The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials, Vial 7

The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials · Vial 7

p. 1THE SEVENTH AND LAST VIAL OPENED.

Revel. 16.17, 18, 19, 20, 21.

And the ſeventh Angel poured out his Vial into the Ayre, and there came a great voyce out of the Temple of heaven from the Throne, ſaying, It is done.

And there were voyces, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, ſuch as was not ſince men were upon the earth, ſo mightie an earthquake, and ſo great.

And the great Citie was divided into three parts, and the Cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came into remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the fierceneſſe of his wrath.

And every Iſland fled away, and the mountaines were not found.

And there fell upon men a great haile out of heaven, every ſtone about the weight of a talent, and men blaſphemed God becauſe of the plague of the haile, for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

THeſe words deſcribe unto us the pouring out of the ſeventh Vial, by the ſeventh Angel; and ſet forth it is by a threefold Argument.

1. Firſt by the ſubject upon which it fell, it fell upon the Ayre It is tranſlated [into the Ayre] but the ſame word in the third and fourth Verſes is tranſlated upon (the Sea) and upon (the Rivers and fountaines of p. 2water:) ſo it fell upon the Ayre, otherwiſe to ſay, into the Ayre, might ſeeme to looke at ſome further ſubject, whereupon it fell, but that is not the meaning.

Secondly, by an adjunct accompanying the ſame, to wit [A great voyce out of the Temple of heaven, &c.] for I cannot call it an effect, but an adjunct it was.

Thirdly, by the effects, and they are threefold.

Firſt, of Terrour and Horrour. [There were voyces, and thundrings, and lightnings] all which doe ſtrike Terrour and Horrour into the hearts of men.

Second effect was changes, and alterations of ſtates [And there was a great earthquake] amplified by an argument taken from the leſſe [Such as was not ſince men were upon the earth] ſo great for amplitude, ſo mighty for power.

Third effect was, the working of diſtracting, and deſtroying calamities upon three ſeverall ſorts of ſubjects.

Firſt upon Cities, and among them,

Firſt, the great City was divided into three parts, which (with leave of Interpreters that take it to be a diſtinct City from Babilon) I take to be meant of Babilon, which now came up into remembrance before God, and that is rendred as a reaſon how ſhee came to be deſtroyed, for ſhe came up into remembrance before God, to give her the wine, firſt of diſtraction, ſecondly of deſtruction.

Secondly, the cities of the Nations fell, the great Citie was deſtroyed, it fell to ruine.

The ſecond ſort of ſubjects upon which this diſtraction fell, were [Every Iſland, and every mountaine] the Iſlands fled away, the mountaines were not found.

The third ſort, was the ſonnes of men, and the plague that fell upon them was a great haile out of heaven, which is amplified.

1. By the meaſure or weight of it [every ſtone about the weight of a Talent]

2. By the effect it wrought in men, [They blaſphemed the God of heaven] ſet forth by the cauſe of their blaſpheming againe repeated, becauſe of the plague of the haile, for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

