shew that there is one God of the Jews and Gentiles Yet he saith not your Lord nor Jacobs Lord nor thy Lord as inâ—some other Scriptures but the Lord haply for that they having forsaken him would not with that assurance and confidence of interest goe to him as their Lord The holy Scriptures this is that Isaiah would teach them are a light to all Gods people and that it is so there are these evidences 1. The Scripture is a full and perfect light there is no defect in it no rules wanting none insufficient we cannot say as of the Oratours works desunt nonnusla nor as the Schools of P. Lombard hic Magister non tenetur No the law of the Lord is perfect it 's sine vitio it hath no faule in the least measure 2. It is a clear and shining light manifesting a sufficiency of instruction and direction in all the waies of God so as the man of God may be made perfect As it hath light in it self So doth it convey the same to others making them wise to satuation if you say there be many in darknesse and ignorance to this very hour who walk in by-waies I desire you to consider that God is pleased to clear to such as be his people all truths necessary to salvation if any of his children be in an errour against fundamentalls God who hath promised to lead his Saints into all truth will discover this unto them in due time 3. As light is pure and clean you cannot fasten any dirt or uncleannesse on it So is the word of God there is no drosse in it so thorowly is it purged saith a learned Divine Men may cast disgracefull speeches and aspertions on it as doe Papists Atheists and Enthusiasts but there you can fasten no evil The word as the light is a comfortable creature how pleasant is it to behold the light saith the wise man the expressions of Gods free-grace the promises of mercy the doctrine of the covenant in Christ made with Gods people the future glory and happinesse herein held forth and reserved to all Gods elect How doth the hearing reading meditating of the same put life into the hearts of Gods children in the midst of their hottest afflictions as David I had fainted in my trouble but thy word hath quickned me Light is smart and painfull to all blear-eyed persons who cannot endure the force and efficacie of it which comes to passe by reason of the weaknesse or imperfection of the eies So the word of God especially when powerfully preached doth exasperate and enrage ungodly men desirous to sleep in the dark dungeon of hellish sins who like Cerberus Plutoes dog drawn from hell belch and vomit at the light So were the Pharisees at Christs Sermon They were scandalized at him Lastly as the light hath its being and rise from the Sunne the fountain and originall of it there is lux and lumen as the Philosophers distinguish as cause and effect So God who is light it self and dwelleth in light in whom is no darknesse at all the father and fountain of light is the originall of this Scripture light which is a ray or beam of his sunne in heaven It is of his enspiring holy men saith the Apostle spake as moved by the Spirit the word is not {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} of their own interpretation but as they were moved by the holy Ghost Honourable and beloved seeing it 's the light of the Lord that hath all this day this day said I yea so many Sermon daies yea so many scores of years shined to this Nation Let us to whom of late more fully God hath vouchsafed so imparallelld a mercy our forefathers and many of our dear brethren in other countries as those in Egyptian darknesse desiring to see one of these daies of the sonne of man and cannot injoy them let us I say endeavour to walk answerable to so high a favour Oh that I were worthy to fasten on you the exhortation of the prophet Isaiah cap. 60. 1. 2. wherin is a promise also and seemes in our times to be fullfilled Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee for behold the darknesse shall cover the earth and grosse darknesse the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be upon thee Take notice therefore of these rules Bring your actions to this light and make triall whether or no they be wrought in God both your private emploimenâ— as men and your publike undertakings in your respective â—â—ions to Church and state The King as we read in Deuâ— 17. 18 19. When he sat upon the throne of his Kingdome was to write him a coppy of the Law in a book on t of that which is before the Priests the Levites and it was to be with him and he was to read therein all the daies of his life that he might learn the fear of the Lord his God to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to doe them Yea say some Hebrew Doctors he was so carefully to look to this rule that if his fathers had left him none viz no book of the law or if that be lost he is to write him two books of the law the one he is to reserve in his house for so he is commanded as every one of Israel the other is not to depart from before him if he goeth out to warre it goeth with him if he sit in judgement it is to be with him They knew of old this most certain principle as Luther calleth it that Gods word will not attemper it self or condescend to Princes and states but they are to frame themselves and