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A13528 The beavvties of Beth-el Containing: sundry reasons why euery Christian ought to account one day in the courtes of God, better then a thousand besides. Preached in Cambridge, and now published especially for the benefite of those that were the hearers. Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. 1609 (1609) STC 23820; ESTC S107524 54,350 140

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in Gods worship well knowing that as God is a spirit so nothing is there pleasing vnto him which is not spiritual there are therfore other beauties which the stranger entreth not into y e beholding of yea such as cānot be beheld but with eyes as cleare as christall Quest. What are the beauties you speake of Answ. They may be reduced vnto these two heads They are seene partly in respect of the parties present and partly in the things performed in such holy assemblies The persons present are first GOD himselfe whence such places are called Bethells as Dauid here thy house thy courts and are no other then the presence chambers of this euerlasting King of glory Here he sitteth in a chaire of Estate as formerly he sate between the Cherubins How can it then bee but that the glory of the Lord should fill euery such house of his as once it did the Temple 1. King 8. 11. or where can a faithful soule more securely more ioyfully rest it selfe then in Gods owne resting place Secondly Christ himselfe is heere present for wheresoeuer two or three are gathered togither in his name he is in the midst of them Hee walketh in the midst of the seauen golden Candelsticks And no where else if hee bee missing can his parents and kindred finde him then in then Temple Now is not this a greater beauty then any which can else-where bee espied wherein the second Temple passed the glory of the former yet ours exceed the second For how could the second Temple wanting 1. Gods presence between the Cherubins 2. the Vrim and Thumim 3. the inspiration raizing vp of extraordinary prophets 4. the Arke it selfe the seat of God which was taken in the captiuity 5. fire from heauen to consume their sacrifices how could I say the second Temple wanting all these be truly said to exceed the glory of the former which had thē al But only in regard of Christs bodily presence which by entring into it was to beautifie it And yet the effectuall presence of his spirit now with vs is farre more powerful and glorious then was his bodily presence in that Temple Now seeing that Christ is the churches welbeloued and is more then other welbeloueds euen the cheefe of ten thousand and hath not left vs direction to meet him any where saue in the tents of sheapheards and in the steps of the flockes should any christian soule which is knitte vnto him in spirituall wedlocke the contract beeing alreadie made and the daye of their marriage apointed and approching desire any socyetie more then his Nay ought not euerie beleeuing soule to wish one houre spent in his socyetie and fellowshippe rather then ten thousand with any besides So as hitherto Dauid was not wide in his wish and reioycing Thirdly the holie spirit of GOD is present in our assemblies most plentifullie pouring out of his full buckets the treasures of wisdome and grace yea the variety of graces accompanying saluation Neither doth this spirit ordinarily display him-self else-where who although hee bloweth where hee listeth in regard of the free and vndeserued graces which hee poureth out yet is it ordinarily by meanes of the Word Sacramentes Prayer Censures publikely exercised and administred according to the will of God Hence is it that wee reade still of the VVord and Spirit and water and the Spirit ioyned together because the spirit ordinarily putteth forth the grace of regeneration in the meanes of the word and sacraments Now who hath not good cause to wish if not all his time yet the most of it there spent where by the worke and presence of the spirit he may so happily inrich himselfe vnto life euerlasting rather then else-where where is nothing but spiritual pouerty nakednesse and beggery Fourthlie the holie Angels of God are here present in our assemblies Whence the Apostle 1. Cor. 11. 10. wisheth the woman to haue power ouer her head because of the Angells that is the woman in the congregation must couer her head as for other reasons so for this which is not the leaste in that the Angels are present and behold the order and behauiour of men women But why are the Angells present wil some say I answer not onely in way of Ministery and seruice vnto the Lord vnto the elect and vnto his Ministery sundry waies both assisting and helping it forward and withstanding such enmities as otherwise resist it but also after a sort to solace and reioyce them-selues in the beauty of GODS house so 1. Pet. 1. 12. VVhich things the Angells desire to behold speaking of the Misteries published in the Gospell To which maketh that interpretation of the place in Hebrews 12. 