3. Let us firſt open the words, and then ſumme them up into ſome doctrinall obſervations.

p. 31. What (in the firſt place) is here meant by [Ayre] doubtleſſe not the element of ayre that wee breath in: for all the Vials are Vials of wrath, & therefore poured upon ſubjects of Gods diſpleaſure: Now God is not offended with the ayre, which is his creature, but as you reade in the firſt verſe of the Chapter. All theſe Angels received a commandement to poure out their Vials upon the earth, and that is meant of the earthly Antichriſtian Church, and they all fulfill this Commandement upon whatſoever they poure out their Vials; it is ſtill upon the Antichriſtian ſtate: nor are the meſſengers of Gods wrath (which come out of the Temple, and have their loynes girded with golden girdles) provoked againſt the Ayre which themſelves doe breath in; nor could a plague be upon the Ayre, but it would fall upon Chriſtian Churches as well as Popiſh. Others doe interpret it (with much more probabilitie) to be upon the kingdome of Sathan, for he is called the Prince that ruleth in the ayre, Eph. 2.2. he alſo rayſeth up ſtormes in the ayre, and fiery meteors therein, Job. 1.16. So they conclude that whereſoever the Devill hath to doe, whether it be in Popery or Paganiſme, this Viall is poured upon all his kingdome. I thinke the doctrine is truly gathered from this place, that the holy Ghoſt intendeth to poure out a judgement upon all his kingdome: yet I cannot ſay that the words doe ſo properly hold forth a judgement upon the Element of ayre: for all the Vials are to be poured upon the earth, the Antichriſtian Church, called earth in oppoſition to the heavenly and pure Church mentioned Revel. 15.5. there being in it the whole Fabricke and Syſteme of the world: there is an earth, and that is the loweſt and baſeſt common ſort of Catholickes in that world; and there is a Sea, their corrupt Religion; there be Rivers, and fountaines of water, thoſe that derived their corruptions into all countries (Prieſts and Monkes, &c.) there is a Sunne in this world, the great light thereof: the family of Auſtria in the common wealth, and the Popes ſupremacy in the Church: there is the throne of the beaſt, the forme of their government, and manner of judicature: Afterwards comes in Euphrates, the ſtreame of all thoſe corruptions that make glad the Citie of Rome: Therefore this Ayre ſeemeth to be the Ayre of that Antichriſtian Church: Looke therefore what you can conceive to be the Ayre, which this Antichriſtian Church doth breath in, and that is the ſubject whereupon this Viall is poured: And although p. 4indeed Mahumetry, and Paganiſme come to be afflicted here by it; yet is it but an effect of pouring out this Vial upon the Ayre. Now if you looke into Chap. 9.1, 2. of this booke you ſhall finde that the Ayre of this worldly Church is the ſmoake which aroſe out of the bottomleſſe pit, and darkned the Ayre, ſo that you could not ſee the Sunne, much leſſe the Moone and Starres: and what was that ſmoake out of the bottomleſſe pit, but the darkeneſſe of ignorance from whence ſprung all thoſe Locuſts, and that King over them, verſ. 11. the angel of the bottomleſſe pit, whoſe name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, he deſtroyeth the hope of the converſion of the Jewes: and in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon, he deſtroyeth them alſo, and ſprung out of this ignorance. There is a double uſe of Ayre, and this darkeneſſe corrupted both. 1. There is an uſe of it for ſight; for through the Ayre, if is bee cleare, you ſee all the heavenly lights, and by their help, all inferiour bodies. 2. It is the breath of life, which maintaineth the life of men, and is the ſupportance of their vitals. And in both theſe things doth it fitly reſemble heavenly, and ſaving knowledge, by which, 1. In the firſt place, we ſee Jeſus Chriſt the Sun of righteouſneſſe to our juſtification; by which we ſee the Moon, that is, the true ſtate of Churches according to the Goſpell; by which we ſee the Stars, the people of God, and who indeed are his people, that ſhine like lights in the world: And hereby they ſee all things here below, and judge rightly of them. And 2. by the ſame ſaving knowledge doe we breathe in our vitals (that we may ſo ſpeak) our ſpirituall life; By his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſervant juſtifie many, Eſay 53.11. And this is life eternall to know thee the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent, John 17.3. Now if this Ayre be choaked, you can neither ſee Jeſus Chriſt to your juſtification, nor breath in any ordinance of his to your ſalvation, nor can you ſee what is the true Church, nor who are the true Saints of God; you can rightly diſcerne of nothing, if once the Sun, and the whole body of the ayre be darkened; but if how there come an Angel that ſhall poure out his Vial upon his ſmoke of the ayre, and diſpell thereby the clouds of darkneſſe, and ignorance; then ſhall you clearly ſee Jeſus Chriſt, and the true ſtate of his Church, and of all viſible Saints, then ſhall you draw in true and lively breath from every ordinance of God. This is therefore the ayre whereupon this Vial ſhall be poured, and that will be the diſpelling of the darkneſſe p. 5of it: The Lord will ſend forth ſuch a bright and cleare knowledge of his Chriſt, and Church, and Saints, and holy things which will prevaile ſo far, as to diſpell all the fogs and miſts of darkneſſe, not alone in the Antichriſtian State, but in all the world: ſo that all Nations ſhall be brightened with the knowledge of God: All Aſia ſhall ſee the vanity of Mahumetry, and all the Pagan Nations, the fondneſſe and blindneſſe of their Superſtitions. And the Jews ſhall then ſee, and bewaile their blindneſſe, and wretchedneſſe in ſtanding out againſt Jeſus Chriſt: So that moſt true it is which godly Interpreters have ſaid, that hereby all the kingdomes of Satan are threatened, though it be rather an effect of it, then the true, and proper ſence.

2. What is then the adjunct that followeth, or goeth along with it: [There came a great voice out of the Temple of heaven from the Throne] And that Throne is ſet in the Church. Rev. 4.2, 3. Behold, a Throne was ſet in heaven, and one ſate on the Throne, which is the Lord himſelfe: who is reſembled by three pretious ſtones, holding forth the three perſons in Trinity: A Jaſper having (as they ſay) a white circle round about it; repreſenting the Eternity of the Father; a Sardine ſtone, of a fleſhy colour, repreſenting Jeſus Chriſt, who took our fleſh upon him. An Emerauld being of a green colour, refreſhing the eyes of thoſe that looke upon it, repreſenting the Spirit, who is (as the Rainbow) a token of faire weather, and is a comfortable refreſher whereſoever he commeth. Now this voice comming from heaven, and from the Throne, it commeth alſo apparently from God, ſaying, It is done; that ſo all men may ſee it to be the revealed, and holy will of God, that all theſe things ſhould be thus accompliſhed.

3. It is done] what is done? for here is no nominative caſe before the verb. But this is that which is done, the myſtery of iniquity is aboliſhed. And the myſtery of God is fulfilled: For of this it was ſpoken, which you read Rev. 10.7. where the Angel (that ſtood upon the Sea, and upon the earth) telleth us, That in the dayes of the ſeventh Angel, when he ſhall ſound (whoſe Trumpet is ſounding to this day) the myſtery of God ſhould be fulfilled; And that ſtandeth chiefly in two things.

