The Woe-Joy-Trumpet Sounding, Sermon
THE WOE-JOY TRUMPET.
Revel. c. 11. v. 15.
And the ſeventh Angel ſounded the Trumpet, and there were great voices in Heaven, ſaying, The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall reigne for ever and ever.
THe Text is the Goſpell of reinthroning God in Chriſt over the Kingdomes of this world after the great apoſtacy finiſhed: Tidings fit to be publiſhed to all States,2 Theſ. 2.3. that they may heare and feare, and honour the Lord and his Chriſt, and not periſh in the day of his exaltation. All faſtings will be as Ahabs humblings untill this be done.
The title of this Trumpet ſeems croſſe to the nature of the event here mentioned. It is ſtiled the third wo-Trumpet; Revel. 11.14. V.15, 16, 17.The event is Chriſts taking the Kingdoms of this world, and the triumphant ſong of the Saints celebrating this conqueſt of their Lord with prayſes. How can theſe ſuit? Very well, if we diſtinguiſh the ſubjects ſeverally concerned in it, which eminently are two.
1. Antichriſt with all his creatures and confederates, and all the wicked enemies of the moſt holy God and his Saints unto theſe onelyonly it is a Wo-trumpet, and the event is the laſt and worſt of wofull deſtructions unto them. Two conſiderations may clearly evince this.
1. It is altogether unheard of in divine revelations, that God ſhould ſound woe to his Saints. Indeed tribulations are their way to Heaven, and bittereſt afflictions they may ſuffer in the fleſh,Phil. 1.19. Heb. 12.6, 10. but this is a ſpeciall dignation of God to honour them, or love to chaſtiſe them unto greater holineſſe; no wo properly ſo called, which being the effect of Gods greateſt indignation,Matth. 23.13, 14, &c. terrifies and grindeth poore ſoules to powder.
2. The three laſt VVo-trumpets are directed onelyonly to the inhabiters of the earth, Rev. 8 13.men ſo called in oppoſition to the Saints, who are Heavens people; (for by theſe names of Earth and Heaven are the Antichriſtian world, and the Church of Chriſt diſtinguiſhed by the Spirit.)Rev. 18.9, 11, 20. Therefore on theſe onelyonly is allotted that wofull ſound of this and the former Trumpets.
2. Chriſt and his Saints are concerned in the beſt event of this Trumpet; for in all this time of ſounding woes upon theſe earthly creatures, Chriſt is poſſeſſing the Thrones of the world, Saints are worſhipping and praiſing God; It is therefore a joy Trumpet unto theſe. So hath God ſet the times and ſtates of creatures adverſe each to other; The worlds light is the Churches darkneſſe, and the Saints joy the worlds greateſt woe. The title and event then of this Trumpet are thus reconciled.
To make a clearer paſſage to the text three precognitions will be uſefull. 1. Of the time. 2. Of the ſubject. 3. Of the matter of this Trumpets ſound; which I ſhall touch here but ſhortly for a generall light.
1. What time the ſound of this Trumpet doth concerne is not agreed on by interpreters; ſome make it contemporary with the laſt day, and ſo call it the laſt Trump;1 Theſ. 4.16. The chiefe grounds of this I ſhall take off in another place, onelyonly for preſent, theſe reaſons evince it cannot relate to that time.
1. This Trumpet ſounds onelyonly a change of the Kingdomes of this world from Lord to Lord, not the period of them which the laſt Trump of God will ſurely ſound; at the great day of judgement they ſhall all expire and be no more.
2.Rev. 11.18. Under this Trumpet ſinne ſhall abound upon the earth, the Nations ſhall be angry at the exaltation of Chriſt and his Saints, when power ſhall be taken out of their hands; but ſuch reliques ſhall not be when the end of all things is come.
3. This Trumpet doubtleſſe foundeth woe upon the earth, and that of no ſmall continuance, which after the laſt judgement cannot be. Theſe and other conſiderations may demonſtrate that this cannot be the laſt Trumpet; yet by the events expreſſed in the ſucceſſive degrees of them, it may be rightly conjectured that the ſound of this ſeventh Trumpet teacheth ſomething neere to that of the laſt judgement.
2. Others conceive more rightly that the ſound of this Trumpet concerns Heaven upon Earth, that is the ſtate of the Church below; onelyonly the difference is, about the point of time for the beginning of theſe events ſpoken of; one pitcheth it upon the utter fall of the Weſterne myſticall Babell, and the comming of the Kings of the Eaſt, which though it muſt be under this ſeventh Trumpet, yet is it not ſo probable to be the firſt effect of it. It is a faire gloſſe, that from the taking of the firſt Kingdom of this world out of the hand of Antichriſt, the ſound of this Trumpet ſhould be heard; for if this be a Wo-trumpet upon the Romiſh Babel, it muſt needs ſuppoſe that ſtate to be ſtanding at leaſt in the firſt ſounding of it; And the driving of Antichriſt out of the Territories and Thrones of the world, hath been and muſt be contemporaneous with Chriſts re-entrance upon the ruling of them: So that all the Vials powred out upon the Antichriſtian ſtate in any of the Kingdomes of this world, ſeems to contemporize with this Trumpet, although indeed ſeverall Scenes be acted, and the finiſhing the myſterie of God be not untill the laſt daies of the ſeventh Trumpet. This ſtate of time then ſeemeth moſt ſutable, whereof ſome portions are paſt, and ſome, and thoſe moſt glorious, are yet to come.
2. The ſubject whom this Trumpet concerns, ſeemeth to be the Univerſe ſublunary, even all the Kingdomes or States in the world, which have been captivated by that Romiſh Antichriſt; therefore not England, nor the united Kingdomes of Ireland and Scotland excluded.
3. The matter of this ſound and great voyces is a Reformation-change, of worldly Kingdomes from the power and rule of Antichriſt unto the actuall adminiſtration of the Lord and his Chriſt. In the whole paragraph about this Trumpet we have obſervable,
1. A propoſition of the Miniſtry of this providence, wherein.
1. The Miniſter is deſcribed, The ſeventh Angell.
2. The miniſtration, He ſounded the Trumpet.
2. A propoſition of the effect, which is expreſt
1. Generally, There were great voyces in Heaven, ſaying.
2. Specially, wherein three effects are diſcovered,
1. Chriſts inauguration, or the Lords reaſſuming Kingdomes for his Chriſt, v. 15.
2. The Saints triumphant ſong, v. 16, 17.
3. The Nations anger at all this, with the powring out of the wrath of God to repay them, v. 18, 19.
The firſt effect is the ſumme of the Text, to the diſcovery of which, and the certainty thereof in the Trumpets ſound, I ſhall bend the following diſcourſe. The ground worke of all ſhall be layd in two propoſitions touching this effect.
1 A Reformation-change of worldly Kingdomes to our Lord and his Chriſt, is a ſure revelation from God.
2. The Lord and his Chriſt ſhall (King it) or reigne over theſe reformed Kingdomes for ever and ever.
The full propheſie here given is compleated in theſe two propoſitions, and both theſe will be underſtood in the opening of three main things carried in them.
1. The true ſtate of the ſubject of this change.
2. The right meaning of this Reformation-change.
3. The due account of the certainty of this Revelation.
To the firſt. The ſubject of this change here ſpoken of, are the Kingdomes of the world; wherein two notions are conſiderable; one noting the nature, the other giving the ſpecification of this ſubject.
1. Kingdoms] note the ſubject of this Reformation-change, foreignin the generall nature of it, and ſo muſt import,
1. The bounds of Territories which are given by God, as the continent of all men that live under government in them.
2. The people contained or inhabiting within the compaſſe of ſuch Dominions muſt needs be entitled here; for not lands but ſoules, muſt be thus reformed.
3. The chiefe of thoſe people, Princes, States, and Powers among thoſe perſons ſeem eſpecially to be carried in this notion of Kingdoms; Iſai. 52.15. Iſai. 55.5.and they not ſo much conſidered in themſelves, as in reſpect to government, which they are called of God to exerciſe towards others; ſo that go verning and governed as they concurre to make up Kingdomes, are here the ſubject of this reforming change.
2.foreign The ſpecification of theſe Kingdomes ſets them out more fully, they are the Kingdomes of the world; ſo that what the world ſignifieth, muſt give us the ſpeciall nature of the Kingdomes mentioned; and that is uſed in a three fold acception.
1. As oppoſed to Heaven the ſuperiour Globe,Matth. 4.8. and ſo it muſt note Earthy Kingdomes, States, and Polities.
2. As oppoſed to God, to Chriſt, to Grace, (as the whole world lieth in wickedneſſe) ſo it holds out wicked Kingdomes and States formerly ruled by the wicked one.1 Iohn 5.19.
3. As oppoſed to particular regions or climates, and ſo it muſt ſignifie the univerſe, even all the Kingdomes of the earth; there are none excepted in the text. All theſe acceptions muſt be admitted here, and being ſo taken, the preſent ſubject cannot be doubted; The ſound of this ſeventh Trumpet then muſt needs utter things touching the Church in this life, and the Lords reſuming power over his enemies here beneath before the laſt judgement.
