Observe Gods Church must be united into a well compacted body furnished with needfull helps both for safety and order That the building of cities aims both at safety and orderly government I conceive cannot be denied The first builder of a city left upon record was Cain as is supposed for his own security being cast out of Gods protection Gen. 4.14.17 And Solomon to expresse what confidence worldlings put in their riches tells us they account it their strong Citie Prov. 10.15 Implying that Cities are accounted places of great strength and security Secondly it is evident both by reason and experience that Bodies neerly compacted are more easily and better governed and kept in order then a people scattered and dispersed abroad Now that the Lord himselfe had these ends before him in uniting his Church into a body is cleare enough to those that will understand When hee plants his vineyard the House of Israel he means Isai 5.7 the first thing which hee doth is the fencing of it vers 2. And Cantic 4.12 The Church is therefore resembled by a Garden inclosed or barred as it is in the original that is strongly fortified to keep out all that might break in to spoyle or destroy This wall of the Churches defence is the power of the Magistrate for whom we are to pray that under him we may lead a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty 1 Tim. 2.2 that is that being by his power preserved in peace we may serve the Lord without disturbance in holinesse the sword being put into the Magistrates hand for the terror of the wicked and for the praise of them that doe well Rom. 13.3.4 Wherefore the Lord promised that in the erecting of Christs Kingdome Princes shall be unto his Church a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest Isa 32.2 so that none shall hurt or destroy in his holy mountain Isa 65.25 There is besides the Magistrates sword an inner wall Ecclesiasticall discipline by which the little Foxes as they are termed Cant. 2.15 are taken or kept out such as speak perverse things to draw Disciples after them of whom the Apostle gives the Elders of Ephesus a speciall charge to take care Acts 20.30 31. And commands Titus to proceed against them by Ecclesiasticall censure Admonition and Rejection Tit. 3.10 And by the same Discipline Christs Ordinances are preserved pure as the Temple was preserved from pollution by the Priests who were to teach the people the difference between the clean and unclean and to give judgement accordingly Ezek. 44.23 24. These are indeed the true Rails about the Lords Table to keep out Dogges and Swine as Christ terms them Matth. 7.6 from polluting and profaning holy things and these are Jerusalems walls The second thing that God will build in Jerusalem is her streets both for Order and Beauty If the body were a grosse lump as some say Bears whelps are when they are newly fallen not distinguished by parts and members it were both uncomly and unserviceable 1 Cor. 12.18 19 20. There must therefore be streets in Jerusalem distinction of Offices and Functions and distributions of the people into Tribes Cities and Daughters of Cities as the Scripture terms them Villages and particular Congregations without which there can be no orderly government as Jethro tels Moses Exod. 18.18 21. That resemblance of the Church to an Army terrible with Banners Cant. 6.4 may perhaps upon the by under the type of an Army consisting of severall Troops and Companies marshalled under their severall Standards and Banners and yet making up but the entire body of one Army shadow out these divisions of the Church into her several members making up together the body of one Church which by this unitie and order growes and increaseth not as Cities doe in outward wealth but in those durable Riches as Solomon terms them Prov. 8.18 of faith love and other spiritual graces as the Apostle testifies Eph. 4.16 and as experience made it manifest in the Church newly gathered in the Apostles time which having some time of rest and opportunity thereby to joyn in fellowship not only increased in numbers but besides thrived in grace being edified and walking in the feare of the Lord Acts 9.31 which was furthered by those Ordinances which they enjoyed in common called living waters streams from Lebanon Cant. 4.13 conveighing that oyle of grace which like the oyntment powred on Aarons head and running down to the hem of his garments Psalm 133.2 flowes from Christ our head full of grace and truth of whose fulnesse we all receive grace for grace John 1.14 16. These are the advantages that the Citie of God and Church hath by uniting into a well compacted body fenced with Civill and Ecclesiasticall power and in an orderly manner divided into streets or congregations according to Gods appointment Why God will have it so there may be given these reason First God is One and his Name One wherefore the Apostle setting out the unity of the Church in One Body one Spirit one Lord one Faith one Baptisme shuts up all in one God and Father