THE LAMB CALLING HIS Followers TO Retirement.  
Being an Humble Enquiry into the duty of Churches, Ministers, and all that fear the Lord, under the present dispensation of God.  
By one that would be found (though unworthy) the Lords Witness and Servant, and of all his SAINTS.  1 COR. 4. 5. Judge nothing before the time, 
Printed in the year, 1662.   

TO THE READER.  
THe different apprehensions of the People of God in this day, concerning their present duty, (being cut off from their public liberties of Worship) gave occasion to the ensuing Enquiry; some judging it of absolute necessity to assemble openly, though they expose themselves (or at least their Teachers) to the utmost hazard; others, that Retirement is that which the present dispensation calls for, which later this brief Discourse endeavours to prove, as justifiable from the Scripture, and the practice of the People of God in former Ages, but more especially to be the voice of the Lord to his people in the present day, in which there is a concurring judgement of many.  
But that Retirement which is first called to, namely, unto the Lord Jesus himself (which is briefly pressed in the former part) is that which is commended to all, as absolutely necessary, as ever they expect to be found under his wing at his coming and appearing; and, Reader, hear the call of Jesus Christ therein, that thou mayst lay up thy immortal soul with him, that when storms are coming upon the World, thou mayst be found in thy Sanctuary, in thy Chambers of Rest and Safety, where they shall not reach thee.  
As to the Case of Retirement from open Assembling, it is plainly stated from Scripture evidence, as is humbly apprehended, wherein if there be not enough said to satisfy a doubting Conscience, yet, at least, there may be sufficient to engage humble and sober minds to a mutual forbearance.  
The duties of all Saints, under this Retirement, are but briefly hinted, because of brevity, and in that they have been more at large pressed by the Servants of God, in the two years of mercy we have enjoyed (as the peculiar blessing of this City) to the honour of the Lord Jesus, the establishment of the Saints in the faith and worship of the Gospel, and in the Resurrection of the Cause of the Kingdom of Christ in these Nations, the vindicating and asserting whereof, hath, as is hoped, left a gracious and powerful impression and savour upon the Spirits of the Lords people, that so they may be found the more quietly submitting to the dispensation of the Lord, as blessedly established in the forementioned truths, and may (in those holy principles in which they have been built up) continue in a more private way, edifying one another in love, as those (in this their retirement) that are waiting for the speedy return of their Lord, that when he comes he may find them so doing. This you may do, as under the wings of the Almighty, in a probable security, and not hasten yourselves into your own sufferings, and if the providence of God, single out any of you to a suffering testimony, in the loss of liberty, or goods, or to banishment, verily, you will know the tender heart of Jesus Christ towards you, and his faithfulness in making up all to you and yours, and that in this life, a hundred fold.  
Be quiet you Captives of hope, for, in returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be your strength; And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into corners any more, but thine EYES SHALL SEE THY TEACHERS. Do not think that the Lord is now at the end of twenty years' work, and that the present dispensation is the last issue of all his glorious providences, you have sometime believed that the Exaltation of the Lord Jesus would be the issue of all the shake the Lord hath made in these Nations, and you have as great, if not a greater ground to abide in the same Faith as ever; Take heed of a bewildered Spirit under the dark providences the Lord is leading us, but consider what the Lord hath been doing, and what work hath been upon the wheel, and by faith labour to look to the end of the Lord, and you will be able quietly to wait for him.  
I wish the Case in hand had been stated by an abler hand, but finding nothing herein, I have found my Spirit (often looking for light from the Father of lights) drawn out to cast in this mite, to the present Generation of the righteous, as hoping that the voice of the Lamb is in it, in the main scope of it; And though, it may be, in what is hinted about the death of the witnesses, I may differ from some of the Lords Servants, yet I promise myself their forbearance, it being an hour of enquiry, and we would be all glad to know the mind of Christ in our day. Something more may be offered to consideration to clear those hints, and of the nature of the Kingdom of Christ in this World, if the Lord permit. Now the blessed God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, preserve all his in this hour of temptation, and lead us into his whole Counsel and Will, to whose immutable grace I commend thee, in the patiented waiting for Zions' Redemption,  
The 25. of the 5. Month, 1662. Resting, Thy Brother and Fellow-Servant in the Patience of Christ.   
ESAY 26. 20. Come my People enter thou into thy Chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hid thyself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 
THE special Wisdom of the People of God in all Generations, under the variety of his dispensations, hath been to know what the Lord hath spoken, and called his People to, under them, in the knowledge of which hath been bound up their, mercy and peace in every Generation.  
All their miscarriages have been for want of attending hereunto, either in a day of peace and outward blessing, or in a day of affliction and judgement. The safety of this people to whom this word was spoken, Enter into thy Chambers, etc. did lie in the obedience thereof at that day, which let us a little more particularly consider.  
This Prophet, though many years before the day of it, spoke of the Captivity of Judah, and also of her return and restauration, with the blessings that should attend it, which restauration he more at large gins to discover at the 14. Chap. For the Lord will have mercy upon Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them to their own Land, etc. Upon which, the Prophet having denounced the burden of the Lord against Babylon, Chap. 13. threatens all other Nations to the 25. Chap. that but helped in or rejoyed at the day of his People's Captivity, as Moab, and Syria, and Egypt, and Tyre, etc.  
As is more generally expressed, ch. 17. 12, 13, 14. woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise, like the noise of the seas, and to the rushing of Nations, that make a rushing of mighty waters; But God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee afar off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the Mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind; what is the reason of all this? why, This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us; The restoring and salvation of Judah was accompanied with the distress of all the Nations round abount her, and with the utter ruin of the Babylonish Monarchy, set forth, chap. 29.  
The great revolutions & periods of all the Nations of the World, have been the issues of the Captivity or Deliverance of the people of God, and God hath governed the World in subserviency thereunto.  
The Prophet having thus spoken of jacob's deliverance, and the great Earthquake of the Nations that should accompany it, At the 25, 26, and 27. chap. you have songs of praise referring to that day, mixed with promises of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Knowledge, Light, Peace, and Glory that should be the issue of the dispensation of grace by him to the Jews and Gentiles, even all the Nations of the Earth in this 26. chap. You have the song of praise continued, specially respecting Judah's gathering, magnifying the power of the Lord in her salvation, and in the ruin of Babylon, v. 4, 5. their posture in their captivity, v. 8. lo we have waited for thee, etc. Their visiting the Lord in their distress, and powering out prayer before him, v. 16, 17, 18. At the 18th. verse they are brought in complaining, that they had been in pangs, yet had wrought no deliverance in the Earth, neither had the Inhabitants of the World fallen; At the 19 verse, the Lord by the Prophet gives an answer, that though in their Captivity they did lie as dead men, yet verse 19 Thy dead men shall live, etc. Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the Earth shall cast out her dead; Thy resurrection from this Captivity and Death, shall be as the herbs that lie dead in Winter, but shall revive and spring forth again by the dews of the spring upon them, in the mean time, the Lord calls them to retire, and promiseth to secure them; Come my people, enter thou into thy Chambers, etc.  
Where, 1. You have the tender and affectionate invitement and call of God, come my People, whatever the World speaks of thee, and makes thee as an outcast, yet still my People, precious in my sight, under my eye and care, though no man careth for thee; No matter if all the Nations of the World say, go you outcasts, if the Lord say, come my people.  
2. Where, and to what he calls, enter in thy Chambers, retire thyself as into thy strong hold for safety; and shut thy door about thee, as when men retire into their houses from a storm, and shut their doors; further amplified, Hid thyself, how long? but for a little moment, till the indignation be over past. Their crying out in pangs, their powering out of prayer, engaged the Lord to full mercy. 1. To hid them under the indignation. 2. To hasten to their Salvation, and that speedily, it shall be but for a moment. Then will the Lord come out of his place, and that to admiration and astonishment; for behold his appearance shall be wonderful and glorious, in the season of it, and the manner of it; He will punish the Inhabitants of the Earth, and the Earth shall disclose her blood, the blood of his Servants, spilt as water upon the ground by the Babylonians,) and shall no wise cover her slain; Thus you have the words with their coherence opened.  
The special thing I would take notice of (in order to the discovery of the mind and call of Christ to his Saints at this day) is the Lords calling of them into their Chambers, to shut their doors, to hid themselves; which expressions denote this one thing in the general, namely, Retirement, which I shall give forth, in one observation, naturally and clearly decuced, as the scope of the Holy Ghost in them.  
Ob. The Lord Jesus Christ in his providential Dispensations sometimes calls his People to Retirement.  
That I may more particularly discover what I mean by Retirement.  
Jesus Christ calls his people to retire. 1. Within himself. 1. As to all manner of Protection.  
2. As to more close and intimate Communion.  
2. He calls them to Retirement, as to Public services, and administrations.  
1. He calleth them to retire under his shade for Protection; so he was said to spread his wings over his People, as an Eagle doth over her young ones, in the Wilderness of old, Deut. 32. And in the day of the Nations wrath, when in a confederacy against his people, they are called his hidden ones, Psal. 83. They consult, but 'tis against thy hidden ones; and so that precious word of grace, where the Lord holds out his arms to his poor ones in a stormy day, Esay 4. 6. There shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a cover from storm and from rain.  
So Ch. 25. 4. (And let them be words of faith, to all Saints) for thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible one is against the wall, ch. 32. 2. A man (the man Christ Jesus) shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a Cavert from the tempest.  
And thus the Saints in stormy times bespeak the Lord, and have fled into him as their refuge and hiding place; So David often, keep me as the apple of thine eye, hid me under the shadow of the wings, Psal. 17. 8. Thou shall hid them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man, thou shall keep them secretly in a pavilion, Psal. 31. 8. In the time of trouble he shall hid me in his Pavilion, in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hid me, he shall set me upon a Rock, Psal. 27. In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these Calamities be overpast, Psal. 57 1. Of which David in all his persecutions and wander, had abundant and sweet experience in the review and recollection of which he breaks forth into the praises of the Lord, his heart being warmed with the sense of the Lords goodness and love, Psal. 18. I will love thee, (or I will dearly love thee) Oh Lord my strength, the Lord my Rock, my Foriress, and my Deliverer, my God, my Strength in whom shall I trust, my Buckler, and the hope of my Salvation, and my High-Tower.  
Upon which experience he gives forth, everlasting words of grace for all the People of God to trust upon in all Generations, as Psal. 9 9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble, Psal. 91. 1, 2. He that dwelleth in the secret places of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, with many more words to the same purpose, The Lord at that day of indignation from the house of Saul and all the mighty men of Israel, against David and such as did adhere to him, calling David to retire as into his chambers, from the storm that was against him, till the indignation was overpast, and the Lord hide him from the wrath of man, as hath been showed.  