To the ſecond. The right ſtating of this change is not of ſmall moment; for which purpoſe theſe particulars muſt be declared, 1. The terms of it. 2. The nature of it. 3. The time of it. 4. The exerciſe of it. 5. The ſtability of it, when once the Lord hath made it.
1. Every change or motion ſuppoſeth neceſſarily two termes; one from whence the change, beginneth, the other whereunto it is made: In the Text but one of theſe is named and that the laſt, the Lord, and his Chriſt; yet the other muſt needs be implied out of whoſe hands and power theſe muſt muſt be taken. Firſt then, the Lords that did King it over theſe Kingdomes of the world, were the Devil in chiefe,Rev. 1….1, 7, 12. Revel. 17.1. and his vicegerents the two beaſts, the Romiſh Antichriſt in ſpeciall, whoſe ſtate is ſhadowed by the whore who ſate upon many waters, that is, ruled over many people. Theſe onelyonly gave laws to the States and Nations of the world,revel. 13.15. and required tribute from bodies and ſoules of men, and would ſet their marks upon every creature, or kill thoſe that did refuſe it. Of whoſe reign it may be noted.
1.Revel. 12.9. The Devill was the father or authour of it in full.
2.Revel. 18 13. Tyranny over bodies and ſoules the onelyonly rule of it.
3.Revel. 13.8. Idolatry moſt odious was the onelyonly tribute to their King.
4.Revel. 19.20. The end of all this government is Hell and perdition; into the lake of fire, they and all their vaſſals are thrown; from theſe cruell Lords are the Kingdomes taken.
2. The terme unto which this change is made is named in the Text [our Lord, and his Chriſt] Two words are here abſolute, Lord and Chriſt; and two relatives, Ours and His, all would be underſtood in their propriety.
1. Lord here is equivalent to Jehovah, and notes God in his primitive acception of Lordſhip not derived. For indeed, there is a Lord borne, and derived, a mediating Lord, which is the Lord Jeſus, ſtiled afterward the Lords Chriſt;Pſal. 110.1. but here it muſt note that Lord which ſaid to Davids Lord, ſit thou on my right hand, &c. God the Father more punctually, who is abſolutely Lord of Lords,1 Cor. 13.24. and King of Kings, to whom alſo the mediating Lord muſt give up his Kingdome, when his worke is done;Revel. 14, 6, 7. that God whom the everlaſting Goſpell holds out to be feared, to be glorifined, to be worſhipped.
2. The relative denoting him is Our. If it be inquired who were theſe correlates to God the King; the anſwer muſt be ſupplied, from thoſe great voyces before which ſpeak theſe words; The voyces ſay, Our Lord, and the ſame afterward utter his prayſe, and ſing his triumph for taking to him his great power to reigue; now theſe were the 24 Elders, the uſuall repreſentative body of the true Church; ſo that the true Church of Chriſt on earth is the correlate unto the Lord, the King, who are bold to ſtile him our Lord: And it not a vaine addition in this place, where it is propheſied that the Kingdomes of the world are taken into his power, and become his. How the Church is his, by election, by creation, by purchaſe, by calling, by covenant, and by profeſſion, is not now my purpoſe to relate, they are known things in the Goſpell; but the ground of the Emphaticall uſe of it here is the thing needfull to declare: Now indeed that appeares to be, that God not ſimply or abſtractively conſidered in himſelfe, but concretely and relatively known with his peculiar ones, reaſſumes theſe Kingdomes, and now ſheweth himſelfe thus to reigne; that is, God ſo known, ſo believed, ſo worſhipped as among his choſen and true ſeed; the Kingdomes are become the Lords, as he is our God, dwelling with us, and worſhipped by us, not as miſconceived by the world For it might be ſaid he ruled in the times of Antichriſts reigne, and that the worſhippers of Antichriſt did and doe acknowledge God and Chriſt; (as ſome lukewarme advocates will plead for them) but is it God, ſo known, ſo believed on, ſo worſhipped, as by the true Church who cals him ours; The Sunne ſheweth the contrary; It is a falſified, corrupted, misbelieved God, that Papiſts boaſt of. In this concrete ſence Moſes writes of God triumphing over the Churches enemies,Deut. 32.31. Their rocke is not as our rocke, the enemies themſelves being Judges. Did not many of Iſraels enemies know and confeſſe the ſame Rock or God for eſſence as Iſrael did? Yea doubtleſſe but they turned the glory of the incorruptible God into Images, and baſe reſemblances, and ſo made him a Rock diſtinct from Iſraels by falſe worſhip; In which reſpect Moſes ſings, God with us, and worſhipped by us, is farre above yours, he that hath ruled and deſtroyed your Gods and you, as your ſelves can witneſſe. O how ſweet a thought is this, the Lord, no way but as the Churches Lord, known, and ſerved by them takes poſſeſſion of the Kingdomes of the world! The Saints cannot be low, if as theirs onelyonly God be thus exalted.
3. The next term abſolute which denotes the Soveraigne power to which theſe Kingdomes are delivered, is Chriſt; foreignin which notion the perſon and the unction muſt be carried.
1. The perſon here intended is the Sonne of God manifeſted in the fleſh,Pſalm 45.6. Heb. 1.8. of whom it is ſaid, Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever; ſo that it is one God in both expreſſions that takes unto him this power, yet ſo interpreted, God in the Mediator, God truely, God ſweetly, God ſutably held out for ruling theſe Kingdomes, even God and man.
2. The Ʋnction of this perſon is that which the name peculiarly holds forth, and with an emphaſis in this place; the ground of this name is the annointing which he received above his fellows; Heb. 1.9. Acts 10.38.ſo it is ſaid, God did annoynt Jeſus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghoſt and with powers, which Unction notes his ſetting apart, and enabling for the worke of ſeverall Offices, towards the Kingdomes of his poſſeſſion. Theſe were,
1. Prieſtly,Pſalm 110.4. which was eſpecially to reconcile ſoules to God; and ſo theſe Kingdomes were taken under a reconciling head, which were before commanded to enmity againſt God.
2. Propheticall,Deut. 18.15. wherein he was to reveale Gods will fully and ſavingly, and ſo theſe Kingdomes were to come under a ſaving Teacher, who before were ſeduced by the falſe Prophet to deſtruction.
3. Regall,Pſalm 2.6. whereby he was to give laws to theſe regained Polities, and ſet his order among them, which before were ruled by the beaſt to miſerable confuſion. All theſe make up that Chriſt, whoſe Kingdomes theſe are made at this time; and the exerciſe of their offices muſt be during the Churches imperfection in this life.
4.foreign Luke 2.26. Luke 9.20. The relative term ſpecifying this Chriſt is [His] that is, Jehovahs, the Lords Chriſt, the Chriſt of God. It is his Chriſt, not ours, eminently declaring the Authour of this Unction; this note may perſwade not to read Lord and Chriſt by appoſition, as if it were the Lord Chriſt; but as diſtinct things united, and terms differently ſignifying in this place. Never theleſſe this relative addition gives honour unto Chriſt.
1. Nothing his Authority or Sovelaignty. Now that is Gods, Jehovah owns this Chriſty that none deſpiſe him.
2. Teaching his truth and infallibility in all his adminiſtrations; ſo that none may miſtruſt him.
3. Shewing his irreſiſtability in regard of all the Potentates in the world, that none might contend with him. This relation onelyonly gives warrant unto poore ſoules to reſt wholly upon this Annointed, becauſe he is Gods: unleſſe he be Gods Chriſt, he muſt not be imbraced by creatures; and being his, muſt not be reſiſted.
Q. Are there then two heads conſorted in the tranſlation of theſe Kingdomes, becauſe God and his Chriſt are coupled?
A. Not ſo, but one head onelyonly ſpecified in this conjunction; the Lord and his Chriſt here, is as much as the Lord in his Chriſt, or by his Chriſt, taking to him this power over States to make them Chriſtian. God in the Mediator makes not two Lords corrivals, but one graciouſly diſpoſed to rule Kingdomes unto life;John 5 22. John 12.49, 50 therefore the Judgement, Law, and Rule of the Father and Sonne is punctually ſaid to be one. We have ſeen the terms of this change.
To the ſecond,2. the nature of this change, I have termed it a Reformation-change, and I conceive properly in that theſe Kingdomes are ſaid to become our Lords;foreign Now this ſame word foreign to be made notes ſome change de nove new that was not before; for if they were the Lords before in the ſence here meant, they could not reaſonably be ſaid now to be made or become his.
Q. But were not all theſe Kingdomes the Lords that made them, and ſet the bounds of them from the firſt of their being? How then can they be ſaid to be made his now?
A. Surely this queſtion can be ſatisfied onelyonly by the right ſtating of the preſent change, carried in that terme made the Lords. Now this in its uſe hath a double acception.
1.foreign Gen. 1.3. Sometimes it notes eſſe ſimplex, the ſimple making or being of a thing which before was not, as in the creation God ſaid, Let their be light, and it was make; In this ſence it cannot here be meant, for theſe Kingdomes were made before of God, and ſo were his works.
