The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials, Vial 6
THE SIXTH VIALL.
REVEL. 16.12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
And the ſixth Angell powred out his Viall upon the great River Euphrates, and the water thereof was dryed up, that the way of the Kings of the Eaſt might be prepared, &c.
IN theſe verſes the powring out of the Viall of the ſixth Angel is deſcribed.
Firſt by the ſubject upon which it is powred, the River Euphrates, which is amplifyed by the adjunct of greatneſſe, [The great River Euphrates.]
Secondly, by the effects of it which are two,
1. Firſt the water thereof was dryed up, and that is amplifyed by the end which God aimed at in it [That the way of the Kings of the Eaſt might be prepared.]
2. Secondly, the warrelike preparations unto a great battell; and thoſe are deſcribed,
1. By the principall commanders in that preparation, and war, which are ſaid to be three [The Devill, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet.]
2. By the inſtruments, and Miniſters of it, who are certaine ſpirits, and they are deſcribed many wayes, as,
1. By their nature and quality [Ʋncleane ſpirits.]
2. By their number [three.]
3. By, by their reſemblance [Like Froggs.]
4. By their originall deſcent, which is threefold, [They come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beaſt, and out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet. And that deſcent is amplifyed by the Cauſe of it, for they are the ſpirits of Devills.
5. They are deſcribed by their effects, which are three-fold.
1. They worke miracles.
2. They goe forth to the Kings of the Earth, and of the world, to gather them to the battell of that great Day of God Almighty, Ver. 14.
3. They are efficacious and ſucceſſefull herein, they doe gather them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Ve. 16.
3. Theſe warlike preparations are deſcribed by the watchword which the God of Iſrael giveth unto his owne troopes, and that is a word of watchfulneſſe, behold I come as a thiefe, bleſſed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, leaſt he walke naked, and they ſee his ſhame. Thus ſtandeth the Text.
Now for the meaning of it: It is the more darke, becauſe it is, (though not altogether) yet in a great part to come; and ſuch as ſhall ſeriouſly conſider what is the meaning ſhal (happily) find it no ſmall difficulty to ſatiſfy themſelves, and much more to ſatisfy others, yet (by the helpe of God) let us endeavour to open ſome ſuch part of the words, as we may be likely to finiſh at this time. Firſt what is meant by the river Euphrates? Secondly, who are the Angels that powre out this Viall upon this river? Thirdly, what is the drying up of this river? Fourthly, who are theſe Kings of the Eaſt? Theſe things containe the principall difficulties in the partes of this Viall, other things may more eaſily be opened, if theſe things be premiſed and cleared.
1. What is meant by the great river Euphrates: Some of our hoſt interpreters (to whom God hath given moſt light in theſe ſpirituall myſteries) doe underſtand it, properly for the river that did run along by the walles of old Babylon in Chaldea, which made the City impregnable, and yet by the ſtratagem of Cyrus was dryed up, by turning the Courſe of the ſtreames to runne in other channels, whereby the channell before the City was dryed up; and the reedes burnt by the Souldiers, and the City ſacked when as Belſhazzar was quaffing in the veſſels of the Temple: this was foretold by Jeremy Chap 50.38. A drought is upon her waters, and they ſhall be dried up, for it is the Land of graven Images, and they are mad upon their Idolls. And Ier. 51.31, 32. One poſte ſhall run to meete another, and one meſſenger to meete another, to ſhew the King of Babylon that his City is taken at an end, and that the paſſages are ſtopped, and the reedes they have burnt with fire, &c. Now they that interprete Euphrates to be the ſame river, doe underſtand that when God calleth home his ancient people, he will dry up Euphrates before them, ſo that they may aſſault the Turkiſh monarchy, and recover their ancient inheritance out of his hand. The reaſon which they give of it is, 1. Becauſe they read of no Nation for whom God dryed up any rivers but onelyonly for the Iſraelites for whom he dryed up the red Sea, and the waters of Jordan. 2. They ſay it hath been anciently foretold by the Prophet Ier. 44.27. & 51.10. & 63.11. In all which places God is deſcribed to have dryed up the waters, and rivers for them, that as a pledge of the like power to be manifeſted for them hereafter. 3. (Say they) the prophet Iſay (Chap 59.20. alledged by the Apoſtle Paul Rom. 11.26.) foretelleth the calling of the Iewes. and if this Viall ſpeake not of their calling, it is ſpoken of no where in this booke, which is not credible.
