heathen that are at ease for I was but a litte displeased and they helped forward the affliction Zechar. 1. 15. When Jesus saw the multitude he had compassion on them because they fainted or were tyred and lay down c. Matth. 9. 36. I was an hungry and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was in prison and ye came unto me I was sick and ye visited me c. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Matth. 25. 35 36 37 40. When Jesus had put forth the parable of a man falling among thieves and was wounded and the Priest and Levite passing by and looking on but the Samaritan had compassion on him and went to him and bound up his wounds and took care of him he said Go and do thou likewise Luke 10. 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37. Simon Simon Satan hath desired to have you that he might sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren Luke 22. 31 32. Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing or earnest and instant prayer was made of the Church unto God for him Acts 12. 5 12. Rejoyce with them who do rejoyce and weep with them who do weep be of the same mind one towards another Rom. 12. 15 16. The members should have the same care one of another and whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it or one member be honoured all the members rejoyce with it now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular 1 Cor. 12. 24 25 26 27. Blessed be God c. who comforteth us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our â—…lves are comforted of God 2 Cor. 1. 3 4. Bear ye one anothers burthens and so fulfil the law of Christ Gal. 6. 2. Be kind one to another tender-hearted Eph. 4. 32. Ye have done well that ye did communicate with mine afflictions c. Ye sent once and again to my necessity Phil. 4. 14 15 16. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy Col. 3. 12. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his prisoner but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel c. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain But when he was in Rome he sought me out very diligently and found me the Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day c. how many things he ministred unto me at Ephesus thou knowest 2 Tim. 1. 8 16 17 18. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge 2 Tim. 4. 16. Ye endured a great fight of affliction partly whiles ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions and partly whilst ye became companions of them who were so used for ye had compassion on me in my bonds c. Heb. 10. 32 33 34. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares Remember them who are in bonds as bound with them them who suffer adversity as being your selves also in the body Heb. 13. 2 3. Pure religion c. is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction James 1. 27. See Duties in common Calamities Chap. 23. See Duty of Christians one to another Chap. 17. CHAP. XXIII Of Publick or common Calamities and Judgments First That they are of Gods ordering and none can keep them off GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth c. And the Lord said I will destroy man whom I have created c. And behold I even I do bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh c. Accordingly he brings the flood Gen. 6. 5 7 17. chap. 7. 4. The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven and he overthrew those Cities Gen. 19. 24 25. See now that I am He and there is no God with me I kill I make alive I wound I heal neither is there any who can deliver out of my hand Deut. 32 39. If ye turn away and forsake my statutes c. then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land c. 2 Chron. 7. 19 20. The Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirits of the Philistines and of the Arabians c. and they came up into Judah and brake into it c 2 Chron. 21. 16 17. They mocked the messengers c. till the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and there was no remedy therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees who slew their young men c. 2 Chron. 36. 15 16 17. He turned their heart to hate his people and to deal subtilly with his servants Psal. 105. 25. He gave them into the hand of the heathen and they who hated them ruled over them Psal. 106. 41 42. O Assyrian c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation c. to tread them down c. Isa. 10. 5 6. Behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth Isa. 26. 21. I have heard from the Lord of Hosts a consumption determined upon the whole earth Isa. 28. 22. Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers did not the Lord against whom c Isa. 42. 24. I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Isa. 45. 7. I was wrath with my people I have c. given them into thine hand c. therefore shall evil come upon thee c. thou shalt not be able to put it off c. Isa. 47. 6 11. I have forsaken mine house I have left mine heritage I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies Jer. 12. 7. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy If that nation c. Jer. 18. 7 8. Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of the Lords anger Lam. 1. 12 13 14 c. Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it Amos 3. 6. Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel c. prepare to meet thy God c. Amos 4. 12. See more in afflictions Chap. 22. 2dly The priviledges of the Saints and servants of God in such a time When God destroyed the whole world by the flood Noah found grace