2.foreign Rom. 7.4. Sometimes it notes eſſe relativum, a relative being, as the wife is ſaid to be made her husbands; ſhe was before in the being of a woman, but not of a wife; ſo theſe Kingdomes were made before the beaſt and falſe Prophet did uſurpe them, but then onelyonly were they made Antichriſtian;Facta ſunt. i. venerum in Chriſti poreſtarem, myrannidi diaboli, & miniſtrorum ejus erepta. B…z.now this making in the Text is the change of that relation of theſe Kingdomes from that Antichriſtian uſurpation and tyranny, unto the government of the Lord and his Chriſt; ſo that now they are made the Lords by Reformation, which were his creation before. And this new worke is done by God in Chriſt, theſe waies.
1. Quoad reſuſeeptimem Patentie, by reſuming the power into his hand, which he ſeemed to have layd aſide,foreign. &c. Revel. 11.17. when he ſuffered Satan in Antichriſt to domineer over theſe Kingdomes, and rule them unto perdition; ſo it is ſaid in the Churches ſong, Thou haſt taken to thee thy great power, and haſt raigned; that is, now he did manifeſt himſelfe, that in what thoſe Lords had dealt proudly, he was above them, and his permiſſion was no approbation of them in their tyranicall uſurpations.
2. Quoad vindicias juris, by vindicating his right to theſe Kingdomes, which the Devill in Antichriſt had denied, according to his old vaunt, All theſe are mine, and to whom I will I give them.Luke 4.6. That horrible practice of the Pope in uſurping Crowns, and taking upon him to diſpoſe them at his pleaſure, is a full proof of this. Now God at this time breaks out the Lyons teeth, makes the nations angry, and taketh theſe Kingdomes as a ſpoyle for Chriſt,Pſalm 2.8.to whom at firſt God had given them. A double right is that which God now vindicates, whereby theſe Kingdoms are called his. 1. Ius paternitatis, a right of paternity concerning all them, that he had given unto Chriſt, which were his ſeed indeed, and whom as he had redeemed,Iſay 55, 5. ſo now he calleth to the participation of life in Chriſt; This right is peculiar to ſome onelyonly in theſe Kingdomes. 2. Jus Dominii, a right of Lordſhip which is his due, as well over ſlaves as children; So though he convert not ſavingly all theſe ſtates, yet he makes them take his Laws, ſerve his turne, ſet up his Ordinances, and worke his will, though in ſincerity perhaps they mean not ſo; Now this is reformation in its meaſure, though it reach not to the truth of converſion; So God moved Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, &c. Pſal. 72.10, 11. Pſal. 2.9.of whom yet it cannot be ſaid they were converted. And ſuch a right is promiſed to Chriſt alſo in the Goſpel times, by which he ſhall uſe his Iron Rod as well as his Golden Scepter. No hope that all in all Kingdomes ſhould be truely converted, but that all ſhall be ſubdued,Rev. 19.16, &c. made ſlaves, if not friends, not able to reſiſt the power of the Lords, is that which Scriptures ſpeak and we may expect.
3. Quoad ezercitium Dominii, by exerciſing this power and right over theſe Kingdomes that are become his; and this Lordſhip he doth exerciſe ſeverall waies
1. By a powerfull turning of the hearts of Princes from darkneſſe to light,Mojeſtatem red dit viſibilem in ipſis regibus corda fernando &c. Brightman in text. cauſing them to conſider the things of God which they had not heard, and ſo to ſhut their mouthes from gainſaying Chriſt, and thrice exalt him in their hearts; of ſuch a reformation-change the Lord ſeems to ſpeake in that Goſpell promiſe, I will make thy Officers peace, and thy Exactors righteouſneſſe; Iſay 52, 13, 14, 15.when peace ſhall rule, and righteouſneſſe exact, then the Kingdom is the Lords.
2 By a powerfull reſtraint upon others not truly called, chained up by the devill,Revel. 20. 2. Pſalm 149.8. and binding Kings, Princes, and Nobles as with fetters, that they ſhall not any longer hinder the Lord from taking Thrones and ruling; Thus the Kingdomes of the world univerſally become the Lords. The King that is not converted ſhall be reſtrained. Thus farre appeares the nature of this Reformation-change.
To the third,3. foreign. which is the time of this change, the voyces ſpeak as of the time paſt, ſaying, they are or were become the Lords, the time is expreſſed in this verb alſo; But now where to ſtate this time is the diffioulty, mens thoughts running divers waies. It hath been determined to be, while time the meaſure of the creatures in their changes laſteth, but the ſpeciall point of that time is now deſired; when thoſe Kingdoms begin to be the Lords. For the diſcovery whereof, I ſhall propoſe ſome help from theſe conſiderations.
1. This ſeventh Angell is ſaid to ſound the third Wotrumpet, which certainly did call for execution of vengeance upon the Kingdome of Antichriſt, whoſe Scepter made all the Kingdoms of the earth ſtoop unto him, who had ſubſcribed to his name, and worſhipped him; This was done by breaking the yoke of that Romiſh Tyran the Pope off from the neck of thoſe States, in which very moment the Lord tooke poſſeſſion of thoſe Kingdomes, from which by his great power he drove out that ſtrong one, the devil in that man of ſin. So that this Trumpet ſeems to contemporize with all the Vials poured out upon States formerly under Antichriſt, daſhing in pieces the great Abettors, and turning others to be ſerviceable unto Chriſt. For however at all times God kept his ſecret ones within the Territories of Babel, who ceaſed not in all ages to witneſſe to his truth, yet all this while the States and Kingdomes worſhipped the beaſt; So then the time of change of Kingdoms muſt be eminent, and from that inſtant that any State returned to ſubjection unto Chriſts Scepter in the Goſpell after the great apoſtacy, ſeems to begin the ſound of the ſeventh Trumpet; for then was it woe to that Antichriſt and his vaſſals, but joy to Chriſt and his Saints. Now no hard thing is it to looke back ſo farre as to finde out that point of time wherein Thrones began to be poſſeſſed by Chriſt, and to entertain the Goſpell. The Hiſtories of Germany, Saeveland, Denmark, England, Scotland, &c. may help us to know this time, when our Lord took theſe States from the Prince of darkneſſe ruling in that ſonne of perdition.
2. This Reformation-change is graduall, and is carried on in ſeverall portions of time, from the turning of the firſt Kingdom to the finiſhing of the myſtery of God. That the meaning of this Trumpet-ſound ſhould be a graduall ſuſception of Gods power to reign, I am perſwaded to believe from the courſe of the events; we ſee ſome Kingdoms delivered, but not all yet, which are expected to be reſumed by Chriſt from that Roman Apoſtate; Now as God performs his prophecies, ſo are we to underſtand his meaning in them; and it is the beſt help we have rightly to conceive the Prophets ſpeaking of Chriſt to come, by ſeeing him come, and fulfilling what was written of him. I take it, the ſame help is to made uſe of concerning the propheſies of theſe times, and thoſe to come, of which the book of the revelations is full. So that, if we ſee the Lord hath taken Kingdomes of the world from Antichriſt, we have the truth of this Trumpet-ſound; and if yet more Kingdoms are ſtill under vaſſallage to him, this ſound declares woe unto them abiding in that ſlavery, but good tidings to Gods hidden ones there, that the Lord will in his time take the prey out of the Dragons mouth, and rule himſelfe. And if ſo, then it muſt be a graduall change, from the taking of the firſt Kingdome to the reſuming of the laſt, which we ſee is partly done in many States, and in greater part yet to be accompliſhed.
One word yet ſeems to croſſe this interpretation of the time;Dub. Reuel. 10.7. it is ſaid, In the daies of the voice of the ſeventh Angel, when he ſhall begin to ſound the Trumpet, even the myſtery of God ſhall be finiſhed, &c. And if in the beginning of his ſound all Kingdoms are changed together, and Gods myſterie finiſhed, then it cannot be the time mentioned, but it muſt be wholy to come.
To ſatisfie this ſcruple,Sel. foreign 1 Tim. 3 16. two expreſſions here muſt be opened. 1. The myſterie of God, which notion is of various uſe; ſometimes it notes the ſecret way of God by manifeſtation of his Sonne in the fleſh, &c. to make himſelfe communicable to his creatures, ſo to effect godlineſſe in them, and ſave them;Col. 2.3. This is the generall uſe of it, ſo is it called the myſterie of God, of the Father and of Chriſt. Sometimes it is of ſpeciall ſignification, and that two waies:Eph. 3.6. 1. It notes this ſecret good will of God toward all the Gentiles, to bring them into fellowſhip with himſelfe, from the firſt preaching of the Goſpell to them by the Apoſtles,Rom. 11.25, 16. to the laſt by any Miniſtry. 2. It dictates this ſecret grace of God unto Abrahams ſeed, the Jewes, for the bringing them in after their long abdication, to an ingrafting into Chriſt. In this laſt ſence it is ſurely taken, and yet I think not excluding the other ſpeciall ſignification, nor the generall in both, for as much as that is finiſhed in theſe.
