their office of teaching Since he promised his presence with his ministry to the end of the world he will have a Church to the end of the world to enjoy the benefit of that promise to be taught by them It consisted not with the wisdom or faithfulness of Christ to promise a perpetuity to that if he knew it were to be cut short before the end of the world And this himself also assures the Church of in all its variety of states Revel 2.1 These things saith he that holds the seven Stars in his right hand who walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlestiâ—k Not only seven Stars at one time or seven Golden Candlesticks in being together but in all the successions of the Church to the consummation of the world And as he describes himself by this title when he speaks of the Church of Ephesus which was the first state of the Church not only assuring her of his holding her Star and walking by her Candlestick but all the rest that were to follow so he doth renew the same expression in part when he speaks of the Church of Sardis which is the rising of the Church from the Apostacy wherein it had been covered in the Thyatirian state Revel 3.1 These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven Stars The seven spirits of God signifies the gifts for the building and perfecting the Church still in the hand of Christ which should be in a more plentiful way poured out than for some time before as they were in the first reformation He is still therefore as a Prophet walking in the Church in all ages Not only in the first Foundation of it by the Apostles but in the reformation of it after it had been buried in Superstition and Idolatry And at the restauration of the Church in the world there shall be a pure river of water as clear as Christal proceeding from the Throne of God and the Lamb Revel 22.1 i. e. Pure doctrine without any mud and mixtures 2. 'T is his part as a Priest to establish it in the favour of God and look to the reparations of his Temple The Church is his Temple A Temple is the proper seat the proper care of a Priest He is a Priest still upon his Throne Zach. 6.13 and that for ever As he hath therefore some thing to offer so he hath always some for whom he offers who are they but his Church His prayer on earth John 17. was but a model or draught of his intercession in Heaven one part of it is for preservation of them through the truth of God John 17.17 The keeping up the Gospel in the world in order to a sanctification of some is the matter of his intercession which is one part of his Priestly Office And we cannot imagine his plea for his Church to be weaker on his throne it being also a throne of grace than it was for his enemies when he was upon a cross of suffering The compassions annext to his Priesthood remain still Heb. 4.15 If his office be perpetual the qualifications necessary to that office are as durable as the office it self as long as there is any object for their exercise To what purpose are his compassions if he should not pity her for whom they were designed and for whose behoof he was furnisht with them He cannot be faithful to God in his office if he be not merciful and tender to Sion in her distresses He certainly pities her as he would himself were it possible he should be in an infirm condition He must lose his Soul before he can lose his pity and the Church must cease to be his body before she can cease to be the object of his compassions He hath the same sentiments now that he had when he called to Paul from Heaven Act. 9.4 It was not then Why persecutest thou mine but why persecutest thou me Nor is it so now as the relation continues the same so doth the compassion so do his sentiments so do his cares To what purpose doth he as a Priest sit upon a Throne of grace if he did not shew grace to his Sion against the cruel designs of her enemies As God pities us when he remembers our frame Psal 103.13 14. So no question doth Christ when he remembers Sions oppressions as a distressed child is the object of the fathers pitty Add to this That since the death of Christ was one part of his Priestly performance and that the virtue of his sacrifice is as eternal as his Priest-hood what a disparagement would it â—e to him and the virtue of his death if ever the world while it stood should be void of the fruits of it There can be no moment wherein it is not valid to expiate the sins of some men and therefore not a moment wherein the world shall be without a Sion whose sins are expiated by it Should the standar'd of Sion be snatcht away and torn by the powers of darkness what would become of the glory what would become of the virtue of the Redeemers death Would God consecrate him so solemnly by an oath to be a Priest to so little purpose How could it be for ever if the execution of that office should be interrupted by the cessation of a Church as long as the world stands upon its pillars Would it not be an empty title if the end of it were not performed We cannot imagine the falling of Sion but we must question the merit of his death the truth of his exaltation the strength of his intercession the faithfulness of his office and the sincerity and candor of his compassions 3. 'T is his part as a King to establish Sion in being and govern her The Prophets always testified that of his Government there should be no end If the Church should cease for one moment in the world what subjects would he have to govern here Can he be a King without a Kingdom or a governour without subjects to bear a voluntary and sincere witness to his name If he be King in Sion he will also have a Sion to own him and a Sion to rule in not only a conquest of the Serpentine brood and infernal powers was promised but the total and perpetual victory Gen. 3.15 The sted of the woman was to bruise the Serpents head When the head is bruised there is no more wisdom to guide or force to Spirit the arm and the other members of the body It was a promise made not only of Christ to man but of a compleat victory to Christ that he should outwit the Serpents wisdom and utterly discomfit the Serpents power If the conquest were not perfect and perpetual it could not be called a spoiling of principalities and powers as it is Col. 2.15 but an interruption or temporary check whence they might rescue themselves He is therefore said to still the enemy and the avenger * Psal 8.2 I make no scruple
