thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord c. See David here right according to his own Emblem Ps 42.1 even as the Hart panting after the water-brooks As the Hart so he wounded and pursued wounded with distress and pursued with danger he pants after the water-brooks eagerly longs after the refreshing comforts of Gods Sanctuary Division In the Division of the words observe two general parts Davids Petition with its Divine Reason 1. Davids Petition One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life 2. The divine reason of Davids Petition To behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire c. In the first General observe two Particulars the Object and the Acts. The Object 1. Emphatically asserted to be unum one thing 2. That one thing expresly described to be this That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life This the Object Secondly the Acts they are two The one speaks the inward affection that of desire the other speaks his eager prosecution of what he desired in seeking after it One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life This is Davids Petition to which he is moved by a twofold reason of Delight and of Devotion 1. Of Delight relating to the types and the antitypes the shadowing figures and glorious mysteries even a beholding the beauty of the Lord. 2. That of Devotion relating to the Oracle and the Altar the Incense and the Sacrifice to which answers our Preaching and Prayer with the Administration of the Sacraments And this David calls a visiting or an enquiring into Gods temple Thus the wounded Hart pants thus Davids troubled soul longs and longing breaths forth his distress concentred in this Petition One thing have I desired of the Lord c. Explic. First General Davids Petition and therein the Object emphatically asserted to be unum one thing In the beginning of the Psalm David keeps an Audit of his Souls accounts reckoning up the large incomes and lasting treasures of Gods bounty grace and mercy the sum whereof is this The Lord is my light and my life my strength and my salvation And now where shall David design his presence but where is his light where shall he desire his person but where is his strength where shall he wish his soul but where is his life and where shall he fix his habitation but where is his salvation even in communion with his God and this especially in the holy Worship of his Sanctuary No wonder then if above all things he desires and seeks after this one thing to dwell in the house of the Lord c. There are quos interpellat ad desiderandum finis ipse desiderandi says Tertullian well Tert. de paen Isa 57.20 There are those whom the end of one desire provoketh to another fluctuating souls whose motion is that of a troubled Sea in continual waves and no wonder if the Needle flit up and down the Compass whilst it is not fixt upon his Pole So no wonder if the mind of man wanders in multiplicity of desires whilst 't is not fixt upon Davids unum his one thing the enjoyment of his God 1 Pet. 2.11 We are here strangers and pilgrims The soul then pursuing sensual delights may haply find some Inne for a nights lodging but no house to make its home no object to make its center Our right habitation can there only be where is our true contentation our repose where is our rest and that is God and this by communion with him in Christ which communion with him in Christ we have in his ordinances and Christs ordinances are in Gods house Gods house then is that one thing above all things which most conduceth to the good of souls yea and welfare of States For no Nation ever prospered in which Gods house was prophaned and when judgment reacheth the Sanctuary who shall secure the City Ezec◠9 ◠6. Ps 75.3 Gen 32.26 The Prayers of the Church are the prosperity of a People whose united force is beyond that of men and Angels it prevails with God Eph. 2.3 it overcomes the Almighty not letting him go without a blessing But from whence is the Churches unity why from Loves union From which union of love it is that the faithful become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellow-members of the same mystical body fellow heirs of the same eternal Kingdom fellow-citizens of the same heavenly Jerusalem Yea such is the communion of love as not only makes many one but also one many hereby 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so S. Chrysostom love not only combines ten thousand into one but also multiplies one into ten thousand For look how many lovers a man hath so manifold he is he hath so many eyes to see for him so many ears to hear for him so many feet to go for him so many hands to work for him so many tongues to speak for him and so many hearts to pray for him Thus the prayers of the Church by a communion of love become each mans in particular which are all theirs in the general And this is the incomparable benefit of the Churches Liturgy generally received that each one hath ten times ten thousand together imploring at the Throne of grace for that blessing he singly sues for Oh the sweet delight of those Closet contemplations when we could take a view of all the Congregations in England at one time of the Lords day in one place of the Lords house in one posture of bended knees and of lift up hands and eyes and hearts breathing one Prayer and closing one Amen! Oh how lovely were this in the sight of Angels how acceptable in the presence of God thus at once in an united force to wrestle with him for a blessing Gen. 32.14 as did Jacob And as such the Prayers such also the Praises of the Church the Militant being Eccho to the Triumphant Holy holy Isa 6.3 so in the Te Deum to Holy Lord God of Hosts that Song of the Cherubims in heaven and of Saints on earth Oh! had we this sacred Unity how soon would vanish our hateful Divisions O that all mens Ambitions and Covetousness were concentred in the Unity of David's desire to enjoy God in his Sanctuary to dwell in his house and devote themselves to his holy worship This the first particular of Davids Petition as to the Object emphatically asserted to be unum one thing 2. We proceed to this one thing as it is expresly described A dwelling in the house of the Lord. Of all the creatures God still hath some whom he calleth his as separate by a particular dedication and sanctification to himself Thus
the Church Triumphant by some excellent glory According to that of the Prophet Dan. 12 3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever To close then in days of persecution St. Paul tells us That the suffering Saints of Christs Church 1 Cor. 4.9 they are made a Spectacle unto the World and to Angels and to Men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says the Apostle We are brought forth into the World as upon a stage to play a prize in the view of Heaven and Earth So that being approved we cannot but be manifest yea performing our parts well the Angels themselves shall give a plaâ—dite at our exit they shall with triumph conveigh our Souls into the Heavenly Presence Heb. 2.10 where Christ the Captain of our Salvation as Arbiter of the Combate shall bestow a Crown of Glory as the reward of Victory 1 Cor 9 25. In days then of tryal and trouble from the persecutions of Heresie Quest How may we best order our lives as such who are approved for constancy in the Faith Answ In the exercise of these Christian Duties Answ fervent Prayer sincere Obedience devout Meditation strict Watchfulness and holy Zeal 1. Fervent Prayer That God would be pleased in mercy to open the eyes and incline the hearts of the Seducers and of the seduced O Beloved you know not the vertue and efficacy of Prayer for the Conversion of Souls Prayer may do it when Preaching fails when the religious and tender mother Monica applied her self to St. Ambrose with this humble suit That he would by his learned Conference reclaim her son Augustine from his Error seduced into the blasphemous Heresie of the Maniches Though she urged her suit with sighs and that Pathetical Oratory of flowing tears yet the pious and prudent Father waves her request and returns her this answer Thy sons heat of youth and pride of sp rit does render him uncapable of my Conviction to his Conversion but thou continuing thy Prayers earnestly soliciting the Throne of Grace Aug. Confes l. 3. c. 12. Ille legendo reperiet quis ille sit error quanta impietas He shall finde by reading in how great an Error and Impiety he is involved For that Tot lachrymarum filius the son of so many tears shall not perish And that this was seasonable and saving advise the manner and method of St. Augustines Conversion evidently declares Let this then be a part of their Prayer who are approved in the Faith That God would open the eyes and incline the hearts of the Seducers and the seduced or if their Seduction be a Judgment of Reprobation and irreversible by Prayer let this be our supplication That God will defend and deliver his Church from the Policies and Practises 2 Thes 3 2. the Pertinacy and Persecution of such unreasonable men as the Apostle calls them And in our Prayers let not our hearts fail nor our faith faint for notwithstanding the thick mists and threatning storms yet God will be seen in the Mount a present help in our pressing troubles and a saving deliverance in our deepest distresses With Jehoshaphat when we know not what to do then Let our eyes be towards the Lord 2 Chron. 