a just claim thereunto Mr. Matthew Lyndsey who deceased in the midst of his Majoralty 1650. had the true right to it The Sermon was preached at his request and at his Inauguration He dying it descends by Inheritance upon these his Successors The Sight is very rare indeed but very poorly and meanly set forth Such as it is the unworthy Author humbly tenders to them with apprecation of all Grace Honour and Happinesse A RARE SIGHT OR THE LYON REVEL 5. 5. Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah AT great Solemnities and extraordinary confluences of people it is the ancient use and custome to bring out strange sights and shew farrfetched Rarities This is a solemne day the Cities great anniversary Feast for the Inauguration of the cheife Magistrate Here 's much concourse from several parts I shal therefore at such a time as this being called to stand in the middest of such a multitude produce my Spectacle and present to your view the godliest sight that ever Heaven or Earth afforded a stately and a generous Lion from a farre Countrey Behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Concerning which I shall propound two things to your observation the parts of the Text. 1. The Trumpet Sounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold 2. The Sight or Shew presented A rare and strange Living Creature described from His 1. Species kinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Lion 2. Originall pedegree and Country the most noble and best bred Lion in the WORLD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the Tribe of JVDAH These are the parts and particulars of the Text. But I will not tye my selfe strictly and punctually to these or at least I will lay them aside a while and according to my plaine and usuall way I shall concerning this Little yea this great portion of Scripture dispatch these foure things 1. I will speak something of the sence and meaning of the words 2. I will give you the summe substance of all in one generall proposition in one plaine doctrine 3. Then in the third place I will returne to the parts and particulars I will review search and examine them for such speciall observations and Instructions as may be profitable besides the main and generall doctrine 4. And last of all I will as God shall enable me endeavour to make profitable use and application of all I stand heer by call and commission from God It s my duty to lift up my voice like a Trumpet to Usher in this rare spectacle and it is required of you that with Moses you will now turn a side and see this great sight Let him that hath an eare heare and let him that hath an Eye behold And let the Eye of the God of Heaven be upon us all for good and let the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be with us and help us and blesse us Amen 1. And first I am to open and expound the Text. Behold This demonstrative hath singular weight and moment Aliquid repentinum et insperatum demonstrat It points to something that is sudden unexpected unhoped for something that is rare excellent and admirable It hath here in this place a two fold use 1. To excite and stir up attention and intention it calls for your ears and eyes 2. To command Thus Christ made use of it It was his word of command He said unto them In his Doctrine Hearken Behold I command you to attend So here it 's the sounding of the Trumpet it invites it commands you all to fix your Eyes upon this rare and excellent sight which is now comming forth Behold then But first I pray before you look for the Lion Lift up your eyes a little higher to the first Verse There you shall see A Throne set in Heaven and one sitting upon that Throne in great glory Majesty and brightnesse That is God the Father In his right hand he holds a book written within and on the back-side and sealed with 7. Seals V. I. Q. What Book may this be A. It is none other but this Book of the Revelation Would you know the Contents of this Book It is a Propheticall-Historicall Decretall Not onely decreed but as it were ingrossed in the Court-Roules of Heaven It was a great Roule written on both sides for the multitude and variety of matters as containing a compleat History of the Church unto the Worlds end and therefore took up both sides of the Book Volume or Roule It containes the decrees Counsels and will of God concerning the future state and government of the Church It contains great Mysteries Of the Kingdome and Tyranny of Antichrist of the persecutions troubles and afflictions of the Church in all Ages till Christ shall come the second time and deliver up the Kingdome to God even the Father It foreshews the patience and constancy of the faithfull the utter ruine of their Enemies and their eternall glory and faelicity at the generall judgement and Consummation These Mysteries are written in a Book i. e. in Gods eternall Praescience Providence and Decree But this Book is clasped up and sealed 1. For matter most excellent and Divine kept secret from the knowledge of al creatures and with seaven Seales most surely as mysteries of the greatest moment Worth and Certainty Therefore behold vers 2. A strong Angel proclaiming with a lond voice Like a Herauld or Officer Who is worthy for the excellency of his person or for his deserts To open the Book and to loose the Seals thereof To disclose these secret decrees and counsels of God to dive into these most deep mysteries that he may make them know to the Church of God in all ages Who O it 's a hard and difficult matter to open the Book and to loose the Seales Verse 3. None in Heaven No Angel None in Earth No Saint living None under the Earth No Saint departed whose body is under-ground or more generally no creature in Heaven Earth or Sea was able to open the Book to read understand or divulge it Neither to look thereon To have any thing at all to do with it Alas alas This is a sad thing Behold verse 5. John the Divine weeps much Because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book c. He wept much to see himselfe and others deprived of so deep so sweet and so excellent Mysteries but especially to think that God should be deprived of the glory of them What then Shall the Church never know the Contents of that Book Yes yes it shall Behold in the fifth verse a word of Consolation One of the Elders saith unto me weep not One of the body of the Councill of State one of the Assessors one of the glorified Saints representing all the faithfull one to whom the secret of the Lord was revealed He said to John weep not q. d. This is thine infirmity what hast thou forgotten Art thou a Master and Teacher in the Church of God and dost thou