of all Eph. 4 4 5 6. implying that this unity of the Church flowes from him who is One Whence also but Saviour prayes for the Church that the members thereof may be all one as he and the Father are one John 17.21 22. And indeed seeing the Church is united to Christ as the Head thereof it must needs be one Body Now from this spirituall union of the mysticall body of the Church ariseth a kinde of necessity of uniting the members of the Church visible as much as may be Secondly this unity of the Church and order thereby credits Religion It is a good and delightfull thing for brethren to dwel together in unity Psa 133.1 Unity begets Order which proceeds ab uno and diverts ad unum and Order follows Decency which moves the Apostle to joyn them together 1 Cor. 14.40 Both these Unity and Order thereby so grace and commend the Church that many are thereby moved to joyn unto that Society When the Church was magnified of the people many were joyned unto it Acts 5.13 14. A third reason of the necessity of the Churches unity and order is her preservation A Kingdome a Citie an House divided against it selfe cannot stand saith our Saviour Matth. 12.25 26. This care of the Churches preservation is the more needful because it is but a little Flock Luke 12.32 And which is more dangerous a flock of Sheep amongst Wolves Matth. 10.16 which moves Saint Paul to warn the Elders of Ephesus to look to themselves and their Flock because grievous wolves shall enter in amongst them after his departure Acts. 20.29 Vse The Use of this poynt being manifold that I may not hold you ever-long I shall for the present apply it onely by way of Exhortation to that duty in the performance whereof Gods honour and the Churches good are so much interessed wherein if wee
exercise not only in times of temptation but in times of peace as souldiers exercise their Armes before they come to encounter their enemies It is recorded of that great Commander Philopaemon that as he walked either alone or with his friends he used to view and consider the ground through which he passed what advantages or disadvantages it might minister to him or his enemies if he should be there sodainly assailed so that having considered before how he might best either free himself or annoy the assailants he was easily able to avoyd the danger when it came Let us learne in this point wisdome of the children of this world our enemies are more subtile more powerfull more vigilant their surprises more sodaine and more dangerous Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lyon walks about seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.8.9 The meanes which the Apostle prescribeth against this powerfull and dangerous enemy is the stedfastnesse of our Faith which we must not only have but have alwayes about us laying up the Promises alwaies in our hearts and by meditation supposing dangers and temptations before they come to consider how they may be applyed and made use of as the severall emergent occasions shall require The want of this providence in St. Peter left him naked so that he was sodainly surprised and shamefully foiled by Sathan before he could prepare himself for the encounter as is recorded Luk. 22.57 58 60. which he might have prevented if he had not been so securely and carelesly confident ver 33. but taken our Saviours warning before-hand ver 31.34 Faith thus grounded and exercised must be held out as a shield against Sathans fiery darts in times of tryall David being sorely shaken by the observation of wicked mens prosperous estate and his owne afflictions hath recourse to the Sanctuary where the word of God was layd up and see how quietly he settles his heart thereby Psal 73.12.14.17.25.28 And Psal 77. the Psalmist being tempted to question not only Gods mercies but his Promises too vers 7 8. is forced to have recourse to Gods workes ver 11 12. the supporters as I may terme them of that Faith which is founded upon the Word for the quieting of his distempered thoughts This is or should be the practise of all the godly in all our wrestlings with Sathan and his instruments lest Faith take hold on the word if yet it seeme to waver adde unto it experiments eyther in our selves as David doth of his deliverance from the Lyon and the Beare 1 Sam. 17.37 when he was to sight with Goliah or others as David comforted himselfe by remembring Gods judgements of old Psal 119.52 This use of Faith the condition of the times wherein we live so full of trouble and confusion calls for at present whether we looke upon the state of the Church in generall or our owne in Particular In generall we see the Prediction Rev. 12.17 that the Dragon should make warre with the Woman that is the Church and the remnant of her seed which keepe the Commandements of God made good and fulfilled before our eyes as not onely the long continued warres in Germanie but the troubles over most parts of Europe evidence it to the world By which that man of Sinne the Incendiary thereof hath so farre prevailed