For the Workmen, I am sure God is the principal, as I said before; but yet he will do it by instruments, through the guidance of his Spirit. The building of the Wall of old, was of God; but so, as that he did it by the hand of Nehemiah, and his Companions. I do observe in the completing of the City Jerusalem of old, that there was first Altar-work, then Temple-work, and after that the building the Wall, and completing the City. Altar-work,1 I say, was the first which was reared, and on which there was offered according to the Law, and holy custom, the Sacrifices and Offerings both morning and evening, as every day required; but the foundation of the Temple was not yet laid, Ezra 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. These Altar men were those also that afterward built the Temple; but yet by them was first of all repaired the Altar, to signify that the first work that will be on foot at the beginning of the return of the Christians2 from out of Antichristian Babylon, it will be to find out Altar-work, that is, the ⟨p. 146⟩Priestly Office of Christ, and to offer […] Him, the Prayers and Supplications of the Church continually. Wherefore these Altar-men, or these men in their Altar-work, did figure-out for us our famous and holy Worthies, that before us have risen up in their place, and shook off those Relics of Antichrist that entrenched upon the Priestly Office of our Lord and Saviour, even worthy Wycliffe, Hus, Luther, Melancton, Calvin, and the blessed Martyrs in Q. Mary's days, &c. with the rest of their companions: these in their day were stout & valiant Champions for God, according to their light, and did upon the Altar of God, which is Christ our Lord, offer up many strong cries, with groans and tears, as every day required, for the complete recovering of the Church of God; the benefit of whose Offering we have felt and enjoyed to this day; but by this the Foundation of the Temple was not yet laid.3
For the Workmen, I am sure God is the principal, as I said before; but yet he will do it by instruments, thorow the guidance of his Spirit. The building of the Wall of old, was of God; but so, as that he did it by the hand of Nehemiah, and his Companions. I do observe in the compleating of the City Jerusalem of old, that there was first Altar-work, then Temple-work, and after that the building the Wall, and compleating the City. Altar-work,1 I say, was the first which was reared, and on which there was offered according to the Law, and holy custom, the Sacrifices and Offerings both morning and evening, as every day required; but the foundation of the Temple was not yet laid, Ezra 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. These Altarmen were those also that afterward built the Temple; but yet by them was first of all repaired the Altar, to signifie that the first work that will be on foot at the beginning of the return of the Christians2 from out of Antichristian Babylon, it will be to finde out Altar-work, that is, the ⟨p. 146⟩Priestly Office of Christ, and to offer 〈…〉 Him, the Prayers and Supplications of the Church continually. Wherefore these Altar-men, or these men in their Altar-work, did figure-out for us our famous and holy Worthies, that before us have risen up in their place, and shook off those Reliques of Antichrist that intrenched upon the Priestly Office of our Lord and Saviour, even worthy Wickliff, Hus, Luther, Melancton, Calvin, and the blessed Martyrs in Q. Maries dayes, &c. with the rest of their companions: these in their day were stout & valiant Champions for God, according to their light, and did upon the Altar of God, which is Christ our Lord, offer up many strong cries, with groans and tears, as every day required, for the compleat recovering of the Church of God; the benefit of whose Offering we have felt and enjoyed to this day; but by this the Foundation of the Temple was not yet laid.3
- 1Altarwork, Templework, and Citywork.
- 2What Altar-work is.
- 3Ezra 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
