Church which no power in hell nor earth is able to sunder and infringe neyther is there any way in nature by which two things can bee made one but from it the Spirit of GOD borroweth similitudes to expresse our conjunction with CHRIST wee are one with him as EVAH was with ADAM flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone wee are one with him as the house and the foundation whereupon it is built But this vnion is most liuely set forth in these three similitudes First as is the strait conjunction betweene the graft and the stock so is the vnion between CHRIST and his Church Secondly as is the neerenesse of the garment to the body so is ours with CHRIST Thirdly as the straitnesse of the bond is betweene the wife and the husband such is the straitnesse of our vnion with CHRIST But before I explaine the similitudes it is necessary to vnderstand what is signified by this word * Church in my text The Church hath diuers significations to the end that you may know to which Church this promise is made seeing it is diuersly taken and hath sundry significations in the old and new Testament for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Church is a Greeke word and properly signifieth an Assembly which belongeth as well to the Heathen and to Infidels as to Christians and the children of GOD verified by DAVID Psal 26.6 Psal 26.6 Odini Ecclesiam malignantium I haue hated the assembly or the Church of the wicked and by the Apostle Act. 19. Act. 19. That calleth that multitude which cryed Great is the DIANA of the Ephesians Ecclesiam the assembly or the Church But hereafter vse obtayned that Christians called their assembly Ecclesiam the Church to Why Christians called there Assemblies the Church distinguish it from the Synagogue of the Iewes albeit that both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth one thing an Assembly or a Congregation a meeting or a gathering together This word then Ecclesia the Church being vsurped by Christians is taken by them in the new Testament The Church hath fiue significations among Christians fiue manner of wayes First for the Pastors of the Church the people being excluded and so it is taken St Math. 18.17 where our Sauiour commands That if a debate betweene neighbours cannot bee quietly pacified to tell the Church that is the Byshops Prelates and other Pastors of inferiour titles that haue superioritie and jurisdiction in the Church Now it sometime belongs to this Church arguere increpare 2. Tim. 4. to improue and rebuke sometimes amputare to cut off sometimes lapsos relevare to raise vp againe such as haue slipped or fallen sometimes to confirme and corroberate those that stand In a word In this Church as in the Arke there must bee both manna and virga bread for refection and a rod for correction osculum and fraenum a kisse for friends and a bridle for refractarie and stubborne persons And as in a Vineyard there must be both planting and pruning so in this Church must there be both Doctrine Discipline Doctrine to inctruct in the points of Faith to conserue nourish and augment charitie flowing from the sinceritie of the minde integritie of the conscience and from a faith voyde of dissimulation and hypocrisie Discipline to correct and reforme vices and abuses Secondly this word Church is taken for the People the Pastors being excluded and so it is taken Act. 20.28 Where Pastors are exhorted to feed the Church which CHRIST hath purchased with his owne blood Thirdly it is taken for a particular Church in which both people and pastors are comprehended such of old was the Church at Ephesus at Corinth at Rome and such were those seauen Churches whereof wee reade in the 2. and 3. Chapters of the Revelation But now many of these Churches haue much fallen from that puritie wherein the Apostles and their Disciples did institute them and some of them altogether made so great a defection and apostasie from the faith as therein a man explicitly resting on their whole Doctrine cannot bee saued such to day is the Church at Rome and such a one hath she beene these many ages past for in her Idolatry is maintayned and the whole Doctrine of the benefit of CHRIST altogether corrupted if then a man would bee saued hee must vse our Sauiours counsell Revel 18.4 Reuel 18.4 Goe out of Babylon my people that yee bee not partakers of her sinnes and that yee receiue not of her plagues Fourthly this word Church is taken for the whole assembly of those that here below vpon the earth are called Christians and this is the vniuersall visible Church composed of diuers particular Churches called by the Apostle in the 1. of Tim. 3.15 1. Tim. 3.15 The pillar and ground of truth because it is the dutie thereof to vnderprop and defend the truth against all those that seeke by schismes heresies and erronious Doctrines