against the poore flock of CHRIST that some of the most famous and eminent States who had set up the Kingdome of CHRIST amongst them have hardly left unto them at this day the forme or face of a Church In the beholding of such sad spectacles let us lay before us that Propheticall Promise Dan. 2.44 That the Kingdome which God shall set up shall never be destroyed nor left to other people and that faithfull and full assurance out of our Saviours owne mouth that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it Math. 16.18 That rather then faile the Woman the Church he meanes shall have wings to cary her out of the Dragons reach Revel 12.13 14. That the Wildernesse shall nourish her for a time and times and halfe a time that if the Serpent cast out floods of water after her to cary her away the earth shall swallow up the flood vers 15.16 In brief that God will arme and raise all the Creatures in heaven and earth for the defence of his Church Adde unto these the Decree pronounced against the Beast and the false Prophet that deceived them that received the marke of the Beast they shall be taken and be cast alive into a Lake of fire burning with brimstone Revel 19.20 A thing not only decreed but done with God though not yet executed in the sight of men for the Angell cryes mightily with a strong voyce Babylon the great is fallen is fallen Revel 18.2 The word is doubled like Pharaohs dreame because the thing is established by God and God will shortly bring it to passe as Ioseph speakes to Pharaoh Gen. 41.32 yea I dare boldly say that these present Troubles of the Church which yet are but to purge out the Iniquity of Iacob and take away the sinne Isa 27.9 are but preparations to that great worke And these are no vaine Dreames but the true sayings of God as the Angell tels Iohn Rev. 19.9 Yea but you will say what Promise have we concerning this Nation and the Church of God therein what may we beleeve the issue of our troubles shall be at last To this I answer in generall two things First whatsoever our condition shall be suppose it to the worst that we feare yet if wee have any zeale for Gods honour or any true love unto his Church as members of that body we should put on St. Pauls resolution None of these move me sayth he neither count I my life deare unto my selfe so that I may finish my course with joy c. Act. 20.24 It was resolutely answered by the Roman Consuls when they stood stifly against the Law called Agraria which caused so many commotions at sundry times in the Roman state for the opposing wherof their Predecessors the Consuls of the former yeare after the extirpation of their office had been most unjustly Fined by the people Se quoque damnari posse ipsos legem per ferre non posse not regarding what became of themselves so they might secure the State I am sure the Prophets think it a sufficient ground of comfort to support the hearts of Gods children under the heavy burthen of the Babylonish captivity that it should be well with the Church in time to come although few of them lived to see that happie day Secondly although particular Persons and States be not named yet they are included in those Promises made unto the Church in generall or to the Iewes in particular considered as a Church if we answer the Conditions under which the Promise is made If we hearken to God and walke in his wayes we have
stood which David fears to do Psal 73.14 Thirdly the issue of those troubles appearing to be the good of the Church as the Apostle affirms Rom. 8.28 though it should not move us to think them gods with the Barbarians yet it may warrant us to conclude that the cause is Gods and the events the effects not of his wrath but of his love Vse 3 These considerations assure us of a comfortable issue and successe at the last in the cause where in we stand depending on the Almighty power of God who doth whatsoever he pleaseth in heaven and in earth Psal 136.5 and on his goodnesse which as it extends to all his works Psal 145.9 so is it in a more especiall manner manifested to his Israel Psal 73.1 And lastly on his faithfulnesse which continues to all generations Psal 119.90 and therefore he must make good his word that the gates of hell shall not prevail against his Church Mat. 16.18 and that he will not forget his people though a woman should forget her sucking childe Isai 49.15 Vse 4 Fourthly the considering of the Churches troubles warns us to prepare for and arm our selves against them before hand as both St. Paul Eph. 6.11.12 and St. Peter 1 Epist 5.8 exhort us both to be armed and to stand upon our guard upon that ground because we shall meet with strong encounters We had indeed need to be stirred up to make such provision 1. Because the Churches troubles are certain as not only raised by men who may fail in their intentions but decreed by God whose counsels stand throughout all ages Psal 33.11 You shall have afflictions in the world saith our Saviour Joh. 16.33 The king of Syria will come against thee at the return