dolefull and finall farewell of the English Nation as when he laid the tomb-stone upon Jerusalem such as these will be his mournings over us Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and burnest them that are sent unto thee as they did in the time of Popery how often would I have gathered thy children together by my Word and Spirit therein even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under the wings of my speciall Government and Protection but ye would not behold your house is left unto you desolate But the Lord who doth not only make the day dark with night but also turneth the shadow of death into the morning even the Lord avert these evils and the Lord make the English Nation his Hephfibah and the land Beulah which is the prayer of his Mourners in Sion and of Thy Servants in Jesus and for Jesus sake William Greenhill Samuel Mather TO THE Christian READER THe precious memory of the Author of these ensuing SERMONS needs no reviving to any gracious heart that had any knowledge of him Yea the world knows in part though but in a little part by some pieces of his formerly Printed while he was yâ—t 〈…〉 who this Author was what it owes to God for him and how justly it might sigh over his grave with that of the Apostle Of whom the World was not worthy His praise throughout all the Churches is farre above any addition by so mean a pen as writes these lines But it is not fit that the first page of any thing published after his death for I doubt not but his death is long ago publickly took notice of should go without some witnesse of a mournfull remembrance thereof which indeed no tears can sufficiently lament We who sometimes sate under his shadow and were fed from God by him the poor flock of this Shepherd among whom he lived testifying Repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ and whom he sometimes exhorted comforted and charged euery one of us as a Father doth his Children we cannot but carry sorrow in the bottome of our hearts to this day that wee must here see his face no more Neither do we believe that his losse remains with us alone or only within the limits of this remote wildernesse the benefit and consequently the want of such a burning and shining Light is of more generall concernment that we easily apprehend especially in this Age wherein not only many â—it in utter darknesse but which is more the new Light thereof is darknesse and the Love of many waxing cold But we must all be silent before Him whose judgements are unsearchable Neither may we presume to say to him What doest thou It is instantly and not without cause desired by many that such reliques of his Labours as do survive him may be at least some of them imparted to the publick To effect any thing considerable that way is not an easie or sudden work But this small piece being at present attained it seemed not amisse to let it pass the Press These were some of his Lecture-Sermons Preached most of them in the year 1641. They are now transcribed by a godly Brother partly from the Authors own notes partly from what he took from his mouth The subject in both the Texts is of great use and needfull for these times wherin there is more Liberty than good use of it and much more common and outward than saving and effectuall knowledge of the word of God These posthumous editions are far short of what the Author was wont to do and of what the Sermons were in preaching But though the sense be not every where so full nor every thing so thorowly spoken to nor the stile so good by far as the Authors manner was yet the intelligent Reader will find a precious treasure of truth in it not fit to be buried or neglected The Prophets do not live for ever but their words do The Lord make them such ever-living words as may take hold of all our hearts not for judgement but for mercy for one of these wayeâ— they shall live yea rise up at the last day Imprimatur March 29. 1652. EDM. CALAMY THE TABLE B. BOndage What it is to which God delivers them that cast off his government Page 7 Iuvasion by forein enemies 7 By setting authority against them 7 Oppressing them by one another 8 Taking away good Governours 8 Giving them up to Satan 9 And to their own lusts 9 What are the sins for which God brings into Bondage 13 Bondage of the good and the wicked how it differs 15 C. CHurch of God why deprived of her liberty 11 Church-members that are private men in their duties are 48. what c. The causes of their neglect of their duty 52 c. Why men receive not more good from them than they do 53 Covenant of God if broken God rejects such as break it 3 To break Covenant with Christ is to cast off his government as King 31 People of God may be said to break Covenant and how 33 G. GOvernment see Power To cast of Gods Government provokes God to bring into bondage 3 Reasons of it 9 10 c. What Gods government is 4 The sorts of it 4 Internall 4 And Externall 5 Want of government a judgement 8 When men may be said to cast off Christs government 18. see 24. and see Ordinances When men submit to Christ. 20 21. to 29 In Christs government he useth a threefold power 30 Motives to come under Christs Government 81 L. LAwes the causes of the breach of Lawes 67 What prudence is to be used in making Laws 70 And how for human laws bind 70 c Gods Law onely can immediately bind the Conscience 70 Good Lawes have relation to the word and law of God 71 this proved ib. Of Penall Laws 74 Liberty see Government the sweetest Liberty is to be under Christ. 