20.6 and if our eyes be towards God in Prayer his eye will be towards us in pity and his compassion shall bring Salvation 2. To our fervent Prayer we must joyn a sincere Obedience I doubt not but that we have many of us poured forth many Prayers breathed forth many sighs But what is the reason they have not returned as Noahs Dove Gen. 8.11 With an Olive branch of peace a gracious answer of mercy Is it not because we have sought our selves more then our God Our ease and rest more then his truth and righteousness Psal 65.2 God is a God that heareth Prayers this is a title in which he glories a glory of which he boasts So that our narrow hearts stop his flowing streams and we become straitned in our selves not in our God His Mercies are free and full our Prayers empty and vain and why are our Prayers empty and vain but because our lives are sinful and vile God is not unwilling to give but we uncapable to receive he not backward to bestow but we unfit to enjoy we seek Consolation but not in the way of Sanctification we desire Peace and rest but pursue it not in the way of Truth and Holiness Renewed hearts and reformed lives O how well how well Beloved do they suit the old Faith and antient Truth That truth in which we profess to be constant and that Faith in which we desire to be approved But oh when our sins out-cry our Prayers and our Conversations confute our Supplications no wonder if an Orthodox Church languish And a few Suppliants at the Throne of Grace have their Prayers returned into their own bosoms not availing for the publick good being strongly overborn by a publick guâ—lt Wherefore when we implore God in Prayer imitate we the Church in the Lamentations Lam. 3.41 By lifting up our hearts with our hands unto God in the Heavens Hieron in loc Now Cor cum manibus levat qui orationem operibus roborat he lifts up hâ—s heart with his hands who strengthens his Prayers with his works his hearty Devotion with his sincere Obedience 3. Devout Meditation This in the sacred Scriptures the Pandects of Divine Law from whence we argue the Panoply and Magazin from whence we arm our Tongues and Pens against all that is Heretical Onely our Meditation here must be accompanied with Humility 1 Cor. 8.1 that Knowledge puff not up with Pride And therefore herein especially do we exercise our Humility in not being over-confident of our own knowledge for alas when the best know most how far are they from knowing half of what is contained in the Mysteries of the Grace and Gospel of Christ For that Hierom in Eph. 3. Singuli sermones syllabae apices puncta in divinis scripturis plena sunt sensibus so St. Hierom every word every syllable every letter every title Chrys Proaem Câ—m in Ep. ad Rom. Dam Scripturae bonae intelliguntur non bene quod in eis non bene intelligitur etiam temerè audacter asseritur Aug. Tract 18. in Joan. Id. Aug. in the sacred Scriptures is full of mystery and divine meaning Now from hence are all Heresies even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a not knowing the Scriptures so St. Chrysostome and St. Augustine more fully hereby men become Heretical when they have not a right understanding of the sacred Scriptures and what they rightly understand not through ignorance they rashly assert with boldness Wherefore when we meditate upon the sacred Scriptures meeting with some more secret and amazing mysteries let our humility teach us that there Melior est fidelis ignorantia
a Mother for fruitfulness this the Kingdom of Heaven this the Body of Christ this the Church Universal the Church Catholick which is invisible the object of Faith and not of Sense and therefore we say in our Creed I believe the holy Catholick Church Which holy Catholick Church ◠Tim ◠15 Cant. 6.8 as by S. Paul it is said to be Columna Veritatis the Pillar of Truth so by Solomon Columna Unitatis the Dove of Unity Indeed the Church can be but one because Christ her Head is but one who is the same yesterday to day Heb. 1◠8 and for ever The same 1. Objectivè in his Word yesterday shadowed in the Law to day shewed in the Gospel the New Testament being claspt up in the Old and the Old laid open in the New The Old Testament and the New like two concentrick circles they differ in their circumference yet agree in one center and that center Christ 2. As Christ is the same objectivè in his Word so is he the same subjectivè in his Attributes his Wisdom Goodness Power yea dignity and authority one and the same Shepherd of his Flock one and the same King of his people one and the same Head of his Church 3. The same effective in the gifts and graces of his Spirit in the power and efficacy of his Word and of his Sacraments Now the light of the Gentiles Luke 2.32 as before the glory of his people Israel as yesterday to Abraham Isaac and Jacob so to day he is to as many as believe on him Jesus a Saviour And if thus but one Head then necessarily but one Body if but one Christ then but one Church But one Church however it receives its divers names of distinction according to its different degrees of communion as being either militant or triumphant The Church militant in tempore peregrinationis in the time of her sojourning here in fear and the Church triumphant in aeternitate mansionis Aug. Enchi◠c 56. in the eternity of her dwelling with Christ in glory so S. Augustine Militant is that part of the Church which is on earth still fighting in a continued warfare against the flesh the world and the devil Triumphant is that part of the Church which now rest from their labours Rev. 14.13 who by the power of Christ have vanquish'd the powers of darkness and therefore with victorious palms in their hands clothed with the robes of glory they stand continually before the throne of God Rev. 7.9 15. and serve him in his temple Both these the Militant and Triumphant make up one Church Catholick Aug. ibid. one now in vinculo charitatis in the bond of charity and shall be for ever one in consortio aeternitatis in the fellowship of eternity But further this Catholick Church with which we have communion with Christ as she is Columba Unitatis the Dove of Unity so Columba Puritatis too the Dove of Purity she is the holy Catholick Church Though on Earth indeed she be incompassed with many infirmities Psal 45.13 overshadowed with many afflictions yet is she the Kings daughter all glorious within indued she is with Christs holy Spirit adorned she is with his holy Graces clothed she is with his perfect Righteousness Holy the Church is 1 In Christ her Head who is perfectly holy even holiness it self 2 Holy she is in her Triumphant part Eph. 5.27 which is made compleat in Holiness sine ruga aut macula without either wrincle or spot without either wrincle of imperfection or spot of uncleanness 3 Holy she is in her Militant part also holy by sanctification partially and by imputation of Christs Righteousness perfectly so sanctified she is not as to be free from all abiding of sin Rom. 6.12 that 's for the estate of glory but so as to be free from the reigning of sin that 's for the state of grace Our holiness in this life it is but inchoative and in