The prophets Malachy and Isaiah prophecying to the saints and professors of this generation of the great things the Lord will doe in this their day and time.: Shewing (amongst other things) the nature and quality of the apostachy. The judgement of the Lord upon the leaders of the apostacy. How the Lord will deale with, and carry himself towards, others guilty of the apostacy. The certainty of deliverance at hand for the true seed. / By a wel-wisher to the kingdome of our Lord Jesus. To which is prefixed two very useful epistles, by Christopher Feak, and John Pendarves, ministers of the Gospel.

TO THE READERS: Whether Such as follow the Lamb, or such as wonder after the Beast. Love and Pity, for the Lords sake.

OUR dear Lord, in the dayes of his flesh spake many words privately among his Disci∣ples, to this effect, viz. that they should be hated of the world, that they should be hated of all men for his Names sake: yea, and in that last solemn Addresse to his father, related, John the seventeenth (wherein he hath left upon record a pattern of his intercession on the Behalfe of his Disci∣ples, who did then or should afterward beleeve on him through their word) he doth expresly mention this matter, (surely his heart was full of it and much af∣fected with it) I have given them thy word (sayeth

hee there to his father) and THE WORLD HATH HATED THEM because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. And againe in a certaine place hee testifieth saying, If the WORLD HA∣TETH YOƲ, yee know that IT HATED ME be∣fore it HATED YOƲ, If yee were of the world the world would love its owne, but because yee are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore THE WORLD HATETH YOU. Now to beare up their hearts under this Burthen of the Hatred of the world, he puts them in mind of that lesson, which hee had formerly taught them, Mat. 10.24. John 13.16. saying, Remember the word that I sayed to you: the servant is not greater then the Lord, &c. If they have persecuted mee they will presecute you also, if they have kept my saying, they will keepe yours also. The spirit and life of the incouragement lyeth in this, that the Son of God was their Brother and companion in Tribu∣lation, and in suffering the hatred of the world, they should drinke out of the same cup with him in all the afflictions which they were to indure from the world. Now if any Man, that observes the con∣siderablenesse of these and many other passages of this Nature, should desire to know the particular reason why the Lord Jesus (with his Disciples) was allwayes thus hated, persecuted and Abased by the world, Did Hee and they give any just Cause of ha∣tred and ill-will against them? I answere, no surely, there were never a more innocent and harmelesse sort of people in the world then they, But the true reason of this inveterate hatred is expressed by him∣selfe John the 7 and 7. in a Conference betwixt him∣selfe and his Bretheren which did not beleeve in him. The world (sayeth Hee) cannot hate you but me it hateth

because I testifie of it (or concerning it) that the workes thereof are evil. Observe the matter seriously, and you will well perceive, that the world hath workes of its own, the world is full of its owne proper workes, doings and bufinesse, which it is alltoge∣ther conversant about, Things which it must mind and manage, with all care and Industry: then second∣ly consider, these workes are such as are exceedingly beloved and delighted in by the world, and the world cannot indure with any patience that any sort of men should account them evill workes; but then thirdly if any should presume not only to Account, but also to Call them evill workes, and so testifie a∣gainst them as evill workes and odious in the sight of God; for such a Testimony though given by the Son of God himselfe (who for this purpose came into the world, that hee might beare witnes: to the truth) would the world hate him, and persecute him even unto death, if not hindred by the overruling power of God himselfe.

And therefore if the true Disciples of Christ him∣selfe (who having his Spirit, his Truth, his Cause, his Glory and all his precious Concernments dwel∣ling and working in them mightily, are constrained, by the power of his love, to second and confirme This his great Testimony against the world and the wicked workes thereof) should incurr the same hatred, indignation and wrath from the world, which was measured out unto him, they must by no meanes think it a strange thing, but rather rejoyce exceed∣ingly in their being thus made conformable to the fathers first borne among many Brethren.

And blessed be the Name of the Lord, that there are any among us, who are counted worthy to suffer

shame and violent Dealing for his Name, and for their. Testimony concerning the world, that the workes or Deeds thereof are evill.

