as never was since man was upon the earth, Dan. xii. 1. *Rev. xi, 7, 8. The witnesses of Jesus must first be slain, and their dead bodies for a time he in the streets of the great city : And as the naturalists observe, that a beast never bites more furiously and dead- ly, than when dying, even so it is with this beast also which hatli iron teeth, and is terrible above all that were before it, Dan. vii. 7. And when the strong God ariseth to judge Babylon, she shall be found quite drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, Rev. xvii. 6. So that we whose lots are fallen into such a day as this, wherein the fiercest rage of the last and most fu- rious of all the beasts, is falling in a dreadful storm upon all the re- formed churches of Christ, had need of a more than ordinary de- gree of faith and patience, to establish us in the truth, and enable us to bear a glorious testimony for the Lord Jesus.
If any man's heart now shall fail him, and to avoid the fury of antichrist, shall basely betray the truth, and forsake the camp of Christ, and receive the mark of the beast, though not in his fore- head, yet in his hand, by a politic and secret compliance with his worship, that man is adjudged, by the dreadful sentence of the great God, to drink the cup of his pure and unmixed wrath and indignation, Rev. xiv. 10. even such as the devils and damned drink : For we may say of that wrath, which is ordinarily poured out upon sinners in this life, as they say of darkness, Non dantur puree tcnaby-ce ; there is no pure or perfect darkness here; so neither is there any pure unmixed wrath here, it hath in this life an allay of sparing mercy in it ; but this is pure.
To prevent this sad issue, and preserve thee from this terrible wrath of the Lamb, are the following counsels and cautions designed and intended : And Oh ! that they might be blessed to establish the sliding feet of tempted saints ; for I cannot without trembling observe, how many forward professors begin to give ground already and fall into a compliance "vvith antichristian abominations ; surely this is the worst time that ever they could have chosen for it, now that the day of vengeance is in the heart of Christ against her, and the year of his redeemed even come ; his righteousness so nigh at hand, and his salvation ready to be revealed.
I shall detain thee no longer, but intreat thee to weigh these things, brought to thy hand by providence, and with the spirit of love, to cover the weaknesses of the author, who is sensible of his own infirmities, and continual need of divine assistance, to enable
* It is observable, that Rome, in this prophecy, bears the natne of Egypt and Baby- lon, in respect of the misery and bondage exercised upon God's people by it ; by which also is not obscurely hinted, the time and manner of their deliverance from it. For both from the one and the other, were the Jews delivered, when reduced to the greatest ex- tremity, Exod. vi. 9. and £zek. 2xvii. 11, 12.
AWTIPHARSIACUM SaLUBERRIMUM. 517
him to stand ; and to that end earnestly hegs a remembrance in thy prayers^ when thy heart is most * warmed^ enlarged, and raised in communion with thy God,
Antipharmacum Saluberrimum, &c. Dear Christians,
? T HEN oiir Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, beheld the multitude, he had * compassion on them, because they fainted f, and were as sheep having no shepherd, Matth. ix. 36.
After the pattern of those tender bowels of Christ, the chief shepherd, do the bowels of compassion infused by him into his ministers, the under-shepherds, work and move towards the flock, in like cases and exigencies. God is my record (saith that great apostle) how greatly I long after you all \ \in'\ or after the manner of the bowels of Jesus Christy Phil. i. 8.
And truly, considering the deep distresses, and languishing con- ditions, to which many thousands of the Lord's flock are at this day exposed, how many among you are wandering from mountain to hill, seeking pasture, but finding none ; and like those troops of Tenia, Job vi. 19- return ashamed, and disappointed, from those places where you were wont to be refreshed, enlarged, quickened : And how your pretended shepherds have taken to themselves the |[ instruments of a foolish shepherd, ruling you with force and rigour, Ezek. xxxiv. 4. " not sparing the flock,'' it makes my heart melt within me, and my compassions for you flow together.
And further, apprehending what a deep and desperate design your adversary the devil hath upon you, in this hour of temptation, to overthrow your faith, quench your love, and undermine the very foundation of your profession ; and what singular and extra- ordinary advantages he hath now upon you, engaging you singly and apart ; your faithful teachers being removed into corners, your societies broken, dangers threatening on every side, carnal neighbours and relations, by persuasions, examples, and dangerous
* Dulce comntercium, sed breve momcntumi cum talis J'ueriSy memento met. Bern.
* His bowels yearned, sffrXay^vi&Tj, Bowels are a metaphor, to signify motherly and tender mercies, Luke i. 78.
t E/tXs?/j,asvo/ xa/ i^oiijjiuvoi, quite spent, tired, and fallen down. + [/n] put for [instur.^ jl Forcipcs, et mule tree,
518 ANTIPHARMACUM SALUBERRIML'M,
insinuations, digging about, and loosening your root, and so pre-* paring for your utter subversion, by the next gust of temptation : I thought it high time to come into 3^our assistance and rehef, with a word of counsel and supjwrt, though I venture for you, as David's worthies did, to bring him the waters of the well of Bethlehem through the host of the Philistines.
And may I but preserve the peace of mine own conscience, by discharging faithfully a duty to which it impels me, and have the blessing of some poor soul ready to perish come upon me, I shall little regard the pains or hazard of this enterprize for you.
The plain design of these few sheets, is to countermine the enemy of your souls in his present grand designs against you; either in point of stability, by unsettling you ; or of duty, by affrighting you ; or of comfort, by discouraging you.