saw their affliction was bitter and there was no helper yet when they did not thankfully improve it to a reformation God denounced judgments against them for their Idolatry 2 Kings 14.26 27. The Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel So that he had not yet denounced it for he waited to see the improvement of this mercy But before the end of Jeroboams reign by the prophet Hosea who began to prophesy in his time he declared their final captivity from whence they are not restored to this day Praise for former mercies is a means to gain future ones the Musick of Voices in Jehoshaphats camp praising the beauty of holiness was a prologue of a deliverance from a formidable army 2 Chron. 20.21 22. and more successful than the warlike musick of drums and trumpets 4. Exercise faith on the power of God manifested in deliverances in the time of straits 'T is not for want of ability in God but for want of faith in us that we at any time go groaning under misery Faith would quiet the Soul When David relyed upon God and found by experience God sustaining him he would not then be afraid of ten thousand Psa 3.5 6. Let that be our carriage which is recorded of the Israelites after this memorable defeat Exod. 14.31 They believed the Lord and his Servant Moses We must never expect to see Gods arm bare without faith in him Christ can do no great work where unbelief is predominant Unbelief doth not strip God of his power and mercy but it stops the streams and effluxes of it Unbelief against experience is a double sin 'T is gross when against a bare word worse when against the word confirmed by a Witness Israel was past thoughts of any relief in this strait but expected to perish by the hand of their Enemies yet God brought them into straits in mercy to bring them out of straits with power he makes their distress a snare to their Enemies and a scaffold for their faith That deliverance ought to be a foundation for our trust in God though bestowed upon another Nation yet not so much upon them as a State but as a Church and a type of those future ones under the Gospel which are yet expected Well then trust upon this foundation Great trust in God is a sort of obligation upon God Men out of generosity will do much for them that depend upon them Dependance on God magnifies his Attributes this will bring deliverance whereby God will magnify himself Do not distrust him till you meet with an Enemy too strong for him to quell a red Sea too deep for him to divide an affliction too sturdy for him to rebuke an Aegyptian too proud for him to master Then part with your faith but not till God hath parted with his power which he hath formerly evidenc'd 5. Expect and provide for sharp conflicts God brings into straits before he delivers Another deliverance is yet to come the Churches distresses are not come to a period Babylon hath another game to play The right of the Devil to tyrannize over the Mystical Body was taken away at the death of the head yet he still bruiseth Christs heel and bites though he cannot totally overcome As long as Christs Enemies are not made his foot-stool as long as there is the seed of the Serpent in the World as long as Christs members want a conformity to the head Satans pinches must be expected as long as the Beast is in being he will make war with the followers of the Lamb his power is to continue forty two months to make war with the Saints and to overcome them Revel 13.5 7. Forty two months or years 'T is like the time is not expir'd One thousand six hundred and twenty years which make forty two months no ending since he first had his power when his time draws near to an end he will bite sharpest This deliverance from Aegypt is yet again to be acted over and that must be at the end when the whole Israel of God shall be freed from Anti-christ the Antitype of Pharaoh 6. Yet let us not be afraid Apostacies may be great there will be but two Witnesses not two in number but in regard of the fewness of those that shall bear testimony to the Doctrine of Christ there may be no Advocate for the Church Sion may be an out-cast cast out of the affection of many that served or favoured her But the sharpest Convulsions in the world are presages of an approaching Redemption Luke 21.28 and the Gospel will shine clearer as the Sun doth after it hath been muffled with a thick Cloud The words in the mouths of the Witnesses will be most killing and convincing Fear not a natural above a supernatural Power Was not all the Church God had in the world in as low a condition at the Red Sea Not a Soul that we read of exempt or but few as Job and some few others in other parts yet the Church was then delivered for a Pattern to shew forth the power of God in the Ages to come What though there may be a want of Instruments Are not all Instruments out-liv'd by God Has God dismist the care of his People Is he not alwaies the Churches Guardian He must be dethron'd before he can be disarmed While Heaven is too high for humane hands to reach the Church is too well guarded for them to conquer Fear not till Christ lets his Scepter fall out of his hands and ceases to rule in the midst of his Enemies and flings away the Keys of Death and Hell fear not till God strips himself of his strength wherewith he is clothed He is clothed with strength Psal 93.1 Though there be little strength in the Church there is an Almighty one in their confederate 'T is no matter what the Enemy resolves against what God ordains Pharaoh intended to destroy God intended to deliver God will have his will and Pharaoh's lust goes unsatisfied When the Enemies are most numerous God shall darken their glory and strength and then shall he be the hope and strength of his People Joel 3.14 15 16. The Valley of Achor the Valley of the sharpest trouble shall be a door of hope Hos 2.15 That God that can create a World out of nothing can create deliverance when there is no visible means to produce it What can be too hard for him that can work without materials that can make matter when it is wanting and call Non-Entities into being He created the World with a word and can destroy the sturdiest men in the world with a look The strongest Devil trembles before him and the whole Seed of the Serpent is but as the dust of the ballance before the breath of his mouth He looked the Aegyptian Host into disorder and their Chariot-wheels into a falling-sickness Exod. 14.24 He created the World by a word He restored Jerusalem by a word Isa 44.26 27. dispirited Aegypt by
1102. can 't be by our works Page 1115. a 1203. ad 1208. the matter of Christ's Intercession Page 1141 2. what God eyes in it Page 1175. when compleat Page 1197. 1113. continued Page 1209. Vid. own Righteousness Justice of God in punishing fallen man vindicated Page 178. not blemisht by his commands and promises when he denies special Grace Page 191 192. honoured by Christ Page 250. 306. 508. 837. 883. and mercy united in Christ Page 499. 506. can't but punish an unbeliever and seen in so doing Page 681. 704. ad 707. insensibleness of its severity a cause of Unbelief Page 732. to be reverenc'd Page 757. requires satisfaction Page 860. 869. 926. 928. Vid. Satisfaction its plea against fallen man Page 929. seen in destroying the Churches Enemies Page 47 †51 †in Pardon Page 105 †K. KIngdom of God the Gospel state why so call'd Page 7 8. those of the world overturned Page 25 †Kingly Office of Christ required his Death Page 943. and Exaltation Page 1086. secures Believers and the Church Page 1354. 34 5 †Knowledge literal may be without saving Page 4. alone not sufficient to salvation Page 45. speculative Page 392 3. practical Page 393 4 5. experimental Page 395 6 7. of interest Page 397. of God and Christ necessary to happiness grace and peace Page 390 ◠a 398. ad 411. not immediate nor comprehensive Page 411 12. 13. not perfect here Page 414. 454. saving its effect a Page 415. ad 433. its manner a Page 433. ad 437. of other things besides God and Christ insufficient Page 437 8 9. of a true Christian the best Page 440. 448. sad to abuse it Page 440 1. men opposite to it and negligent of it Page 443 4. saving very comfortable a Page 448. ad 452. should be tryed whither saving Page 452. no other but saving to be rested in Page 453 4. growth in it urged and directed a Page 455. ad 457. they that want it urged to seek it a Page 457. ad 464. 