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
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
as the Moon the fuller the Sun shines upon her the brighter she is the more the Sun is turned from her the darker she is yet at other times she has many obscurings But though she may have lesse glory she shall never be wholly destroied Mat. 7.25 The Church is the house founded upon the rock when the winds blow and the floods descend it shall stand it shall not fall as founded upon a rock so upon the rock of rocks Christ himself Mat. 16 18. upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall never prevaile against her Shake her they may and give her a wound in some of her members as now the Church bleeds at one veine in Germany at another in Ireland at severall veines in severall parts of the world As Pheti us notes touching the calumnis cast upon Basil by Philost orgius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Re. 11.11 yet she shall lift up her head again and shall be healed in her wounds and like the two witnesses slain in the streets after a time she shall live again the spirit of life from God shal enter into her and great fear shall fal upon them that see her Fourthly see it in Gods cause whatever is undertaken in Gods cause though sometime it may seem to faile in particular persons the cause of the poor in perverting of judgement the cause of religion by the insolence of persecutors and tyrants yet in other respects it does certainly prevaile 1. By a retribution of vengeance upon the heads of those that set to overthrow the cause of God Abel perished in Gods cause and yet even in the death of Abel Gods cause prevailed by bringing down vengeance upon Cain the murtherer the blood of thy brother crieth to me from the ground Gen 4.10 and therefore now thou art cursed from the earth The Martyrs perished in the cause of God and yet even in their deaths that cause prevailed by bringing vengeance upon the persecutors I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held and they cried with a loud voice how long O Lord holy and true dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth Rev. 6.10 Wee need not doubt this prevailing of the cause of God in our neighbouring Kingdom how ever it may seeme for the time to goe downe in the barbarous and bloudy destruction of that poore people whose bloud cryes so loud from the ground as God cannot but curse the murtherers and whose soules under the Altar cry so loud as God cannot but judge and avenge their bloud on them who have so inhumanely and so unmercifully shed it 2. By way of improvement that cause prevails that improves it selfe by the opposition and violence it suffers under Gods cause like Sampson is victorious even then when we think it has received its deaths wound and like the Camomill Es 53.10 Ex. 1.12 Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses Est 8.16 Da. 6.26 Ezr. 6.6 it spreads more by being trampled upon or like the fire the more it is smothered and kept in by violence for the time the more forcible it breaks out and heats afterwards In shedding the bloud of Christ the cause of God seemed to suffer but you know what an improvement it received by it that bloud was it that was the fruitfull field of such a seed unto God 't was making his soul an offering for sin that made him see his seed In Egypt the cause of God seem'd to suffer when the children were commanded to be destroyed and their burthens were doubled yet we know that decree increased the people and doubling of their taskes hasted their deliverance By the oppositions of Haman the cause of God got better footing And by casting Daniel into the Lions den God came everywhere to be more feared and worshipt by a publike decree By the oppositions of Tatnai and Shetherboznai the building of Gods house prospered In burning and tearing the martyrs in the primitive times and in Q. Maries dayes the cause of God seemd to suffer yet we know how Martyrdom improves it the bloud of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church that is as the Bishop of Valence * To the King of France in a conference at Fountain Bleau So Tert. ad Scà p Quisque enim tan tam tole rantiam spectans ut aliquo scrupulo percussus onquirere accenditur quid sis in causa Et ubi cognoverit veritatem ipse statim sequitur once explained it people by seeing the sufferings of the Martyrs came more to look into and understand that profession then formerly they had done which made them with so much patience indure such torments and so at length to imbrace the same like the generating of the Phoenix out of the ashes not the egges of the Damme Out of the ashes of a few Saints multitudes of professours arise I shall present you these few grounds of this truth reasons of the point to be inlarged in your owne private meditations 1. The genius of Religion it is of a flourishing and improving nature As one said of Anthony that was at oddes with Augustus compound with him for his genius goes beyond yours The genius of Religion goes beyond that of all its opposites It was first in families after in Cities and so by degrees spread it self over the world The image in Nebuchadnezzars vision was smitten by a stone cut out without hands Dan. 2.34 35. and the stone that smote the image became a great Mountaine and fill'd the earth You have the interpretation of this in the following verses the Image in its severall parts represented the 4. Monarchies of the world which should all bee destroyed by a fift Kingdome which Christ should set up which should so improve it selfe from a small beginning as quickly to fill the whole earth notwithstanding all oppositions made against it 2. The power of Christ he is able to set up his colours and his Scepter there where no earthly King dares set his foot Pritannotum in accessa Romanis Joca Christo verò sub aita 'T was Tertullians observation Britaine was a place which the Romanes could not at such a time possesse and yet it was subdued to Christ Look by what motives people are brought in to Christ you must needs acknowledge a strong working power above all the strengths of men done by such contrary wayes to flesh and bloud If wee will follow Christ and be heyres of heaven Wee must deny our selves and take up our Crosse and suffer persecution and be hated for his name sake and hate father and mother c. and yet by these and the like motives more are brought in to Christ and submit to his Lawes then by all the rewards could be proposed to them 3. The course of Gods providence which shall still uphold it so as to