20. 17. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth 1 Cor. 1. 2. As I teach every where in every Church 1 Cor. 4. 17. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together c. 1 Cor. 5. 4. When ye come together in the Church c. when ye come together therefore into one place c. despise ye the Church of God c. wherefore my brethren when ye come together to eat tarry one for another 1 Cor. 11. 16 18 20 21 22 33 34. If therefore the whole Church be come together in one place c. let him keep silence in the Church c. as in all the Churches of the saints c. let women keep silence in the Churches c. it s a shame for a woman to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 23 28 33 34 35. As I have given order to the Churches of Galatia so do c. The Churches of Asia 1 Cor. 16. 1 19. The Churches of Macedonia c. thorowout all the Churches c. chosen of the Churches c. brethren the messengers of the Churches c. shew c. before the Churches 2 Cor. 8. 1 18 19 23 24. Paul c. unto the Churches of Galatia c. unknown by face unto the Churches Gal. 1. 1 2 22. Ye Philippians c. no Church c. but ye only Phil. 4. 15. When this Epistle is read among you cause it that be read also in the Church of Laodicea Col. 4. 15 16. To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God 1 Thes. 1. 1. The Churches of God which in Judea are in Christ c. 1 Thes. 2. 14. The Church at Babylon c. salute you 1 Pet. 5. 13. Born witness of thy charity before the Church c. I wrote unto the Church but Diotrephes c. casteth them out of the Church 3 Joh. vers 6. 9 10. The seven Churches of Asia c. Ephesus Smirna Pergamus c. Rev. 1. 4 11. The Dignity Priviledges and Blessings belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ in general as such I will set my tabernacle among you and my soul shall not abhor you and I will walk among you and will be your God and ye shall be my people Levit. 26. 11 12. Ezek. 37. 26 27 28. The cloud filled the house of the Lord so that the Priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had filled the house 1 Kings 8. 10 11. chap. 9. 3. There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high God in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her c. the Lord of hosts is with us the God c. Psal. 46. 4 5 7. Out of Sion the perfection of beauty God hath shined Psal. 50. 2. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan an high hill why leap ye ye high hills this is the hill God desireth to dwell in the Lord will dwell in it for ever Psal. 68. 15 16. In Judah is God known his name is great in Israel in Salem also is his tabernacle and his dwelling-place in Sion Psal. 76. 1 2. He delivered his strength into captivity and his glory into the enemies hand he gave his people over also unto the sword and was wroth with his inheritance Psal. 78. 61 62. How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hosts c blessed are they who dwell in thy house they will be still praising of thee c. they go from strength to strength every one of them in Zion appearing before God Psal. 84. 1 4 7. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Jacob glorious things are spoken of thee O city of God c. of Zion it shall be said This and that man was born in her and the highest himself shall establish her Psal. 87. 2 3 5. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish c. still bring forth fruit Psal. 92. 13 14. Holiness becomes thine house for ever O Lord Psal. 93. 5. The Lord is great in Zion and he is high above all people Psal. 99. 2. The Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation this is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it I will abundantly bless her provision I will satisfie her poor with bread c. Psal. 132. 13 14 15 16 17. The Lord shall reign for ever thy God O Zion unto all generations Psal. 146. 10. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation c. Psal. 147. 19 20. The mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills c. out of Zion shall go forth the law Isa. 2. 2 3. Micah 4. 1. The Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion and upon her assembly a cloud and smoak by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence c. Isa. 4. 5 6. The Lord of hosts who dwelleth in mount Zion Isa. 8. 18. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb c. they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain Isa. 11. 6 7 8 9. Cry out and shout thou inhabitant of Zion for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of thee Isa. 12. 6. The Lord hath founded Zion and the poor of his people shall trust in it Isa. 14. 32. The moon shall be confounded c. when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion Isa. 24. 23. In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees c. and I will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people c. Isa. 25. 6 7. A vineyard of red wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment left any hurt it I will keep it night and day Isa. 27. 2 3. As when an hungry man dreameth and behold he eateth and he awaketh and his soul is empty c. so shall the multitude c. be who fight against Zion Isa. 29. 8. The Lord whose fire is in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem Isa. 31. 9. Look upon Zion the city of our solemnities thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a tabernacle which shall not be taken down c. but there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams c. the Lord is our judg our law-giver the Lord our King c. the inhabitants shall not say I am sick the people c. shall be forgiven Isa. 33. 20 21 22 24. God threatens nations as recompences for the controversy of Zion Isa. 34. 1 2 8. The
