heba, and there offereth Sacrifices,and confulteth with the Lord, Gen. 46. 1.2.3.4. and the Lord encourageth him to goc do vne, bideth him not feare, He will be with him,and there make a great Nation of him, and bring him back againe (and fo he did to be buried)thus are his hands fully ftrengthned in his way: The like alfo was the cafe of the men of Samaria, Ioh. 4. When the woman had told them that Jesus was the Chrift, because ke had told her all that ever shee, did, they beleeved, because of her saying, Verf.39. But when they came unto him, and talked with him, then they faid unto her Verf 42. Now we believe, not because of thy faying, for we have heard him our felves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the World. Thus the voice of Chrift carrieth his people an end in the waies of their callings, with effectuall power unto fudden and speedy execution.

The Reafon is taken firft, from the greater power of the voice Reason s of Chrift fpeaking by his Spirit, then when hee fpeaketh by the gifts of his Servants, and therefore Paul putteth a great difference in this cafe, Acts 19. 31. The Text telleth us, That he purpofed in his Spirit to got up to Hierufalem, afterwards going on his way, he meeteth with certaine Difciples, At. 21.4. and they by reafon of the Propkefie of Agabus concerning Paul, verf. 11. fell upon him and wept, and befought him not to goe up to Hierufalem, What meane you (faith he) to weefe, and to breake mine heart, for 7 amready not to be bound onely, but to dye at Hierufalem for the name of the Lord Iefus. Behold here the Spirit of God had revealed clearely himselfe in the heart of Paul, to ftrengthen himto got up to Heirufalem, thefe Difciples (upon the Prophecie of Agabus, that he should be bound at Hierufalem) faid to Paul through the Spirit, that he fhould not goe up: By what Spirit? By the gifts of the Spirit, the spirit of love, and their care of the Churches; but Paul waves them all, for hee had the minde of Chrift, by the voice of the Spirit him!elfe; this was indeede in times of extraordinary Revelation: but it fheweth you neverthelefle the difference betweene the voyce of the Spirit, and of the gifts of the Spirit, he giveth the greater power to the Spirit,. then to the gifts of the Spirit, being fuch kind of Gifts, wherein humane frailty might be mingled...

The fecond Reafon is taken from the greater power of Gods Reaf. 2. voyce in Publike, then in private Administration; If one of thefe Elders fpeake unto them, it may be but a private incou

ragement.

ragement Such as the advice of Nathan was unto David, to build the Temple, 1 Chro, 17.2. But had he come, (as afterwards he did) in way of Publike Administration; Hee could not have beene fo mistaken as then he was; For therein doth the Lord more specially reveale the prefence, and the power of his Spirit, and grace, Matth. 18.18. 19. 20. Therefore it is, That when there commeth a great voice out of the Temple, it carrieth along the Seven Angelsto a speedy dispatch of this great worke, of pouring out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

The first Vfe may teach us all, that have any private inducements or incouragements to any calling, or worke of God, by any Church-Officer, or Church-Member, not to fleight the fame; for thefe Angels did not fieight the motion, when one of the Church Officers gave unto them the feven golden Viols,but they tooke the Vials, And when they see their time, when there commetha publike Voice out of the Temple, then doe they all follow on effectually with their worke, in their feafons. Sleight not therefore private encouragements to good callings,but looke for further provocation and ftrengthning in them, from the pub like Miniftry, even from the voyce of Chrift in the publike Ordinances of his Church. Private Revelations without the Word, are out of date, but certaine it is, that God doth speake by his Spirit in private Meditation and Prayers, and conferences with Bretheren; and in all these, comforteth his people with the manifeftation of his fatherly goodneffe, yet fpeaketh nothing, but in his word, and according to it. Now thefe be good hints, and good encouragements, which God giveth his people in then, and by no meanes to be fleighted, when God fheweth his prefence inthem: God forbid that any of the fonnes or daughters of God fhould put them away. Yet this let me fay, though fuch be faire incouragements, (what private duty foever they come in) whether to beleeve on this or that gracious promife of God, or to ftir us up unto any other Spirituall work, the fervants of God are hereby led to attend the more upon the publike Adminiftrations of the Church, for the further clearing of the mind and will of God; There will the Lord more clearely reveale himfelfe by his Spirit in every Ordinance of his Worship, there doth he delight to poure out all his fresh Springs, Pfal.87. Last, For there the Lord commanded the bleffing, even life for evermore, Pfal 133.3. Eternall life doth he giye in the Publike fel

lowship

lowship of his Saints, there doth hee confirme their callings to
them, lo ke unto the Lord therefore for his bleffing in this way,
and fo fhall you be faithfull followers of thefe holy Angels of
God, who being privately incouraged, waite for a publike voice
to carry them an end in their Adminiftrations, wherein the Lord
by the mighty power of his Spirit doth confirme al his Promises,
threatnings, and Commandements, and more throughly stirreth
up the hearts of all his people to take hold of al that is fpoken un-
to them; therefore if ever you perceive any voyce or spirit to
take off a man from Publike Ordinances, and caule him to
deight them,then ever looke at it as a manifest delusion, foreve
ry difpenfation of God, doth butenkindle a more carneft long-
ing that the Lord fhould confirme the fame by his broad Letters
Patents, the Publicke Word and Sacraments in the Church. Yea
fo farre doethe Saints of God ftand hereupon, that whatsoever
is in private onely brought unto them to beleeve, they will finde
much adoe to rcft fatisfied in it, untill they fee it confirmed in
publike also. As when men have any fpeciall grant from their
Prince, and have it confirmed by the Privy Seale, they will not
reft therwith, but will go to the Lord Keeper for the Broad Seale,
to confirine what was before Sealed to them, though either of
them apart be sure, yet both joyned together will make it more
fure: Shall men be fo carefull for this world, and for temporall
Patrimonies, and fhall Chriftians take up every motion in private
and fleight publicke Ordinances? Be not deceived, whatsoever
is brought unto you by the fpirit of God in private, will caufe
you to lecke for more cleare evidence from his loud voice in
Publike, where his voice goeth on more ftrongly and powerful-
ly, convincing the Confcience, and breaking downe all Tempta-
tions and difcouragements that might hinder the comfort of
Gods people.