not over rampant not over-rigorous mingle mercy with Justice in your Government Be not righteous over-much Eccles 7. 16. I had thought a Lyon passant might have done well The passant Lyon sheweth but halfe his face as he passeth by this posture sheweth much confidence and resolution It sheweth also much moderation Be you passant towards the faithfull Ministers and Servants of God if for conscience and pure conscience they cannot swallow all things imposed by the State passe by it connive do not turn your head aside to teare and destroy a man that is precious in Gods sight onely because he will not sin against his Conscience The Prelates were Lyons indeed but not passant and therefore the Lord hath passed over them even over their faire neck and brought them low The Lyon therefore which I shall commend to you and charge your Shield withall is passant guardant The Lyon passant guardant shewes his whole face which notes not only Courage and Resolution but Vigilancy also and circumspection Before this Lyon is a flame of fire behind him an empty Charriot the wheels ratling over his head a white Cock with a great red Comb and crowing under him Dogs opening their mouths against him and barking Yet he keeps on his way undaunted not changing his pace or turning his head aside for feare of any And the word Non retrogradior So go on oh you Lyons of our Forrest you Magistrates of this City And more especially you that are this day to be a Lyon ascendent to rise up to the chiefe place of Magistracy Be faithfull and zealous for the Lord. Be vigilant in your great Office not dormant be salient nimble active and industrious Bee just in dispencing punishments and rewards To wicked and obstinate Offenders be rampant and divide the Prey in a just manner distribute rewards and praises to every one that doth good according to the proportion of their deserts Be mercifull in giving and in forgiving And to the Conscientious that cannot swallow every Imposition be passant go by and let them alone Lyon look to thy taile take heed of a secret malignant traine Be bold as a Lyon Couragious let nothing turn you away from God from the truth of Christ from his Ministers and Servants Walk stately let your whole Conversation be humble sober grave holy and as becomes the Gospell And maintain your State and Power and Ensignes of your Authority You are a Lyon let no Anabaptisticall shavers flay off your skin and cut off your haire Know where your strength lyeth labour for a good head and a good heart then in the end you shall Couch with honour and be Leo quiescens You shall rest from your Labours and your workes shall follow you Now the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah strengthen you with his might protect you with his power guide you with his wisedome imbrace you with his mercy and give you rest and reward in the latter end Amen Exhortation 2. To the Ministers of the Gospell One of the Elders sounds the Trumpet in the care of Iohn the Apostle and Evangelist calls upon him to behold to eye this Lyon of the Tribe of Judah q. d. I charge you to mark this Lyon well And why Even that he may compose himselfe to the example of this great Prophet in all things in the execution of his Ministeriall Function Ministers must be Lyons It is an old conceipt constat ex pictura sed non ex Scriptura That the foure living wights cap. 4. 7. did represent the foure Evangelists Matthew was the Man Luke the Oxe John the flying Eagle and Marke the Lyon It is certain that those Creatures import the properties of Angels and are Symbols as of Magistrates so of Ministers The Ministers of the Gospell are Angels and they must be Lyons too In all things comfortable to the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah 1. The Lyon of the tribe of Judah came and tooke the Booke out of the right hand of him that sate upon the throne Vers 7. So the Minister of the Gospel he must take the Book in his hand The Book of God the holy Scriptures he must deliver nothing to the people but what he finds in that Book thence he must fetch the will and counsell of God Search the Scriptures John 5. 29. Hold fast the forme of sound words which thou hast heard from me 2 Tim. 1. 13. The Minister must take what Saint Paul writes what the Spirit of God holds forth in the holy Bible There is a numerous generation now in these dayes that cast the written word aside and pretend altogether to inspirations and revelations the Spirit the Spirit To these I say no more but this if they have any inspirations or revelations contrary to the Book that Christ took into his hand I beleeve verily they are from the Spirit but it is from the evill Spirit from the Devill 2. The Lyon of the tribe of Judah when he had taken the Book he opened it and loosed the Seales thereof So the Minister of the Gospel when hee hath taken the Book hee must open it And when doth he take the Book When a Minister is ordained and set apart by the imposition of hands and sent to do the work to which God calleth him a Bible is given into his hand by the President of the Presbytery And then and not till then hee takes the booke and having taken it hee must open it that is he must expound it and apply it So Ezra the Scribe he tooke the book of the Law and opened it in the sight of all the people Hee read in the booke distinctly he gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading And just so the great Master of the Assemblies the Prophet and Doctor of his Church He came to Nazareth went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read And there was delivered unto him the book of the Prophet Esaias And when he had opened the book he read his Text out of Isa 61. 1. And then he closed the book and preached unto the people shewing how that Scripture was fulfilled that day and making all plain and clear Saint Paul gives Ministers their charge 2 Timoth. 4. 1. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdome V. 2. Preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine Ministers are Lyons Lyons must not be mute 3. The Minister must be a Lyon bold and couragious in the execution of his office This he must looke for to meet with great opposition and especially from the great men of the World if he shall rebuke them and tell them of their sins plainly But the Minister of Christ must not feare the faces of men but with liberty and freedome of speech utter the message of the Lord And
Norwich For so he had given order before he dyed that his body should not be put in the Coffin till his Son John came God carryed me through the journey in hard weather and through his good providence I arrived at Belsted early on the Tuesday And going to the house of mourning I found the body of my deceased Father still lying upon the Bed They uncovered his face Sweetly he lay and with a smiling countenance and no difference to the eye between his countenance alive and dead save onely that he was wont to rejoyce and blesse me at my approach now he was silent I fell upon his face I confesse and kissed him and lift up my voice and wept and so took my last leave of him till we meet in a better World In the afternoon February 4. 