Die Mercurii 26. Octobris IT is this day Ordered by the House of Commons That Sir Francis Knollis doe returne thanks from this House to Doctor Temple for the great paines he took in the Sermon he preached at the entreaty of the said House at St. Margarets in the City of Westminster this present day of publick humiliation and that he be desired to print his Sermon And it is Ordered that no man shall presume to print it but he who shall be authorized under the said Doctor Temple 's hand writing H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint SAMUEL GELLIBRAND to print my Sermon THO. TEMPLE CHRIST'S GOVERNMENT In and over his PEOPLE Delivered in A SERMON Before the Honourable House of COMMONS At their late publick and solemne Fast Octob. 26. 1642. BY Thomas Temple D. D. and Minister of the Church of Battersea in Surrey Published by Order of that House PSAL. 97.1 The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof LONDON Printed for SAMUEL GELLIBRAND at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1642. To the Honourable House of COMMONS assembled in PARLIAMENT BEing called to this service by your command I could not think of a fitter subject more seasonable to the times and your places then this touching the Kingdom of Christ first to set before you the chiefe employment God cals you to and the duty lies upon you in it that is to study all the waies by which Iesus Christ may be best setled in his throne and his government most spread throughout these parts of the world where your work lies Secondly to hold out unto you the great encouragement to so great a work in which you are sure to meet with so great oppositions to let you know God himself will carry it on and Christs government shall be established notwithstanding the rage of people and the plots of Princes against the Lord and his Annointed If you go on in this cause with upright hearts there is no reason your spirits should faint or your hands slacken in fear of the issue you are on a rising side and in a work that will improve it self And indeed you have need of encouragement even from heaven to go on in the work of reformation of the Chuch and of establishing Christs government amongst us where the endeavours of many are so mighty to oppose it and their tongues so malignant to disgrace it But while your hearts are faithfull with God resolve to goe on with Gods work knowing you must passe through evill report as well as good report 2. Cor. 6.8 They who are called to great works must be willing to sacrifice all estate credit life in the cause of God so we keep faith and peace with God and doe not shipwrack a good conscience it matters not much what else we lose If Christ carry you through the work here he is all-sufficient to reward you hereafter The Lord make all great mountaines that lie in your way Iac. 4.7 to the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ as plaines before you Rev. 2.2 and in the end reward your works and your labour and your patience So praies From my Study in Battersea Nov. 6. 1642. The unworthiest of the servants of Christ in the work of the Lord THOMAS TEMPLE A SERMON Preached before The Honourable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT At the publick Fast Octob. 26. 1642. PSAL. 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion THis second psalme is an exact description of the Kingdome of Christ as it was prophesied of by David who was himselfe a type and figure of Christ in his Kingdome and the Father of him according to the flesh which as it appeares out of the frame of the whole psalme so we finde this Psalme clearly expounded of Christ and his Kingdome by the Apostles in the new Testament First where mention is made of the Heathens rage and the Kings of the earth bandying against the Lord and his Annoynted v. 1.2 this is by the whole Colledge of Apostles and Disciples expounded of Christ Act. 4.25.27 Secondly where it is said thou art my son this day have I begotten thee v. 7. this is also plainly expounded of Christ not of his birth as it seemes to be meant upon the first view but of his resurrection from the grave which is as it were a new begetting Act. 13.33 A fit subject of our meditations as in all other so especially in these times Christ as he stands to us in this relation of a King we are all willing to looke upon Christ as he stands in the relation of a Priest offering himselfe in sacrifice for our sins so desiring him as a Saviour to save our soules wee lesse delight to eye him as a Prophet revealing Gods will to us little careing to know him but wee commonly hate to thinke upon him as a King as not easilie subjecting our selves to be governed by him I shall therfore crave your attention while I unfold to you this peice of Scripture The Psalm consists of three main parts First it sets forth the mad and furious councells and attempts of wicked people against Christ Act 5.39 affectasse ferunt regnum celeste gigantes who feare not to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the old Giants fighters against God himselfe their rage and malice is bent even against the God that made and redeemed them why doe the Heathen rage Ver. 1.2 and the people imagine a vaine thing The Kings of the earth set themselves the Rulers take councell together against the Lord and against his Aancynted Secondly it sets forth Gods establishment of Christ in his Kingdom notwithstanding all the attempts of wicked men against him yet nothing shall overthrow his Kingdome but on the other side be shall breake his enimies in peices yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion 3. ver 6. It conteynes an exhortation because wee cannot overthrow Christs Kingdom therfore to entertaine it in our hearts to serve him and feare him as wee seare to be destroyed and desire to be blest Be wise now therfore ver 10. O yee Kings be instructed yee Iudges of the earth serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling The words of my text you see are the second part of this Psalme and have their dependance upon the former that notwithstanding all the machinations of wicked people God will have a King to rule in his Church which no power of man shall ever overthrow I shall observe to you three particulars out of this Scripture the King his Throne his Settlement in his Throne 1 The King as ver 7. Jesus Christ God the Son the second person in Trinitie God over all blessed for ever 2. his Throne where hee sitts or his Kingdome where hee reignes with the qualification of it his holy hill of Sion Mount Sion was a high mountaine in Jerusalem
