Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	day_n	observation_n	sabbath_n	1,995	5	9.7332	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61378	Sober singularity, or, An antidote against infection by the example of a multitude being practical meditations on Exod. 23, vers. 2 : wherein is opened the influence of the practise of a multitude, to draw men to sin, the special cases, wherein it concerns us to be most cautious, reasons why we must not follow them, together with the application of the whole : and therein, besides the general improvement of the point, an instance given of nineteen practises of the multitude to be avoided, seven of their grand principles to be rejc̈ted [sic] : sundry particulars concerning peace and unity, and the sanctification of the Lords Day, useful for these times / by R. Stedman ...	Stedman, Rowland, 1630?-1673.	1660 (1660)	Wing S5376; ESTC R38303	146,089	254

the Mosaical pedagogy and probably their deferting the Lords day Sabbath and adhering to the Jewish was one special part of their apostacy The first of these is plain to any understanding Christian that shall throughly study the whole scope and drift of the Epistle And I think we may very probably suppose the truth of the latter also What part of the old administration were they more likely to be zealous of than the Seventh day Sabbath in the observation whereof they had formerly been so excessively and rigorously superstitious Mat. 12.2 Mar. 3.2 And therefore it may seem consonant to the Apostles scope as to set forth the vanishing and disappearing of the legal oblations and sacrifices so to speak as here concerning the abrogation of their Sabbath and substitution of the Lords day in the room of it 2 The Holy Ghost speaketh here of a certain day of rest the celebration of a set determinate day and not of the whole season of the gospei indefinitely And what set determinate day is there that may be fitly assigned as the time of a believers rest but the Lords day See v. 7. Again he limiteth a certain day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saying in David to day after so long a time as it is said to day if ye will hear his voice hardon not your hearts And then it followeth thereupon v. 9. There remaineth therefore the celebration of a Sabbath 3 This determinate day of rest which the Apostle calleth the Sabbath that is to be kept is clearly to be meant of that day wherein the people of Christ meet together in the worship of God and provoke and quicken one another to hear the word of the Lord. For so it plainly appeareth from the 95. Psalm from which portion of Scripture the Apostles argument is taken and upon which his whole discourse of this matter is built See the whole entrance of the Psalm particularly the sixth and seventh verses O come let us worship and bow down Let us kneel before the Lord our maker For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand To day if ye will hear his voice It is of this day and the rest of it which the text I am opening is to bemeant And what day is that in the times of the gospel but the Christian Sabbath There is not to be met with any other day wherein the Saints can be supposed ordinarily to exhort and quicken each other unto the worship of God The other six dayes are appointed for labour 4 A believers personal rest into which he enters by faith was enjoyed by the Saints in the times of the old Testament For they were saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ even as we But the Apostle treateth here out of the words of David of a rest or Sabbath to be celebrated a long time after even in the daies of the New Testament for that Psalm is a prophesy of evangelical dispensations As it is said in David to day after so long a time By the same reason that the Apostle proveth that this day of rest must not be meant of the Jewish Sabbath because that was instituted from the beginning of the world Heb. 4.3 We may prove it is not meant primarily of a believers personal rest by faith because that was enjoyed by the Saints in all ages of the Church before the dayes of David But here he prophecieth of a priviledg that was to be conferred on the people of Christ a long time after 5 The Apostle is to be understood of the celebration of such a Sabbath as is to be kept upon the like ground in reference to the Lord Christs ceasing from his work as the Seventh dayes Sabbath was in relation to Gods ceasing from his work For so it is in v. 10. which I mentioned For he that is entred into his rest that is the Lord Jesus Christ our Redeemer hath ceased from his work as God did from his own And therefore there remaineth a Sabbath for Christians to cefebrate I know the words are usually understood of a Believers ceasing from the works of sin But let it be well considered that the Holy Ghost speaketh of such a ceasing as Gods was when the creation was finished He rested the seventh day and was refreshed he looked on every thing that he made and beheld it was very good entirely good nothing but Good This is justly attributable unto Christs work of redemption but cannot so fitly be applyed unto the Saints When they cease from sin behold it appeareth unto them exceeding evil and bitter and they are filled thereupon with godly shame and self abhorrence Ezek. 36.26 29 31. Besides the Apostle speaketh afterwards of Christs passing into the heavens as relating to somewhat that had been before delivered And unto what can it refer but unto his entring into his rest which includes his passing into the heavens So it followeth v. 14. Seeing then that we have a great high Priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fest our profession