to suppresse and ouerthrow the same Now this vniuersall Church subsisteth by a perpetuall generation one succeeding to another and consisteth of all the conuerted Iewes Gentiles that are vpon the face of this earth It is truth that this Church was once and before CHRIST came in the flesh onely among the Iewes glorious and the Gentiles then were but dogs or whelpes In the 15. of Math. 26. Math. 15.26 It is not good to take the childrens bread and to cast it to whelpes But now God perswaded IAPHETH to dwell in SHEMS tent Now God is the God of the Gentiles also Rom. 3.29 Yea which is more obstinacie is come to Israel vntill the fulnesse of the Gentiles bee come in Rom. 11.25 And amongst vs God hath a more The Church is more glorious among the Christians then it was among the Iewes glorious Church then euer hee had amongst the Iewes for this cause ABRAHAM desired to see our dayes for this cause St PAVL called Gods old ordinances beggerly rudiments Gal. 4.9 and reputed of Genealogies as of fables for this cause the Patriarkes without vs are not said to be perfect Heb. 11.2 Heb. 11.40 And this made SIMEON for a time to desire that he might not see death The Iewish Church had but shadowes and circumstances but we haue the body and the substance Ioh. 1.2 The word was made flesh he walked among his brethren they saw him handled him heard him beheld his wounders and miracles Math. 27.24.35 Math. 26.6 saw him condemned crucified raised and carried into heauen in a cloud It was this that made EZECHIELL the Prophet say our Temple should bee bigger then in the dayes of MOSES Math. 11.11 that made IOHN the Baptist bee called the greatest of all the Prophets and yet the least in our Church greater then he that made St. PAVL 2. Cor. 3. 2. Cor. 3. Call the Law the ministerie of condemnation but the Gospell the ministration of righteousnes
of many good Christians massacred vpon St. Baltholmewes day at Paris whose wounds are yet fresh bleeding in the memories of men that liue and saw them at Tollouse Orleans Boitiers and many more places in France with the blood of many a hundred thousand butchered most beastly in west Flanders by the Duke of Alphe because they would not receiue the marke of the Beast in their foreheads what shall I say of our Martyrs vnder Q MARIES raigne or of that Beasts crueltie and insatiable desire of blood that lately heere most furiously in King IAMES his time intended to haue blowne vp our Parliament house I can say nothing but beleeue that that which St IOHN many yeares agone foretold is fulfilled that is Revel 18.4 that Babylon even that great Citie vpon the seaven Mountaines is become the habitation of Devils the hold of all foule spirits a cage of every vncleane and hatefull bird Thirdly this Church of the elect this Chosen generation is distinguished from the Church of all other Heretikes and Schismatikes which is generatio reproborium a reprobated generation of this order are Manicheans Arrians Brownists Familists and such like which esteeme none to bee members of the mysticall Body of CHRIST except those that bee of their most wicked and execrable opinions Puritans I will not deale so rigorously with you howsoever you are but tares among the wheate and albeit you hold none to bee professors of the Gospell but your seditious and Schismatike societie and therefore cals and termes your selues Professors per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notwithstanding that your profession is nothing but lip-labour renting in the meane season the coate of CHRIST whereupon the barbarous Souldiers did cast lottes and spared the same breaking downe the walles of Ierusalem which * TITVS Ioseph a heathen Emperour would haue suffered to stand drowning that Arke which the generall Deluge would not drowne when it drowned all the world burning that bushe wherevpon the cruell raging fire had pittie and compassion and In a word you endeuour by your ignorant and malicious Schismes to demolish that house which is built vpon a rocke against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile for when any of the faithfull seruants of God takes paines for the home bringing of a lost Papist to the true sheepefold and Church of CHRIST It is the first thing which he obiecteth against vs yee are devided amongst your selues I cannot tell whether I shall imbrace the opinion of your Church or of your Puritane and for is the conuersion of sinners stayed by your wofull generation the kingdome of Sathan propagated the kingdome of CHRIST diminished and Christian religion exposed both to ludibrie and opprobrie both to mockerie and to shame and yet you haue eyes and eares but will neither see it nor heare it I thinke the curse of the Gospell is vpon you and cursed be those that preferre not Ierusalem to their chiefe joy never may they prosper