Now although their reaſons are not to be ſlighted, yet they doe not ſeeme to carry force enough to underſtand Euphrates literally, for Gods Hand may as well be ſeene in drying up the metaphoricall rivers; Beſides, Iſay 44.27. Doth properly ſpeake of Gods drying up the river Euphrates before Cyrus, which was then to come, but is not meant of this drying up in the Text, which is to be many hundred yeares after, and for the two other places mentioned, Iſay 51.10. & 63.11. They only recount what God had done for their Fathers of old, whereupon they deſire that he would not forſake them now, and ſo they are reported of as ancient paſſages of his power for them, but not as promiſes what he would doe for them afterward: Save onelyonly as encouragements to their Faith, to expect great deliverances from the ſame hand.
And for the third reaſon: It is not neceſſary that it ſhould be foretold in this Viall, or elſe not foretold in this booke: for the whole 21, and 22 Chapters of this booke doe hold it forth, which are events of the powring forth of the ſeventh Viall, and not of this ſixth.
If then it be not meant of the naturall river, Euphrates, of what then may it be underſtood? There are ſome that underſtand it of ſomething that is unto Rome, as Euphrates was to old Babylon, I ſhall tel you what I moſt incline unto, as far as the Text will permit.
Some ſay it is meant of Nations, and Tongues, and People, and Languages, for they are ſometimes underſtood by waters: but Euphrates is but one river among many, and therefore why ſhould it be meant of many Nations that ſhould fall off from Rome? I cannot well cloſe with that, nor is it neceſſary that Euphrates ſhould be a name given to any one Nation, unleſſe it were ſome one that might lie neere Euphrates, which no Chriſtian Nation doth. And others there are that doe underſtand by it another reſemblance, as it was a meanes to convey much maintenance to old Babylon, and therefore conceive it meaneth all the revenewes of the Biſhop of Rome whereby he is made rich, and wealthy; now Chriſtian Kings ſhall dry up this river Euphrates by taking away this kind of maintenance, and ſo by theſe Kings of the Eaſt they underſtand thoſe Chriſtian Kings, that ſhall take away theſe revenewes; but neither can I well cloſe with that interpretation; for you may conſider it, that all theſe ſeven Vialls are ſuteable to the ſeven Trumpets, though they fall out in different ages of that Church: The ſeven Trumpets brought in judgements upon Chriſtian Rome, and theſe Vialls are the plagues of God upon thoſe very corruptions, which the Trumpets brought in: Now you ſhall finde that the effect of the ſounding of the ſixth Trumpet was, there were foure Angels looſed which were bound in the great river Euphrates, and th… Angels were ready with an Army of two hundred thouſand thouſand; and they by generall conſent of all interpreters, are to be underſtood of the foure Families of the Turkes, that were bound by ſome incumbrances at the river Euphrates, but afterward broke fourth upon all Chriſtendome, and got Conſtantinople into their hands, and overwhelmed all Aſia. And beſides to underſtand the Kings of the Eaſt to be the 10 Chriſtian Kings will not accord, for they are not ſeated Eaſt from Rome, or if ſome of them be, yet nothing neere the number of ten. Therefore there be that ſay, that the river Euphrates doth here meane the Turkiſh Dominion, and that this river Euphrates ſhall be dryed up by the power of the Kings of the Eaſt, whom they interpret to be the Iewes, (and I would not hinder that) thereby to make way for the recovery of their Land; And true it is that Euphrates in the firſt Trumpet did ſignify the Turkiſh power that lay by that river: In like manner it is expounded of the Aſſirian monarchy, Iſa. 8.7. When the Lord bringeth upon them the waters of the river ſtrong and many, even the King of Aſſyria, and all his glory, and he ſhall come over his channels, and overflow all his bankes, becauſe they refuſed the helpe which God had given them at home. Now that Euphrates, and Meſopotamia, which then the Aſſyrian Monarchy had in dominion, is at this day poſſeſſed by the Turkes, and if the Aſſyrian Monarchy may be reſembled unto it, ſo may the Turkiſh alſo: this commeth neereſt to the Text, yet I cannot ſay that altogether it ſuteth with the context, nor that this ſixt Angel ſhould be meant of the Iewes; And let me give you ſome reaſons, why it cannot be the Iewes, that muſt powre out this Viall, nor that the drying up of Euphrates can be meant only of the Turkiſh Monarchy, though they alſo ſhall be plagued by the drying of it up.