Mark it is the same person that is said to have passed into the heavens v. 14. that is spoken of as entring into his rest v. 10. For seeing that he is passed into the heavens And he that is entred into his rest is the person that hath ceased from his work as God did from his own And upon this account there remaineth the celebration of a Sabbath unto the people † See Carter on the Covenant with Abraham page 6 7 c. And Cotton on singing of Psalms p. 10 11. From whom I have borrowed much of this matter of God Further yet the Holy Ghost seemeth plainly to distinguish in that 10. v. between the works of redemption which are ascribed to the Son and the works of Creation which are peculiarly attributed to the Father and are therefore called his own works as the Text is to be rendred * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A believer upon his conversion is delivered indeed from the dominion and power of sin but not wholly freed from all remainders of pollution still there is a Law in his members warring against the Law of his mind and leading him often captive to the performance of his works even to manifold sins through infirmity So that it cannot so fully be said of a Christian whilst in the body that he hath ceased from his works But of our Lord Jesus Christ it is exactly verified who upon his rising from the dead came forth as a victor from the conquest which he made and entred into his state of exaltation 6 The Psalmist treating of this day of rest which the Apostle referreth to doth instance in most of the Solemn parts of worship which are to be discharged on the Sabbath 1. Singing of Psalms Psal 95.1 2. 2. Prayer v. 6.3 Hearing the word which implyeth the Preaching of the word v. 7 8. All to be

maketh over himself unto you That you do not walk as others walk a Cor. 6.17 18. Wherefore come out from amongst them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you And I will be a father to you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty That is the second argument for demonstration of the doctrine 3. A third reason that may be pressed against following a multitude in evil is taken from the duties that are incumbent on us in relation unto them when they sin against the Lord and do that which is displeasing in his sight There are such duties required at our hands as are not only inconsistent with confederating with them and walking after their example but diametrally opposite and contrary thereunto as light is to darkness I might insist upon many but shall content my self to instance in these four only 1. It is our duty to pity them and mourn over them and to take up a lamentation on their account To make it the grief of our spirits to see the name of God dishonoured and his statutes contemned and the bloud of the Lord jesus despised and poor souls running headlong to destruction This hath been the carriage of the Saints of God in times of corruption and wickedness Psal 119.136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes because they keep not thy law As David was humbled for his own transgressions so it was an heart-breaking to him to see others transgress And see how the prophet Jeremy was affected with the sin and misery of the disobedient Jer. 13.17 But if not will not hear it my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride and mine eye shall weep sore and run down with tears because the Lords flock is carried away captive Now these compassionate workings and godly sorrow are a frame of spirit at a great distance from complyance with the ungodly And this is one particular that will render us conformable unto our Lord and master As he loved his own unto the end with an insuperable everlasting and unparallell'd love so his bowels were moved with pity and compassion towards his very enemies that set against him because of their folly and the wretched estate into which they had plunged themselves Luk. 19.41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying if thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes Mark the speech of Christ here how it is made up of a kind of abrupt expressions as proceeding from a spirit full of affection and tenderness and seeking as it were to ease it self in a passionate lamentation If thou hadst known q.d. Alas poor Jerusalem thy desolation is approaching because thou hadst not known the things that belong unto thy peace Well had it been for thee if thou hadst but known them Would to God thou hadst been so wise as to have taken them into thy knowledg and consideration that so thy calamities might have been averted and prevented O what a grief is it to my heart that thou bost not known them So that here is our duty if God hath cast our lot amongst many wicked that commit abominations in his sight we should be so far from joyning in a combination with them that it should stir up an holy mourning in our souls to see them trampling upon the word of God and lightly esteeming the rock of our salvation And these are the persons whom in times of publick judgments the Lord is pleased to set a mark upon namely such as do not only cry out of their own sins but are filled with sorrow for the abominations of the multitude See it in Ezekiels vision Ezek. 9.4 And the Lord said unto him Go thorow the midst of the City thorow the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof Set a mark upon them i. e. a mark of special and gracious observation here are the people that are beloved of the Lord unto such as these he will have respect and secondly a mark for sure deliverance and preservation when others fall at their right hand and at their left the evil determined shall not come near unto them as