a place
Wherein a ſecret Meeting is, or was;
Some other ſend men to the Wilderneſs,
Affirming he is there; perhaps by this
Intruding, that he by the Humane Creature,
May found be in his own wild until'd Nature:
But this believe not, for till thither he
Comes of himſelf, found there he cannot be,
Nor any where, ſave where that Love reſides
Which doth expel that ſelf-love which divides
His Flocks, and cauſeth men no care to take
Thoſe breaches to repair, which Pride doth make,
Not many take into conſideration
How to improve aright this Viſitation;
They do both good and evil things miſ-name,
The wicked they acquit, the righteous blame;
Their Intereſts ſometimes confound together,
To th'one ſometimes apply what's due to th'other;
And, as the Jews (their type) did juſtifie
Themſelves in acting that Impiety
For which they are corrected; we begin
To ſay, like them, the troubles we are in,
And loſs of all the good things now bereft,
Befall us onelyonly becauſe we had left
Such Idolizings, as when Spice-Cakes given
For an Oblation to the Queen of Heaven,
By them omitted were. Such thoughts have we
Of GOD, and of thoſe Judgments which now be
On us inflicted; yea, their parallel
We are in all, wherein they did not well.
I am not able to enumerate
The many wayes whereby we ſeparate
From one another; nor dare ſay how few
Go right, if there be but one way that's true.
Nor know how to be ſafe, unleſs there were
As well a preaching to the heart, as ear:
For, moſt what now proceeding from the mouth
Is, only counter-pleadings between Truth
And error; which both ſides, to fortifie
With ſo much confidency do applie
The words or meanings of Gods holy writ,
That, had we no way to aſcertain it
But theſe, or thoſe mens, or my yea or no,
None could know what they ſhould believe or do.
For, as well Supream Powers as private men
Are Patrons of groſs errors now and then;
And by Authority that is ſuppreſt
Which was by like Authority profeſt.
With ev'ry windy Doctrine flur'd about,
Some are not half ſo zealouſly devout
And reſolute profeſſors of what's true,
As of what is Heretical and New:
And others oldeſt and ſound Truths condemn,
Becauſe they are but Novelties to them.
Some term all thoſe Phanaticks who diſſent
From them in Iudgment, although innocent.
Some call them Saints and Martyrs, who by ſome
Are judg'd the cauſe of all the Plagues now come.
The Romaniſts, unto our Separation
From them, aſcribe this preſent Viſitation.
Some others ſay, it is our toleration
Of their Idolatries, which plagues this Nation.
Some to entrenching on mens Conſciences
Impute it. Some to our tolerating theſe.
Some to expelling of the Hi'rarchy:
Some to ſuppreſſing the Presbytery.
Some to Rebellious actings againſt Kings;
Some other unto quite contrary things.
And the reſult of all ſumm'd up together,
Is this, Each ſhifts his guilt off to another.
But, GOD before the Round hath wheel'd about,
Will find the principal Offenders out,
Either while time runs on, or, when he ſhall
To univerſal Iudgment ſummon all.
That which ſhould have two feet to ſtand upon,
We cripple, by allowing it but one:
Some zealous are for Temples built with ſtones;
Some for thoſe ſpiritualiz'd in fleſh and bones.
Some are for Conqueſts by the temp'ral Sword;
Some to be Victors by the Two-edg'd Word.
Some look for Chriſt in that Ieruſalem
Which was in Paleſtine; and ſome for him
(In that Ieruſalem which doth deſcend
From Heaven) do in Faith and Hope attend:
And, too too often alſo, they who be
At union in their Iudgments, diſagree
So long (for By-ends) timely to improve
Their knowledg, faith and works, by Chriſtian Love,
That in all, whereby they to merit thought,
Their Labour's loſt, and all for which they wrought.
Deluſions now ſo many are, and ſuch
In theſe laſt times, that they endanger much
Ev'n GOD's Elect; and do preſignifie
The day of Vengeance is approaching nigh:
And partly ſeems to be charactared
By what the beſt men hope, and worſt men dread.
However, let no ſoul deſpair that hath
Sad apprehenſions of the day of Wrath;
By this, or what in my Review you find
Conditionally predicted, to remind
What was neglected; for, among us here
Chriſt's everlaſting Goſpel to our ear
Is preached yet; and, not yet is the day
Of Reconcilement paſſed quite away.
Come, let us therefore, ere it ſhall grow dark,
To ſcape the Storm and Fire, flye to th' Ark
Which hath been ſlighted; there is yet a place
For Mercy, and an open door for Grace.