part in fieri not in facto our perfection of holiness shall not be till our consummation in happiness and when we shall be made compleatly happy then shall we be made also perfectly holy Thus you have seen what is the Church of Christ in its larger acception and in its nearer relation In its larger acception as the Church of the Elect the Elect Angels and Elect Saints in its nearer relation as the Church of the redeemed redeemed in an effectual communication of Christs fulness as he is the Head The Head of the Body the Church c. 3. What the Church is of which Christ is said to be the Head in its different adjuncts as visible and invisible The Church Catholick or Universal not being genericè but integraliter Universale the Universal Church as we say the Universal World as it is aptly distinguished according to its different states into the Church Militant and Triumphant so is it distinguished no less aptly according to its divers adjuncts into the Church visible and invisible Which distinction being observed to be not a distribution of the Genu◠into its Species nor of the whole into its parts as if either one Church or one part of the Church were visible and another invisible but a distinction of adjuncts to the same subject This being observed we may the better answer and retort the Arguments of the Romish adversary in the great contest concerning the visibility of the Church To be invisible is an affection of the Catholick Church in respect of its internal and essential form To be visible is an affection of the same Catholick Church according to its form external and accidental The internal and essential form of the Church consists in union with Christ through the Spirit the object of Faith and not of Sense in which regard the Church must needs be invisible But now the external and accidental form of the Church is the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments with a publick profession of the true Faith of Christ and in this the Church must needs be visible yea by how much that profession and Ministry is the more publick and pure by so much is the Church the more conspicuous and glorious The Church then as it is visible may be thus defined to be The whole company of men and women professing the Faith of Christ in the sincere preaching of the Word and right administration of the Sacraments And this is the definition of the Church according to its external and accidental form that definition before given being according to its form Internal and Essential and by this we may understand how men are said to be of the Church and to be in Christ either by outward profession or by inward sanctification that an external this an internal communion by the outward profession of an external communion onely so the Formal Hypocrite by the inward sanctification of an internal as well as the outward profession of an external communion so the Truly Regenerate
his wisdom or puzzle his power to effect a deliverance but as his counsel is unsearchable Deut. 33.27 2 Cor. 12.9 so his strength is everlasting and this strength is made perfect in weakness Wherefore when we pray if God does not answer it is not because he does not hear but that we should farther â—mportune Ostium coeli propterea clausum ut tu fortiùs pulses The gate of heaven is shut not that entrance is denied but that thou shouldst knock the harder even with more faith and more servor more patience and more importunity praying again and again Deliver Israel O God out of all his troubles § 15. 3 The extent of Israels deliverance out of all trouble Deliver Israel O God out of all his troubles Many there are whose seared consciences have made them obdurate hearts they are become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men void of all relenting affections wholly insensible of the Churches sufferings So they can raise themselves upon her ruines and enrich themselves with her spoils they care not to see her lie in the dust yea wallow in her blood torne with Schism and defiled with profanenesses But most certain it is the Good Heart can never be without trouble whilst the Church continues in her distress still preferring Jerusalems peace before its chief joy Ps 137.6 § 16. Yea our sad experience we know will subscribe the acknowledgment of this truth that the present waters of the Churches affliction like the former oil of her sacred unction it hath run down from the crown of the head to the skirts of the garments Ps 133.2 from the highest Prince to the lowest Peasant And now then let Compassion be the mother of devotion and by how much our sense of her sorrows is the more deep by so much let the fervor of our prayers be the more zealous that God would deliver her out of all her troubles Exod. 4.22 Exod. 19.5 6. But what deliver Israel out of all his troubles Israel Gods first-born his peculiar treasure his chosen nation is he in trouble and in many troubles too Yes it is so Let not then any place plead priviledge nor any person no not the most Sacred on earth any prerogative to exempt or acquit them from the chastising scourge of the most high God Gen. 6.12 § 17. All flesh saith God have corrupted themselves before me And if all flesh be corrupted all flesh must suffer the Chyrurgions hand either ad sanandum or ad excindendum either for the curing or for the cutting off Even he who was the Son of God taking upon him the flesh of man though he was without sin yet was he not without suffering Wonder not then that Gods first-born Israel whilst the onely-begotten of the Father Christ Jesus suffers affliction for Non decet sub spinoso capite corpus esse delicatum It is not comely that the head being crown'd with pricking thorns the body be clothed with delicate purple The Spouse must share in her Husbands lot the Church have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings And it is his promise Phil 3.10 2 Tim 2.12 if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him in which triumphant estate alone it is that the Church shall have her full freedom from all miseries her full deliverance out of all troubles § 18. Here to represent the Troubles of our Israel and then to mind us of the fit season and service to pray for Israels deliverance even the celebration of the blessed Eucharist 1. To represent us the troubles of out Israel A sum whereof we have so exactly set down by S. Paul in 2 Tim. 3. that he seems not only to have aim'd at our times but also to have pointed at our Land For what was his sure prophesie hath been our sad experience and it is but changing the tense to make his Prophetical prediction an historical narration even that as v. 2. Men are become lovers of their own selves from which unclean fountain of self love do issue those filthy streams of all the following impâ—eties which give so fit a character of our Apostate times in which men are become through self-love covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy All which evils they are set down by the Apostle and are plainly to be discerned by us to be the adulterate bâ—ood and bastard brats of Heresie and Schism § 19. By whose venom and fury see oh see the Tragical Scene of tumults and wars of rapines and spoils of treachery and violence See a Nation sick and fainting a Church ruin'd and in the dust a People in fatuated and divided Oh see Justice despised and Truth rejected yea see the Ministry ordinances and worship of God violated invaded Priests being made of the lowest of the people and who will 1 King 13.33 putting himself into the Sacred function the least fitted being best accepted and most approved Men women and boys step from the shop from the stall from the kirchin almost from the cradle to the Pulpit and these undertake the dispensing of the Word and the administring of the Ordinances as if the Church were another Capitol or our days those of Jereboam to worship Calves § 20. Indeed Zeal and the Spirit is pretended yet we know well enough it is the Clusters of grapes which invite the Foxes into the vinâ—yard the Revenues of the Church that draws Faction into the Ministry And by these intruders see oh see how the greatest testimonies of Christs presence and the dearest pledges of his love his blessed Sacraments they are either quite removed or impiously prosan'd