Firſt, that the ſixth Angel cannot be the Iewes appeareth from what is ſaid, Chap. 15. ult. That no man was able to enter into the Temple till the ſeven plagues of the 7 Angels were fulfilled, therefore the Iewes cannot come into the viſible Church in the time of this ſixth Viall, till the ſeventh be powred out. But certaine it is theſe Angels who powre out the Vialls, doe all of them come out of the Temple,) and are cloathed in pure, and white linnen, having their breſts girded with golden girdles, therefore they are al profeſſours of the truth, and ſincere profeſſors.
Secondly, it is evident in the Text, that the way of the Iewes is prepared, by the powring out of this Viall. And therefore they are not this Angell who powre out this Viall, but have a way prepared, onelyonly for their Converſion, as an effect of this Viall.
Thirdly, all the Subjects whereupon theſe Vialls are powred are ſuch againſt which the wrath of God is kindled: for they are the Vialls of the wrath of God that are powred: and they are all powred upon the Earth, by which is meant the antichriſtian ſtate, and ſuch things therein againſt which Gods wrath is kindled. Now the anger of God is not kindled againſt the river Euphrates more then againſt any other river, his wrath falles not upon rivers, though ſometimes for mans ſake it may; but Euphrates lieth not neere to the Romane antichriſt, nor to any ſtate ſubject to him. What thē would you ſay? is it not moſt likely to hould forth the Turkiſh Dominion? which God is angry with? Shall not Chriſtian Princes powre out the wrath of God upon the Turkiſh Dominions? I would by no meanes ſay ſo: But let us conſider what is the Fountaine, and what are the ſtreames of this river, which did, and doe ſtill waſh upon the Turkiſh Dominion, and which are indeed as Walles, and Bulwarks to the Turkiſh ſtate? For this Euphrates though it be not here the Turkiſh Dominion, yet it is of the ſame uſe to them and unto the Pope, as Euphrates was unto old Babylon, which made glad the ſame, and conveyed maintenance unto it. Let us therefore conſider what was the Originall of the Turkiſh Dominion, and you ſhall finde that it ſprung from five ſeverall ſtreames. Rev. 9.20.21; where (having deſcribed the looſing of the foure Angels, which were bound by the great river Euphrates ver. 14.) and thoſe were the foure Families of the Turkes, which at length were ſwallowed up by the houſe of Othoman; He ſaith the reſt of the men which were not killed by theſe plagues, yet repented not of the workes of their hands, that they ſhould not worſhip Divels, and Idolls of Gold, and Silver, and Braſſe, and Stone, and of Wood, which neither can ſee nor heare, nor walke (this was their Idolatry) neither repented they of their murthers, nor of their Sorceries, nor of their Fornications, nor of their thefts: So theſe were the five ſtreames of this river Euphrates, that gave power to the Turkiſh Dominion to wit, the Idolatries, Murthers, Sorceries, Fornications, and Thefts of Chriſtendome, for by reaſon of theſe barbarous wickedneſſe of Popiſh Churches, and ſtates, cloaked under a face of Religion, God brought upon them a barbarous Nation, that hath a Face of government, and yet knoweth not well what it meaneth, yet did not the Papiſts (whoſe ſinnes theſe were) repent of their Idolatries, nor of their Murthers, which they committed upon the ſoules of men, and upon the bodies of Gods faithfull ſervants; nor of their Sorceries, of which many of the Popes themſelves were guilty; nor of their Whoredomes, their ſtewes, and beaſtly uncleanneſſes; nor of thei… Thefts, Indulgences, and pardons for money, by which they dreyned Chriſtendome of their ſubſtance.
