I shall but touch on each.
[1 .] He hath great revenges to take, and that on three sorts of persons :
1st. On oppressing Babylonians; false worshippers and persecutors ; whilst the bride is preparing for the Lord Christ, he goes forth, with the armies of heaven following him, to take vengeance on these his enemies; Rev. xix. 11. These are the Absaloms, the usurpers of his throne, the Hamans, the forcers of his spouse, the chiefest adversaries of his kingdom :P ' He shall fill places with dead bodies' of these, and upon this account, ' wound the heads over many countries ;' Psal. ex. 6. The axe is laid to the root of many a tall tree on this score, even in this nation where he is reckoning for blood, and imposition of yokes ; and he hath found out men inheriting this spirit from one generation to another.
2dly. Scoffing Edomites: there is a twofold quarrel that God hath with that generation of men. Their rejoicing at Zion's distress, and desiring its increase; Psal. clvii. 6. and their endeavour to destroy the residue, when at any time straitened ; Obad. 14. How many in the late trial rejoiced in the straits of Zion ? that sat expecting our destruction, that they might have risen to stand in the cross ways to have cut off them that escaped, wherewith should they have reconciled themselves to their master, but with the heads of
P Isa. xliii. 14. Jer. xxv. 12. li. 35. Rev. xvi. 19.
430 THE ADVANTAGE OF
the servants of Christ? God hath vengeance in such a day as this for Edom also,
3dly. Lukewarm Laodiceans, neutralists, that ' drink wine in bowls,' and are no way moved at the suffering of Joseph. Gallios that care for none of these things. There is a not a generation in the world with whom the Lord is more provoked, than with this Meroz generation : when God is jealous for Zion, he is ' displeased with them that are at ease ;' Zech. i. 14, 15. Now considering how many per- sons of all these sorts are fixed in the nation, and you will see that vengeance cannot be taken on them, without great alterations.
[2.] He hath deliverances to work. It is the time of ' visiting the prisoners of hope :' the prey must be taken out of the jaws of the terrible ; every * staff of the oppressor broken in pieces ;' yea, he delivers his saints, not only from all that they have suffered, but from all that was in the con- trivance of their enemies to bring upon them, which is greater than tliey can execute ; and this will cost something before the Pharaohs of the nation will let his people go.
[3.] He hath great trials to make.
1st. Of his own, that they may be purged.
2dly. Of hypocrites, that they may be discovered.
1st. The day of carrying on the interest of Christ, is a day of purifying and purging; Dan. xii. 10. * Many shall be purified and made white and tried ;' that is a day like a furnace ; Mai. iii. 3. that will consume dross and tin. The remainder of the 'people must be brought through the fire;' Zech. xiii. 9. Joshua's garments are defiled by dwelling in Babylon i"^ many of Christ's own have contracted rust and soil, have got carnal interests and engagements that must be scoured from them.
2dly. Of the discovery of hypocrites. It is emphatically said of the saints, that they ' follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes." All sorts of professors will follow him in some paths ; in such as are consistent with their power, dominion, and advantages, they are even ready to run before him : but he hath some paths that are unpleasing to flesh and blood, paths that he gives no loaves in; here men that say they are Jews, and are not, but lie, give quite out from him. Now
q Zech. iii. 3. ' Rev. xiv. 4. John. vi. 26.
THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST, &C. 431
upon all these several accounts, must that day of the gospel of necessity be attended with great providential alteration.
Use 1. To discover where dwells that spirit that actuates all the great alterations that have been in these nations. Such things have been brought to pass as have filled the world with amazement. A monarchy of some hundred years' continuance, always affecting, and at length wholly dege- nerated into tyranny, destroyed, pulled down, swallowed up, a great and mighty potentate that had caused ' terror in the land of the living, and laid his sword under his head,' brought to punishment for blood. Hypocrites and selfish men abun- dantly discovered, wise men made fools, and the strong as water ; a nation, that of Scotland, engaging for and against the same cause, backward and forward, twice or thrice, always seeking where to find their own gain and interest in it, at length totally broken in opposition to that cause, wherewith at first they closed : multitudes of professors, one year pray- ing, fasting, mightily rejoicing upon the least success, bearing it out as a sign of the presence of God ; another year whilst the same work is carried on, cursing, repining, slighting the marvellous appearance of God in answer unto prayers and most solemn appeals, being very angry at the deliverances of Zion : on the other side, all the mighty successes that God hath followed poor despised ones withal, being with them as with those in days of old ; Heb. xi. 33. ' Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the vio- lence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.' He, I say, that shall consider all this, may well inquire after that principle which being re- gularly carried on, yet meeting with the corruption and lusts of men, should so wheel them about, and work so many mighty alterations. Now what is this, but the most effectual design of the Lord to carry on the interest of Christ and the gospel, whatever stands in the way. This bears down all before it, wraps up some in blood, some in hardness, and is most eminently straight and holy in all these transactions. Isa. xiv. 32. ' What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation ? That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.'