N04757:249
An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in…
An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in extraordinary prayer for the revival of religion and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom on earth, pursuant to Scripture-promises and prophecies concerning the last time. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Minister of the Gospel at Northampton. ; With a preface by several ministers.
printed for D. Henchman, 1748
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.
These Things duly considered, I imagine afford us Ground to suppose, not only that the Effect of this sixth Vial is already begun, but that some Progress is already made in it, and that this Vial is now running apace. And when it shall be finished, there is all Reason to suppose that the Destruction of Antichrist will very speedily follow; and that the two last Vials will succeed one another more closely than the other Vials. When once the River Euphrates was dried up, and Cyrus's Way was prepared, he delayed not, but immediately entered into the City to destroy it. Nor is it God's Manner, when once his Way is prepared, to delay to deliver his Church and show Mercy to Zion. When once Impediments are removed, Christ will no longer remain at a Distance, but will be like a Roe or a young Hart, coming swiftly to the Help of his People. When that Cry is made▪ Isai. lvii.14. Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the Way, &c. The high and lofty One that inhabits ⟨p. 172⟩Eternity, is represented as very near to revive the Spirit of the Contrite, and deliver his People with whom he had been Wr•th, Ver. 15, to the End. When that Cry is made Isai. xl. Prepare ye the Way of the Lord, make straight in the Desert an Highway for our God; every Valley shall be exalted, &c. God tells his Church, that her Warfare is accomplished, and the Time to comfort her is come, and that the Glory of the Lord now shall be revealed, and all Flesh see it together, Ver. 1,—5. And agreeably to these Things, Christ on the pouring out the sixth Vial, says, Behold I come, Rev. xvi.15. The sixth Vial is the Forerunner of the seventh and last, to prepare it's Way. The Angel that pours out this Vial is the Harbinger of Christ; and when the Harbinger is come, the King is at Hand. John the Baptist, that was Christ's Harbinger, who came to level Mountains and fill up Valleys, proclaimed, The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand; and when he had prepared Christ's Way, then the Lord suddenly came into his Temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, Mal. iii.1.