Therefore it is called a weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. ult Secondly this must be evident Psal 50.23 and therefore he that offers me praise saith God he glorifies me From hence it is attributed to the Church that is reformed and after the minde of God Glorious things are spoken of thee thou City of God Psal 63.2 Psal 87.3 My soule thirsts to see thy power and thy glory as I have seene it in the Sanctuary And because that upon this one great part of the discourse hangs I shall therefore by the way make it evident that by Glory is understood here a Church reformed And that from a threefold ground 1. By considering the context 2. Because there is nothing in the reformation of the Church but what is included in the word glory in the Scripture phrase 3. Because there is nothing in glory but what is in a Church reformed First if you looke to the context you shall finde there a branch comming out of the earth in the 2. v. that is Isa 5.7 Isa 44.3.4 a Church erected when the face of it was spoyled corrupted yea undiscernible this is beautifull The Septuagint render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in all parts according to the will of God it is such the members whereof are holy vers 3. are purged vers 4. and that by the Spirit of Judgement and by the spirit of burning Secondly whereas there goes but two things to the reformation of the Church they are both in the word glory First there must be all the ordinances thus the Arke was called glory 1 Sam. 4.21 and the Arke signified both the word and Sacraments here are communicants in these and they are such as are cleansed and undefiled vers 3. here is thirdly government 2 Pet. 2.10 it is said of some they doe despise and not respect dominions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or glories as the word is and the glory that is there spoken is not eivill but ecclesiasticall for it is such a kinde of despising as Corah and Dathan were guilty of against Moses Jude 8.11 Now they opposed Moses not as a Magistrate but as a Minister and Law-giver unto the Church and therfore they said Are not all the people of the Lord holy and not wise or valorous or true hearted which art the vertues of a Magistrate Besides false teachers are for the most part flatterers of Prin-ces not Despisers as Zedekiah was and Simon Magus who adored Nero. Whenyou have the ordinances then the Second thing required to a Reformation is to have them pure and after Gods prescript without humane addition or alteration take this for a rule the more plain Gods ordinances are the more powerfull the more there is of man the lesse there is of God in them Ezek. 44.7 God tells them they had polluted his Sanctuary that is made it common the facramentall bread did them no more good than their owne ordinary bread and the company of the Saints no more then the company and society of men You have this in the text too for here is beauty joyned with glory in vers 2. and beauty is a native complexion here is glory joyned with purging the spirit of judgement and of burning in the verse before my text here is holinesse written on every Soule vers 3. and to be holy is all one with being set apart to a holy use and being prepared and fitted for it Thirdly take glory in the highest sense that possibly you can yet then it suites with reformation Take glory for blisse and happinesse in heaven the Scripture so describes a Church as you can scarse know heaven and it asunder Heb. 12.22.23 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hesich You are come to the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem unto innumerable Company of Angels unto the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 3.15 Heb. 11. last LXX Vocant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 generall assembly to the Church of the first borne which are written in heaven unto God the Judge of all and unto the Spirits of just men made * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 3.15 Heb. 11. last LXX Vocant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perfect c. and yet it is apparent it is meant of the Church here for he saith they are come into it and if he had onely meant it concerning the Communion all Saints had together he had not attained his end for which he spake these words which was to prove that in the new Testament there was such a Communion as the old had not in comparison of it Rev. 21. You have there spoken of a City all whose pavement and gates are Jewels you would thinke it were heaven but it is not For you read in the 22.15 of a Judgement day that doth come after There are three things that make heaven or everlasting glory 1. Gods revealing of himselfe 2. Gods full communicating himselfe Vniformis in Dewn convolutio intellectualiū virtutum Dionyside divin nom c. 4. cessante discursu mentis intuitus figitur in contemplatione unius simplicis veritatis Aqu. 22. q. 180. 1 Chro. 16.11 2 Chro. 7.14 3. The convolution or turning of all the Soule upon God according unto what he doth reveale of himself and all these are in the Church reformed First there is a revelation of God Ephes 3.10 the unsearchable riches of Christ and the manifold wisedome of God is knowne in the Church therefore it is called his face wherein you may see all the motions and turnings of his heart it is called his beauty Psal 27.4 I long to see thy beauty Beauty is the symmetry and proportion of all parts if you looke on the actions of God in the world you cannot see how one attribute can accord with another The guilty soule understands not how God can be just and pardon him the presuming spirit understands not how God can prosper him and hate him the troubled sinner how God can afflict and love him You shall see all these in the Church well agreed Psal 73.17 Secondly In heaven there is a full conveyance of God and so there is in the Church Ephese 1. ult the Church is the fulnesse of God that is that which he fills his fulnesse passively They have the increases of God Colos 2.19 Now there is nothing in the phrase of Scripture called by the name of God but what is eminent as the mountaines of God the City of God the increases of God therefore there are such increases as passe the understanding of any but these that have experience and feeling of them Thirdly In heaven the soule is fixed on God and being so is changed into his likenesse the Apostle saith the selfe-same thing concerning the Church 2 Cor. 3. ult we looke upon him with open face and are changed into the same image from glory to glory in the ministration of the word There is no difference betweene heaven and a Church reformed but onely this
