affright and terrisie the Workers of Iniquity that they as vile and worthless Creatures shall be cast away Matth. 13.48 the bad Fish shall be cast away as those that God hath no esteem of Love to oâ— Delight in they have cast away the Law of the Lord Isa 5.24 and now they themselves shall be cast away they would not put away the Lusts of their Hearts the Evil of their Doings and now therefore they must be put away as Dross Psal 119.119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the Eaâ—â— as Dross But this is not all the Tares shall be cast into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire Matth. 13.12 It is honourable to be Trees for Fruit but it is disgracefull and reproachful to be Trees for Fuel Hay serves for Food to Cattel but Tares do serve only to heat the Oven and to burn in the Furnace O how dreadful is this for to be cast into a Furnace heated by the Anger and Fury of God Can we imagine how terrible that Fire is which is kindled by incensed Justice and blown up by the Breath of an angry God a Fire that will indeed devour all that is pleasant and coniume all that is sweet and gratefull in Life yet leave still a Being to feel Misery and endure Eternal Torments We should be amazed to see a Wisp of Straw a Bundle of Tares to hold out one day and not be consumed but this is a great Miracle of the Power of God to uphold and preserve Sinners to be an eternal Mark for God to shoot at an eternal Footstool for him to tread on Eternal Vessels for him to drop his Wrath and pour out his Fury into The Evil of Sin doth not consume is not expiated by all the Torments of the workers of iniquity and so their Misery cannot abate their Punishments cannot lessen nor the Fire go out they suffer from God and hate him they endure Blows and Wounds from him and blaspheme him for them they Rebelled against God they suffered Sin and Satan to Rule in them and now full sore against their Wills God will Reign over them with an out-stretched Arm and Fury poured out Ezek. 20.33 they would not come under Christ's Pastoral Rod Ezek 20.37 but they must be forced to fall under Christ's Iron Rod Psal 2.9 their Sin did grieve God and God's Sentence and the Execution of it will eternally sting and vex them Oh it is dreadful for Sinners to be preserved in being for their hurt to have an immortal Existence that they may feel an immortal Punishment Misery and Torment If Christ that was a green Tree Luke 23.31 that was full of the vital Sap of Holiness and Righteousness and did continually abound in spiritual Fruit had yet such a Fire of Wrath burning against him and kindled on him when as Evil Fruits were only hanged on him by imputation but did never grow in or on him what must dry Trees expect that are destitute of the Life of God and did never bear Fruit to Christ what an everlasting Furnace what an Eternal Fire will be their Portion Christ could pass the Cup from him by his drinking of it Mat. 26.42 but workers of iniquity shall drink of the Cup of God's Fury yet it shall never pass from them but stay at their Lips and be suck'd and soak into their Souls 2. Use I would now put you on the Search Trial and Examination of your selves Are you truly Members of and sincere Subjects in this Kingdom of God Are you such as shall stay in the Kingdom of God or such as shall be gathered out of it There is a great deal of difference between treading in God's Courts Isaiah 1.12 and growing in God's House or being planted and flourishing in God's Courts Psal 92.13 those that only tread in God's Courts may not stay in his House John 8.35 but may be driven out of it Hos 9.15 I will drive them out of my house I will love them no more but those that are planted by God and are green Olive-Trees in the House of God they shall never wither or be rooted up Psal 52.8 they trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever and mercy will follow them all their days Psal 23.6 and mercy will be built up for ever Psal 89.2 It is worth the while to enquire what we are and whose we are that we may not flatter and deceive our own Souls In a Family there are Sons and Servants John 4.35 in a Great House there are Vessels of Gold and Silver and Vessels of Wood and Earth in great Cities as in Rome of old they did distinguish the Inhabitants into two sorts the Advenae or Strangers the Cives or Citizens that were born and bred there O consider Are you Titular or Real Are you Transient or Abiding Subjects in Christ's Kingdom Are ye rescued and delivered from the adverse Prince and contrary Kingdom Men are born under the Law of Sin Rom. 8.2 and under the power of Satan Acts 26.18 the God of this World is their Father John 8.44 the Prince of this World is their King Oh therefore ask this serious Question Is the Prince of the World cast out of your Hearts John 12.31 now shall the Prince of the World be cast out And are