1634. at his interring there was a great confluence of people from all parts thereabouts Ministers and others taking up the words of Joash the King of Israel Oh my Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof Old Mr. Samuel Ward that famous Divine and the glory of Ipswich came to the Funerall brought a mourning Gowne with him and offered very respectively to Preach his funerall Sermon now that such a Congregation were gathered together and upon such an occasion But my Sister and I durst not give way to it For so our Father had often charged us in his life time and upon his blessing that no Sermon should be at his buryall For sayd he it will give occasion to speak some good of me that I deserve not and so false things will be uttered in the Pulpit Mr. Ward rested satisfied and did forbeare But the next Friday at Ipswich he turned his whole Lecture into a Funerall Sermon for my Father in which he did lament and honour him to the great satisfaction of the whole Auditory Gloria fugientes sequitur Glory is like a shadow follow it and it will fly away fly from it and it will follow For humility hee was most eminent Humble in his habite humble in his company for though his gifts called him before great men yet his most ordinary converse was with those of inferiour ranck in whom he saw most of the power of Godlinesse He writ very much but hee left nothing behinde him save what is Printed and his Exposition of the Revelation and a Petition to King James for the taking away of burdensome Ceremonies out of the Church nothing else but a few broken Papers which I suppose he look'd upon as Waste paper Surely he burnt the rest when hee saw his appointed time draw neer meerly out of a low opinion of himselfe and gifts He baulked all things that might tend to outward pomp and ostentation He would have no Funerall Sermon He gave order to be buryed not in the Church but in the Church-yard where hee and my sweet Mother that glorious Paire lye interred together without so much or rather so little as a poore Gravestone over them He had learned of Christ to be meek and lowly in heart he was humble in his life and humble in his death and now the Lord hath highly exalted him He kept a constant Diary or day-book in which he set down every day Gods extraordinary dispensations his own actions and whatsoever memorable things hee heard or read that day He cast up his accounts with God every day and his sins were blotted out before he was called to his last reckoning His day of refreshing is come he rests from his Labours Plus vivitur exemplis quam praeceptis saith Seneca Examples of the dead are Sermons for the living And though when I first set Pen to Paper I intended onely to recollect some of his doings and sayings now eighteen yeares after his decease for my owne memory instruction and comfort yet I cannot but conceive that the example of this holy man of God if it be communicated may be usefull and profitable to the Church of God He was a true childe of Abraham and the blessing of Abraham fell upon him I will blesse them that blesse thee saith the Lord and I will curse them that curse thee Not long since I was at Bramford there dwelleth an ancient Gentleman one of great quality my friend and my Fathers old friend he spake thus to me Mr. Carter I have now lived to see the downfall of all your Fathers opposers and enemies There is not one of them but their Families are scattered and ruined Let the Enemies of Gods faithfull Messengers heare and feare and do no more wickedly I cannot but add one thing more It may be truely said of him and his faithfull Yoke-fellow as it is writen of Zacharias and Elizabeth They were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandements and Ordinances of the Lord blamelesse I dare say the World will testifie that neither of them did ever do that thing that was unjust or evill or scandalour or uncomely their Enemies being Judges They were as to men without blemish their life was a sweet savour and they went out of this life as a fragrant perfume I confesse I have drawn his life very imperfectly I must say as the Queen of Sheba the one halfe hath not been told you It will not be long before the Lord Jesus Christ shall open the Books at the last and great day then and there you shall read his compleat Story Prov. 10. 7. The Memory of the Just is and shall be blessed Reader IT is sayd of Christs sayings and doings that if they should bee written every one the World it selfe could not containe the Bookes Farre be it from me to attribute so much to my worthy Father Yet this much I am certaine of that there are many things in his Life and those of very great concernment which have slipped me Therefore I leave these ensuing Pages vacant that so as thou remembrest any of his holy sayings and doings not mentioned before thou mayst write them downe for thine owne benefit and the good of others Isa 58. 1. Lift up thy voice like a Trumpet Joh. 19. 14. Behold your King 1 Cor. 1. 23. We preach Christ crucified Joh. 1. 29. Behold the Lamb of God Revel 13. 8. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the World A RARE SIGHT OR THE LYON Sent from a farr Country and presented to the City of NORWICH in a Sermon upon the Solemne Guild-day June 18. 1650. By IOHN CARTER Preacher of the Gospel And as yet Sojourning in the City of NORWICH Joh. 1. 21. Sir We would see Jesus LONDON Printed in the yeare 1653. TO THE RIGHT WORShipfull Mr. WILLIAM BARNHAM Major of the City of NORWICH As also to Mr. Barnard Church who with much Honour managed the chiefe Place of Magistracy in the said City the last yeare JOHN CARTER Humbly presents this rare Sight AS a Testimony of his respect love and thankfulnesse to them for all their undeserved Favour and faithfulnesse As also because they have
not remember that great Prophet the onely begotten Son of God which is in the bosome of his Father who from the beginning of the World unto the end of it ever leadeth the Church into all needfull Truths Weep not then so much cheer up thy Spirits Order is taken for the opening and revealing of the Book Behold behold Lift up thine eyes now do'st not discover a rare Sight a Lion Behold That Lion of the Tribe of Judah the root of David he hath prevailed to open the Booke and to loose the seven Seales thereof I have now brought you down to my Text your eyes are by this time upon the rare Sight and I shall endeavour to keep them fixed there from henceforth The words read are nothing else but an Elegant Metaphorical description of him who can and onely can open and reveale the Decrees Counsels and will of God to the Church Behold with admiration and joy this is the Lion I finde in the Scripture a three-fold Lion 1. Of the Forest 2. Of the Internall Pit 3. Of the Tribe of Judah 1. A Lion of the Forest Jer. 5. 6. bred in the Woods and Desarts This is a rare and Noble Creature the chiefe among Beasts this is properly called a Lion 2. The Lion of the Infernall Pit that is the Devill called so by way of similitude because he is like a Lion In the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lion springs out of the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 decerpere to pluck rent and teare Such is the Devill 1 Pet. 5. 8. Your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devoure 3. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah What is he Indeed it is a Male a Noble Generous and Famous Lion Yet not a Beast as some blasphemous Hereticks have spoken horresco referens in these leprous times no! here we must leave the Letter and understand it Metaphorically It is a Lion not to be found amongst men meere men nor Angels Would you know certainly who it is The next verse will tell you Behold there you shall see standing in the midst of the Elders A Lamb as it had been slaine this is the Lion for verse 9. you shall finde it was this Lamb who was worthy to take the Booke and to open the Seales thereof Here the Lion and the Lamb meet in one plainly therefore The Lion or the Lamb is hee that was slaine and hath redeemed us to God by his own blood even the Lord Jesus Christ the root of David He and none other is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Of the Tribe of Judah viz. Of the Posterity of Judah which excelled all the other Tribes in Courage Dignity and Renoune You must conceive that here is an allusion to the Armoriall Ensigne or Armes of that Tribe The Lord commands the children of Israel Num. 2. 