REFORMATION'S PRESERVATION OPENED IN A SERMON Preached at Westminster before the Honourable House of COMMONS at the late solemne FAST July 26. 1643. By SIDR SIMPSON Minister of the Word Published by Order of that House LONDON Printed for Benjamin Allen and are to be sold in Popes-head-Alley 1643. TO THE HONOVRABLE House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT ALL the well-affected in the Kingdom cry unto you as the woman of Samaria did unto the King Helpe us or as the Disciples did to Christ you have bid us come unto you upon the waters Save us for we are sinking sinking in our estates our liberties our Religion yea in our hearts and courage too You have many wayes before you for our safety as the speedy execution of justice on Offendors Ier. 5.1 1 Sam. 21.15.14 their life may bee our death 1 Kin. 20 4◠the vigorous prosecution of the warre the taking hold of all advantageous opportunities the wise and active improvement of that Spirit God hath yet left in the People which never was more high and great then now it will be Great dangers raise great courage But there is no meanes like to Reformation that 's a defence cannot be beaten down The stones and timber of the Temple were hewed and squared indeed some time before they were set up but if that building be not in your heart and in your hearts above all things besides what ever else you doe will either be without successe or make us further miserable Without successe for except the Lord doe keep the Kingdome the Watch-men are in vaine and God will not keepe that which is not a Glory to him or else make us more miserable for when men are subdued God will come and war against us It 's a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God Our God is a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 and these words are spoken to presse on a Reformation If a Reformation be not aimed at Quorsum haec dispendia why are wee in jeopardy every houre and are as sheepe accounted to bee slaine If it bee aimed at troubles are not troubles losses are not losses Those heapes are not ruines which the Builder makes in plucking downe to make the house up better Men will never reckon of their taxes dangers feares if they may have Reformation for them Some evills have so subtilly layd themselves between the stones of the Common-wealth gotten such Lawes obtained such favour amongst men because they are imployed so much in Civill matters that no word of God alone can destroy them without sharpe contentions unlesse your hands be on them Every one may reforme himselfe but you onely can the Nation of those evills and unlesse those bee removed actum est de Religione The God of Heaven give to all and every of you such a spirit as may make you fearlesse of dangers faithfull to your trust true to your professed ends and succesfull in this worke which shall be the dayly prayer of him who is Your Servant in the Lord S. Simpson A SERMON Preached at the late Fast before the Honourable House of COMMONS Isaiah 4. the latter part of the fifth verse For upon all the glory there shall be a defence THere are but two things that are the desire of all good men in these times The Reformation of Religion and The safety and preservation of it and of the Kingdome and you have both these in the text Reformation in the word glory Levit. 21 2y preservation in the other There are but two workes of this day Soul-afflicting and Soul-comforting of our selves in God and wee have matter for both these in the text too For mourning because our glory Relgion is stained darkened assaulted endangered It is now with us as it was with the Israelites 1 Sam. 4. Our Arke is in the field therefore it is sit every mans hand should be on his loynes and his heart be full of trembling For matter of comfort and encouragement the text is fitting too for the words are a promise that none shall hurt us Vpon all the glory there shall be a defence If you looke on the former chapter and the foregoing verses of this Chapter you shall finde as bad times foretold as could be such in which the slaughter should be so great that there should not be the sixt man lest at most for seaven women saith the text Vers 1. shall take hold of one man such a time wherein the women shall run up and downe and desire * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 firmiter apprehendere vel retinere fugientem Precibus ac sollicitationibus adorientur Musc and hang on men not so much to marry them as to save them from the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro defloratione unchast hands of rude Souldiers The case of this people was somewhat like the case of Benjamin wherein they had not men enow to give unto their women Sad times to have the present generation murthered and no hopes of another that should be chast and holy and yet that was not all if it had beene but the losse of their lives they would not have so much complained but in the losse of this nation Religion was lost too in the blotting out of their names Gods name was blotted out from under heaven There are no people fare so hardly nor finde such sharpenesse from the hand of God as these who make profession and but a profession of religion Apostatizing Churches have the severest punishments In this sad case God comes to comfort them for that is his manner with his people if he give one foule word he gives two faire if he gives a stroake he gives a kisse if he send out an enemy against them himselfe speakes as David to the Commander when he went out against his sonne Absalon Deale kindly with them Therefore you have in the latter end of this Chapter whereof my text is a part a double consolation given them First That God would by all their troubles and afflictions reforme them and make them a glory 2. That when they are so there should no hand touch them he would be their defence as if he should have said There is no other course then this I take will serve your turne your drosse wil not come off but by such a degree of fire as you are cast into my intendment is not to destroy you but to purge you not to lay you my garden wast but to weed out these things and persons that are hurtfull I will touch no flower but these that have onely colour not savour for upon all the glory there shall be a defence Glory in the generall is nothing else but apparent excellency First in glory there must be some divine excellency some surpassing good and therefore it is given unto God Thine is the glory The Kings daughter is all glorious within as within is opposite not to outward but to apparent Psal 45. she is really glorious