When Penitence brings Reformation in,
It makes a Bleſſing, what a Plague had been:
Yea, then 'twill to her future weal be turn'd,
That this great City was to aſhes burn'd:
She Phoenix-like, ſhall gloriouſly ariſe
Out of that Rubbiſh wherein now ſhe lies;
And I, which now am diſreſpected here,
Shall have a Monument erected there.
GOD all advantages to ſave us, takes,
Forſaketh none, till him he firſt forſakes;
Made not one man (though ſome ſo pleaſe to ſay)
To be a ſinner or a caſt-away:
But all in love, that they might be by him
Poſſeſſed with delight, and he by them.
For, when the ſin of one had all deſtroy'd,
That his Love ſhould not thereby be made void,
He to redeem them gave his onelyonly Son,
Who ranſom'd all again, excepting none.
Still by his actings in the diſpenſation
Of Iudgments and of Mercies to this Nation,
(Ev'n by the late Plague of devouring fire)
He manifeſts, that he doth not deſire
Our total Ruine; but, takes all occaſions
Allow'd by Iuſtice, for our preſervations:
And though our ſins as red as Scarlet ſhow,
He can and will make us as white as ſnow,
If we repent them; or, if we but would
Endeavour it ſo far forth as we could:
For, he in ſinners deaths takes no delight,
Or, any without cauſe to grieve or ſmite:
But in pure love diſpenſeth his correction,
To bring our happineſs unto perfection.
This is my Creed, which ſhould I not confeſs
To glorifie GOD's Love and Righteousſneſs,
(When by occaſions thereto mov'd I am,
That others may likewiſe believe the ſame)
I merited to be ſhut out from thoſe
To whom GOD everlaſting Mercy ſhows:
For, could we ſee, or apprehend how near
He ſtandeth, when far off he doth appear,
Co-operating for, and with us too,
(In that which for our ſelves we cannot do)
We would more love then fear him (though his blows
Are very ſharp) ſince intents by thoſe,
Is hammering the ſelf-love of the Creature
Into the Will and Temper of his Nature,
To make true Vnion, which till then, will be
Impoſſible; for, nothing can agree
With ought ſo perfectly as to unite,
When diametrically oppoſite,
As thoſe two Natures be; becauſe the other
Th' one would deſtroy, if till then knit together.
Repine not therefore, at what GOD ſhall do,
What ere it be; but willingly thereto
Submit your ſelves, and heartily repent
Your Provocations. Let us all lament,
Not thereto frighted by a ſlaviſh fear
(Of Judgments which now felt or threatned are
By this Review) but in pure love to him
Whoſe Mercy ſaves, when Juſtice might condemn;
And perſevereth to redintegrate
By Love, ev'n thoſe who perſever'd in Hate.
Do thus, and then the Iudgments which in part
Now executing are, GOD will divert.
Repent what you have done, and he will too
Repent of what he threatned hath to do.
For ſuch Repentance well conſiſts with that
Immutability which doth relate
Unto the Deity; and will accord
With Attributes aſcribed in his Word.
Yea, though from my Predictions you ſcape free,
I ſhall then counted a true Prophet be;
And this my Interjection will appear
Not ſo improperly inſerted here,
As I my ſelf ſuppos'd, when 'twas begun,
It would appear to many, being done:
For, till I had compos…d what here is pen'd,
I knew not all whereto it might extend;
Nor know I yet: and therefore I do leave it
To ſuch effects as GOD ſhall pleaſe to give it.
But how my ſoul! how came it ſo to paſs,
That this Ejaculation, with Alas,
(And with ſad Muſings) was begun at firſt?
Since thou doſt know, that when things are at worſt,
GOD then comes in, and often doth repair
Our Breaches, when brought near unto deſpair?
The Aid delay'd a while, he brings at length,
(Ev'n when we have no likely means, or ſtrength
To help our ſelves) why then ſhouldſt thou be ſad,
Who frequently experiments haſt had
That Mercy hath to thee been more then doubled,
When others thought thee moſt extreamly troubled
Thou wert vouchſaf…d the greateſt inward Reſt,
When in thy Body thou ſeem'dſt moſt oppreſt;
And to be kept unharmed in the flame,
Is more then preſervation from the ſame.
Then what thou haſt perſwaded others to,
Continue (as thou haſt profeſt) to do:
In what GOD's glory may advance, perſever;
Depend on him; be pleas'd with whatſoever
He either ſhall permit, or hath decreed,
And to diſcharge thy Conſcience ſtill proceed,
Not fearing that thy labour or thy coſt
In doing of thy Duty, will be loſt:
For fully recompenſ'd thy pains would be,
Though thou ſhouldſt edifie but two or three.