Yea see weak men and silly women suffer their precious souls to be vainly seduc'd and through fond pretences of piety yea some in open professions of blasphemy make shipwrack of their faith 1 Tim. 1.19 O God! in what a maze of perplexities and labyrinth of miseries are we involv'd such as no hand save that of thine extraordinary providence can lead us out § 21. And oh the hainousness of our sins through our impenitence which stand as a thick cloud betwixt us and our God that our prayer Lam 3.44 cannot pass through And thus our continuing in sin is the prolonging of his Judgments and whilst we thus lie wallowing in our lusts restless in our malice and helpless in our misery God he hides his face in anger end our enemies look on with scorn God he goes on in his wrath farther to afflict us and our Enemies continue in their hatred still to deride and mock us Lam. 2.16 This say they this is the day we looked for now Gods vengeance hath overtaken them and his fury seizd upon them In the thoughts of these sad troubles and deep distresses quis temperet à lachrymis who can refrain from tears of mourning who can refrain his sorrows of compassion And who is' t that feelingly compassionates the troubles of our Israel that will not servently
implore its deliverance And when when more seasonably help the Church with our prayers then now when her Prayers are violently wrested from the Church § 22. But more especially 2 to mind us of the fit season and service to pray for Israels deliverance even the celebration of the blessed Eucharist Seeing so great wrath is come upon us from the Almighty do we this day lay hold on the horns of the Altar do we in the celebration of this blessed Sacrament deeply sigh and contritely mourn for all the abominations that are committed in the Land that so Ezek. 9.4 with those Penitentiaries in Ezekiel we may receive our mark even that blood of Christ upon out souls that so the destroying Angel may yet pass over us and in the behalf of this our Israel do we in our most enlarged devotions make this or the like intercession unto God in the holy Eucharist Look down oh look down heavenly Father from the height of Heaven thy celestial Sanctuary and behold the sacred Hoast the blood of our Jesus speaking better things then that of Abel Heb. 12.24 even things of grace and of mercy of pardon and of peace of reconciliation and of restauration And seeing in him thy justice is satisfied let thy wrath be appeased and through the merit of his blood oh let the bleeding wounds of our fainting Land be healed and the faintâ—ng heart of our languishing Church reviv'd § 23. And here let the outward distractions of our Israel minde us of the inward distempers of our hearts the great profanations in the Church prompt us to a strict purifying of our Consciences yea our longing desires after better days quicken our holy endeavours after better lives So shall we find by an happy experience God who did watch for our deliverance when we knew not our danger In the Powder-plot 1605. he will not sleep now we know our danger and pray for our deliverance No as for the Enemies of Sion evil shall fall upon them and sudden desolation Isa 47.11 nescient ortum ejus they shall not know from whence it ariseth But as for the Israel of God he shall deliver them as a bird out of the Fowlers net Ps 124 6 7. and as a prey out of the Lyons teeth at once making it the praise of our faith then to believe when our trust seems to be against hope Rom. 4.18 and the glory of his power then to save when our condition seems to be past succor And thus for the share we have in the sorrow of Israels troubles we shall have our portion in the joy of Israels deliverance Is 35.10 if not whilst the Church is militant on earth yet most assuredly then when triumphant in heaven of which this blessed Sacrament is the seal and pledge confirming the Royal grant of this humble Petition to every faithful soul that prays with David Deliver Israel O God out of all his troubles Halleluiah THE Preacher's Tripartite BOOK II. To administer COMFORT BY CONFERENCE with the SOUL IN ITS Spiritual Conflicts Reduced to particular CASES of CONSCIENCE Viz. 1. The importunate Crowd of Vain Thoughts 2. The frightful Suggestions of Foul Thoughts 3. Some late Relapses into Sin 4. Daily Conflicts with Sin 5. A Distrust of the Graces sincerity in general of Faith and of Repentance in particular 6. The sense of Barrenness in holy Duties 7. The misapprehension of Gods withdrawing the Comforts of his gracious presence 8. The misinterpretation of the Order of Gods Providence as to the Tribulations of the Godly and as to the Prosperity of the Wicked 9. The long Continuance of Temptations and Afflictions By ROBERT MOSSOM LONDON Printed by Thomas Newcomb 1657. TO THE Right Honorable Lady FRANCES Marchioness of HERTFORD c. MADAM I Acknowledge it mine ambition that I seek your Honor's Patronage but dare adventure upon this guilt in confidence of a Favorable Pardon as well as an Honorable Protection to your Suppliant I know no vice in Morals unpardonable like that of Ingratitude and therefore to avoid the sin and censure of this Apostacy I declare it Madam your Reward of Goodness exceeding the Merit of a former Present which hath obliged the duty of this Dedication What are the charitable supplies of your Eleemosynary bounties notwithstanding Modesty is at once the Vail and Ornament of your Vertues there is a Trumpet of Honorable Fame that proclaims it That I have my self received an encouragement of my Studies by your Nobleness I willingly embrace this opportunity thankfully to acknowledge and record Besides Madam it were improper to intitle the SOUL'S CONFERENCE to any other then an experienced Piety whose Spiritual Conflicts sustained can give testimony to the Comforts administred which not Greatness but Goodness can best approve and Patronize Here then Madam to your Goodness as great in Honor and to your Honor as great in Goodness is humbly presented this Freewill-offering the Work and the Author and no Votary can do more then make his whole Possession one Oblation as ambitious to bear the name and attribute of being NOBLE MADAM Your Honors Faithfully Devoted Servant R. MOSSOM CONFERENCE WITH THE SOUL In its Spiritual Conflicts THE INTRODUCTION IT is the great design of Satan in a malicious envy to Man if he cannot spoil us of our Crown Lam. 3.17 18. then to rob us of our Comfort If he cannot deprive us of Grace then to bereave us of our Peace Which thing he doth not only attempt but often attain by raising in our hearts an infernal fog of diffidence and distrust Ps 77.8 9. Ps 88.5 6. begetting such doubts and fears and affrighting terrors as do make the Soul against all the light of counsel and of comfort in the Word conclude against it self to have lost all interest in Gods love Job 38.2 and Christs merits Lam 5.22 Isa 49.14 all Communion with the Spirit of grace and of life pleading with much vehemencie of passion and impatience that its former hopes have been but deceitful presumptions and its exercises of holiness hypocritical delusions Oh the thick darkness which this mist and fog of Satans suggestions casts upon the inward man How doth it become the very shop of fears the womb of terrors Ps 23 4. yea the valley and shadow of death the cheering light of the Sun of Righteousness being thereby eclipsed from the Soul Now there is no greater advantage unto Satan in his temptations then the ignorance and error of the mind when the Understanding is darkened or deceiv'd darkened through want of knowledge or deceiv'd with a false light For Satan he works still contrary unto God and yet in imitation of him too And therefore as God in his operations of grace to beget life Eph. 1.17 18. he first enlightens and illuminates so Satan in his temptations unto sin to destroy grace he first darkens and deceives 2 Cor. 4.4 Eph. 4.18 Luk. 22.64 He doth with the