it is v. 6. Come not near any man upon whom is the mark You know the Angel could do nothing as to the overthrowing of Sodom till Lot was secured What was he above other men See 2 Pet. 2.7 8. And he delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked For that righteous man dwelling amongst them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds 2. When others sin it is our duty to reprove them as we have occasion and opportunity and that plainly and faithfully with christian prudence and discretion And this is utterly inconsistent with following their example * Turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum For thou art altogether inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest them that do evil and doest the same for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self He that would do good by reproving another must be sure to look warily to himself that he be not involved in the same guilt lest his words recoyle into his own face and be retorted unto his own shame and confusion That is an excellent saying of the vulgar latine and the original text will well bear the translation * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prov. 18.17 Justus primus est accusator sui venit amicus ejus investigabit eum A just man before he meddle in the reproof of others will diligently search his own Soul and see to the cleansing and reforming of his wayes So that the duty of reproving the ungodly doth suppose we ought to keep free from the taint of their ungodliness This is the Apostle Paul's way of argumentation Eph. 5.11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them 3. Our duty in relation unto sinners is what in us lieth to convert them and win them over to the truth To endeavour that of ignorant they may become verst in the wayes of God and of wicked and sinful they may become serious and holy and of enemies of religion they may be sure friends and assertours of it And this is far from imitation of them For if you comply with them in sin that will harden them exceedingly and make them more bold and venturous and obstinate in their evil wayes They will argue after this sort well may we take this course for such professours of religion joyn with us and such as are accounted godly are men of our confederacy It is charged upon the prophets of Jerusalem that they committed adultery and walked in lies and

God here Let us not fall out by the way for we are brethren 5. As to all other matters that are more abstruse and difficult and where in there is a great deal of variety in the interpretation of the Scripture even amongst sober Christians themselves In such cases unity and concord must be built upon the foundation of forbearance and mutual tenderness of believers one towards another If in order to peace and union in the Church the judgment of some that are in power be set up as the Standard unto which the consciences of the rest in the minutest affairs are to be reduced if peace and unity I say depend upon these ticklish terms it is likely never to be attained whilst the world endures As soon may you cut all men to the same stature as bring their judgments in all things to the same size But if we would follow after the things that make for peace and unity let us with all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbear one another in love Eph. 4.2 3. Shall not Christians forbear where the God of heaven is pleased to forbear Sould not we deal tenderly with such and give them the right hand of fellowship whom God doth tender as the apple of his eye Rom. 14.3 That is an excellent Rubrick for direction in the Saints Liturgy Philip. 3.15 16. Let us therefore as many as are perfect be thus minded And if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing So much for the first use of the point by way of information SECT VII 2. For Exhortation IF God hath given us strict charg that we do not comply with a multitude in doing of evil let us then seriously ponder and weigh this lesson in our thoughts and endeavour to practise it in all the particulars of our conversations Take heed lest Satan pravail upon you through this wile and artifice of perswading you to that which is sinful because a multitude embrace it Take the example of Noah for imitation herein Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God Mark it the generation wherein he lived was excessively corrupt and sinful it was egregiously profane and debauched wickedness as a deluge forerunner of the other had overspread the whole face of the earth And yet Noch was upright and kept close to the Lord thereby condemning the world of the ungodly Take the instance of Obadiah who dwelt in Ahabs family a man that sold himself to wickedness in the sight of the Lord that there was none like unto him He lived in dayes of such general Apostacy and Idolatry that Elijah thought there had been none left but himself who had any zeal for Jehovah and had not dealt falsely in his covenant And yet in such place and time Obadiah feared the Lord greatly 1 Kings 18.3 See the carriage of the Christians at Pergamus for incouragement herein They dwelt where the Devil had his seat where he was set upon the throne and had many servants and followers And yet they departed not from God they would not say a confederacy with them in sin They held fast the name of Christ and did not deny the faith though in dayes when persecution raged and reached unto the death Rev. 2.13 Hath God cast your lot in a wicked family amongst carnal relations in times of general atheism corruption and debauchery Labour as Obadiah to fear the Lord greatly do they entice thee to sin Walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their path Prov. 1.15 Do they violently and furiously rebel against the Lord and make a scoffe of godliness and oppose the professours of it Do you study to serve him the more eminently and to walk with God as Noah the more closely and strictly Let no man deceive you with vain words Let not their enticements prevail with you let not their presumptions embolden you to fin with them let not their reproaches cause you to desist from your course For because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience Be not ye therefore partakers with them Eph. 5.6 7. So keep your selves free from any sinful correspondency with the ungodly be they never so many that you may be blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine as lights in the world Holding forth the word of life Philip. 