Of the same import is that word, Prov. 11. 10. The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower, and the righteous runneth into it and are safe. There are three Names of God to which his people in a day of indignation fly unto.  
The name of his Goodness; that Name which the Lord made known and proclaimed to Moses, after the People of God had sinned, and Moses had cried to him for the forgiveness of their sin, and begs his presence may go with them; I will make (saith the Lord) all my goodness to pass before thee, Exod. 33. 19 and chap. 34. 6. The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed. The Lord God Merciful and Gracious, long suffering, abundant in goodness, in truth, etc. So when David pleads with God in his distress, Psal. 89. the argument of Faith is, v. 5. For thou Lord art good, and therefore ready to forgive, etc. and when he flies unto God, Psal. 31. he makes this as the wing of God, the Name of his goodness, vers. 19 Oh how great is thy Goodness thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men, thou shalt hid them, etc. And Psal. 144. My Goodness, my Fortress, and my high Tower, etc. not only my good good, but goodness itself, etc. Yea this Name of God that he proclaimed to Moses, was as the great refuge of the Saints in the day of their distress, and which they urged upon him, as Psal. 86. and 103. and 145. and Neh. 9 17. 31▪ because in all Generations he would be known to his people by this Name, and by Faith they were to live upon it, in all their difficulties; The Lord abundant in goodness, and mercy, and truth, etc. And when Judah was going into captivity, the Lord offers himself to them by this Name if they would turn unto him, and commands Jeremiah to proclaim it, as it was proclaimed it, as it was proclaimed before Moses, Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim these words towards the North, and say, Return thou back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause my anger to come upon you, (or to settle upon you,) for I am merciful, etc. A heart-breaking word, if that people had harkened to it.  
To this Name of the Lord do his people retire for shelter and refuge in an evil day, though they have sinned against him; we have sinned, yet the Lord is infinitely good, and therefore ready to forgive, Who is like unto him, a God pardoning iniquity, Micah 7. And therefore where ever the Lord gives out promises of help and deliverance to his People from captivity and distress, he also annexeth free promises of grace, in abundant forgiveness, Esay 43. 16, 17. speaking of the glorious Salvation of his people; though they had wearied them with their iniquities, verse 24. yet I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins, see chapter 24. 22. see Jeremiah 33. 5, 6, 7. Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, (though a wounded, broken, scattered people) and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth, and verse 8. I will cleanse them from all the iniquity whereby they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me, and whereby they have transgressed against me; though Against me, (thrice repeated) against all my kindness to them, and my often Salvation of them, yet I will cleanse them, and though they are become a reproach to all Nations, yet it shall be to me a Name of joy, a praise and honour, before all the Nations of the Earth; See Jeremiah 51. 5. for Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of hosts, though their land was filled with sin against the holy One of Israel. Under these wings of grace thus spread forth in precious promises, do a poor, sinful, broken people shelter themselves, in humbling and turning to the Lord, and they are safe, this being the great Covenant Name of God they fly to, and take hold of in all their sins and distresses.  
Secondly, the People of God retire into the Name of his Almightiness, Psal. 91. 1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High, shall abide, (or lodge as in a house of defence) under the shadow of the Almighty, etc. As a God infinitely able to preserve and keep safe all the concernments of soul and life, that his people commit to him, able to save in, and out of all distresses, from every snare of the Devil, from the wrath of man, as Paul, 2 Timothy 1. 12. For I know when I have believed, and am persuaded that he is Able to keep what I have committed to him, etc.  
Thirdly, The Name of the Lords Everlastingness, sameness, unchangeableness, is a Refuge to retire to; Abraham called on the Name of the Lord, the Everlasting God, Genesis the 21. the last verse. So the Lord comforteth his people, Esay 40. 28. Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the Ends of the Earth, fainteth not, neither is weary, etc. So the People of God in their Plea, Esay 63. 16. Thy name is from Everlasting, etc. And Psal. 102. Where is set forth a day of sore indignation and distress, as verse 10. Thou hast lifted us up, and cast us down, etc. What is their stay and Refuge in such a case, why this, verse 12. But thou, oh Jehovah shalt endure for ever. And ver. 27. But thou art the same, etc. And though we perish, thou art the same; Thou art the same in thy Covenant, mercy is from everlasting and to everlasting, etc. The same in goodness, pity, and wisdom, and power, the faithful God, that keepest Covenant and Mercy for ever, as good to save as ever thou wast, and as able to save; so he strengthens and comforts his People with the discovery of his Name, Mallachi 3. 6. For I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Let the state of the people of God be what it will, there is support in this, Thou Lord art still the same; we have known what thou hast been to thy people in days of old, and what thou hast done for them; Oh, where are thy former loving kindnesses, etc. The Covenant of God with his people is built as upon two Pillars, Mercy and Faithfulness, Psal. 89. 2. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever, thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very Heavens; I have made a Covenant with my chosen, etc. Under these two doth David shelter, as the Wings of the Cherubims, 57 1, 2. God shall send forth his Mercy and Truth, and shall save me, Mercy to pity and forgive, Faithfulness to fulfil his Word, here is a safe shelter for Saints; in every straight David, and other of the people of God, get under these Wings of God, and are at peace; David near twenty times in the Psalms is putting these two together, thy Mercy and thy Truth shall prevent me, and in them I trust; If all the Mercy of God, and all the Truth and Faithfulness of God be my portion, what need I fear? here is sweet and safe retirement for Saints in an evil day.  
But how do poor Souls retire into this Blessed Name of God, a Merciful, Almighty, Unchangeable God, as a Rock for them.  
1. By seeing through the Light of the Spirit, the Emptiness and Vanity of all other refuges, that nothing below an unchangeable God of all Grace, through Jesus Christ, can be a refuge for a Naked and Forlorn Soul, in Psalm 62. David mentions two things, which the heart is apt to make a reguge, Men and Riches, vers. 9, 10. of both these he saith, they are a lie, and vanity; And, if riches increase, set not your heart upon them; do not think them a meet refuge for you in any day, specially a day of distress; if neither the sons of men nor riches be a shelter, then, in God, saith David, is my Salvation and my Glory, the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God; Yea, He only is my Rock, v. 6. seel Psal. 142. 4, 5. I looked, etc. v. 4. And what did he see? Why, Refuge failed him, every refuge was too low, too short, too weak, to shelter him, here was conviction of nothing but emptyness in them, vanity upon them all; What then? why, vers. 5. I said, Thou art my refuge, and my portion, there is that in Jesus Christ to ensafe me and satisfy me (the two great ends to which the soul moves in all its desires) now I have them not in Creatures, they can't be a refuge, not a portion, but God in Christ is both, is All, This is a conviction we should pass under every day.  
2. We retire into this Blessed Name of the Lord, by Faith, He is a Rock, Psalm. 62. the Rock of Ages, or the Everlasting Rock, nothing below himself is so; Faith sees him so, as a sinking man in the Waters sees a Rock, and makes to it, and sees him only, he only is my Rock; Now here's the ensafeing Act of Faith, it can lay up all concernments of Soul and Life, with an unchangeable God; here I adhere, fasten, cleave; Oh, O that Blessed Glorious Name, a Gracious, Almighty or All-sufflcient, and Unchangeable Saviour, in the day of my trouble. Oh set me on this Rock, that is higher than I, Psal. 61. 2. Then let Waves and Billows beat against me, they may break themselves, but shall never break the Rock; I shall not be moved, Psal. 62. That's the stability faith gives the Soul, let Sins, Temptations, Troubles, beat against me, I shall not be moved; thus Faith can triumph at all times. Trust in him at all times, God is a refuge for us; In shaking times, in dying times, all is safe with him, yea when the Heart is overwhelmed and desolate, Faith thus relieves and fetcheth up the Heart in all its sinkings; let the Soul see a storm coming, away it hastens into its Refuge, into the Chambers of strength, and shuts its door, till it be overpast.  
Because this is the Work of Saints, and the call of the Lord to them at this day; Consider it a little further.  
First, Jesus Christ presents himself to a poor soul as an open refuge, let the sin, burden, distress, inward or outward be what it will, this door of Grace stands open, the sinners of the World pass by it, and will not enter (the more their misery) but poor souls that are beaten out of one hold, after another and see at last this door of hope opened, in the valley of Darkness and Fears runs into it; unbelief would draw the Soul back, Satan would shut the Door against it, but the soul ventures (and venture it must or sink and perish) and gets into Christ, and he holds out a hand, and bears it up, opens Blood, and Righteousness, and Grace, and bids the soul make use of it; and here the Soul retires every day, under this shelter 'tis driven, and it can be quiet and safe no no where else, if the heart be stealing out else where, to other shelters in the World, or of its own, Satan's World and Conscience set upon it; And the Soul flies back, and gets into its strong hold again; No living safely else where; Now Jesus Christ is an open refuge, in every precious word of free Grace, Esay 55. 1. Rev. 21. 6. 22. 17. etc. which words Believers see as a blessed safe Retirement, when they are stormed out of every thing else, and evidences are bemisted.  
Secondly, Jesus Christ presents himself a sure refuge for Souls to Retire into; He sprinkles blood, casts a Mantle of Righteousness, a Mantle of Love, and Grace, and Power, over the soul that gets into him, and who then can harm it? Gild, and Sorrows, and Temptations, and Pressures, can follow the soul to the Door, but cannot enter with it; He is near that justifieth, who then shall contend? Esay 50. 8. there is safety. 'tis true, the soul is not always apprehensive of its own safety, but hath its fits of Fears and Misgivings, through Temptation and Unbelief, as in David's Case (and mark it) Psal. 31. 22. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes, nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my Supplication when I cried unto thee, here was sad Apprehension,— I am cut off, (though he had words of Promise to the contrary) but yet he cried to the Lord in that distemper, but what, did the Lord cast him off, because of that mixture of unbelief? No, nevertheless he heard and saved him; a Case of great relief for Dark, Doubting Souls. So that Jesus Christ is a safe, sure, strong, impregnable shelter, all the World can't get a soul out of it, all is safe there.  
Obj. But may not my life go for it, for all this?  
Answer, That which is indeed thy life, the life of thy soul, the immortal life, that is most safe hid (or laid) with Christ in God, Col. 3. 3. Because I live, you shall live also, John 14. your life is as safe as my life, 'tis bound up with my own, yea 'tis the same with my own, the life I live, I live in you. As Christ lives in the Father, so Believers live in him, and have their life fed in him, and from him, and therefore they shall never die, but have Eternal Life; What more? Then to live for ever, and so to live for ever, as Christ himself lives, surely thats a Blessed, Safe, and Glorious Life; This is your Life.  