Now if theſe were the ſinnes, which the Lord upbraideth Chriſtian Churches for not repenting of, though this barbarous nation did prevaile againſt them, yet doubtleſſe theſe are the walles of the Turkiſh Dominion, even thoſe ſtreames of corruption of Religion, which are the maintenance of the Sea of Rome to this day: thus by admirable wiſdome the Lord hath expreſſed his holy Counſell: that his inſtruments by drying up theſe ſtreames of Euphrates, theſe corruptions of Religion ſhall prevaile at once both againſt the Turkes, and the Pope together.
2. Who then ſhall be the Angell, that ſhall power out this ſixt Viall? if they ſhall not be the Iewes (as before we prooved) then it muſt needs be ſome Chriſtian ſtates, and theſe are no other then the 10 Chriſtian Kings ſpoken of Rev. 17.16, 17. That ſhall hate the whore, and ſhall make her deſolate, and naked, and ſhall eat her fleſh, and burne her with fire, and ſo you have all theſe expoſitions fall in together, they will runne in the right channell, and fully reach all that interpreters have ſought after.
3. Theſe Chriſtian Kings ſhall ſo farre fall off from Rome, as that they ſhall dry up all her revenewes, when as they ſhall ſee and abhorre the vanity of their Images, and Temples, and Monaſteries, and the unprofitableneſſe of their expences, when they ſhall ſee the wickedneſſe of their bloudy inquiſitions, the unnaturalneſſe of all thoſe murders of Gods bleſſed ſervants, and ſhall ſee their witchcrafts, and ſorceries; the horrible fornications, and whoredomes of their ſtewes: and when they ſhall ſee that all their deviſes to get mony are ſo many thefts, and robberies, (as it is the complaint of Pareus, a German interpreter, that two parts of the revenewes of the Empire did goe to the Biſhop of Rome, and but one third to the Chriſtian Princes) and a world of worke would be to tell you of all their Theeveries in England of old, and other Chriſtian Kingdomes. Now when theſe Chriſtian Kings are ſo far converted unto God, as that they ſhall ſee the wickedneſſe, of all theſe abuſes of Religion, they will then dry up all theſe revenewes, then will they ſuffer no more Image worſhip, no more ſorceries, nor murders, and when theſe things are thus remooved, then is Euphrates dryed up, that maintaineth old Babylon; then is the Fountaine of the Turkiſh maintenance cut off alſo: For their riſe was by theſe corruptions, and they ſtand, and wil ſtand whilſt theſe corruptions ſtand, but if theſe fall then is the river Euphrates dryed up, and a ready way made indeed for the Kings of the Eaſt.
4. Whom the moſt judicious Interpreters doe underſtand to be the Iewes. 1. Becauſe they are ſo by Gods calling, Exodus. 19.6. Yea ſhall be to me a Kingdome of Prieſts: And Daniel foretelleth, that when the Roman Monarchies are broken in peeces, by the ſtone cut out of the Mountaines without handes, Daniel 2.45. (which is the Lord Jeſus:) then the Dominion ſhall be given to the people of the Saints of the moſt high, Daniel 7.27. Therefore they are called Kings of the Eaſt, in the Greeke Teſtament Kings from the riſing of the Sunne, they ſhall have great power, and place when God ſhall bring them to it; Neither can any man tell but that ſome of theſe Eaſterne Kings in the Eaſt, Judges may be of the Families of the Houſe of Iſrael: Sure I am when Ioſeph was loſt, though his Father thought him to have beene utterly caſt away, yet when he was found, he was found to be a great man in Egypt, and the Prophet Ezekel underſtandeth by Ioſeph, all the 10 Tribes. Ezech. 