11 Liberty how it s abused 79 Love to Christ a sign of subjection to him 84 Love to Gods people another sign 84 Who do not love Gods people 85 M. MAgistrates We are to be subject to them and why 64 When Christs power is cast off in this respect not being subject to them 64 And objections about this answered 66 Ministeriall power what it is 54 And if this be not submitted Christ is cast off 69 And when men despised it 62 O. ORdinances When men adde their own inventions to Gods Ordinances they cast off Christs Government 34 We must take heed off this and why 35 When men destroy Ordinances and deny them they cast off Christs government 35 To cast of ordinances is a temptation of Satan 36 When Christ is thrust out of ordinances his government is cast off 39 To pollute Ordinances what it is 39 1. To contemn them 39. 40 2. To use them with unbroken hearts 40 3. To use them without faith 41 4. By not looking to Christ in them 41 P. POwer see Government Power of Christ in
SUBJECTION TO CHRIST IN ALL HIS ORDINANCES AND APPOINTMENTS The best means to preserve our LIBERTY Together with a TREATISE OF Ineffectual Hearing the Word How we may know whether we have heard the same effectually And by what means it may become effectuall unto us With some remarkable Passages of his life By Thomas Shephard late Pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge in New-England MATTH 11. 29. Take my yoke upon you c. LONDON Printed by S. G. for Iohn Rothwell at the Fountain in Cheap-side 1657. TO THE READER ONe of the sweetest refreshing mercies of God to his New England People amidst all their wilderness-tryals and straits and sorrows wherewith they at first conflicted in those ends of the earth hath been their Sanctuary-enjoyments in the beauties of holinesse where they have seen and met with him whom their soules love and had familiar and full converse with him above what they could then enjoy in the land from whence they came This is that that hath sweetned many a bitter Cup to the remnant of Israel The Lord alone led him and there was no strange God with him was said concerning Israel of old and this was accounted mercy enough when he led them into a land where no man dwelt and which no man passed thorough What God hath done for New-England in this reâ—â—â—ct and what their Sanctuary mercies be thou hast here a taste though but a taste These notes may well be thought to be lesse accurate than if the Author himself had published them and to want some polishments and trimmings which it were not fit for any other to adde however thou wilt find them full of usefull truths and mayest easily discern his Spirit and a Spirit above his own breathing in them Concerning the Author it were worth the while to write the story of his life It is needlesse to speak in his commendation His works praise him in the gates They that know him know he had as real apprehensions of the things of God and lived as much with God and with his own heart and more than the most of Christians do He had his education at Immanuel-College in Cambridge The Conversion and Change of his heart was wrought betimes when he lived in the Vniversity and enjoyed Dr. Prestons Ministery whereby God had the very best and strength of his parts and years for himself When he was first awakened to lookt after Religion having before swam quietly in thâ— stream of the times he was utterly at a losse which way to take being much molested with suggestions of Atheism in the depths whereof Junius was quite lost for a time and moved and tempted to the wayes of Familism also for some advised him in this condition to go to Grindlestone and to hear Mr. Brierley and being informed that the people were wont to find a mighty possessing over powering presence and work of the Spirit when they heard him he resolved upon the journey but God in mercy diverted him having reserved him for better things Yet he read what they said and the Books of H. N. amongst the rest where meeting with this passage That a Christian is so swallow'd up in the spirit that what action soever the spirit moves him to suppose whoredome he may do it and it is no sin to him this was enough for being against the light of his natural conscience it bred in him an utter abhorrency of thâ—se loose and vile wayes and principles ever after This adaâ—tage also he had that Doctor Tuckney was then his Tutor whom he acquainted with his condition and had his direction and help in those misâ—rable fluctuations and straits of his soul. Happy is the man whose doubtings end in establishments nil tam certum quà m quod de dubio certum but when men arrive in Scepticism as the last issue result of all their debates and thoughts of heart about Religion it had been good for such if they had never been born After his heart was changed it was observed of him that his abilities of mind were also much enlarged divinity though it be chiefly the Art and rule of the will yet raising and perfecting the understanding also which I conceive came to pass chiefly by this means that the fear of God fixed him and made him serious and taught him to meditate which is the main improvement of the understanding Therefore such as came to him for direction about their studies he would often advise them to be much in meditation professing that having spent some time in meditation every day in his beginning times and written down his thoughts he saw cause now to blesse God for it He was assigned to the work of the Ministery at a solemn meeting and conference of sundry godly Ministers about it there