21 22 23. And as for Apostates from him and his cause they are no lesse odious unto him witnesse Heb. 10.38 39. If any man draw backe my soule shall have no pleasure in him It is our deare Saviours employment in Heaven as to appeare in the presence of God for his friends Heb. 9.24 so to sit downe at the right-hand of God from hence-forth expecting till his enemies â—e made his footestoole Heb. 10.12 13. He hath now no sacrifice to offer he is there above suffering being entred into the fellowship and fruition of the glory of his Godhead to exercise his power and authority for the good of his Church and overthrow of his enemies He sees their day is comming Psal. 37.13 when he shall have contentment and comfort in his enemies ruine triumphantly trampling upon them who shall everlastingly inherit the shame of their owne sinnes and lie under the pressure of his just displeasure Be encouraged in these shedding and discriminating Vse 3 times to take part with the true Church and to adhere firmly to Jesus Christ and his Angels Looke about you as in Joshuah 5.13 may you not see Jesus Christ comming down from Heaven with his sword drawn in his hand Go to him with Joshua's question Art thou for us or for our adversaries Will not his answer be Nay but as a Captaine of the Hoast of the Lord am I now come Then you must be sure to be of the Lords hoast or else he is not for you but for your adversaries Take therefore Pauls seasonable counsell 1 Tim. 6.12 fight the good fight of faith Such have the best cause It is Gods Such fight the Lords battels 1 Sam. 25.28 The best Captaine Jesus Christ the Captaine of their salvation Heb. 2.10 The best fellow-souldiers Stephen Paul and the rest of that holy band with certainty of victory 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laied up for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me onely but to them also that love his appearing This is more then the greatest Champions of the world can promise themselves But may not Christs souldiers be foiled Yes so were the Israelites when they fought against Benjamin Judg. 20. yet was the cause holy and good But what with their over-confidence in the goodnesse of their cause and greatnesse of their numbers and want of humiliation before God they were twice discomfited Againe consider the Cause may prevaile when the persons miscarry and grow great out of the ruines of such as suffered for it Suppose that discouraging question Whether the witnesses be already slaine cannot so comfortably be answered by a peremptory affirmative Yet however better be one of the witnesses though dying then one of the killers of them though triumphing There will be a speedy resurrection of them and the cause Revel. 11.11 But remember to allow the Lord his Prerogative to carry on his Churches cause in his owne method and in his owne time See Deut. 32.35 36. His enemies feete shall slide in due time though his peoples power be gone By the bloud of the Lamb observation 2 The Militant Churches victories over the Devill and his Angels are obtained by the bloud of the Lambe Jesus Christ This is clearely held forth in that mother fundamentall promise which was most graciously intimated to fallen Adam even before the sentence passed upon him Gen. 3.15 The Womans seed shall breake the Serpents head Of this Daniel had comfortable experience when Michael helped him Dan. 10.13.21 which is further confirmed Rev. 17.14 These shall make warre with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings First by the bloud of the Lamb divine justice is satisfied God appeased Rom. 3.25 and the Church reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5.19 Her sinnes being done away which betray her to her enemies she becomes victorious sharing reason 1 in the triumph of Christ over the Devill and his Angels Gol. 2.12 13. Secondly by the bloud of the Lamb we obtaine that reason 2 grace which enables us prevailingly to resist the Devil and his Angels For no peeces of the spirituall armour will be armour of proofe unlesse they be dipped in the bloud of Christ Rev. 7.14 And how was Paul enabled to doe all things but by the might of Christ that strengthned him Phil. 4.13 Whose bloud hath an eternall efficacie Rev. 13.8 The Churches victories are therefore ascribed to the reason 3 bloud of the Lamb because the Oeconomicall Kingdome which Christ hath over his Church is a Priestly Kingdome which he possesses as the fruit of his bloudy sufferings For though he were prepared and made capable of his Kingly glory by the hypostaticall union yet the holy Scriptures invest him with it as the reward of his sufferings and humiliation He humbled himselfe and became obedient unto death even the death of the crosse Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a Name which is above every name That {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in the Name of Jesus not at the Name Jesus every knee should bow And his Church likewise being a royall Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9 conquers through the bloud of her King use 1 If the Churches victories are obtained by the bloud of the Lamb Then why should not we debase our selves this day before God for all our vaine confiding in creatures or magnifying them upon any good successes Hereby we proudly encroach upon the honour of Christ to whose bloud we owe all our Victories It is fit wee should humble our selves when God hath humbled us Eccles. 