imploiments unto it though never so crosse to their malignant and corrupted humours which gives me occasion to remember that worthy speech of famous Queen Elizabeth when passing in roiall state to her coronation through the streets of London the Bible being presented to her which with both hands taking she kissed and laying to her breast she said that the same had ever been her chiefest delight and should be a rule by which she meane to frame her government In this case it 's true what Casuists teach concerning the Cannon law that in materia ad acclesiam pertinento where the civill and Canon law disagree We must be ordered by the Canon So if we could be willing when laws fright and oppose one the other to staâ—d to the determination of Gods Canon without prejudice or partiality suffering our selves to be directed by the light of holy Scripture it would soon put a period to the most unkindely differences 2. Beware of the pretended new lights so much sought after by these times that our holy zeal for God is almost extinct When God sets up a pillar as a direction to his people he expects that
him as Hilary notes for his familiarity with God talking with him face to face Gen. 32. 30. That he was to God a consilijs and long before the incarnation of Christ revealed to him that mistery Nor do we come short in this favour we have by Christ accesse to the throne of grace we have power with Christ and by our faith conquer the world and are of Gods counsell knowing the minde of Christ 2. God did separate Jacobs family as a peculiar people to himself from all the nations of the earth on whom he would chuse to set his love and do them good Deut. 7. 6. they were a peculiar treasure of Jewels in which God took pleasure In this happinesse are we also sharers as children of the spirituall family who knows not that we were a wilde and barbarous people who painted and flashed our flesh God vouchsafed at that time to send his word amongst us to reclaim us of that barbarous paganisme after that we fell to popery and superstition the Lord was pleased by a further manifestation of his son Christ Jesus to call us to himself that we should be a peculiar people to him zealous of good works 3. Of Jacobs family Christ came as the Apostle witnesseth Rom 9. 5. It was no small honour to that house from which the Lord Jesus as man descended Is not Christ our kinsman our elder brother is he not flesh of our flesh bone of our bone did he take the nature of Angels on him No he is made like to us in all things finne onely excepted I cannot but with divine Austin admire the incomprehensible love of God to us in this of clothing his divine nature with the rags of our humane flesh when he came to make himself a sacrifice for sinne â— It was a great priviledge of this family that God committed to them only the keeping of his Oracles as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 3. 2. if it were an honour to Theophilus though a Senaâ—our as a learned Divine doth stile him that Luke the authour of the holy story containing the birth preaching-life and death of Christ in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of Apostles after Christs departure to heaven was dedicated to him that he should faithfully preserve it for the Church of Gods use and benefit how great a favour was it to the Jews Jacobs house to have the sacred story mysterious books of the Prophets in their keeping Nor are Christians behinde in this mercy and we of this Land being a part of the family have experienced this bounty in a very great measure Time was when our condition resembled theirs in Samuels daies that the word of God was exceeding precious Time was when we had small vision and the blinde lead the blinde and through lack of it people were in a perishing condition Time was when to have an English bible or any part of old or new Testament in our own language without licence was capitall But God of his infinite mercy hath for many years shewed us in this particular the light of his countenance We have the sacred Oracles notwithstanding the projects and plots of all Atheisticall and popish men in a large and plentifull measure We have Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles holding out the doctrine of the covenant in the Lord Jesus for the foundation of our faith direction of our manners if by our unworthinesse we provoke him not to deprive us of them 5. This family had the Lord his speciall protection against forreign and domestick enemies he did bear them on Eagles wings he covered and defended them under the feathers of his providence he suffered no man to do them wrong but reproved Kings for their sakes though as it seems they were in a low condition having seven mighty states to deal withall Beloved we are equally partakers as members of the family in this favour God hath been a Sunne to us inlightning our understandings with the knowledge of himself a shield a protection to us against the most nefarious and bloudy assaults of homebred and forreign enemies How hath he turned the counsells of crafty Ahitophels into foolishnesse How hath he shattered the forces of bloudy Esaus How hath he discomfited yea routed the Annies of proud Philistines and confounded