cut up the Myrtle Grove of the Church that has so glorious a Captain to own it for his Garden and desend it Is 4.5 Upon all the Glory shall be a desence Gen. 3.24 It 's like the Ancient Eden guarded by Cherubims with flaming Swords turning every way to keep the Path of the Trees of Life Let Saints persist in sertility and fragrancy and Christ will ever make himself visible with troops of Angels in the midst and round about his Fragrant Grove I pass on now to the 3d. Particular The Vision of the Captain and his Forces He that 's called a Man in the Text riding on a red Horse holds conference with the Prophet and the Prophet stiles him his Lord v. 9. and the Angel of the Lord v. 11. Prophets and Angels hold heavenly communion but especially the Angel of the covenant Now that this Person is the Lord Jesus Christ the same who was with Moses in the Bush at Horeb in the Wilderness Acts 7.38 may appear 1. By his superiority over Angels Jos 5.14 The Captain of the Lords Hosts brandishing his Sword before Joshua near Jericho was now with his Sword girt upon his Thigh Ps 45.3 like a Prince of Might ascending the Red Horse of War He who is Head over all Principalities and Powers to his Church Eph. 1.22 2. By his Intercession for the Church v 12. He is the great Mediator we never observe Ordinary Angels praying to God for the Church in the Sacred Page Though often praising him to teach that none ought to interpose in that glorious Office of Christ 3. By his Dictates to the Prophet He speaks not of himself when he declares the Angelical Functions of visiting the State of the Church and of the whole Earth But these says the Captain v. 10. pointing to the 3 Troops of Holy Angels behind him these are they whom the Lord hath sent to visit the Church in her scattered estate through the several Provinces of the Earth under the Dominion of Babilon 4. By his Inspiration of Prophecy in a way of command when he had received a comfortable answer from the Lord to his Prayer for the Church Cry thou Thus saith the Lord of Hosts I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion that is for the City and Temple for the Politick and Ecclesiastick Estate of his People with great jealousie v. 14. Next we are to consider him as a Rider upon a Red Horse A Horse in Eastern Hieroglyphicks and Visions was an Emblem of War of Victory and Triumph A Red Horse of Bloud shed in War in order to conquest Is 63.4 to note that Christ goes with a Spirit of vengeance against his Churches Adversaries and returns with Garments dyed red from Bozrah Is 63.1 all sprinkled and dashed with the Bloud of the Slain Nay Rev. 14.20 sometimes he rides his Horses up to the Bridles in Bloud in the Valley of Hadadrimmon Then come in view his Satellites or the Generous Troops under his Imperial Standard Red Horses speckled and white representing the Holy Angels multitudes of them marshall'd in battel-array for various Expeditions with the Triumphant issue of all their Wars on behalf of the Church That Horses and Chariots are Symbols of Angels may be observed from other Scriptures as 2 Kin. 2.11 and 6.17 and Hab. 3.8 c. The Chariots of God are 20000 Ps 68.17 even thousands of Angels and not to mention the allusions hereto in other Authors only that in Suidas at present 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suid. p. 1271. The Vision of White Horses is an appearance of Angels I shall come to an observation Obs That Christ doth frequently appear to his Church in her distress under a warlike posture He is head of Angels for protection to his Myrtle Garden One Angel might have sufficed had God seen good but for more abundant comfort he marshalls whole Squadrons and Legions of Spiritual light Horsemen for their Service Above all let 's take notice of some excellencies in this Captain General of the Cherubims that is now upon march for the Salvation of his Church 1. He is a praying Captain and mighty prevalent with God like a Prince with God like a Priest upon his Throne Zech. 6.13 both Prince and Priest on horseback He never prays but is answered and he ever prays before he goes forth upon expeditions as he does in this Vision v. 13. and therefore in righteousness he judgeth and maketh war It 's said of old Rev. 19.11 Nulla fides pietasque viris qui castra sequuntur No faith or loyalty in the field But behold here 's one with a double-edged Sword in his Mouth a fervent prayer to make his Sword victorious Judg. 7.18 We have here the Sword of the Lord as well as of Gideon a Sword from behind the Ephod none like it it hath cut down many a Philistine The Sword of God is the Sword of Christ Prayer whets the Sword and courage brandishes it In his Majesty he rides on prosperously Ps 45.4 and baths it in the hearts of his Enemies 2. A Captain wise for conduct The councel of peace is between his Helmet and Mitre Zach. 6.13 He is a Kingly and Royal Captain in order to the execution of his Priestly and Prophetical