Zions ioy in her King, comming in his glory. Wherein, the estate of the poore distressed Church of the Gentiles (travailing in the wildernesse towards the new Jerusalem of the Jewes) in her utmost extremities, and height of her joyes, is lively delineated; in some mediations upon that propheticall Psalme 102. wherein the sense is opened, and many difficult places of Scripture inlightned by a harmony, and consent of the Scriptures. Delightfull and profitable to be read in these times of the Churches troubles, and much longed for restauration and deliverance. / By Finiens Canus Vove. Compiled in exile, and lately now revised and somewhat augmented as the weight of the subject and the revolution of the times required. It is ordered this three and twentieth day of January, 1642 by the Committee of the Commons House of Parliament concerning printing, that this booke intituled Zions joy in her King, comming in his glory, be printed. John White.

The Author to the Reader.

Courteous Reader,

LArge Prefaces are neither pleasing or profitable, I will not trouble thee with more then needfull in reading the insuing discourse of the state of the Church in her present extremities and future joyes: Three things may seeme to bee usefull for thy consideration.

• 1. Concerning the Psalme it selfe.
• 2. The matter handled from thence.
• 3. The intention and ayme of the Author.

First, for the Psalme it selfe, the illustration of verse 1. may serve for Preface touching the Psalme in generall.

Secondly, touching the matter handled from thence in per∣ticular, it is for substance a harmony and conference of the Scriptures for clearing the scope of this Propheticall Psalme, and minde of the Spirit of God, in what is there written for our instruction.

And these Scriptures are most part prophecies of the old Te∣stament, conferred with the new, and almost every where with the rest of the divine Oracles.

In reading of the Prophecies we finde, first, some things which have both a spirituall and literall sense, where the spiritu∣all sense hath beene usually received, and the literall reject∣ed of most interpreters, as in most of the Prophecies concer∣ning the Jewes conversion and comming in to Christs king∣dome, and of the flourishing and spreading of Christs king∣dome in the world. Secondly, some things have a literall sense onely, and yet taken mystically of many, as most of the Prophe∣cies concerning the Jewes returne to their owne Country, and

possessing it in outward prosperitie in a flourishing happy con∣dition in this world. Thirdly, some Prophesies have beene ta∣ken to be fulfilled and past, which here thou shalt finde never yet fulfilled, and bee yet to come, and belong to the time of Christs kingdome in the later dayes. Fourthly, some Prophe∣sies which are sayd in the new Testament to be fulfilled, are but yet in part fulfilled, and have a further reach then we have beene aware of, for Christs kingdome is not yet accom∣plished (saith Calvin upon Esay very frequently) and though they have beene taken as fulfilled plenarily under the Gospell, it is true in part; but so as yet the Gospell hath a further ex∣tent then we have yet seene or attayned to; and many things in it, as well as in the old Testament, have a further reach then we have beene aware of, even to the time of the complea∣ting of Christ kingdome in the later dayes, in the glorious estate of the new Church, after the ruine of Rome, the Jewes full conversion, and spreading thence to the ends of the earth.

That such a glorious state of the Church shall be, is clearely evinced by these reasons. First, the Scriptures teach us abun∣dantly, that the Churches enemies who have long flourished in peace and prosperity, rage and tyranny over the Saints, shall at length be plagued and utterly destroyed. Secondly, it suits with Gods Justice, to render vengeance to them, and rest and peace to the Church even in this world. Thirdly, it suits with Christs kingly glory and honour to make his Church, his kingdome glorious before hee resigne it to the Father. Fourthly, God hath promised this to Christ and his deare bought Church as a reward of his and their sufferings in this world. Fiftly, experience of former great deliverances teach it. Sixtly the fall of Antichrist at hand, and the beginnings of Romes ruine leade to it. Seventhly, strange signes and won∣ders in the world of late are forerunners of it. Eightly, the changes and alterations the Lord Jesus is daily working in the world, are lively effects of his working in the remote be∣ginnings and preparations to his kingdome: all which in the

ensuing treatise thou shalt finde cleared from the Scriptures, and we confidently expect to bee fulfilled by such wayes and meanes as men least thinke of; when the Church is at last gaspe, overwhelmed and given for lost in all humane eyes, then Christs Arme shall put on strength as in the dayes of old and worke salvation, Isay 51. and 59. 17. then his workes breake out in the world, he will doe great things, Joel 2. 21. when he arises to build his Zion, he will appeare in his glory, and will be glorious in his workes to the ends of the earth: for betweene Christs first appearing in the flesh and his last ap∣pearing to judgement, there is a middle or second appearing of his, as Alfonsus Mantuanus and others say, which they call his virtuall comming to ruine Antichrist and restore the Church. And whereas here our Psalme affords us frequent matter of treating of the Churches low estate in the Wilder∣nesse: the Wildernesse I conceive to be every place where the Saints are oppressed and hunted of the enemies like wild beasts for rage and madnesse, so greedy of their prey as grudge the Saints the very common ayre to breath in, gape and some with rage to devoure them: and so the Wildernesse is not bare∣ly abiding place from their rage and malice, though God even there provides some corners of more safety to some then to others; for the Lord hath promised to make the same Wil∣dernesse a place of rest and safetie, yea a Paradise of all felicity in the end, Isa. 35. 1. Chap. 51. 2, 3. Cant. 7. 11. Ezek. 34. 12. to 29. 3. Lastly touching the intent and ayme of the Author, who having sustained some share in the Chur∣ches sorrowes, and bitter troubles many yeares, tossing in tempests and floods of great waters, in a part of the world, to him a Wildernesse, under the rage and malice of all sorts of oppressors in Church and Commonweale, like wild beasts hunting for their prey, where he some yeares agoe by their rage and malice, with a violent tempest was driven into ano∣ther corner of the world, where he found himselfe but still in another part of the Wildernesse, where in his weary pilgri∣mage

he studied to finde out some ground and footing of some future rest, at least to his hopefull posteritie, even in this world; where he first composed these meditations in his sad condition and exile, from whence with shipwracke in his out∣ward estate, he is now at last wet and weather beaten, through some hazards of person too, returned to his countrey, in little better then exile, still from his disconsolate family, and fin∣ding the Lord Jesus daily working forward in his worke of renovation of all things, in some remote beginnings of his kingdome in the world, according to his weake sight and ex∣pectation, he could no longer neglect to communicate such things to others, as were the chiefe stay and support of his op∣pressed spirits in his bitter troubles: which now he hath also lately revised, seriously examined, and found comfortably con∣firmed, from the daily workings of the Lord Jesus, towards the setting up of his kingdome to the comfort and consolation of all who waite for redemption in the Churches restauration and full deliverance. If thou that readest be one that hath had a share in the Churches troubles, then here is some good newes will be welcome to thee: who ever thou art, if a sincere Christian, thou mayst finde somewhat to thy information, and furtherance of future consolation: if any thing suite not with thy judgement or affection, waite on God who may re∣veale it in due time; Judge nothing rashly, but bury it in that love which thinketh none evill: In which love I leave thee not willing longer to detaine thee in too large an entrance, from looking into the varieties following.

Scripsit in Exilio, FINIENS CANVS VOVE,

constanter expectans Dei promissionis gratiam. Hoc Finiens Canus vove.