swelling Pharaohs in the red sea He hath broken their bow and knapt their spear in sunder and burnt their chariots in the fire He hath raised up the Heroick spirits of those worthies not as the heathen fain by transmigration of souls but by redoubling the same spirit on them more powerfull then a drum of dead Ziscaes skin on one he hath put Sampsons spirit on another Davids spirit on another Samuels spirit He hath for us men and our safety subdued Kingdoms wrought righteousnesse performed promises stopped the mouths of Lions quenched the violence of fire made us escape the edge of the sword of weaknesse made us strong we have waxed valiant in fight hath turned to flight the Armies of the Alions both in this and in other Kingdoms I pray God our private differences after the influence of so great mercies which hath in severall ages of Saxons Danes Normans been fatall to this Nation prove not a sad omen to us who live no better if not worse then formerly in blasphemies in contempt of ordinances and abominable idolatries as if with Theramines in the story we judge our selves reserved to some further evil of misery by our trading in that of sin 6. God seated Jacobs family on a most fertile soil The ground sometimes is of much advantage to that people which doth inhabit such a peece of earth 'T is observed by our learned historian Mr Camden that the Religious houses so called built by our predecessours in the founders intentions nurseries of learning and piety were placed in the most fruitfull parts of the countrey And may not Christians and more particularly we of this Nation say as the Psalmist Psal. 16. 6. The lines are fallen to us in a pleasant place or as the Greek {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in optimis seu praestantissimis We have a goodly heritage or as is fair for me or unto me it pleaseth me well such an heritage as is a little paradise on earth to the admiration of our friends and emulation of our enemies Worthy patriots you have heard the beneficium and priviledge of Jacobs familie having been somewhat large in it I shall now briefly shew the officium or duty on our part correspondent to so high a favour In opening whereof I tremble to tell you I may 〈◊〉 indeed vox faucibus haeret I shall rather such is our ingratefull behaviour point at the unworthy carriage of this generation to our heavenly father as Polycarpus said that ever hath followed vs with good never did us evil May I not take up Isaiahs complaint he hath nourished up children and they
loci which yet was the fancy of some Schoolmen but only that such places should be conveniently repaired and where they want more built for receiving the people of God to worship him for neglect of which we are justly culpable as they who did not build the Temple of Jerusalem a type of the Church Gods people So is it time for us to mend our own houses demolished by war and shall these houses lye wast 3. Let the Discipline of the Church according to the word of God best reformed Churches and fundamentalls of our own Nation be established it will be a notable means to preserve the light and to keep of such as endeavour like as they did that candle Luther in the beginning of the German Reformation lighted to blow it out The goodnesse of God saith one in his book wherein this controversie of Discipline is purposely and largely discussed hath provided in his word a Discipline for his Church which if he had not done he should have been lesse carefull of it then of the commonwealth of which in that regard he is not unmindfull Neither is this any other then you have covenanted and was there ever a Parliament as of more prayers fastings preachings deliverances victories so of more vows covenants leagues and solemn protestations with eyes hands and all lift up to heaven then this is Well of all sins to falsifie Covenant is one of the greatest better not promise then having vowed not perform In your first Declaration there is this memorable passage It is far from our purpose or desire to let loose the golden reins of Discipline and government in the Church to leave private persons or particular congregations to take up what form of divine service they please for we hold it requisite that there should be through the whole realm a conformity to that order which the laws enjoyn according to the word of God O that we had not started aside from this like a deceitfull bow then surely had we wounded the hairy scalp of many Church enemies that break the bonds asunder and cast the cords away from them O that the husbandman had not slept the enemy could not with that advantage have sown so many â—ares of errours in Gods field O that this guard were set so the foxes might be taken even those little foxes which do spoil the vines that are full of grapes 4. Take order that such Divines as in severall parts of the Kingdome have or shall conscionably hold forth this light of truth in their charges respectively to the edification of their people and not to yours or the Commonwealths disadvantage be plentifully provided of comfortable maintenance and due encouragement else how can you expect an exact performance of that trust of beating the light you require from them you may