2. When he ſhall begin to ſound, foreign.is the paſſage that begets the doubt, therefore the right reading of it muſt be inquired; and ſurely it is not neceſſary ſo to read it, when he ſhall begin to ſound, but vety properly, when he ſhall ſound; foreign as in ſuch lie inſtances. foreign. Apoc. 1.19. foreign. I will ſpue thee out, not onelyonly begin to do it. 2 Kings. 4.1.and ſo is it read by good Interpreters as one word in the future tence; which if allowable (as there is no doubt) the ſcruple is gone; for then the ſence is, that in the daies of this Angels ſounding, not in the beginning, but within the compaſſe of them, the myſtery of God ſhall be fulfilled, which is included in the former ſtate of this time. Or if you read it, when he ſhall begin to ſound, we know that expreſſion doth not alwaies note the entrance of a State, but the continuance of it, as beginning to reigne with our Tongue, is to reigne in the Hebrew. There is yet another reading of this with the context, which from a conjunction of finiſhing the myſterie of God with the Angels ſounding, ſeems reaſonable; it is thus, The Angell that ſtood upon the Sea and Earth, ſwore by him that liveth for ever and ever, that Time ſhall he no more; that is, the time of the Papall Antichriſtian Monarchy, and of the former perſecuting enemies of the Saints,foreign. Ed. Compher. Bez. But in the daies of the voice of the ſeventh Angel, when he ſhal ſound the Trumpet, and the my ſterie of God he finiſhed, then time ſhall be; that is, the time of Chriſts triumph, and his Saints proſperity and joy; ſo that thus this 7th verſe is part of the Angels oath concerning the not being and the being of time; though the latter be not expreſſed in the 7th verſe, yet it is an Ellipſis or defect not unuſuall in a continued ſpeech, this being ſo taken. However a ſufficient reply is made to the doubt in the former interpretation, if this reading be not allowed This compleating of Gods myſterie is not to be expected in the inſtant of beginning this ſound, but in the daies of its duration, the end whereof will accompliſh all the will of God concerning his Churches among Jewes and Gentiles here on Earth.
To the fourth particular, which is the exerciſe of this Reformation after theſe Kingdomes are become the Lords and his Chriſts,foreign (He ſhall reigne, or Ring it:) The Lord in his Chriſt deems it not enough to be a King, but to act the King in the Dominions which he takes as his own. Its the blurre of creatures to be Kings in place and ſhew, and yet not to King it, nor be able to act aright; Chriſt Kings it in truth where he hath the Throne.
Two Queries will be put in:
1.Q. 1. What is his acting as King?
2.Q. 2. How he acts it?
To the firſt.A. 1. foreign. Mic. 5.2. Matth. 2.6. Revel. 12 5. Jer. 3.15. Jer. 23.4, 5, 6. He acts the Paſtor or the good Shepheard in feeding, providing good paſture for the Kingdomes which he rules; ſuch Kings God promiſed his people when he would doe them good; but above all, this King, to rule them; I will ſet up ſhepheards over them which ſhall feed them, and they ſhall feare no more, nor be diſmayed, neither ſhall they be lacking, ſaith the Lord. Behold the daies come, ſaith the Lord, I will raiſe unto David a righteous branch, &c. This is the King Chriſt who ſhall ſave his Kingdomes, and make his people dwell ſafely; He ſcatters not his flock, nor drive them away, nor hurries them, nor hunts them with dogs, as former Lords did, but acts the good ſhepheard, and they go in and out by his voyce,John 10 9. and finde paſture.
2.foreign. Iſai. 31.22. He Acts the Lawgiver, this is the work of a King; ſo is it promiſed to be the acclamations of Kingdomes made the Lords, The Lord is our Iudge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King, he will ſave us. They acknowledge and he doth it; He gives Laws holy and good, even all the righteous commands of his Father concerning mans way to eternall life; no unrighteous decrees, nor bitter grievances nor oppreſſing edicts, but Statutes and Ordinances, by which they may live. Thus he Kings it ſweetly.
3.foreign. He acts the Iudge in all theſe Dominions, and divideth equally to all according to their wayes: He condemnes the Lie and juſtifieth the Truth; He commendeth the good and ſmiteth the evill doer; He judgeth righteouſly between the fat and the leave Cattell; Ezek. 34.20.hee breaks the oppreſſor, and ſaves the innocent ones. Thus hee was acknowledged before, Jehovah is our Judge; and thus it is propheſied of him, He ſhall execute judgement and juſtice in the earth. He calleth not light darkneſſe,Jer. 23.5. nor darkneſſe light; Hee juſtifieth not the wicked for reward, neither condemnes the righteous.Iſa. 11.4. With righteouſneſſe ſhall he judge the poore, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth, &c. Thus hee reignes in his repoſſeſſed Kingdomes.
To the ſecond.An. 2. How hee Acts thus in his regained kingdomes, whether in his own perſon againe manifeſted in the fleſh, or in and by ſuch perſons whom he ma uſe for this work? I conceive not by his viſible, but ſpirituall preſence; this is moſt likely to be done in ſuch Vice gerents as he ſhal make choice of: I propoſe theſe conſiderations to be weighed.
1. There is no neceſſity of underſtanding this relative (He) concerning his owne perſon viſibly conſidered; for God himſelfe hath been ſaid to reigne in his Miniſtring Rulers, and their Kingdomes have been ſtiled Gods, ſo long as his feare hath been upon them,Obad, v. 21. Pſal. 22.28. Pſ.71. 1, 2, &c. and his Law ruled in them. So Davids and Solomons kingdome was the Lords, and hee reigned in them and by them. This hath been the Language of God, to owne the kingdomes of his ſervants, and their government as directed by him; Nay ſometimes to reigne,Dan. 4, 32. when his enemies are upon the Throne: why it ſhould not bee here, I finde no forcing reaſon.
2. If the ſound of this Trumpet be already begun, as the truth of the event already paſt in ſome degree may perſwade; then ſome Kingdomes are Chriſts already, and he reignes, though hee be ſtill at the right hand of the Father, by thoſe Rulers whom hee ſets up. His are the Kingdomes,Pſal. 75.7. becauſe he orders Kings and States by his Lore; and that ſo ſtill he may doe, without his own viſible appearance on earth, is more then probable, becauſe it is ſo in ſight already.
3. Not one circumſcribed Kingdome is ſaid here to be the compaſſe of his Territories, but all the Kingdomes of the earth to be his; Now if hee ſhould appeare on earth, his viſible preſence cannot bee in all Kingdomes; His body can be but in a place fit for a body; therfore is it at the right hand of God, and cannot be every where preſent, as Ubiquitaries ſenſeleſly have dreamed: Or if he be eminently preſent in one Region as a mighty Monarch, by his Deputies ruling all other Provinces; Yet then he muſt be ſaid to reigne in others. And how much ſafer it is, to let him alone at Gods right hand, and thence to ſay hee reignes by his ſpirit in the Kingdomes of the world, I leave unto Chriſtian reaſon to judge.
4. It ſeemes to reaſon a very great derogation from the glory of our Lord in his Chriſt, to ſuppoſe him to leave the right hand of the Majeſty on high, to come here and ſway an earthly Scepter, whether in one or all Kingdomes of the world: for heaven now is his Throne, and the earth his Foot-ſtoole; and if he ſhould turne his Foot-ſtoole to a Throne, it were very ſtrange. However that from Heaven hee ſhall viſibly appeare to judge the quick and dead,Acts i. 11. Acts 3.21. Acts 17.31 though not to dwell here in an earthly ſtate with the Saints, the Scriptures doe affirme. And this account may ſuffice concerning the manner of his Reigne in the Kingdoms of this world.
To the fifth and and laſt thing,5. foreign Pſal. 33.11. foreign Pſal. 17.2.5. Eph. 3.21. foreign. and laſt thing about this Reformation-change, which is the ſtability of it, we are now come, For ever and ever ſhall this King reigne: The phraſe here ſeemeth ſynonomous with that Hebrew expreſſion, to generation and generation, and throughout all generations. Sometimes the word is uſed ſimply, for ever without repetition, and then frequently notes abſolute eternity; but in this kind of doubling many times leſſe, onelyonly duration of ſome ages or an aeviternity as it is called: The Word foreign ſignifieth an Age, or Generation, among other things, and ſo here doubled in the plurall to ages of ages, is the continuance of the ages or generations of this world, ſo that ſuch is the ſtable duration of this reigne of Chriſt over theſe Kingdomes even ſo long as the ages of theſe doe continue. Three things are carried in this expreſſion.
1. Progreſſe in his reigne from age to age, He ſhall goe forward, proſper and grow in his Government.
2. Immutability of State, ſo ſhall he King it, that theſe Kingdomes ſhall not change their Lord, nor any more retreat to Antichriſt as in the great Apoſtacie, when once the Lord hath reſumed theſe Kingdomes.
3. Eternity of duration, ſo long as theſe Kingdomes laſt, even for that ever and ever, our Lord and his Chriſt ſhall reigne, making friends, or keeping under ſlaves: Then the end of the Mediators Kingdome ſhall come, and God that was from everlaſting ſhall rule to everlaſting in whom the hope of all Saints ſhall be perfected. So farte to the ſtate of this Reformation-change.
The third and laſt generall to be held out is the certainty of all this Revelation, what that is, that we may have a ſure ground for faith to worke upon concerning theſe matters, which I ſhall labour by ſome ſpeciall conſiderations about the context to make cleare.