that loue not that wish not peace within her sacred walls Fourthly and lastly this chosen generation is distinguished from the whole visible vniuersall Church here below which is generatio miscellaneorum a mixed generation and may bee compared to a net which gathereth both fish and scorpions to a field in which groweth both wheat and tares to a garden in which are both weeds and flowers because in the vniuersall visible Church et sanctis Ecclesiae locis are both Christ and Antichrist Pastors and Wolues truth and lies Sheepe and goates good Christians and dissembling hypocrites vessells of election and Children of wrath and often greater store of the worst then of the best Secondly againe this Church of the elect Heb. 12.32 Heb. 12.32 is called the Congregation of the first borne whose names are written in heauen because the names of the elect are written in the booke of life Thirdly Ephes the first and last Ephes 1. it is called the bodie of Christ and by consequence false hypocriticall and prophane Christians are not members thereof because such are but dead members which can be no part of the liuely body of IESVS CHRIST Fourthly Reuel 21.9 Revel 21.9 It is called the Bride and the Lambes wife because Christ hath married her vnto himselfe in iudgement in righteousnesse in wisdome in mercy and in compassion Hos 2. Hos 2. And it is to this Church of the elect this chosen generation this assemblie this congregation of the first borne this body of Christ and to this Bride the Lambes wife to which this promise of comfort is made Cant. 4. I will marrie thee vnto me for euer This Church is hortus conclusus an inclosed peece of ground as the garden of Eden and lieth within a hedge or fence This Church and none other is the spouse of IESVS CHRIST to which he hath joyned himselfe in marriage and which he will make vnto himselfe a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle holy and vnreproueable and out of this Church their can be no saluation in which regard saith St. AVSTEN Qui Ecclesiam non habuit pro matre nunquam Deum habebit pro patre who had not the Church to his mother shall neuer haue God to be his father to which I will adde nec Christum pro capite marito not Christ to be his head and husband and this made the good Emperour THEODOSIVS to conclude Malo esse membrum Ecclesiae quam caput Imperque I had rather be a member of the Church then head of the whole Empire And thus much for this word Church in my text the significations and names thereof and to which Church this promise is made I will marry thee vnto me for euer to the Church of the 〈◊〉 and so I come to the explanation of the three similitudes by which our vnion with Christ is most richly expressed the first whereof is the similitude of the roote and the grafts Can there be a more straight vnion apprehended can there bee a more neere coniunction imagined then this betweene the stock and the branches betweene the roote and the grafts The similitude betweene the graft and the roote it is not possible and yet such a one is our vnion with Christ In the 15. of St. Ioh. the fifth verse Iohn 15.5 I am the vine yee are the branches This is a metaphor a borrowed speech from planting Three things obseruable in which yee shall take notice of these three First of the roote or stock Secondly of the grafts or branches and Thirdly of the manner of ingrafting As to the first the roote or stock wherein this ingrafting is made is CHRIST called by himselfe the true vine by the Apostles the true oliue tree Rom. 11.17 and by the Prophets the roote of Iesse Isa 11.10 This true vine this true oliue and this roote of Iesse IESVS CHRIST hath that great husbandman the eternall God dressed and prepared in which he hath ingrafted so many
this Gospell is not preached it is a sure argumēt that there is none of Gods chosen childrē in that place for where there is a haruest God will send reapers and labourers where he will plant a vineyard and when there is but little preaching in a Parish or a Citie it is a token that God hath no great haruest in that place and where the lampe of the Gospell hath been burning once in a glorious manner and now is extinguished the candlestick remoued and false lights set vp in the place thereof as in the Church of Rome it is euident that the Lords haruest is done in that Citie place or Parish because the Lord will neuer call home the labourers otherwise in the noone time of the day nor remoue his Ministrie from his owne peoples conuersion consolation and farther corroboration in which regard the Ministers of Gods word in some respect are the parents of all Christians that is both their father and their mother Iustified by St. 1. Cor. 4.15 Paul In Christ Iesus faith he I haue begotten you through the Gospell And here it is cleere that they are the fathers of