you pluckt out of his Paw rescued out of his Kingdom Col. 1.13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father hath by a strong hand by a mighty arm pluckt and snatched his Redeemed from the Power of Darkness Ignorance and Sin are Darknesses and Satan is the Power and Prince of Darkness he rules Men by their Ignorance and Lusts and therefore he is stiled the ruler of the darkness of this world Ephes 6.12 Ignorance and Sin have a strange Power over Souls as if they were rightful and lawful Powers and Satan's Kingdom is grounded and built on them Sinners know not what they do whither they go whom they serve and hence it is they do so readily and willingly yield themselves to obey the Commands of these Enemies that hoodwink them and hurry them on to Destruction Are your Eyes opened Are Satan's Snares and Sin 's Bonds broken Are you turned from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God Acts 26.18 are you made free from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 darkness did chain the Egyptians in their Places that they did not remove or go about Exod. 10.22 23. but when the Light returned then they were set at Liberty to walk about and work so have you known the Truth of Christ and been made free by it John 8.32 Is the Veil of Ignorance drawn off from your Minds And are the Chains of Lust fallen off from your Wills A Veil is a Restraint and Bondage on the Eye Those that do not see the Evil of Sin will not fly from it they that behold not the Excellency of the Kingdom of God will not press into it 2ly Are you translated
yet so is it here John 6.53 54 55 56 57. we here eat the flesh and drink the bloud of the Son of Man in this Life and in Heaven to all Eternity we shall feed on the delicious Fruits of Christ the Tree of Life Rev. 2.7 4thly In Christ's Kingdom is Liberty John 8.36 If the Son doth make you free thâ—â— you shall be free indeed Christ reigns to destroy the reigning Power of Sin and Satan to cast the Prince of this World out of his Throne and Kingdom John 12.31 Nâ—â— shall the Prince of this World be cast out Christ reigns to tumble down the God of this World from his Heaven Luke 10.18 Isâ—â— Satan falling as Lightning from Heaven Christ breaks this oppressour to pieces Psal 72.4 he bursts the Yoke of Sin snaps in sunder the Snares of Satan and delivers from the bondage of Corruption 5thly In Christ's Kingdom is safety This great Shepherd keeps his Sheep and watchâ—â— over his Flock in this Night of Time in this Wilderness of the World John 17 1â— While I was with them in the World I kept theâ— in thy Name and none of them is lost Saines are said to be preserved in Christ Jesus Jude 1. Christ guards his Flock and is a wall of fire round about them Zech. 2.5 no Lion shall be there nor any ravences Beast shall go up thereon it shall not be found there but the Redeemed shall walk there Satan that roaring Lion shall not prey on Christ's Lambs or Sheep they shall be as safe as if there were no Beasts of Prey about them they shall lye down safely in the wilderness and sleep securely in the woods Ezek. 34.25 Satan shall not be there to hurt them because their Shepherd is still with them to save them Psal 23.4 Thou art with me in the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil thy rod and thy staff they comfort me continually As David when a Shepherd did fight with a Lion and Bear and slew them to rescue a poor Lamb of his Flock 1 Sam. 17.34 35 36. so Christ did once in his own Person encounter with and destroy Satan Heb. 2.15 and he doth by his Spirit and Grace in his Members daily sight with him and foil him 1 John 2.14 ye are strong and have overcome the wicked one Christ stands feeds and keeps his Flock in the strength of the Lord Micah 5.4 and so this one Shepherd is stronger than all the Beasts of Prey whether they be wicked Men or evil Spirits as he is omniscient he understands all the difficulties and dangers of his Sheep and as he is omnipotent he can rescue save and preserve them Tho' this great Shepherd hath a numerous Flock scattered through the World yet he knows all his Sheep and doth hear all their Cries and Prayers Psal 72.12 14. He shall deliver the needy when he crieth the poor also and hiâ— that hath no helper He shall redeem their Sâ—â— from deceit and violence and precious shall they blood be in his sight Spiritual Enemies 〈◊〉 attempt against the People of God by Pâ—licy or Power yet Christ frustrates theâ— Adversaries in both he redeems the Souls 〈◊〉 his People both from Fraud and Violence no earthly King can know every Subjectâ— or hear the Cries and Petitions of all that are oppressed 5thly Jesus Christ strengthens and enâ—bles his True Subjects to obey him as Chrâ—â—â— dwells in their Hearts by Faith Ephes 3.17 so he strengthens his People Phil. 4.13 〈◊〉 can do all things through Christ that strengâ—â—â—â— me I