1. In the deſtruction of all his enemies.

2. In the accompliſhment of all his gracious promiſes to the converſion of the Jewes; and both theſe ſhall be accompliſhed in p. 6the pouring out of this Vial, as we may reade at large, Ezek. 39.17. to the end of the Chapter; where the holy Prophet ſpeaketh of this very time, when the enemies of the Church ſhall come out againſt them, there will be a finall accompliſhment of all the myſteries of iniquity, and of all the hoſtility of the Lords enemies againſt his Church: It is alſo the accompliſhment of all his gracious promiſes, and therefore he ſaith Rev. 21.6. When once the new Jeruſalem commeth downe from God out of heaven, then Chriſt himſelfe ſaith, It is done. All his promiſes are now performed, and his great workes now fulfilled; this is meant, when it is here ſaid, It is done; And the Lords voice it is, for had it been the voice of ſome Church-Officers alone, it might have reached to the Church, but not to the ends of the world: but when the Lord himſelfe ſpeaketh, whoſe voice is like the voice of thunder, then is it heard from one end of the earth unto another. All men ſhall ſee the great workes that he hath done upon the face of the earth, Popery, and all falſe Religion aboliſhed; the Kingdome of Chriſt eſtabliſhed, from the riſing of the Sun to the going down thereof. This is the Adjunct.

Now for the Effect: There is an Effect of Terrour, and of agitations▪ and changes, and an effect of deſtroying calamities, for I cannot well gather the notes that ariſe, unleſſe theſe things be all opened, then I conceive they may be handled with brevity.

4. For the effect of terrour: the thunderings, and lightenings, and the voices, are the ſame with thoſe that are ſaid to come out of the Throne, Rev. 4.5. Like unto that diſpenſation of old, Exod. 20.18. Wherein were thunderings, and lightenings, and in ſtead of voices, there is put in, the noiſe of the Trumpet, and theſe held forth the terrour of the Lord in giving of the Law, in ſo much that Moſes himſelfe ſaid I exceedingly feare, and quake, and much more did the people feare and tremble: for ſuch is the convincing dreadfull power of the Law of God, that let a man but heare it, and have it effectually applyed, and it will make the meekeſt and moſt innocent of the ſervants of God to tremble; It will make the mountaines and hils to tremble. The voice of Gods ſervants is like the voice of a trumpet, Eſay 58.1. piercing deep into the eares and hearts of men, but the voice of himſelfe exceedeth. So the meaning is, That upon the pouring out of this Vial upon the ayre, there ſhall be terrible thunderings, and lightenings, and voices like founds of Trumpets upon the hearts of men, that ſhall make them p. 7tremble and quake: The Lord will ſo terribly affright, and amaze the ſons of men with the power of his holy word, and will, as that it ſhall ſuddenly break forth all the world over; for in this manner doth the Lord begin his ſaving diſpenſations towards men, even with terrible lightenings, and thunderings, and earthquakes, thereby partly convincing men of ſin, and ſubduing their hearts, and confounding their malicious enemies. For the next Effect.

5. There was great earthquake, &c.] And that importeth agitatations and changes, and not terrour onelyonly; they are ſuch as will not ceaſe, untill they have removed the things that are ſhaken, that the things which cannot be ſhaken may remain, ſo doth the Apoſtle, Heb. 12.26.27. Interprete the Propheſie of Haggai. 2.6. It argueth (ſaith he) the removing of thoſe things that are ſhaken; and he interprets it concerning the Church eſtate in that place; and he will alſo ſhake all the Kingdomes of the world, as the ſame Prophet Haggai told Zerubbabel, Chap. 2.21, 22. ſaying, I will ſhake the heavens and the earth: and I will overthrow the throne of Kingdomes, and I will deſtroy the ſtrength of the Kingdomes of the Heathen, &c. And ſo the Lord did overthrow the great Perſian Monarchy by the Grecian, and the Grecian Monarchy by the Romane, and the Romane by barbarous Nations, and the Lord hath bin ſhaking them everſince, and will ſhake them hereafter with ſuch a ſhaking as never was the like: you reade of a great earthquake, when as Rome, of Pagan, became Chriſtian, Rev. 6.12. But that was a ſmall ſhaking, unto this earthquake, for ſtill the Perſians are Idolaters, and many Pagans in the world; that ſhaking brought in a forme of Chriſtianity, but the ſaving knowledge of Chriſt was yet in a great, meaſure wanting; that forme of Chriſtianity which then came in, made way for Popery to creepe in faſt into the Churches, but this will ſhakeout Popery, and when by it the Popiſh aire is ſmitten, the Lord will alſo ſhake all the world by it; and the time doth haſten.