But will it not bee well worthy your time and leisure to inquire into these two or three particulars, first, what doth the Lord Jesus understand in the Scriptures before mentioned by the word world. Secondly what are those evill workes which our Lord testified against in the dayes of his flesh; and Thirdly what is the nature of the Testimony of Christ and his Disciples that the world should be so much incensed with hatred and indignation against them for it, Hearken oh yee Children of men, and consider with all your might and with all speed, for the time of Consideration is allmost spent and passed away. To the First I shall return this Account, un∣doubtedly by the word world in the Scripture menti∣oned, a Certaine part of mankinde, namely the dege∣nerate part, the worst part contra-distinguished from the Best, namely the Church is here to be understood, for the Church and the world, are Contrary one unto the other, evermore.

This degenerate part of the world or of mankind I distinguish thus, some of them, are such as having departed from the light and Law of Nature, did af∣terward by degrees degenerate into Brutishnes, and profannes, as namely, the nations of the earth, which neither worship God, nor love their Neighbour ac∣cording to the written rule, but live and walke after their own and their Rulers lusts and inventions in all things; being full as of all ungodlinesse, so of all unrighteousnesse likewise, as may be observed once for all, in Rom. 1. from the 18 verse to the end of the Chapter. These Gentiles in the poynt of Government

and worship have not Jehovah for their Judge, or their Law-giver, or their King, but have in a constant suc∣cession submitted to the foure Beasts which rose out of the great Sea (as is described by Daniel the Prophet) as to their Soveraigne Lords in all things.

Others of the degenerate part of Mankind, are such as having been taken into Covenant with God, from among the Idolatrous Nations, to be his Church and people, did for a time observe and doe his Comman∣dements, but afterward forsaking the Lord their God, have joyned themselves to Idols, after the manner of the Nations of the world, and so have gradually degenerated into the very Image and simi∣litude of the Gentiles which know not God, and so are of the world, as the Aegyptians were of the world, and as the Canaanites were of the world. This was the state of the Ten Tribes, and this state is notably de∣scribed in Jeremy the 2 from the 9 to the 21 verse.

Such also were the degenerate Members of the Jewish Church in the first day of the Son of man, they were of the world, as the Romans and the Grecians were of the world; and therefore without controver∣sie our Lord in the forementioned passages, doth in∣clude within the compasse of the word WORLD, the Order of the Priests (from the Highest to the Lowest) the whole state of the Elders, the whole Hypocriticall Generation of the Scribes and Phari∣sees, and the Generality of the people, who being corrupted from the simplicity and purity of the Di∣vine Institutions, did not long after the Testimony aforesaid, Joyne in the Murthering of the Lord of glory: This is the world which hated Jesus Christ, even with a more perfect hatred, then Herod, or Pontius Pi∣late, [or the Centurions, or the Souldiers of the Ro∣mans.

These Things are plain and clear to almost every understanding, and therefore I for bear further explication.

Only let me add this. As it was then even so it is now, in these our dayes, as by many Instances it might ap∣peare.

That the Turks are of the world, that the Jews are of the world (and not of the Church) that the Per∣sians, the Indians, the Moores are of the world as the nations before the day of Christ, were of the world is Confessed by us all: But is it not as true? that the Idolatrous, the prophane, the Brutish, the Barbarous Papists are of the world, as the Mahume∣tans &c. are of the world? (though they pretend to be the only true Church of God upon earth) this also will be assented to as the Truth among the pro∣testants; they may beleeve upon Scripture ground, that the Romish Church as now degenerated, must needes be very neere of Kin, to the Heathenish world, because the spirit of the world and the Characters of the world, workes effectually in them, and is plainly di∣scerned upon them, as in and upon others of the chil∣dren of Disobedience.

But now what shall wee say of the Protestant Chur∣ches, of the Reformed Churches, which have a name to live, to bee the Spouse of Christ, &c. wee cannot indure to heare them evill spoken of, wee cannot beare it that they should be looked upon as the world, or the worldly Church, or the Carnal Church, these are odious expressions, they and their state are not to bee compared with the state of the Jewish Church as our Lord found it when he testified that they were the world and that their workes were evill.