2. Every man shall pitch by his own Standard with the Ensigne of their Father's house farre off about the Tabernacle of the Congregation shall they pitch All the while they travailed in the Wildernesse they pitch their Tents as an Army round about the Sanctuary in a Square The Israelites consisted of twelve Tribes And these were divided into foure Regiments To each Regiment three Tribes of which every one had a particular Standard or Banner differing in colour and forme and in the Ensigne a Coat of Armes In the front were Judah Issachar and Zabulon In the Reare Ephraim Benjamin and Manasses In the North-wing Dan Aser and Naphtali In the South-wing Reuben Simeon and Gad. Judah carried a Lion in his Standard Reuben a Man-drake Ephraim an Ox and Dan an Eagle Judah carried a Lion in his Standard The occasion of this Coat of Armes you have Gen. 49. 9. Viz. Jacobs blessing Judah is a Lions Whelp And here you have the originall of Armes GOD was the first King of Heraulds He commanded them also the antiquity and use Armes were tokens or resemblances signifying some Act or Quality of the Bearer In their Banners Shields or Targets they did engrave emboss embroyder or depict some Beast Bird Fish or other thing whose nature and quality did best quadrate with their own There was a kind of sympathy between the Armes and their bearers to note their quality and disposition Such Armes were remunerations for Service bestowed by Kings Emperours and their Generals Hereditary Testimonies of their glorious Merits This armoriall Ensigne the Lion was given to Judah to shew 1. The Courage of that Tribe above the rest and 2. That it should be the governing the Law-giving Tribe 1 Chron 5. 2. For Judah prevailed above his Brethren and of him came the chiefe Ruler And 3. That God had decreed Monarchicall Government for that people when they should be settled in a perfect state And 4. That David as the Type afterwards at the fulness of time the Lord Jesus Christ the Antitype should be born of that Tribe according to the flesh and lineally descended through the Loines of many Kings Successive one to another as to his humane Nature And so came forth the Famous Lion of the Tribe of Judah For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah Heb. 7. 14. And thus you have the sense meaning and exposition of the words 2. I shall now in the second place give you the sum and substance of all in one generall proposition which I will give you in no other termes then the very words of the Text. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah For the evidence and demonstration of this Thesis I will lay it out unto you in three Branches 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is a Lion 2. That he is the Lion 3. That he is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Branch 1. The Lord Iesus Christ is a Lion The truth of this with the reason I will give you both together It is both prophesyed and typified Gen. 49. 9. Iuda is a Lions Whelp Iudah this cannot be meant of the person of Judah that 's certaine for he crouched and bowed downe to Joseph his younger Brother and dyed in Aegypt Therefore it must be understood first of the posterity of the Tribe of Judah The Ofspring of Judah shall be a Lion's Whelp but for what cause is he so described Propter dignitatem Regiam The Lion is Rex quadrupedum The noblest of all fourefooted creatures and the King of all beasts Pro. 30. 30. 31. A Lion and a King put together In the 8 9 and tenth Verse of that 49. cap. of Gen. you have a graphicall description of the Kingly power and Soveraignty that should be in the Tribe of Judah many Generations after shewing that Iudah shall meet with many potent and implacable enemies to conflict withall that he shall conquer and subdue them all Ver. 8. Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine Enemies Ver. 9. From the prey my Son thou art gone up 1. Iudah shall
is sent out of the bosome of his Father unto men to open the Book Revel 5. 7. 9. to declare and make knowne the secret counsell and will of God concerning the great work of redemption what a new contract is drawne up between the Father and the Son what Jesus Christ hath done for man how he hath satisfied his debt which he was not able to pay and how God hath accepted of it for all those that do beleeve in him The summ of which negotiation you have John 6. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son i. e. beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day 2. As a King To impute and apply that great benefit of Redemption to man and to make it effectuall And to accomplish this he must be a Lyon he must be a King and that for these causes 1. To gaine and gather his Kingdome To gaine them first into the Kingdome of grace and at last to gather them into the Kingdome of glory Now to effect this he must be a Lyon a potent King for he must conquer before he can raigne yea he must make a double conquest 1. Hee must conquer his subjects he finds them all Enemies at first all Rebels it is truely sayd of all the Children of Adam This people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart Now these rebellious hearts Christ must subdue and bring into subjection making them a beleeving a loving a willing people Christ cannot gaine a Subject into his Kingdome but he must first conquer 2. He also must conquer another Lyon the Enemy-Lyon he is described by Saint Peter Epist 1. chap. 5. Vers 8. Your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour In the pawes of this Lyon are all men and women in the World by nature The Prince of the power of the ayre that evill Spirit worketh in the Children of disobedience Ephes 2. 2. The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah must conquer that roaring Lyon the Devill before hee can gather a Kingdome and raigne Quest But how doth he conquer the Devill how doth he conquer his Subjects Answ Hee conquerd the Devill as he was God by force and might by his infinite power As man and Mediator hee conquered him by his blood by the merit and efficacy of his passion He took part of our flesh and blood that through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill And deliver them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. Hee spoyled Principalities and Powers hee made a shew of them openly tryumphing over them in it that is in or upon his Crosse Col. 2. 15. Faith seeth Christ upon the Crosse as sitting in a tryumphall Chariot Duo saith Origen in cruce affixi intelliguntur Christus visibiliter sponte sua ad tempus Diabolus invisibiliter invitus in perpetuum Hee conquers the rebellious hearts of his Subjects and gathers together into one Kingdome the Children of God that were scattered abroad by his voice Scepter and Sword By his voice The Lyonesse as the learned write brings forth her Whelps dead and so they continue three dayes then the other Lyon doth set out his voice and roar over them and then they revive and live Christ is the Lyon his people are his Whelps They are all still-borne Dead in trespasses and sinnes Christ lifts up his voice and roares in the Preaching of the Gospel by which he recovers the life of his people Verily verily I say unto you saith our blessed Saviour Joh. 5. 