A84352:9
The Christian CommonwealthThe Christian Commonvvealth
The Christian Commonwealth: or, The civil policy of the rising kingdom of Jesus Christ. Written before the interruption of the government, by Mr. John Eliot, teacher of the Church of Christ at Roxbury in New-England. And now published (after his consent given) by a server of the season.The Christian Commonvvealth: or, The civil policy of the rising kingdom of Jesus Christ. Written before the interruption of the government, by Mr. John Eliot, teacher of the Church of Christ at Roxbury in New-England. And now published (after his consent given) by a server of the season.
London: printed for Livewell Chapman, 1659
Preface: To the Chosen, and Holy, and Faithful, who manage the Wars of the Lord, against Antichr…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The late great Changes, which have fallen out in great Britain and Ireland, have so amazed the most of men; and the black, and confused Clouds, which have over-spread the whole Land, have so darkened the way of those wheels of Providence by which Christ is coming to set up his Kingdom, that they whose eyes the Lord hath begun to open, to see Christ coming, in power and in great glory, according ⟨image 3⟩to his Promise, do also see the other part of his word verified, namely, that the coming of Christ is in the Clouds of darkness; by means whereof it is long ere all men can see him, or be persuaded that it is he, who is now coming; though afterwards, they shall see that even those Clouds were needful, a while to obscure the bright appearance of his design.
THe late great Changes, which have fallen out in great Britain and Ireland, haue so amazed the most of men; and the black, and confused Clouds, which have over-spread the whole Land, have so darkened the way of those wheels of Providence by which Christ is coming to set up his Kingdom, that they whose eyes the Lord hath begun to open, to see Christ coming, in power and in great glory, according ⟨image 3⟩to his Promise, do also see the other part of his word verified, namely, that the coming of Christ is in the Clouds of darkness; by means whereof it is long ere all men can see him, or be perswaded that it is he, who is now coming; though afterwards, they shall see that even those Clouds were needful, a while to obscure the bright appearance of his design.
Lately reading a Book called a Plea for Non-subscribers, or the grounds and reasons of many Ministers of Cheshire and Lancashire, &c. though I had before heard of the sad differences, distances of spirit, and dissatisfactions among the people of the Lord: yet then my heart bled to see such precious holy men, pleading (as they believe) for God, with a pure and sincere Conscience, and yet in so doing strongly to speak against the glorious work of the Lord Jesus, in casting down Antichrist, and setting up his own Kingdom foretold in Scripture, and now fulfilling, as also strongly and sharply speaking against those whom the Lord hath pleased to employ, and improve as his Instruments in accomplishing thereof.