ransomed of the Lord shall return and come unto Zion c. and they shall obtain gladness and sorrow and sighing shall fly away Isa. 35. 10. ch 51. 11 12. I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory Isa. 46. 13. Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me c. can a woman forget her sucking child c yea they may yet will I not forget thee Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of mine hands thy walls are continually c. Isa. 49. 14 15 16. The Lord shall comfort Zion he will comfort all her waste places Isa. 51. 3. Zion thy God reigneth Isa. 52. 7. I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house Isa. 56. 6 7. Say to the daughter of Zion Behold thy salvation cometh c. and they shall call them the holy people the redeemed of the Lord and thou shalt be called Sought out a city not forsaken Isa. 62. 11 12. I will take you one of a city c. and bring you unto Zion and will give You pastours according to mine heart Jer. 3. 14 15. Do not abhor us for thy names sake do not disgrace the throne of thy glory Jer. 14. 21. The place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever Ezek. 43. 7. And ye shall know that I am the Lord in the midst of Israel c. for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance as the Lord hath said Joel 2. 27 32. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem and heaven and earth shall shake but the Lord is the hope of his people c. I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy mountain c. and a fountain shall come out of the house of the Lord and shall water the valley c. Judah shall dwell for ever c. for the Lord dwelleth in Zion Joel 3. 16 17 18 19 20 21. For I faith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about and will be the glory in the midst of her c. many nations shall be joyned to the Lord in that day and shall be my people and I will dwell in the midst of thee c. and the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion c. Zech. 2. 5 10 11 12. Upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her Matt. 16. 18. For where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Matt. 18. 20. Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Act. 20. 28. The Churches the glory of Christ 2 Cor. 8. 23. To the intent that unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God c. unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus thorowout all ages c. Ephes. 3. 10 11 21. That he might present to himself a glorious Church without spot Ephes. 5. 27. The house of God which is the Church of the living God the pillar c. 1 Tim. 3. 15. See Union and Relation between Christ and his Church Chap. 15. Of the Qualification of the Members of the Churches what they should be And the Lord spake to Aaron saying Do not drink wine nor strong drink thou nor thy sons with thee when ye go into the tabernacle c. That ye may put difference between holy and unholy and between unclean and clean c. Levit. 10. 9 10. Holiness becometh thine house O Lord for ever Psal. 93. 5. They shall call them the holy people the redeemed of the Lord Isa. 62. 12. Her Priests have violated my law c. have put no differenee between the holy and profane neither have they shewed c. between the unclean and the clean Ezek. 22. 26. Ephraim he hath mixed himself among the people is a cake not turned Hosea 7. 8. Can two walk together except they be agreed Amos 3. 3. To all that be in Rome beloved of God called Saints Rom. 1. 7. Grant you to be like-minded one towards another c. that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God c. I my self am perswaded of you brethren that ye also are full of goodness filled with all knowledg c. Rom. 15. 5 6 14. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus called Saints c. I beseech you c. that ye all speak the same thing c. that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1. 2 10. By one spirit we are all baptized into one body c. 1 Cor. 12. 13. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness what communion hath light with darkness c Ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and c. wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord c. I will receive you 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16 17 18. First they gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God 2 Cor. 8. 5. Ye are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are built together for an habitation of God through the spirit Ephes. 2. 19 20 21 22. To the Saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colosse Col. 1. 2. Ye are the children of the light and of the day we are not of the night nor of darkness c. that this Epistle be read unto all the holy brethren 1 Thess. 5. 5 17. Be ready always to give an answer unto every man who asketh you a reason of the hope which is in you with meekness and fear 1 Pet. 3. 15. See more of Discipline c. Chap. 27. Of the propriety that particular Churches had in their members and of others joyning themselves to them And great fear came upon all the Church c. and they were all with one accord in Solomons Porch and of the rest durst no man joyn himself to them but the people magnified them Acts 5. 11 12 13. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem he assayed to joyn himself to the disciples and they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a disciple but Barnabas took him and brought him unto the Apostles and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord c. and he was with them coming c. at Jerusalem Acts 9. 26 27 28. It pleased the Apostles c. with the whole Church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch c. Judas and