25. The houre is coming and now is when the dead shall heare the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live By his Sceptor And that is the same even the Preaching of the Gospell Psal 110. 2. The Lord shall send the Rod or the Scepter of thy strength that is the Ministry of the Gospel out of Zion and by it thou shalt rule in the middest of thine Enemies Those that were enemies by that spirituall Scepter thou shalt make them loving Subjects and a willing people vers 3. By his Sword And that 's the same still the Preaching of the Gospell This is the sharpe two-edged Sword that went out of Christs mouth Revel 1. 16. this is quick and powerfull and sharper then any two-edged Sword peircing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit joynts and marrow This is the two-edged Sword in the hand of the Saints which binds Heathen Kings in Chaines and Nobles in fetters of Iron That is the Gospel brings Heathen Princes and people into subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ This is that Sword of the spirit even the Word of God spoken of by Saint Paul And there you have the consummation of the conquest Yes when the spirit seconds the Word when the holy Ghost carries it home to the heart Thus the Lyon the King the Lord Jesus Christ conquers thus he calls his subjects together into one Kingdome by the Word outwardly Preached to the eare and by the spirit effectually working upon the heart moving and sweetly perswading it to obey the calling of Christ 2. Christ must be a Lyon a King to governe his subjects his Church Without Government no Society can stand when there was no King in Israel every man did what seemed good in his owne eyes and all things went to wrack Christ must be a King to give Lawes So Christ There is one Lawgiver even this Lyon and to rule so Christ he rules in the hearts of his people and governs them by his spirit They are led by the spirit of God as many as are the sons of God Judah that is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah is his Lawgiver And he doth not onely give Lawes but that which no King nor Potentate else in the World can do he puts his Law in their inward parts and writes it in their hearts Jer. 31. 33. 3. Christ must of necessity be a Lyon a King to protect and defend his Church people subjects The Lyon will stand to the defence of his young ones even to the death and having the prey in his paw the more any offer to take it from him the faster he holds it So the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah The Kingdome of Christ is ever beset with Enemies The Heathen rage the people conspire the Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take Counsell together against the Lord and against his annointed against his Christ They have not onely flesh and blood but Principalities and Powers also the Rulers of the darknesse of this World and spirituall wickednesse in high places to wrestle withall And therefore without a strong Protector this kingdome would soone be dissolved and layd desolate Now the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah the Lord Jesus
their Leo Magnus and ten since him have borne the same name But the Pope must change his kind and be content to be another Beast A roaring and a devouring Lyon we will allow him to be who rents and teares the Saints of God But Christ is the onely Lyon of Judah the onely King of his Church That there is a visible and externall government of the Church distinct from the Politicall by the word and discipline we affirme But Jesus Christ hath ordained it not Monarchicall but Aristocraticall Matth. 18. 17. Acts 20. 17 28. 1 Tim. 5. 17. It must be governed by the Bishops Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons in the severall Precincts The whole world is too large a Dioces for any one mortall Creature to take care of The care of all Churches is beyond the strength of any one man Onely the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah can open the Book and read it to all Churches Hee onely can rule and govern all Churches Christ himselfe is present to all his Churches namely by his Spirit which is more to the advantage of all Churches then his bodily presence would be Ioh. 16. 7. And therefore none of the Churches stand in need of the Pope to give Lawes to them or to govern them He is an Usurper and must down Christ is the Lion the onely King of the Church Observ 4. Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah that is lineally descended from the Patriarch Iudah That may seem strange why should not the Messiah have sprang rather out of Reuben Because he was the first-born Iudah was the fourth Son of Iacob The reason hereof you have Gen 35. 22. Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his Fathers Concubine He committed this foule sin and Israel heard it And for this cause he disinherited Reuben and the blessing of the Birth-right fell upon Iudahs head He became the Lyon the Soveraignty and Princedome was his Observe then Sin disinheriteth See this Heb. 12. 16. Least there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau who for one morsell of meat sold his Birth-right 17. For ye know that afterward when he would have inherited the Blessing he was rejected Here you have 2 distinct examples to confirm this truth First the Fornicator namely Reuben who defiled his Fathers Concubine and for that was disinherited Secondly Esau was the first-born yet lost the Inheritance the Lordship and Dominion because of his prophanenesse For the sentence was passed from the mouth of God The Elder shall serve the younger Gen. 25. 23. Haply some vile and desperate Sinners will make nothing of this Tush say they let them looke to this that are borne to Lands and great Possessions our Fathers have not a penny to leave us we have no Inheritance to loose What no Inheritance Then are you Bastards and not Sons Then God is not your Father all the true Children of God have a two-fold Inheritance The grace favour and blessing of God in this life and eternall glory in the life to come They be Heires of God and joynt-heires with Christ But to the ungodly the Lord saith Know yee that the unrighteous shall not inherite the Kingdome of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankinde nor theeves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall ever inherite the Kingdome of God Observ 5. For our instruction How miserable deplorable and desperate our condition is by nature so lost as that nothing in Heaven or Earth could recover us but the power strength wisedome goodnesse and courage of such a Lyon as the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah We are all borne dead as you have heard and should never have revived if this Lyon had not roared over us We are blinde by nature The naturall man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can hee know them He is ignorant of God and of Christ and of the will of God concerning mans salvation and in that ignorance must have perished everlastingly if the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had not opened the Book and unloosed the Seales thereof No man hath seen God at any time the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Ioh. 1. 