37.16. And who can tell whether ſome of theſe 10 Tribes may not be found to be great men of the Eaſt. And I remember Iunius an exact Tranſlator, and commentor upon the Bible, ſaith that which is called the Land of Sinim, Iſay 49.12. May more probably be meant of China, and that the Greeke Geographers doe call them Sinea'es, not China'es, which if it be the meaning there may be there many of them; and indeed he that readeth their ſtory ſhall finde ſundry memorable things in them that may agree to ſuch as have ſometimes beene Gods people; for though they worſhip other Gods, yet they have records, that their fathers did not ſo in ancient times; and it is reported of them that they make account that thoſe are the beſt bookes, that bring a man to that eſtate wherein he was firſt made, which is no gentile-like principle, and the greateſt preferents among them are of their Bookiſh men: It may be ſome of the ten Tribes or buried among them: yet it is not materiall to the Text, though if it be true, their Eaſterne ſituation will ſuit wel with the Text: but however it be, the truth is God doth by Covenant, account the whole Nation to be a royall Nation, and promiſeth the Kingdomes of the World to be their Dominion, and that all enemies God will ſweepe them off from the face of the Earth, as it is prophecied at large Rev. 19. Now then if theſe be the Kings of the Eaſt, you will eaſily underſtand the evidence of other things in the Text: for what is the great ſtumbling blocke that hindreth the Iewes from cloſing with Chriſtianity? They abhorre Images, and the Iuggling of the Fryers, and Monkes, who are not ſo cunning to deviſe miracles as the Iew is cunning to ſearch them out, and to diſcover the legerdemaine of the Prieſts in them. To worſhip Idols of Gold and Silver is an abomination to them, and ſo are the reſt of thoſe five ſtreames of wickedneſſe, which uphold the Turkiſh ſtate: Let Chriſtian Princes once ariſe and overthrow Images, repreſſe their murders, remoove away their Fornications, Thefts, deluſions, which they put upon Chriſtianity, then ſhall there be a ready way prepared for their converſion, & no remaining impediment but their own corruption which God will mightily overpower; if once Euphrates be dryed up, down falls Popiſh, and Turkiſh tyranny together, and the Iewes ſhall come forth marching to fight that great battell of the Lord God Almighty, then ſhall they ſee him whom they have peirced, and be zealous for God, as ever they have beene outragious againſt him. And hereby you ſhall clearely ſee the agreement betweene Romans 11.12.15. (Where it is ſaid, If the caſting away of them be the reconcilement of the World: what ſhall the receiving of them be but life form the dead?) and 25. Where he ſaith, blindneſſe in part is happened unto Iſrael, untill the fullneſſe of the Gentiles be come in; The reconcilement lyeth here: The hardneſſe of the Iewes lieth upon them untill the Chriſtian Nations of the Gentiles, that have with the Pope apoſtatifed from Chriſt, be come in, untill they have dried up this River Euphrates, hardneſſe lyeth upon the Iewes, but then all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, and after that looke for the reſt of the Gentiles that never yet received the Goſpel, to come in alſo: then will God bring them home mightily, and not till then: Thus you ſee the meaning of theſe words, wherein I have beene the more large, becauſe in ſuch Scriptures, the explication is as much to be attended as the application. Let us ſhortly touch upon a note or two.
Doct. 1 That the dayes are comming wherein Chriſtian Princes, and States ſhall powre out the wrath of God, upon Popiſh ſuperſtition, and Idolatry, and upon all the Fountaines, and ſtreames of Turkiſh Tyranny.