Office He fights not for warsake but for peace He hates them that delight in war and spin out long Sieges for large Wages His End is to set Peace in the Earth an Universal Peace as long as the Sun and Moon endure Is 2.4 He designs to bring all the Swords and Spears of his Warriours to the Smiths Forge and to fashion them into Sithes and Plow-shares into Sickles and pruning-hooks Ps 72.7 In his days shall the Righteous flourish and abundance of peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 usq ad non lunam till there be Moon no more Yea no less wise in management of his Armies for this glorious Design Insomuch that Angels who excell in wisdom disdain not to march at his command and wheel about at the clangor of his Trumpet There 's no mutiny in all Heavens Army Alexanders Soldiers when they were in the Indies among the Oritae Curt. Arian would march no surther though to finish the worlds Conquest and dip their feet in the Eastern Ocean But here is an unwearied Army that march up and down through the whole Earth at his command v. 11. Angels are his Creatures delighting to do his Will The Inhabitants of Petra in Sogdiana built upon an inaccessible Rock jeered Alexander Curt. l. 7. c. 11. and askt him whether his Soldiers had wings But behold here are winged Soldiers riding upon winged Horses that can fly into Cities at their Pleasure Such a Captain wages war on behalf of his Church This is he Exod. 14.14 25. who fought from Heaven against the Egyptians and Pharach in the Red Sea He taught Joshua to lye in ambush
ECCLESIA GEMENS OR Two Discourses On the mournful State of the Church with a Prospect of her Dawning Glory Exhibited in a View of two Scriptures representing her as a Myrtle-Grove in a deep Bottom and as a knot of Lillies among Thorns Psal 68.13 Though ye have lien among the Pots yet shall ye be as the Wings of a Dove covered with Silver and her Feathers with yellow Gold LONDON Printed for John Hancock at the three Bibles in Popes-head Alley in Cornhill 1677. To the Holy Church of Christ lately walking in Communion with Mr. J.C. and now with D. J.O. before whom these exercises were handled and to whom they are now humbly presented by Theirs in the Fellowship of the Gospel S. L. 1673. April 6. THE VISION OF THE MYRTLEGROVE Zach. 1.8 I saw by night and behold a man riding upon a red Horse and he stood among the Myrtle-trees that were in the bottom and behind him there were red Horses speckled and white THIS is a Comfortable Vision to the Church in a low and dark condition For upon her Humiliation by the Prophets Sermon of Repentance v. 6. The Captain of the Lords Hosts appears in order to deliverance The Captivity was in part returned but the Temple whose Foundation though laid yet the Progress of its building interrupted lay still in a ruinous state and the City it self unwalled and in a mournful plight Ps 137.2 and many of the people not hitherto come forth of Babylon Their Harps hung yet upon the willows but now they are to be taken down to be imployed in Songs of Zion with Myrtle Crowns of Festival Joy upon their Heads It suites with our estate since the return of our Fathers from Spiritual Babylon For as yet the pure Temple-worship mourns in the dust and the City of New Jerusalem lies in rubbish In this Prophetical Vision observe 1. The Time v. 7. The second year of Darius Hystaspes 519 years before the Birth of our Lord on the 24th Day of the 11th Moneth Sebat answering to part of January and more particularly the Prophet saw this Vision in the Night By Night 1. To shew the darkness and difficulty of the Vision 2. That it was a time of affliction to the Church 3. That Christ the Captain of the Church appeared but darkly to the Fathers of old 2. The Place of the Vision in a Bottom Bamezulah in profundo which the Chald. Paraphrase turns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Babylon Jer. 51.13 which lay in a low Champion plain by the great River Euphrates in the Land of Chaldea and was noted if I remember right for fertility in this fragrant Shrub of Myrtle Com. in Plin. l. 15. c. 29. Edessa in Mesopotamia had its name from Myrtles and however Parthia was famous for it which was a neighbouring Province 3dly The Objects presented in the Vision which are three A Captain upon a red Horse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Equitans or ascendens about to get up as the LXX expresse it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ready to ascend upon his Horse who is no other than that same Captain which appeared to Joshuah when entring upon his Wars against the Canaanites Jos 5.14 I shall not determine with Alapide that the Sus Adam the red horse notes his Humanity I dare not be so bold but rather as a Captain getting up on his horse of bloud in order to the slaughter of his Enemies A Grove of Myrtle Trees in the midst whereof stood this valiant Captain of the Lords Hosts ready to get up or being ascended