knowledge do write to communicate it and by writing to communicate it do improve their knowledge O how much precious truth should we have wanted in the Treasury of the Churches stock especially concerning the great Mystery of the Blessed Trinity and Personal Unity and of the Catholick Church if the Sabellians Photinians Arians Eunomians Nestorians Eutycheans Donatists Novations and the like if these and others ejusdem farinae of the same Leaven if they had not rose up by their oppositions of Heresie and Schism to stir up the Study Prayer Zeal and Argumentations of the Holy Learned and Orthodox Fathers Yea let us look home a while and upon an easie observation we may finde That this benefit and advantage our Church hath gained by the eager contentions of spightful Tongues and perverse Mindes That her holy Form of Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government hath been more fully discussed and more clearly vindicated against all the false Imputations and strongest Arguments of her Schismatical and Heretical opposers So that if God shall please to repair the Churches unity and peace and restore her purity and splendor as that he will do it in his due time you helping forward by your Prayers I nothing doubt and I would not you should distrust If God I say shall please to repair the Churches unity and peace and restore her purity and splendor those stale calumnies and unjust cavils of Bishops being Antichristian our Liturgy the Mass our Litany Conjuring our Doctrine Popish our Ceremonies Superstitious our Temples Idolatrous our Ministers Baal 's Priests these and the like clamors of Error and Ignorance of Malice and Madness These I say If God pleaseth to repair and restore our Church they will become then as odious and hateful as they are now acceptable and useful with the vulgar then as much hist down as now cried up then as vain and insufferable as now unjust and unreasonable But if for the sins of the people God shall unchurch the Nation if for our contempt of the light and truth of his Word Rev. 2 5. he shall remove the Candlestick and deprive us of his Ordinances Such is the full conviction of Errors to a confirming all sober mindes in the Faith that I doubt not to say There are many which hear me this day would rather chuse to die and fall with truth then live and flourish with Heresie This the first particular of our first general part the Apostles fore-arming his Corinthians with constancy in the Faith that they be approved 2. With comfort in their Tryal That being approved they shall be made manifest Manifest on Earth and manifest in Heaven 1. Manifest on Earth The furious Zeal and violent Persecution of Heresie is the Furnace Mal. 3.3 4. wherein God oftentimes purifies the faith and faithful separating the dross from the Gold it is that strong wind which shakes down the rotten boughs and corrupt fruit severing it from the strong and sound it is that overflowing floud which overturns the sandy foundation whilst the rocks stand firm or lastly Matth. 7.25 it is that fan which severs the chaff from the Corn men of light fancies Matth. 3.12 and loose affections from those of solid judgments and established hearts How is it with many mens hearts as with musical instruments They are in good tune and temper whilst the pleasant and fair season of peace and prosperity lasts But as upon change of weather the strings do either slack or break so upon change of times do their resolutions either yeeld or faint But oh Beloved an heart established a spirit resolved a minde stedfast Oh how is it the honor and ornament of our Christian Faith By this it is That the Confessors Graces like Lebanons Spices have the sweeter smell in being bruised and in their tryal of Faith they become as more acceptable Sacrifices of Obedience offered unto God so more choice examples of Holiness manifest and set forth in the Church Had it not been then for the Heresies Schisms and Apostacies of the former ages those antient Fathers Irenaeus Athanasius Hilary Nazianzen Basil Chrysostome Hierome Augustine and others They had not been Stars of so great a magnitude in the Firmament of Christs Church And indeed were it not for the Heresies Schisms and Apostacies of these latter days our Church would not have so much to glory of her Cranmer Tindal Whitaker Whitgift Bancroft Bilson Andrews Hooker and others Men famous in their Generations yea our Jewel would not have had his lustre nor our Laud his praise our Dypticks and Church Records of Learned Worthies yea of Royal Patriots would not be so large so venerable and so glorious These and all other Strenui propugnatores fidei stout Champions of the Churches faith They are by a blessing of God made manifest and observe made manifest not onely in the Orthodoxes love but also in the Hereticks hate it is with them as with St. Augustine whose industry and piety in quelling and extinguishing the Pelagian Heresie Hieron ep 80. St. Hierome thus congratulates telling him That his name was venerable in the City and honorable in the Church as the Founder again of the ancient Faith and Quod signum majoris gloriae est omnes Haeretici detestantur and which was a signal of greater glory all the Heretical did hate him However then black-mouthed malice doth spit calumny upon the whitest innocence yet that encomium St. Paul gives the ancient Heroes Heb. 11.39 the Patriarchs Prophets and Martyrs of old the same we may justly give our Protestant Worthies of late That by Faith they have obtained a good report a name that shall out-live all Heresie and Schism a name precious and honorable in the memory of the faithful Thus they who in their oppositions of Heresie become constant in the Faith they are made manifest on Earth But further 2. Manifest also in Heaven For this then observe The Church on Earth is Militant and therefore the Church in right order is said to be terrible as an army with banners Cant. 6.4 Though in disorder an army with banners becomes terrible to the Church The then I say on Earth is Militant 1 Cor. 15.32 and St. Pauls fighting with Beasts at Ephesus was not a combate more honorable and glorious then that of contending for the Faith Jude 3. against the rage of Heresies This this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Certamen illud praeclarum as Beza renders it that good 2 Tim. 4.7 that honorable fight of Faith which hath for its reward a Crown of life Rev. 2.10 or if a Crown of life be the reward of Faith to all the blessed yet then the stout Champions of the Faith shall have some special Jewels in their Crown some particular glory in that blessed life and so being manifest on Earth they are manifest also in Heaven being manifest in the Church Militant for their eminent Grace they shall be manifest also in
Church of God before Circumcision the Faith of the Parents and the Promise of the Covenant was the Salvation of Infants then when there was no Seal So is it now the Salvation of those who die without the Seal it being most agreeable to the grace and goodness of the Almighty Ut qui alienâ culpâ cecidit alienâ fide refurgat That he who fell by anothers fault might rise again by anothers Faith And as in the Catechumens of old those who were designed to Baptism if any of them died unbaptized their intention of minde and desire of will was in the judgment of the Church interpretativè as the actual Performance And thus we determine in the case of Infants who have votum parentum Ecclesiae the desire of their Parents and of the Church God accepts the will for the deed Thirdly What the Judgment of the Church is as to the state Quest 3 of those children which die before Baptism being children of Anabaptists I answer We can plead no excuse for the Parents Answ though we have some good hope of the Infants which hope is mixt with fear as being raised from a judgment of Charity not any infallible proof nor indeed any very probable argument of verity Children are in a state of Salvation baptized but we cannot say they are so without Baptism except the case of necessity be pleaded and the reason is because God the free-dispenser of his grace hath by Positive Law made this the condition of his promise That we shall continue in our selves and in our children the initiating Seal of his Covenant I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed Gen. 17.9 10. saith the Lord unto Abraham and therefore Thou shalt keep my Covenant thou and thy seed after thee in their Generations every man-childe among you shall be circumcised And the like obligation our Saviour makes as to Baptism when he says Except a man be born of Water John 3.5 