6. Now for the third effect, which is a diſtracting, and deſtroying calamity, upon Cities, upon Iſlands, and Mountaines, and upon men: Among cities, here is the great Citie, and the cities of the Nations, and Babylon. Some good Interpreters looke at Babylon to be Conſtantinople: For my part I dare not think but one of theſe is put expoſitively for the other; Babylon for the great city: Now that great city which is ſpiritiually called Sodome, and p. 8Aegypt, Rev. 11.8. is that great city, which reigneth over the Kings of the earth, and that is Rome, as all confeſſe; and that Babylon, Chap. 17.18. and this is the ſame city, which the Kings of the earth, and the Merchants of the earth doe mourne for when ſhe is deſtroyed, and ſay, Chap. 18.10. Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city, &c. and that alſo by their confeſſion is Rome. And ſo this Latter mention of it, doth but ſhew the reaſon why it commeth to be divided into three parts, and why the cities of the Nations fell, for Babylon, came up into remembrance, &c. The great city then is Babylon, and that is divided into three parts: I ſhould not thinke that it is ſpoken of the breach of the naturall walls of the city by the earthquake; but it will be divided into three factions; ſome will ſticke faſt unto Popery, and others of the people of God that before durſt not openly profeſſe Religion, will now renounce Popery, for ſuch there ſhall be in Rome when it is neere to be deſtroyed, unto whom it ſhall be ſaid, Rev. 18.4. Come out of her my people, &c. and what the third part may be, there is not light, for in this place, what light other places may give, we ſhall (if God pleaſe) ſee hereafter, meane while it is ſufficient to underſtand that it will be divided into three parts: and what if the third part be a Neutrall betweene both the other?

7. What were the cities of the Nations? Thoſe are they that trod the Church of God under foote, Rev. 11.2. ſuch they were who did ſubject themſelves to Popiſh Government, the cities of thoſe Nations ſhall fall, whoſoever they be that are found adoring Rome, they ſhall fall: for Babylon her ſelfe ſhall come up into remembrance before God, to give unto her the Cup of the wine of the fierceneſſe of his wrath, which ſhall infatuate her untill ſhe be utterly deſtroyed by thoſe ten Kings that ſhall hate her, and eate her fleſh, and burne her with fire.

8. And every Iſland fled away, and the mountaines were not found.] He ſpeaketh not of earthly Iſlands, but you muſt underſtand that he ſpeaketh of the mountaines, and Iſlands of the Antichriſtian ſtate; what are the mountaines? They are the places where they went a whoring after their Gods in old time, Jer. 3.6. She is gone upon every hight mountaine, and under every greene tree, and there hath played the harlot, there they had built them Chappells, and there they had placed their confidence, in reſpect of which p. 9when they come to repent; they ſhall returne, and ſay, ver. 23. Truely in vaine is ſalvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitudes of mountaines, anſwerable unto which are the great temples built unto falſe Gods they ſhall flee away: In the new Jeruſalem, Rev. 21.22. there was no Temple ſeene, no Temple conſecrated to this or that Saint ſhall be found therein.

What are the Iſlands? They are grounds ſeparated from the earth, by the Sea: The Sea is the corruption of Religion, upon which the ſecond Viall was poured. Therefore ſuch places as are conſecrated by Popiſh Devotions, as Church yards, and ſuch other Popiſh grounds, they are theſe Iſlands, that ſhall flee away; you ſhall no more heare tell of conſecrated Church-yard, or any ſuch matter all the world over. Then will fall to the ground all your Cathedrall Churches, and all thoſe high Places that overtoppe the people of God, and hinder the growth of the things of God neere about them, though thoſe things that be ſuperſtitiouſly ſet apart for holy ends be never ſo glorious, they ſhall be all baniſhed and vaniſh away, there will be no more noiſe of them.

9. And upon men there fell a great haile out of heaven] The Alluſion by ſome, is thought to be unto the hayle ſpoken of Joſh. 10.11. which the Lord caſt downe from heaven upon the Cananites, ſo that mo…e died with haileſtones, then they which the children of Iſrael ſlew with the Sword: but I cannot ſay, that haile ſtorme is here alluded unto: for here men did not die upon it, but blaſphemed onelyonly; unleſſe it ſhould be ſpoken of their everlaſting death in hell, but that were a common judgement to all the wicked: but I rather thinke it is an alluſion to the haile ſtorme in, Aegypt, whereof the effect was, that they ſinned, and hardened their hearts yet more, Exod. 9.34. Well then, if it be ſuch an hayle as doth not kill men, but provoke them to blaſpheme, what kinde of judgement might it be? Interpreters doe not tell us: So that we can take no better courſe to know it, then to ſee what allegoricall haile ſtones meane in Scripture, for by comparing Scriptures together, you ſhall have the full meaning of every part of Gods Counſell. For this end let us look in Eſay 28.17. where the Prophet telleth us that the haile ſhall ſweep away the refuge of lies, when once Chriſt is laid in the foundation, ver. 16. then all the reſt of the refuges of the ſons of p. 10men, that are lying refuges, ſhall be ſwept away: There is alſo another alluſion ſuting hereunto in Ezek. 13.11.13. where the Lord threateneth againſt the wall that is dawbed with untempered morter: there ſhall be an over-flowing ſhower, and ye O great haile ſtones ſhall fall, and a ſtormy winde ſhall rent it. So then, this kinde of haile ſtorme is ſuch a plague of God upon men as ſhall deſtroy all their lying refuges, and men ſhall then inſult over them, and ſay, where is the dawbing wherewith you have dawbed it? So then, at this time the Lord will ſend an haile ſtorme that ſhall diſcover all the counterfeit Religions in the world, all the juggelings of their Miracles, all the faire ſeeming pretences of Popery, or any other Religion, all their doctrines of merits, and confidences in their prayers to Saints, and Angels, and ſuperſtitious Devotions, an haile ſtorme ſhall fall upon them all in ſuch ſort, that you ſhall ſee the vanity of them: And all the world ſhall ſee, that all Relgions beſides Chriſtianity, are but a refuge of lies, and in the end their jugglelings, and ſophiſtry ſhall be blowne up, and blaſted: Some ſhall be ſhaken out of them, & ſetled upon better bottoms, & others will be provoked to blaſpheme, they will ſo vex themſelves with extremity of anguiſh, for that they are thus bereaved of their old comfortable good dayes; and oh the joyfull feſtivals that they were wont for to keep in their Abbies, and ſuperſtitious places, for the loſſe of which they ſhall blaſpheme the Lord, and true Religion, and all the inſtruments of the Goſpels propagation. Such a thing as this we reade of Rev. 11.15. When as the ſeventh Angel ſounded, there were great voices in heaven, ſaying, The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, &c. There it is ſaid foreign, but here foreign (the thing was then in doing, but now it is done) Then the Nations were angry ſaith the Text, ver. 18. and a great haile there fell, when they began to become the Kingdomes of Jeſus Chriſt, and there was an earthquake, ver. 19. but never ſuch an earthquake as this will be; ſo mighty, and ſo great, that will blaſt, not Popery alone, but all the Hotamocks in this countrey, and all that are found among other Indians in other parts of the world, an Haile ſtorme ſhall fall upon them all, and blaſt all their green groves and arbours, wherein they were wont to be worſhipped: Thus have you ſeen (as the Lord hath been pleaſed to help) the meaning of theſe p. 11words: Let us now gather one note from them; For I would not long dwell upon there Aenigmaticall, I meane Parabolicall Scriptures.