will put my Spirit into them and 〈◊〉 them to walk in my statutes Ezek. 36 2â— Christ gives Influences Aids and Assistanâ—â— for every Act of Obedience because he is 〈◊〉 a Natural Head that communicates Spâ—â—â— to his Subjects as Members and as a Roâ—â— that derives Sap to all his Branches Tâ—â— Subjects of Earthly Kings have no such neeâ— of them or dependance on them 〈◊〉 strength to yield them Obedience But iâ— was prophesied of Christ Psal 72.6 〈◊〉 shall come down like rain on the mowen grâ—â— as showers that water the Earth This Scripture teaches us how great a Dependance Christ's Subjects have on him and how precious a Benefit they receive by him the â—owen Grass cannot spring and grow withâ—â—t Rain from Heaven so Christ's Subjects cannot spring up in Holiness or bring forth any Fruits of Righteousness except they have a Rain of Influences a Shower of gracious Communication from the Lord Jesus Christ Every Subject of Christ is a dry ground Isa 42.3 and needs watering from that River yea from that Fountain of Grace that is above in Christ We cannot take one step in the way towards a Blessed Eternity but leaning on Christ Cant. 8.5 the Church cometh up out of the wilderness and travels towards the Heavenly Canaan leaning on her beloved Ezek. 45.17 the King there spoken of was to provide and prepare all Sacrifices as Burnt-Offerings Sin-Offerings and Thank-Offerings for the People his Subjects By this King I understand Christ as he did give himself for us a Lamb for a burnt-offering John 1.29 as a sin-offering 2 Cor. 5.21 so he furnishes us with Thank-Offerings he kindles Love in our Hearts by his own Beams he circumcises our Hearts Col. 2.11 cuts off the filthy foreskin of sinful inordinate Self-love that did hinder and intercept our Love to God and it is by vertue of our Marriage-Union with him that we bring forth Fruits to God Rom. 7.4 all the fruits of righteousness are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God Phil. 1.11 6thly Jesus Christ receives the Souls of 〈◊〉 Subjects at last as he committed his owâ— Soul at death to the hands of the Father Luke 23.46 so now he hath merited and â—â—tained this Honour to be the Receiver aâ—â— Guardian of departing Souls Acts 7 5â— Stephen called upon God saying Lord Jeâ—â— receive my Spirit he called upon God tâ— it was through Christ the Mediator God would not receive but reject and abâ—â—â— our Spirits were they not joined to 〈◊〉 accepted in and had access to him throâ—â—â— Christ Oh how desirable a King is Jeâ—â— Christ that will be a Friend to us when 〈◊〉 forsake us or can do nothing for our Soâ—â—s Oh what a Trust doth Jesus Christ undertâ—â—e to keep departed Souls till the last day and then restore them to glorious Bodies Oâ—â— departing Souls must fall into the hands 〈◊〉 an angry Sin-revenging God were theâ— not such a gracious King in whose Hand we might deposite and trust them 7thly Jesus Christ is such a King that 〈◊〉 conquer and destroy Death 1 Cor. 15 â—â— he threatens it Hos 13.14 O death I will 〈◊〉 thy plague O grave I will be thy destruction here is a promise in the Verse to the Sainâ—s I will ransom them from the power of the grâ—â—â— I will redeem them from death and this promise is joined with a threatning against Dearâ— and the Grave How wonderful
hoâ— great and mighty a King is Jesus Christ that threatens so powerful and victorious a King as Death is How long hath Death reigned and how large an Empire hath it had in the World it is said Rom. 5.14 Death reigned from Adam to Moses yea we may extend the duration of its Kingdom further it hath reigned from the Fall of the first Adam to this day and how many conquered Subjects hath it had 1 Cor. 15.22 in Adam all died Death is such a King as shakes its Black Rod over and brandishes it 's sharp and glittering Sword against the whole World it hath threatned arrested and cut off the Greatest Kings and Conquerors it hath been very Terrible to them that by Oppression Violence and Cruelty caused their Terrour in the Land of the Living Ezek. 32.23 none of the Kings of the World can prevent the Fatal stroke of Death on themselves much less can they divert it from their Subjects but Christ is such a King as combates with Death and overcomes it he tasted Death indeed himself once Heb. 2.9 but it was to abolish it 2 Cor. 1.10 he became a Subject to it for a time that he might swallow it up for ever and be a Lord over the dead to raise them up Rom. 14.9 and rescue them from this Enemy And how strong yet how sweet are these Words of Christ I will be the plague of death I will be a Discase yea a mortal Disease to kill Death it self and Grave I will be thy destruction Christ fulfills his threatning when he seeks out the Dust of his People and forms it up into a Body this defeats and disanuls the Victory of the Grave that it may be said O Grave where is thy victory though