16. Yet once more will I shake not the earth only but also heauen The meaning of which words by the iudgement of some excellent Diuines is this that the voice of God in the deliuery of the law did cause the men on earth that hard it to quake and tremble but now in the preaching and deliuery of the Ghospell the verie Angells in heauen are after a sort shaken beeing rauished rapt into the admiration of it Are there then such beauties in the assēblies as that very Angels themselues admire shall not men for whom they were instituted seek both to espy be affected with them and who can b●ame him that can come to prize these beauties aboue all that the earth can afford besides Seeing the Angells themselues who are stript frō all earthly desires and delights are said to admire these but neuer the other such a man indeed is come nere to Angelical perfection Fiftly The Saints of God here present themselues in whō al our delight ought to be For as the Tribes of the Lord vsed to goe vppe to his house that they might worship before him in his Tabernacle temple euen so now the people of God assemble themselues in our congregations to the same purpose Now when I say the people of God I mean not al hand ouer head who promiscuosly come together not withstanding they all are his people by right of creation and preseruation yet of them some are openly professed prophane ones Neither all those who ioyne in externall profession and exercises of religion of whom yet many are not inwardly purged in which sence the old world called them sonnes of GOD. That is all the posterity of Seth and Enosh opposed to the daughters of men voyde of all religion and pietie But I meane those of GODS election that are called of his purpose that haue obtayned mercie and who proceede on in the waies of sanctification vnto saluation These are called in Scripture an holie people a chosen generation a people by purchase the doue of Christ his vndefiled his treasure and their propertie is described that they flye as a clowde and flocke as the Doues vnto these windowes Which prophesie although it bee properlie to bee
blockish as men hewne out of hard okes reioyce in such an open and glorious face of Iesus Christ Yea with the Prophet account it our Blessednesse to dwel in the Lords house where we may euer praise him because hereby wee come nearest vnto the life of iust and perfect men in heauen to the which while wee frame our selues afore-hand wee haue entred into some degree of their blessednesse as also of our owne Thus farre wee hetherto discouered those beautyes of the house of God both in respect of Persons present and holy thinges performed which if men could see with bodily eyes as they cannot bee perceiued but by such as haue cleared eies they would excite admirable loue and affection towardes them Now we are to intreat of the priuiledges and benefits which Gods people reape by frequenting the same and the rather that such as perhaps little regard the glory of God shining in his ordinances brighter then the Sunne in his strength might yet for their owne aduantage and profitte bee perswaded with diligence and reuerence in this his house to seeke the face of the LORD Now although the priuiledges be as manyfold in number as excellent in their quallity yet I will content my selfe to note foure of them and these foure rather then any other because I see them to bee such as moued in the Prophet Dauid aboue all other these holy and ardent desires as in euery of them will plainely appeare First the benefit of light and instruction The first work that the Lord doth in these little worlds as once in the great is to seperate light and darknes in such as are in Christ created againe vnto good workes For which purpose the Lord him-selfe by his spirit becommeth the Schoolmaister of his people teaching them to know him in himselfe in his Christ to beleeue to worke and walke Heere in his house setting a coppy to all maisters of familyes what to doe in their houses hee openeth his treasures of wisdome and teacheth no triuiall matters But first for their necessitie matters of life and death Second for their dignitie such misteries as flesh and blood can neuer attayne vnto partly concerning God as the doctrine of the Trinity Partly concerning Christ as of his incarnation conception vnion of his natures and partly concerning our selues As our resurrection life eternall all which are matters of faith Third for their vse such as perswade the truth preserue frō error raize such as are faine strengthen those that stand comfort the afflicted pacifie the conscience confirme the certaine hope of life eternall and deliuer the deeds of it into our hands indeed the benefit of our redemption and whole saluation by Christ were little worth without these holy meanes whereby it is reuealed and applyed vnto vs. This is that benefit which our Prophet expresseth in the beginning of the verse following For the LORD GOD is the Sunne That is look what the Sunne is to the World that is the LORD GOD to his Church the Sunne of the World is not so necessary to lighten the day as this Sunne of the Church to lighten the darkenesse and dungeon of the soules of men without w c seeing all our heauenly lght is from it our estate is far more vncomfortable then that of the Egiptians in their three daies darkenesse for here no man can all his dayes stirre out of the place where his naturall corruption hath sette him And where shines this Sun but in the church this is the Goshen where this light is In the ministry especially it displayeth the beames of it Secondly necessary prouision both for sustenance and safety of soule and body First for the susteining of the soule heere is milke and