A Voice From the Temple to the Higher Powers, Title page – Dedication 1
A VOICE From the Temple TO THE Higher Povvers.
Wherein is ſhewed, that it is the work and duty of Saints, to ſearch the Propheſies and Viſions of holy Scripture, which concern the Later Times: And that Jeſus Chriſt will reveal the underſtanding of them, neer the end of their accompliſhment. And ſo much, is here clearly proved, and the Objections to the contrary anſwered.
ALSO Severall Propheſies are here opened, concerning the Time of the End; As what is the preſent work of the Lord in the world: And wherein the Saints (whether the Higher Powers or others) are now to move and follow him. Likewiſe what will be the work of the Lord forward, and all along from year to year, till the Myſterie of God be finiſhed, both among the Chriſtian Gentiles, and Jewes.
By John Canne.
2 Pet. 3.3, 4. There ſhall come in the laſt dayes mockers, ſaying, where is the promiſe of his coming.
Job 21.3. Suffer me that I may ſpeake, and after that I have ſpoken, mocke on.
Dan. 22.10. But the wicked ſhall doe wickedly & none of the wicked ſhall underſtand, but the wiſe ſhall underſtand.
LONDON, Printed by Matthew Simmons, next door to the gilded Lyon in Alderſgate ſtreet, 1653.
TO His Excellency the Lord General CROMWEL.
My Lord,
IT was moſt unhappily done of Caeſar, to put the letter into his boſome, which he ſhould have read before he went unto the Conſull. I ſhall humbly deſire your Excellency (in the midſt of your great Affaires) to read over this ſhort Treatiſe, which was intended in publiſhing, ſpecially for you, as being thereunto encouraged by your Honour. Had thoſe, whoſe Crownes are now fallen, and their places have caſt them out, not laid aſide Daniel, and other Propheſies of the later Times, but day and night meditated therein, and ſo known the ſignes of the Son of man, their glory would not ſo ſoone have departed from them. But truſting to lying vanities, they forſooke their owne mercies.
As for other Bookes of humane wiſdome and State-policies, they are almoſt now like an old Almanack, out of date, most improper and uſeleſſe to the great worke of this age. And therefore ſuch as deſire to ſtand, and not to be loſt in the night of Errour and ſhame, muſt ſearch the great Booke of Gods Counſell: for there they ſhall know (and no where elſe) what the worke is of their owne generation. It is not enough that a man meanes well, and reſolves to doe honeſt and juſt things, but he is to conſider whether the thing which he propoſeth next to do, be his worke, and proper to the time in which he lives.
It was in Davids heart to build God an houſe, and the worke ſeem'd to Nathan to be ſo pious and good, as he gave him encouragement to goe forward with it. Nevertheleſſe David here was miſtaken, and the Prophet too: For David was not the man, but Solomon, appointed for that buſineſſe. As Gods thoughts are not our thoughts, nor his wayes our ways, ſo it oft-times falls out: what our thoughts are buſied moſt about, and ſticke faſteſt too, that is not the thing which the Lord intends we ſhall do, but he hath ſome other employment and ſervice for us.
My Lord, it is for this end, I write thus to you, howſoever I hope you intend a great deale of good to the Nation, and thinke of nothing but what is honeſt, juſt, pure, and of good report: yet one thing is needfull, namely, that you ſearch the Propheſies of the later times, to finde out what is your worke, as now proper to you: That ſo you may doe that good, that acceptable, and perfect wil of God in your generation. Bleſſed is that ſervant whom his Lord when he cometh, ſhall find SO DOING: Not only doing, but doing ſo and ſo.
That it was your worke (and appointed to you of God) to be a happy inſtrument for the diſſolving the laſt Parliament. It is not only cleare to me, but ſomething is here ſaid in the juſtification of it.
But now (my Lord) the great Queſtion is, what is next? I have purpoſely publiſhed this Booke, to anſwer this great Queſtion, to wit, that your Excellency and others in place, may ſee what my opinion is, (and how grounded upon the word) concerning the Lords works, and working at this time, and wherein you and others are to move, and follow the Lamb. I ſhall not ſpeake any thing concerning the choſe of the new Governours which lies before you: Only this; by knowing what is the Lords worke which he is now doing amongſt us, and carrying forth in the world, it may be ſomewhat uſefull to your Excellency in your choiſe, as to call out ſuch men, as are beſt principled and qualified for THAT.
My Lord, Thoſe great Stateſmen who are laid aſide, & lie in duſt, under the guilt and ſhame of their actions, wanted not deep policie, ſtrong reaſon, worldly wiſdome, politicke Councellours, and large advantages of the time: but this they wanted (which was their ruine) they were not like the children of Iſſachar, men that had the underſtanding of the Times, to know what Iſrael ought to doe.
Hence it is, that not only my ſelf, but many more who love you truly and dearely, earnestly deſire (and begg it daily of God for you) that thoſe Propheſies which ſpeak out the work of God to be done now in the world, may be ſearcht by you, and clearly opened to you. Methinks I ſhould finde you in that voyce from heaven, ſaying, Come out of her my people: and to be one of the Angels pouring out the fifth Viall. About the time of Chriſts Incarnation, there was a great expectation amongſt the Jewes of the coming of the Meſſiah: For they knew by former Propheſies that he was then to come.
This voyce from Heaven, and the fifth Angel is already come: but there is now an expectation to have that Propheſie perfected. And if the Lord ſhall be pleaſed to perfect by you, the good worke which he hath made you inſtrumentall in, that is, to be his, and our Generall still, for the execution of the laſt vengeance upon the two perſecuting powers of the world, viz. Kingly and Antichriſtian, it will be ſuch an honour as few of the ſonnes of men ever had.
My Lord, I ſhall cloſe with this; there is no work for you in the grave, it muſt be done on this ſide: It might have been a Motto ſet upon Davids Sepulchre; After hee had ſerved his owne Generation by the will of God, he fell aſleep; he fell not aſleep till he had ſerved his Generation. This ſhall be my prayer, that in life and death it may be ſo with you. Even doe the worke of him that ſent you whilſt it is today; and when you are gathered to your Fathers, that the memorie of your name may be precious among the Saints, as Davids was in Iſrael. And thus prays he who is
Your Excellencies moſt humble Servant, John Canne.