and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God If then there be no Salvation without the Covenant of Grace and that Parents are to Covenant for their children what firm hope can there be of those Infants whom their Parents exclude from Promise and condition of the Covenant We certainly know that very often the Parents guilâ— hath deprived their posterity of the whole Gospels Ministry witness the Nations from whom God hath removed his Candlestick And sure Rev. 2.5 if the Parents contempt of Gods Ordinances hath deprived whole Nations of the comfort of the Gospels Ministry it is justly to be feared though not positively to be determined That the contempt which Anabaptist Parents cast upon Infants Baptism may deprive their children of the benefit of the Covenants promise especially considering That by Schism they are separate from the Church of Christ into which there is no ordinary way of entrance and admission but by Baptism according to our Saviours Commission and Instruction to his Apostles Go ye disciple all Nations baptising them c. 1. Applic. We have here Beloved to answer the Anabaptists grand Quaere Where have ye any Gospel precept for Infants Baptism And withal to establish your Judgments and Faith against all their oppositions and clamors Wherefore we thus prove Gospel Precept in that Christ gives in Commission Disciple all Nations baptising them Now Infants are a part of the Nations capable of discipling and no where excepted from Baptism therefore needs must Baptism extend unto Infants Again it is our Saviours express precept Mark 10.14 Suffer little children to come unto me but children have no way of coming to Christ in which we can suffer or hinder them but by Baptism and therefore Baptism is ordained for children Now back those precepts of Christ with the practise of the Apostles and the Universal Church together with the Grounds and Reasons of that practise and those precepts even childrens discipleship and Church Communion founded upon their interest in the Covenant of Grace And doing this I dare with confidence assert you have Infants Baptism so firmly founded and fixt as not all the wind and storms of the Anabaptists subtlety or fury can overturn it 2. We will answer the Objections of the Adversaries who press us with these Arguments That Infants have not Faith that they are not capable of teaching and not liable to precept These the chief Objections to which we return our particular Replies Object 1 First They have not Faith And our Saviour is express He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 thereby intimating That he alone is to be baptized who doth believe Answ I answer to this He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved our Saviour addes But he that believeth not shall be damned Where a not having Faith excludes Infants from being saved as much as from being baptized So that if we count them capable of Salvation we must count them â—â—pable of Baptism if capable of being admitted into the Church Triumphant then capable of being received into the Church Militant I suppose then no man will imagine Faith of any more necessity to Baptism then it is to Salvation so that if Infants may be saved without Faith infallibly it follows they may be baptized without Faith that is actual Faith in themselves not in their Parents for the Parents Faith avails to the Infants Baptism and credit in alterâ— qui peccavit in altero he believes in another Acts 2.39 who sinned in another And children baptized are reckoned in the number of the faithful though not propter fidem Sacramenti yet propter Sacramentum fidei though not because of the Faith of the Sacrament yet because of the Sacrament of Faith so St. Augustine very frequently Besides Infants they are indeed non-believers but not unbelievers Now it is infidelity Positive not Negative which excludes from Baptism that infidelity which opposeth or denyeth the Faith not a meer carentia fidei want of Faith in a subject not capable of believing Faith then and Repentance too they are not necessary as to the susception of Baptism but as to the persons baptized not necessary as to the susception of Baptism This is apparent from that of our Saviours being baptized who is the Author of Faith Heb. 12.2 and needed not any Repentance but Repentance and Faith they are necessary as to some persons to be baptized even in whom there are false principles of an adulterate Religion and erroneous perswasions together with actual enormities of a sinful life These these must be put off by a sincere Repentance and actual Faith as being contrary and a direct obex and hinderance to the effects and state of Baptism Faith and Repentance then they are not essentially but accidentally necessary to Baptism not absolutely requisit and to all as not to Infants but conditionally and to some as to the adult Acts 2.38 Acts 8.37 to whom all those particulars are to be
all our Doctrine and Worship And oh if hereby we profess our selves Christians that thus we baptize thus we believe thus we worship thus we bless how great is that Apostacie even from Christianity it self which will deny our Baptism destroy our Creed abolish our Worship and if possible deprive us of our Blessing To close this Beloved Let us as by the profession of a true faith so by the exercise of an holy life O let us so regain and keep firm the love of God the Father that by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord we may so hold fast the communion of the Holy Ghost Act. 2.3 that our fiery trial shall be but as the Apostles fiery tongues not to consume and destroy but to fortifie and prepare us even to a more firm founding and more glorious building up the Church in the unity of divine Faith and the uniformity of holy Worship Further in the manner and form of Baptisms administration we observe that the Holy Ghost is the third Person in the sacred Trinity and very God upon which it will be very seasonable to enlarge our selves For that which brought Satan like lightening down from Heaven carrying Hell with him it was his rebellious pride of Ero similis Altissimo I will be like to the most High and failing in that proud attempt of advancing the creature to equal the Creator he hath ever since made it his malicious design to depress the honor of the Creator to the condition of a creature witness the horrid Idolatries among the Heathens and the blasphemous Heresies amongst Christians The horrid Idolatries among the Heathens Rom. 1.23 Changing the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like unto corruptible man and to birds and to four-footed beasts and to creeping things The blasphemous Heresies amongst Christians Heresies denying the thrice blessed and glorious Trinity especially the eternal Godhead and the incommunicable subsistence of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And amongst the many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fighters against the Holy Ghost since the Pentecost tongues silenc'd the Heathen Oracles and the preaching of the Gospel banished their idolatrous worship amongst the many fighters I say against the Holy Ghost the militant Church of Christ hath been chiefly assaulted and infested by the Arians Macedonians and Photinians of old time and by the Socinians and Anabaptists of later years Yea even at this day there are too too many amongst our selves who pretend most to the Spirit yet are most blasphemous against the Spirit heretically denying the Divine nature and eternal Godhead of the Holy Ghost Wherefore in a secret zeal to this sacred truth of the Holy Ghosts Divinity a zeal enkindled by that Spirit which descended in fiery tongues upon the Apostles give me leave to explain and confirm to you these two particulars First That the Holy Ghost is the third Person in the sacred Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son Secondly That this third Person thus proceeding is very God 1. The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the sacred Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son And what we here speak in so ineffable a mystery let it be salvâ reverentiâ with due reverence to the Divine Majesty The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Trinity Mat. 10.20 Joh. 15.26 