2.15 16. In managing this use of exhortation I shall speak something to you under these four heads 1. By way of particular exemplification or instance Wherein you should beware that you do not follow the multitude 2. By way of special direction what course you ought to take that ye be not intangled with their example 3. By way of motive or provocative to quicken you to a closure with that course and a diligent observing this counsel 4. By way of Retortion I shall shew you what use you should make of the example multitude seing you must not joyn in combination with them 1. By way of particular exemplification and instance Wherein we should beware that we be not led into sin by the example of the multitude For the better digesting whereof and that the truths I shall deliver may be more easily imprinted upon and firmly reteined in your thoughts and memories I will cast them into five rankes 1. The Ground of religion whereon it is bottomed 2. The matter of religion wherein it is placed 3. The method and order wherein it is prosecuted 4. The time and season when it is minded 5. Sundry particular duties wherein the multitude are prone to miscarry 1. As to the ground of religion whereon it is bottomed The generality of people are wont to take up the principles and mysteries of godliness wholly upon trust They build their faith upon the dictates and opinions of men they believe that Christ is the Saviour and accordingly call themselves his servants they acknowledg such and such ordinances ought to be attended upon and accordingly lend their bodily presence at them and the like But if you enquire into the ground and reason why they believe and embrace this way of religion and worship all they can truly say is because the Minister tells them it is so or their parents bred them up in this way They hold these things for truths for they are points which they have held ever since they can remember they were of this religion from their very childhood and infancy and were brought up in these performances But do you my brethren build your faith upon the infallible word of the Lord and get an insight into the everlasting gospel Search the scriptures daily and diligently and make use of the ministry of men to help you to get knowledg of the scriptures that your

in sin is no small matter and perhaps the aggravating circumstances may be very heinous when thou sinnest against light and knowledg and under the means of grace 2 Pet. 2.14 An heart they have exercised with covetous practises cursed children Mark it therefore vile wretches accursed children because accustomed to that which is evil Hereby sinners are shut up as in a prison fettered and manacled that they cannot get free Jer. 13.23 Can the Ethiopian chang his skin or the Leopard his spots Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil 2. Lesser sins as thou accountest them will make way for greater and serve the devil as an engine whereby to carry sinners to the most horrid abominations You read of the wiles and methods * Eph. 6.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the devil He carrieth on his work of deluding and destroying souls orderly and methodically And this is one of his usual methods He is not wont to tempt men to the heighth of wickedness presently but first he makes way into the soul by smaller transgressions that he may gradually bring him to comply with greater 2 Tim. 2.16 Shun profane and vain bablings for they will increase unto more ungodliness Prov. 23.31 32 33. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup when it moveth it self aright At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder Thine eyes shall behold strange women and thine heart shall utter perverse things Tipling and drinkings will in a while become drunkeness and debauchery wanton words and dalliances will bring forth adulteries Forgetfulness of God will increase till it grow up into atheism He that taketh liberty to allow himself in the smallest impieties is like one that breaketh up an hedg whereby an entrance is set open for the whole herd of ungodliness 3. The smallest sins if continued in will bring as certain damnation upon the sinner as the greatest Though the destruction of heinous sinners will be moresore yet the destruction of such as live in lesser transgressions will be as sure and unavoidable For salvation and damnation according to the tenour of the gospel do not lie in the smallness or greatness of the sins committed but in mens repentance or impenitence in a course of sin Mat. 5.19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments and shall teach men so he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven Ezek. 18.30 Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine That 's the fourth instance as to the matter of religion 5. Lastly The generality of people put much of their religion in