For this ſixt Angell are thoſe 10 Chriſtian Kings ſpoken of Chap. 17.16. They ſhall powre out this wrath. Therefore thoſe Chriſtian Kings went a wrong way to worke, when they thought to have overcome the Turke, and regayned the holy Land; It is ſtrange to ſee how the Turkes proſpered againſt them, and how much Chriſtian bloud Chriſtian Princes ſpent to no purpoſe, in fighting againſt them? The way had beene, firſt to have dryed up all thoſe ſtreames of Superſtition, and Idolatry, and to have throwne downe that man of Sinne; that had beene the ready way to prevaile againſt the Turke; but the ſeaſon was not then come, it is now comming, and how ſoone it will come I know not, the Lord knoweth, but comming it is, as appeareth by the Context of this Viall with the former; yea they are in part fulfilled, and like the ſpeare of Ioſhua they will not returne, nor ceaſe till all the Lords enemies be overcome; The judgements of God upon their common Catholickes; their worſhip and government, their ſecular, and regular Prieſts, upon the Sunne the Houſe of Auſtria, and the Popes ſupremacy, you have heretofore heard the judgements of God upon the throne of the Beaſt, which is the Epiſcopacy, is already begun, as you lately heard darkned it hath beene by the going forth of the Scots, and doubtleſſe the Lord will not let it reſt there untill it have gone over the Seas, and come to the Gates of Rome, yea to the Biſhop of Rome himſelfe, for after the Lord hath beene pleaſed to ſcome the Churches from their Hierarchicall monarchy, then the next newes you ſhall heare of, will be, that Chriſtian Princes begin to ſee the lewdneſſe that is found in their worſhip, the wickedneſſe of their Murders, Sorceries, Fornications, and Thefts, whereby they robbed their ſoules, as well as their bodies, then will they dry up theſe ſtreames, and ſo Euphrates (that did waſh this Rome, and the Turkiſh Empire alſo) will be dryed up: for this worke will goe on proſpering to proſper, and though it may now and then be interrupted, yet when it beginneth, it will alſo make an end, for the Lord is Almighty, when he beginneth he will goe on to perfect his worke, and he will not leave unto old Eli roote or branch. It is eaſy with the Lord to advance the worke a little higher, and then the ſtreames of their maintenance will be dryed up by the hatred, wherewith they will hate the whore, and make her deſolate, and naked for the time is approaching.
The reaſon why the Lord will thus dry up the ſtreames of Euphrates Reaſon is, that he may untwiſt his own judgements in the ſame way wherein himſelfe did twiſt them; wee have before heard how his judgements fell upon the Chriſtian World by the ſounding of the ſixth Trumpet the foure Angels that were bound in the great river Euphrates were looſed, and by this meanes the Turkiſh Tyranny was brought in. Now by the powring out of the Viall of the ſixth Angell, the ſpirits of Chriſtian Princes are ſtirred up to dry up the River Euphrates, thereby to make way for the ſubverſion of the Turke and Pope, and to prepare a way for Gods ancient people to come in, that there may be no more wrath upon the face of the Earth.
Ʋſe 1 In the firſt place this may ſerve to provoke us all earneſtly to call upon the Lord, that he would ſtirre up the hearts of Princes to conſider, and open their Eyes to ſee how needfull their attempts are to riſe up againſt the Pope: and for that end that they may ſee that the jugglings of Popery are but Thefts, and Murders, and Superſtitions: For when once thoſe things are throughly diſcovered, the means of the maintenance of the man of ſinne muſt needs be dryed up: How much cauſe therefore have we to wraſtle with God for ſuch mercy, and that our prayers may be ſo much the more effectuall, ſtrengthen wee our Faith, in this, that the Lord will doe it for he hath promiſed it, and hath begun to power out this Viall, and will not ceaſe untill he have left the Pope neither roote nor branch.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, this may ſerve to teach us, the ready way to ſubdue the Tyrants of the World, and to take away all their ſupportance, their walles and Bullworkes: How ſhould you take Babylon? dry up Euphrates, and Babylon is taken with a wet finger, as when they dryed up Euphrates, they found it but a worke of burning of Reedes, to take old Babylon. And how ſhall you overcome the Turkes? dry up but the Fountaines of the Corruptions of Religion, and you remoove Antichriſt, and make the Turkes eaſily Conquerable, he will not be defenceable then, whereas now he ſtandeth like a wall of braſſe, and ſo will doe untill theſe ſtreames of corruption be dryed up: It was a notable practiſe that which the Lord directed his people unto Iudges 10. When they cried unto the Lord to deliver them from their enemies that oppreſſed them: The Lord recounteth the gratious deliverances which he had ſhewed them; yet (ſaith he Verſe 13.) you have forſaken me and ſerved other Gods; wherefore I will deliver you no more; goe and cry unto the Gods which you have choſen, and let them deliver you in the time of your Tribulation. When they heard that they confeſſed their ſin and put away the ſtrange Gods from among them, and ſerved the Lord; and his ſoule was grieved for the miſery of Iſrael; then the Lord ſtirreth up the people to thinke upon Iephthah, and they eaſily goe through the worke of vanquiſhing the oppreſſing Enemies: In like manner bring but in falſe Doctrine, worſhip, and government into the Church, and you bring in monſters of men among you, the grand ſeigniours of the World will oppreſſe, and rule over you: On the other ſide let the Churches be reformed in France, in England, in Scotland, &c. Whatſoever other nations there be by that have defiled themſelves with Popiſh doctrine, worſhip and government, let them but fall to this worke of reformation, and verily the Lords Soule will be grieved for their miſery, that they are ſo oppreſſed with a baſe Prieſt and his Clergy, who is in the meane while nothing elſe but a dunghill of corruption, and what need have we earneſtly to ſtrive in prayer with God for theſe things? and as great Nations are healed ſo are particular perſons alſo by being purged from their Idolatries, Fornications, Thefts, and Murders, they are preſerved from thoſe perſonall evills which by Sea or Land might prevails againſt them. And the Lord is able to doe it for great Nations as well as for particular perſons; for as he puts it into the hearts of Princes to agree and give their Kingdomes unto the Beaſt; ſo he can as eaſily withdraw their hearts from him, and cauſe them to ſee the vanity of their ſubjection to him: Let us therefore give the Lord no reſt, untill he have fulfilled his word, and overturned all his Enemies.