But secondly, If Jesus Christ will use thy natural life in all the concernments of it, who shall reach thy life? Not the World, not all the Persecutions of it, no nor thy liberty neither; Jesus Christ hath charged himself with both, and all the interests of thy life, he will order thy race, and every step thereof, to that end in which he will most be glorified in thee, and theresore be putting it by faith into his hand every day; and say as Jesus Christ himself did, in the interest of his life, Father Glorify thy Name; John 12. 29. This was when our Dear Saviour (as a man) was solicitous about his life, and his soul was troubled, and cries, save me from this hour, vers. 27. but yet bows to the Will of his Father, Glorify thy Name.  
No man shall touch thy life, till thou shalt say, I have finished the Work that my Father gave me to do, John 17. 4. So that Jesus Christ hath charged himself with the care of thy life, liberty and all the interests thereof, as well as with the precious life of thy Soul.  
Thirdly, the losing thy life, is the saving and finding of it, as to life Eternal; the death of thy natural life, makes way for the True, Spiritual, Immortal, Glorious life, The cutting off this momentary life, issues in a higher and more excellent life, so that there can be no miss of it, faith sees, a life in death, and that by it Mortality is swallowed up of life; Thus Jesus Christ is a shelter to thy life.  
And so I have opened how Jesus Christ calls his Saints to retire into himself, by way of safety and protection.  
Secondly, Christ calls his own to retire into a more intimate communion with him, in a time of indignation, when storms are up.  
The second Thing.  
2. This call of Jesus Christ into a more intimate Communion with him, should blessed souls attend to in such a day; into the Chambers of his Presence; so Song of Solomon, chap. 1. 9 Draw me, we will run after thee, the King hath brought me into his Chambers, we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love, more than Wine, the upright love thee; there is sweet and intimate communion.  
Now how doth the Lord bring a soul to this?  
Answer, Jesus Christ shows himself to the soul, in a greater Beauty and Glory, than a soul had seen him before, and thereby Humbles, Empties, and Awakens, brings it lower, and to be viler in its own eyes, takes down all the high thoughts and conceits of itself, makes the Soul know its own poverty, whereby it becomes less than the least of all Saints, renders pride, and passion, and selfishness, and temerity, and censoriousness, and hypocrisy, with all fleshly corruptions, more abominable and loathsome, and the soul abhors itself in the dust (too good for it) & is burdened, and groans under the pressuresmentioned, cries & mourns after, a further cleansing, healing, and a more precious conformity to Jesus Christ, cries out for the Spirit, for Holiness, for Light and Strength, and cannot live without them; this is the way to more intimate communion, here is a Vision of the Lord Jesus, in his Holiness, Beauty, and Glory, that renders the Soul thus infinitely vile in itself, and draws out such a panting after him; Then it hath further Attractives of love,— We will remember thy love more than Wine; Then, how Free, how Precious, how Eternal, how Glorious is the Lords love to a worthless wretch, whose sin is worse than the sin of Devils (for they never sin against this love) Oh that the Lord should not only in pity save me, but in love die for me; who can reach or understand it?  
Thus is Glory and Love let in upon the soul; And then the upright love thee; Oh that I might love the Lord uprightly; love him, and love him uprighty, love him for himself, love his Glorious Person, be enamoured with the Beauties of his Holiness, that I might see his Glory, and for ever admire and adore him; thus souls, when he pleaseth thus to show himself, are taken into his Banqueting House, and his Banner over them is love; they retire into him, and sit under his shadow with great delight, and his Fruit is sweet to their taste, Song of Solomon, 2. 3, 4. This is precious and Heavenly employment, in such a day when the Lamb calls to Retirement, when the heat of the Sun gins throughly to beat against it, and the soul finds little shadow in the World, than the shadow of this Rock in a weary land (a land of sin and trouble) is sweet and pleasant retirement indeed.  
The effect of this special Retirement into the Chambers of our Lord Jesus, under his shadow, is sweet peace, and rest of mind and spirit, when the Waves and Billows come against us, a blessed stillness, a composed acquiescency in the Lord, and a free resignment to him, the allaying and rebuking the tumultuous workings of our hearts, a casting our care upon the love, and care, and faithfulness of the Lord in every condition; In the Multitude of my thoughts (my careful thoughts) within me, thy comforts delight my soul, Psal. 94. 19 yea in this blessed Retirement, cries out, Return into thy Rest, oh my soul; Thou hast been wandering after other rest, too too much, but hast not found where to put thy feet, therefore now return to thy sweet, safe, proper Rest; abide and dwell there, and that for ever. So the soul can in some good measure, sanctify the Name of the Lord, by believing and trusting on him, and waiting for him, making Christ his Portion and Everlasting strength, and doth in patience possess itself.  
One word by way of more particular Application.  
1. If this Retirement into Jesus Christ, into the chambers of his Grace, be the great interest of souls; What a case then are poor forlorn sinners in that have no shelter for soul or life, or any thing, but what the wide World (as you speak) can afford them, which will not keep off a storm, not one drop of the Wrath of the Almighty? Verily the Wrath of the jealous God is ready to come forth into the Nations of the earth [after a little stillness that hath been upon them] who is coming [and saints do hear the sounding of his feet] to tread upon them in his wrath, and trample them in his fury, Esay 63. and then where will all your shelters be? When it shall be said to the scoffers at the report of his day, Behold you despisers, and wonder and perish, for the Anger of the Lord shall smoak against you; Oh awake and tremble, believe and tremble, and see your confidencies to be lying vanities, men and riches, and strength, are a lie, and they shall not, cannot save you in the day of the Lords indignation; Oh be convinced of it, see the Lord Jesus, in his blood, righteousness, free promises of Grace, an open shelter, where you may fly and be safe; Oh get thy polluted, guilty, betrayed soul, into thy shelter, make haste to get thy soul washed, justified, sanctified, renewed in the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus, get the Mantle of his Righteousness over thee, and his spirit to quicken thee, or thou shalt perish from the way without remedy.  
2. Doth Jesus Christ call his Saints into his Chambers, to retire with him, and that for protection and more intimate Communion. Oh let this be the Word of the Lord to all the Lambs followers; Now Jesus Christ hath for a Moment withdrawn, is gone behind the Clouds, cry, draw us, and we will run after thee.  
Now know and see more Experimentally, that Name that is indeed a strong Tower, that covenanting Name that hath been set before you, The Lord gracious and abundant in goodness; let thy soul say, This is my Rock, a Gracious, Almighty, Immutable God in Christ God the same yesterday, and to day, for ever, unchangeable in Grace, Goodness, Wisdom, Power, Love, and that because of a Covenant built upon the Pillars of Mercy and faithfulness that are for ever; This is my House of Defence, here will I dwell; This is my Rock, and I shall not be moved; Here is your life, your strength, your safety, your all.  
Oh see what an open and sure Refuge Jesus Christ is, your sins and guilt cannot enter in with you, but you leave them at the door, say, Ah Lord, spread the Mantle of thy Righteousness over me, let thy banner over me be love, and what ever the storm be, I shall be safe; in the heat of the day, under the shadow of this Rock, will I sit; put me under unchangeable love and grace, and Lord I shall be safe; say of him, Thou only shalt be my portion and my refuge, into thy Chambers, Oh Lord, I enter (draw me into them) under thy wings will I make my Refuge, till the Indignation be over past.  
Oh accept me, heal me, hold me to thyself, keep me, hid me in thy Chambers of Grace, watch over me night and day. Yea, Lord, lead me into a nearer Communion with thee, show me thy Holiness and thy Glory, that I may be yet more vile in my own sight before thee; Ah humble me, empty me of all, new season me, new frame me, with seven times more holiness than before; Conform me to thyself to purpose, and for ever Commune with me, Reckon me, my dear Lord, as thy Friend and Companion, as thy sweet acquaintance; Oh take my heart, fill me with love, and let us never, never part any more; Oh thus should be the breathe and pangs of our souls after our Lord Jesus in such a day. This is to enter into his Chambers, into his Rest.  
Thirdly, As to outward safety, Enter into his Chambers, say with David, Thou shalt hid me in the Secret of thy presence; Lord, Thou art my hiding place, Yea Lord, let all thy People be thy hidden ones; Call them into thy Chambers, hid them from the pride and rage of man. Seek the Lord, It may be you shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger, Zeph. 2. 3. you have at least an It may be, for it; Who knoweth but the Lord will hid, wonderfully (for so it must be) and keep this Generation of his people, though they dwell in the fire; wonderful it is to see the Bush burning, and yet not consumed.  
The Lord hath gloriously triumphed in the death of some of his Witnesses, who by dying have overcome (more than by signal battles in the field) and it may be hath some more to set to their Seal the same way, but this Generation of people shall enter their Chambers, and shall yet be further hid, till the Lord come out of his place, and the earth disclose her blood. As I have believed, so have I spoken.  
Blessed be the Lord, who remembers his people in these poor Nations, and will not cast them off: For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous, with favour wilt thou compass them as with a shield. Thou art good, and ready to forgive, and thou wilt forgive the sin of thy people, (though they have been a rebellious Seed) because they be thy people, and thy Name is in them, and thy great glory is conferred upon them; for the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor shall the expectation of the poor fail from before thee. And thus much of the first branch of the Proposition▪ We now come to the second thing, Viz.   

The Lord Jesus Christ sometimes calls his Saints to retirement from public Services, and public Administrations of Worship.  
We would prove this, and when the Lord so calls, and why he calls them to such a retirement.  
The two great instances of the Old and New Testament, do confirm this.  
1. That of the people of God in Babylon, where the remnant of the best people were carried, according to the Word of the Lord to them by Jeremiah, and there the Lord promisseth to be a little Sanctuary to them, Ezek. 11. 13. but there they had no Temple nor Sacrifices while they were in their captivity, but were to live in the Faith of their return from the Captivity, when the Temple should be built again; and they were to humble themselves to the Lord, and to cry to him till it were accomplished: So that here the Lord in that day of distress, promiseth to take care of the Remnant, Ezek. 11. 13. according to the plea of the Prophet, Ah Lord God, wilt thou make a full end of the Remnant of Israel; And the Lord promiseth to restore them, to bring them back to their Land, and to give them his Ordinances as in the days past: Yet during their captivity, they were deprived of all positive worship, of all public Administrations, but lived in the Faith of their return, according to the Word of Lord by his Prophets to them.  