of the yeer Gostrengthen thy self and see what thou doest saith the Prophet to Ahab 1 King 20.22 Secondly though in a true estimation these troubles are as the Apostle terms them but light afflictions 2 Cor. 4.17 yet to flesh and blood they seem grievous for the present Heb. 12.11 as the Prophet Davids bitter complaints not only in sore sicknesses Psal 38.6 7 8. but besides in the persecutions of his enemies Psal 143.3 sufficiently testifie When nature is so sensible of afflictions and by the sense of them makes so strong impressions upon the spirit when we feel so much smart by these although but outward troubles it concerns us neerly to be well provided of such strong helps as may support our spirits in such trialls Thirdly it concerns us the more to prepare for such troubles as a Christian profession brings with it because they not only afflict us at present but withall strike at the very foundation of our faith often times as the Psalmist acknowledgeth that in his present distresses he was moved to question both Gods Mercie and the Promises themselves Psal 77.7 8 9. Now if faith should fail us we are left destitute of all comfort at present and of all hope hereafter it must therefore be our care to be well prepared for that conflict wherein if we should be mastered we are lost for ever To make provision for the supporting of our selves under such troubles as attend the Church every member of it under Christs government our care must be First to take off our hearts from the world as we are advised to do like good souldiers 2 Tim. 2.4 It is the love which we bear unto and high esteem that we have of the honours riches and pleasures of the world that keeps us off from Christ as it did the young man Mat. 19.22 and makes us look back oftentimes and thereby unfit for the Kingdome of God Luke 9.62 Secondly we must labour to get assurance of heaven it was the assurance of a crown of righteousnesse laid up for him which strengthened St. Paul to fight that good fight 2 Tim. 4.7 8. We must have treasure some where if we have taken off our hearts from earthly treasures we must lay up for our selves treasures in heaven as our Saviour adviseth Mat. 6.19 20. The Merchant never sold all that he had till he had found that pearle of great price and bought it Mat. 13.46 Thirdly we must take up and exercise our selves in the use of that spirituall armour recommended unto us Eph. 6 13 14 15. above all the shield of faith ver 16. of which we have spoken already sufficiently Fourthly we must watch with all perseverance as our Saviour commands not only his Disciples but all men to do Mark 13.37 First watch our selves keep thine heart with all diligence Prov. 4.23 because it is deceitfull and desperately wicked Jer. 17.3 full of evill thoughts whence proceed adulteries fornications murthers Mar. 7.21 None ought to be more carefully watched then the traitors within our own bosomes Watch the world our company or any temptation that may assail us from without David was of all things most carefull of his company joyning with those that feared the Lord Psal 119.63 and commanding the wicked out of his sight vers 115. Above all watch Satan 1 Pet. 5.8 and be not ignorant of his devises as the Apostle calls them 2 Cor. 2.11 And to be the better armed against all these keep the heart fill'd with holy thoughts hide the law there Psal 119.11 that it may be our meditation all the day vers 97. Fiftly consider and be throughly acquainted with the nature of those troubles which the world feares so much that they reach not to those things that most concern us they corrupt not our hearts unlesse it be our own faults that they are but momentany and bring us more advantages as we have shewed then they do incombrances Lastly look at the reward that follows as our Saviour for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse despising the shame Afflictions are light while wee looke at the things which are eternall 2 Cor. 4.18 the crown of righteousnesse which God the righteous Judge gives those that fight the good fight 2 Tim. 4.8 The last considerable circumstance in my Text is the matter or thing promised the building of the walls and streets of Jerusalem the walls for defence and the streets to reduce it into an orderly form That the materiall Jerusalem is to be looked on as a type of the Church is evident by St. Johns description of the new Jerusalem Rev. 21.2.10.12 by the types of the walls gates foundations and circuit of that old Jerusalem and the resemblance of the Church figured by the Temple in Ezekiels vision Chap. 41. and 42. So that in this promise before us we have represented to us how God will have his Church ordered for time to come hee will not only have a people freed from Satans bondage as the Jews from the Babylonish captivity but will have a Jerusalem built a people united into a body a regular body compassed with walls of government for protection and digested into an orderly form as cities are by streets so that we may hence