18. We were all by nature under the guilt of sin under the wrath of God we could never have been acquitted we could never have been reconciled but must have lain under Gods fierce anger for ever if the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had not stepped in between the party offended and the party offending and made peace For Jesus Christ is our peace And to effect this the Lyon was forced to change his Kinde and to become a Lambe a true Paschall Lambe and to be sacrificed for us I beheld saith Saint Iohn verse 6. and loe in the midst of the Throne and of the foure Beasts and in the midst of the Elders stood a Lambe as it had been slaine Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sin of the World Joh. 1. 29. For he is our peace having abolished in his flesh the Enmity And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Crosse having slaine the Enemy thereby We were in the Jaw and Paw of the roaring Lyon who could have snatched us out of his Fangs We had been the Bond-slaves of Satan for ever wee had been Captives in the Prison in the Dungeon of Hell for ever we had been utterly devoured if the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had not conquered the Lyon of the infernall Pit But when he saw that there was no man and wondred that there was no Intercessor therefore his arme brought Salvation unto him and his Righteousnesse it sustained him O the depth of our miserie in our naturall in our lost condition Observ 6. That from Genesis to the Revelation the Church of God gives the same coat viz. The Lyon the Armes were given Gen. 49. 9. And the same Ensigne is advanced here again in the Text more plainly The Iewes and the Gentiles have all the same Christ One and the same Lyon Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah And he is the Lyon of the Gentiles also Jewes and Gentiles are all under one Prophet Priest King and Captain All that are saved from the beginning of the World to the end thereof they obtaine Salvation by Iesus Christ There was never any way of Salvation but one The ancient Patriarches and Prophets the ancient Iewes were all Christians when Moses was persecuted in Aegypt he bore the reproach of Christ Heb. 11. 26. When the Israelites sinned in the Wildernesse they tempted Christ 1 Cor. 10. 9. The Prophets from the beginning preached Christ and Salvation by the Messiah onely Christ began at Moses and went through all the Prophets and expounded unto them in all the Scriptures viz. Of the old
Be you also like the Sun arise and shine Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Matth. 5. 16. And this you shall do if you will take forth these following and short Instructions 1. Behold behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Eye Christ in all your Government go forth in the strength of Christ and follow him step after step Ever think with your selfe how Christ would govern if he were in my room He loved righteousnesse and hated wickednesse A Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of his Kingdome Heb. 1. 8. He defends the poor and fatherlesse he doth Justice to the afflicted and needy He delivers the poor and needy and rids them out of the hand of the wicked Follow follow your Ensigne 2. Jesus Christ is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah the King of his Church that 's his charge as Mediator Follow your Banner be a Lyon in the Church Put forth your greatest power lay out your chiefest care for the Church of God defend the Ministers and people of God let not them be made a prey provide faithfull Pastors for every Flock Pastors according to Gods own heart which may feed the people with knowledge and understanding Christs first care was to open the Book Bring into the City such able Divines as may open Gods Book and declare the will and counsell of God concerning mans Salvation Give to faithfull Ministers countenance and maintenance O Norwich if thou perishest it is thine own fault Can you spend so much upon Gorgeous Rayment So much upon Sumptuous Feasts So much for State and no man saith who shall open the Book to us who shall unloose the Seales thereof What shall I part with all to sit under a Soule-saving Ministry Christ was King of Mount Zion Let your main care be of the Church Be a nursing Father be all nursing Fathers to the Church 3. Jesus Christ was a Lyon be you so in the City in the Country in the Common-wealth be a Lyon be Lyons Not in all things I pray take heed of that In some respects you must strive to be unlike to Lyons viz. 1. The Lyon hath a faire out-side His Coat is Or continually of yellow colour and shines like Gold but what 's his inside He hath interiora Canis Entrals like a Dog Take heed of base Hypocrisie to carry a faire face a glorious out-side to Godly Ministers and Godly People and yet within to retaine a dogged heart to them Take heed of being a Saint in the Congregation and a Devil in thy Family and with thy Private and familiar Associates 2. The Lyon is stately Majestical comely in his fore-parts but he degenerates towards his hinder parts the more backwards the more uncomely So Magistrates ordinarily in the former part of their yeare their Government is comely very commendable they shew some zeale for God they roare against the Sins and Scandals of the City against Ale-houses prophanation of the Lords day and contempt of the word but the hinder part of their yeare is often very ugly they are remisse in punishing sin and in the administration of Justice They may be said to be like the Month of March they come in like a Lyon and go out like a Lamb they are just like the yeare when the Sun enters into Leo in July then the season is hot and vigorous but afterwards the yeare declines altogether to an Autumne first and then to a cold Winter Even so too too many Magistrates at their first comming to a place they shew some heat of zeale for the best things but in a little time they decline in all goodnesse I have seen some Magistrates at their first coming into the place have roared as Lyons against scandalous Ministers and silly dumb or at least unprofitable Ministers and have threatned to cast them out of the City and to get able and godly Ministers into their room But I have observed to the end of the yeare and what then Truely some of the most godly and able Ministers they have worried but the scandalous and unprofitable still continued in their places as they were Well some Magistrates if they be Lyons they are like that Lyon in the 1 King Chap. 13. verse 28. The Lyon slew the Prophet indeed but had not eaten the Carcasse nor slain the Asse So there are too many that make away with the faithfull and true Prophets of the Lord but they meddle not with the Carcasse nor with the Asse Some have been better to meet viz. At their first comming on then to follow viz. after their going off But as for you whom God hath lifted up to the chiefe place of Magistracy in this City be you better to follow then to meet leave a good example and let your last works be more then your first 3. The Lyon hath a foule mouth and a stinking breath and a harsh tongue like a Cat or rather like a fire Farr be it from you to be like the Lyon in these Take heed of a foule mouth let your very language be clean and holy Let your speech be alway