were to the number of twelve present at the meeting whose solemn advice was that he should serve the Lord in the Gospel of his Son wherein they have been the salvation of many a soul for upon this he addrest himself to the work with that reality and seriousnesse in wooing and winning souls that his words made deep impressions and seldome or never sell to the ground He was lecturer a while at Eâ—rles-cone in Essex which I take it was the first place of his Ministery where he did much good and the people there though now it is long since and many are gone yet they have a very precious and deep remembrance of him of the mighty power of God by him to this day But W. Lawd then Bishop of London soon stopt his mouth and drove him away as he did many other godly Ministers from Essex at the same time After this he lived at Butter-chrome in Yorkshire at Sir Richard Darleys house till the Iniquity of those times hunted him thence also Then he went to Northumberland till silenced there also and being thus molested and chased up and down at home he fled to New-England and after some difficulties and delayes by great storms and disasters at Sea upon the Sands and Coasts of Yarmouth which retarded his voyage till another year he arrived there at last where he was Pastor to a precious flock at Cambridge about fourteen yeers He was but 46. or 47. years old when he dyed His sicknesse began with a sore throat and then a squinacy and then a fever whereof be dyed August 25. 1649. This was one thing he said upon his deathbed Lord I am vile but thou art righteous and to those that were about him he bade them loue Iesus Christ dearly that little part that I have in him is no small comfort to me now His manner of preaching was close and searching and with abundance of affection and compassion to his hearers He took great pains in his preparations for his publick labours accounting it a cursed thing to do the work of the Lord negligently and therefore spending usually two or three whole dayes in preparing for the work of the Sabbath had his Sermons
that gray hairs are upon him And after this when God hath cast out in may be the Church doth also a most fearfull bondage that the Lord gives such a foul over unto There are two reasons of this point which I collect only from the story in this Chapter Reason 1. Inregard of the righteous Judgement of God It 's just and equall that he that will not be ruled by this blessed Lord Jesus he should be ruled by his lusts he that will â—ot be in subjection to a mercifull Christ he should be in bondage to unmercifull men this an humbled heart will acknowledge as these do here Vers. 6. they acknowledged the Lord to be righteous Man being fallen it had been righteous with God to have left all men as the Angels that fell in chains of darknesse for ever But among his Church and people the Lord sends the Gospel to proclaim liberty and with it sends Christ with his Spirit to come to the prison-doores of poor sinners to give repentance as well as remission of sins and now if they will not come out of their bondage accept of the Lords liberty 't is exceeding righteous to deal with them as we do with prisoneâ—s condemned to die if the Prince comes to the prison-doores and sayes I am come to give thee thy life nay and here is pardon nay favour and to pull off thy chaines also now if he saies no I had rather be in prison every one will say it is just and as it was in the year of Jubile he that would not go free was to be a bondman for ever 'T is very righteous to give men their own choyce 't is no wrong to let them have their own will if indeed the laws of Christ were Draco's lawes hard and heavy there were something to object but they are most sweet and for which of all other blessings men have cause to blesse him Psal. 147. ult Reason 2. In regard of the mercy or mercifull wisdom of the Lord towards his Church and people especially his peculiar ones that hereby they keep the closer to the Lord set a higher price upon the rules and government of the Lord love his kingdome the more and the liberties thereof and use them better when they have them again so here that they may know my service c. 1. How sweet it is Experience we say is the Mistress of fools such is the foolishness of mens hearts that men are many times never truly taught a truth till they are taught it by sense Prov. 5. 11. and thou mourn at last when thy flesh is consumed tell a man of all the glory of the Saints they never understand it till they feel it tell men of the woe of their wayes they will not believe it till they see it Psal. 32. 9. Be not as the horse or mule that hath no understanding whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle Hosea 10. 11. Ephraim is like an Heifer that is taught Like untamed Horses that will cast their rider unlesse they be held under and backt and then they are gentle so 't is here and truly 't is long before a man can learn the sweet of Christs government hence Israel must be long in Egyptian bondage and many long miseries so that if there be either justice or mercy in the Lord he will do this and this point shall be true Vse 1. Hence then see that the greatest liberty and sweetest liberty is to be under the government of Christ Jesus although men do not think so hence the Lord tells them here they shall know my service they might have replyed we do know it No till they be in bonds they know it not nor cannot learn it So 't is now and hence let men observe whiles they live loosly and are guided by their own wisdome for their own ends according to their own will at peradventures at rovers as they please they do think this liberty very sweet and 't is better than to be curb'd in But let the Lord strike an arrow in the heart of these wilde bucks that have broke park and pale send affliction and an Iron yoke of sorrow upon them or distresse of conscience if there be any sense and feeling left they will bemoan themselves and say I did think my liberty sweet but now I see 't is bitter in a sinfull way and the Lords way was most sweet by their own confession Hence Psal. 2. 