To this, with an holy Boldnes as in the sight of Christ, I dare to say, that in their present Constituti∣on and Condition they may, without doing them a∣ny wrong, be compared to the Jewish Church and state in the Dayes of Christ and his Apostles, in re∣spect of their superstitions and persecutions, of their hatred and enmity to the pure wayes of Christ as the popish Church, may be justly compared to the A∣postate Ten tribes in respect of their Idolatryes and persecutions; for this is a most certain truth, full of evidence in it selfe, where you find the spirit of Ido∣latry, Superstition, Tradition, Ceremony and for∣mality in worship prevailing, and overpowring the true Gospel spirit, there will you find the spirit of the world. Moreover where the Lord Jesus and his Members feele the power of the spirit of injustice and opression of hatred and persecution overcoming the spirit of truth and equity, of righteousnes and innocency, there they may safely say, these Men are the men of the world, and so no other, no better then the world.

Now then forbearing to inquire into the state of the reformed Churches abroad, let us take a short survay of the nationall Churches of England, of Scotland and Ireland, which are accounted in the Number of the Reformed Churches, and their Daughters the Parish Churches, as they were for∣merly or are now Constituted and Governed by the Lords Spirituall the Lord Byshops the Lord Presbi∣ters, and the Lord Triers under Charles R. and Oliver P. those two protestant Princes those two Defen∣ders of the faith, those two supream Heades (succes∣sively) of the Church in these parts of the Earth with all their Ecclesiasticall furniture of Church

officers patrons, Parsons, Vicars, Curates, Church Wardens, Clearks, Sextons, &c. not to omit all their Parish and Collegiate-Church members. Did they formerly or doe they now looke like the Chur∣ches of Christ, or like the Churches of Antichrist? were they not, are they not, of the world? did they not, doe they not speake of the world? as sayeth the Apostle Iohn, yea all of them, from the Head to the tayle? as sayeth the Prophet Isayah. Were they not, are they not now againe (under the shadow of their Lord protectors wings) Constituted Counte∣nanced, maintained and Governed after the Inventi∣ons of men, after the traditions of Antichrist, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ? doe not these Churches and their officers worship the Lord in vaine, teaching for Doctrines the commande∣ments of Men? nay more then this, did they not in the Prelates dayes, doe they not in the dayes of the present Tryers appeare full of the spirit of enmity against the wayes of Christ, against the Kingdom of Christ, against the Government of Christ, and his Legislative power? is there not now, as formerly a great and a generall hatred among the Scribes and the Pharisees, and the Corrupt Lawyers, against the new non-conformists, & nonsubscribers, and against all those who in the spirit of Christ shall boldly beare witnes that they are the world, and not the Church, and that their workes are evill? Let those who are spirituall consider the matter, and speake their mind. Let those whose senses are exercised, by reason of use, to discerne betwixt Christ and Beliall, betwixt the Inventions of men and the Injunctions of God, well weigh the premises in the balance of the Sanctuary and give judgement according to God.

But to hasten to the second Question, What were those EVILL WORKS, which our Lord did te∣stifie against, or for which he did bear witness against the world, and for doing whereof, he was hated of the world?

I answer. Without Controversie, THOSE E∣VILL WORKS may be reduced to two or three ge∣nerall Heads. Either such as were wrought by them in the way of an ECCLESIASTICALL BODY, or such as were brought forth in the Manner and Method of a CIVILL STATE, or else such as were done by the confusion and mixture of ALL together, as the Holy Spirit in that notable Prayer of Peter inti∣mates, where all sorts of Interests, Civill, Ecclesiasti∣call, Military, are declared to Combine together a∣gainst our Lord. Acts 4.27. Of a truth against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both HE∣ROD, and PONTIƲS PILATE, with the GENTILES, and the PEOPLE of Israel were gathered together. Here is a Combination in the Church, in the Court, in the CAMP, against the Saviour of the world. And upon examination of the works and workings of all these parties, we shall find cause to say they were to be te∣stified against as Evill.

