of the earth therewith, as the waters cover the fea; it will not be a particular fhower and fun-fhine of refreshing influences on fome church, it will not be the reviving of the work of God in thefe nations, I muft think, will anfwer fo broad a cloud, and fo univerfal a devaftation and lamentation through the whole churches of Chrift: but we may, according to the Scripture, look on this as a part of the laft and most remarkable affault that the church univerfal fhall have from Antichrift, before that full ftroke on the feat of the beaft. Yea, that this is a very promifing forerunner thereof, for when this party feems now to get up, and begins to move war, we have fure ground to believe his further falling thereby," and that every new affault which that grand adverfary makes upon the church, fhall fo far put forward her intereft, and haften his own ruin. Blefied are they who are helped in this dark hour to watch, and wait until the vifion break up, for it will affuredly Tpeak in the appointed time.

2. These fhort breathings of the church, now under the New-Teftament, may feem alfo ftrange, that we fee her funfhine fo quickly darkened with clouds and followed with fhowers, that any lucid interval the enjoys, wants not long a new ftorm, we fee this very clear what hath been the ufual lot of the church univerfal through all the times of the gofpel, how fore toffed and overclouded, her reft of fhort continuance, and as to particular churches, is it not a fmall period of time which ufeth to be betwixf one affault and another? fo that they draw their breath but a little for fome new trial: I confefs this would be puzling, if fucli a piece of divine providence we fhould ellay to unriddle without the Scripture; but we have the word near us, where we may fee the fate and condition of the church under the gofpel, the most remarkable steps in her way, thefe fharp affaults and fhort breathings fhe was to expect, moft clearly foretold and held forth; yea by confulting this bleffed record, we will find thefer. That a more continued and fixed roft, than that which may be feen hitherto in the church's condition, could not well be reconciled with the Scripture, there was

indeed a great breathing, a moft remarkable ceffation under Conftantine's reign after a ftorm of fome ages' continuance; but O! how fhort; and it is faid, Rev. viii. 1. There was filence in heaven for half an hour; I would here offer fome re marks anent the way of the Lord in this. 1. That the croís and much affliction we find have a more particular respect to the difpenfation of the gofpel than the times of the law; and this is fpecially fuited thereto, to go through many tribulations, which is very confentaneous to a greater manifeftation of grace under the New-Teftament, that greater and more frequent trials for its exercife fhould alfo be let forth. 2. We find fuch fore and ufual affaults, are not only fuited to the most excellent condition of the church, in regard of fpiritual privileges, but doth often tryft the most excellent of the faints, read Heb. xi. 32. This remark ufeth not to fail, how every particular church, befides thefe ordinary changes and toffings in her lot, hath alfo fome more folemn remarkable trials, and fome great affault beyond others, and accordingly, hath fome more fingular breathings and fun-blinks fuited thereto. 3. We cannot find any fuch calm and breathing, which hath not been very fhort, if we turn back and trace the hiftory of the church in former times, but the clouds have returned quickly after the rain; yea, we may obferve how the moft excellent princes and magiftrates, under whom the church hath had fome fweet repofe, have been oft in a very short time taken away, and have but lived a few years. 2. If we wonder at fuch a piece of the Lord's way, why his church is thus toffed, doth not the Scripture fhew what need the hath to be emptied from veffel to veffel, a long calm being no lefs her hazard than a fharp storm, and` more cause oft to watch over her outward reft, than weep over her trouble and toffings: Oh! how oft hath the church loft more by a few years peace than a long continued war; yea, the neceffity of a fharp winter for her recovery hath been fo difcernable ere it came, that if it were not for the down-bearing of truth, and fhaking of the faith of the faints, the continuance thereof might be almoft wifhed as her ad