Christians and Gal. 4.19 he makes it plaine that they are the mothers of all Christians too My little children of whom I trauell againe in birth till Christ bee formed in you Gods Ministers the Parents of Christians And this should teach all Christians reuerently to speake of their Ministers to honor them maintaine their reputatiō as their begetters to be the heirs of the kingdom of heauen to supply them in their necessities as their spirituall parents But the omission of this dutie toward the ministerie argues that Christ is not yet formed in them which is the forming of them to Christs Image and similitude by casting off the old man which cannot be done without sorrow and paine like a woman in her labour whereof as yet they haue neuer so much as once felt the least smarting But before Christ be formed in them they will be sensible of it for if a woman cannot be deliuered of her child which she hath carried but nine moneths in her wombe without dolour and griefe shall we thinke to be deliuered of sinne which is a man an old man and a man which we haue carried about within our breasts ever since the day of our natiuitie without spirituall dolour and paine No it is not possible for in a sinners conuersion and forming of him according to the Image of the sonne of God there must bee the broken heart the contrite Spirit the mourning weed the pale countenance the melting eye and the voice of lamentation and therefore Repentance receiues these three names in Scripture Regeneration Three names giuen to Repentance Circumcision and Mortification and as there can be no cutting of the flesh no death no birth without paine so in this spirituall birth Wherein consisteth the paine in the spirituall birth in this forming of sinners to the Image and similitude of Christ there is paine paine for their owne sins past paine for the iniquities of the wicked because they will not keepe Gods law paine for all the abominations in the Land and place wherein they liue paine for to see the Church of God so oppressed in many places of the world and finally paine for their absence from their country the kingdome of heauen Those that are after this manner in labour and paine are the children of Christ begotten in this spirituall marriage not by the will of flesh and blood but by the will of God And thus much for the three similitudes by which our vnion with Christ is expressed And now I come to the two qualities of this Marriage The two qualities of this marriage the certaintie and the perpetuitie but because the time is spent I feare that I haue stayed you too long I will dispatch them in a word The certaintie then of this marriage as I told you is implyed in the gemination and doubling of this Promise I will marrie thee to me yea I will marrie thee And this is no tautologie or vaine repetition but an infallable truth iustified by Ioseph Gen. 41.32 that tels vs that Pharaohs dreame was doubled because the thing is established by God It is truth that Gods promises are as sufficient when they are but once made as when they are reiterated as firme when they are spoken as being sworne confirmed with an oath yet for to supply our weakenes and defects our most gracious God is not only willing to promise but often to double redouble his promises as he did to Abraham in the booke of Genesis Gen. 12.2 Gen. 13.14.17 Gen. 15.18 Gen. 18.8 when hee promised vnto him the land Canaan not once twise or thrice but fiue times And here in my text not once or twise I will marrie I will marrie thee but the third time yea I will euen marrie thee Not only content to speake but to sweare as in Psal 12.11 The Lord hath sworne vnto David and he will not shrinke from it that of the fruit of thy body will I set vpon thy throne The Apostle Heb. 6. giueth the reason and tels vs wherefore this is done that thereby saith he he might declare to the heires of the promise the stabilitie of his counsell And looke how stable and how sure that our Election bee the certaintie of this Marriage is as sure and what arguments and reasons may be or can be brought to proue the certaintie of the one the same will serue to proue the certainty of the other but at this time I will neither weary you nor lose my selfe in such a wildernesse of discourse for none can be members of this Marriage but the Elect. The last qualitie of this Marriage is perpetuitie for euer This speech for euer is taken 3. manner of wayes This speech for euer taken three manner of waies in Scripture first for the time of a mans life only and so it is taken Psal 121.8 The Lord shall preserue thy going out and thy comming in from henceforth and for euer that is all the dayes of thy life that notwithstanding of the speculatiue interpretations of many that hath commented this place that can draw out quidlibet ex quolibet gold out of drosse or