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of the father Matth. 13. 43. Jesus was transfigured c. his face did shine as the sun and his raiment white Matth. 17. 2 3. In the resurrection they shall neither marry c. but are as the Angels of God in heaven Matth. 22. 30. Then shall the king say c. inherit the kingdom prepared for you c. The righteous into life eternal Matth. 25. 34 46. Little flock it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom Luke 12. 32. And the resurrection c. neither can they dye any more for they are equal unto the Angels and are the children of God Luke 20. 36. Lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh Luke 21. 18. I appoint unto you a kingdom c. that ye may eat and drink at my table and in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Luke 22. 29 30. To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Luke 23. 43. I give to them eternal life and they shall never perish John 10. 28. Rom. 2. 7. Whither I go thou canst not follow me now but thou shalt follow me afterwards John 13. 36. I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also John 14. 3 19. I will see you c. and your hearts shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you John 16. 22. The glory which thou gavest me I have given them c. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me John 17. 22 24. Glory honour and peace to every one who worketh good Rom. 2 7 10. We stand and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. 2. The end everlasting life c. the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus c. Rom. 6. 22 23 31. Gal. 6. 8. 2 Tim. 1. 10. Heirs of God joynt heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may-be also glorified together c. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God c. We our selves c. waiting for the adoption the redemption of our body Rom. 8. 17 18 19 23. They to obtain a corruptible crown but we an incorruptible 1. Cor. 9. 25. We know in part c. but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away c. Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. As we have born the image of the earthly we shall also bear the image of the heavenly c. The dead shall be raised incorruptible c. this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality c. 1 Cor. 15. 19 49 52 53 54 55. 2 Cor. 5. 4. Our light affliction c. worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory c. the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 17 18. We have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 20 21. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven Col. 1. 5. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Then we c. shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord wherefore comfort one c. 1 Thess. 4. 17 18. You who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed c. when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them who believe 2 Thess. 1. 7 10 That they may obtain the salvation which is in Jesus Christ with eternal glory 2 Tim. 2. 10. There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord c. shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also who love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God Heb. 4. 9. Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Heb. 10. 34 35. Prov. 8. 21. Abram looked for a City which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God c. they desire a better country that is an heavenly wherefore God c. for he hath prepared for them a City c. others are tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection Heb. 11. 10 16 35. chap. 13. 14. Ye are come to mount Sion unto the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general assembly c. unto God the Judg of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the mediatour c. Heb. 12. 22 23 24. Blessed be God c. who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope c. to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and which fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you c. The sufferings of Christ and the glory which should follow c. Hope to the end for the grace which is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 3 4 9 11 13. chap. 5. 10. Ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3. 9. When the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory which fadeth not away c. The God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ c. 1 Pet. 5. 1 4 10. We c. look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. He who doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2. 17. We know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3. 2. They shall walk with me in white c. clothed in white c. will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go no more out c. Will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down c. Rev. 3. 4 5 11 12 21. chap. 2. 26 27 28. I beheld and lo a great multitude c. stood before the Throne c. clothed with white robes and palms in their hands c. These