The Doctrine is, That when the darkneſſe of Popiſh, and helliſh Doct. ignorance is diſpelled, ſo that a man may clearely ſee heavenly light, and breath in heavenly knowledge, then, It is done: That is to ſay, then all the myſtery of iniquity is aboliſhed, and the myſtery of God is fulfilled. For thus you ſee it is evidently here expreſſed in the Text. The ſeventh Angel did poure out his Vial upon the Antichriſtian ayre, and that was ſuch an ayre as was darkened with the ſmoake of the bottomleſſe pit, as with a foggy miſt: Now when this ayre ſhall againe bee cleared, and the foggy darkneſſe thereof diſpelled, ſo that men may have the true uſe of it, to ſee through it thoſe heavenly bodies which were darkened by that ſmoake, Rev. 9.2. then ſhall men ſee Jeſus Chriſt to be all in all unto Juſtification, Sanctification, Conſolation, which in Popery you could not: then ſhall the true Church be ſeen, which like the Moon, borroweth all the light it hath from the Sun: (true indeed if the Moone be taken for the world, then ſhe treadeth it under her feet, Rev. 12.1.) In Popery you could not ſee what a true Church was, they will tell you of this and that Church, but they are no true Churches. But when this vaile ſhall be removed, then ſhall you clearely know that the true Church is not a Catholike viſible, nor a Cathedrall, nor a Dioceſan, nor a Provinciall Church. Then ſhall you ſee the Stars of heaven, you ſhall know who are the true officers of the Church, not Paratours, and Proctours, Deacons, and Archdeacons, Biſhops, and Archbiſhops over many Churches, they are not the lights which the Lord hath ſet therein: And you ſhall then ſee who were the true members of the Church, Not the Canonized Saints, not ſuch as Saint George, who was an ancient Heretick, but you ſhall ſee them to be ſuch as are ſpoken of, Phil. 2.15. blameleſſe, and harmleſſe, the Sons of God, without rebuke, ſhining as lights in the world; then ſhall you ſee the Scripture more clearely, true doctrine, and worſhip, and government as it is held forth in the Goſpell of Chriſt, and when you ſhall ſee theſe things, then, It is done; Even all that God hath to do in the world, for any further Reformation expect it not, Rev. 10.7. when the time is come that the ſeventh Angel hath blowne his Trumpet, the p. 12Lord will not delay, but it ſhall then be fulfilled, and the Lord will clearely manifeſt to all Nations the great grace which he hath to ſhow to the ſons of men, and this is long agoe foretold, Eſay 25.6, 7, 8. In this mountain ſhall the Lord of hoſts make unto all people a feaſt of fat things, a feaſt of wines on the Lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the Lees well refined: And he will deſtroy in this mountain the face of the covering caſt over all people, and that is the pouring out of this Vial upon the ayre, for the face of the covering, is the ayre in my Text, Then will the Lord make a feaſt of fat things, then will he ſwallow up death in victory, and wipe away teares from off all faces, and the rebuke of his people ſhall be taken away from off all the earth: this is alſo propheſied of, Eſay. 11.6, 7, 8, 9. They ſhall not hu…t nor deſtroy in all mine holy mountaine, and the reaſon is: for the earth ſhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea: and then, It is done: The myſtery of iniquity is aboliſhed, there is no more darkneſſe, nor deſtruction, and the calling of the Gentiles, which was a myſtery to the Jewes, ſhall be then fully accompliſhed, and the calling of the Jewes, which the Apoſtle calleth a myſtery to us Gentiles, Rom. 11.25. ſhall be then fulfilled, and ſo the myſtery of God is finiſhed.

