Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London

And Secondly, (I do but touch upon this, and touch I must upon it) look when the Roman Empire did fall asunder into ten Kingdoms, then did the Beast begin his forty two months, Rev. 17. 12. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings, which have received no Kingdom as yet, But receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast.

But when did the Roman Empire fall asunder into ten Kingdoms? About the year 400. 'Tis observed by good Historians, and divers, that in the year 406. Brittany and these Nations fell off from the Roman Empire, to be a Kingdom standing by it self.—Now then, if the time did begin about 400. surely the end of the time we must needs be about. I confess indeed: It is a sad thing for Christ's Witnesses to lie in Sackcloth; and to lie in Sackcloth 1260. years, but so it must be, not a day abated, but to a year, to a day. Why should you be offended friends then, at the Sackcloth and mourning condition of the Church, and Saints, and ⟨p. 115⟩People of God?—Why, is not this the habit of the Witnesses, Sackcloth: and will not you be content to be habited as they are habited, as Christ's Witnesses are habited, to wear the same clothes that Christ's Witnesses do? And if Christ's Witnesses shall lie in Sackcloth 1260. years, will not you be contented to be in Sackcloth three or four years? Christians, will not you be contented to be in Sackcloth three or four years? Me thinks we should rather look to the duty of a Sackcloth condition; there should our hearts and our thoughts be: But we are very apt evermore, (and consider what I say, not only in reference to this point, but to others) we are very apt to mind Gods work, and neglect our own: 'Tis Gods work to ful••l the Promise, 'tis our work to apply the Promise; but we mind the fulfilling on't, and neglect the applying on't; mind Gods work, and neglect our own work!