So in the New-Testament times, during the Captivity of the true Worshippers and Witnesses of Jesus Christ under the Mystical Babylon; The true Church is called into the Wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, where she should be fed, Rev. 12. 6. where she lieth hid: And though there is a Temple measured, Rev. 11. 1. yet 'tis as shut up, till at the pouring out of the Vials, the Temple is opened, Rev. 15. 5. But especially towards the end of the Beasts reign, when the Witnesses have prophesied more openly, and have finished a Testimony to all the Offices of Jesus Christ, especially that of his Kingly Power over Saints and Nations, (the Nations that are found in the Spirit of the Beast, make war against them, and slay them; that is, lay their, Testimony dead, as if the effects of it should never appear: All public Prophesying, and public Administrations of Worship, are cut off, and laid dead (wherein the last slaying of the Witnesses doth specially consist) yet the main body and generation of the Saints preserved; but so, as they are in all respects, either Civil or Ecclesiastical, called off from the public Stage, to a retired condition, and do lie as dead men (only they are not buried, but are, as it were, still kept above ground) till the Spirit of Life from God enter into them: So at the Text, when the People of God are called into their Chambers, he said, in the 19th. verse of the 26. chap. of Isaiah, Thy dead men shall live, etc. while in their captivity, they lay as dead men.  
So Hosea 6. 1, 2. When smitten and wounded in their captivity, they shall lie as dead; but after two days, he will revive them.  
But more particularly, when doth the Lord call them thus to retirement, call them off from the public stage, and bids them enter into their Chambers?  
1. In the case of the text, When the wrath of man is kindled against them, when the Nations and people among whom they converse, are in a confederacy against them, and say of Zi▪ on, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion, Micah the 4th. and the 11th. Verse. Then he knoweth how to hid his people as in his Pavilion; then shall they be his hidden ones. Psal. 83. So he hide the seven thousand in Samaria, that did not bow the knee to Baal, whom the text saith, He reserved to himself, Rom▪ the 11th. chap. ver. 4. And yet that people, at that day, were under an obligation of Worship at the Temple at Jerusalem; but God did indulge them, as may further be showed.  
So (as hath been hinted) the Lord hides the Woman in the wilderness from the Wrath of the Dragon, who casts a Flood after her.  
2dly, Jesus Christ calls his people to retirement, when he reserves them for a Day of Mercy and greater Service, and a more pure Reformation, when he thus lays them dead in order to a more glorious resurrection. So in several Ages have they been wonderfully kept under the variety of the Lord's Dispensations to them; as in Egypt, and David, and the remnant of Judab that adhered to them: Many instances might be given.  
3dly, The Lamb calls to retirement when he hath been contesting with the Spirit of the Beast in any of the Nations, by the called, and faithful, and chosen, Rev. 17. 14. When he hath set on foot his controversy with any of the Horns▪ and hath overcome them, hath often carried it against him yet he suffers his Enemies to rally again, and his own followers are scattered; when he seems to turn aside from the pursuit, to drink of the Brook in the way, (as it were) to refresh himself, and then makes a short turn to the Prey again, Psalm 110. Verse the last, that he may gather his Enemies as sheaves into his floor, Micah 4. 12, 13. and will make the Horn of the Daughter of Zion as Iron, to thresh them in such a day▪ The Lamb withdraws and retires, and calls his Saints to retire with him: And this is to follow the Lamb wheresoever be goeth, Revel. 14. to go as he goeth, and to retire as he retires, and not to run out without him, upon any account whatsoever. In such a season the Lamb doth indulge them, nay call them off from their public Administrations and Services, and Prophesying, and they are to wait till the Cloud appear and go before them, in which they can see the Presence of the Lamb, and hear his Voice calling them thereto.  
4thly, The Lord (as it follows from the former, calls them to retirement, when hereby he will fit and separate a genetation to follow him in his next appearing, when he will prepare them in the fire, melt them, and try rhem, Jer. 9 7. I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the Daughter of my people? Then he will cast out the treacherous dealers from among them, as Verse 4. of that 9th. of Jeremiah; Take heed every one of his Neighbour, and trust ye not in any Brother; for every Brother will supplant, etc. And they will deceive every one his Brother, and will not speak the truth, ver. 5. Now God will discover and cast out such a mixture and spiri● from among his people, in the day that he will melt them, and try them, v. 7. and Ezek. 22. 18, etc.  
When the Lord is doing this work, by letting out the wrath of man upon them, he than calls them to retirement▪  
2. Why doth the Lord thus call them? etc.  
1. The Lord calls his people into their Chambers, into a retired condition, to express his tenderness of them, as he calls them the Apple of his Eye, Zach. 2. 8. He that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine eye, etc. Keep me as the Apple of thine eye, Psal. 17. and his peculiar Treasure, Exod. 19 5. Psal. 135. 4. Such a day is a day of making up his jewels, Mal. 3. 17. referring to a day of retirement, when the wicked were set up, v. 15. then when he makes them up, he not only purifies them, and puts a lustre upon them, but spares them as a Father spares his Son, and doth not spend them, but rarely, upon the rage of men.  
2. The Lord thus takes them into his Chambers, that the glory of his Power may be seen in restraining the wrath of man, and causing it to praise him; that his people should be in the waters, and not be overwhelmed; and in the fire, & not be consumed; this is because the Lord is with them, because he is the Lord their God, the holy One of Israel, their Saviour, Isa. 43. 2, 3. That the Enemies of his People should not be able to act their own counsels, nor to execute their own rage, by a mighty hand of God restraining. This is, and should be marvellous in the eyes of his people.  
3dly, The Lord calls to retirement, when the generation of the ungodly and oppressors are ripening for wrath; then doth the Lord lay up his people in the secret of his Presence; so Psal. 91. which is a word holding out the Lord's hiding of his people, as hath been hinted, So see verse 8. 9 Only with thine eyes shalt thoubehold, and see the reward of the wicked; etc. Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder, the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou trample under foot, v. 13. Now the People of God will discern through the light of the Spirit in the Word, the Marks and Characters of a generation of God's Wrath, which in this place I shall not insist on. They are such as these:  
When a generation of men do worse than their Fathers, Jer. 7. 2. and chap. 16. 12, 13. Ye have done worse than your Fathers, for behold ye walk every one according to the imagination of his evil heart, etc. therefore will I cast you out of this Land, etc. And this in a Land of Vision, and after the hand of God hath been eminently lifted up against them; When a people return to Idolatry, and Antichristian abominations, when Jesus Christ hath begun to reform a Nation, as in the days of Manasseh; When such a generation do declare their sin as Sodom, Isa. 5. When abominable uncleanness, excess and riot, and all manner of villainy is acted as at noonday; When they persecute the Prophets and Messengers of the Lord, that they may not speak unto the people, 2 Chron. 36. 16. But take away the Key of Knowledge, Luke 17. with Mat. 23. forbidding the servants of Christ to speak unto the people, that they may fill up their sin always, and wrath come upon them to the utmost, 1 Thess. 2. 15, 16▪ (which the Spirit of God gives as a Character of a people filling up their measure.  
When a generation shall doingly blaspheme the Spirit of the Lord jesus, calling it an unclean Spirit, Matt. 12. 24. 31. as the Pharisees at that day called the Spirit by which Jesus Christ did preach, and pray, and wrought all his works, an unclean Spirit; when in their ordinary language they invoke their damnation, and set their mouths against the Heavens; and the Spirit, and Holiness, and Saints, becomes their byword and their song, and entitle Satan to all the glorious works of Christ in Conversion, and call it all Delusion and Fanaticism; when they oppress, persecute, (and worse) the Saints and Servants of the Lord, filling Prisons with them; when they set themselves in the Throne of the Lord, and will be Lords in the Conscience, and make the Sons of Zion as the filth of the Earth; and all this after the Lord hath been pleading his Controversy with them, in very stupendious Dispensation, and by their hour of prosperity they are but hardened in their way, and say they are delivered to all their abominations; that is certainly a Generation of God's wrath. Now among such a generation the Lord calls his people to retirement (into their Chambers) till his wrath come upon the wicked to the utmost, and he will put in his sickle, & reap down their abominations, and none shall save them▪  
4. The Lord calls to retirement, that they may deal with him by faith and prayer, in their secret corners, and may wait for his teachings, etc. as may further be opened in the close of this Discourse.  
And thus we have endeavoured to clear the point, That Jesus Christ calls his Followers from off the public Stage, into a more retired condition, when, and why he doth it. I shall come to some useful conclusions, and so answer the objections and dis-satisfactions of any that lie against it.  
1. If Jesus Christ doth sometimes in his providential Dispensations, call off his people to retirement, & puts them as into the holes of the Rock, than it will follow that one Dispensation calls for that which another doth not; the Lord calls for that at one time, which he doth not at another, sometimes to a more open appearing in their public services and actings for him, and administrations of worship and prophesying, sometimes to a more open exposing to sufferings, and at another time the Word of the Lord is, Enter into thy Chambers, etc. shut thy doors about thee. So what hath been a duty for Saints in one day, hath not been so expressly (I mean the main generation of them) a duty at another; especially in the later dispensations of the Lord towards the giving up of the Kingdom of the Beast, when the Lords controversion is now, and of his Kingdom, hath been with a high hand carrying on, as hath been showed; In such a day the Lamb marcheth against his Enemies, and then retreats, and sounds a Retreat to his called Ones; sometimes he faceth the beast, and then withdraws, and drinks of the Brook in the way; he coucheth like a Lion, and then anon riseth up to pursue the prey: Here is the wisdom of the Saints, here is following the Lamb; this is to see his footsteps, to walk after them.  
2. Let it be therefore for an humble enquiry at least, to all that are sober, to weigh what hath been hinted, and to consider if this be not the Word of the Lord at this day, whether Jesus Christ hath not sounded a retreat, whether he doth not call off from public Prophesying, and more public Administrations, (though the wickedness of men be instrumentally in it) yea whether the Testimony be not slain and lies dead; and that all the Characters of it have a visible accomplishment at this day, a Testimony finished, Rev. 11. 7. to all the Offices of Jesus Christ, and of his Kingdom in the world, in all the concernments of it, and against the whole Mystery of Iniquity, and of the Kingdom of the Beast, and that especially in this part of the world where the Spirit is given forth.  
And when we had been looking for the fulfilling hereof, lo a Death upon the whole, and the Witnesses lie as dead in all the parts of the world, let the place be named where an open testimony against all the abominations of the Beast, against all their National wickednesses, and a testimony for the Lord Jesus in the whole of his Kingdom, as King of Saints and Nations will be born; though some Gospel truths will be born, and are practised among them: Yea, what a strange healing up hath there been in all the Nations of Europe, among all the ten horns, a General Peace in the Kingdom of the Beast, not a Horn or Nation that wars against Babylon; not a hand lifted up against her in a way of War, to hate her, and make her desolate; but all preparations from the North and the West, hushed up, leveled, and laid dead, when a few years since the Nations were all in a flame, as if the last distress had been upon them: But lo a healing up, a stillness, and the proud Whore sits as a Queen, glorifying herself that she shall see no sorrow, (which she feared before) and shall not be a Widow, nor be made desolate. Which healing & Peace among the horns, is employed in their sending gifts (by their Ambassadors) one to another. Rev. 11. 10. because the People and Spirit which they most feared, is laid dead; the prophesying of ruin to the hastening upon the Beast, and wrath upon the Nations, seems to have been but a fancy, and to come to nought; for behold, their prayers, witnessings, prophesyings, Armies, every where in the whole street of the City are come to nought. Is not this the triumph of the Nations at this day, and of the Beast?  