with grace seasoned with Salt that you may know how to answer every man Light speech vaine speech rotten speech is a signe of a rotten heart a stinking breath comes from putrified entrailes The words of a Magistrate will be watched and his ordinary discourses will be a great ornament or a great deformity to him And take heed of a harsh tongue I know you will meet with many provocations in your administration of Justice yet strive against anger and choler and let your tongue be smooth Let all bitterness and wrath and clamour and evill speaking be put away from you with all malice They are Lyons of the Forest that have such foul mouthes and harsh tongues But learne you of the Lyon of the tribe of Judah full of grace are his lips Learne of him for hee is meek and lowly in heart 4. The Lyon never seizeth upon any except hee be hungry or angry and then they spare neither men women nor children but satiati innoxy But when their bellyes are full they do no more hurt I fear too many Magistrates are such Lyons if they be angry at any mans person they will seize upon him and punish him severely for a small fault but another Delinquent of a greater magnitude being their friend shall go Scot-free And are there not hungry Lyons Yes surely and when they are hungry they will range about and roare against Swearers disorderly houses and prophaners of the Sabbath by buying and selling but when they have gotten a prey a few Barrells of Beer or Runlets of Wine or Capons or bread in secret when they are satisfied with some pretty handsome Bribe they can be as quiet as Lambs But farr be it from you to be such a Lyon Be you a hater of
keepe nothing of Gods counsell back He must lift up his voyce like a Lyon and roare in the eares of Kings Potentates and the greatest States-men The Lyon must roare though the Doggs bark and the Wolves howle and all the Beasts of the Forrest do yell and grin A soule-searching Ministry is gall and wormwood to unreformed persons Ministers that cast the Pearles of reproofes before Doggs and Swine must expect that such brutish creatures will fly in their faces and if it be in their power will rent and teare them But what saith the Lord Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speake Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee Jer. 1. 7 8. Make thy face strong against their faces and thy forehead strong against their foreheads Ezek. 3. 8. Ministers must have undaunted resolutions ahd be as bold as Lyons 4. Ministers of the Gospell must not forget the stately gate of the Lyon The Lyon is comely in his going Ministers should be carefull above all others to walke as becomes the Gospel of Christ A holy walking that is the comely walking I beseech you behold how the high Priest is adorned and how he walks He had a plate of pure Gold upon his forehead and upon that Plate was ingraven HOLINESSE TO THE LORD Upon his Brestplate the URIM and the THUMMIM Viz the light of knowledge and the perfection of holinesse these were upon Aarons heart when hee walketh when he goeth in before the Lord. He had a Robe down to his feet and towards the bottome beneath upon the hemme of it a golden Bell and a Pomegranate a Golden Bell and a Pomegranate round about The golden Bell signifies the sound of pure Doctrine and the Pomegranate a sweet and savoury fruit notes that holinesse of Conversation that was in the High-priest view him well and you see him adorned with holinesse Cap a pe from head to foot It is the duty of Ministers Vivere concionibus concionari moribus to live Sermons Melius docemur vita quam verbo Examples prevaile more with men then Precepts In all things shew thy selfe a Pattern of good Workes saith Paul to Titus in Doctrine uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity In the frame of the Temple upon the borders were painted and ingraven Lyons Oxen and Cherubims To shew what kind of persons they ought to be who serve in Gods house As Angels for knowledge to dive into the Mysteries of the Gospell laborious and painfull as the Oxe They must be Lyons also for courage and boldnesse and they must be comely in their going their Conversation must be holy and lovely I shall commend at this time but one thing more to my Brethren of the Ministry and that is Prayer Let us be much and earnest in Prayer Alas we shall never be able to open the Book except the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah help us verse 4. John wept much because none was found worthy to open the Book and to read it We must weep and pray pray and weep that we may be enabled to open the Booke For there are sublime things in the Book and hard to be understood Alas our hearts will faile us and we shal be afraid of the faces of men if the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah do not strengthen us and put Courage into us keep up our Spirits to him therfore we nought to make our Addresses Yea in this let me beg help for my selfe and others wel-beloved I speak to you all that are before me this day in the words of Saint Paul Eph. 6. 18. Pray alwaies with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance supplication for al Saints 19. And for me and for all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell that utterance may be given unto us that we may open our mouths BOLDLY to make known the mystery of the Gospell Exhortation 3. I passe on now to the third Exhortation and that is to all in generall men women and young ones And there are various and sundry duties which I shall endeavour to perswade you to And first Is Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Then prostrate bow to this Lyon tremble at his voice Is Christ the King of his Church and People then come all in shake off all other yoakes Satans Dominion and Sins Reigne and list under this King be his Subjects kisse his Scepter and kneele to him know your King be loyall to him give him your whole heart honour feare and obey him give to Caesar that which is Caesars pay him all his Tribute of time of your Estates of every thing Fight for him contend for the faith the truth the honour of Jesus Christ Let the Lord Jesus Christ have a Throne in all your hearts say We have no King but the Lord Jesus Christ To move you hereunto consider the excellency of this Kingdome above all other Kingdomes in the World It hath the best King He is fairer then the Children of men He is the supream the absolute King of himselfe all other earthly Kings are but Vice-roys Lord-deputies All other Kings are but meer men he is God and man all other Kings have but a little peice of earth to set their feet upon he is the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth all other Kings weare but a corruptible Crown but his Kingdome endureth for ever Such a King there is not another What the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon the Type hath its Complement and perfection in Jesus Christ Happy are the Servants and Subjects of this King Blessed be the Lord thy God Oh thou Lyon of the Tribe of Judah which delighted in thee to see thee on the Throne of Israel because the Lord loved his Israel for ever therfore made he thee King It hath the best Scituation I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion There is the nether Zion and the upper Zion both pleasant Of the nether or lower Zion the Pilgrim Church upon Earth it is said Beautifull for scituation the joy of the whole Earth is Mount Zion the City of the great King And what is the beauty thereof The presence of God dwelling in the midst his people and protects them God is known in her Palaces for a Refuge Of the upper Zion the triumphant Church in Heaven it is said Yee are come unto Mount Zion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-borne which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus Heb. 12 22 23 24. It hath the best Lawes What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgments so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day