1. From the Author of this Revelation, it is our Lord himſelfe in his Chriſt; ſo it is ſaid in the entrance of this Book, The Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt which God gave unto him to ſhew unto his ſervants. Revel. 1.1.Now God cannot deceive, nor be deceived; if he be the Author, Infallibility is upon the word. There is one name mention'd in the doxologie of the Church upon this Revelation peculiar unto God, which muſt ſatisfie reaſonable creatures concerning the truth of this event, if ſpoken by God,Rev. 1.4. Rev. 11.17. It is He that is, and Hee that was, and He that is to come. It is He that can alwayes ſay, I am. If hee had not been from eternity, if he bee not now, or if he ſhould not be to eternity, juſt cauſe there might bee of miſtruſting his Revelation; but if hee was to make all things that have been, and if he bee to make things that are, and if hee ſhall bee to make all things to come in his owne time, there can bee no ground of ſuſpecting him. Thus the Church looketh on him and is comforted. Indeed were hee of yeſterday, and muſt hee ceaſe againe, his Revelation could not over-value the Delphick Oracle; but this is his ſtrong reaſon to be believed as God, He was, and is, and is to come.
2. The meanes of revealing this is not deſpicable, it was by an Angel:Heb. 1.14. whether ſo in Nature, as a miniſtring Spirit ſent out for comforting Gods choſen in this matter as I rather conceive;Rev. 3.1, &c. or ſo onelyonly in Office, and then a Man, a ſpeciall Meſſenger, or Miniſter expreſſed in this viſion, as it may be; Yet it is Gods owne meanes of his owne ſending to declare, and therefore none of a doubtfull call, that hee ſhould bee ſuſpected; by John it is com to us, and he had it from Chriſt this whole viſion.
3. The clearneſſe of the Revelation adds more ſtrength to its certainty;Iſa. 8.19. It comes not like a whiſpering, or muttering of ſeducing ſpirits out of the earth, but ſounded with a Trumpet from heaven;1 Cor. 14.8. and Gods Trumpet giveth ſurely a diſtinct ſound, that wee may underſtand his minde in it, and ſute our ſelves to his will. So it did in declaring wrath and warre againſt ſinners,Amos a. 6. Hoſ. 8.1. Zech. 9.14. that they might beleeve and tremble, and returne; So alſo in revealing his grace in Chriſt towards his people: the Trumpet ſounds it, that poore ſoules might heare and beleeve, and be comforted. A trumpet-Revelation then from God needs not to be ſuſpected: A loud, eminent, diſtinct diſcovery doth God make of theſe viſions, that as they are ſure in themſelves, ſo they might bee ſurely knowne and received by his Church.
4. The ſweet gratulations and doxology of the Church recorded in the context,Rev. 11, 16, 17 muſt conclude the certainty of the event: It is incredible that God would give a viſion of praiſe to mock himſelfe withall, and that hee ſhould receive bleſſing for that which is not, nor was ſure ever to be: The certainty of praiſe argueth undenyably the certainty of this gracious event.
5. The experience of ſo many Kingdoms and States already delivered from the yoke of Antichriſt, and returned from that great Apoſtaſie to entertain the true Goſpell of Gods Son, may perſwade, that the reſidue of the promiſe to be performed is as ſure as that part already accompliſhed in theſe 100 yeares paſt, which wee ſee with our eyes. Experience therefore ſhould ſtrengthen faith, and breed an aſſured hope in Gods people of the Lords more glorious appearing, to take more Kingdoms of the world into his power; that they may mightily ſtrive to it, and patiently wait for it. This hope ſhall not make us aſhamed. Thus the doctrine is opened, and confirmed: The Uſe followes.
1. To inform us in ſome truths depending;Uſe 1. their Corolaries doe iſſue from the ſound of this Trumpet opened unto us.
1. If Kingdoms of the world ſhall have ſuch a Reformation-change, as to be taken from Antichriſt, & ſubdued to our Lord and his Chriſt, then it muſt follow,Corol. 1… Kingdoms may be, and are the Subjects of Reformation, though not the adequat ſubjects of true Converſion. The underſtanding of the true ſtate of Reformation, as well as the viſible ſtate of Kingdomes, which already are become the Lords, will ſufficiently cleare this inference.
1. Reformation is a terme not freequently uſed by our Tranſlators, I remember it but twice,1. Reformation. and in two different acceptions.
1. As reſpecting the matter or object about which Reformation is; And in this ſenſe mainely is the word tranſlated from the Apoſtles expreſſion to be underſtood, as the conſideration of the context will make cleare.Heb. 9.1, 10. The ſpirit there labours to convince the Hebrews, that by the Meſſiah Gods mind was, the whole Jewiſh Tabernacle muſt be throwne downe, that is, their Church frame in all externall Ordinances; He deſcribes the Tabernacle with the adjoyned ordiances and ſervices, which, ſaith he, were impoſed, untill the time of Reformation. foreign.Of what? Surely not of hearts, but of that Church frame and ordinances, which were but figures for that time preſent, putting thoſe which were true, ſpiritual & heavenly in their places. The word here rendred reformation ſignifieth A thorough-righting of all things in the Church in order to eternall life. This Chriſt did, by removing things ſhaken of God, that is, all ſhadow-workes formerly in the Church, in Prieſt-hood,heb. 10.1. foreign. Sacrifice, and other ſervices, all ineffectuall to life, and by eſtabliſhing things unſhaken, the true image-works of heaven,foreign. lively drawne, Prieſt-hood, Sacrifice, ſervices, &c. by which men might certainly be brought to God, and live. This perrectification of Chriſts then is of meanes tending to heaven, that men might ſee the right line directing unto God, in the right uſe of which they may be ſaved: It is a Reformation for hearts indeed but not of hearts; for this reformation may truely be in a Kingdome, and is where the true Prieſt-hood of Chriſt, Sacrifice, and ſpirituall ſervices, are ſet up and maintained; though hearts for the moſt part may not be ſavingly converted to God by them. The point of time in the Text evidences this to be an ordinance-reformation, not an heart one; foreign. a ſingular.for it was a ſingle ſpeciall time, even the ſpace of laying this Church-frame by Chriſt in his Apoſtles, and no longer, the whole worke of this reformation was diſpatched then, but the time of heart-reformation is in all ages; therefore thoſe times are not that, nor this worke that. Kingdomes then are reformed after Chriſt, when his true ordinances are eſtabliſhed and ſubmitted unto, and falſe Antichriſtian conſtitutions are driven out, though few hearts in truth may be changed to God by them.
2. Reformation in our uſe reſpects the perſon or ſubject in whom the power of God may be manifeſt for changing the man according to his mind revealed in former ordinances, thus we read it uſed by our Tranſlators If ye will not be reformed by theſe things, &c. In the letter it is read,Levit. 26.23; foreign. If ye will not be chaſtiſed to me by theſe things, &c. That is, if by theſe meanes, your hearts be not turned to me; So that, here the reformation of the man muſt be intended, And that wee know may be two wayes: 1. In truth, when Chriſt is formed truely on the Soule. 2. In ſhew, when the outward man conformes to theſe conſtitutions of God. Kingdomes may be ſo reformed as to yeeld outward obedience to the Scepter of Chriſt, though few hearts have the true Image of God imprinted on them: And thus indeed doe Kingdomes become the Lords, when they abhorre the lyes of Antichriſt, and cleave to the truth of Chriſt, though but in outward deportment.
2. Kingdomes of the world are ſaid to bee the Lords, but indeed they neither have beene, nor are,2. Kingdomes. nor ſhall be all by true converſion, yet they muſt be by Reformation; No Kingdome that ever was called the Lords on earth had all Saints in it, nor ever ſhall, if Chriſt have propheſied truely, That the laſt day ſhall find men, as the Flood found the world in Noahs daies;Marth. 24.36, 37, &c.yet ſurely ſhall Kingdomes be the Lords, and that muſt be by Reformation as declared, not by true ſaving converſion; And to ſay, that ſuch a Kingdome of Chriſt England is, I ſuppoſe is conſonant to the voyce of this Trumpet.
2. If Kingdomes muſt be our Lords, that is, Chiefe States, Kingly and Ruling Powers, this teacheth us, States and worldly Powers Chriſt will make uſe of to ſet up his glory, Corol. 2.they are not utterly inconſiſtent with his ſpirituall deſignes. Antichriſt indeed had them, and made uſe of them for his owne purpoſe, but therefore Chriſt will not utterly refuſe them.Pſal. 82.6. God himſelfe was the Author of theſe orders of men, thereby purpoſing to make one helpfull to another for reaching his owne glory; And Satan in this as other things was Gods Ape to make uſe of them, but his enemy, to corrupt Princes and great men of the earth to increaſe his owne Kingdome; therefore perſwaded he them to give their power to the Antichriſtian Beaſt,Revel. 17.13. and to make poore ſubjects by their Tyrannicall perſecutions to doe ſo too, that they might be damned together. But now in the reſtitution of all things the Lord Chriſt re-poſſeſſeth theſe Principalities againe, as a needfull order of men, inſtituted by God, though corrupted by Satan, and makes uſe of them for his high and ſpirituall ends to finiſh his worke upon the earth.
1. By putting into their hearts to ruine that great Enemy of grace, the myſticall Babilon, the Mother of Harlots, and of all abominations, as well as all ſpirituall and carnall wickedneſſe.Revel. 17.16.17. So it is written, The Kings ſhall hate the whore, and make her deſolate and naked, and eate her fleſh and burne her with fire, For God hath put it into their hearts to fulfill his will, &c.