Such as state the last slaughter of the witnesses to be already past, namely about the year 1558. when that general blow was given to the Protestant Interest in Germany, and other Nations, and by the Marian Persecution in this Nation, have sufficient confutation by what hath since fallen out in several Nations, in the persecuting and slaying of the Witnesses in Poland, France, Ireland, etc. of late years; and the death that the whole Work of Christ is under at this day, it being clear, that when the last slaughter is past, and the lying dead three days and an half is over, in the Witness resurrection, that then they ascend●… to Heaven, into a state of Liberty, Power and Glory, from which they fall no more; but the seventh Angel sounds, and the third Woe cometh upon the World (the last Plagues to be executed upon the Antichristian World, and Voices are heard in Heaven (amongst the Churches) proclaiming the Lord Jesus King of Nations; for that upon the resurrection of the Witnesses, and sounding of the seventh Angel, the Lord Jesus comes forth to take to himself his great Power, and to reign, to contest with the Horns about his Sovereignty, to rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron, breaking them in pieces as a Porter's Vessel; at which time (as some eminent Witness of the Lord have well stated it) The little Stone, cut out without hands (the separated Saints in the Nations) gins in a more especial manner to smi●e the Image, Dan. 2. 39 (for the Stone gins to smite upon the feet of the Image, the last part of the Roman Monarchy, which roes upon the feet ver. 41. are the s●me with the ten Horns, as Dan. 7. And the Stone smiting breaking in pieces▪ & consuming the Kingdoms (as the Spirit of God opens the meaning of the Stone, and its smiting, v. 44.) And in the days of these Kings, shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom (the Kingdom of the Stone) which shall never be destroyed, and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces, and consume all these Kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever) is interpreted further in the Vision that Daniel himself had of the same thing, ch. 7. 22. 26 When Judgement is given to the Saints of the Most High; And ver. 26. The Judgement shall sit (the Saints judging the ten-horned Beast and his Kingdom) and they shall take away his Dominion to consurne and to destroy it unto the end. But I do but hint here, what I may give a further account of in due time, to remove the stumbling-blocks that lie in the way of many of the Lord's People as to this glorious truth.  
But I return to my enquiry, which is, that I humbly judge that the last slaying of the Witness was not about the time mentioned, for the reasons hinted (and others might be given) but rather, that great, sore blow upon the Protestant Interest, to be fixed upon that foot of account, namely, of the Beast making war with the Saints, and overcoming them, Rev. 13. 7. which War from the time of the Waldensian people he hath been carrying on, and overcome them: And so in Bohemia, Germany, &c▪ upon which Word are all the former Wars and Victories of the Beast to be stated, and not in reference to the last slaughter, when the Beast makes War with the Witnesses, and kills them, and overcomes them; which is after a full testimony hath been finished to all the Offices, Work and Kingdom of our Lord Jesus, and then the Beast (such as are in the Spirit of the Beast, and influenced by him) rise up (by the wise and holy permission and ordering of the Lord to bring about his own glorious design) and slay the Testimony, lay it dead (especially in a civil sense) in that tenth part of the City where the killing most eminently is (which is, where the most eminent Testimony for the Kingdom of Christ is the Spirit, hath been of any of the Nations) and so all public prophesying, in an ordinary way, and with an allowed liberty becomes cut off, & the public assembling of Churches suppressed, in that tenth part of the City, so that the Work & Kingdom of Jesus Christ being likely to arise a few years since in the apprehension of most of the Saints, and to the terror of the Nations, lo it is laid dead; & say the sons of Babylon, we will so bury it that it shall rise no more, though that will be found their great error.  
I might ●●stance the Judgement of several ancient & holy Witnesses of Christ, who are now in the same apprehension as to this dispensation we are under, & of some who in the highest day of our prosperity a few years since, spoke of it as to come upon us; & also (as is humbly judged by some worthy servants of the Lord at this day, that a more than ordinary discovery & revelation hath been given forth to a worthy Minister of Christ, & some others, that this is the 3. days & a half in which the witnesses are to lie dead, which I think meet only to hint at this time.  
But if so, than the Word of the Lord is, Go and die, as to ordinary, public Prophesying; and 'tis the wisdom of the Saints to submit to the Dispensation of God, and to be content even to lie as dead men, in a civil sense, till the spirit of life from God enter, and a voice be heard in the providential workings of the Lord, Come up hither, Rev. 11. 12. And let it be soberly considered whether the contrary practice be not to cross the very design of the Lord at this day, and to ruin the Churches and whole Interest of Jesus Christ, whose resurrection and restauration we are patiently to wait for.  
Yea, (whether this be the last slaying or not) 'tis worthy a serious Judgement to consider, That in the several Ages of Persecution from the Apostles days (unless where some have been carried forth by an extraordinary impulse of Spirit) the Professors and Churches of Christ met together in such a way as might most probably ●●nd to their preservation; in a private and retired way, in the best Wisdom they could; as the Disciples, John 20, 19 they were assembled in an upper Room for fear of the Jews: And the Church of Hierusal●m s●att●red abroad in parties in the several Provinces upon the Persecution, Acts 8. when they began to be haled to prison from their Meetings; and those that remained, kept in a private way, Acts 12. And so we find the Christians assembling secretly, & by night, as they had opportunity: As that Congregation that continued together in Q. Mary's days in London, and kept up their Meetings secretly, and were wonderfully preserved in that day; though (as I may presently show) 'tis hard to give out any general, absolute Rule in this case: But 'tis certain, this was their ordinary practice: The reasons hereof have been spoken to. It may further be added, that in such a retired way, they shall not so much dare and provoke the civil Magistrate to greater wrath against them, and not lay a stumbling block in their way, but seem more to walk in the meekness of Jesus Christ; and 'tis the liberty that Jesus Christ doth indulge them, and answers his promise of preserving, and being a Sanctuary to a holy Seed from one generation to another, and not to be exposed to the blood thirstiness and rage of their persecutors, though still honouring himself by the suffering of some.  
And as this hath been the practice of the Churches of Christ in times of persecution, so of particular Ministers and Witnesses of the Lord in all ages, namely, as they were led by the spirit of the Lord to retire from particular persecution, especially when their case was different from the rest of the saints as in some ages it hath been; the first blow was at the Ministers of Christ; so Moses fled before the face of Pharaoh, and dwelled in the Land of Midean till the time of deliverance came to the Israelites in Egypt, Exod. 2. 15.  
So David from the persecution of Saul, who retired into the Wilderness, where the Lord hide him, till the time that the promise should be fulfilled in his reign over Israel, 1 Sam. 19 18. though in his retirement he was deprived of the Institutions of the Worship of God in the temple, as he complains complains in several Psalms.  
Elijah had given an eminent Testimony against Ahab, and the abominations of that day, and prophesied the wrath of God to come upon Israel. But when he knew the mischief that Ahab intended, and he had finished his Testimony, the Lord commands him to go and hi●●e himself, 1 Kings 17. 2. & 8. and Chap▪ 10. 10▪ And we know Elijah was an eminent Type of the Witnesses of Jesus Christ under the New-Testament Babylon; though in the third year when it should rain again▪ according to the word of the Lord (which made way for Elijah's appearance) he shown himself to Ahab, and God was with him to deliver him: But when Jezebel sought after him again, ch. 19 he went into the Wilderness, and hid himsel in a Cave, v. 9  
At the same time before the three years were finished, and the Persecution by Jezebel continued against all the Lords Prophets, 1 King. 18. Obadiah hide the Prophets by 50. in a Cave, who at other times were publicly prophesying.  
So when the King had sent out a Warrant and Officers to take Jeremiah and Baruch, Jer. 36. 26. 'tis said, The Lord HID them; which implied their own retirement at that time.  
So our Lord Jesus himself, when he heard that John was cast into Prison, he retired into Galilee, Matth. 4. 12▪ And when he further heard that he was beheaded, he withdrew into a desert place, Mat. 14. 13. And so when the Jews sought to kill him, etc. till his hour was come; which places are ordinarily urged by interpreters upon them for the case in hand.  
So our Lord Jesus allows his Disciples, Matth. 10. when he sent them forth as sheep among wolves, ver. 10. that they should then be wise as Serpents, walk with such a wisdom as becomes sheep among Wolves, which is not rashly to put themselves into the mouth of the Wolf. And ver. 17. bids them beware of men; and then, being persecuted into one City, ●o fly unto another, v. 23. the 〈◊〉 that word being to direct them, that when Rulers by their Edicts will not suffer them to preach in one place, they might go to another; if not in public, then in private, and from House to House, as the providence of God should lead them.  
When the Jews sought for Paul at Damascus, the Disciples did not press him to expose himself to be delivered up into their hands, in appearing openly there, but on the contrary, at a hard rate conveyed him away, Acts 9 23. 2 Cor. 11. 32. In Damascus, the Governor under Artas the King, kept the City with a Garrison, desirous to apprehend me; and through a Window in a basket was I let down by the wall, I escaped his hands: which the Apostle there sets down among his persecutions; when the Governor of the City would have apprehended him, he thought good, and the Saints with him so judged, to withdraw, and yet he was not judged unfaithful or fearful in so doing. So Acts 14. when Paul and Barnabas had spoken holdly in the Lord, for a time at Iconium, when they understood that the Jews and Gentiles with them made an assault (at their meeting) to use them despitefully, and to stone them, they were ware of it, (they thought it ground enough that they were ware of it) and so fled into the next Province into Lystra▪ When the Jews laid wait for him, Act. 20. 3. he went not into Syria, but returned thorough Macedon●a. And when the Jews had gathered a company of lewd fallows to assault the meeting at Jas●ns house, Paul and Sylas withdrew, Act. 17. 5, 6. for, they found them no●, ver. 6. And at Berea, the Brethren sent away Paul, ver. 14.  
So when he would have hazarded himself, the Disciples suffered him not, Act. 19▪ 30. And when he would go up to Jerusalem, all the Saints besought him not to go (judging in an ordinary way he ought not,) till they nnderstood that Paul was under an extraordinary impulse of Spirit to go, and then they ceased.  