makes a stand till the time of his going forth against Babylon For though Babylon were taken by Cyrus before this Vision yet there passed 4 years after this Exhibition to the Prophet even just at the finishing of the Temple in the 6th Herodot l. 3. p. 323. Usser annal of Darius when that Golden City was wofully sackt the Walls pull'd down and the Gates demolish'd and 3000 of her most noble Citizens staked or crucified and after a while Babel was totally laid in ruines by Xerxes Behind this glorious Captain were placed in Martial Array 3 sorts of horses or 3 Troops or Regiments of various coloured horses Red Speckled and White By the Myrtle Grove is meant the Church of God by the bottom Babylon By the Captain Jesus Christ the Son of God By the Red Horse his design of War against Babylon The 3 sorts of Horses behind him first Red noting bloudy wars against the Churches Enemies 2d The speckled signifying various Providences sometimes the Church victorious and othertimes in an afflicted state under the Antiochian Princes 3d. White Horses representing the Church in the end compleatly victorious and triumphant All the Churches troubles shall end in victory and these Horses that attend upon Christ go forth from among the Myrtle Trees that is the Angels who encamp about tho Church are sometimes sent abroad upon expeditions against her Enemies arming and influencing of Nations one against another to subdue those who have impugned the Church Is 51.11 and to execute the vengeance of the Temple This Vision is given by God to the Prophet on purpose to encourage his People in going on with Temple-work having formed the heart of Darius to give forth another Edict besides that of Cyrus to finish the stately structure of his Temple Having thus touch'd upon the Scope of the Prophecy let 's descend to some Instructions from it There be 3 Spring-heads from whence the streams of the observations may flow full pleasantly 1. From the Time and Place 2. The Myrtle Trees 3. The Captain and his Forces 1. The Time It was by Night an obscure and dark Season The Place was a deep Valley or Bottom and both are fit Emblems of the troubles and afflictions of the Church The Church of God after begun deliverances Obs 1. may continue for a season under dark doubtful and afflictive Providences Israel after they were come out of Egypt wandred 40 years in a howling Wilderness and were exercised with 7 years Wars in Canaan before they were settled under Vines and Fig-trees in that Land flowing with Milk and Honey Again When Judah came out of Babylon from the first of Cyrus till Nehemiahs coming from Shusham to build Jerusalems Walls in the 20th 536. 454. 82. year of Artaxerxes Longimanus Usser annals there intervened fourscore and two years And in the later days after the 1290 years are fully expired there must be a flux of 45 years from the first deliverance till the compleat state of the blessed times of the Church Dan. 12.11 12. I need not insert any other particular instances 't is the wise method of Divine Providence To hew down and cut off those stubborn Spirits which hanker after Egypt and long for the Fleshpots the Garlick and Onions of their old state of bondage They smell rank and unsavoury before God that like the old murmuring Israelites dare to call Egypt
sui ordinis Every Apostate hates the party from which they declined and become of all Persecutors the most cruel and barbarous Thorns that are nighest by education produce the sharpest tryals as the Psalmist Prophecied in the Person of Christ Ps 41.9 My familiar friend hath lift up his heel against me Zac. 13.6 with which the Prophet accords These are the wounds received in the house of my friends Song 1.6 My Mothers Children are angry with me The sweetest wine makes the sharpest Vinegar The nearest Relations the most bitter conflicts who ought to yield the most tender embraces Bernard observes they had not God to Bern ib. their Father but the Devil though they boasted of their formal Mother A cruel Mother that milks out poyson and spits venome in the face of her Children pretends the hony of peace and discipline and mixes the gall of pride and flings out firebrands 4. This Song presents but one Lilly among many thorns my dove says Christ my undefiled is but one ther 's but one Spouse one Bride of Christ 1. One to shew the paucity of true Believers as to the multitude of ungodly persons hypocrites and sormal Professors Briars multiply vastly the vory tops of Brambles will shoot down and take root in the neighbouring mould The heads and hearts of the wicked run in the earth to a vast extent but a Lilly never Feracious and fruitful is the nature of sin and sinners How many Families fill'd with unholy persons scarce a Lilly to be sound How few true Saints in City or Country As the Prophet speaks of the Berries of an Olive-tree one of a City or two of a Tribe to come to Zion Is 17.6 Jer. 3.14 2. One to shew their unity one root though