1371. hindrances of it Page 4. 439. a 464. ad 466. helps to it a Page 466. ad 473. saving of God only by Christ Page 474. natural of God by implanted notions Page 478. by the Creatures Page 478 9. under the Law Page 485 6. by Christ most excellent Page 481. ad 492. Christ only capacitated to give it Page 492 3. necessary the highest should be by him Page 494. purchased by him Page 496. Christ the necessary medium of it Page 497 8. of all Gods perfections by Christ and how a. Page 498. ad 512. of God in Christ men are Enemies to Page 514 15. deserves praise Page 518. to be sought and how Page 518 19. should be attended with sutable affections Page 519. natural and acquir'd stir'd up in conviction Page 573 4. punishment proportion'd to it Page 689 690 1. 797 8. of a mans Estate possible Page 777. 829. what qualifies for the Sacrament Page 784 5. L. LAW of God studying it advantagious Page 63. 599. 1321. written in the heart by Regeneration what a Page 96. ad 100. of it self doth not convert but irritate sin Page 169 231. not so powerful as the Gospel Page 235. alone can't throughly convince Page 565. an instrument in conviction Page 571 2 3. unbelief a sin against it Page 647 8 9. strengthens the sentence of an Unbeliever Page 684. silenced by Christ's Death Page 839. difference between it and the Gospel Page 1179. knowledge of God by it Vid. Knowledge Laws natural and positive their difference Page 772. who can repeal them Page 772 3. Liberty of the will what is lost by sin Page 176 7. some still in man Page 178 9. 180. spiritual the fruit of Christs death Page 852. Life uncertain Page 60. Light of Nature all from Christs interposition Page 138 175 6 476. discovers God but dim and weak Page 478 486 491. cannot throughly convince Page 557 8 563. 4 568 569. Likeness to God perfect the reward of Heaven Page 41. 114. in the new Creature a Page 100 ad 104. fervent longings after it a sign of Regeneration Page 119. should be the object of our love Page 129. Love of God in Christ great Page 257 269 307. 314 a 359. ad 363 688 836 1148. secures a Believers standing Page 1325. to Believers not hindred by their corruptions Page 1364. the Church the peculiar object of it Page 32 †Love to God a duty in Heaven Page 40. implanted in Regeneration Page 79. not without knowledge Page 406. necessary in the Supper Page 806 7. how to try it Page 807 8 9 10 68 †75 †abated by forgetfulness of mercies Page 1371. a menans to raise good thought Page 12 †much exercised a means of perseverance Page 1374. a sign of pardon Page 116 †Love of Christ in his death a strong motive to obedience Page 65. wonderful Page 883. to weak Believers Page 1336 1351 2 3. Love to Men seen in mourning for their sins Page 68 †Love to the Saints a mark of Regeneration Page 67. a necessary duty Page 129 810. how to try it Page 811. Love to Sin setled a renewed man cannot cannot have Page 95 †M. MAjesty of God known by the creatures Page 480. Man deals unworthily with God Page 353 4 5. all by nature under condemnation Page 676 7. Vid. Fall Marriage no Sacrament Page 77 †Means of Grace not insufficient in themselves Page 195. nothing to be ascribed to them Page 202. weak ones used to renew men Page 209 10. have defferent success Page 210. to be used with an eye to God Page 229. cannot convince without the spirit Page 725 726. the best oft unsuccessful Page 718. total neglect of them shews men are unbelievers Page 725 6. God never wants them Page 27 †unlawful not to be used Page 54 †Mediator none but Christ Page 355. Meditation a means of Divine knowledge Page 472. every morning a means to raise good thoughts Page 12 13 †the matter and manner of it to be looked to Page 13 14 †good thoughts injected should be used to assist us in it Page 18 †Meekness an effect of saving knowledge Page 426. a means to it Page 472. Memorials of Gods favours always appointed Page 749. necessary Page 749. Mercy of God display'd in Regeneration Page 211 and justice united in Christ Page 499 506. absolute cannot pardon and save Page 679 680 1. 1179 1202. Vid. Faith Unbelievers its plea for fallen man Page 929. God always hath for his people Page 65 †mixt with punishment Page 84. Vid Goodness Mercies common ones sweetned by pardon Page 379 111. all from God Page 667. received to be remembred and how Page 1306 7 8. 1310. 52. why Page 1309 10 11. arguments for hope and trust for the future Page 387 1311 12. 48 †53 †sense of them causes delight in prayer Page 60 †temporal faith to be acted for them Page 84 5. Merit of grace Impossible Page
sensual hinder knowledge stiffle conviction Page 464. 599. Philosophy never wrought such changes as the Gospel Page 235. Power remaining in natural men what a Page 175. ad 180. to be used by them Page 203 4. Vid. Impotence Power of God seen in Regeneration Page 215. manifested in Christ Page 344. 512. known by the Creatures Page 479. disparaged by unbelief Page 620. engaged to preserve Saints from Apostacy Page 1326. 1352. given Christ for Believers Page 1332. Vid. Fulness of Christ seen in the ruine of the Churches Enemies Page 47 †in pardon Page 105 †Praise a duty in heaven Page 40. discouraged by the Patrons of free-will Page 160 199. for grace received the way to have more Page 1322. Prayer a means of the new-birth Page 62. 136. 204. a renewed man can't neglect Page 121. discouraged by the Patrons of free-will Page 160. 199 natural men can perform Page 184 5. what pleas to be used in it Page 229. 270. 304 5. 385. always should attend the Word Page 239. omissions of it unworthy Page 354. 1149. adoption a ground of confidence in it Page 384. must not be chilld by assurance of having what we want Page 384. the glory of God must be chiefly minded in it Page 384. a means of Divine knowledge Page 466 7 8. neglecters or formal performers of it are unbelievers Page 726. thoughts of Christ's exaltation would encourage in it Page 1107. of Christ in the Garden and on the Cross Page 879. 1131 2. Christ's Intercession a comfort in it Page 1152. a means of perseverance Page 1373. a means to suppress bad thoughts Page 17 †for the Church hath excellent grounds Page 37 †excited by delays of deliverance Page 48 †should be frequent in a time of trouble Page 55 †delight in it Vid. Delight Preaching Eloquent not most successful Page 200. Christ's why not more successful Page 210. 232. 718. how it ought to be Page 238. 834 5. Predictions of Christ's Death a Page 944. ad 947. Preparation want of it makes a Man an unworthy receiver Page 818. Preparations to Grace a Page 148. ad 156. from the Spirit Page 569. Pride natural to fallen man Page 198. the Devils sin Vid. Devil a hindrance of conversion and knowledge Page 216. 466. oft in professors Page 666. the spring of the Churches calamity ibid. thoughts of God's soveraignty will check it Page 667. of reason the cause of unbelief Page 733. 4 5. appears in humbled ones Page 735 6. of the Churches Enemies the time of their ruine Page 45 †Priesthood of Christ required his Death Page 861 2 3. 942. and Exaltation Page 1084 5 6. intercession a part of it Page 1117. perpetual Page 1134. secures the Church and every Believer Page 34 †1354. Principles actions are according to them Page 21 2. a change of them in Regeneration Page 78 9. a vital one infused in it Page 84 5. Priviledges only don 't intitle to Gods favour or Heaven Page 30. 