The World, the Devil, yea mine own fleſh too
(Offended much with what I ſay or do)
Conſpire together, and Confederates be
Both to diſcourage and diſparage me;
Pretending they have ſomewhat to produce,
To prove me blamable without excuſe:
(And may deſtroy me, if nought intervene,
To bar the proſecuting what they mean)
Yet I deſie them both to act and ſay
The worſt they either would effect, or may;
For, though they find me many grains too light,
I have a white Stone that will make up weight,
And ſuch a Friend as hath on me beſtown
A Righteouſneſs more perfect then mine own.
He cheers me with aſſurance that he will
To me what he hath been, continue ſtill;
By GOD's free-gift this hope, this faith I have,
And they will ſend me ſafe beyond my Grav….
VATICINIUM CAUSUALE, Imprinted 1655.
THis being compoſed upon a ſpecial Occaſion, whilſt Oliver Cromwel was in Power, the following Prediction was therein expreſſed, pag. 12.
And now great Oliver, to thee likewiſe
Let this be known, and do thou not deſpiſe
The Publiſher. GOD doth expect to have
Honour from him to whom he honour gave:
That ſuch as bear Rule over men be juſt,
That they their Vows infringe not, nor his Truſt:
That they conſider he beſtows large Meaſure
Of Pow'r upon them, not to act their pleaſure,
Or to fulfil their, Luſts; but doth enlarge
His Bounty, that their Place they may diſcharge
With Courage: That he Riches doth provide,
Leſt Avarice might draw their hearts aſide,
Or wants, to do Injuſtice them compel:
That he gives Honour, not to make them ſwell
Above their Brethren; but them to exempt
From what may miſ-befall them by contempt.
And, that all theſe things are on them beſtown
Much more for others ſakes, then for their own.
Know, Sir, that GOD, from perſons in your Place
Expects all this, and to that end gives Grace
And Pow'r for asking; and what ere ſome ſay,
That he no man compels to go aſtray,
Nor leaves nor hardens any (not the worſt)
Till love to ſelfueſs makes them leave him firſt.
If this, thou well conſidering, ſhalt act
Accordingly, performing thy Contract
With GOD, and with his People, he ſhall then
Give thee the loves and hearts of all good men:
Fix thee as firmly as the Rocky ſhores,
Which ſlight the Ocean when it foams and roars.
Thy Name ſhall ſpread and glorifie much more
Then all thy Predeceſſors heretofore.
Yea, in Fame's Book thou maiſt enrolled be,
The firſt who made this People truly free;
Be Firſt-born of thoſe Vice-Roys who ſhall take
Their Thrones from Him, whoſe Kingdom down wil break
All Monarchies of Tyrants, with all thoſe
Who help patch up the Clay and Iron Toes,
The Reliques of that Image which hath been
The Prop of him that's call'd the Man of Sin.
All this may be, and if thou ſtrive to go
The way that open lies, it ſhall be ſo.
Oh! loſe not this advantage for a Bubble,
Which in vain hope begins, and ends in trouble.
And laſtly, be it known, not by event
(Which may be to thy future detriment)
But by Precaution, that if fail thou ſhalt
(Without this Peoples obſtinate default)
Of what they juſtly from thee may expect,
(Who art advanc't their Freedom to protect)
Or, ſhalt abuſe thy Pow'r them to oppreſs;
Or, leave them unreliev'd in their diſtreſs,
So that they ſhall be forc'd to cry and call
To GOD for aid; he hear and help them ſhall;
Search what's miſdone, and (though their former ſin
Hath great and full of Provocations been)
He, for the preſent time, will paſs it by,
And on thy failings onelyonly caſt an eye,
Avenge their Cauſe, call thee account to give
Of all thoſe favours which thou didſt receive,
Of that late Mercy too, among the reſt,
(Which did occaſion what is here expreſt)
And with much indignation caſt thee down,
When to its height thy confidence is grown.
There were ſeveral Addreſſes made to Oliver Cromwel, and his Son Richard by this Author, whilſt they exerciſed the Supream Power, amounting to above Two Quires of Paper; in which were many Seaſonable Precautions and Remembrances to them tendred with a ſober boldneſs; as alſo many Predictions of what would ſucceed, if they neglected what was thereby precautioned, which are now obſerved to have been verified: But theſe being delivered (ſealed up) into their own hands, and not imprinted, are all omitted in this Review.