of the holy And for this he weeps and laments But heare what the Elder saith Weep not behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath prevailed to open the Booke and to loose the seven Seales thereof The Lord Jesus Christ is appointed of God to reveale the decree the whole will and counsell of God concerning mans Salvation He is made unto us wisdome 1 Cor. 1 30. No man hath seen God at any time the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father hee hath declared him John 1. 18. There followed great joy Songs and Musick in Heaven when the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had taken the Book and undertaken to open it Consol 3. Against all our spirituall Enemies the Enemies of our Salvation Sin Death the Devill The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vicit hee hath overcome and prevailed He hath vanquished Death Hell and all the power of the Adversary The Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath spoyled the roaring Lyon that walketh about seeking to devoure us He overcame in dying and so obtained high Dignity and became Lord of all Now he coucheth as a Lyon and none can drive him from his Prey which he caught out of the Dragons Pawes Saint Paul is Herauld to the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah proclaimes his Victory and declares him Conquerour with a word of triumph and solemnity Death is swallowed up in Victory Oh death where is thy Sting Oh Grave where is thy Victory The Sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us Victory through our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 54 55 56 57. All the strength of death and the Devill was from sin but Christ hath taken that quite away Here in this verse Iohn heares of Christ as a Lyon but in the next verse he seeth him as a Lamb slain sacrificed and he is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world Ioh. 1. 29. He made peace by the blood of his Crosse Consol 4. Against Defects wants of righteousnesse Alas saith the poor Creature without holinesse no man shall see the Lord And I have no righteousnesse or at least very imperfect none that will justifie It is true Christian if thou speakst of thine own righteousnesse inherent and actuall it s at the best but as a short Garment and a spotted Cloath Woe be to them that have no other Robe to cover them But look up and behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah He hath a Golden Skin to cover thee withall I will tell you a peece of Herauldry There are used in Armes Colours and Furres Furres are the Skins of certain Beasts stripped from their bodies and artificially trimmed for adorning of Garments for Kings and great men The Lyon is Iudahs Armes The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah is the Churches Ensigne and Shield Jesus Christ will give thee Colours and Furres Colours he will make the white by encreasing in the more and more the grace of Sanctification And he hath Furres for thee too his own Skin his own Righteousnesse to cover thee to justifie thee withall Jesus Christ is made unto us Righteousnesse and Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. Hast thou nothing in thy selfe there is enough in Christ Consol 5. Against all afflictions and troubles that the Children of God meet withall here Poverty Persecution and the like Art thou in great streights Yes perhaps thou will say but alas I cannot pray yet bee of good comfort Jesus Christ at the right hand of his Father doth pray and make continuall Intercession for thee He is of the Tribe of Judah And you know that Judah was an Intercessor for his Brother Iudah said oh do not slay our Brother And herein a Type of Christ The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah making continuall intercession for his Brethren Art thou poore and knowest not where to get bread Jesus Christ is thy King and he is a Lyon and will teare in peeces enough for his whelps and distribute it to his hungry ones Do thy afflictions and troubles continue it is but for a time it can be no longer then this transitory life continueth and then Christ will glorifie thee he will give you the Kingdome Here you have had great consolation from Christs Kingly Office against the implacable Enemies of the Church against blindnesse and ignorance against all Spirituall Adversaries of our Salvation Sin Death the Devill against wanâ—s and defects of righteousnesse against all afflictions and miseries of this life Ob. But haply some will say is Christ able and willing to do all this for his people Answ To this I answer and that shall be Consol 6. He is able to do it for he is a Lyon The strongest The Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty He is also willing for this end he was sent and for this purpose he took our Nature and came into the World he is our bone and our flesh The Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah our Kinsman our Brother our Husband Ob. But alas will some poor Christians say all these things may belong to others but we are not qualified we are not prepared and therefore not capable of these great Prerogatives Answ To this I shall answer with a Caution with a limitation The Consolation doth not belong to all onely to the Lyons whelps onely to the Tribe of Judah onely to such are true and faithfull Subjects of the Lyon of the King Christ Jesus And who are they I will tell you shortly such as beleive and repent and this I shall add as a seventh Consolation Dost thou beleive in the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah in Jesus Christ be of good comfort Sin and Satan shall never hurt thee To him to the Lord Jesus Christ give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever beleiveth in him shall receive remission of sins Act. 10. 43. Pliny writes that if any one be annointed with the blood of a Lyon or the fat the bitings of no venomous Creature can hurt him If thy Soule be annointed with the blood of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah sin cannot sting thee and the bitings of the old Serpent cannot harm thee Dost thou finde wants and defects in thine own righteousnesse yet dost thou beleive in the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Be of good comfort he hath Righteousness enough to justifie thee I read that Garments wrapt up in the Golden Skin of the Lyon are safe from Moths Art thou by faith wrapt up in the glorious Robe of Christs Righteousnesse Be of good comfort the Moths and defects of thy Sanctification shall not prejudice thy justification for thou shalt stand before the Judge of all the World Not having thine own Righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ Phil. 3. 9.