the observing of places where the worship of God is performed And they think it doth much adde to the excellency of their worship when it is tendered and discharged in such places As if that were the main matter to be regarded They look upon them as holy places They little mind to make evangelical applications unto Jesus Christ and to get into him they seldom think of putting their offerings into his hands who is consecrated to be our High-Priest for ever or of presenting their sacrifices by laying them upon that Gospel altar appointed to sanctifie all our spiritual duties But if they pray in such a place and hear the word in such a place then they hope their prayers will be acceptable and their hearing tend to their salvation I am perswaded these are apprehensions rivited in the hearts of the most That the worship of God is far more acceptable and pleasing unto God if performed there than it is in any other place whatsoever But my beloved be not ye like unto them But make sure your interest in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus and make use in every place of his Advocateship and intercession and then you may come boldly unto the throne of grace to obtain mercy and to find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 Mark that passage of the Apostle Paul to Timethy 1 Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting Mind it Sirs It is not so much to be regarded in what place you pray as with what spirit and affections with what holiness of heart and with what faith and fervency you pour out your supplications It is a corrupt notion and fancy a Jewish fancy to put holiness now in the dayes of the gospel in one place rather than another It is a Popish and anti-Anti-christian notion For they make pilgrimages for devotion to this and the other holy place And for my part I am apt to think that if ever God shall please to suffer Popery with its pollutions and idolatries to prevail again in the Nations out of which it hath been extirpated this very principle of the Holiness of places being rivited in the hearts of the vulgar will contribute no little assistance to the introduction and settlement thereof Now to clear up the truth in this particular more distinctly let us first concede and grant what is to 〈◊〉 granted in reference to places of worship And there are these five things must be acknowledged 1. That it is not only lawful but commendable to appoint and bestow publike places and buildings upon the Churches of Christ for their attendance upon the worship of God Not to render the worship better and more acceptable because there performed but for their commodiousness and conveniency in attendance thereon It was an act of kindness in Philemon to afford the Church a room in his house for their religious Assemblies Philem. 2. Much more is it to erect an edifice purposely to that end 2. These places and buildings so designed and provided are ordinarily to be preferred before other places when the worship in them performed is according to Christs institution and the people of God joyn unanimously together in managing the service of God according to his will Not as if such a place did meliorate the worship or contribute any real intrinsick worth thereunto more than if performed elsewhere But only for convenience sake as before Christians will commonly resort thither with greater freedom and without those suspicions and jealousies which sometimes are in their spirits of being burdensome to the people in whose habitations they convene And unbelievers and such as are without will easier be induced to come there that they may hear the word and understand what is spoken in defence of the doctrines of godliness who may possibly be savingly wrought upon to conversion and carried further than ever was intended by them through the powerful efficacy of Gospel Administrations 1 Cor. 14.24 25. 3. In such places all things requisite for an assembly of Christians ought to be fitted and disposed in a seemly and decent manner and ordered to the best advantage of the congregation That matters may be carried on in a comely way with

least disturbance or cause of distraction 1 Cor. 14.40 4. All manner of irreverent and unseemly actions must be abstained from in such places as any way reflect dishonour or contempt upon the worship of God which is there performing or hath been performed or that may render the place unmeet for religious services afterwards Not as if the building were more holy than others but because it is sinful by any means to cast disgrace upon holy duties wherein our business consisteth in attendance upon the Great King the Lord of hosts whose name is dreadful throughout the earth * See Mr. Jenkins's Farewell Sermon and who is a jealous God even a consuming fire Deut. 4.24 5. Lastly let it be observed That the opinion of the holiness of one place above another is for the most part but a fond conceit that hath obtained amongst the multitude of the most ignorant people the tincture of which conceit hath not improbably continued from the very daies of popery as their addictedness to some other fopperies hath done But it is an opinion exploded and rejected by the Protestant Churches This is conspicuously evident amongst our selves 1. By the general permission of Schoolmasters and Writing Masters to teach in such places 2. By the usual meetings there about all Parish affairs as rating assessments and giving orders for mending high-wayes and the like 3. By the publike order for private dwellings to be erected in several of such places in the great City whereby they are converted to civil uses For as for the papalizing doctrines and superstitious practises of