Heaven does mean that fome Men of Note, Minifters and Officers in the Church, will apoftatize and fall upon the Earth; that is from the Dignity and Excellency of their boly Profeffion, but then they muft be fuch who are not held in the Right hand of Chrift, we should all fall if the Loid Jefus Chrift did not hold us faft in his own Hands. But here lies the Mercy of all the faithful Minifters of Chrift, yea and of every Believer too, that they are held in his Right Hand, as it is in Rev. il 1, Thefe Things faith be that boldetb the feven Stars in bis Right hand, &c. However fome there are that will fall, who it may be have appeared (many of them) eminent for a time. Yea, many fuch Stars have fell,and difmally apoftatized from God; as the Hiftory of the Church will evidence, but more eSpecially in these latter times, and therefore this Sign hath been fulfilled also.

Sixthly, again, As to the Diftrefs that is to be upon the Earth, with Perplexity, the Sea and Waves roaring, MensHearts failing of them for fear, looking after thofe things which are coming, and the Powers of the Heavens being fhaken; have all of them been ful filled. What Troubles, Diftreffes, and Perplexi ties hath there been upon Nations and Kingdoms in our Days! What roarings of the Seas, and extraordinary Motions hath there been in the mighty Waters! Or more myftically, what Outrages and Roarings has there been of late in the Spirits of wicked Men, against the People of God! The Wicked being compared unto the troublesome Sea, that is never at reft. What Failings of Heart, and looking for of fomething more than ordinary in the

Expectation of many, from thefe wonderful Signs, which have appeared both on the Earth and in the Air? What a fhaking of the Powers of the Heaven for the Churches of Chrift) hath there been and ftill is? The Church being frequently compared unto Heaven in the Scriptures, fhews that the Heavens, as well as the Earth, is to be fhaken; according to thofe Words in Heb: xii. 26 But now hath be promifed, faying (as it is in Hag: ii. 6.) yet once more I fake not the Earth only, but also Heaven. And why is the Heavens or the Churches to be thus fhaken? it is rendered in v. 27. that those things (or Perfons) who are not founded upon the Founda tion the Lord Jefus Chrift, may be shaken out, and difcovered and that those things (or Perfons) who cannot be shaken off, as being founded upon Chrift, may more fedfafily and gloriously remain. But oh! what a Shaking has there been, is, and will yet be in the Churches, as well as in the Earth? What Disorders are there in Nations, in Churches, in Families, and in our own Souls? What a fhaking is here as to the Faith and Experience of many of God's own Children in this Day? That Earth quake we read of in Rev. xi 13. which is to be the Rain and Overthrow, not only of the tenth part, but of the whole City Babylon (at the appointed time) wherein fo many thoufands of Names of Men fhall be flain, feems at prefent to affect the Saints, or however a fhaking time it is among the People of God. What a Divifion is here among good Men? and as it were a pulling of each other to Pieces in their Contest about the Doctrines of the Gofpel? What a fhaking is here at this time (in the Minds of many) as to the Faith andOrder thereof? Which

according to my Thoughts, will continue to be ye fhaken more and more, until there fhall be very few, if any, found whole (as to their Church State) whe the Lord Jefus Chrift fhall come, in the firft P or Branch of his Kingdom. Well, feeing that t things are fo, then thefe muft be undeniable S as to the near Approach of that promifed Glory

Seventhly, And because Iniquity hall abo the Love of many hall wax cold. Mat. xxiv. I This certainly is a great Sign alfo; it being a down by our Lord as fuch; and are we not und the fulfillment of it? Who is it that dare fay th contrary? Oh, what an abounding is here of Sin Not of fome, but of all Sins. Was not the Sins the old World great, in bringing the Deluge of Flood upon them? And the Sins of Sodom and Gr morrab, which brought Fire, from Heaven in the Destruction? And are not our Sins as great Ye are they not much greater than theirs was; As ing Sins against greater Light? Doth not all manner of Iniquity abound among us in thefe profefling Nations, as much or more than in the dark Barts of the Earth. Oh, how does Iniquity daily increale amongst a profeffing People? Isit not manifeft that the Sins of Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, fciviousness, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, ance, Herrfies, Envyings, Murders, Drunkares, Emulation, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Revelings, Pride, Covetousness, contemning of God, flighting, "rejecting, and defpifing of the Gospel, with many others, are dreadfully abounding among us? Tooevi dent the Lord knows. And are not thefe Signs of the laft Days? See what the Apoftle faith in

Tim, iii. 2. This know also, that in the last Days 1

perilous

perillous Times fall come, for Men fhall be Lovers! of their own felves, Covetous, Boafters, Proud, Blaf phemers, difobedient to Parents, Unthankful, Unholy, without natural Affection, Truth Breakers, falfe Ac cufers, Incontinent, Fierce, Defpifers of those that are Good, Traitors, Heady, High-minded, Lovers of Pleafures more than Lovers of God, &c. Oh, what al Heap or a Multitude of Abominations are here: reckoned up together, and laid down by the Holy Ghoft, as the Signs of the abounding Evil of the laft Days. If any fhould object, and fay, Sure all these Sins do not abound among us! I answer in the affirmative, that here is not one of thefe Evils, but what is and doth in a difmal manner abound, and increase daily in every Place round about us. What! In a Nation where the Gofpel is fo plentifully paeached? Yes, by woful Experience we may evidently fee it. Befides what is expreffed in Verfe 5. fpeaking of thefe fame Perfons having a Form of Godiinefs, but denying the Power thereof from fuck turn away. These then were fuch as had a Form, but by their wicked Works denyed the Power of Godlinefs. It would be endless to exprefs in particular the Wickednefs committed in every corner of the Land. What Abominations are acted continually in fecret, which none knows of but God and themselves? But alas, befides thefe here is like a Flood-gate of Sin drawn up, covering and filling all Parts and Places fich Sins which do refufe to be afhamed, as having got a brazen Forehead. Witnefs that horrible Impiety broke out of late in the great City; and that by Perfons of Quality and Figure, whofe Education one would have thought fhould have learnt them

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better things. Yet thefe had their Clubs and meeting laces, where they threw the Reins of Wickednefs loofe calling themfelves by the Name of Hell fire Club, in Defiance to God, to Chrift, ton Heaven and Hell, making a mock at Religion and all that is facred, daring God as it were to his Face. Be astonished, O Heavens! and horribly afraid, O Earth! What can we think, but that thefe must be the yery Sink and Dregs of the laft Days?

And is this all? Oh no, but the dreadful Effects i which follow, and that is the Love of many waxing cold This laft Expreffion fhews, that we are ceFF!! tainly under the fulfilment of this SignWas there ever lefs Love known to be, unto one another, in any Age of the World than in this our time? What is the reafon of thofe Wars, Broils, Quarreling and Difference, that are amongft Men Sure it is becaufe Love is wanting; what is the reafon of thofe Breaches, Divifions, and Animofities that are a mong the People of God? Is it not for want of Love? Oh, how is our Love decayed, fift to the Lord, and to one another? How little Love, dol wet: find this Day in our Souls unto Chrift, unto his Word, unto his Ordinances, and unto his Feeple? Oh, what is the reafon of this? Becaufe Iniquity doth fo much abound; because Inquity fall abound therefore the Love of many waxes cold. This then iss an evident Sign, that our Lot is caft into the laft Times.

JA

Eightly Carnality, Senfuality, and earthly Mindedness, is another Sign, as appears from thole Words, Mat xxiv. 37, 38. But as the Days of Noah were, jo fall alfo the coming of the Son of

Man