Reaſ. 1 Three Reaſons doth the Text give us hereof. 1. Firſt, from the manner of the entrance of this heavenly glory into the hearts of men, whether it come into private perſons, or publique States; It commeth terribly with lightnings and thunderings, the which comming from God, doe ſo terrifie the hearts of men, and the ſtate of the world, that they ſhall ſee plainely how they have beene deluded with deſperate follyes, and when men are put unto ſuch an earthquake in their ſpirits; this will be the point they come unto: Men and brethren what ſhall we doe to be ſaved? as did the Jaylor when he had been ſoundly ſhaken with the earthquake, Acts 16.26.30. and ſo it will be with Kingdomes, when God hath in like ſort ſhaken them, they will contend for true Religion, and will not then be baffled out and deluded with vanities, as now they be: when the ſpirits of men are terrified, and they feele no ſalvation in their Religion, they know not what ſhall become of their precious ſoules, this will ſet all the world on worke to looke about them: for upon this ground you ſhall ſee Indians, and Jews, and Pagans gaping p. 13after ſalvation, when they ſee by theſe terrible ſtormes, and thunders, that all their Religions are but ſo many refuges of lies, then is there worke in hand indeed, which when God hath begun hee will alſo finiſh it unto the day of Chriſt, and it will be ſuch an earthquake, as was never heard of in the world: Heretofore ſo long as this worke was found among poore Chriſtians, the great Lords of the world perſecuted them, and deviſed all manner of cruell torments for them: but when they felt that the wrath of God was kindled againſt them, then their hearts fell, and they were all in a combuſtion for the ſtate of their ſoules before the Lord: now they were glad to renounce their Jupiters, and Junoes, and to embrace Chriſtianity, and to hearken to a better Covenant, this is the effect of thunderings and lightnings, and voyces it ſoone blaſteth Idolatry, and forceth man to ſeeke after a clearer paſſage to heaven.

The ſecond Reaſon is taken from the power of the ſaving knowledge Reaſ. 2 of Chriſt to diſpell this Popiſh ignorance, and to carry an end the heart of a man with ſuch power, that he can no longer lie at quiet in his naturall eſtate; but it worketh in men theſe foure effects.

1. It ſubdueth and tameth the hearts of men that now they will joyn themſelves unto the people of God, Eſa. 11.6.7, 8. the Wolfe ſhall lie with the Lambe, the Leopard ſhall lie downe with the Kid, &c. So great is their change in their hearts, that mens Ravenous tyrannies are taken away, and there is wrought in them, a kindly ſweete unſhaken frame, that will ſo breake forth againſt Gods people as formerly; thus doth the earthquake ſhake out droſſe, and corruptions, and eſtabliſh the heart in a ſweete gracious frame of Spirit.

2. Secondly, The knowledge of Chriſt will breed diviſion, as well as conjunction; Thinke you (ſaith Chriſt) that I am come to ſend p…ace, I tell you nay, but the ſword: To ſet men at variance among themſelves, the father againſt the ſonne, and the ſonne againſt the father, and the mother againſt the daughter, &c. And this diviſion is made in Cities, and in Kingdomes, Act. 14.4. The city was divided, and part held with the Apoſtles, and part held with the Jewes: ſo it is in the Text, the great city was divided into three parts, ſome are hardened in their ignorance, and ſome are drawne out of it, and a third part will ſtand Neuters betweene p. 14both to ſee, which way the ballance will turne, and theſe are alſo hardened in their blindneſſe.

3. Thirdly the ſaving knowledge of Chriſt hath in it this power to cauſe men to riſe up in armes againſt all the enemies of the Goſpell of Chriſt in a lawfull way of God: There is a power in true Religion, th…t maketh the hearts of the timerous to be ſtiffe, and ſtrong, that where as men were before afraid of the power of the houſe of Auſtria, and of the King of Spaine, and of the reſt of the Catholike Princes, there is a power in the Spirit of Chriſt, that will diſpell all theſe, had but men the zeale of God in their hearts, it would make all theſe feares to be like Scar-crowes, and makes men bold to bid battell unto all thoſe that ſtand out againſt Religion, ſo farre as the Lawes of a State may beare them out.

4. A fourth power of this knowledge, is to blow up all the inventions of men in the worſhip of God, wherby men have deluded themſelves and others; when once mens hearts are lifted up in the waves of the Lord, as it is ſaid of Johoſhaphat that his heart was, 2 Chro. 17.6. and then he tooke away the High places, and groves out of Judah: So when the zeale of God lifteth up the hearts of his people, then will they not endure a conſecrated place in all the world where they come. And when this Viall is poured out, the earth ſhall be full of this knowledge of God, and then all the Chappels of Eaſe, and Churches of ſtate, and Temples of glory, whereby the world hath beene deluded, they will not leave them a ſtone upon a ſtone that ſhall not be throwne downe: This is the ſecond Reaſon, taken from the power of ſaving knowledge, which ſubdueth mens wilde natures, worketh holy diviſion, giveth courage, and the power of zeale againſt all ſuperſtitions, and inventions of men, though now in ſome places you may not paſſe through with a burden, nor looke upon the wall thereof: The zeale of the Lord of hoaſt will blow them up, thoſe places will be laid open to the reſt of the ſtreetes, and become but common ſoyle, they will not then be regarded but trampled upon.