of Moab would have had him curse Israel Deut 23.5 the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing to thee because the Lord thy God loved thee if wee be such as God loves Christ will turne all cursings into blessings all things shall be blest to us nothing curst to us Fourthly In settling an externall ecclesiasticall policy as Christ is King of his Church he will have his Church governed in his own way not according to the fancies and inventions of man Wee must not deny that to Christ in government of his Kingdom which wee yeild to all earthly Monarchs in the government of theirs when Christ after his resurrection continued forty dayes upon earth among his disciples speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God 〈◊〉 1.3 wee cannot think he would omit the giving of rules for the framing of the regiment of his Church And when S. Paul tels the Elders of Ephesus he had not shunned to declare to them the whole councell of God Act. 20.27 wee must take it in pursuance of those directions himself and the rest of the disciples had received from Christ for the government of his Church What this frame of Church policy is which hath bin so long in dispute and is yet sub judice will be more proper for a Synod then a Sermon to consider of I only hint this but leave it to that grave consultation you have already designed not doubting your honourable care in hastning that work which must undoubtedly conduce much to the advancing and setling Christs Government more exactly among us 2. Reasons of the point Let us consider the reasons why God would have such a solemne administration of a kingdom by Christ First In respect of Glory that might accrew both to Christ the Son and to God the father In respect of Christ that he might receive the honour due to his deity which the work of humiliation might take from him though he were the true God Phil. 2.6 equall with the Father yet taking upon him the forme of a servant that he might be fitted to humble himselfe to the death of the Crosse this humiliation made the world that knew him not strip him of his glory they accounted him a divell a glutton a malefactor crucified him between two theeves Objiciunt nos honorem deferre homini crucifixo mysterium hujus rei ignorantes Iust Mart. put a crowne of thornes upon his head in derision and ever after derided the Christians that they beleived in a crucified God Christ must now be repayred in his honour therfore God appoynts him to be King of his Church that he may be advanced in their eyes who had so much vilified him the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment that is the dispensation of all government to the Son Iohn 5.22 that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father as the world vilified him as a malefactor they might now acknowledg him God equall with the Father and honour him with the same honour wherewith they honour the Father greatly exalted because greatly humbled the stone which the builders refused 1 Pet. 2.7 is made the head of the corner In respect of the Father that he might have the more glory from such a solemn administration of a kingdom by Christ as God was more glorified by giving Christ to be a Redeemer by finding out such a way of saving sinners where God became man and two natures the divine and humane united together Christ taking flesh and suffering then if he had saved his people any other way without Christ so now it would bring more glory to God by exalting Christ as King and giving him the solemn administration of a Kingdom then if God should have governed his people in the generall way as he governs the world God has highly exalted him Phil. 2 9 11. and given him a name above every name that every tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father That 's a main end why Christ who was first humbled was after exalted the glory of the Father that solemn administration of the Kingdom by Christ brings more glory to the Father Secondly in respect of Gods people none so fit to be King to any people as such a one who is allyed to them and may be the more tender of them As God gave the precept touching a King for the Israelites they must choose one from among their brethren Deut. 17.15 so Christ therefore fittest because our brother he took our nature upon him and became Immanuel God with us God one of us of the same flesh and blood with us t is the same in this which the Apostle speaks touching the fitnesse of Christ's being made high Priest for us because having taken our nature Heb. 5.2 and being compast with infirmities he is likely to be the more compassionate to us 't is fittest Christ should be our King that having the same nature with us and compast about with our infirmities he might exercise the more tendernesse towards us as knowing best our frailties and the weaknesses of our natures a King of our brethren is fittest for us Thirdly In respect of Gods enemies and ours the more to awe them when they shall see him reigning over them whom they derided see him glorious in the administration of a kingdom and all power over them who once crucified and yet doe daily crucifie him see Christ King