some whereby the vulgar are hardened in their apprehensions being but the off-spring of their own brain it is equitable they be laid at no door but their own These particulars being premised let me lay down and confirm this plain position further than decency and conveniency in attendance upon the worship of God there is no manner of holinesse now in the dayes of the gospel in one place more than another nor hath one place preheminence above another This seems to be covertly intimated by our Saviour Jo. 4.21 23. Where the question was touching the place of worship whether upon mount Geriz●m or in Jerusalem Jesus saith unto her woman believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jer●salem worship the father * Futurum tempus gratiae novi Testamenti evacuantis utrumque locum imo omnem locum praedicit Per haec duo exclusa loca neque in hoc mon●e neque Hierosolymis ntelliguntur exclusa omnia alia loca Cajet But the houre cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth As if our Saviour had said the time is shortly at hand the gospel state of the Church when all difference of places as to the worship of God shall cease and the main things to be lookt after therein will be whether the worship of God be spiritually performed and according to his own prescription and institution This is a lesson and Instruction hardly learnt by some who mind formes and ceremonies more than the life and fulstance of godliness and whose interest leads them to oppose such truths And therefore give me leave to hint unto you these four things 1. Th●t the very synagogues or places of publike assemblies amongst the Jews had nothing of holiness in them above other places only they were appointed for convenience in the serving of God They were places where their Courts of judicature met as well as their religious exercises were performed On the week daies their civil courts were convened in them and on the sabbath day their religious assemblies Some think that the Synagogues were publike places of meeting as well for civil as sacred affairs Eng. Annot. in Mat. 10.17 As if there should be a meeting of Christians in Guild-hall or in Westminster-hal where at other times the Judges sit And therefore you read of Beating in their Synagogues Act. 22.19 And punishing oft in every Synagogue Acts 26.11 And Christ tells his disciples that they should be brought unto the synagogues and unto magistrates and powers Luke 12.11 And that they should be delivered up to the synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and rulers for his names sake Luke 21.12 I any persons shall say that the Jews had two sorts of Synagogues one for religious and the other for civil assemblies their proof is expected Bare unscriptural assertions weigh little in the balance with understanding Christians 2. Whereas some fetch their arguments from the holiness of the Temple and tabernacle of old and apply to places now the passages that are upon record concerning the sanctuary there needs little pains to be taken to shew the weakness and invalidity of such arguments Who knoweth not that they were places designed and set apart by God himself and appointed as Symbols of his presence 2 Kings 23.27 Heb. 8.5 Who knoweth not that they were tipes and shadows of good things to come and therefore to continue till the time of reformation Christ hath put an end to these legal ceremonies He came and tabernacled † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jo. 1.14 amongst us He suffered death in the Temple * Joh. 2.21 22. of his body Who knoweth not that there were special promises of mercy annexed to worshiping in the temple and towards the Temple 1 Kin. 8.33 38 39. 1 King 9.3 Let any of these be shewn concerning places of worship now in the times of the gospel else the arguments run a baculo in angulum The promise of acceptance is made to the ordinances and institutions of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the persons that wait upon the Lord in those institutions without any respect to the place Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 Superstition and will-worship humane inventions and observances of our own devising are abominations in the sight of the Lord in what place soever they are practised and religious duties of Gods appointment discharged according to his revealed will are pleasing unto the Lord wheresoever they are performed God is graciously present in the place for his ordinance sake and for his peoples sake and not a whit the more amongst them for the places sake 1 Cor. 1.2 3. To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ And mark that eminent prophecy of gospel times Mal. 1.11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering For my name shall be great among the heathen saith the Lord of hosts q. d. For

that are of absolute necessity to eternal life 1 The whole nature must be cleansed from the power of sin and every corruption mortified and brought into subjection Rom. 6.6 14. 2 Cor. 5.17 2 The whole person must be devoted and consecrated unto the Lord and surrendred into his hands to be at Gods disposal and to follow him at his feet without reservation and exception of any part or faculty Isa 44.5 2 Cor. 8.5 3 All the time of a mans life must be dedicated to the service of the most high and to the imployment of holiness Luk. 1.75 1 Pet. 1.17 4 Every known sin must be actually abandoned and forsaken they must be utterly abandoned and cast off never to be followed any more Ezek. 18.21 Galat. 5.19 21. 