vantage, let be to be quietly fubmitted unto. 3. Doth not the Scripture alfo witness that continued lafting quarrel, which is betwixt the world and the church, and is perpetuate from generation to generation, that time cannot wear out, fo that if fhe had not fo great a party for her, and an immediate fupport from heaven, we might find more cause to wonder fhe yet breathes, than to afk why her breathings are so short, when there is.fo great a power against her? O! if the church had not this to answer all the meffengers of the nations anent her fecurity, That the Lord hath founded Zion, fure that long breathing defign for so many ages fhould at laft have taken place, even to the razing of her foundation. 4. It is clear the most fingular fellowship and free access thereinto, with Jefus Chrift on the earth, is by the crofs, and in that way witneffed, that it must be faid, if fuch afflicting times did not oft return upon his people, there would be a fhut door betwixt the church and a large part of the Bible, both as to its meaning, and as to its full breafts of confolation, are there not moft fweet refreshing truths there, with which the godly cannot reach fo near, feeling a converfe within an outward calm as under fome fharpeft wrestlings O! what an excellent commentary hath a fuffering time given upon thefe, beyond all that ever was written, on fuch a truth of the Scripture, Perfecuted, but not forfaken, caft down, but not deftroyed, as forrowful, yet always rejoicing? and thus, we fee how in our ftumbling at fuch a providence, we are not. knowing the Scripture, and mistake our own mercy. Whilft we fee thefe fhort intervals which have fo ufually been under the New-Teftament, betwixt one trial of the church and another, and the caufe thereof fo clear from the word; let us alfo confider what warrant there, is yet to expect before the end, a more folemn and remarkable time of the church's enlargement, that not only fhall be very univerfal in its extent; but a more lafting and continued reft from the violence of the world than hath formerly been, which I humbly judge on clear Scripture grounds we are to believe upon the coming of that full ftroke on Babylon, and these VOL. I.

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folemn efpoufals of the Jewish church to Chrift, which feems to be the most remarkable period of that time appointed for the church's reign; and though this will not want fome fharp trials, and a mixture of outward trouble, yet, we find no ground from the Scripture after the difcuffing of Antichrift, and the throwing down of the Turkish empire, for any remarkable interruption and over-clouding, or that the church fhall have any great affault, until that final gathering of the world, and her forces together to the last battle of the Lamb.

3. Is not this a ftrange remark likewife, which is fo ufual a complaint through the church, that with a greater increase of light and knowledge, there is feen a vifible wearing out of life and power, and now in thefe more knowing times, there fhould be fo much ground to fay, tendernefs, and the ferious exercife of godlinefs is more worn out, and in 'a further decay, than in the times of greater ignorance: let us but look through the reformed churches at this day, and then turn home to ourselves, and we will find this remark too fadly verified, how after a great increase of knowledge, the truths of God in fuch a meafure cleared beyond former ages, it may be faid, Oh! whither is the life and power of godlinefs gone, and that fervour which once fo convincingly appeared in following the Lord? We know there is a fweet agreement betwixt the Chriftian's light and life, which hath a mutual fubferviency to each other, and yet to fee fo fad a jar this day, and fo little proportion the one hath to the other, may put us with aftonifhment to a ferious enquiry thereanent; but the Scripture is clear, and makes it plain, if we will confider, 1. That there is a time of a people's efpoufals to the Lord, and then the kindness of their youth, and a remarkable time of love is feen, Jer. xxi. 2. when their affection will be aloft after him; yea, fuch a folemn period of the church's condition may be feen, when it hath not reached that light and knowledge as after; but do we not alfo find how rare it is for a people, to hold up at that rate and measure in their life and love, which at fuch times hath

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appeared, whatever advance there may be as to light; thence we find the church's holding up with the name and profeffion of godliness, Rev. iii, 2. when very fore spent in her life; yea, this decay oft upon fuch an infenfible growth, that it will be hard to get fuch convinced thereof, and remember whence they are fallen. 2. If we will afk at the Scripture, it will alfo fhew, that judicial tendency, which light not improven, hath to a further hardening, how under the gospel men may be made deaf with hearing, For judgment am I come into the world, faith Christ, John ix. 39. which hath that effect, that thefe who fee fhould be made blind: light is furely one of the greatest talents of the church, and brings with it either a remarkable gain or lofs. Nothing so dreadful as this when it is abufed; O! at what a rate doth it run down, and ftupify the confcience, that thus men are not only more deadened, but become the more dead and blind that they were once enlightened. 3. May we not thence know how this is one of the Devil's greatest engines he makes ufe of to turn men's light against their life and tenderness, even to incite them from that excellent difcovery of the grace of God unto wantonnefs, Jude iv. and thus effay an agreement betwixt light and darknefs: O what a dreadful poifon must that be! which can imbitter fo excellent a ftream, and turn fo choice and quickening a mean of our fpiritual life to be destructive thereto; that we fee knowledge, whofe true and native tendency is to humble and abase, being thus impoifoned, does work the contrary effect, even to fwell men, and puff them up; to oppofe thefe gifts against the church, which are given of the Lord for its edification, and for defence of the gofpel.. Thus we find it clear, when light hath made a further advance in the church, the Devil is there at, work to deftroy love, by many bitter contentious debates, where the intereft may be oft feen more perfonal, viz. their repute, and credit, than the intereft of God and his truth; I am far from any intended reflection on that grave and neceffary duty, of appearing in defence of the ruth, and men's ftating themfelyes in oppofition to thefe

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