stronger meat here wee haue the Lord pouring out all his goodnesse Here the great King prepareth a great supper killeth his fatlings prepareth his milke and wine spreadeth his table setteth on it Iesus Christ the bread and water of life whose flesh is meat indeed whose blood is drinke indeed Here he by his ministers inuiteth and intreateth men to y e banquet here he filleth the hungry and thirsty soule with good things worketh new strēgth of life and grace as reioycing in God peace of good conscience ioy in the holy Ghost watchfulnesse against sinne comfort in tribulation quicknesse and strength in good duties boldnesse in good causes and a life led and finished in faith and obedience Here the Lord clotheth the naked soule and putteth on it the Lord Iesus Christ whose righteousnesse becommeth the costly and comely rayment of it Heere hee inricheth the poore soule with treasures of grace and godlynesse Heere by the fire of his spirit hee warmeth and reuiueth the staruen soule Here is the tree of life for the sicke soule the leaues whereof serue to cure the nations In a word Christ offered and receiued in the Ministry is food and Phisicke cloth and warmth wealth and health life and length of daies yea all in all vnto the soule of all his beleeuing ones And 2. for bodily food and rayment with other necessaries for the life present although those who ar without y e church inioy them yet they haue them not in that speciall blessing and comfort as the members of the church who 1. haue them by vertue of that special promise First seeke the Kingdome of God and other things shal be cast on you 2. hold them by a right and title in Christ and 3. are taught how to imploy them to the glory of the giuer all which make these blessinges good to them as they are in them-selues Secondly for perfection and safety 1. Spiritual here is a shadow sweete refuge against the whole wrath of God appeased by Christ here we see sin subdued death vanquished righteousnes purchased great deliuerance wrought for the soules of beleeuers here we haue strength in temptation and victory ouer our selues for here is Gods grace reueled which is sufficient for vs. Now this saluation of God is not elswher to be heard off but in the tidings which we bring nor reuealed vnto any but the true members of the church In Mount Sion in Ierusalem shall be deliuerance As for temporal perfection whereas when men are cast out of the sight of God as vnbeleeuers who are without the pale of Gods protectiō they ly opē vnto the sword famine captiuity to the dogs to teare to the foules of heauen the beasts of the field to deuour so on the contrary the neerer God the surer of safety for iudgements flye farre frō God Hence is it that to the members of the church safety is promised vnder the shadow of the winges of the almighty especially while they are in the performāce of publick duties before the Lord and it is worthy our obseruing that the Lord in making that law of the three feastes wherein all the men three times euery yeare must repaire before the Lord
natural To such men therfore I say that lette them make what profession they wil let them reioice in the peace and liberty of the church if in the church inioying the word and exercises of religion thou prizest any thing in the world aboue them in thy affection yea if any thing be so sweet vnto thy taste as these bee thou now by vnder-valuing these vnvaluable priuiledges of Gods people declarest thy selfe for all thy profession to bee no better then cockle in the field or chaffe on the floore of Christ. And againe if in the want of these holy ordinances of GOD thou esteemest not with Dauid that the greatest want is vppon thee that can befall thee thou art but an vnsound member yea rotten at the coare of thy heart This doctrine teacheth further y t it is a iust cause of mourning when the word Ministery either decay amongst any people or are interrupted for this bringeth the greatest want that any people can be exposed vnto the dissoluing of the ministrie is the peoples decay Prou. 29 18. Where vision faileth people perish Hosee 4. 6. My people are destroyed for want of knowledge Can there by any greater losse then the losse of a mans soule or can there bee a greater want then for a man to be starued to death or if this losse this want be brought vpon any man can any recompence bee made vnto such a party answerable vnto either what a griefe then should it bee to a godly heart to see whole townes lye vnder that curse of God Amos 8. 11. euen vnder a famine not of bread and water but of hearing the word of the Lord for although religion and exercises of it bee safe in the places where wee dwell yet if the absence of it else-where greeue vs not we lay not to heart the distresses of Gods people as we ought our bowels are too ayery wee are too priuatly minded and further if we heare or see any faithfull ministrie interrupted wee must lament that the free passage of the Gospell is hindered that that meanes wherein the Lord conueyeth all his goodnesse into faithfull soules is taken away and so a doore opened to all iniquitie yea a flood-gate vnto all impiety If any mans outward estate were broken his wealth by force and violence snatched out of his hands here would be sence and sorrow more then inough for the losse shall then thy inward state be crackt the liberties of the