rather turne gold with their metaphysicke contemplations into drosse whose opinions I cannot now stay to refute Secondly in the old Testament it is extended somtimes to the Messias his comming in the flesh so is it taken Gen. 17. Where the Sacrament of Circumcision is called a Couenant for euer Circumcision abolished yet you know it was abolished at the institution of Baptisme and S. Paul in dirision cals it Concision and in 2. Gal. 4. a Bondage Likewise in the 12. Chap. of Exodus the Passouer is called an Ordinance of the Lord to be kept holy for ever The Passouer abrogated Neuerthelesse it was abrogated at the institution of the sacrament of the Lords supper Thirdly it is taken not only for the whole time of the worlds induring but likewise for that Eternity which shall bee after the consummation of the world and so it is taken Revel 11.15 where it is said That Christ shall raigne for ever and here in my text I will marrie thee vnto mee for euer No time here no time hence shall repudiate sunder and diuorce vs but as I haue loued my Church before all time so will I continue my affection towards my welbeloued after all time and when there shall be no more time But seeing time is spent let vs winde vp this clew let vs see what wee shall render vnto the Lord for so great fauor bestowed vpon vs for so great loue shewed toward Mankinde aboue the Angels in marrying himselfe vnto vs making vs sure of this marriage alluring vs to constancie by louing speeches and by great promises perswading vs yea drawing vs to imbrace it and suffring the Angels to lie still vnder the heauie burden of his wrath in the most wofull and most miserable estate of Apostacie What say I shall we render vnto the Lord for so incomprehensible a benefit and such an infinite weight of loue ten thousand rivers of oile all the beasts on thousand mountaines yea in all the forrest of Libanon are nothing to the Lord. What then heare the Apostle Loue the Lord because he hath loued vs first let our hearts melt with kindnesse toward him then shall it be vnto vs a faithfull witnes that we are a part of his mysticall body a part of the Church of the elect his spouse and that the Lord loueth vs for this loue is the first effect of our faith the most expresse trace of Gods Image and the most liuely marke of his children it is the soule of other vertues the rule of our actions and the summarie of the Law it is the vpholder of Martyrs the ladder of heaven the peace of conscience yea I dare say that it is a tast a beginning here of that infinit loue which hence we shall carrie toward Christ our husband when we shall be presented vnto him without spot or wrinkle a most chaste spouse vnited and perfectly haue this promise of marriage consummated and fulfilled To this our husband and redeemer with the Father and the holy Spirit three persons and one Deitie be all honour praise and dominion for now and euermore AMEN FINIS
the Law that which should be abolished but the Gospell glorious and that which remaineth that vnder the law the Iewes did onely see but thorow a vaile but we in our Church vnder the Gospell behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord with open face O vnthankfull Gentiles O ingratefull Christians and O most ingratefull England of all the Christians in the world for howsoeuer that other Nations may pretend some excuse yet surely O England thou is vnexcusable especially these 60. yeares in which this sunne of the glorious Gospell hath continually without ecclipse shined in thy Horizon and still doth runne his circular motion and yet neuerthelesse what is the darknesse in which wee doe not walke Alas I meane what iniquitie doe we not drinke in like water What is the vanity after the which we doe not seeke And what is that grace of GOD which wee turne not into wantonnesse Especially leauing at this time all other things this glorious Gospell this spirituall Manna this heauenly food the plentie whereof produceth nothing but a loathing of the same except it be most rarely cook'd in and garnished with humaine conceites to satisfie your daintie appetites when it is cooked to you after this manner which is a sort of Preaching too much vsed in this Land and deserueth more discommendation yet are yee contrary to all other creatures vnder the sunne that grow the fairer the fatter and the better too the more choise diet they feede on as for example when trees are remoued to a more fertile soyle they will spread further and be more fertile then before when cattell are put into a better pasture they will be of a greater growth and labour better too But it is not so with vs No for after never so learned a sermon there will be both disliking liking of it but this liking tendeth not to retaine the principall parts thereof in our memories and to practise the same in our