2. By making them ſhields of the earth, a defence unto his ordinances and people,Pſal. 47.9. Iſay 49.23. 1 Tim. 2.2. and nurſing Fathers and Mothers to his Saints, that under them and by them godlineſſe may be perfected in his Churches. If theſe Scepters be our Lords, doubtleſſe they are ſo, not as Lords, but as Servants miniſtring for him, which he would not owne, were they not appointed of God, and ſo needfull to helpe on his worke among men.
But Chriſts worke is heart-worke, Obj.what can Princes doe to ward that?
For anſwer,Sol. let it be conſidered; 1. All Chriſts work is not heart-worke, much of it is upon the outward man by reſtraint and otherwiſe, in this the power of the word may be inſtrumentall, being made the Lords 2. Gods outward ordinances were intended to make way to mens ſpirits, his Rod, as well as his Word; Mic. 6.9.the Preacher hath no more ſelfe-power, nor ordinance-power, than the Prince, God makes the Word effectuall, and ſo he hath done the Sword upon a Manaſſeh-ſpirit. 3. The Rod for the fooles back is Gods ordinance,Prov. 19.29. as well as the Word to the obedient eare: who ſo denyeth either, ſinneth againſt that light of nature,Rom. 2.12 whereby the Gentiles were condemned.
But Chriſt did not make uſe of them,Obj. nor his Apoſtles, at the laying of the foundation of the Goſpell; the Kingdomes of the world were then againſt him: how ſhould they be helpefull now?
I returne thus: 1.Sol. Our Lord made uſe of them before that time, and owned theſe Kings and Kingdomes by whom his name was exalted,Pſal, 18.1, &c. and no where hath be ſince rejected his owne ordinance. 2. At that time of Chriſts comming in the fleſh, God by his Prophets had fore-told the ſtate of, enmitie, which the great Roman Monarchy and all the Kingdomes of the earth with him ſhould expreſſe againſt his Some, therefore no marvell, he made no uſe of them at that time, for it was one time given to the Devill to rule in them,Act. 41, 27, 22. and to provoke them to crucifie the Lord of glory, which Gods, counſell determined to be done; but with more righteous and gracious thoughts than they intended. 3. That was not the time wherein God had appointed to take to himſelfe his great power and to raigne; but now the time is come that he hath taken Kingdomes to rule in and by them, and make his lawes their lawes. 4. In that, very time of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, would I but require this, ought not the Caſers and Nero himſelfe to have advanced the Lord and his Chriſt, and have uſed their power to bring their ſubjects in obedience to him, and to have ruled by his truth? Shall not God laugh them to ſcome, and they periſh in his wrath becauſe they did not? I believe they will have no advocate for them. If ſo, then let Chriſtians argue de jure, what Rulers ought to have done then; not de facte, what they did; and if it were the Magiſtrates dutie then to rule men to God in Chriſt, it is no leſſe now; And ſinfull practice is no good preſident againſt Divine right.
3. If this Trumpet ſound the greateſt Woe upon all Kingdomes under the Devill and Antichriſt, and the greateſt Joy to the Kingdomes under God and Chriſt, this is rightly inferred,Corol. 3. The beſt Criſis or judgement of Kingdome? Weale or Woe, it by the Lord that ſwayeth over them. If Satan, if Antichriſt, if wicked Lords, curſed is that State; If God, if Chriſt, if holy Princes and Governours, bleſſed is that Kingdome. O the wickedneſſe of Machiavillian O the folly of humane policy! Germany hath its intereſt, and Spaine, and France, and England theirs, one in alies, another in treaſures, another in hearts of Subjects, &c. And ſuppoſe all theſe kept at any time, or poſſible to be kept, have they ſecured any Kingdome, or can they, that it ſhall not periſh at the breath of Gods mouth? How hath God befo… led the counſells of the wiſeſt Politicians in all ages, and yet are we ſeeking for Kingdomes ſafetie and glory within the creatures Spheare? To have one Lord in Chriſt our King, were a proſpering and ſecuring wiſedome beyond all under the Saline. Did ever a Kingdome keeping its Imeroſt in God periſh? Obedience to the Lord and his Chriſt in all his diſcoveries, is the laving-intereſt of any Common-Wealth;Pſal. 144.15. Sapores King of Perſia to conſtintius the Emperor. Iſay. 14.12. Obad. v. 4. O bleſſed are the people whoſe God is the Lord! What though Monarchs of the Earth write themſelves Brothers of the Sunue and of the Moone, fellow of the Starres, yet heare what the moſt high ſaith, O Lucifer, ſonne of the morning, how art thou cut downe? And, though thou ſet thy neſt among the Starres, thence will I bring thee down. What can a mount to the Starres helpe poore creatures, when the breath of the Lord bloweth them downe againe? One true intereſt in out Lord and his Chriſt, would proſper and perpetuate a Kingdome, and honour Princes above the Satrres; of ſuch would the moſt high ſay, Yee are Gods and Sounes of the muſt high: Pſal. 82.6.of ſuch Kingdomes no end ſhould be but of perfection. Let us then judge of our Wealth by how much we are the Lords, and of our Woe by ſo much as we are not his, or refuſe him. Theſe are the Corolaties.
2.Uſe 2. If this Trumpet ſound forth joy onelyonly to the holy people, and the Kingdomes that are our Lords, and ſo farre indeed as they are the Lords, the wofull ſound of it muſt concerne the Kingdomes which are not his, and all Polities ſo far as they are not Chriſts; ſo that, well may a lamentation be taken up by them and for them; Is there not cauſe, when Chriſt owne's not State, nor States him? It's true, that in the execution of all the dreadfull Woes upon the Romiſh Babel, when the Kings and Merchants of the earth are bemoaning her deſolations, Saints are called to rejoyce over her;Revel. 18.20. Rejoyce over her thou Heaven, and ye Holy Apoſtles and Prophets, for God hath avenged you on her: But when Immanuels Land ſhall in any part break. Chriſts yoke, reſiſt their Lord, provoke him to diſpleaſure, and themſelves to waſting, who can refraine from teares? It calls a dead Grand-mother out of her grave to weepe,Jer. 31.15. Rachel was heard weeping in Jeremiahs time and would not be comforted: Why? For her children once owned by God had ſinned, and were not. Jadah was Immanuels Land, and upon like grounds England may; if this State will not ſuffer the Lord to King it over them,Iſay. 8.18. as they once refoſed, an Aſſyrian Lord, a dreadfull Oppreſſor the Rod of Gods anger, may have commiſſion to paſſe thorow, and goe over, and ſtretch his wings to the breadth of our Land; This will be grievous, when the iron Scepter of wicked Tyrants ſhall teach us how ſweet the Government of Chriſt was, which wee have deſpiſed.
Symptoms of this wofull ſound are the graduall declinations of a people or State from the Lords Rule. That the people have gone a Whoring from God, by ſpirituall and corporall uncleanneſſe, and the little cauſe of Englands rejoycing in it,By M. T. Caſe on Hoſ. 9.1. ye have heard ſufficiently declared in the morning for our humiliation. I confeſſe, I hould have wondred at ſuch ſevere propheſying againſt this kind of filthineſſe, what the reaſon of it might be, but that I ſee ſo many characters of uncleane hearts viſible on their bodies, and have beene certainly informed of moſt abominable Inceſts in ſeverall parts of the Kingdome and eſpecially in the Countie of Kent not farre remote,Sir A. …. complained of it. where the ſonne hath married his Fathers wife, and as is beleeved, ſhe was with child by him, while his father lived. Theſe are evills intolerable in the ſates of morall Pagans, much more inconſiſtent with that Kingdome where the Lord rules. Will ye be pleaſed this day to be humbled for theſe abominations, and put out the power which Chriſt hath given you to cleanſe the Land from theſe and ſuch like abominations▪ We ſhall then hope our Lord will not refuſe to owne us; but otherwiſe, that he ſhould deale with the Land as with an whoriſh woman,Ezech. 23.25. &c. ſlit her noſe, and ſtrip her naked, and ſpit in her face, and give her to death, is all that can be expected. No more of this generall State, my labour is ſaved by the mornings worke, I ſhould rather crave leave to diſcharge the dutie of a faithfull Miniſter of Chriſt unto you, being now called, I look upon you as a State and chiefe Power of Chriſt in this Kingdome; ſo far as you the Lord, and he rules in you, ſo much cauſe have his people to rejoyce; and ſo farre as any defection appeares from that Lawgiver, ſo much VVoe is pronounced upon you, and upon the Land. The ſaddeſt Omen is when in Head and Rulers Chriſt Kings it not. I am not come with Criminations upon out Truely VVorthies, the ſearcher of hearts knowes, I deſire nothing but true Honour from God upon you, and that muſt bee by his ruling in you, and your ruling by and for him: OnelyOnly deviations from this proclaime woe; and it will be faithfulneſſe to let you heare the generall voices of the Land about you, to vindicate your Honour where it is cauſeleſely ſtained, and to be humbled for any defection from Chriſt in the ſtate appearing.