thou didst corrupt putresie and dissolve our Bodies thâ—â— thou didst devour our Flesh and crumble it into Dust and take away the very shape of a Body yet we have new Bodies formed and organized again and when these Bodies shall receive their Souls and be quickened by them then it may be said O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 What haâ—â— thou gotten by stinging and killing our Bodies behold they are alive again Theâ—e is a Day when the Lord will make upâ—â— Jewels Malachy 3.17 And then God's Jewels are made up when immortal Souls shall be joined to and set in the Rings of Glorious Bodies Christ is such a King as will conform all his Subjects to himself both is Soul and Body When he regenerates the Soul then it bears the Image of the second Adam when he raises the Body this is â—s proper Regeneration to be begotten and born from the dead as Christ was Col. 1 1â— Revel 1.5 When old Adam's Tenour is out and quite abolished when Christ bâ— his Spirit quickens the Body Rom. 8.11 then it bears the Image of the Heavenly Adam and is held of him 1 Cor. 15.49 Saints are the Children of God as they are the Children of the Resurrection Luke 20. â—6 This is a new Ground and Reason why they should be called the Children of God the Seed of Christ When Saints awake out of the Dust they shall be satisfied with God's likeness Psal 17.15 When they are begotten again into a lively Hope 1 Pet. 1.3 4. they bear God's Image in their Souls but when they shall be raised or be begotten from the dead then they shall also bear Christ's Image in their Bodies and so shall be satisfied with the Image of Christ as an Everlasting Father O what a precious Merby What an incomparable Priviledge is this that Jesus Christ will not forget or reject our Dust for ever but seek it out and form it up as an Habitation for our Souls and an everlasting Temple for his Spirit to dwell in 8thly Jesus Christ is such a King as will gather and draw up all his sincere Subjects to him to be with him for ever 1 Thes 4.17 As he receives their Souls in a dying Hour Psal 49.15 Acts. 7.59 so he will come again to revive their Bodies and then he will receive their whole Man to himself John 14.3 What wonderful Grace and Kindness is this that where the Master is there the Servant shall also be John 12.20 That the Sheep shall for ever dwell with the great Shepherd and all the Subjects of this Glorious King shall abide with him and see his Glory so as to share in it and partake of it John 17.24 2 Thes 2.14 Christ the King is the Harbinger and Forerunner of his Subjects Hebr. 6.20 He is gone into another World to choose an Eternal Inheritance for his Brethren Psal 47.4 He shall choose our Inheritance for us And Christ by interceeding with his Father that his People may be with him doth prepare a Place for them John 17.24 John 14.2 3. Christ's Intercession is so powerful that it cannot be deny'd I would now give you some Counsels and Directions that you may stay and continâ—e in this Kingdom and not be gathered 〈◊〉 of it and deprived of the Blessedness and Glory of it 1st O come forth and see King Solomâ—â— Cant. 3.11 This King Solomon is King Jesus he hath made him a rich and gloriâ—â— Chariot to ride forth in and to visit Kingdoms Nations and People The Gospel as preached in the World is the Spirituâ—â— Chariot that Christ sits in and the whâ—â— Horse he rides on Rev. 6.2 The Church in her Ministers may be and is comparâ—â— to the Horses in Pharaoh's Chariot Cant â— 9 The Church by her Ministers do's drâ—â— Jesus Christ about the World O consider this the Gospel is not fixed to one Nation the Chariot of Christ is moving and may quickly pass by us and be gone from us It is a great Mercy that Christ's Chariots come to us that he appears among us O slight not the Opportunity neglect not the Day of Grace Come sorth from your Ignorance and Night of Darkness come forth from your slight low and contemptible Thoughts of Christ O fix the Eye of your Minds on him look with a steady Eye on Christ John 6.40 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We should contemplate the Son our Minds should dwell on him we should not content our selves with seldom and transient Glances on Christ but our Thoughts should be conversant about Christ Do we not need Christ Is he not absolutely necessary for us Must we not wander if Christ doth not guide us and fall if he doth not support us and be a Prey to Satan if he doth not guard and protect us Must we not famish if he doth not feed us and perish if he doth not fold us And be Friendless and Harbourless at last if he doth not receive us How will you look Death or the Judge in the Face if you do not first see Christ and his Salvation O view and look well on Christ Is there any thing in him to be disliked to be excepted against Is he not altogether lovely Cant. 5.16 Whatever is desireable