3. Let us break their bands c. But Oh now hence learn this truth and digest it throughly that the greatest liberty lies here do not in thy judgement think Christian liberty lies in being freed from the law as a rule of obedience in respect of the matter of it to be done nor in thy practice but know though thou didst meet with a thousand Sorrows with it and griefs yet 't is sweet Christs yoke Mat. 11. 30. is easie and his burthen light What When not a hole to hide his head in when a reproach of men a worm and no man when he bore the Fathers wrath Yes when he was meek under it not mine but thy will be done it was then most sweet 1 Kings 9. 21 22. To be a servant to Solomon is no bondage Psalm 119. 32. I will run when thou shalt inlarge my heart Vse 2. Hence see the reason why the Lord hath deprived his Churches of their liberty and his government over them at sundry times and hath put them under Iron yokes and bonds and sore pressures the reason is shewn they have either openly or more secretly cast off the government of the Lord here hath been the very wound the aile of all Churches famous and glorious Psal. 81. 14. Oh that they had hearkened I should then soon have subdued their enemies The cause is not so hard to find to a discerning spirit who is privy in any measure to the counsels of God 1 King 9. 8 9. Solomon hath a promise that the Lords eyes and heart shall be to his people which are under him but if once they slip the Coller then wo and why Because they forsook the Lord that brought them out of Egypt they had liberty but they cast it off What do you think was the moving cause of all those bloody persecutions when the blood of dogs was more precious then of Christian Churches were not they godly yes I do not doubt of it but as it was here though humbled they must be in bondage because they had cast off the government of the Lord Jesus And hence in the Apostles time evill times were come sad apostasies from the truth and because it was long before they were low enough And hence Revel 6. till the 〈…〉 was opened no crying as it was with Israel in bondage no prayer to purpose and because the Lord saw they would abuse all liberties if they had them And hence in Constantines time when peace came in contention came with it and so
abused all that their peace was their poyson And hence in the primitive Churches they began to cast off the government of the Lord Jesus murmurings there were hence came persecution but they were a precious people and made blessed use of it And the Lord couples their chief persecution with their rest And 't is said Acts 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest c. And what do you think of the reason of the long reign of Antichrist exalting himself above God and all that 's called God bringing the Church under the heaviest bondage for body and soul that ever the earth saw Men did not love the truth either speculative to guide their minds or practicall to rule their wills and hence left to this day What is the cause of Bleeding Germanies wo Oh poor Germany Whence the Gospell first brake out in its full strength that now 't is a field of blood that men in woods like satyres are afraid of men and men in Cities glad to eat the intrailes of Beasts and sometimes the flesh of their own babes to preserve their lives What was there no evill but the common condition of the Church to be under the crosse ask them they cannot tell what ailes them but curse the Emperour and Swedes c. Oh think of it with sorrow in secret for them that know it not themselves they have secretly I say secretly cast off the government of a mercifull Christ and hence are under the hand of unmercifull men What is the cause in our native Countrey notwithstanding all prayers and tears no diliverance truly men do not know it but the Lord sees it they know not how to use their liberty And for our selves what shall I say I cannot but blesse God and wonder to see how 't is with many and rejoyce to see many precious holy ones to whom one day in Gods Court is sweeter than a thousand elsewhere but I must professe and cannot but mourn for others men that were eminent under bondage but never worse then here as if the Lord should say Look here by your eminent ones look and fear and mourn you Ministers of my house here be the people you had thought had been converted and that of all others such a one would never a fallen so one an opinion takes him another a lot another loose company another his lust another gowes proud another fierce another murmuring what should I name all Oh that my words might be healing c. Vse 3. Hence see what will become of us that are now under the government of the Lord if ever we cast it off either inward or outward or both We are not dearer to him then his people Israel here nay Iudah When old Israel the great and numerous tribes of Israel had set up calves little Iudah and Benjamin received the Priests and yet they fell and were in bondage I know we are not yet in bondage yet it is not more unseasonable to speak now then for the Lord to Solomon 1 King 9. 