of such whom they persecute and fight for them and judge their cause whom they afflict 't is said of the wicked of the world when they see the son of man comming in the cloudes in the day of judgment they shall mourne feare him as a terrible judge Mat. 24.30 ready to take vengeance on them who have used him so despitefully it must needs be the same here Ipse erit judex qui sub judice stetit ut videant impii ejus gloriam in cujus mansuetudinem saevierunt Prosp Sent. 337. though in a lesse degree what can more awe and terrifie wicked people then to know Christ reignes he sits heere as King to observe them to judge them to plague them whose person they have so much vilified whose honour they have so much laid in the dust whose servants they have so persecuted whose cause they have so much opposed Fourthly in respect of a suitablenesse betwixt the works of redemption and government it were unequall Christ should redeem us and not govern us unjust that we should serve any other then him who hath laid down the ransome for us There is jus redemptionis in this he who ransoms a slave ought to have his service if Christ while we were slaves of the devill hath ransomed us and bought us with a price the price of his own blood 1 Pet. 1 18. it is equall we should serve him give him the service both of our bodies and spirits
is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the high and spreading power of the kingdom of Antichrist is a mighty impediment to the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ The way then to set up Christs Kingdom is to pull downe Antichrists there is a promise that Christs shall stand for ever but Antichrists shall have a fall and that the raising of Christs to its highest pitch shall be by the ruines of Antichrists After the prophecy of the fall of the whore Rev. 18. Rev. 19. Rev. 20. and the destruction of the beast followes the description of the glorious Kingdom of Christ It is with those two Kingdoms as with the scales in the ballance when the one goes down the other goes up or as it was with the houses of Saul David the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker 2 Sam. 3.1 but the house of David stronger and stronger the Kingdom of Christ goes up by Antichrists going down that waxeth stronger and stronger as this waxeth weaker and weaker Beware then of the connivence at Popery tollerations of Idolatry false worship downe with these cast Antichrist out of his saddle wherein he has sate too fast among us that Christ may better get up into his Stirrup to ride about conquering his enemies And let all you doe in these particulars be done 1. With faithfull resolutions to lay downe all your own ends and interests and to seek Gods glory 't was the Apostles complaint All men seeke their owne things Phil. 2.21 but no man the things of Iesus Christ So t is still we more seeke our owne things then those that belong to Christ and his Kingdome this should be the maine aime of every of us whatsoever falls to our selves to looke to this to doe our duty to Christ if that be not proposed first as our main end we shall never prosecute it cordially they are the prime principles of Christianity to deny our selves and take up the Crosse and follow Christ Mark 8.34 If these things be not first resolved on to lay downe our selves and to be contented with Christs Crosse and Christs yoake and that forme of Christs government which he has set downe in his Word and not what our selves fancie and to suffer what he will have us and to follow him whether he will carry us we shall doe little for the setting up of his kingdome while our thoughts are turn'd wholly on our selvs and our own interests and raising our owne fortunes wee easily forget Christ and fetting up his Kingdome 2. With zeale to God Ratione rerum agendum est non libidine Salv. de gub RescuÌ„re causa cum causa ratio cum ratione confligat Aug. de util cred In causa religionis nobis nihil ex arbitrio nostro indulgere licet sed nec eligere q od aliquis ex arbi rio suo in duxerit Teri. not to do things in a formall way only as willing to comply with the greater and leading part swim with the stream go with the crowd but to doe every thing you doe out of love and zeale to the cause you take in hand as being Gods cause When you goe about to reforme the House of God to doe it not because you are offended with this or that or this or that pleases your humour better but because God is offended with it or God is pleased with it that you may say truly as David and Christ both spake The zeale of thy house hath eaten me up not my owne humour but zeale to Gods glory and the glory of Gods House that there is in the heart a * Ignis quidam flagran assimi amoris Aug. Rom. 12.11 Nen me dâ—seret Deus si nihil fingâ— si offiâ—io ducor si veritatem amo si amiciriam diligo si multum metuo ni fallor Aug de util â—red fire of burning love kindled and flaming in you to God and his cause When you goe on in any other service to God to doe it with fervencie Be fervent in the spirit serving the Lord that will go thorow with the work God will not forsake you in it when done not out of formality but out of zeale and sincerity to Gods cause 3. With unity of affections as minding the same thing nothing more hinders the advancement of Christs Kingdome and Causes then divisions among his people The wicked unite themselves strongly against Christ Gebal and Ammon and Amaleck against Israel Herod and Pontius Pilate made friends that they might oppose Christ The multitudes all against the Apostles the Princes set themselves and take counsell together against the Lord and his anointed they unite themselves that there may bee no peace to Gods Church Vnitatem procurant ne pax sit How should Gods people unite themselves for Christ and goe on as the Israelites did to revenge the sin of the Benjamites Knit together as one man as we pretend to have the same head Iudges 20.11 and the same causes so we should have the same heart and the same ends A Kingdome divided against it selfe cannot stand if the Subjects of Christs Kingdome be divided 't is the way to ruine the cause and pull downe the Kingdome All the Citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem should be like the Citizens of an earthly City that is compacted within it selfe Ierusalem is a City compacted within it selfe Psal 12â— 3 stand close to one another in honest causes Psal 133.1 Gen. 45.24 Exod. 2.