But more particularly, to reckon up some of them as we find them occasionally recorded by the foure Evangelists (and, as we goe along, to compare them with those evill works which are now carried on in these parts of the earth) as done by the High Priest, by Herod, by Pontius Pilate, by the Gentlemen of the long Robe of both professions, &c. First, let us begin with their Counsells against Christ, those works of darknesse, they are evill works within doores, Mat. 12.14. The Pharisees went out, and held a Counsel (privately) how

they might destroy him. Here were consultations held against the life of Christ. So Mat. 27.1. All the chief Priests, and Elders of the people tooke counsel against Jesus, to put him to death.

We shall have an exact account of all their wicked murtherous Consultations against the Person, the Do∣ctrine, the Honour of the Lord Jesus, in that day when he shall Judge the secrets of all men, according to his Gospel. But in the mean time we know that these Deeds of Darknesse, were some of those evill workes, which our Lord did testifie against.

And in like manner, at this day we know (in that light of truth which will not faile us) that there are many close & cunning consultations to destroy that Cause of Christ which not long since was, in shew, highly honoured, and contended for, by him, who is known by the name of his Highness the Lord Prote∣ctor, &c. but who gave him that Name, I leave to him to Answer, when he shall be called to a strict ac∣count for all the evil counsel given against the Lord, and his followers, because of their righteous reproofs of the Army and their Generall, for the Hypocrisie, Apostacy, Oppression, and Persecutions, whereof they are guilty in the sight of the Sun.

Another kind of evill works, was their watching of the Lord Jesus, and sending forth Spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him to the power and Authority of the Governour, Luke 20.20. And the Scribes and Pharisees (Luke 11.53.) urged him vehemently, and provoked him to speak of many Things, laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. Certainly every man who loves the Lord Jesus, will easily grant these were very wick∣ed

workes. But are not such practises frequently used by the Spies, which are Imployed from the Court and Council at White Hall? I am sure before our Im∣prisonment, Many who came to catch our words, feigned themselves to be Just men, to be good men, whereby they were capeable to intangle us in our talke. The same Spirit which wrought effectually in those children of disobedience, doth work in these as effectually, and we doubt not but we shall prove these Spies to be guilty of the same evill workes, with those Spies which watched Christ, and their Masters to be of the same conspiracy, with the Pharisees and Herodians, namely at that Day when his Highnesse shall stand before the Judgement seat of Jesus Christ, without either his Clergy or his Lawyers to plead his Cause. We shall then understand what Instru∣ctions they were which he or his Secretaries gave his Catch poles, when he imployed them, and what con∣ference he had with them when they read our Ser∣mon Notes in his hearing; and all those works of darknesse and secrecy shall be brought to light, and Our Lord Himselfe shall second our Testimony, That their Deeds were evill.

Again, Other evill workes of the world, and the men of the world, which the Lord Jesus did testifie against, was, Their devouring widdowes houses, while for a pretence they made long prayers, Mat. 23.14. Surely this was a double evill worke, and therefore He tells them they shall receive greater Damnation. Not only widdowes Houses have been devoured by the new Rulers, but whole Families, in pressing and forcing, or else inticing men to the ends of the earth for Gold and Silver, thousands having perished in the Enter∣prize; but while these Families were devoured by

Sea and Land, what frequent fastings and long pray∣ers were made at White-Hall: The Lord beholds this. Hypocrisie, and it will one day appear how abomi∣nable this project was in the sight of God (as it doth in part already) not withstanding all their long pray∣ers to colour it over, as a Designe against Antichrist and his Kingdome.

Besides these evill works before Mentioned, the Lord declares against them, because of their extortion and excesse, as it is in Matthew, because of their rave∣ning and wickednesse, as it is in Luke, yea he speaks of their Binding of heavy Burthens and grievous to be borne, and laying them on mens shoulders, but they will not move them with one of their fingers. For my part, I am verily perswaded that the same evill workes are Done to the Innocent people by this present Sword power, and their cryes enter into the ears of the Lord of Hoasts, though they pity them not, who Doe thus oppresse them.