7.14 In the day of adversity consider We must blesse God for good Instruments but may not admire them to the disparagement of the principall cause Though ignorant wretches did sacrifice unto their owne net and burne Incense to their dragge this is most unworthy of Christians who should live by faith in Christ Gal. 2.20 not onely pray in faith but worke fight by faith expecting all from Christ and resolving all into Christ Improve the hand of God which occasioned this extraordinary Assembly for the Prophet Haggai his purpose To consider your wayes or as in the Heb. Set your heart upon your wayes Hag. 1.5.7 Too many like Hannibal who though victorious knew not how uti victoriâ and so lose themselves in their victories not acknowledging the bloud of the Lamb therein The Lord make us more wise for time to come We may use meanes but must not rest upon them we ought to blesse God for second causes but must not idolize them It was a modest strain in Joab which might make us blush he sent to David that he would gather the people together encamp against the City and take it lest I take the City said he and it be called by my name Let such as are instrumentall for the publike have
Dragon Michael Quis sicut Deus Christ Jesus that great and powerfull Captaine of the Hoast of God Head of the Angels and his Church The Dragon who hath many blacke names sutable unto his nature v. 9. A great Dragon for his terrible fiercenesse an old Serpent growne experimentally subtle the Devill being an accuser of the Brethren before God day and night Satan an implacable adversary to the Saints a Seducer it is his trade to be mis-leading Soules Both Generals have their party Christ hath his Angels ministring Spirits and Christian Princes Magistrates Confessours with troopes of Saints The Devill hath his Angels unrighteous Magistrates exasperated by Heretiques and corrupt Teachers and strengthened by other wicked instruments Betwixt these 〈◊〉 parties there will be irrecoâ—ciliable warres for albeit the personal sufferings of Christ are ended yet the warfare of his body of his Subjects will continue God hath appointed them thereunto 1 Thess. 3.3 And upon these termes Christ proposeth glorious rewards in the closure of all the Epistles written to the seven Churches {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to him that is over-comming will I give not to him who hath fully overcome implying the Churches must be militant but however though their conflict be troublesome yet their victory will be glorious and certaine Rev. 3.21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am sate downe with my Father in his Throne The Romish Babel the Master-piece of carnall policy built and underpropped with all possible care and is indeed the greatest mountaine raised against Michael and his Kingdome yet how triâ—mphantly did the Angell speake concerning its ruine long agoe Rev. 18.2 He cryed mightily with a strong voyce saying Babylon the great is falne is falne the ingemination and present tense inferre an undoubted certainety of its falling reason 1 The cause of the true Church is a prevailing cause and therefore doubtlesse the Church will be triumphant What is the Churches cause but the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ which was the great designe of the three glorious Persons in Trinity from eternity wherein they will not suffer themselves to be disappointed Upon this divine Project the Attributes of God the Offices of Christ the Influences of the holy Spirit lay out themselves All other things stand or fall with subserviency hereunto In reference to this the Lord appointed Watchmen that might give him no rest till Jerusalem was made a praise in the earth Isa. 62.6 7. This is clearely revealed twice in the Booke of Daniel first to Nebuchadnezzar in a glorious image of foure metals Dan. 2. signifying the foure great Monarchies succeeding one another who also saw a stone cut out without hands v. 34. which smote the image and became a great Mountaine and filled the whole earth v. 35. This Regnum lapidis became Regnum montis which alone shall never be destroyed v. 44. And to Daniel himselfe in a vision of foure diverse beasts importing likewise the succession of foure Kingdomes all swallowed up in the everlasting dominion of Christ Dan. 7.13 14. The name of the Almighty Jehovah is so much interested reason 2 in the cause of the true Church that he will carry it on in a triumphing way Having given himselfe to his Church in Covenant Jer. 31.33 I will be their