many flowors The Church delights in oneness of heart and society Unity and verity cling together falsity and division are very numerous The wicked seldome agree but in tearing and defacing the Church Pilat and Herod joyn hands against Christ and mark what a crew of enemies unite and consederate against the Church Ps 83.5 6. else there 's little union among the wicked because pride the principle of division compass them like a chain Ps 73.6 and therefore violence as a garment Their enmity to the Church drags them into some temporary union as with an iron Chain The Popish Synagogue brags of their general union 'T is but a Spanish brag For one of their Cardinals numbers above three hundred differences of opinion in the Romish Church Bp. Hall peace of Rome Lond. 1603. and one of their Casuists confesses near threescore differences in the point of Confession and many more might be added of Popes and Counsels and Frieries one against another But the true Church hath an admirable union one Lord one saith one baptism Jerusalem is a City compact together and at unity within her self Though outward Professors have some variance yet in the grand sundamental of sree grace and salvation by faith alone the confessions of the Reformed Churches rejoyce in a sweet harmony as to lesser points Oh that it were as it ought to be and shall be in the glorious times that are a coming 3. One to shew what concerns the Church in general is applicable to every member Each promise and priviledge is universal and yet peculiar to teach Believers that are in Covenant to lay hold on every promise as if made to them alone Rom. 23 24. Abraham's promise is thine for it was not written for his sake alone but for us also if we believe What was said to Joshua was said to thee he will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 Tit. 1.4 Jude 3. Heb. 11.40 It s common faith and common salvation that they without us should not be made perfect The Church is a Dove that brings an Olive-branch to every Noah within the Ark of Christ the love of Christ is general to all and singular to each individual member Each Saint hath an equal title to his love and all spiritual joys as the whole The Lilly is not only encumbred with thorns but grows amongst them 'T is not a dead flower cropt and flung there but thrives and flourishes though hedg'd and hem'd with thorns It sends forth a gracious smell among noisome briars when planted there by Christ Oh learn to adorn Religion in a barren soil amidst troublous enemies that 's the glory of a Saint to be a Joseph a Moses in the midst of Aegypt an Obadiah at Samaria a Nehemiah in Shushan Luke 8.3 a Joanna in Herod's Court In a thorny family among sharp relations in a prickly Land to scent like Heaven To retaine growing innocency and tender-hearted-lenity in a crooked and perverse Nation To beautifie and sweeten the dunghil World Phil. 21.15 To lustrate a wild Common full of briars by the purity of holiness To pray for such as prick their sides to do good to such as hate and spitefully scratch them a spirit of God and a spirit of glory rests upon them to be filled with the good will of him that dwelt and shined in the briar of Horeb This is to be like our heavenly Father 'T is no great praise to be quiet in a Hermitage and to fly like a Dove from Kedar but in the midst of business relations and troubles then shines the grace of a Saint 6. The Churches Lilly often receives protection from the thorns about them The same hand planted both thorns and lillies The lilly within and the thorns for protection about it The Briars often twist and twine themselves into an arbor to desend the Church Saul and the Philistines encountring together gave escape to David Julian and the Persians delivered the primitive Christians The Sadduces and Pharisees conflict rescued Paul into the hands of Lysias Acts 23.7 The Church often grows safely under the intangled counsels of infatuated Achitophels and subtile Hamans While they perplex and involve each other Ps 2.16 they become insnared by the works of their own hands and the Church sings Higgaion Selah The state of Geneva is compared to a bone that 3 sturdy Mastiffs stand by and snarl one at another but dare not touch it The Motto upon the Churches briars may well be that of Scotland's thistles ne impune lacessant God fences his lillies about by the thorns of carnal Professors as well as the tall Brambles of Bashan the open and violent Pagan enemies The multitudes of Formalists in and about the Church a wise God turns both to shadow and shelter to shadow from the scorching Sun that would wither it and to shelter it from the foot of Beasts the foot of pride and violence that might tread it down They are always good subjects useful and painful and faithful in their stations Joseph's srugal prudence gat him favour in the eye of Pharaoh Mordecai's trustiness to the life of Ahasuerus raised him to honour and Daniel's sagacity and