ministerie and of the assemblies be infringed the sanctuarie of God desolate the exercise of pure religion together with Gods worship be hindred or abolished and all this cause no sorrow nor set any griefe to thy heart Is this such a dispositiō as becommeth him who professeth himselfe to be the Lords no surely for such as they haue cause fill their mouthes with complaints of the desolations of Sion A iust cause of sorrow was it to Dauid when he saw the enemie lift vp axes and hammers to breake downe the carued worke of the Sanctuarie As iust a cause when such a man as Ioseph shall be euill intreated who hath beene a meanes to releeue a whole towne in the time of famine If at any time by their or such other meanes Sion shall sit in the dust the childen of the Church must shew their compassion in their mothers miserie weeping when shee weepeth and no more bee able to reioyce in her sorrow then the Iewes could compose themselues to sing Hebrew songs in Babilon when they remembred Sion Eli a good old man notwithstanding his weaknesse towards his sonnes when the Arke was carried to the battaile against the Philistines it is said his heart feared for the Arke of God 1. Sam. 4. 13. and when tidings came that the battaile went against Israell that Hophni Phineas his sonnes were slaine and the Arke taken it is sayd when he heard of the Arke he fell from his seate and brake his neck it was not the sorrow for his sonnes but for the Arke that brake his heart that it failed him Hee had likewise a good daughter in law Phineas his wife who when she heard of all these tidings the text noteth also of her that it was not the death of her father her brother nor her owne husband all at once y t so went to her heart but this was it which her minde and tongue ranne vpon and made her refuse all comfort because the Arke of God was taken and the glory was departed frō Israel vers 21. The like is worthy noting in that faithfull Captaine Vriah who when he was called and commanded by Dauid to goe home and eate and drinke and company with his wife hee vtterly refused because the Arke and Israell and Iudah were in tents and his Lord Ioab and his seruants in the open fields and therefore hee could take no delight in any thing at home because it was not well with the Arke and Israell abroad 2. Sam. 11. 11. Euen so should wee neuer thinke our selues well when it is not well with the Church nor when the Gospell runneth not with free passage which consideration should abate much of our present carnall reioysing in as it did in worthy Vriah Daniel was well enough highly in fauour with the King had libertie of conscience euen in that Idolatrous kingdome to worship the GOD of Israel purely he was in no bondage nor affliction but yet so long as GODS people were in calamitie Gods temple in desolation Gods worship in contempt he could not but sorrow fast and pray in their behalfe The like wee read recorded of that faithfull captaine Nehemiah he was a great man in the Court of King Artaxerxes in an office very honorable and neere the Kings person for he was his Cup-bearer yet when enquiring of his people he found they were in great misery and reproche and that the wall of Ierusalem was broken downe and the gates of it burned with fire his zeale stirred vp exceeding sorrow euen such as hee could not hide but that the King before whom no mournefull spectacle might come did read the deepe sorrow of his heart in his countenance his owne aduancement and honour could not comfort him so long as hee saw God dishonored abroad the Citie dedicated to his name now defaced by Heathen Princes that religion which by himselfe was prescribed to serue him by now decayed and that people which was his owne peculiar now to become seruants to strange Lords Nehem. 13. wherein wee read our owne lesson that our selues enioying the pretious libertie of our assemblies we ought to pitty the distresse of our countrymen who sit still in the shadow of death by our prayers and best meanes to releeue them groning out the desires of our hearts and that all Israell euen in our owne country might be saued Thirdly if the want of the word and exercises of it be the greatest want of all other then such as haue it must be wise
aboundantly aboue all that wee haue spoken or can thinke and though all thy seruice is but dutie and farre vnder that yet the LORD will not take thy labour for naught Hee challengeth the seruants in his Temple whether euer any of them did so much as open the doores or kindle a fire for sacrifice freely and without wages no hee allowed them liberallye for such vnder-seruices How then may wee thinke will hee requite such as are continually about him in his eye and still behold his face in the presence-Chamber of his Church The latter sorte which is also the last of which wee propounded to speake are timerous and fearefull Christians who thinke it better sleeping in a sound skinne then in a sound conscience and because this diligent frequenting of the Church which we call them vnto is not without some reproche among the prophane and wicked of the world they are lothe to pull their warme hands out of their bosome to sette to this Ploughe They will not in such a way as men coūt haeresie or Praecisenes serue the God of their fathers they will keepe an euen course and a good report while they haue it and Sermon-gadders and