God and they shall be my People what God is and what God can doe stands engaged for their good Feare not for thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hoasts is his Name He is pleased to make himselfe his Churches debter by his promise Isa. 60. â—5 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated I will make thee an eternall excellency the joy of many generations Possibly the wisest Parliament and most potent Army may be reduced unto a non-plus and cannot visibly carry on the cause and Kingdome of Christ yet the worke will not miscarry The zeale of the Lord of Hoasts will performe this Isa. 9.7 The true Churches Adversaries are the worst of Angels and men and so the more obnoxious to destruction The reason 3 worse men the better adversaries to fight against Job 27.7 Let my enemy be as the wicked and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous The more by their wickednesse they fight against God the more they provoke him to fight against them and admit the Church hath a great party against her if they be the sinning side they are the sinking side 1 Sam. 12.25 The Church was the more victorious against Babylon because Babylon was so sinfull against God Rev. 14.8 Babylon is falne is falne that great City because she made all Nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Shall the Militant Church be Triumphant over the Dragon and his Angels Then Christs Souldiers have no reason to repent who have given up their Names unto him and taken presse money from him His side will be the prevailing side and who doth not adore the rising Sunne â—is people may suffer but when the Lord hath performed his worke upon Mount Zion and on Jerusalem I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high lookes Isa. 10.12 When God hath wrought for his people the good which he intended he is wont to cast the rod into the fire He knowes how to make his people more then Conquerours even when they are conquered by their enemies Rom. 8.37 The Lord hath a Soveraignty as well in the lusts and passions of his adversaries as in the graces of his people Psal. 76.10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee the remainder thereof shalt thou restraine By his providence the enemies plots doe prove the Churches advantages The most glorious deliverance and reformation have beene the happy event of most wretched designes As there was a blessed transaction in Heaven betweene the Father and the Sonne for the salvation of the Elect Joh. 6.39 so is it expressely concluded betwixt them for the confusion of the Churches enemies Psal. 110 1. The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy foote-stoole Christ is not alone in these Warres the Father is with him engaging himselfe against the enemies of his Sonne and will make the highest of them much lower then the meanest of his faithfull Souldiers Beware then of deserting Christ and his Church by dull Vse 2 neutrality or wilfull apostacy you cannot be guilty of either against him without betraying your selves He accounts neuters his enemies Matth. 12.30 He that is not with me is against me they are cursed bitterly who come not out to helpe the Lord against the mighty Our policy cannot protect us if we desert the cause of God and his people our sins will finde us out as Moses told the Reubenites and the Gadites upon the like occasion Numb. 32.20
all due acknowledgment but it may cost us yet much dearer if we baptize any with the name of Conqueror but onely Jesus Isa. 9.6 The government is upon his shoulder his Name shall be called Wonderfull Him we may admire to eternity Oh then take heed of abusing the precious bloud of this use 2 Lambe by your sinnes lest he prove to you a devouring Lion This Lambe hath wrath when he is provoked and who shall be able to stand in the day of his wrath Rev. 6.17 Especially beware of sinning directly against the blood of Christ That 's a dreadfull thunderbolt against many Professours when they count the blood of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified an unholy thing Heb. 10.29 Though they have not internall sanctification by renovation of nature and inhabitation of the Spirit of grace yet they have an externall sanctification by consecration and dedication to Gods Service by calling and covenant common to every member of a visible Church and this by the blood of Christ but when by their backesliding they shall disavow Christ and his Gospell they doe interpretativè in effect say his blood hath no value in it is no better than the blood of a common malefactour and so make themselves obnoxious to the sorest punishments But there is another sinne against the blood of Christ very dangerous and more epidemicall by profaning his holy Sacrament the memoriall of his blood 1 Cor. 11.27 28. The Lord knowes how deepely guilty many here present are having their hearts and hands imbrued in the blood of their Saviour Rivers of teares of blood are too little to bewaile this one provocation There is now a most bloody sword drawne in England does not the Lord bring it upon us as to avenge the quarrell of the Covenant Lev. 26.25 So the blood of the Covenant Heb. 10.25 Doubtlesse as God will make inquisition for the blood of his Saints so for the blood of his Sonne and if now he should search England as once Jerusalem with candles Zeph. 1. 