5 All the commandments of the Lord must be respected and a conscientious regard must be had unto the due performance of every known duty Psal 119.6 6 The whole flock of our outward enjoyments must be managed in a subordination to the glory of God and eternal concernments and be readily abandoned and rejected even the dearest of them when they come in competition with close walking with God and the forest tortures and afflictions willingly submitted to rather than be driven back into the wayes of sin Mat. 16.24 25 26. Heb. 11.35 Now let us cast our eyes back on these things and see whether they can be done with a wet finger The reason why carnal people imagine that they may come to heaven without much circumspection and strictness is because they know not what reall holiness is nor wherein it doth consist which is the only way that leadeth to heaven 3. Let this principle also be erected and set up in your souls that although no Christian doth attain to an absolute perfection of grace or holiness in this life yet the meanest sincere Christian every true believer is still pressing after perfection He doth not allow himself in the least iniquity but is still cleansing himself further every day and pressing forward in godliness till he hath gotten to the Mark He doth not content himself with any attainments received but is ever labouring after more intimate acquaintance with God and a closer fellowship and communion with him Phil. 3.13 14. Every sound Christian takes the life of Christ for his pattern And though sometimes it falleth out that he maketh blots and blurres in transcribing yet he studieth to write as neer as may be according to that copy 1 Jo. 3.3 Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure So much for the raising of that fourth cursed and corrupt Principle of the Multitude 5. The next Principle of the multitude is touching the accomodations of this life the good things of this world That it is a point of the greatest wisdom to make sure of all that can be gotten here and let us trust God with our souls for they cannot be left in better hands They think Gold and silver are sure friends upon all occasions and make way for a man in any business whatsoever And therefore they count such men fools and idiots that know not their own concerns who will part with these things upon the niceties of conscience and will lose their worldly advantages upon any ground whatsoever For themselves they had rather trust God with their souls than men with their bodies and estates So that whatever cometh of it they will be sure to get what they can that they may have somewhat to rely upon in the time of need Prov. 18.11 The rich mans wealth is his strong City and an high wall in his own conceit For the prevention of the workings of this soul-destructive principle let these ensuing lessons be well imprinted on your spirits and frequently weighed and pondered in your thoughts 1. The God of holiness hath threatned to blast the indeavours and bring the labours to nought of such as eagerly and obstinately pursue the things of this life and neglect to be diligent in laying up a good foundation for eternity When they are earnestly set upon getting riches and care not to keep undefiled consciences the Lord is wont to send a curse upon their blessings and to shrivel their gains into a very narrow compass So that what profit hath a man in such a case of all his pains and labour whereby his heart hath been disquieted Why Sirs it is the blessing of God that maketh rich Prov. 10.22 And what if that blessing be withholden from you Then all your enjoyments will wither and crumble into dust even as flowers fade at the departure of the Sun And this is none other than you may well expect if you follow this world to the neglect of the other world This he is wont to execute upon the children of men when they wound their souls and consciences to get the trash and dung of the earth when they follow after this world and take no heed to walk in the steps of his precepts Sometimes God bloweth upon their labour and travel that they weary themselves as in thefire for very vanity Hag. 1.9 Ye looked for much and lo it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it Why saith the Lord of hosts Because of mine house that is waste and ye run every man to his own house Sometimes he suffers them to have much but doth not give them an heart to enjoy what they have They have no profit nor can suck any sweetness or comfort out of their greatest abundance Eccles 6.1 2. Sometimes he leaveth them to the swing of their lusts to spend what they got for their bodies to the ruine and destruction of their souls So that all they have is too little to satisfie those unsatiable and untamed lusts Eccl. 5.13 14. Prov. 1.32 2. It is but yet a little while and all the good things of this world shall not in the least be able to do you good They cannot support under the terrours of conscience in this life much less can they prevent the stroke of death or allay the bitterness of that passage They may adde to the tortures of conscience because of their evil getting and misemployment but cannot minister a dram of consolation to the departing spirit Prov. 10.2 They may increase the punishment assigned in the day of judgment but no way prevail to the alteration or revocation of the sentence of the Judg. he will not regard thy riches nor thousands of gold and silver When a rich man dieth he shall carry nothing away His glory shall not descend after him Though whiles he lived he blessed his Soul and men will praise thee when thou dost well to thy self He shall go to the generation of his fathers they shall never see light Psal 49.17 18 19. Now it is accounted a piece of the chiefest wisdom to get much in this world however it be gotten But in the end the worldling shall be a fool Jer. 17.11 i.