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 2.1 'T is pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity Brethren must not fall out by the way Fellowes must not be at variance The Spirit of God descended upon the Disciples when they were with one accord together in one place Peace among our selves is a means to advance righteousnesse in the world there is a sweet conjunction of these noted in Scripture Righteousnes and Peace have kissed each other follow peace and holinesse Psal 85.10 Heb. 12.14 Heb. 7.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ciem Al. Str. l. 5 Christ is said to be King of Righteousnesse and King of peace as 't is said of Numa he erected a Temple of Faith and peace peace among your selves will be a meane the better to advance faith and holinesse in the Church If we would doe great things for Christ we must be like-minded of one accord Phil. 2.2 of one minde as division is a work of the flesh while one sayes I am of Paul another I am of Apollos are ye not carnall 1 Cor. 3.3 Concâ—rdia res parvae creseunt discordia magnae dilabuntur Gen. 15.10 11. Psal 80.6 so it layes us open to great inconveniences discord drawes ruine upon great undertakings the ravenous birds came downe upon Abrahams Sacrifices when divided Priam and his sonnes laught at the divisions of the Grecians Thou makest us a strife unto our Neighbours and our enemies laugh among themselves Single Christians may doe something towards the
and the yeare of his redeemed ones comes then if there be none to help his own arme will bring salvation Do you what you can in a right way for Gods causes Christs Kingdom and when you can do no more stand still and look on with griefe that you can do no more and if you can contribute nothing else yet date lachrymulam shed a teare God puts the teares of his people into his bottle and in his time teares shall be like the water that turnes and drives the wheele Gods work shall go on and your teares shall help to drive it on as well as your noblest works It was Gods word in a work that met with greater opposition then yours now can Exod. 14.13 stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. It may be your strengths of the arme of flesh may yet be too great for God to work by the Lord saveth not by sword 1 Sam. 17.47 nor by speare for the battell is the Lords Gideon had too many while he had above three hundred Iud. 7.4 greatnesse of outward strength ecclipses and darkens the glory of Christs power in saving when God seeth that his peoples power is gone Deut. 32.36 then he strikes into the work and more shewes himself Let us not limit the holy One of Israel neither to meanes nor to times whether there be many or few that stand up in Gods causes wee are sure of this Christ shal reign till he hath put al his enemies under his feet We look too much on the instruments 1 Cor. 15.25 are ready to cry out if the foundations of the earth be shaken what shall the righteous do you are they that are our foundations Ps 11.3 you the preservers of the fundamental laws of the state and the preservers of the fundamentall laws of the Church if you be shaken it will indeed be a sad time to Gods righteous people yet let not that affright us neither we have a stronger foundation fundamentum fundamenti the foundation of the foundations the head stone of the corner the rock upon which the Church is built which shall never be shaken Goe you on therefore and let every one faithfully do his duty to Christ and leave the issue to God To conclude all this day is a day of humiliation and therfore a day of covenanting with God O that I might now engage you all here present this day in this covenant to take Christ for your King into your own hearts and then to set faithfully to this work of undertaking his causes against all those great oppositions which every day shew themselves when Iehojada made the covenant with the Lord 2 King 11.17 that the people should be the Lords people 't was to this end that they should undertake the Lords causes against the Lords enemies for presently they brake downe the house of Baal and his altar and his images and slew Mattan the Priest of Baal before the altar Let us make such a covenant to be the Lords people and so to undertake the Lords causes as Scipio once held the poynt of his sword to the brests of many gallants that were flying out of Italy and made them sweare upon that sword that they would not desert the cause God has great causes now Christ was never more engaged in great affaires then at this time O that I might perswade all that professe themselves Gods people to engage themselves to Christ to make vowes betwixt God and their own soules upon these sacred truths this book never to desert Christs causes but as faithfull subjects of his Kingdom doe all they can notwithstanding all oppositions to make Christs Kingdom flourish through the world Iudg. 5.23 and remember Meroz curse upon those that come not to the help of Christ against the mighty Christ can carry on his work without us but if we doe not our part deliverance shall come some other way as Mordâ—cai told Queen Hester Est 4.14 but wee shall be destroyed the curse will be upon every of us that set not in every one in his way and as God calls him to it to set up Christ in the midst of his enemies FINIS