48. relyance on them a cause of unbelief Page 736 7. Profane ones far enough from Regeneration Page 105. are unbelievers Page 723. Profession not sufficient to salvation Page 47. is not Faith Page 798. Professors little evidence of Regeneration among them Page 105 6. oft overborn with Pride and Passion Page 798. many of them unbelievers Page 7â—2 disobedient are inexcusable Page 1218. Promises God vindicated in making them notwithstanding man's impotence Page 190. ad 194. made by God to Christ a Page 277. ad 281. 1077 8. to be pleaded by Christ Page 277. unbelief would frustrate them Page 615. pride hinders humbled ones from taking hold of them Page 735 6. can 't be delivered without Faith in Christ Page 118â— frustrated if the Saints Apostacy be possible Page 1351. of God to his Church to be studyed Page 54 †meditation on them causes delight in Prayer Page 63 †Prophesie its great end Page 261. fulfilling them prove Christ sent from God Page 656 7. Vid. Predictions Prophetical Office of Christ to be submitted to gain divine knowledge Page 519. Christ fitted for Page 671. required his Death and Exaltation Page 943. 1082 3. 4. secures Believers and the Church Page 1354. 23 †Prosperity no argument of God's love or pardon Page 1283. 114 †of the Churches Enemies before their ruine Page 45 †Punishments why Eternal Page 313. afflictions of Believers whether they are so Page 1196. 78 9. †God and Christ intended not in this Life to remove them Page 79 80 †the curse of them taken away from a Believer Page 80 †103 †their nature alter'd as to them Page 80 †prejudice not their Salvation Page 81. why continued Page 81 2 3 †103 †forbearance of it no argument of pardon Page 114 †Purgatory groundless Page 1202 3. Purity of heart a means of divine knowledge Page 471 2. Q. QVickning the regenerate need Page 174. to be sought of God Page 224. R. REacting sin how hainous Page 5 †8 †Reason would perswade to seek Regeneration Page 134. insufficient without Revelation Page 513 4. to submit to it Page 515. can 't convince of Unbelief Page 602 3 pride of it an enemy to Faith and cause of unbelief Page 715 734. Reconciliation twofold Page 241 2. of men to God how to be understood Page 243 4. the foundation of Regeneration Page 245. the Father the authour of it Page 245. 258. ad 262. what it implies Page 246 7. actual not before Faith nor from Eternity Page 249 250. by Christ necessary Page 250 1. none but the Father could be the author of it a Page 251 ad 258. the agency of the Father in Christ in it a Page 262 ad 338. by Christ only Page 355. with God comfortable a Page 363 ad 372. motives to accept it a Page 372 ad 376 the duties consequent on it Page 377. ad 380. daily to be sought of God in Christ Page 379. more difficult than Creation Page 646. to be valued Page 952. Redemption Vid. Reconciliation Reformation outward alone not sufficient Page 46 662. whence it springs Page 46 1317. Vid. Morality Reformations the word the only rule of them Page 747 1294. Regeneration its necessity explained a Page 9. ad 19. proved a Page 19 ad 44. a 45 ad 49. 134. ignorance of it to be lamented Page 44 5. misery of those that want it Page 49 50 51. comfort to those that have it Page 51 2. a 112 ad 118. 1356 7. 225. evidences of it to be cleared up why and how Page 52 3 4. to be sought of God Page 54 5. 228 132 3 4. 218. to be sought presently and why a Page 57. ad 62. how obtained Page 62 3 4. 229 135 6. 203 4. 238 9 40. difficult to describe it Page 69. 217. its difference from conversion justification adoption and sanctification Page 70. 1 2. described Page 70. what it is not Page 68. a 72. ad 75. a 106. ad 110. 't is a change and
of her children And when God shall count the people of forraign nations he shall set a mark upon every true believer and reckon him as one born in Sion a Denizen of Jerusalem though not a Jew in the flesh De Dieu in loc I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me or rather among them that know me or for them that know me * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will remember them as persons inlightned by me and acquainted with me The Psalmist reckons up here nations that were greatest enemies to the Church Rahab or Aegypt * For so Aegypt is named Isa 51.9 her antient enemy Philistia her perpetual invader Rahab signifies pride or fierceness the fiercest people shall be subdued to Sion by the power of the Gospel Aegypt the wisest and learnedst nation the most Idolatrous and Superstitious men that rest in their own parts and strength shall cast away their Idols Babylon the strongest and most powerful Empire the subjects of which the Scripture often describes as luxurious cruel proud Tyre the greatest mart whose Citizens were the greatest merchants The Aethiopians the posterity of Cursed Cham whose souls are blacker than their bodies men buried in sin benighted with ignorance poysoned with pride the most fierce and envenom'd enemies shall be brought in by an infinite grace and make up one body with her and shall be counted as related to her by a new birth and be made members of her by regeneration this is properly to be born in Sion * This man was born there as without regeneration we have not God for our father so neither have we Sion or the Church for our mother this is the great priviledg we should inquire after without which we are not in Gods register this 2d birth God only approves of he enrolls no man in the number of the Citizens of Sion nor indows them with the special priviledges of it upon the account of their first wherein they lye buried in the corruption of Adam and are Citizens of Hell not of Jerusalem Again this 2d birth is never without the knowledge of God * Among those that know me Ignorance is a bar to this enrolment he is no man that is not a rational creature and he no regenerate man that hath not some knowledg in the great mysteries of God in Christ In v. 5. 1. The honour of Sion is described by her fruitfulness 1. In regard of the eminency of her births she is not wholly barren she hath her births of men and worthy men the carnal world hath not exceeded the Church in men of raised intellectuals Sion hath not been a City of fools Dionysius the Areopagite hath been her production as well as Damaris a woman Kings also have been nurst at her breasts that they might be nursing fathers to her by their power but the honour of Sion consists in the inward change it makes on men dispossessing them of the nature of wolves for that of lambs rendring them the Loyal subjects of God instead of his active enemies 'T is the glory of Sion that this or that man born in her was changed to such principles and such affections that all the education and politeness of the most accomplisht Cities in the world could not furnish them with 2. In regard of the multitude of them this and that man of all sorts and conditions and multitudes of them so that more are the children of the desolate than of the marryed wife The tents were prophesied to be inlarged the curtains of the habitations of Sion to be stretched out and her cords to be lengthened to receive and entertain that multitude of children that should be brought forth by her after the Sacrifice of the Son of God Isa 54.1 2. For that exhortation follows upon the description of the death and exaltation of Christ Isa 53. 