Reaſ. 3 The Third Reaſon is from the juſt judgement of God upon all that are not effectually wrought upon by this ſaving knowledge of God, if men come not in on ſome meaſure to a perfect accompliſhment of Gods worke in their hearts, there will fall ſuch a plague of haile upon them, as will teare away their vaile, and rend away their p. 15hypocriticall ſhifts, and goodly pretences, and waſh down their untempered dawbings, wherewith they have dawbed the walls of their ſtanding in the Church of God: He will ſo rend them to pieces, that if they will not come in, he will leave them to ſuch open blaſphemies, that you ſhall clearely ſee there is no more hope of their converſion, nor ſalvation.

The Uſe of this point in the firſt place, may ſerve to teach Vſe 1 you a juſt reproofe of the Popiſh conceit, That ignorance is the mother of Devotion, unleſſe they meane it of their owne devotion; True, it is the mother of their devotion indeed: ſo long as their people are hood-winked with it, they will thinke they doe God good ſervice, if they be in the Church, though they underſtand nothing there, and if when they die, they be buryed in a Church-yard, they thinke they are the better, and yet better if they be buryed in a Church, and yet better, if it be in a Chancell, and better then ſo, if it be under the Altar, and better then that, if a Fryars Cowle be wrapped about them. This is indeed the mother of whippings, and ſcourgings of auricular confeſſions, and of all Popiſh ſuperſtitions; for in truth, take away this ignorance, and all Popiſh devotion doth of it ſelfe fall to the ground, if once this vaile be removed from the face of all Nations.

Secondly, Learne from hence to ſee what great need wee Vſe 2 have all of us to grow up in ſaving knowledge, and in prayer, for the increaſe thereof, that we may propagate the ſame daily more and more; you ſee what wonders it will doe, Gods people of old prayed for us; Pſal. 67.1. God be mercifull to us, and bleſſe us, and cauſe his face to ſhine upon us: And for what end? That thy way may be known upon earth, and thy ſaving truth among all Nations. And when once the light of the Goſpell is diſperſed, it will bring in all Nations, it will thunder upon them, and never leave untill it have changed them. If this knowledge of God come amongſt an army of men, they will not touch any thing that is their brethrens, not meddle, not make with any to doe them harme, no mans purſe ſhall be taken from him, no mans goods taken away without due recompence, only they will not be deluded with ſhaddowes, nor ſuffer mountaines to overtop them, neither p. 16will they be encompaſſed with hands: they will raiſe ſuch an earthquake firſt, in Church, and Common-wealth, as you will at length wonder at, for though it begin in a corner of the world, it will not ceaſe till it have ſhaken all Chriſtendome, for when men once begin clearely to ſee which is the true Church of God, that it is not Cathedrall, nor Provinciall, nor Dioceſan, but congregationall only, the officers whereof are godly Paſtors, and Teachers, and ruling Elders, and Deacons. And when they ſee that the Saints which they have embraced, and eſteemed, are not the true Saints of God, nor theſe the Churches, nor thoſe the officers of Chriſt wherewith they have been gulled: but they ſee now who are the Saints of the moſt high; and can put a difference now between precious and vile: In this way men will goe on to raiſe ſuch an earthquake (and that not beſides the Law neither) that if any City riſe up againſt them, fall it muſt, and ſtoop unto them, and at length Rome it ſelfe ſhall fall, and all the Cities of the Nations that cleave unto her, and every mountaine ſhall bee rooted up, and all their conſecrated places ſhall lie levell with the common ſoile, this will the Lord bring to paſſe, and will not leave till he hath wrought his great work in the world, this is his revealed will, and it will not faile untill every jot and tittle of it be fulfilled. Let us therefore pray both night and day, in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon for our brethren in our native countrey, for whom God hath wrought all theſe great things, and for whom greater things yet remain to be done, for whom our work is to wraſtle with God, that they may not periſh for lack of knowledge, nor miſtake a falſe Church for a true, (and falſe it is, if it be either Cathedrall, Provinciall, Nationall, or Dioceſan) But pray we, that they may ſee the Moone, which God hath ſet in the Firmament, even the true forme of a Church of the new Teſtament. And alſo that Chriſt may bee better known in all the parts of his Kingly office, and government in his Church, that they may ſee who are Papiſts, and who are the true Saints of God, and who are counterfeit, that they diſcerne between cleane and uncleane: for if the ſaving knowledge of God grow up unto any ripeneſſe among them, it will not beare many things that are there remaining, many p. 17dawbings with untempered morter there are that muſt be beaten downe: And great pitty were it that they ſhould want any light which might poſſibly be afforded unto them, and marv…llous uſefull will it be that we ſhould not be wanting on our parts to help with what light we have, that ſo there may be no more refuges of lies in that land, I ſay this is mightily to bee wraſtled for, both in prayers, and in all Chriſtian endeavours: for verily this is the worke of God, meet for every man to ſet his heart, and hand unto, even to pull away the vaile of darkn…e from all faces, and from all the mindes of men, and to diſcover clear…ly the Goſpell of Jeſus Chriſt, and all the holy wayes of his ſactuary, that every man may ſee, and ſee clearely, that men may not make a dawbing of part Reformation, and part of Superſtition, part Popery, and part Proteſtaniſme, part uniformity, and part conformity; O that an haile ſtorme might not be wanting to batter downe ſuch dawbing, that the work of God might not ceaſe, but amount unto the praiſe of the glory of his rich grace in Jeſus Chriſt, and extend unto the accompliſhment of every holy word of his truth.