Many more might be added, which in the Judge∣ment of all the true Disciples of Christ, will be ac∣counted evill workes, (but I must not inlarge a Pre∣face beyond its proportion) this therefore shall suf∣face for the second Point, what kind of evill workes they were which Christ testified against, and how like unto them, the evill workes of this present Gene∣ration of Rulers will be found to be, when they are examined by the Righteous Judge of all the world.

Now as for the Nature of the Testimony given by Christ concerning the evill works of that world or worldly Church which hated both him, his doctrine, and his followers (which is the third generall Head to be spoken to) it's plain, that it is no lesse then a Divine Testimony.

As saith the Apostle, If we receive the▪ WITNES

of men, THE WITNES OF GOD is greater. Now This Witnesse (or Testimony) whereof we are spea∣king from John 7.7. is not the witnesse of a man, a mortall man, but the witnesse of God, the witnesse of one who is God and man, and so it is most Authen∣tick. And how often Doth our Lord in his Ministry and Testimony, inculcate this upon his hearers, That he spake nothing of himself, but as the Father gave him Commandement? John 12.49, 50. And again, John 8.38. I speak that which I have seen with my Father. So that when the Lord Jesus testified, it was the high∣est Testimony which could have been given to the truth.

His Testimony was an unquestionable Testimony, a righteous Testimony, a witnesse which will carry the cause against the whole world: for Let God be true, but every man a lyar, as it is written, that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings. The sayings of Christ from the father concerning this present evill world, and the wick∣ed works thereof, will be made good at the last day. Let no powers on earth think or hope to enervate his Testimony in the least, by any pretences, excuses, or distinctions whatsoever.

Now as Christ Himselfe was in the world, so ought those who are Christs Ministers and Witnesses, to be in the world likewise. Those whom he sendeth were born and anointed to this end, viz. to bear witnesse to the truth in his sted, and on his behalf; and let the Princes of the world, and the people of the world as∣sure themselves, The Lord never did, nor ever will, leave himselfe without witnesse. Some of his Servants shall be stirred up by his Spirit to plead the Cause of their Lord against his adversaries; altho they know before hand, that through the hatred of the world,

they shall be exposed to a thousand dangers, distres∣ses, deaths, for the truths sake.

The Dragon, the beast, the scarlet Whore, the false Prophet, the Kings of the earth, although by a complica∣tion of interests, they are desperately ingaged and inraged against the Lamb and his followers, against the Lord and his witnesses, neverthelesse the wrath of God hath been (and now is) revealed from heaven to their very faces against all their ungodlinesse and unrigh∣teousnesse, by those witnesses, which he hath raised up and furnished, with Heroick spirits to contend with the whole earth, and that wrath so revealed, by his Servants the Prophets, shall be executed like∣wise, for The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, which the true Church is never destitute of alto∣gether.

So that I am perswaded (and I believe many o∣thers) that Matters are carried at this day, betwixt the Servants and Spirit of Christ, and the Servants and Spirit of Antichrist, as they were carried in those dayes betwixt the Spirit & person of Christ, and the Spirit and persons of the Priests and powers of the earth.

It is not to be expected that his Highnesses Court Chaplaines who are fed at his Table, should lift up their heel against their Good Lord and Master, in te∣stifying openly that his Counsells are evill, that his In∣strument is an ugly Idol, and an Image of Jealousie, that his Government is evill, that his workes in imprisoning the Servants of Christ without Just Cause are evil, that his Extortion and Rapine in Imposing and gathe∣ring in all his Taxes by an Arbitrary power, contra∣ry to the Law of God and the Land, is evill, that his devouring whole families in sending thousands to the