you shall find there first that they had finished their testimony and as all Christs enemies could not put him to death one moment before his houre was come neither could all the adversaries of the Churches these witnesses before they had spoken the last word when they had finished their testimony Vers 7. Secondly you shall find they devoured their adversaries even as the fire that came out of the Over and Furnace in the Booke of Daniel devoured those which stood before it In the 11. Verse you shall finde that they could not be overcome and in the the 13. Verse when as the Popish partie thinke that now they have none to trouble them then shall there come an earthquake a part of this defence such civill warres as shall be their utter ruine but the advance of these witnesses againe to renoune and glory Now we have done altogether with the Explication of the Text I come to the Application of it Vse 1 Vpon all the Glory there shall be a defence First see the reason why God doth expose his people the people called by his name to so many troubles why he lets in crosses calls in enemies disheartens and disables these that are on his side they have defiled his glory and therefore he will not defend them God will take his owne peoples part in nothing that is evill as is it with a Diamond if it be not right it is worth nothing or a picture if it be not to the life it is of no value and so it is with the ordinances of God if they bee not pure and after Gods minde That which is said concerning one ordinance the ministry is true concerning all if they have lost their savour they are not fit to be kept but to be throwne out to the dunghill What would you have God to doe my beloved would you have him defend the people called by his name when they are but so called but are enemies to his glory would you have him imbrace his Spouse when shee hath playd the harlot and brought forth to strangers would you have him keepe his house when the devils haunt it for so in 1 Cor. 10.21 that which is not done by the word in Godsworship is done unto devils because he is the appointer of it would you have him defend these that oppose him who ever they be that corrupt his worship or are corrupt in his worship they shame God they disgrace God nay they doe as much as they can to make God unhappy to take from him his glory and therefore upon them there shall bee no defence Use 2 Secondly let this point strike the Rocke and streames of teares burst forth let it open a spring in dry places for the staines that have beene and that are on our glory on our Religion that so we may prevent the ruine and desolation which if it be not timely lookt unto will come on us First mourne for the corruptions which have beene in Religion so Nehemiah did in Nehem. 9.16.17.26.28 Verses and yet some of these sinnes were committed many hundred yeares before he was borne A man is guilty of all the sinnes he knowes and doth not grieve for because all those he likes How hath it beene I beseech you with us in this land the face of Religion was growne wan and pale unto the death her beautie gone her favour changed her countenance so smutted mangled blurd that you could scarce know her her owne children were afraid of her and therefore fled from her as from her in the story that would have put them unto death her speech was changed she spake she knew not what in stead of Minister she said Priest for Sacraments Sacrifice for Table Altar her heart was wounded her fundamentall doctrines rased her worship mingled originall sinne denied the will of man was made supreame over God and God a servant unto it Christs precious blood made common shed without respect unto any ones good in particular and for ought that either Christ or God the Father knew for all his death no man should bee saved by it for all was left unto mans will and of a fallible cause there can be no certaine and infallible knowledge When God had beene at all the cost of Christs blood and at the putting forth his right hand to worke grace in mans heart yet still man was at his owne will so that he could make all this cost of God in vaine Hee certainly is not God who is so unwise they might as well have said there is no hell for if this bee a naturall power to will the things which are contradictory no man can bee damned for it for what ever is naturall is good and the putting forth of a naturall power cannot be of such ill desert The deitie of God was denyed and as you may find in the last Canons as great penaltie put upon one that should not say that Bishops were Jure Divino as on him who denyed that Christ or the Father were not God The person of the Holy Ghost was questioned I might send you the parts of Religion as the Levites Concubines quarters were sent abroad unto all the Tribes give me leave to represent it to you like Tamar Ammons sister with her hands on her head thrust out of doores and complayning in the streets with teares thus They have ravished me and forced me to their wills and ends they pretended love to mee but intended Popery and Atheisme they have corrupted mee and now they cannot abide me some of my children have beene starved for want of food some have falne into diseases because the food they had was not wholesome and some were forced from me to the howling Desart and Wildernesse Who can now abstaine from teares Looke on the present corruption Christs body is troden under feet by Swine in the Sacrament the Sabbath prophaned puritie nicknamed reformation feared more than vassallage Never never was the glory so neere departing as it is now it is on the threshold taking the wing we are at that passe they were Joel 2.14 who can tell whether God will returne and leave a blessing behind him and therefore it is time to rend your hearts and turne unto the Lord Religion is a going persecuted by Papists hated by the ignorant unkindly used by her owne friends Object It s true indeed that people have offered themselves willingly unto reformation 1 Chro. 29. Answ but David you know and the people did so long before God built the Temple Object It s true there are many righteous among us never kingdome afforded so many Answ but yet scarce will Abrahams ten be found to the number of other prophane persons Object it s true there are that humble themselves in dust and ashes Answ but there are as you heard to day that make these dayes of mourning like dayes of slaughter Isaiah 22.13 and if there were none such there is a time when mourning prayers teares humbling will doe no good