2. The happiness of Sion The highest himself shall establish her 1. Security in her glory Establish her 2. The Author of that security and perpetuity The Highest and that exclusive of any other The Highest himself * Coccei in loc all that are not the most high are excluded from having a share in the establishment of the Church 'T is a work peculiar to him 'T is not the excellent learning strength of the wise or mighty men that are born in her that doth preserve her but God alone he spirits and acts them means God doth use in bringing in inward grace means he doth use in setling the outward form But such means that have in reason no strength to effect so great a business means different from those which are used in the establishment of other Kingdoms whereby the hand that acts them is more visible and plain than the means that are used * Folang 'T is not the wit of man which is folly nor the strength of man which is weakness nor the holiness of man which is nothing can claim the honour of this work God himself picks stones out of the quarry smooths them for the building fixeth them in their places he himself is the only architect his wisdom contrives it his grace erects it his power preserves it and accomplisheth his own work 't is the highest none higher to over-power him none so high as to check and mate him Shall establish her This cannot be meant of the literal or local Sion though that indeed was preserved while the legal service was to indure excepting that interruption by the Babylonish captivity but now Mahomets horse tramples upon it and it retains none of the ancient inhabitants but of the true mystical Sion the Gospel state of the Church which shall continue in being as Christ the head of it hath setled it till time shall be no more Other Kingdoms may crumble away the foundations of them be dissolved But that God which laid the foundation of Sion and built her walls will preserve her palaces that the gates of Hell the subtilty of Hereticks the fury of Tyrants the Apostacy of some of her pretended Children all the locusts and spawn of the bottomless-pit shall not be able to root her up Shall establish her The word signifies the affording all things necessary for defence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 increase of victory preparations of it the knitting of it Doct. The Gospel-Church is a perpetual Society establisht by the highest Power in Heaven or Earth It shall continue as long as the World and out-live the Dissolution of Nature she shall bring forth her Man-child maugre all the vigilancy of the Dragon which shall be caught up to God and his Throne and though she be forced to flie into the wilderness yet a place is prepared for her habitation and food for her support during that state no less than 1260 days or years and this by no weaker no meaner a hand than that of God himself * Rev. 12.3 4 5 6. where she hath a place prepared of God that
Sion fall out of his hands into the power of her old Oppressor Men are more desirous to preserve the Estate they have gotten by sweat than that which is left them by Inheritance and are most careful in settling that which hath cost them more Treasure and more Labour Jacob sets a value upon the Portion he got with his Sword and Bow Gen. 48.22 No less will God upon that Sion he hath wrested out of the world by the Might of his Arm. 5. In regard of Faithfulness His Veracity is ingaged 1. In regard of Faithfulness to Christ the Head The Spirit was promised to Christ Act. 2.33 Having received the promise of the Holy Ghost i. e. the Holy Ghost promised to him by the Father He received that which was promised his receiving it from God implyed the Spirit 's being promised to him by God To what end was this Spirit given him and sent by him To convince the world of righteousness John 16.10 an effect necessary to the building Sion For this end he received it for this end therefore it was promised to him The promise would be vain the performance of the promise in the mission of the Holy Ghost would be to no purpos◠if the end for which he was promised and for which he was sent were not perform'd if there should not be a perpetual number convinced of and imbracing that righteousness of Christ which hath been manifested by his going to the Father God also promised him a great posterity after his making his soul an offering for sin Isa 53.10.11 A seed that he should see therefore stable and perpetual ‖ A posterity was to follow his Sacrifice his Cross was to give them being and his Blood was to give them life because always visible to him God pawn'd his word upon the condition of his death the condition was performed to the full satisfaction of God his Truth therefore hath no evasion no plea to deny the performance of the promise in raising up a multitude of believers in the world and such a multitude as shall always be seen with pleasure by him as good and sound children and the travel of the mothers womb are by the parents The truth of God is oblig'd by Christ's exact performance of the condition as well as by the particular respect he hath to the glory of it it was for the Church Christ gave himself Eph. 5.25 'T is necessary therefore that God should preserve and establish a Church for him to the end of the world that Christ might not by any default of his Father lose the end and design of his death there shall be a generation of believers a little seed lying in the midst of all the chaff so God promised * Psal 72.17 His name shall be continued as long as the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His name shall be propagated in a perpetual birth of Children it shall be sound while the Sun in the Heaven keeps its station 2. In regard of faithfulness to the Church it self How doth the word sparkle with promises to Sion in all her concerns He hath promised an indissolvable marriage the fixing a knot that shall never be untied * Hos 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me for ever and that in judgment righteousness loving kindness mercy faithfulness A marriage that shall never end in widdow-hood so that Judgment righteousness loving kindness mercy faithfulness must first fail before the Church meet with an entire dissolution i. e. God and the glorious perfections of his nature shall fail before the Church be forsaken and left to her enemies She is no less assur'd of continual supplies and nourishment and that by no meaner a hand than that of God himself Isa 27.3 I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment I will keep it night and day Nor a meaner dew than himself Hos 14.5 Also without the failing her a minute he would water her with doctrine to preserve her verdure and increase her growth He would be her Guardian night and day in the darkness of adversity in the sunshine of prosperity so that Satan should not outwit nor the craft and subtilty of hereticks waste her for it refers to v. 1. wherein God promiseth her to punish the piercing Serpent the crooked Serpent that by various windings and turnings insinuates himself to the destruction of men And he adds v. 4. Fury is not in me he lays by his anger against her as considered in apostate nature the