not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the corn The labouror is worthy of his hire He that is instructed must make him that instructeth him partaker of all good things Our forefathers brought honour to God happinesse to the Church to themselves a glorious name by their foundations and contributions to the maintenance of his light Oh let not us grudge that the oyl bestowed at their charge should run in the same pipe to keep in his lamp and not into our private cruses You Honourable are the repairers of our breaches in Church and state You are the Physitians of the body politick and ecclesiastick We dare not prejudge you Of all injustice its the worst when men take wrongfully from the publike charge of commonwealth and that wrong done to the Church is a sinne greater then that which is against the commonwealth the Church of the two standing in a nearer relation to God and to injure the Church though it be a very great sin under the law as may appear by the expression in Malachy Will a man rob God Ye have robbed me even this whole naâ—ion Yet is it more hainous if committed in the light of the glorious Gospel by how much the Gospels Ministry is more excellent then that of the law which is the reason why some learned and godly Divines have concluded it unlawfull to alienate the revenus of Gods worship though given in superstitious times much of it and haply to some superstitious uses but rather conceive it ought to be imployed to the service of God incouraging of learning and godlinesse which was the main scope of the donours though some of them might fail in particular Circa fundamentall tenets But certainly it must needs heighten the sinne of those who detain the revenue of the Church under the specious shew of lay-tenements In the mean while there is none to bear the light of truth before the people none to instruct them the key of knowledge being wholy taken away some aumb dog is set over the flock of Christ for a mean salary whereas they should be instructed by one as Isaiah saith that hath the tongue of the learned And to deprive the people of such tongues that we may enrich our selves with the revenue that should maintain them is a sin no lesse if not much more culpable then that of Achan who stole a wedge or as the Hebrew hath it a tongue of gold but in the end paid a rate dear enough for it as many of his successours have since done and more if timely repentance and restitution prevent not may buy the gold of the Temple at a high price It seems the very heathen who had no other pilot then natures law stood in fear to runne this hazard of splitting themselves on this rock of sacriledge and so make shipwrack of a good conscience to the losse of the soul the most precious lading which if once gone is irrecoverable Doe we not read of Pharaoh King of Egypt in that great famine mentioned by Moses how that when all the people were necessitated to sell their lands to make provision for themselves and families that they perished not in the dearth that he provided a portion for the Priests that so their lands might be preserved to the uses they were dedicated He might with as much ease as little charge have entered on the Priests possession as the whole land and so have been sole Lord that no man as our great land-Lords use to say should have a foot within his territories No he durst not enterprise it Wherefore the Priests land became not Pharaohs He does not drive them as some have done to an exigent that he might gain the more by them he provides to prevent that mischief portions at his own charges for those who are disabled by the penury of the times to make provision for themselves And in that generall seisure of all estates there is this clause of exception in the deed concerning the Priests to except before excepted the land of the Priests only which became not Pharaohs I know that some do endeavour to evade this place alledgeing
the Hebrew word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Cohen signifieth a Prince and so take it of the chief officers about the King but the word signifies both Priest and Prince and because in one person it sets forth both haply by one word and the circumstances shew a distinction betwixt them and the rest of the land which occasions the Learned generally to read it as our Translatours have done So the Chaldee the Septuagint Tostatus Pererius Cornelius a Lapide Mercerus Calvin Musculus And all our English Translatours I have met with Noble Senatours let it be your honour as he said to leave the Church in a richer condition then you found it yea though in most places it complains of poverty it being torn and beggerly endeavour to restore it it will be your comfort when you lye on your last pillow if in this case you can sincerely say to God as Augustus of Rome repaired by him inveni lateritiam reliqui marmoream Remember that this light the word held forth to the people is not maintained since that extraordinary apostolicall gifts are ceased without vast expence those who are in this imploiment that their office may be more acceptable gracefull and profitable have severall lights none of them to be suffered to die which they must maintain at great expence 1. A light of knowledge in