2. A ferious endeavour for reformation, and to promote the kingdom of Christ meeting with great interrup- tion, how it confirms the Scripture. 3. How great overclouding and darkness on the church following remarkable manifeftations of the glory and power of God, do clearly verify the truth of the word. 5. That ftrange fuccefs which follows the worst of men sometimes in an evil course, made clear. 6. Thefe difappointments the church oft meets with, when ordinary means feem moft promifing. 7. The long continuance of a heavy afflicting rod on 8. That Satan hath ufually fuch a counterfeit of any remarkable work of God, fet on foot in a land, 9. the abounding of errors and herefy under the gof- pel, more than under the Old Teftament, how clear- 10. Thefe great firs and commotions that oft attend. the gospel, when it breaks up in power in a land. 12. What ftrange judgments may befal fome of the ibid. 13. The grofs falling of fome, who have fhined with a great luftre once in the church. 14. The strange contingency of events in the world, This further commended to our serious study, and the great concernment thereof held forth; to be obferv- ing how clearly the Scripture is confirmed by these things, in the way of the Lord, and in the admini- ftration of his providence, which feem to many grounds of fhaking, whence they are ready to quef- This cleared in ten inftances more added, whence the godly fhould be more ftrengthened in the truth; though they feem ftrange at the first look, 1. That the church of Chrift fhould be fo univer- ibid. 2. The fhort breathings of the church under the New Teftament, that we fee her lucid intervals ufually of fo fmall continuance, and how thus the Scripture 3. The wearing out of life and power in the church fo often, with a further increase of light, and how thus 4. That the great men of the earth, and these who fit in the place of judgment, are fo ufually the church's 5. That inftruments fometimes eminently useful in the 6. Men's perfonating godlinefs, and the power there- of, at the greateft rate, who on an after difcovery are found moft gross, how it is no ground for reflect- ing on the truth, but fhould confirm it. 7. These fad jars and divifions which fo frequently arc feen within the church, cleared. 8. That the Lord's immediate hand may feem more heavy on his church and people, in fuffering times, than the hand of man, cleared. 9. To what a ftrange height, a judicial ftroke of indu- ration on the fpirits of men, may come, and how thus the Scripture is confirmed. 10. The righteous falling fometimes with the wicked in a common judgment, whilst fome notour for 183 ARGUMENT IIÍ. 1. That man is now fallen from that excellent ftate ibid. 3.. The truth of fellowship here betwixt God and the foul, and that this is no fancy or delusion, made clear to the world. 4. That the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour. 5. That the promised encouragement to the godly under their fufferings for the truth, falls not to the ground. 205 207 209 212 6. That their is a confcience within men, which clearly answers the discovery of the Scripture thereanent. A further demonftration of this truth, and how convincing witnefs this is against Atheism, held forth. 214 7. How clearly it is made out, there is a reward for the righteous. 8. That verily there is a God who judgeth in the earth, 9. That there are evil fpirits, and fuch a diabolical 11. That the creature is made fubject to vanity, be- 12. That the end of the righteous is peace. 21-6 219 226 230 231 236 239 243 14. That the way of the Lord is perfect, and all his 245 2. In the conduct and administration of providence about the church. 246 250 3. In the great work and contrivance of redemption. 4. In that marvellous order and difpofal of the works of God, through the whole creation, and with what a fubferviency all things are framed and directed to fome special end, confidered. 254 256 1 ARGUMENT IV. FOURTH Argument demonftrates the exact accom- 1. That prophecy of old by Noah, concerning the flood, 2. How that ftrange ftroke and judgment on men, in confounding their languages, hath clearly come to pafs, according to the Scripture; and how this in an ordinary, way could not have been brought about, but the very finger of God unanfwerably manifeft therein, demonftrate. 3. The fulfilling of that which was prophefied con- 263 ibid. 265 266 269 270 5. How the Scripture, and prophecies thereof, with respect to the declining times of the Jewish church, are verified. 6. The exact performance of what by Daniel was foretold, concerning the rife and fall of the monarchies. 7. That great prophecy, which is the intent of the whole Scripture of God, the coming of the Meffiahs, now clearly verified to the world in the appointed time. A rational demonftration thereof, from manifest and undeniable grounds, held forth. 8. The fure performance of that remarkable prophecy, of the in-calling of the Gentiles, and how this marvellous work, without a divine miraculous power, could not be conceived. 9. How clearly that dreadful defolating stroke on the Jews, doth verify what was prophefied thereanent, held forth. 10. How manifeft the coming of Antichrift, and his VOL. I. 271 272 273 274 280 285 288 293 The Author's judgment humbly offered, anent the number of the beaft, and the meaning of the Scrip- ture therein, with fome grounds for clearing the 11. What was prophefied anent the killing of the wit- neffes, now made clear in the event. What of the prophetical part of the Scripture is yet 1. The full ruin of Antichrift and his kingdom. 2. The in-calling of the Jews. 3. A great flourishing of the church, both of Jews and 4. Satan's binding, and the church's reign with Chrift. ARGUMENT V. THAT we have already feveral grounds of confirma- tion, and pledges in our hand, to affure us, that what of the Scripture is to be accomplished shall be 1. The very being of the world is a ground. 2. These truths that are of all other most strange are already accomplished, as anent the coming of the 3. That Jefus Chrift hath begun the war against Anti- chrift, and the enemies of his church. 4. That the church's victory over Antichrift, is not only begun, but in a great meafure advanced. Wherein the Lord's extraordinary providence is no lefs difcernable, than in the firft planting of Chrif- tianity by the apofties, proven by feyen witnefles. 1. The wonderful fuccefs the gofpel hath had in these 2. The church in these laft times hath met with as fharp affaults of cruel and powerful enemies, as in the primitive times; fhewed in feveral inftances. 3. The wonderful patience, refolution, and cheerful- nefs of fufferers in these late times, and inftances 4. The remarkable judgments of God on oppofers of ibid. |