That the powring out of the wrath of God upon the Romiſh Doct. 2 Superſtition and Tyranny, as it will be the drying up of the Popiſh and Turkiſh Tyranny, ſo it will prepare a ready way for the converſion of the Iewes.
When they ſhall ſee Chriſt riding upon a white horſe, and going forth conquering to conquer, then ſhall they be gathered unto him, Rev. 19.
Becauſe popiſh deluſions, Idolatry and Superſtitions are the Reaſon greateſt impediments of their converſion. No man is acquainted with their writings but knoweth that theſe things ſtand in their way: when the ſtreames of Idolatry, Sorcery, Martyrdome of the Saints of God, Fornication, and robbery be dryed up, then will there be a prepared way for the glorious converſion of the Iewes, together with the reſt of the Nations which cannot enter into the Temple untill the ſeven plagues of the ſeven Angels are fulfilled, and then will they come in as honourable maides attending upon the Queene; it will be like unto the reſurrection from the dead unto them; many deviſes there are in the mindes of ſome to thinke that Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come from Heaven againe, and reigne here upon Earth a thouſand yeares, but they are but the miſtakes of ſome high expreſſions in Scripture, which deſcribe the judgements powred out upon Gods enemies, in making a way for their converſion, by the patterne of the laſt judgement.
Ʋſe This may ſerve to provoke us and all the Churches of Chriſt, to hold faſt the purity of Doctrine, worſhip, and government in the Church of Chriſt: let no ſtreames of Idolatry, nor love of the world, run in our hearts: If our Cowes be our Gods, the Lord will power out a Viall upon them, that from 25l. they ſhall fall to 5l. price; the Lord hath ſometimes threatned that he will famiſh all the Gods of the Earth Zeph. 2.11. So that all the Gods of the Gentiles ſhall not be able to provide, any more offerings to be brought unto their Altars, neither Apollo, nor Iupiter, nor Hercules can have any victuals: and ſo will God deale with our Cattell if they be our Gods, they ſhall either be worth little, or elſe he will deny us todder for them; if they devoure our ſpirits, and take off our mindes from the Ordinances of God; he will rend away any thing that ſtandeth between him and our ſoules; Therefore as ever we deſire that we may proſper, and that their may be a ready way prepared for our comfort, let no ſtreames of Idolatry, be found among us, then will the Lord make way for many of his deſerved ones to come in among us, or elſe wil make us wel without them; For all the ſilver and gold in the world is his, as the Cattell are his on a 1000 Hills. Only let us take part with this Angell in powring out Vialls upon the corruptions that are found in our own hearts; looke that their be no corruptions in us, but ſuch as are ſtil drying and drying up, and ſee if God be not faithfull and gratious to us aboundantly; ſtir we up our ſelves therefore, and one another hereunto, and pray that God would ſtir up other Nations and People hereunto, then ſhall we ſee Gods ancient people brought home, and the Lord ſhall be one over al the Earth, and his name one, which wil prove a Reſurrection unto all the Churches of the Saints.