1 Quest. But there being much unsubduedness in the hearts of the best how shall one know when there be such sins for which the Lord will cast from under his government Answer 1. When men do not loath their own hearts for the unprofitablenesse but loath Gods ordinances secretly and grow weary of them as of their burdens because of the unprofitablenesse of them When a people find not that speciall good by them which recompenseth all losses and so prize them but lay blame on them because unfruitfull to them Malachie 3. 13. He speaks to a people got out of Captivity Your words have been stout against me no say they 'T is in vain to serve the Lord what profit is there in this you must conceive they had many losses were very poor as vers 11. a temptation which a proud heart cannot indure above any here is now no profit in mourning fasting c. and Gods own people began to think so and hence Vers. 16. Then they spake often one to another there was good effect of his Sermon now what follows Chapter 4. 1. Hence the wicked shall come and cut off Branch and Root in Antiochus time there is a burning day a comming that shall burn down house root and branch and hence Matthewâ—1 â—1 43. The kingdome shall be given to them that bring forth fruit You will say we do No thy own mouth shall condemn thee you do not you find no good by all the ordinances of God and hence come those Questions what warrant for such an ordinance the bottome is they never felt good of it and hence grow weary of it well if it be your burthen the Lord will ease you of it 2. When you see men professing the fear of God mutually naturally contentious and continuing so I say contentious with Saints which they say they love which they are by covenant bound to love either from some conceived wrong and hence cannot forgive as Christ doth them or from a prejudicate groundlesse opinion they care not for me nor I for them or from a spirit of scornfull Censoriousnesse what are such and such or because distasted because of some reproof in their sin or by some opinion or by some worldly conveniency or laying out lots or restraint of some liberty c. or because of some sin Now can sit and censure and I say when this is mutual for a godly man may be contended with but he prayes and mourns and pitties unlesse it be at some time but when it shall continually abide so fierce and implacable Eccles. 7. 9. Anger resteth in the bosome of fools when a man shall be glad of an occasion of difference that so he may depart and have something to quiet conscience for breach of Covenant that there can be no healing but Bellies of pigs are more dear then bowels of Saints and when quiet upon the least occasion apt to pâ—ck holes and quarrel Now it 's time for the Lord to give over to another government Zach. 11. 14 15. When Brotherhood is broken then an Idol-shepheard is set up Exodus 2. Moses was sent to deliver Israel but he finds two Hebrews oppressed striving and must not be checkt neither well then fare-well deliverance if you be of that spirit you shall love one another better if ever the Lord doth that for you It hath been the wisdome of some Princes when their subjects have been at Civill wars to call them forth to a common enemy and there they can agree Oh brethren there is no sin like this and yet none so slighted You shall know what it is either by being yoked under enemies or sins The first of these breaking bonds of union to Christ the other with his members Vse 4. Hence see the reason why many men are delivered up to the bondage of their own lusts the most sad bondage and power of Satan who have seemed to be delivered from it truly they have cast off
things are known For the clearing up of this know that there is a three-fold derivative power which the Lord hath given to the Church joyntly and not to Elders only Which may be miserably abused and so provoke the Lord to take it away from their hands till they know better how to use it yet when 't is used according to Christ now not to be under the power of it which is Christ power delegated to it is to cast off Christs Government And I am confident the bondage of all the Churches in Christendome if ye examine the Churches is continued because the Lord sees hearts unwilling to submit to him in the government of Churches and will continue it till Churches know how to use it and men lye down to the power of it 1. They have a power given them from Christ of opening and shutting the doors of the Church the Kingdome of God on earth i. e. of letting in and keeping out any according to Christ into or out of their communion and this I conceive to be one part of the power of the Keys committed to the Church The chief office of which is to open and shut to receive in and keep out according to Christ and hence the three thousand were added to the Church though the Apostles were guides therein and Acts 9. 26. Paul would have joyned himself but they would not accept of him because they were afraid of him No body naturall or politick but they have power to receive to them the usefull keep from them the hurtfull so much more Christs spirituall body And hence the Church of Ephesus is commended Revel 2. 