1. Its lamentable with a ſtat…, when fooliſh, childiſh, wicked, and ungodly Steeres-men ſit at the Helm to ſway it. As wiſe a King and Stateſ-man as the generations of men knew, by the wiſedome of God gave theſe dictates, Woe to thee ô Land, Eccles. 10.16, 17.when thy King is a child, and thy Princes eate in the morning. Bleſſed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength and not for drunkenneſſe. See the Woe and Weale of States. Happy Land whoſe King is innobled by God, and Princes made gracious, and taught by him even to the uſe of meate and drinke: there our Lord hath the Kingdome and his Chriſt. But woe to that State, where a King, a childe, a foole ſhall reigne, an enemy to the Lord; and Princes luſtfull, gluttonous, drunken, and laſcivious, ſuch as muſt have a breakfaſt every morning in ſinne, ſhall ſteere by their Counſailes, Chriſt is no Law-giver there. This is woefull,Prov. 19 2. The people muſt mourns when the wicked beareth rule. They ſay there are ſuch among you, if I may ſpeak in uſuall termes, Impious, childiſh, cock-pit Counſellors: If ſo, ſuch are bad Truſtees for Lawes, Liberties, and Religion; A Roman or Spartan-State would provide againſt ſome of thoſe, and not hazzard Kingdomes in the hands of fooles; much more ſhould that State which is Chriſtian. I know yee are not Electors, but the Scumme of People lend ſuch unto you, and will ſpoyle all your boilings unleſſe you take it off. It is a voice of feare among them that love you and pray for you in the Weſt and other parts, that ſuch as could not overcome you by the Sword, labour to doe it by Votes, even by ſending ſuch as will Vote God from among you. Ever Honoured Worthies, ſee if it bee ſo, let the ſight of one root of bitterneſſe among you humble you; And now ſhew forth Chriſt ruling in you: Methinks its poſſible for a Chriſtian Parliament by a Law to purge & prevent ſuch profane Paganiſh leaven, and to honour Chriſts Kingdome ſo much, as to make groſſe ſinne uncapable of a Memberſhip among you. Surely, if that be allowed, our Lord rules not, and this is woefull.
2. It's lamentable with a Kingdomes, where the faces of the poore are grinded,Iſa. 3.14, 15 and the cauſe of the Fatherleſſe, Winddow and Friendleſſe, ſlighted and not heard. The Lord in his Chriſt gives better Lawes, and will require them,Iſa. 1.17. Deut, 10.18 Judge for the Fatherleſſe, plead for the VVidow. God doth this himſelfe, therefore will have his Vice-gerents doe like to him. It is a fame, that yee are profuſe in giving to the full ſonle, while the hungry and friendleſſe, which have ſpent and been ſpoyled of all for the cauſe of God in your hands, are ſome of them ready to periſh for bread. See after this, our Lord will not doe ſo: let not this (Honoured and beloved) be miſtaken; neither I nor any honeſt heart can grutch the due rewards of noble-deſerving ſpirits in theſe times. My heart is towards the Governours that offered themſelves willingly to the worke of God; my thoughts (I am perſwaded) are the ſame with all thoſe worthy ſouls, who deſire to concurre with God. Let the hungry bee fed, and naked cloathed, and fatherleſſe ſuſtained, and widow comforted and well deſerving men not unrewarded. Otherwiſe there will abide a woe.
3. It's lamentable with a Kingdome, where judgement by Bribery or otherwiſe becomes vendible, and juſtice is bought and ſold. So Jeremiah thought, ſo Micah preached, The head judge for reward, &c.Jer. 5.31. Mic. 3.11, 12. Deut. 10.17. therefore ſhall Zion be plowed as a field. Our Lord takes no reward in Judgement, neither muſt the Stewards that act for him; ſuch as doe he curſeth. The voice of people is, there is ſuch a fault among you. I confeſſe it is incredible to mee, that ſuch a Judge as a Parliament, conſiſting of ſo many heads can bee the ſubject of ſuch corruption, and I am confident the body is free in judging: But it is replyed, though the judgement at laſt come free, yet motions many times coſt men deare. I cannot charge it upon any, and I wiſh that they who complaine, would teſtifie to the faces of the guilty at your owne Barre. I am confident the juſt hands among you would be againſt ſuch a man, to thruſt him out of your Aſſembly. But yet renowned Patriots, look into this matter; And to confute the world, every one of you that deſire to act for God in your adminiſtrations, take the juſt complaints of the poor and oppreſſed, communicate to your body, and proſecute righteous cauſes freely as your owne. This will be a Character of the Lord upon the Throne. The neglect will prove a deviation from Chriſt, and breed ſo much woe.
4. It's lamentable for that State, where Juſtice is delayed. Our Lord ownes not this; His command is to the houſe of David, Jer, 21.12.execute judgement in the morning; now that will paſſe away quickly, therefore juſtice muſt ſpeedily be done. It is a tryed truth in ages, A juſt ſentence delayed hath more oppreſſed, then an unrighteous dispatch could have done. They that hang about your doores, and ſuch as have waited long for ſentence, enemies and friends ſay, it is thus with you. I know great affaires and difficult have been and are upon your hands that may hinder quick diſpatches, and great Bodies can move but ſlowly, and it may anſwer much for you. But (yee Rulers of God) bee active, ſeek no delayes, Judge while it is morning; If yee doe not, ſo farre yee deny the government of the Lord, and this will be lad.
5. It's lamentable for a Kingdome to have perfidious and Covenant-breaking guides: Our Lord is not ſo, nor inveed may his deputies bee ſo. Hee is a God keeping-Covenant, faithfull and true;Neh. 9.32. Deut. 4.23. and hee leaves the charge upon all his to doe ſo: Yet it is Printed to the world, That yee are all perjur'd perſons, and Covenant-breakers: I like not reproaching of Rulers, Paul acknowledged it Gods Words, Thou ſhalt not ſpeak evill of the Ruler of thy people, Acts 23.5.He that doth ſhall ſuffer from the Lord: yet yee Chriſtian Senators, it concernes you nearely to be humbled for all ſlips of infirmity about the Covenant of your God (from which what fleſh can keep free?) and vindicate your ſelves from groſſer evills by a true juſtification, or elſe in all the Countries it may get a common faith. Weare the girdle which Chriſt weares,Iſai, 11.5. Righteouſneſſe is the girdle of his loynes, and faithfulneſſe the girdle of his reines; Let it be yours too, and yee ſhall proſper, but unfaithfull and treacherous Rulers, woe to them and their Kingdome, God will eaſe himſelfe of ſuch adverlaries, and avenge him of ſuch enemies. This is wofull.
6. It's lamentable with a State, to be remiſſe and careleſſe of Gods affaires in reforming his Houſe, and ſetling his Ordinances, and giving up the Kingdome to our Lord and his will revealed, yet to be active and mindfull about their owne matters. The Lord made the returning State of the Jewes ſmart for this; and he points at the matter:Hag. 1.4, 5, &c. It is time for your to dwell in your ſieled Houſes, and thu houſe lye waſte? Conſider, this is the reaſon, yee ſow much and bring in little, &c. A woe was upon them, for they did not minde to exalt the Lord above themſelves. And the adviſe to remove it is to fall about the worke.Hag. 1.8. Gods Reformation worke was the end of his calling you together, that your affairs might thrive in the proſperity of his; for ſute Gods matters going well make the Kingdome glorious, this doth not make that. Let not God loſt the glory of the ſmall beginnings viſible toward that work: But is this laid to heart, and is it contended for as your glory? It is ſaid by ſome, that yee will never reforme up to Gods Word, though yee bee ingaged by Covenant to doe ſo. I dare not believe this, I pray for the ſtrengthning of your hands to this work, and wait working in my place, if I might there give helpe, and at laſt receive more from you, for the purging of Congregation, and keeping the holy things of God from being defiled. Yet great Remoraes keek back the Fabrick, Carnall and Spirituall wickedneſſes, though not tolerated by a Law, yet connived at, or not reproved as God would have them, Doctrines againſt the eternall Son-ſhip of the Mediator publiſhed, and aſſertions againſt the foreign, the ſelfe-credibility of Scripture maintained; the very prime errour that brought in the great Apoſtacy. Our Lord and his Chriſt hate ſuch things as theſe; no Lawes of his Kingdome tolerate contradictions to his owne being; his prime Miniſters would not vouchſafe a God-ſpeed to ſuch as thoſe: Yet the world knowes,a Joh. v. 10, 11. with what ardency the toleration of thoſe and other Hereſies as bad are ſtriven for. A timely Item may be given, An admiſſion of Doctrine deviliſh and deſtroying the ſaving revelation of God in his Sonne, is an emiſſion of Chriſt, and ſo the loſſe of him. I would not be ſeverer then God would have me againſt any that pretend Conſcience in matters circumſtantiall, and that divide not from the head; therefore can I not cry, That nothing muſt be tolerated in leſſer differences; but this Chriſt ſaith, That the woman Jezabel muſt not bee ſuffered, Rev. 2.22.(who could not vent worſe lies) under leſſe paine then the loſſe of God and his Chriſt, and the ruine of Churches: And I muſt ſay, that the Toleration of all things muſt be a deſtructive principle to the State or Church whereever it be allowed. Experience hath ſhewed us no leſſe in Kingdomes and Churches called by Gods Name. Theſe are only ſuggeſted, which need a larger Treatiſe to State fully. ye Servants of Chriſt, take heed of yeelding to theſe pretences of Conſcience, the Devill, and not Chriſt hath his throne there; And no ſtronger hold for him than Conſcience if he once take it. Chriſt will not ſuffer him to ſhelter here, therefore ye may not, ſo much as in you lyeth; if ye doe, the Lords Trumpet ſounds Woe upon you.