fury of Hell shall not prevail where the anger of God is pacified but her enemies shall be as bryars and thorns before him He hath a consuming fury for her enemies though he hath none for his vineyard Protection is in no less measure promised and that not a temporary one nor a bare defence but with the ruin of her enemies and treading them down as straw is trodden down for the Dunghil Isa 25.10 In this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest By hand is meant his power and by rest is meant the perpetual motion of it for her and that against the most furious malicious powerful of her Enemies Mat. 16.18 against the gates of hell against the wisdom of Hell gates being the seat of councel against the censures and sentences of Hell gates being the place of judicature against the arms of Hell gates being the place of strength guards When Christ secures against Hell he secures against all that receive their commission from Hell neither Hell it self nor the instruments edg'd and envenomed by Hell shall prevail against her she is secur'd for her assemblies in one part or other when they gather together to hear the Law and to sacrifice And I that am the Lord thy God from the Land of Aegypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles as in the days of Solemn feasts Hos 12.9 't is a promise to the Church it was never yet nor appears like to be performed to the ten tribes as a Nation but to their Posterity as swallowed up in embodied with the Gentiles The conquest of her enemies is secur'd to her Ps 110.1 The promise is made to Christ of making his enemies his footstool But made to him as Davids Lord and consequently as the Lord of his people as King in Sion and therefore made to the whole body of his loyal subjects And all those things are of little comfort without duration and stability which is also secur'd to her Hos 6.3 His going forth i. e. the going forth of God in the Church is prepared as the morning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stable His appearance for her and in her is as certain as the dawning of the morning light at the appointed hour All the clouds which threaten a perpetual night cannot hinder it all the workers of darkness cannot prevent it the morning will dawn whether they will or no. Her duration is compared to the most durable things to that of the Cedar the
the superstructure Adam fell under the strength of the Serpents wit but he could by no promise lay claim to stability as the Church can by an immutable Covenant for her support IV. The Vse 1. Information 1. If the Church hath a duration and stability then Ordinances and Ministry are perpetual Ministers may be thrust into corners clapt up in prison hurried to their graves but the Sepulchres of Ministers are not the graves of the Ministry A Ministry and a Church Ordinances and a Church cannot be separated they run parallel together to the end of the world for Sion cannot be supposed without Divine Officers and Divine Institutions the one cannot be established without the other Christ walks in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks Rev. 2.1 in the seven States of the Church to the end of the world * I do not question but that the whole is prophetical it would not else be called Mystery as it is Rev. 1.20 were it meant of those particular Churches As there are seven States of the Church so there are seven Stars in the hand of Christ for all those States the Ministry have the same support the same Guardian as the Church her self What was in the Ephesian and Primitive State is also in the Sardian State the State of the Church rising from corruption of Doctrine and Ordinances * Rev 3.1 These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God and the seven Stars Christ hath still Stars to shine and seven Spirits to gift them hath at present not had hath in the State we are which seems to be the end of that Sardian State 'T is true the Church is in a wilderness condition and hath been so for above 1200 years but hath she yet seen her Funeral No she hath a place for her residence and food for her nourishment and both provided for her by that God that fram'd her by that God that stood by her in the pangs of her travel and shelter'd her Man-child from the fury of her enemies * Rev. 12.6 And the woman fled into the wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there 1260 days They should feed her she is not starved in the desert she hath Manna to comfort her her Caterer to provide her food and some to administer the Banquet of the Word and Sacraments to her For any Member of Sion to deny a Ministry and deny Ordinances and therefore to neglect them is to conclude her dead in a grave and not living in a desert utterly famisht and not fed Though there be a smoke in the Temple a cloud and obscurity the Truths and Ordinances of God not so clear so efficacious as they have been as some understand Rev. 15.8 or as they shall be yet there is a Temple still A smoke in the Temple supposeth a Temple standing and Ordinances in it The obscurity of a thing nulls not the being of it nor a cloud upon the Sun the stability and motion of it He that denies a Church a Ministry and Divine Ordinances in it must first charge Christ with falshood when he promised to be with them to the end of the world Mat. 28.19 20. Alway even to the end of the world Not to sustain their particular persons to the end of the world but their Doctrine in a succession of some to teach and baptize by virtue of Authority from him for to that doth the promise and command refer and not unto the continuance of the Apostolical dignity or of their extraordinary gifts of miracles but the duration of their standing work till the top-stone were laid with the loud acclamations of grace grace The Church shall no more want a Ministry in the desert than she wanted a Prophet in Babylon 2. The Doctrine of the establishment of every member of Sion is clearly confirmed He that establisheth Sion counts up every man that was born in her every Child of Sion is in the same state and under the same promise as Sion her self The promise of stability to Sion is not to be understood of the firmness of her palaces but the duration of her inhabitants as when God is said to build a house 't is not to be understood of the rearing the walls but increasing the family * Exod. 2.21 God made them houses i. e. gave them children Every renew'd man every one truly born in Sion stands upon the same Foundation of the Covenant hath the same Charter with Sion her self and therefore upon a surer ground than any particular society of men in the world Psal 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion which cannot be remov'd but abides for ever He is upon a better Foundation of security than the Church of Ephesus or Smyrna Pergamus or Sardis which have lost their footing and their places know them no more A believer injoys other priviledges with Sion but the patent runs here for his stability in the favour of God and runs high by removing all fears in the negative Cannot be removed and confirming all confidence in the affirmative Abides for ever No name writ upon Gods hand no name presented on Christs breast shall be razed out no fruit of his death shall be lost no Devil shall steal from him any part of his purchase As he hath blood enough