the study by books of all kindes of learning that so they may be able Ministers rightly dividing the word in truth this blessed be God is one cause why the Divines of this land have been so famous to the admiration of forreigners whereas if this light be extinct there will be a want of the other light in knowledge and doctrine also as one a great Schollar long since observed poor beggerly maintenance will have but a poor contemptible Ministry Scandalous maintenance scandalous Ministry 2. A light in the family he must maintain those whose subsistance is from him which sometimes are exceeding many if he should be deficient in providing for them you would condemn him worse then an infidel It is a pretty observation that one hath The Table of shew bread saith he was set in the midst of the Temple to signifie thus much Quod Sacerdotes in Templo servientes de Templo victum habere debent Is it not much to be lamented think you that the oyl in the first institution of it appointed to preserve light to Gods people is powred out to other purposes * as former times have complained lusts of men yea the worst lusts of the worst men that are enemies to God and the Church In the mean time those and their posterity who attend on his light whilst others have food enough and to spare are in hazard to perish with hunger 3. A light in the town and countrey where they live it s a light of good works in shewing mercy to the poor being helpfull to the needy as Job saith of himself he was eyes to the blinde feeet to the lame this would have covered them to the credit of Religion inciting others to the like he did not put his light under a bushell So praised be God in this nation where the revenues of the Church were great though some did spend much in vanity and excessive courses as the profuse vulgar all did not so much hath been given by Divines to Colledges Hospitalls Libraries and other pious works And indeed Schollars best knowing to set a price on learning have been most beneficiall this way The Apostles exhortation to Ministers is that they be given to hospitality Surely then they must have ability else they should stand in need of other mens hospitality be fitter to receive then give as God knows it is the case of many a learned godly and painfull Divine at this day as sometimes it was the condition of learned men beware the fears where Church revenues are devoured who have great charges of children and nothing wherewith to bring them up or place them out while the ancient Church-revenue is in the hands of many that worse deserve it This made the mighty godly Divine of Scotland as I am informed lying on his death bed and the words of dying men should make a deeper impression so earnest in his exhortatory letter writ from St Andrews to the Assembly at Sterling There are two branches of his exhortation one to keep out of the Church scandalous Ministers the other to prevent a scandalous maintenance Noble Patriots as it belonged to Eliazer to provide oyl for the lights of the Temple so to you it appertains as nurserers of the Church to see that these lights of the Church have oyl to feed them as Hezekiah did 2 Chron. 31 4. I can present you with no arguments more constringent then those in the text before you 1. You have many priviledges God expects this as a testimony of thankfulnesse Those who gain by sea-trade are not unwilling to be at the charge of land-light The children of light should be as wise as the men of the world 2. You are reformers in Israel this is one speciall point of your work to see that Gods house be not as a dark room the light removed 3. You know that Religion is not in shew but in deed it 's not sufficient to say as those St James mentioneth goe and be warmed unlesse also you make provision for them 4. It 's the Lords light that affords direction to your souls for the obtaining eternall light which by how much the more excellent it is then that under the law so much the more liberall we should be in providing for it as that famous servant of God long since taught us with whose words I shall crave leave to close this imploiment Had the Priests of the law the tenth part and shall not the Ministers of a better testament have any part Such maintenance will have such Ministers in time out of question to the utter decay of learning piety and Religion and to the bringing of all barbarisme and errour as Satan wisheth Worthy is the vertue of Nehemiah touching this matter everlasting remembrance and imitation of them that have like authority and fear God he finding that the Priest Eliashib who had the oversight of what belonged to the maintenance of the Priests being joyned in affinity with Tobiah the Ammonite an enemy of the Jews the portions of the Levites were not given them but every man was fled to shift for himself amongst his friends most zealously reformed it as you may see threw out Tobias vessels thrust out Eliashib and placed them that were accounted faithfull and brought the tithes of corn and wine and oyl into the house of the Lord again mark the state of our times and see if such Tobias be not yet amongst us and such Eliashibs who dealing in all unrighteousnesse convey the portions of the Levites by little and little from