Sermon-mongers they will not bee counted Ans. Weerevnto I answer that as it is not amisse to cast our costes aforehand yet must wee so lay our counters as that we desist not from building vppon our foundation in casting these costes wee cannot say that this course is exempted from reproch Nay seeing Satans mallice is no whit abated neither in him-selfe nor in his instruments wee affirme that there cannot a childe so soone be borne into the Church but the Dragon standeth before the woman to bee deliuered to deuoure her childe so soone as euer it is brought forth and if he cannot do that he casteth out of his mouth water like a flood that she might bee carryed away of the flood But yet the comfort is they are the rebukes of of Christ both because they are vttered against him hee accounteth them as against himself he helpeth his seruants to beare them becommeth a porter putting vnder his shoulder as also disburdeneth no lesse displeasure against thē then if they were done against his own person And this is rather a matter of reioycing to partake of Christs sufferings yea it is a peece of the blessednesse of Christians to suffer for well doing and to bee railed vppon for Christes sake And therefore a Christian must with Moyses esteeme these rebukes of Christ his greatest riches although hee hadde the treasures of a Kingdome before him else will hee neuer bee able to hold out vnto the end of his saluation Neuer therefore professe the name of Christ into which thou art baptized if thou beest ashamed of it before men neuer professe loue to Christ any longer if thou canst not indure a word for his sake neuer professe so fast to cleaue vnto him that thou wilt rather die with him then deny him if thou beest affraid of euery damosels speach putte on humility of heart that thou maist bee contented with abasement for his sake that if any Michal shall mocke thee in thy reioycing before the Lord thou maist resolue that thou wilt yet bee more vilde indure more lashes of the tongue and more forrowes then soe if GOD call thee vnto it rather then misse of such comfortes and matter of true ioy as before the Lord thou maist meete withall And pray for courage and resolution to hold thee on vndaunted in thy godly course And seeing thou maist bee bolde so long as thou haste a good cause and a good conscience putte on the spirit of that worthy Nehemiah When hee had a prophecy though a false one that if hee did not take the Temple for his sanctuary that night the enemies would come and slay him his answer was shoulde such a man as I flee who is hee that beeing as I am would goe into the Temple to liue I will not goe in So should such a man as I who professe the Ghospel who haue giuen my name to Christ who knowe the Commaundement of GOD and that this is the beaten way to heauen troden by all such seete as euer walked in faith and obedience should such a one as I forsake the assemblyes of Gods people And that for the blasts of such as are of satans sinogogue If it stood vppon my whole estate my liberty and losse of life it selfe I would not doe it I know whatsoeuer men accoumpt of mee whose corrupt iudgements would condemn euen the innocency of Christ him-selfe if hee liued againe vpon the earth if hee should bee dilligent at Sermons yet seeing y e Lord hath honoured mee so highly as to become one of his houshold and seeing his word doth iustifie my waies my dilligence in his house I am at a poynt I care not what man can say I feare nothing hee can doe against me I haue a soule to saue I must looke to that 3. Vse If our hearts delight be in these assemblies then wee cannot but breake out into the praise of God where euer we see these ordinances established we cannot but reioyce when others inioy them with vs as beeing the meanes by which men are redeemed vnto God and made Kinges and Priestes vnto him If Dauid were aliue againe he would lead vs ioifully to Church Of whom we neuer read that he danced but before the Arke The Communion of Saints cannot but cause and raize our hearty reioycing for the greatest good which can befall the Church Now what is y t greatest blessednesse that God him-selfe can either promise or performe to the sonnes of men liuing in earth surely euen this to set his tabernacle amongst men to dwell with them become their God This is the knitting vppe of all his mercies But what speake I of the Saints vpon earth seeing the Saints in heauen make it the matter of their heauenly songes that out of all kindreds and tongues and people and nations men are redeemed vnto God Dost thou see the desolate haue children as well as the marryed wife Dost thou see the truth of the church inlarged seest thou y e coūtries of hir habitatiō spred out Perceiuest y u the increase of her on the right hand and on the left Examine here whether thy heart breaketh forth into holy reioycings in that the barres are put into the rings of the Arke whereby the glory of the Lord after a sort walketh amongst his people in that heauen is filling apace by the accomplishing of y t number of the elect in y t the comming of lesus Christ hastneth for the final redemption of his body Til thou findest this y u hast not found that affectiō of the Prophet heere commended vnto thee 2. The truth of this affection will make vs call others to haue their parts with vs in these priuiledges The Prophet Dauid though he