to redeem them so he hath power enough to preserve them the same blood that is the cement of Sion the same hand that built her the same head that influenceth her secures every one of her true born Children They are all in the same posture and upon the same Foundation with Sion her self 3. How great is the folly of Sions enemies They Judg of her by the weakness of her worldly interest and not by the Almightiness of her Guardian They stand against a God that in decreeing the stability of Sion decreed the ruine of her opposers and can with as much ease effect it as resolve it The Stone which is the Foundation of this Kingdom shall break in pieces the Image of all worldly glory the policy of all worldly wisdom and the force of all worldly power Dan. 2.35 44 45. It shall make the Mountains of the world as a level and dust underneath it Chaff may as well stop the wind and force it to another quarter Stubble may as well quench the fury of the flames as the Enemies of Sion be victorious over the God of Sion As he hath a Fire in Sion to warm her so he hath a Furnace in Jerusalem to consume her Enemies Isa 31.9 a Fire to burn his Peoples dross but a Furnace to dissolve his Enemies force Pharaoh is an Example to all Generations to warn men not to struggle with those whom God resolves to patronize how did he further his own destruction by his hardness and the deliverance of the oppressed by his fury How often is the violence of her Enemies the occasion of the manifestation of
God's glory and the setling Sion's security Had not Pharaoh been so furious God had not manifested the glory of his Power nor his Israel enjoyed so miraculous a safety 'T is true the Church is weak but the Arm that holds her is the strongest in Heaven and Earth Her outward Interest is small but her Interest is twisted with that of her Lord. An Enemy shall find more mischief from mud-walls under the protection of a valiant Arm than from stone-walls under the guard of an Infant How foolish is it for a man to think to break a Rock with his fist for hurting his shins whereby he bruiseth his hands as well as his leggs How foolish is it for men to beat the bushes about a Lions Den whereby they will be sure to rouse him God dwells in Sion from thence he roars to the shaking of Heaven and Earth the Powers of the world when he will manifest himself to be the hope of his People and the strength of the Children of Israel Joel 3.16 4. What a ground is here for prayer This sets an edg upon prayer No petition can more comfortably no petition can more confidently be put up than for Sions establishment Prayers for particular Persons or for our selves may want success but supplications for Sion never miscarry they have the same Foundation for an answer that Sion hath for her stability viz. The promise of God they are agreeable to that affection which shall never be removed from her How believingly may we cry out Be it unto Sion according to thy word There is no fear of a repulse whatsoever God denies he will not deny that for which he hath so often ingaged himself It may be for the good of the Church that so great a person as Paul should lye in Chains and his Fetters conduce to the furtherance of the Gospel Phil. 1.12 But it can never be for the Interest of Sion or for the Interest of Sion's God that she should be crusht between the teeth of the Lions and that which he hath redeemed by the blood of his Son be a prey to the Jaws of the Devil God hath entitled Sion by the name of a City not forsaken Isa 62.12 And as we have his promise for her settlement so we have his command for our earnestness vers 7. And give him no rest till he doth establish Jerusalem a praise in the whole Earth And he prescribes us to back that by our prayers which he had promis'd v. 1. For Jerusalem's sake I will not rest till the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness Our desires in this case are suited to his resolves and run in the same line with his immutable Decree he will have no rest in himself nor he would have no rest from us till this be accomplisht We cannot call upon God with a greater confidence for any thing than for that Church that shall out-live the Funeral of the world and survive the frame of Nature that shall lie in Ashes 5. What a strong ground is here for trust Look not so much upon the condition of Sion's Walls as upon her Foundation not upon her present posture as upon her promise-Charter not upon her as a weak Vine but under the hand of the Highest as the Vine-dresser look not upon the feebleness of the Flock but upon the care of the Shepherd nor upon the fierceness of the Lions but upon the strength and affection of her Guardian 1. Let not our Faith rest upon appearances Flesh will then make a wrong Judgment of God Providences are various and should our Faith be guided only by them it would have a liveliness one moment and faint the next As the Promise is the stability of the Church so it is only the stability of our Faith The Authority of the Word is the Life of our Faith and not the sense of any particular Providence in the world A Faith built upon protecting Providences is a sensitive Faith a Faith built upon the Promise is a spiritual Faith 2. Yet the Experiences God hath given us hitherto of the continuance of the Church may be called in to bear witness to the Truth of the Promise He hath before conducted his Israel into Canaan when Pharaoh meditated their utter ruine or their continuance under his Chains he fed them with Manna and watered them with a Rock in a desert that afforded no earthly assistance The preserving the Vine could never be ascribed to the Vine it self in which there is no strength nor to the Foxes in whom there is no pitty but to the keeper of the vineyard We have reason therefore to trust God but not at all to trust man Is it from man or from God that the Church hath subsisted so long in the world a little flock in the midst of many Wolves among enemies more numerous than her friends What a small number hath the Church had in any age to mate the multitude of her enemies what wisdom to countermine their policy and what power to repel their force The Church is not weaker now than it hath been the Sons of Sion were always Sheep Sheep have not the strength of Lyons to resist nor the swiftness of Eagles to fly away from danger the danger cannot be greater than it hath been there were always Dragons that spat out their venom and Lyons that opened their mouths against her the Devil never wanted diligence nor the world enmity to overturn her could she for one moment have subsisted in the midst of so many furies had not God been her shield and glory Call to mind how often God hath healed her diseases and bound up her wounds Let us rest in that promise which hath so often been made good by his power which he hath in many ages displayed upon as great occasions of danger as Sion can be in Let us live believingly under his wings and fear not our own weakness or our enemies strength 3. We have greater ground of confidence than the Church of Israel had In the day of Israels trouble by Salmanasser the Prophet comforts the Church in her anguish by the consideration of the Messiah who was to assume the Government though many years after Isa 8.22 Isa 9.1 6. Shall a promise that was to stay so many ages for performance be a ground of trust and confidence to a tottering Church then And shall not the staggering Church have more ground to rest since the Messiah is made the head of the Corner and hath the Keys of Hell and death delivered to him What a base thing is distrust then against so many assurances of stability and the experience of a multitude of ages Grasp the promise plead it earnestly shew God his written word which he hath sent from Heaven he never yet disowned it nor ever will Methinks the voice God is able to deliver Sion sounds too much of distrust If we know no more than Gods power we know not so much as the Devil doth he knows his