The case of those famous Ministers and witnesses of Christ at the 
See Book of Matt▪  beginning of Q. Mary's persecution, who preached not after the Queen's Inhibition and Proclamation, though it were not a binding Law, as appears by the Declaration of their Faith they gave forth when prisoners in the King's Bench, in which they thus express themselves; We are not here in prisons as Traitor's, or seditious persons, or transgressors of any Laws of this Realm; Inhibitions, Proclamations, or Commandments of the Queen's Highness, or of any of the Councils, God's Name be praised therefore, etc. Subscribed by Dr. Taylor, Philpot, Bradford, Hooper, Rogers, Saunders, etc. the most eminent Ministers and Martyrs of that day, who it appears preached not publicly after the Proclamation and Act of Parliament, but were committed, as having been men famous in King Edward's days, and had preached to warn the people against Popery, in the interval, before the Proclamation was published, and were taken after, and were put to death because they would not deny the Truth they had formerly preached; which the servants of Christ at this day hope (through grace) they shall not do, if called to a trial thereof; and how far several of the servants of the Lord have exposed themselves, notwithstanding a former Proclamation, and the latter Act of Parliament, and particular charges that way lie against some of them, sober Christians may judge, and not passionately censure any of them; and the due consideration thereof, and of what hath been said in this case; may be more then enough to remove their prejudice, or mistaken herein.  
So that here is both precept, and multiplied examples both of the Old and New Testament, of the Prophets and Apostles, and the ordinary Ministers of Christ, that when particular and personal persecution hath been against them, a design to apprehend them, and a lying in wait for them, they have at such a time withdrawn, and retired themselves from their more public Ministry.  
In the ordinary providence of God, these Reasons of it may be instanced:  
1. When public Preachers are sent to preach to the world, and the people will not receive them, but persecute them, they, after some patiented waiting, may withdraw for a testimony against them, Mat. 10. 14. which is too often the case of the servants of Christ, though it doth not fully reach the case in hand.  
2. When the Lord Jesus hath more wo●k and service for his servants,, and will preserve them to a day of liberty (as hath been showed of the whole generation of Saints) than he hath used to hid them by his gracious providence in a wonderful manner, and hath called them off from the public stage, and kept them in the midst of the persecutions they have been under, or snatched them out of them, as abundant instances might be given; so it is prophesied, Isa. 30. 20 That their teachers should be removed into corne●s, till the Captivity was over, etc.  
3. In mercy to the Churches, that the liberties and lives of the servants of Christ may be preserved, to serve them more publicly when the Lord by his providence shall make way; and in the mean time may be useful to the Churches in a more private way; and not to spend them (in a kind of passionate courage) upon the implacable fury of their persecutors: whence it was, that the Disciples at Caesarea so passionately besought Paul not to go up to Jerusalem; And when he would have entered in among the people, the Disciples suffered him not.  
This may suffice to state and clear this case ●o the consciences of such as may be differently minded herein, which may at least call for a mutual forbearance in love, and that Satan get not an advantage to stir up heats, heighten prejudices, beget a greater distance among the people of God; and so in stead of closing, widen the sad breaches that have been amongst us,  
And yet when I have thus stated this case, that the call of Jesus Christ may be to retire; and that 'tis lawful upon particular personal persecution, for the Ministers of Christ to do so; yet I also say with blessed Bucer, as he states this case on the 4th. of Matth. upon our Saviour's retirement, That there can be no absolute, binding, unlimited Rule laid down in this case, that shall be binding in all times, and to all persons. And 'tis hard for others to determine when a servant of Christ may more honour the Lord by retirement or by a public exposing himself▪ Every man in such a case is to give up himself to the leading of the Spirit of the Lord, which hath carried some of the servants of Christ in one way, and some in another, in all times of persecution accordingly, as Christ will be glorified by them. Though the same Bucer (who also retired in the German persecution) concludes thus: Where by retirement & flight thou mayest see an advantage of honouring Christ (tuae te horae servans) by withdrawing thou dost as Christ himself did, and as Paul at Damascus.  
Yet that the minds of Saints may be fully satisfied herein, I will consider what is usually urged by some to the contrary.  
Obj. How do the servants of the Lord give forth a full Testimony, if they retire when Edicts are given forth against them, seeing 'tis said they overcome by the Wo●d of their Testimony, Rev. 12. That we may therefore consider how far this may reach, and when Saints may be said to keep the Commandments of God, and to have the Testimony of jesus Christ, ver. last.  
1. A Testimony is given first by the Preachers & Witnesses of Christ, by discovering the sins and the Antichristian abominations of the age & day they live in, and witnessing for all the Offices, Worship, Kingdom of Jesus Christ, according to the Scripture, as the Spirit of the Lord gives light, and acts them thereunto; and as the Providence of God opens a door to them: Blessed be the Father of Spirits, that through the Grace and Power of the Lord Jesus such a Testimony hath been given forth; to the glory of God, the conviction and establishment (as is hoped) of the people of God, which testimony, no doubt, the Lord will make good in his best time; and which they leave with God, being satisfied they are called by the providence of God to a more retired way.  
2. All other Saints do keep the Testimony of Jesus (and the Commandments of God as opposed to the Commands of men in the matters of Christ and his Worship) when they are (through the teaching of the Spirit in the Word, and the Power of the same Spirit resting upon them) kept from partaking of the sins, pollutions, and Anti-christian abominations of false Worship which men would impose upon them, Acts 2. 40. Save yourselves from this untoward generation, Eph. 5: 7. Be not ye therefore partakers with them, v. 11. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, etc. Touch not the unclean thing, be ye separate, 2. Cor. 6 Come out of her my pe●ple, that ye be not pa tak●rs of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues, Rev. 18. 4.  
When the professing people shall obey the Lord in such words as these, and not defile themselves, nor provoke the Lord to jealousy against them, this is a good Testimony, and such Saints who call for extremities from others, may find this to be a Testimony hard enough to be kept, when they are tried, as th●y have in lesser matters already.  
This Testimony the 7000. kept in Samaria, that bowed not their knee to Baal, and God accepted them in it. And let all the Ministers of Christ who would approve themselves as such, to God and his people; take heed that they are faithful in this testimony (as well as others of the people of God) and that under pretence of having the liberty of their Ministry, they are not found in compliance, with Humane Inventions, against light, to render themselves a scorn to the profane, and a grief and stumbling block to the godly, especially when such eminent and severe strokes from Heaven have been upon many for so doing.  
3. Saints do keep the Testimony of Jesus Christ when they are found in the practice of Christ's appointments, though in a more private way, which is a testimony against the persecutions of the World, and the abominations thereof, as the primitive Christians practised.  
4. Saints do keep the word of Testimony when any of them are called before men, for not partaking in false ways of Worship, and being so called, do not deny the truth, but confess it before man, M●t●h. 10. 32, 33. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will ● confess b●fore my Father which is in Heaven; But whosoever shall deny me before men, him nill I also deny ●efore my Father w●ich is in Heaven. So ●s said, I●sus Christ witnessed a good ●●n●●ssion before Po●tius Pilate, 1 Tim 6 Though in this case also, 'tis not easy to lay down the u●most extent of duty; sometimes the Witnesses of Christ have ●●eely and openly, upon their convention and examination, without any proof against them, witnessed to the whole truth and ma●●er of Fact, as carried ●orth, 'tis to be charitably judged by the Spirit of the Lord thereto, as in Stephen's case, and Peter's Acts 3.  
Others have kept silence; and held their persecutors to proof of matter of Fact against them; yet so as they would not deny the Truth, which is a Testimony to it. Now such a witness-bearing before the Judicatories of men, as the Spirit of the Lord carries forth our spirits, is another way of having the Testimony of Jesus Christ.  
Now if the Lord help this generation of his people to be faithful to their Light in these particulars, they shall be found the Lamb's followers, keeping the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus▪  
But for any to judge, that nothing else is a finishing a faithful testimony, (but for the servants of Christ to put themselves into the mouths of those whom they know wait to devour them, and have laid a snare for them, and that such are unfaithful, or fearful, or worse) that think i● not their duty; certainly when good ●ouls are come to themselves, and shall particularly know and weigh the cases of the Lord's poor servants, (without which 'tis unreasonable to judge) we shall all have a tender hearted forbearance one of another, as that case requires.  
Obj. 2. But was not this the practice of the Apostles, Acts 4. when commanded not to preach any more in the Name of the Lord Jesus, they answered, They ●ught to obey God rather than men.  
Ans. 1. I humbly conceive, that the servants of God at this day if they were in the like manner called before Magistrates, and were charged by them, as the Apostles were, namely, Not to preach at all, nor to teach in the Name of Jesus (for so it was, they would answer as the Apostles did, & would continue preaching, where the providence of God opened a way to them, as they did.  
2: We do not find it expressed that Peter and John preached openly in the Temple after that, though they witnessed and preached elsewhere, until the Angel of the Lord opened the Prison doors, and commanded them to go and speak in the Temple, Acts 5.  
3. The Apostles having an extraordinary Anointing, were to witness to all Nations that they had seen the Lord, and that he was risen from the dead; which is not the case of every particular Minister: They went and preached by the special dictate of the holy Spirit in one place, and not in another; 'tis not so with ordinary Preachers: And the same Spirit that led them forth sometimes to expose themselves to hazards, at another time led them to withdraw from danger, as hath been showed. Besides, it doth not appear that there was any more than a mere prohibition not to preach, to Peter and John, by the Council of the jews, without any penalty of imprisonment or banishment expressed.  
3. Obj. Is not there a strict command, that the Professors of Christ should not forsake the assembling themselves together, Heb. 10.  
Ans. Let it be considered what forsaking of assembling this was; It was the departing from all Christian worship and fellowship; a casting off their profession, as ver. 23. Let us hold fast our profession: such a forsaking, as was a leading to an Apostasy, as is clear in the following verses; For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, etc. which is annexed as a reason of not forsaking their assembling; this will not be judged the present case.  
2. Saints therefore do not forsake their assembling, in that sense while they hold fast their profession, and labour to keep up, worship in a more private way, where they may likely assemble more peaceably, and with less distraction▪ for so those Hebrews did, and all the Churches, as hath been showed.  
Meeting is a duty; but meeting openly is an accidental thing.  
4. Obj. But▪ how are the servants of Christ consistent to their own Doctrine, who press others to be partakers of the sufferings of Christ, and would prepare them for it; when they do not expose themselves to the utmost.  
Ans. There may be a prodigal casting away of liberty or life, as well as a giving them up upon the Call of God; 'Tis certain, that 'tis a duty to offer up every Isaac to the Lord when he Calls for it, but we must see our Call to be clear: we should through grace be ready rather to suffer the loss of all things, then to deny the truth, and to follow▪ the providential leadings of God thereto: But that 'tis our duty and call from the Lord to continue publicly witnessing▪ and to expose ourselves to the utmost hazards, rather than give place▪ though we know the snare is laid for us, and we in all likelihood put an end to our Work in so doing, is not yet proved to our Consciences from any Word of God; but indeed the contrary is clear to them.  