The ufe in the 2.place ferveth to reflect a iuft reprofetherfore fe 2.
upon any that fhall defpife or negle&t the Publike ordinances of
God in the Church,for you see here that what is confirmed in the
whole Church is the great voyce of God, and that without con-
tradiction to the holy Saints and Angels, if therefore the Publick
ordinances be vndermined and borne witneffe against by any
that commeth not from the fpirit of thefe Angels, but from
fome evill roote in the hearts of the founes and daughters of
men, the report of which is a vexation offpirit to heare there-
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of.

of. Thus much for the firft note. Goe poure out the vials of the
wrath of God upon the earth.

And the first Angel went, and poured out his viall
Earth, &c.

upon the

Here is a world you fee difcribed, having an earth and sea, and rivers, and fountaines, and funne, and aire, and they all belong unto the Beaft, and therefore the firt Viall is poured upon them that had the marke of the Beaft, and the last brought in the fall of Babilon: So that from first to laft,they are the judgments of God vpon the Roman Antichriftian state, as fixe of the feaven feales brought in judgements upon the Pagan Romane world, and the feven Trumpets, his Iudgements upon the Chriftian world, as they were ruled by Chriftian Emperours: fo are the feven latt Vials powred out upon the Antichriftian world; From hence therefore you may note thus much.

That the whole antichriflian world, or flate is but earthly Dalt.2. and not heavenly. For all thefe Angels are commanded to poure che vials of the wrath of Ged vponthe car h, and they went not beyond their commiffion, in pouring them upon the fea, and Rivers, and fountains, and vpon the funne,and upon the throne of the Beat, and the River Euphrates, and the Aire; whereby the Holy Ghoft holdeth forth vnto us, that all these are but earthly, the fea is but earthly, the fountaines and rivers earthly, their funne an earthly funne, and the throne earthly, &c. And though it is true (as fome fay) poure out any judgement upon any clement, and the earth fareth the worfe for it: yet take the defcription of the Holy Ghost, as it is plaine, and intendeth the antichriftian world alone: They are of the worid, therefore they speake of the world, and the world heareth them, 1 Iob.4 5. Andke that is of the earth, speaketh of the Earth,loh.. 3. 31. And fo alfo are all their ordinances earthly.

Reaf.1.

The firft Reafon is taken from the efficient cause of all their frame and flate,which is but from the Earth: all their Doctrine, worship, and government, fo farre as it is Antichristian is but humane, if not divellifh, Rev.13.18. The whole number of the Beast, whatsoever is numbred to belong unto him, is but the number of a Man, humane inventions and will-wifedome, men will have it fo, and this is the Summe of all Popish Religion, Reaf. 2. As the whole frame of their Religion commoth from the earth, fo doeth it tend to the earth againe, for what doth all.

drivé.

drive at, but the maintenance of an earthly Pompious, flately Prelacy;nothing in the world but devices to get money : they are full of covetoufnefs and ambition;both which,what are they but an open doore to their earthly libertie ? thefe are fenfuall (faith Inde ver. 19.) not having the fpirit: There is nothing fpirituall in all their orders, nor in their pleasant fights, weet fmells, delightfull mufique, and many goodly Feats they have, and what are they but to pleafe the tafts of iren; and all their carved and painted flocks, and ftones, their goodly Images,what doe they but pleale mens fancies, And

This you hall finde in the third place, that their best devotions doe but leave a man in an earthly and carnall eftate, Reafon 3. and therefore the Holy Ghoft fpeaketh boldly, Rev. 13.8.That all that worship the Eeaft, their names are not written in the broke of life of the Lambe flaine from the foundation of the world: There is not a man of them, that knowing and beleeving no more then what he hath from the Beast, can be faved, therefore they thought not amifle who have written,that a Papist by his Religion cannot goe beyond a Reprobate, fo then whatfoever is meant by these things in the antichriftian world, whereon thefe vials were poured, all is but carthly; an earthly fea,an carthly funne, an earthly light, an earthly aire, fitter to choake men (fo farre as it is Antichriftian) then to breath any life into the foules of Chriftians.

To fhew you the vanity of all their indeavours, that study to reconcile Popish and Protef ant Churches together, I will Ve fay but thus much, you may as foone bring Heaven and earth together, as you can draw Popish and Proteftant Religion together; for Popish Religion is all but earthly, and all the Churches of Christ are Heavenly, and therefore when Heaven and earth meete, then will Paperie and Protrolemy meete together,

In the fecond place let all men beware, left they have any licourish affection towards the old Religion,as they call it, if you fhall hearken to the voyce of fuch charmers, charme they never fo wifely, your belt Religion will be but carthly,your prayers earthly your faith earthly, your obedience will bee earthly, you fhall find nothing therein able to answer an Heavenly and fpirituall mind: what though they tell you that Proteflant Religion loveth cafe'; but as for them, they have their whippings,

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and