give it footing more and more every day though the Revelation be obscure in many things yet this we may gather out of it clearly that when the vialls begin to be powred out the truth shall grow up to the confusion of its enemies as on the other side wee see severall effects of Gods providence against the Kingdome of Satan and Antichrist that where we see the false Religion hath received some blowes we may assure our selves a further ruine will certainely follow as they said of Haman If Mordecai be of the seed of the Iewes Hest 6.13 before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevaile against him but shalt surely fall before him If Religion be of the seed of Christ the daughter of God false Religions that once begin to fall shall not prevaile but shall surely fall before it Vse 1 It discovers the folly of those that set themselves against Gods people and Gods causes let them take heed what they doe such set themselves against Christ and his Kingdome and their attempts shall not prosper Iob 9.4 Hath any man hardned himselfe against God and prospered I must say to such as Abijah did to Ieroboam Ye think to withstand the Kingdome of the Lord 2 Chr. 13.8 Let us not thinke we shall be able to withstand the Kingdome of Christ hee is able to breake through all oppositions hee can crush his enemies thou shalt breake them with an iron rod thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessell Ps 2.9 the Lord at thy right hand shall strike thorow Kings in the day of his wrath Ps 110.5 Kings that be his enemies It was part of Moses Song touching the enemies of Israel the people shall heare and bee afraid Exod. 15.14 sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina the Dukes of Edom shall be amazed trembling shall take hold of the mighty men of Moab the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away feare and dread shall fall upon them for the Lord reignes for ever and ever Because Christ reignes such shall be the end of all his enemies however they may flourish for a time Oh! feare to oppose Christ in his Gospel in his people in his causes Isa 45.9 Woe unto him that strives with his Maker let the potsheards strive with the potsheards of the earth Let man strive with man and Prince fight with Prince that 's but dashing one earthen pitcher against another but let us take heed of ingaging Christ against us woe to him that strives with Christ 't is dangerous setting our selves against his Kingdome or his people or his causes lest as in this mountaine in Gods Church the hand of the Lord shall rest so Moab all the enemies of Christ be troden downe under him as straw is trodden downe for the dunghill Isa 2â— 10 Vse 2 Here 's matter of great encouragement to those that with upright hearts side with Christ and set in to advance his Kingdome they shall prosper in the worke We must not be troubled though we finde great enemies and great oppositions let us not value religion and the cause of Christ any whit the cheaper because so much set against The Romanes held their land about the City of Rome at as deare a rate when Hanniball besieg'd it as they did before Prize Religion as high in times of trouble as in times of peace Wee must not look only at the present proceedings our spirits must not rise or fall onely as wee see a floud or an ebbe in the handling of Gods causes but consider the end as David speakes of the upright man Psal 31.37 mark his end the end of that man is peace Whatever the present condition should prove to bee of Christs Kingdome yet the end of it will be peace and happinesse to Gods people At Cannae the Romanes went to congratulate the Consul that fled from the battaile because hee signified thereby that the state of things was not yet so desperate but he durst live We should not despaire of the state of Gods Church and Religion though we should see them brought to great straits It may be we shall not see the prosperity of Gods Church in our dayes yet here 's comfort enough to know the work shall go on It is a worke in Christs hand and a worke God takes pleasure in Isa 53 10 and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Rev. 1.16 Christ who holds the stars in his Right hand the Angels of his Church to preserve them does certainly hold the Church it selfe for whose good his Ministers are in his right hand to preserve her whatever oppositions be made against her At Antioch if I mistake not the Ecclesiasticall story sayes there being an Earth quake wherby many houses fell and the people terrified with it being ready to forsake the city one had a vision that he faw a man comming to him who commanded him to write upon every house Christus nobiscum Christ is with us stay here and so it ceased thus we should do when we consider the tottering estate of religion remember Christ is with us be not affrighted forsake it not if God be for us who can be against us if Christ be in the ship with us it cannot sink But especially it may be high encouragement to you Honourable and beloved you are they that must help up Christ into his Kingdom in the midst of these great oppositions that are now made against it we the Ministers of God can but encourage strengthen you as the Prophet Haggai and Zachary Gods Prophets were with the Princes helping them Ezr. 5.2 helping them with their prayers and helping them with their instructions touching Gods will and helping them with their exhortations to stirre them up but the work is chiefly yours you are to encounter Christs enemies the sword of justice is put into your hands to cut down all oppositions If your hearts be upright with God that your consciences assure you you seek Gods glory and the advancement of Christs Kingdom not your selves nor your own ends you have as much encouragement as can be you go on in a work that shall be carried up against all oppositions Heb. 11.27 Should visible means faile yet as there is an invisible God who may be seen by the eye of faith so there are also invisible means the power of Christ shall rest upon those that work his works and stand up faithfully in his causes Should you be left fewer then you are yet if you can but resolve when others forsake Christ to say truly Lord we will never forsake thee and do it not only say it some have said it and yet with Peter gone away and deserted the cause there is then no reason why you should fear Christ can work by few as well as by many Christ when men faile will tread the wine-presse alone when the day of vengeance comes Isa 63.3 4.
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