2. together with their Angel for trying those that seemed good and were not Now 't is true this power may be miserably abused in opening doores too wide or locking them up too long or too fast and in many sad disorders this way yet there is this power Now when men shall refuse Church-tryall and so communion with the Church and that not from sense of their unfitnesse and unworthinesse or some other reason which is in the fight of God of great weight but from a carelesse contempt of Gods Ordinances or Gods people a man sayes What care I for the one and what are the other and from a resolution never to grow better they know they are not like to be accepted of them and they are resolved they will grow no better they think themselves as good as they and from a secret unwillingnesse to come to the light they know things are amisse and will not be known of it they appear better than they are and hence they are loath to be seen and jodged as they are Certainly this is to casts Christs power and if continued in the salvation of your soules is also cast off Acts 2. ult The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved To the Church i. e. not the universal Church but visible Church where it may be had such as should be saved Isa. 60. 14 15. For the Nation and Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations shall utterly perish Lamentable is the condition of many not so much for not joyning themselves to the Church as not seeking of the Lord for that mercy that they may be first joyned to the Lord and so to his people for the Lords sake There are great heaps of people amongst the Churches here that do stand guilty of this the Lord humble us for it that content themselves to stand Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Eph. 2. 12. Strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world The Lord is slow to wrath but there is a threefold bondage 1. Of sin and Satan Rev. 22. 14 15. Let him that is filthy be filthy still Nay though there be some beginnings yet apt to fall back because not planted in the courts of the Lord. And hence Col. 2. 5. Ioying and beholding your order and the sted fastnesse of your faith in Christ order and stedfastnesse are joyned together 2. Of misery Zach. 14. 17. And it shall be that whosoever will not come up of all the families of the Earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King the Lord of Hosts even upon them shall be no rain 3. Sadnesse hence Isa. 56. 7. Even them I will bring to my holy Mountain and make them joyfull in my House of Prayer To be joyfull in the house of Prayer is promised to such as joyn themselves to Gods Covenant 2. They have a power given them of binding and loosing By admonition of any one that being received in shall sin against their communion and the Lord in it thereby to defile the whole body and to provoke the wrath of the Lord against the same and this is mentioned Matth. 18. and by the Apostle 1 Cor. 5. 1 4. and this is given to them to use against whatever sinner or offender it be be he great or small Prince or Peer if he be a brother he is to lye down here An admonition is an arrest and message from God from Christ Jesus the King of Kings Eglon must come down from his throne when this is brought Now I grant again this power may be abused miserably as to admonish without conviction or without compassion and love but in heat and passion c. Yet this is part of Christs binding power in his Church which when 't is done 't is bound in heaven Now when men come to that passe that they do not only sin for that the Lord pardons but are grown to that height that they cast off all reproofs and Christ-like admonitions for sin steept it may be in many tears and prayers before they came and sweetned with the Spirit of mercy and terror of Christ Jesus in the mouths of his servants this brings under bondage 'T is not sin so much for this will be but when they cannot abide reproofs they are iron morsels cannot be digested and hence sometime hide it and twenty shifts and half as many lies or if it be found out defend it and fall a fencing and thrusting and try it out to the last or extenuate it twenty wayes that a beam is a more and which is worse their hearts rise and swell and they bear a privy grudge against them as if they were their enemies because they tell them the truth when they should say Let the righteous smite me Exod. 2. 14. Who made thee a Prince and Iudge over us When Moses the Israelites deliverer was raised up he thereupon departs and they lye under heavy bondage when they cast off his reproof It 's true a Saint may not for a time submit but yet it argues a height of spirit for the present unfit for communion with God and the Lord will bring them off and humble them for their pride 2 Sam. 23. 6. 〈◊〉 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns 〈…〉 cause they cannot be taken
sin but yet they are servants unto Christ and in exercising his power according to him above the Church 2 Cor. 4 5. We preach Christ and our selves your servants for Christ yet therein above them Hence being their servants if they sin they are under the censure of the Church and the Church may cast them by So being Christs servants if not submitted to the Lord doth account himself cast off 1. Because their power thus rightly executed is the power of Christ Jesus Hence refuse it you refuse to be subject to him If men wil not be ruled by Gods Ordinances but will rule Ordinances they go about to tule Christ. 2. Because if there shall be no subjection here 't is profest licentiousnesse and not liberty in Churches You have liberty but what liberty to be subject to Christs power in pure liberty and that in his servants Now when men will not and shall refuse without shewing reason or convicting Elders of sin this is to cast off the Government of Christ. 