ends of the earth (and multitudes against their wills) upon a base and beggerly Designe, that stinkes in the nostrills of God, and good men, is evill and a∣bominable: And which of his City and Country Cler∣gymen fed and Cloathed by his Tyrannicall executi∣on of the Popes Cannon Law will declare against him for maintaining the Relicts and Remainders of Popery; and for his setting up New-Carnall spiri∣tuall Courts of Prelaticall Tryers or Comissioners to reigne over the Parish Ministers in the Byshops stead. Which of those Inslaved Preachers, Lecturers and Augmentation-Men, who come cap in hand to their Inferiors or equalls for their Approbation, and a box full of Orthodox Orders to preach in such or such a steeple House, and to receive the ancient pro∣fits and perquisites of the parish for their paines, dare to turn head upon their Ecclesiasticall Lords, and joyn with Christ and his spirit, to testify against these New invented Babylonish Abominations? Alas poor wretches they have no heart, no spirit for the Inter∣est of Christ, they are ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and of us his prisoners, who by the most powerfull Illapses and influences of his spirit, are in∣abled and Constrayned to bid Defyance to the scar∣let coloured Beast, and to all his 7 heads of Blasphemy, and to all his ten homs of persecution, to all the Kings of the earth which commit fornication with the mother of Har∣lots, and with all her danghters.

But, because these Men, thus lamentably yoaked by their new Lords Spirituall and Temporall, dare not particularly and couragiously, in the power of the Spirit, bear their Testimony for Christ, against the world, or world like Church, that their deeds are evill; therefore the Lord will raise up others to supply this defect. And be it known to all the Kings and Prin∣ces,

which oppresse and persecute the Children of the free woman, that the Lord will furnish himself with a suf∣ficient Number of faithfull Servants, who shall, in his strength, maintain that Conflict and Combate which is needful, till the great of the Battel of the Almighty God.

As Christ told the Chief Priests and Scribes, who were displeased that the Children cryed Hosanna to the Son of David: If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out, so I say, in words of truth and sobernesse, seeing the Chief Preachers, Pa∣stors, and Teachers, are dumb, and connive at the pre∣sent Apostacy, Hypocrisie, Oppression, Tyrannicall Government, and going back to AEgypt, the Lord is as it were compelled to furnish himself, from among the private Christians, and the weakest and meanest of the Brethren, to bear a Testimony against this wicked Generation of Backsliders, and if they like∣wise should hold their peace altogether, the stones of the streetes, and the very bruite Creatures would immediatly cry out for the Lord will not altogether and utterly leave himselfe without witnes. This In∣suing Treatise, was not Composed by any of the University-scarlet Doctors, nor by any Batchelour of Divinity, or Master of Arts and sciences, I am per∣swaded their Acadenicall Ʋnction will teach them to practice complyance, and to sing Placebo. But surely this is some Honest Sool, who observing the Common Clergy to be as mute as Fishes, when they should have cryed aloud, and have lifted up their voyces as a Trumpet, to shew the Apostatized Christians their transgressi∣ons, and the Hypocrites their sins, hath so far layed their Abominations to heart, that he cannot for bear to speak a word for God against such an adulterous Generation, and to encourage that little Remnant which speak often one to another, and think upon Jeho∣vah's

Name: Wherefore, let all Men who shall read, search the Scriptures, whether those things which he hath written, and brought together from the holy Oracles, be so yea or no, and accordingly embrace what they find of the Spirit and truth of God, and what they meet with that savours of humane frailty, and mistake (for which of the Learned Orthodox Do∣ctors of the Church, as they are called, are not full of them?) let them (reflecting upon their own insuffi∣ciency, and imperfections) passe by in brotherly love, or rectifie according to the measure of their attain∣ments in Christ. For undoubtedly the Aime of the Author, and the scope of his discourse, is no way un∣worthy the Name and profession of a Disciple of Christ.

A plentifull portion of the Spirit of Wisedome and Revelation in the knowledge of Christ, be given to every such Disciple in this day, for the Lords sake, Amen. So prayeth

One of the Servants of Christ, and your Servant for Jesus sake. CHR. FEAKE.

From mine own Hired House (where a Souldier is ap∣pointed to keep me) this 14 day of the 5 Month, 1656.