As God shews his mercy in his Peoples Redemption he will shew his strength in their conduct Exod. 15.13 He that made this deliverance a standing Monument of his Power entitles himself by it Isa 43.16 Thus saith the Lord which makes a way in the Sea a path in the mighty waters 2. His kindness to and care of his People When the straits are remediless and the counsels whereby the Projects are laid not to be defeated by humane skill when God seems to have forgot then in a seasonable deliverance he shews himself the careful Watchman of Israel When the Ship is in a raging storm and Christ asleep he will leave his own ease to keep his word and content his People When the Church thinks God hath forgotten his mercies and they have forgotten their dependance when the misery is so pressing that there is no faith of a deliverance left then Christ comes when faith is scarcely to be found upon the Earth Luke 18.8 to exalt his mercy in the depths of their misery and work terrible things they looked not for Isa 64.3 The Israelites would not have understood God's care in their protection without this or the like strait God had a new opportunity to shew his watchfulness over them to turn the cloud which went before them as their guide behind them for their defence Exod. 14.19 The scoffs of the Enemy at the Churches misery are God's motive to help her I will restore health to thee because they called thee an out-cast Jer. 30.17 'T is in straits we see God's salvation not man's Exod. 14.13 Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. 3. His Justice He lets the Church be encompassed with miseries and the Enemies in a Combination against her that he may overthrow them at once God makes a quicker dispatch with the Aegyptians when they were united than when they had assaulted Israel with a smaller body His Righteousness gets glory at one blow when he makes them to lye down together Is 43.17 His Justice is unblemisht in striking when their wickedness is visibly ripe the equity of it must needs be subscribed that when the Enemies malice is greatest when they have no mixture of compassion 't is the clearest righteousness to crush them without any mixture of mercy God brings things to that pass that he may honour both his Justice and Mercy in the highest That the black horses and the white horses may march firm together Zech. 6.6 the black horses that brought death and Judgment Northward to Babylon where the Church was captive the white horses that followed them and brought deliverance to his People the one to be Instruments of his Judgments the other of his Mercies God loves to glorifie those two Attributes together he did so in the redemption of mankind by the death of his Son and he doth so in the deliverance of his Church there is a conformity of the Church to Christ in her distress that there may be a conformity of God's glory in temporal to his glory in eternal Salvation God singles out a full crop to be an harvest for both A wicked man is said to be waited for by the sword Job 15.22 God attends the best season for revenge when mercy to the one shall appear most glorious and vengeance on his Enemies most equitable and all disputes against his proceedings be silenced 2. It makes to the Churches Advantage God had a work to do upon Mount Sion and on Jerusalem before he would punish the stout heart of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high looks Isa 10.12 His end shall be attained in the correction of his Church before his glory shall be exalted in the destruction of her Enemies There are Enemies in the hearts of his People to be conquered by his grace before the Enemies to her peace and prosperity shall be defeated by his Power he will let them be in the fire till like gold they may have a purer honour in a brighter lustre 1. Humiliation is gain'd hereby God would not presently raze out the Canaanites lest the wild Beasts should increase upon them Deut. 7.22 Too quick deliverances may be occasions to multiply the wild Beasts of pride security and wantonness in the heart humility would have but little footing There is need of a sharp Winter to destroy the Vermin before we can expect a fruitful Spring Without humiliation the Church knows not how to receive nor how to improve any mercy The Enemies hasten their own mine by increasing the measure of their sins and Israels deliverance by being instruments to humble then hearts The sooner the plaister hath drawn out the corrupt matter the sooner it is cast into the fire God hereby prevents the growth of weeds in that ground he intends to enrich with new mercies 2. A Spirit of Prayer is excited Slight troubles make but drooping prayers Great straits make it gush out as the more the bladder is squeezed the higher the water springs We hear not of the Israelites crying to the Lord after their coming out of Aegypt till they had a sight of the formidable Army Exod. 14.10 They were sore afraid and the Children of Israel cried unto the Lord. Prayer gains mercies but scarce springs up free without sence of distress We then have recourse to Gods power whereby he is able to relieve us when we are sensible of our own weakness whereby we are unable to relieve our selves men will scarce seek to God or trust him while any creature though but a reed remains for their support they are destitute before they pray or believe God regards their prayers Psa 102.17 He will regard the prayer of the Destitute and not despise their prayer Distress causes importunity and God will do much for importunities sake Luke 11.8 3. Discovery of sincerity Hereby God discovers who are his people and who are not who are in the highest form of Christianity and who are not in the School or at least but in the lowest form he separates the good corn from the useless chaff No question but there were some among the Israelites that in this extremity acted faith upon the remembrance of the wonders God had wrought for them in Aegypt before their departure certainly they did not all murmur against Moses Were there no Calebs and Joshuahs that followed God fully in a way of faith and submission Their faith courage had not been conspicuous without this extremity Thundrings and Lightnings and terrible things in righteousness are to prove us whether the fear of God be before our faces that we sin not Exod. 20.18 20. God separates the dross You never know a new building without pulling down to separate the rubbish and rotten rafters from the sound materials Abraham was put upon hard work the imbruing his hands in the blood of his only Son to prove his integrity when God sees his sincerity he divers the blow not only delivers him from his grief his Son from his danger