3. Elders are helpers of people and there is no people but will stand in need of such helps if humble and able to discern to attend the publick good to teach and convince c. Hence when there is no sin appearing in the execution of their office they should with a holy â—ear submit and say if ye be faithfull watchmen what am I that I should be unsatisfied my ignorance may mislead others c. 4. They have power to over-see when they see cause Acts 20. 28. and to see into and enquire into the estate of the stock of God to know their spirituall condition so far as is fit to be known that so they may be comforted in the work of Christ though there be no sin break out not they come to them 1. Thes. 3. 5 6. The Apostle enquired into their faith charity and prayer vers 7. and hence was comforted c. And this Paul doth not as an extraordinary man but leaves his example as a president to the Elders of Ephesus to go from house to house and enquire to teach and exhort Acts 20. for Elders are to prevent scandals as well as to remove them left when they come they say Oh that I had known this before especially where they see need Now hence it is that men cast off the government of Christ when they will not have their spirituall condition searched into the Elders foot is now too great for his shoe I am to give an account to God so are they also of thee now thou canst not give it if thou enquirest not how thy condition stands neither can they with comfort unlesse thou tellest them how it stands with thee 'T is true there are many secret things they can never find out yet they are to attend their duty The Ministers charge is to cast the seed the Elders duty is to enquire after the fruit in the husbandry of Christ it is a sad condition when a man hath such a wound that he will not go to the Lord for help because hee loves it and will not have man to know it at because hee is ashamed of it But you shall know it the last day that the Lord would have healed you and you would not but can quarrell and snap at the Elders when they come to enquire of your condition and why do ye inquire you take too much on you 5. They have power to guide and counsell and warn the Church at least in all weighty affaires which may concern them and their common good hence they are called guides and leaders to the people Heb. 13. 17. Mal. 2. 7. I do not mean in all personall things Acts 20. 31. I warned you of wolves c. Hence 1. For members in matters of great and weighty affaires which concern the good of the whole Church may all Churches never to enquire at Abel is casting off the Lord as in election of Offices in Church and Magistrates in the Common-wealth c. 2. Hence to receive any opinion different from all the Elders in the Church and never â—o much as speak much lesse come to a sad debate about it is to cast off this yoke and contrary to covenant and Elders would never have undertook the care of the Church without it and it sads their hearts that they do their work feebly 3. Hence to propose a doubtfull question to the Church which may trouble or bring an offenders sin to the Church without counsell of the Elders who may encourage them if of God and ripen it for the Church or discourage it if not of God Christ when he writes to the Churches he superscribes his Epistles to the Angels and if one man may propose a doubtfull opinion another may and a third and one may side with another and so much confusion will follow 4. Hence when men shall not take warning of evils to come upon evident grounds it 's casting off the Lords yoke and when they come on thee thou mayest say it is because I have refused to hearken to my watchers they warned me of this and it may be you will find else such evils which the Seripture notes according to the word of the Lord by his servant Elisha so will the Lord make good the words and threatnings of his faithfull servants 5. They have power of publick reproof of any member of the Church in case of plain open and publick offences others without leave cannot nor ought not although others may tell them Reproofs are part of the power peculiar to the governours in any society where governours are present especially and at hand as now in a Family no wise man will suffer brawles amongst his children or servants but sayes he tell me 1. Tim 5. 20. Now this is sad when a man cannot forbear reproof of others nor hear reproofs of Elder but turns again and will be judge in his own cause though never so grosse a sign of an extream froward high spirit Hosea 4. 4. which makes the Lord to take away Elders as soon as any sin is committed and stop their mouths Exod. 2. Who made thee a Iudge c. And when afflictions come and you then enquire what is the cause of it you may be sure this is one even by the confession of the blindest deboist ones Prov. 5. 12. How have I hated Instruction and not obeyed the voice of my teachers 6. They are to feed with power as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth every one in their places publickly instructing exhorting comforting and privately also which though private men may do yet here is the stamp of authority also and so the more power the more blessing usually if God be acknowledged therein Acts. 20. 28. Hence 1. When men despise their food they are poor things they speak and they can see no matter in them and that after study prayers and tears c. and so cast it by this is to cast off the Lord. 2. When men