Doe not other States,Dub. as ſome of the united Provinces, tolerate all theſe hereſies, and protect them, and yet they proſper? Who more?
I deſire not to deale with other Srates,Sol. unleſſe I might doe them good, I am now onelyonly called to our owne, yet others being made exemplary, a word in ſoberneſſe and truth may not offend. I ſuggeſt onelyonly theſe thoughts.
1. Can any man ſay, that proſperitie is a ſign peculiar unto Truth? Then let Rome come in and ſpeake more than any for outward proſperitie.Ecles. 9.1. No man can know the love or hatred of God by all that is before him.
2. Are not ſpirituall wickedneſſes as odious to God as carnall?Gal. 5.20.21. And are not theſe Hereſies ſuch which God condemnes as workes of the fleſh inconſiſtent with the Kingdome of his Chriſt?
3. Hath God made an end yet of viſiting Nations for the ſinnes of them? When God hath done judging were a better time to urge this example than now. I pray God the evill day may not overtake thoſe States; The good Lord cauſe the Cup of trembling to paſſe by them, and purge their iniquities peaceably. But I am preſſed in ſpirit to ſay,1 King. 12.26, &c. 1. King, 13.24. Qui non vetat peccare cum pateſt jubet. Sen. God hath not ſpared ſuch State-Polities, which have ſought their own riſe by the ruine of God and his Truth. Witneſſe Jeroboam the ſonne of Nebat, who made Iſrael to ſinne: And he bids ſinne, that doth not hinder it when he can. I feare their ſorrowes may begin in the day of their confederacy with Spaine. But Gods Truth, my beloved, and not mans example muſt be the rule, ſtrive up to the perfection of God. If none of theſe lyes muſt be in Heaven, it is mans dutie not to allow them on earth. If Hereſies yet muſt be, let us mourne for what we cannot helpe; It is a miſerable neceſſitie when not allowed; it will be rejoycing in iniquitie, either for Stute or Church wilfully to tolerate; And then beware, the third and worſt of woes which this Trumpet ſounds.
3. Laſtly, The ſound of this Trumpet,Uſe 3. and the voyces thence ariſing, as they ſpeake exaltation unto our Lord and his Chriſt, ſo no leſſe dutie and counſell to the States and Powers of the world.
1. To ſuch as are in vaſſalry to the Devill and Antichriſt, that are ſtill raging and in conſpiracy againſt the Lord and his Chriſt; The Pſalmiſts counſell is ſeaſonable for them,Pſal. 2.10, 11, 12. Be wiſe O ye Kings, be inſtructed ye Judges of the Earth; Serve the Lord with feare, and rejoyce with trembling; Kiſſe the Sone; To love and honour, and worſhip the Lord in his Chriſt, is better than to be raging and combining againſt his Annointed. 1. God will laugh at their plots, and have them in deriſion. 2. Our Lord in his Sonne will reign, doe what they can againſt it. 3. The deſolating woes ſhall fall upon all Kingdomes that doe oppoſe, He will breake them in pieces with a Rod of Iron, and daſh them in pieces like a Potters Veſſell. It is firmely written in the Records of God,Iſai. 60.12. The Nation and Kingdome that will not ſerve him ſhall periſh, ye thoſe Nations ſhall be utterly waſted. O that this Trumpet might ſound in the eares of thoſe Kings and Kingdomes that yet give their power to the Romiſh Beaſt!
2. To thoſe States whom our Lord and his Chriſt hath reſcued out of that ſlavery, and made them his owne Dominions, among whom our own may be numbred, Thus the voyces ſay:
1. Bleſſe the Lord in the beauties of holineſſe, rejoyce in the great worke that he hath done, that he hath taken to him his great power, and hath reigned; States, Miniſters, People, give thankes to the Lord God Almightie, which was, and is, and is to come, that he hath taken poore England, and the Kingdomes United, in any meaſure from the hand of Antichriſt, and put his Name on them; O bow downe and worſhip, ſo the 24 Elders, the Church repreſentative, do at the Trumpets ſound for the exaltation of Chriſt.
But why are not the foure Beaſts,Queſt. being the Miniſteriall Emblems, joyned here in theſe gratulations, as in other places? It a ſilence obſerved by ſome, and wondred at,Revel. 5.8. Revel. 19.4. ſeeing before and afterward they are expreſſely named as leaders in the Churches triumphant Songs.
It is conceived by ſome,Anſ. that at this time of Chriſts firſt taking Kingdomes from the Beaſt, the Miniſtry for the generall ſhould be ſo bad and earthy, luke-warme and worldy, as that they had no heart to bleſſe the Lord for ſuch Reformation. And ſure it may note ſuch a time, and experience, in the Reformation thus farre manifeſts, that many to one have bin repining at it. Yet let nott his be caſt as a reproach to thoſe few that are found faithfull, (as too much it is, and under the name of an unfaithfull Miniſtry, the faithfulleſt are deſpiſed) for the true labouring Miniſtry of Chriſt, are found leading the Church againe in their laſt Triumphant Songs over Antichriſts ruines.Revel. 19.4. Let us be humbled for former failings, and renew the firſt love, and labour mightily for our Lord and his Chriſt, let him alone then to plead the cauſe of his faithfull servants, he will make their name ſhine forth as the Sunne in brightneſſe out of the darkeſt cloud.
2. Give up your ſelves & kingdom (Honord Senators) more and more to the name, Law, and Government of our Lord and his Chriſt. As the Lord takes not all Kingdoms up at once, So neither any Kingdom to the Higheſt of Reformation at one time, becauſe he hath ſet them here in a growing State; there were no roome for growth in perfection. Experience hath taught us this will of God; O let us work with God more to be his, by giving up our names to him, by owning his Law, and honouring his Government by obedience.Pſal. 2, 12. This is to kiſſe the Sonne eminently and abundantly, and we ſhall not be deſpiſed for it.
3. Yee VVorthies of this State in whom Chriſt reigns, act from him and to him, feed his people in the Land in his Paſtures, hold out unto them his Lawes, judge equally and impartially in his matters; juſtifie the righteous, condemne the wicked, maintain ſaving Truths, and damne thoſe lyes that lead unto deſtruction. Shew your ſelves to bee deputed Gods indeed: Be, as hee is, ſimple, impaſſible, independent upon creatures; and act as he acts, freely, powerfully, wiſely, impartially, and conſtantly in the way of righteouſneſſe, ſo ſhall ye be truely the Sonnes of the moſt High, and the Lord ſhall be ſeen gloriouſly to reigne in you. The righteous and holy people will be obedient to you, and bleſſe God for you: and the mouth of wickedneſſe ſhall bee ſtopt for ever. Theſe incouragements may quicken and ſtrengthen your hands. And then an end.
1. The Lord is gone out before you, and hath begun to owne England, matching it out of the Dragons Paw, and Antichriſts power, and for 89 yeares hath been our Law-giver. Obſerve his preſence and workings and be ſtrengthned.
2. The time is now for bringing in more Kingdomes from Satan to God, from Antichriſt to Chriſt; what elſe make all the ſhakings in all the Kingdomes of the world at this time. Study this time of God, and worke with Providence, now you have a ſeaſon to helpe up Gods holy mountaine, where no hurting nor deſtruction ſhall be.
3. This worke of the Lord and his Chriſt ſhall not go backward any more in the whole. The great Apoſtaſie is paſt, and now Kingdomes muſt be given to God, and Reformation by degrees ſhall be finiſhed, oppoſitions of wicked ſhall bee but ſtrong gales of winde to drive it home the ſooner: Gods Word is ſure, Babel ſhall fall and never riſe, and Zion ſhall be raiſed and never fall.
4. The Lord Chriſt ſhall reigne for eve and ever, He hath overcome and ſat down in his Fathers Throne; He ſhall now trample upon his enemies, and make them his Foot-ſtoole, but he ſhall put the Crowne upon the heads of his Saints. Let you hearts then be comforted and your hands ſtrengthned, ye men of God, to the Reformation-work at this day; Make England more the Lords then ever, by the power he hath given you: ſo ye, and the people of this Land by experience will make the Churches confeſſion good,Iſai. 26. 13. O Lord our God, other Lords beſides thee have had dominion over us, but by thee onelyonly will we make mention of they Name. Your cry will bee, Lord reigne thou over us, no King but Chriſt for us, no People but the Saints. Now the Lord of all Lords, the King eternall through his Chriſt give you the ſpirit of Wiſdome, Truth, Unity, and Zeale to work mightily for our God, and finiſh his Will in theſe Kingdomes, that unto him in all the Churches of the Saints may be given praiſe and glory everlaſting. AMEN.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Hughes, The Woe-Joy-Trumpet Sounding (1647)