The third uſe may ſerve to inſtruct you in the wonderfull Ʋſe 3 ſucceſſe of ſmall beginnings in the things of God; that a womans throwing of a ſorry chaire at a mans head (though the part i… might be puniſhable for ſuch a miſcarriage) ſhould rayſe ſuch a conſending for reformation, that both kingdomes muſt either ſtand by reformation or elſe fall to ruine: Firſt, the woman backe on the men, and then the men muſt for ſhame backe on their wives, and greater men backe the meaner, to bring forth ſuch a great reformation: And how ſhould this come to paſſe? Truely in the eyes of men it is wonderfull. But you know the leaſt thing you caſt into a ſtreame, will runne downe the ſtreame, you neede not force it; you have caſt it in where nature hath ſet a courſe to carry it along: And how much more ſhall things runne an end, when the God of nature hath ſet them a courſe? when he powreth a Vial upon the ignorance and darkneſſe of Popiſh ſuperſtition, then great workes therein, will be done, for now a man underworkes the Lord, when he doth what his word hath ſpoken, and what his hand hath gone before us in: And when the ordinances of God ſay, p. 18it is ſpoken, then the providence of God will ſay, it is done, and then if you faile long with Gods providence in Gods ordinance, you need not feare, nor wonder, if weake beginnings come unto great iſſues: For now you take opportunitie by the foretop (as they are wont to ſay) if you carry along buſineſſe according to the word, the Lord will carry things an end mightily in your hands beyond all your expectations, or imaginations, for there is no reſiſting, nor controlling the worke of God.

Ʋſe 4 The fourth uſe may ſhow you the great danger of ſuch, as ſtand out againſt the reformation of Religion, the Lord will throw downe his haile upon them, and rend their hearts and indignation, and blaſphemy: He will goe an end with his worke, though they ſweare, and ſtorme, he will purſue the enemies of his grace with his wrath, till he have utterly confounded, and conſumed them from off the face of the earth.

Ʋſe 5 In the laſt place this may ſerve to teach every man in perticular (I am forced to ſpeake unto kingdomes and ſtates: but let it not be in vaine; let us be acquainted with every part of his counſell, and will, and this is a maine part thereof, and wee may not ſhut our eyes from any knowne truth; for God would have the veyle taken from all faces) you may have a true platforme of this worke in any godly mans heart: If the Lord meane to finiſh the miſtery of his grace in thee, he will power out a Vial upon the vaile of thine ignorance, and will open thine eyes to ſee that thou haſt runne a carnall curſed courſe of life, he will come in with thundrings, and lightnings, and voyces, ſuch as wherewith Moſes himſelfe ſhall be terrified. He will come in with an earthquake into thy heart, terribly ſhaking thy ſinfull corruptions, and then he will worke a reall change in thee, that nothing in heaven but Chriſt, nor in the earth in compariſon of him. The Lord will not ſuffer you to reſt, untill you have cloſed ſtedfaſtly with him, the knowledge of God hath given you will bring this matter to paſſe, he will not leave you untill you have gone forward to a diviſion from your ſinfull luſt, and carnall companions. And whatſoever his work be, you muſt doe it, even unto the fulfilling of the myſtery of God; and whoſoever riſeth againſt you, you muſt plead for Chriſt with p. 19the weapons of your tongue; and whatſoever High mountaine riſeth in you, any gifts, or parts, good duties, any greene graſſe that groweth in you; the haile ſtorme of Gods wrath will drive you from truſting on any ſuch common grace; all dawbings with untempered morter you cannot skill of: whatſoever doth not make to the building you up in away of ſaving grace you are unskilfull in, therefore you are deſirous ſtill to cloſe with Chriſt; nor can yee reſt, untill you come to ſetled peace in him: This is ſuch a myſtery of God, as hee will not reſt, nor ſuffer you to reſt untill it be done; and if his Word will bring it to paſſe in a whole countrey; then ſure it is enough to effect it in thine heart: See therefore that you doe not dawbe up your ſelves, nor others with untempred morter; ſatisfie not your ſelves untill you be ſhaken out of all ſuch common apprehenſions as hypocrites are wont to reſt in: reſt you not, untill you finde Chriſt manifeſted to your ſpirit as yours; grow up in a Lambe-like frame of ſpirit and way, untill the myſtery of God be finiſhed in you; and untill that myſtery of Iniquity that hath beene wrought in you be aboliſhed.

FINIS.

End of the text · John Cotton, The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials (1642)