A Voice From the Temple to the Higher Powers, Dedication 2
TO The Right Honourable, Colonell Robert Overton, Governour of Hull, and his Religious Lady, with all my other dear Chriſtian friends in, and about Hull.
Deare Friends,
IT hath been the great deſire of ſome of you, that I would publiſh to the world My Notes upon Daniel. I had no intent when I preacht them, that they ſhould have been further known, or more common then amongſt you. Theſe Changes and Revolutions in our Nation, have changed my Reſolution, and ſomething I have begun: As not being aſham'd to beare witneſſe before the world, to what more privately I delivered to you: For the ſeverall Cenſures of men otherwiſe minded, I can well beare them; for I did ſit downe firſt, and count the coſt; Beſides for men to ſpeak evill of thoſe things which they know not, it is uſuall. But wiſdome is juſtified of her children.
Sirs, I cannot without much thankefulneſſe to God, and comfort to my ſelfe but remember you, ſpecially your moſt earneſt and conſtant ſeeking of God, to have the Book opened, and the Seales looſed, that you might ſee your worke, and know how to Act for Chriſt in your Generation. I make mention of this, that your zeale may provoke others, and ſtir them up to aske wiſdome of God, and for Zions ſake not to hold their peace, and for Jeruſalems ſake not to give him reſt, till he eſtabliſh and make Jeruſalem a praiſe in the earth. For my part, I can ſpeak it to Gods glory, I have found all along in opening the Propheſies of Daniel and the Revelation to you, the anſwer of your prayers, and the fruit of your faith abundantly upon my ſoule.
I know theſe things when they were delivered, offended the Prieſts in that Countrey, and in likelihood, being made now more publique, will increaſe their rage and blaſphemie againſt the God of Heaven, becauſe of their pains and ſores. It is not deſtruction I wiſh them, but that the Lord will give them Repentance from dead workes, and that they would forſake their unſanctified places and ſtandings, and not deceive the people any longer, by their lies and beaſtly vanities, I ſay before the fierce anger of the Lord, and the wrath of the Lamb come upon them.
I hope there will be ſhortly ſome effectuall meanes uſed, to remove from the people the heavieſt burthen, and ſoreſt plague that lies upon them, which is a generation of Prieſts, that fatten the people for the day of ſlaughter: For my part, what Intereſt I have either with God or men, I ſhall endeavour to improve it to the utmoſt, That the Foxes, both the old and the young Cubs, which ſpoile the Vines and the tender Grapes, may be taken. I know people generally, though they complain of other Oppreſſions and burdens, and would willingly be eaſed of them: yet here they have no feeling, and therefore they are the more to be pittied, and the ſooner helped, in not apprehending what is the greateſt miſery they lie under. Thoſe who have lately ſhewed ſo much good affection to have the Goſpell advanced in New-England, I hope they will be farre more enlarged in their bowels, for the converſion of poore Heathens in our owne Land, that the people which ſit here in darkneſſe, may ſee a great light, and to them which ſit in the region and ſhadow of death, light may ſpring up.
Deare friends, I ſhall not write much, though I could ſay much in your behalfe, as being lights among a crooked and froward generation, walking in the life and power of Religion, where others are meer Formaliſts. Beſides, you have not been aſham'd to own the truths of God, when they have been rendred in Pulpits, ſcandalous, blaſphemous, hereticall, &c. Sirs, it is your prayers that I ſtill deſire with me, and for me. I know no people under heaven that have more encouragement then you, to goe boldly to the Throne of grace, conſidering what reall & full anſwers you have had of former ſeeking the Lord. Now the Lord more and more poure the ſpirit of grace and of ſupplication into your hearts, and fill you with wiſdome and ſpirituall underſtanding, and keep you ſincere, and without offence till the day of Chriſt; and thus prayes he who is
Your Chriſtian Brother to ſerve you in the Goſpel JOHN CANNE.