liues and conuersations No No but onely a liking that the Preacher did well and that he is a good Scholler and this is all and if it bee so it is much too But O Lord I pray thee that giueth both the will and the deed to thy people to bestow vpon them new hearts to renew within their bowels a right spirit that they may apprehend thy bountifulnesse toward them and magnifie thy Name for such plentifulnesse of thy word sowen amongst them in regard whereof many Nations like a Forest stands not put to tillage and for such light in thy glorious Gospell in respect whereof many yea almost all people are but conducted by the Moone which I beseech the O Lord neuer to extinguish neuer O Lord to let the Sunne of thy Gospell in this Land set so long as the Sunne and Moone endure Fifthly the Church is taken among Christians for the whole body and assembly of the Elect and of those that GOD by the way of sanctification hath predestinated to bee the heyres of the Kingdome of glory and this Church is composed of three sorts of The Church of the Elect composed of three sorts of men people first of such as were vpon the earth but now are not because their soules and their bodies are sundred their bodies till the day of judgement are committed to the graue where they must returne vnto the earth out of which they were taken but their soules are conjoyned with CHRIST in heaven which one day shall bee reunited againe to their bodies and magnifie God both in body and soule and this is called The triumphant Church because the members thereof haue ouercome by the good fight of Faith powers principalities and spirituall wickednesse in this life and now in that other life which is much better then this they tryumph and haue receiued albeit not fully the fruits of their labour and GOD hath giuen them beautie for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning and the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heavinesse Secondly this Church of the Elect is composed of men that are vpon earth presently aliue fighting against sinne Sathan the world and their owne corrupt affections making their Election sure vnto themselues by well doing but or it bee long shall be no more and this is the Militant Church the members whereof are visible as men but not as members of this Church and elect men because Election is not discerned by the eye but charitably presumed on by faith and good workes which are inseparable companions as the Sunne and light fire and heate water and aliquiditie so that if a man want good workes wee may boldly say hee hath no faith but wee dare not affirme for all this that hee is not a vessell of Election because Election is a thing which God hath reserved to himselfe yea it is altogether vnknowne to a man himselfe it runneth so secretly vntill the time that by his internall vocation God make it manifest and knowne to him so that when I see a prophane man a persecuter an vnfruitfull tree I may say and that with reason that such a one hath no faith and as yet is not internally called but that God hath not elected him and will not call him it is a damnable presumption and to diue in the bottomlesse gulfe of GODS vnrevealed will and to fall within the compasse of that which our Saviour expresly dischargeth Math. 7.1 Iudge not that yee bee not iudged for with what iudgement yee iudge yee shall be iudged Thirdly this Church of the Elect is composed of such as are not but shall bee as are not yet borne but are in the counsell of GOD registrated and inrolled to bee borne to fight in his warre in future time and ordained to obtaine victorie This Church of the elect Foure names giuen to the Church of the elect hath many names in Scripture especially foure First in the 1. of Pet. the 2. chapter and 9. verse It is called a Chosen generation and herein is distinguished from all other Churches Distinguished from all other Churches First from the Church of the Heathen and Infidels which is generatio malignantium a Wicked generation Secondly from the Church of the Papists which is generatio Antichristianorum an Antichristian generation Revel 17. a great Whore arrayed in purple and scarlet gilded with gold precious stones and pearles sitting vpon many waters people multitudes Nations tongues and seaven Mountaines which raigneth over the Kings of the earth giving heed vnto Spirits of errour teaching Doctrines of Devils forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to bee received with giving thankes drunken with the blood of Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of IESVS I meane with the blood of many good Christians as Lyons in France called Waldenses from IOHN WALDVS as they call vs Calvinists from CALVIN whom their King to his immortall infamie and dishonour excited by the Papacie did most cruelly butcher with the blood