12. would not many of our Nobility and Gentry Magistrates and Ministers as well as common people be found guilty of the blood of Christ Chrysostome was very sensible of this evill whereupon he professed I will rather give my life than the blood of Christ to any unworthy one and I will rather suffer my owne blood to be shed than give that most holy blood to any but him that is worthy Ambrose expressed the same zeale against this sin in Theodosius Wilt thou faith he to the Emperour reach these hands dropping with the blood of Innocents to receive the most sacred body of the Lord wilt thou put that precious blood of his to thy mouth which in a rage spilt so much Christian blood depart rather and heape not one sinne to another But alas how great is our Ministers misery we lye under a kinde of necessity of suffering this evill among our people Our straights are most uncomfortable First The Lawes and constitutions of England require the body of England to come to this Sacrament after sixteen yeares of age That they may prove themselves no Papists they must communicate Secondly The Scripture denounceth judgment against them if they eate and drinke unworthily 1 Cor. 11.29 Thirdly Yet Pastours and Churches want that power of the Keyes whereby they might doe their duty therein All you who love and follow the Lambe helpe England by your Prayers that all old leaven may be purged out 1 Cor. 5.7 Ye Members of the Assembly contribute your Counsell with Jehojada 2 Chron. 23.19 that such Porters such Church Discipline may be set at the Gates that the uncleane enter not in And improve your power ye Parliament Worthies for setting up such spirituall railes in our Churches such a due order that Scripture dogges be not suffered to the hazzarding of their owne soules and the dishonour of their Saviour to rush upon these holy things The third Use is of Exhortation in two Branches branch 1 First If all the Churches victories be obtained by the blood of the Lambe then as you desire to prevaile make peace with Christ How can we in England expect Hee should fight for us if we fight against him It is wise counsell Psal. 2.11 for Kings for Judges for all Kisse the Sonne lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little not with a treacherous kisse as Judas but with a kisse of loving loyalty of humble subjection of peaceable reconciliation That Question is frequent among us which Jâ—ram proposed to Jehu 2 Kings 9.22 Is it peace may not we returne the same answer What peace so long as whoredomes remaine and many other abominations Jehojada tooke a right method to peace and quietnesse 2 King 11.17.18.20 And Jehojada made a Covenant betweene the Lord and the King and the people that they should be the Lords people betweene the King also and the people And all the people of the Land went into the house of Baal and brake it downe his Altars and his Images brake they in pieces thorowly and slew Mattan the Priest of Baal before the Altars And the Priest appointed Officers over the House of the Lord This very place was not long since the valley of Berachah 2 Chron. 20.26 here solemne praises for the discovery of most destructive plots It may now be called a Bochim as Judg. 2.5 oh that there were more teares among us we should all appeare before God this day as mourners in sense of his displeasure If wee would have it a day of atonement as Levit. 23.28 a peace-making day both betweene King and People and betweene Christ and England let it be a thorow-reforming day as v. 18. They brake all Baals altars and images in pieces thorowly Let every one say What have I to doe any more with my Idols Let it be a day of serious protestation against our sins and renouncing all those weapons whereby we have fought against Jesus Christ then may all the people hope to rejoyce in quietnesse v. 20. branch 2 Then if you desire to be victorious appeale from second causes unto Jesus Christ and the merit of his blood In all our straights let us speake Jehoshaphats language 2 Chron. 20.12 We know not what to doe but our eyes are upon thee It is the observation of a Politician England is a mighty animall which can never dye except it kill it selfe Among our other crying sinnes we are now involving our selves in the guilt of Selfe-murther Here is an unnaturall sword most unhappily drawne amongst us as Isa. 9.19 20 21. Through the wrath of the Lord of Hoasts is the Land darkned and the people shall be as the fuell of the fire no man shall spare his brother He shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry and he shall eate on the left hand and not be satisfied they shall eate every man the flesh