and we prove it thus The Holy Ghost is called in Scripture the Spirit of the Father not as sent by the Father but proceeding from the Father his mission is temporary and his procession is eternal And it is worth our observation that the Holy Ghost here is said to proceed as the Son is said to be begotten even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 1.14 by an immanent act so proceeding from him as being of the same essence with him And as the Holy Ghost is called the Spirit of the Father Gal. 4.6 Joh. 16.15 so also of the Son And seeing Christ saith All that the Father hath are mine what the Holy Ghost receives by procession from the Father the same he receives also from the Son and that by one immanent act of eternal spiration from them both which act of spiration was signified by our Saviour when he breath'd upon the Apostles Joh. 20.22 thereby giving them the Holy Ghost Now that the Holy Ghost thus proceeding from the Father and the Son is a distinct person from the Son and the Father is most firmly proved from that of S. John where we have expresly the Comforter Joh. 15.26 the Spirit of truth sent by the Son from the Father And lest any should think the Spirit the same in person as he is in essence with the Father our Saviour answers the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Neuter with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Masculine to denote say the Antients the distinct person of the Holy Ghost An Heterosis like unto this we have in the Text In textu legitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ipsum in margine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ipsa verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conteret est masculinun Disciple all nations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Neuter yet is it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Masculine The like very aptly observe in the Septuagint upon Gen. 3.15 A dispute it is whether to read ipse ipsa or ipsum he she or it shall bruise thy head The Septuagint resolves the doubt that it is not meant of mankind in general as the Rabbins would have it and so read ipsum it nor yet of the blessed Virgin in particular as the Romanist contends for it and so read ipsa she but of Christ himself and that is ipse he For so the Septuagint reads it with an Haeterosis I will put enmity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 between thy seed and between her seed where the Antecedent is in the Neuter but the Relative they give us in the Masculine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not she nor it but he pointing unto Christ He shall bruise thy head Many very many the like observations I might give you very frequent in sacred Writ but I instance in these as to second the Father's Note upon that of S. John so to hint unto you how necessary to the interpreting and so to the understanding of sacred Scripture humane literature is however cryed down and declaim'd against by the Illiterate and the Enthusiasts 2. The Holy Ghost the third Person in the sacred Trinity is very God Of this we have several proofs in sacred Scripture giving him the Names the Attributes the Works and the Worship of God To give you a cursory view only of these First The Names of God Whereas it is said the Lord Deut. 32. â—2 Isa 63.14 even Jehovah led Israel in the wilderness the Prophet he tells us this Jehovah was the Spirit of the Lord even the Holy Ghost Again that in the Acts is plain and full Why hath Satan filled thine heart saith S. Peter to
3.15 or addeth thereto No man disannulleth or addeth that is No man ought to disannul or adde under peril of hainous impiety and shameful punishment And let not any think St. John seals up onely the Book of Revelations but that guided by the Spirit of Truth he seals up the whole Books of the New Testament with that dreadful Commination against all Violators of the sacred Scriptures And this whether it be in the Letter or the Sense of Christs holy Word for that of Tertullian is most firmly true Tert. de Praescript c. 17. Tantum veritati obstrepit adulter sensus quantum corruptor stilus To impose an adulterate sense is as much injury to the Word of Truth as to violate the proper phrase And therefore Valentinus and so the Heresies of our times do as much damage to the Scriptures verity in misinterpreting the Sense though they spare the Letter as Marcion did by mangling the sentences and chopping off the words Hear then and tremble O ye seduced Souls who through some carnal prejudice and temporal interest involve your selves in this so horrid sin of Scripture-Sacriledge for that perverting the sense or corrupting the Letter of Christs holy Word of Truth 2 Pet. 3.16 ye do it to your own destruction 2. Observe Beloved these two sure Rules of Instruction and Exhortation 1. Keep close to the Doctrine of the Scriptures 2. Hold fast to the Judgment of the Church Keep close to the doctrine of the Scriptures that will keep you from the seductions of the Romanist Hold fast to the Judgment of the Church that will preserve you from the Errors of the Separatist For so hath God been pleased to make the Militant State of our Mother the Church of England to be betwixt the eager opposition of two enraged Enemies the Church of Rome and the Brethren of the Separation against whom she thus makes good the combate from the Authority of the sacred Scriptures and the Judgment of the Primitive Church Urging the Authority of the Scriptures the Romanist flies at the point of that weapon and would soon be beat out of the field were it not some return he makes by pretending the Church Again Urging the Judgment of the Church the Separatist staggers at that blow and would soon fall to the ground were it not some hold he catcheth by wresting the Scriptures To close then That ye may continue firm and sound in the Faith be careful that in the Epidemical distempers of the times ye change not the dyet of your Souls least what you think to make your food prove your poyson Feed on your Mothers Milk keep to that sum of our Churches Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government which is contained in the Publick Liturgy in the Thirty nine Articles the Books of Homilies and Ordination all consenting with the Word of God and Truth of Christ Withal see that to the confession of a true Faith Aquin. ye joyn the confession of an holy life Confitetur qui nulla parte diffitetur He confesses truly who confesseth thorowly Confess we with the mouth and with the hand in our words and in our works This is the best Harmony of Confessions And thus Matth. 10.32 Confess we Christ before men and he will confess us before his Father which is in Heaven Own we him in this Truâ—h and he will own us in his Glory hear we his Word and do we his Will so shall we receive his Reward and this in an eternal Rest unto our Souls Thus have we done with the Explication and the Application of what concerns the Mission and Commission together with the several Instructions given by our Saviour to his Apostles in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go ye Disciple all Nations Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you Halleluiah THE FIRST SERMON UPON Coloss 1. v. 18 19. And he is the Head of the Body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell OUR Lord Jesus Christ being ascended into the highest Heavens Introduct and there sate down on the right hand of God Rom 8.34 Heb. 7.25 he ever lives to make intercession for us From which exaltation and intercession the Apostle draws his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ being able to save unto the utmost all that come unto God by him Able to save unto the utmost for that in his intercession is applied unto the Church for her salvation the utmost efficacie of the richest price the fullest power and the highest favour that humanity can receive from God or Divinity communicate to man For it is worth our observing That our blessed Lord to make our salvation sure he saves us by all means possible for salvation to be secur'd He saves us by ransom by rescue and by request by way of price by way of power and by way of favour Christs Resurrection that gives testimony to the sufficiencie of price laid down