If it be said, that the judgement of some Saints is a Call herein; I answer, That the Judgement of many more may be put in the balance against them, who judge otherwise▪ which may have as great, or it may be a greater weight with them.  
Obj. 5. But did not Daniel worship openly notwithstanding the Decree, Dan. 6.  
Ans. Whatever is said to the contrary, it will easily appear that the prohibition and Decree was, that Daniel should not pray unto his God at all, as v. 7. That whosoever shall ask a Petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee Oh King, etc. Not that Daniel and the Jews should not pray towards Jerusalem: So that the Decree concerned natural moral Worship, and not positive instituted Worship, which may sometimes be dispensed with.  
2. Daniel in this case had an extraordinary Anointing upon him, as a Prophet, which carried him forth in this particular, which in every circumstance is not to be made a standing Rule: Besides, we do not hear of such an open appearing of the rest of the people of God then in Babylon.  
And let it be seriously considered, that sometimes God hath indulged his people in the matter of positive Institutions; as the Israelites in Egypt, who were obliged to sacrificing, if they could have had liberty; but we do not find it practised while they were in Egypt: So of Circumcision in the Wilderness there was an indulgence of it; and that rolling away the reproach of Egypt, mentioned at their circumcision; Josh. 5. 9 was not the reproach (as some learned Interpreters judge) of not being circumcised, but of not being brought for so many years, into the promised Land, which 'tis like the Egyp ians reproached Israel with. So the Building of the Temple (which was Institution) ceased, Ez●a 4. last. upon the prohibition till the 2d. year of Darius, whose indulgence they might have soon had, but neglected it, and built their own houses, and were reproved by the Prophets for their neglect therein.  
And that word (as urged by blessed Mr. Burroughs in this case, and other of the Servants of Christ) is not to be slighted, Mal. 9 I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, which may well hold forth this, That the Lord hath more respect to a Work of Mercy, than to a Sacrifice; a lawful preservation of a man's self is a moral duty; a work of mercy not only to himself, but others; to which end a Sacrifice of instituted Worship at certain times, and in some cases may be omitted.  
Obj. 6. But 'tis objected, That the case is not the same with that of our Saviour and the Apostles, whose lives were in hazard, but now it is not so, the Liberties and Livelyhoods of the Ministers of Christ are only endangered.  
Ans. 1. The loss of liberty & livelihood, with the ruin of their Families, is as a l●sser death, the preservation of which is a moral duty.  
But, let the case well be considered, what three Months Imprisonment in such nasty holes as the Lon●on Prisons are, and it may be understood to amount to little less than life; and upon what terms liberty may be had at the three months' end, is not so easy to determine; it cost one eminent 
* Mr. S.  Minister his life already. But if it be stated to be only the loss of liberty, it will be a tender case of Conscience, whether for once or twice appearing in public, a Minister is to hazard his service of the C●u●ches a●d People of God, to whom h● may be useful in a more private way.  
Obj. 7. But such a withdrawing may be a● offence ●o some S●ints, though most othery be satisfied.  
Ans. I sh●ll here speak a little to the case o● offences, because Satan hath formerly had great advantage upon the Spirits of the Lord's people this way.  
1. There are o●●●●ces that come by the ungodly, persecuting world, who lay stumbling blocks in the way of the people of God by their persecuting them; to such it is said, Woe to the ●orld because of offences, Mat. 18. Saints are not surely to pronounce those woes one upon another upon different apprehensions of duty.  
2. There are offences that arise among the Churches and people of God themselves; such are,  
1▪ Either really given one to another. Or  
2dly, Through misunderstanding, weakness, passion or temptation, are unduly taken, and not given.  
1. Concerning the former, namely, offences really given (which will too often be, while we s●e but in pa●t, and are holy but in part) the Spirit of God calls for all forbearance, compassion and restoring one another, and bearing one another's burdens, according to the Royal Law of L●v●, Gal. 6. 1, 2. Eph. 4. Ph●l. 2. Col. 3. 12. 1 Pet. 3. 8. ●rom which Scriptures let Saints and Members of Churches learn what Spirit and carriage is required one of another in case of offences; which through miscarriages, mistakes and hours of temptations, will befall the poor children of God while they are in the flesh, and therefore do call for such an exercise of grace one towards another; and not for rigid censuring, debasing, treading one another's names under their feet (or worse) if it may be) which are fruits of the flesh, and of the pride of our own hearts, when we set up a Throne in our own spirits, and all must bow and ●all down to it, to be judged either as to matter of Judgement or Practice, and wonderfully please ourselves in it, which will not well consist with a well humbled heart.  
2. There are Offences upon the Spirits of Saints, that are taken, but not really given, through weakness of Judgement, misguided Zeal, Rashness and Passions, and not attending to a well studied and rightly informed Judgement; whereby the Tempter waits to stumble good skulls, and to hinder their peace and communion with the Lord.  
Hence▪ the Wisdom of God take● special notice of the evils that befall the spirits of men in this case; A Brother offended, is ha●der to be none than a strong City, and their contentious are li●e ●●e ●●rs of a Castle, Prov. 18. 19  
Yea, let it be seriously attended to by all that fear the Lord, whether all the Teachers that have been among the People of God, have not ri●e● either for want of a compassionate bearing of offences given, or by taking offences unduly, when not really given, and by which Satan hath been gra●fied, and the u●converted world hath been stumbled; and all for want of thorough-heart humiliation, Wisdom, Love in the Spirit, whereby they should be able to ●udge ●oberly, and walk in peace, as becometh Saints.  
But oftentimes this temptation hath not rested here, but as it hath been observed by holy men, that all backfliding and apostasy gins in taking offence, first offended at one thing or person, then at another; and ●o at more, till they drink in prejudice against the Servants of the Lord, and the Way they walk in▪ ●●●l from all sound and searching Ministry, and so run from Mountain to Hill, from one thing to another, till they come to nothing▪ unless the Lord in rich 〈◊〉 recover them by a sound W●rk of Humiliation upon them. 〈◊〉 laid in that Parable Matthew 1●. 12. That he that hath not r●ot in himself in ● time of persecution, is offen●●●. Various ways hath Satan to offend and stumble them: Our Lord Jesus warned his Disciples of this, Matth. 26. 31. Then saith J●sus unto them, All ●e shall be offended because of me this Night, etc.  
And when the Lord promiseth to bring back the Captivity of his people, he saith to his servants, Cast ye up, cast ye up; prepare ye the way; take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people; Then will the Lord remove their offences, and heal their spirits, and they shall walk on in the way to Zio●, and shall not stumble any more.  
Obj. 8. But doth it not proceed from carnal fear in such, as judge that retirement is the duty of this day.  
Ans. A grain more of love may cast it, that the Lord's servants, and such of the Churches that so judge and walk, do walk after their light, conviction, and satisfaction of conscience, which happily a little time may determine.  
Truly most of the sons of men have an Absoloms spirit, and say in our hearts, What would I do, if I were in such, or such an one's case? wherein our own hearts wonderfully deceive us. Yet if any of the servants of the Lord have a more than ordinary impulse of spirit at this time, (as it may be some have had, since this dispensation of giving in their testimony) 'tis b●st to leave them to the Lord, without judging each other.  
Concerning the Ministers of Christ, I would humbly say thus much; That i● they shall be found in their particular practice faithful to the light and testimony they have given forth, through the same grace upon them, and choose the greatest of sufferings rather than defile themselves, and continue edifying of the Saints and Churches of God in a more private way, as they have opportunity, I humbly judge they shall be accepted with the Lord as his faithful witnesses, and be just fied in the consciences of all serious people; especially when the issue of this dispensation shall be made manifest.  
And thus have we stated this case, we hope, according to Scripture light, and leave it with the Lord, to make it a blessing to any of his.  
But what doth the Lord call for, by way of duty, of all his people in a time of retirement.  
1. To sp●ak often one to another, Mal. 3. It was a time when there was hardly a Priest to speak publicly to them, but such as corrupted ●he worship of the Lord: Then they that feared the Lord spoke often o●e to another, an● the Lord hearkened and hea●d it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that se●red the Lord, and that thought upon his Name. They had great thoughts of heart for the Name of their God, and they spoke, no doubt, of his dispensation, and of the signs of the times, and what he called for, to strengthen, settle, and comfort one another; this is the practice Saints should be serious and conscientious, and often in, in such a day, and so keep up the practice of Ordinances among them.  
2. To be found as the mourner's of Z●on: In the day of Zions' breach and Captivity, the promise of mercy runs to her mourner's, to the humble and contrite ones, Isa. 57 15. & 18. with those he will dwell, those he will revive and heal. He will not contend always; lest their spirit fail; but will restore comfort to the mourner's. So isaiah Chap. 61▪ ver. 2, 3. And Chapter 60▪ vers. 10. This was Jeremiahs'▪ spirit, In that day, Jeremiah 14▪ ver. 17. let mine eyes run down with tears, and let th●m not cease; for the Virgin's Daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous ●l●w.  
Oh that the Lord would give down this Spirit upon his people; as we would call for a Spirit of Bravery and Courage, which in its season is honourable, and hath appeared upon many of the Ministers of Christ) so let us call upon one another for this Spirit also, to be found mourning apart, and together in our retirements, for the abominations and blasphemies of the land, for our former un profitableness, unholiness, security, formality, hypocrisy, pride of life, divisions, frowardness, back shdings, breach of Vows and Covenants with the Lord, self-seekings in the management of the precious cause of the Lord Jesus, which now lieth as crucified: Oh! do we mourn over it, as well as talk of it?  
3. Jesus Christ calls to heart-searching: In such a day is every one to be retiring into their own hearts, and finding out the plague of them, Lam. 3. 40. In the day of their captivity, then saith the Prophet, let us search and try our ways, etc.  
Then is every one to be awakening his own heart, every soul attending to a renewed repentance and humility, to renewed mortification in the spirit, that it may be as a day of a new conversion upon all our spirits.  
4. In such a day, Jesus Christ calls his to uniting, that we get all our prejudices to be removed and healed, though under different measures of light; as we are upon the enquiry of our way to Zion (after the long night of Antichristian darkness) we have many stones in our way, and much remaining darkness) upon our spirits, and the Lord gives out light gradually to his people in the Church's restoration, which calls for a mutual forbearance from all, that would see the beauty of Zion, and press after it, and not imposing one upon another, much less devouring one another by the way. Ah! when our spirits are more melted by the Gospel, and we are more in the spirit of the Gospel, it shall be so; then shall we know one another as Saints, and upon that account have Communion together, and not be bound up to any Form, and make it a Law of Communion, which is indeed no better than a dreg of christianism upon our spirits. Union with the Lord Jesus is the ground of fellowship with him, and lo●t should be one with another, 1. Joh. 1▪ 3 Let us all contend together for the great interest of the gospel; power of Godliness, purity of Worship as as the great and common interest of all that fear the Lord.  