in his Passion his Ascension that gives testimony to the sufficiencie of power which he exercised in his Resurrection his sitting at Gods right hand that gives testimony to the sufficiencie of favour whereby he is exalted in his Ascension and lastly the Intercession of Christ that is applicatory of all these for the full and final redemption of his chosen In his Intercession he pleads the merit of his Passion as the full paiment he pleads the efficacie of his Resurrection as his clear acquittance he pleads the benefit of his Ascension as giving actual possession Eph. 1.6 Mat. 17.5 Heb. 1.2 and pleads the vertue of his Session at the right hand of the Father as thereby declared to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beloved Son of God and lawful Heir of Heaven Yea our holy Jesus and blessed Mediator being sate down at the right hand of God he is not only by a gracious decree appointed by an holy unction consecrated but also by a glorious investiture from the Father he is established in the spiritual oeconomy Act. 2.36 Rom. 14.9 Mat. 28.18 and actual administration of that soveraign authority whereby he is constituted and declared to be Lord and Christ Judge of quick and dead King of heaven and earth and as S. Paul here gives us the description Head of the body the Church the beginning the first-born from the dead c. Connexion Before we give you the Division of the words we must give you their Dependance to which we are directed by the Copulative and And he is the Head of the body the Church which Copulative does join what we must not separate the Context and the Text. If then we do but look three Verses back we find how the Apostle having set forth the benefits of Redemption he presently subjoins a description of the
go out upon the Altar not letting our devotion cool in Gods presence especially when we present our selves at the Table of the Lord that sacred solemnity of the blessed Eucharist Oh that we could here compose our Souls to Davids frame That seeing God in Christ is the Center of all holy delights we may make the enjoyment of his presence and communion the Center of all hearty desires and then say in an humble faith and ardent fervor of devotion One thing have I desired of the Lord and that I will seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life c. THE SECOND SERMON UPON PSAL. 27.4 To behold the Beauty of Lord and to enquire in his Temple Introduction Psal 87.2 GOD that loveth the Gates of Sion above all the habitations of Jacob he prefers the Publick Services of the Church before the Private Worship of the Closet 2 Sam. 7.16 Zech. 3.8 Wherefore Davids zeal to the Building and Zorobabels to the rebuilding the Temple and House of God it was rewarded and incouraged by the promise of the Messiah issuing from their loyns And if the holy zeal of building and restoring the House of God had the promise of Christ in the flesh sure I am the blinde zeal of prophaneing and destroying Gods House can have no communion with Christ in the Spirit For observe we how the Prophet Haggai foretels That Hag. 11.9 the glory of the latter House should be greater then that of the former the glory of Zorobabels Temple greater then that of Solomons which could not be meant as to the outward structure or the inward ornaments the latter House wanting what gave the excellency to the former even the Ark of the Covenant the Heavenly Fire the overshadowing Cloud the Urim and Thummim and the gift of Prophecy which gift of Prophecy was onely supplied by an Eccho which the Hebrews call Bath Kol the Daughter of a Voice revealing sometimes something of the Will of God Such a Voice was heard in the Temple before Titus besieged Jerusalem Joseph Bel. Jud. l. 7. c. 12. Migremus hinc Let us be gone hence Now all that glory being wanting in the latter Temple What made it more glorious then the former I answer It was the presence and manifestation of Christ in the flesh who was the substance of those Figures the Body of which the Temples glory was but a shadow And if this was the glory of the Jews Temple That Christ in the flesh was there manifested and presented unto God shall it not be much more the glory of our Christian Oratories That there Christ in his Word and Sacraments is preached and exhibited unto us Christ is present in all places Rev. 2.1 but is said To walk in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks Present he is in the Congregation of the Saints by a special ministration of the Spirit declaration of his Will and communication of his Grace there his Power is evidenced his Arm revealed his Body and Blood exhibited Who is it then but will delight to dwell in that House where the refreshing Food is Christs Body and the chearing Wine his Blood the ravishing Beauty the light of his countenance and the sweet repose his Arms of Love yea where the blest Fellowship is that of Angels and Saints and the onely service Gods holy worship However then the ambitious mindes sore aloft and with restless wing pursue their wordly glory yea how ever voluptuous Epicures set themselves to the injoyment of their sensual delights whatsoever they cost them though body and soul and all yet fix we our desires on Davids one thing which is as much beyond comparison as it is above exception even To dwell in the House of the Lord This the centre of Davids Prayer the main object of his longing desires and eager importunities the thing he sues and seeks for so says the Psalmist One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple We proceed to the second General part The Divine Reason of Davids Petition which is twofold of Delight and of Devotion First Of Delight To behold the Beauty of the Lord Secondly Of Devotion To enquire in his Temple We begin with the first particular that of Delight To behold the Beauty of the Lord. To behold the Beauty of the Lord Why what commerce hath Earth with Heaven finite with infinite flesh with spirit dust and ashes with majesty and glory man with God O the gracious sweetness of divine love God descends to exalt man the Creator humbles himself to a communion with his Creature and to so near a communion as to make his Spirit mans life his grace mans comliness his wing mans shadow his hand mans strength his heart mans rest his beauty mans delight and his embraces mans repose This Beauty of the Lord is of too glorious a ray to be beheld otherways then under avail and therefore it is the goodness of our Maker to exhibite himself not according to the strength of his glory but according to the weakness of our capacity The object is proportioned to the faculty the Creatures are as the Waters and his Word and Sacraments as the Mirrors which represent God by reflexion whose glory we cannot look upon in a direct Beam And thus did David behold the Beauty of the Lord in his Sanctuary Heb. 9.2 3 c. as represented in Types and Figures for we finde in the first Tabernacle called Holy the Candlestick and the Table and the Shew-bread and in the second Tabernacle called The Holy of Holies we finde the Golden Censer the Ark the Manna Aarons Rod the Tables of the Covenant the Cherubims of Glory and the Mercy Seat Now this Tabernacle and Sanctuary did aptly represent the Church of Christ whose Militant part through the vail of Faith does contemplate the glory of God and our Lord Jesus Christ is our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Great High Priest Heb 4.14 by whom we have access unto the Father in the Holy of Holies that is the Highest Heavens The Brazen Laver did signifie our Baptism and Repentance the Sacrifice of Burnt offerings the Mortification of our Lusts the Altar of Incensé our Oblations of Prayers the Golden Candlestick the Preachers of the Gospel and the Lights thereof their holy Doctrine the Table of Shew-bread did prefigure the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Communion of Saints The Holy of Holies did represent the Heavenly State of the Church Triumphant there being the Ark of the Covenant the Personal and Corporal presence of Christ the Golden Propitiatory his glorious Humanity and the Table of the Law his perfect Obedience the Cherubims wings did represent the Ministry of Angels from above which heavenly Spirits God shews forth his glory in a beatifical