5. In retiring times the Lord calls to much secret duty, especially of prayer; Cant. 2. 14. Oh my Dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, etc. Jesus Christ behold his Dove in the cliffs of the Rock in her retirement) as hid from the wrath of her Enemies) and there she mourns in a Dove ●ike spirit, and the Lord delights to see her face, and hear her voice.  
Some have more fully heard what great things single Saints have ●one in prayer for the people of God, how they have prevailed with God, as J●cob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David. Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, etc. in their several generations, who were men of like passions with us: Let me alone, saith the Lord to one Moses. Every praying soul should be so awakened and engaged in this Work at this day, as if the whole lay upon his, or her shoulders; as if his cries (even alone) were to prevail for Zion's deliverance.  
Oh my dear Companions in the Kingdom and Patience of Jeius Christ, cry mightily, and sigh with ●itrerness and unutterable groans, pour out your souls as water before the Lord, because of the sin and breach of the people of your God; Oh cry for Healing for Zion▪ cry for your Bread, those precious Gospelfeeding of which you are bereft; cry against Babylon, and the Horns that are pouring ou● the blood of your Brethren: Cry ●or the ruin of the Beasts Kingdom, and the exaltation of the Throne of Jesus Christ in the world. 'Tis said Dan. 7. 13. One like the Son of Man came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. Saints by Faith and Prayer do bring the Son of Man near before the Father; And then there was given him Dominion, Glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations and Languages should serve him, ver. 14.  
If such a Spirit be given forth in the entering into our Chambers, verily the wind thereof shall put such an Earthquake into the tenth part of the City, and the Foundations that are now laying, that it shall be like a breach, ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly a● ani●stant. Isa. 30 13. 14. And the Adversaries of the Lord shall not see whence their blow cometh. Certainly never did such a praying generation miscarry.  
6. In retiring times the People of God should walk w●sely, at such a time when a man is made an offendor for a word: Let us all labour to do all in the Wisdom of Jesus Christ, in our walking towards the World, in 〈◊〉 assembling, in our particular walkings, in our silence and in our speaking▪ lest not only themselves, but their Brethren also suffer by their weakness and folly: Whoso ●●lketh wisely, shall be delivered, Prov. 28. 26.  
7. In retiring times Jesus Christ calls for bowels towards the afflictions and necessities of Brethren; this is a special duty of the day; some thousands of Families are bereft of their bread, while the Lord hath spared to others a full portion, not only in m●r●y to themselves, but to be a blessing to their distressed Brethren. Blessed be the Lord for what he hath done upon the spirit of his servants in this thing already; A● the distress will increase, so should the hearts and bowels of such in whose hand it is, be enlarged, else let not them think to partake of the day of mercy, if they show no mercy to their Brethren, when the present dispensation so eminently calls for it. A blast from Heaven will come forth upon the Estates, Families, Names, Spirits of such professors who withhold bread from the hungry, and cast it not upon the waters in such a day. Never was such an opportunity put into the hands of any generations, to show much kindness to Christ and his Saints, as at this day, never such a time to lay up much treasure in Heaven▪ 8. The day calls for resignment to the will of God, to suffer or to do according to his good pleasure. The Lord hath triumphed in some of his suffering one's, who have gloriously overcome by the Blood of the Lamb; not loving their lives ●●to the death; 'tis possible some others may be called forth in the same way, many to prisons, and much hardship; Oh! let us be resigned up to the will of Jesus Christ, to be contented he should glorify himself upon us which way he pleaseth: Live upon that faithful saying, 2 Tim. 2. v●r. 11, 12. If we suffer with him, we shall also reign w●th him; what more can be desired▪  
You have the p●●mise of Jesus Christ to be with you in what he calls you to, and you have the rich experience of your Brethren of his faithfulness therein, who triumphed over death, in a spirit of glory that was upon them; for the Lords Prisoners, even in every Prison of England, their hearts are full of the praises of the Lord, crying (to the amazement of their Persecutors) Blessed be the Lord for a Prison; let not our Brethren be discouraged, for Christ w●ll meet them, and walk with them there: This may quiet the hearts of all Saints, and not be troubled, in case the Providence of God so dispose of them; and yet they are to walk wisely in this, not exposing themselves beyond what they see the Lord clearly calling themto, and their own conscience satisfied therein: A good Cause, a good Call, & a good Conscience makes a man's sufferings sweet to him. A servant of Christ may be in a good Cause, and in a good work, in a Christian du●y, ye● no● have a clear Call at that time and season to it.  
9 The Lord calls for Cruci●iedness to the world; a weanedness from all Creature comforts; Redemption from all Earthly Interests, that their hearts be loosened from them. The world was got into the hearts of Professors, now it must be cast out, and the heart crucified to it, if they think to follow the Lamb at this day. Let every Believer improve his fellowship with the death of Jesus Christ to this purpose, and by Faith realize Christ, and heaven, and glory, and for the heart to feed upon them, that the world be not as a weight upon their spirits; which hath already drowned, ensnared, perverted too many, and is the very bane of profession, if not to the falling short of the Kingdom of God, yet as to their own comfort, & their serving the Lord in their Generation. Jesus Christ never much honoured a worldly Professor, or if so, if the world at last ●ook hold of him, ● b●ast w●s upon him.  
1. In retiring times the Lord calls to waiting, a patiented waiting; I charge you that you sleep not, nor awake my Lov●till he please, saith the Spouse, Cant. ●. 7. The Soouse was contented to wait for him: That word of Es●y chap. 52. 12. should be pondered by all that fear the Lord; For ye shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your Rearward. The word refers to the day of the Captivity; they should not go out by haste, but see the Lord going before them by some signal providence or other, as a call to them to go forth: Then the Lord faith he would be their Rearward, though the Enemy pursue them, they should not be able to harm them; the Lord in some Cloud or Pillar of Providence or other, will call ●orth his People, and they shall hear his voice, and follow him.  
Precipitancy is the issue of unbelief, men do not hang upon the Arm of the Lord, when impatiency carries them to such precipitancy.  
Specially let us take heed to this, When the Lord is casting in such Harbingers as forerunners of his coming, by signs and wonders in the Heaven's, and on the Earth, and on the Seas; yea, it may be by special Visision to some of his Servants, and the expectation of Saints generally raised to look for him. Oh let us wait, for he will bring distress upon his Enemies, that they shall walk as blind men; Neither shall their silver nor their Gold be able to deliver them in the Day of the Lords Wrath upon t●em, Zeph. 1. 17. For behold the Lord cometh out of his place, to punish the inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity, and the Earth shall disclose her ●lood. Isa. 2●▪ v. last.  
11. As Saints are patiently to wait, so also to take heed that they do not fall asleep: I say, the Lord delayeth, &c to let them be girt up, as expecting their Lord calls▪ and be ready to follow him wheresoever he goes, etc. let them not say in their hearts, that the Lord hath forsaken his people, that he is carrying the gospel from England, that it is like to be as in the Bohemian day; and so be consulting to make haste by flight into other Country's (unless such whose case may be peculiar) verily this would be for a provocation; this would be the bitter fruit o● unbelief: lo, the Lord will hid you in your own land, and keep you as the apple of his Eye, (hid● thyself as it were for a little moment) fre● not against the Lord, though you are called off from your public Assemblies, and your Ministers laid as dead: Verily the Lord, who holdeth his Stars in his right hand, will cause them to shine ●orth again, and they shall give a more glorious light; the Lord will be against the foolish Shepherds that would devour the Flock, and will deliver them out of their mouths, and he will make them as the dung of the Earth; they shall no more speak l●es in the Name of the Lord; but the Hailestrom shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the eyes of this generation shall see it. Be making ready for the glorious appearance of the Lord, and cry, Mak● hast my bel●ved, and be thou l●ke ●o ● Roe, or to a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices.  
12. Wait for an Anointing of Light, Zeal and Magnanimity, to execute the vengeance of the Lord upon the beast; for Wrath is determined from the Lord, and the Nations shall tremble because of it, and the Cup of it shall speedilybe put into theirhands, ●hough they have said, A confederacy, and there is a healing and peace among them, and the Testimony lies dead, yet the Lord will come upon them as the breach of many waters. Let that word of our Lord dwell upon your hearts, for the day of it is coming upon the World, Luke 21. 25. etc. An● there shall be signs in the Sun, and in the Moon, and in the Stars, and upon the Earth DISTRESS of NATIONS, with perplexity, the Sea, and the waters roaring, men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth; for the Power of Heaven shall be shaken; and th●n shall they see the Son of Man coming in a Cloud, with Power and grea● glory▪ And when these things begin ●o come ●o pass, then look up, and lift up your h●ads, FOR YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH.  
No age of the world hath produced such a series of Signs and Wonders as this hath done, in these two years last passed, (which are still multiplied) which though neglected and blasphemed by a generation of scoffers, yet are to be had in reverence by all that fear the Lord, and regard the 〈◊〉 of his hands: Which signs usually be speak distress of Nations; and th● S●●n●s that observe them, are called to li●t up th●ir ●ead●. The voice of the Lord ●o Egypt in the signs and wonders of that ●●y, was, Let my people go, that they may serve me, Exod. 16. 14, 16. ●●. 8. 1. ch. 9 1. 13. ch. 10. 3. And when Ph●roah refused ●o l●t the People of God go free that they might serve the Lord, and hardened himself against the wonders of God, it proved his and the Egyptians destruction, and wrath was upon them, and the Lord by a strong hand let his people go. But this Consideration would require a larger discussion. Let what hath been hinted, help you to a patiented waiting; let us say with good Jeremiah, Chap. 14. vers. last. Art not thou he, Oh Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee, for thou hast made all these things.  
The Lord will raise the expectation of his Saints, (as he hath already begun) and then he will come into them, Psal 9 15. then, 'tis but for a moment, a little moment, nay, but as it were, a little moment, scarce to be called a little moment, but as it were so; and the indignation shall be overpast: The Lord would assure his poor people▪ That he waits but his sittest season, as if delay were more grievous to him than to his people: Who would not wait for such a God? Oh! blessed be all they that wait for him, Isa. 30. 8. Take that word which the Lord hath spoken to one or another of his poor servants, Ps. 3●. 34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land when the wicked are cut off: THOU SHALT SEE IT.  
Amen.  
FINIS.