holiness_n and_o purity_n how_o our_o brethren_n of_o the_o separation_n will_v dispose_v of_o their_o member_n that_o be_v of_o this_o temper_n i_o know_v not_o but_o as_o to_o all_o those_o that_o pretend_v to_o be_v of_o our_o communion_n and_o yet_o live_v scandalous_a life_n and_o think_v that_o their_o own_n themselves_o for_o the_o son_n of_o the_o church_n will_v make_v atonement_n for_o their_o immorality_n it_o be_v to_o be_v fear_v they_o have_v do_v we_o more_o hurt_n than_o ever_o they_o will_v do_v we_o good_a and_o unless_o they_o will_v reform_v it_o may_v perhaps_o be_v wish_v that_o we_o be_v rid_v of_o they_o let_v they_o declare_v themselves_o fanatic_n papist_n any_o thing_n rather_o than_o member_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o though_o by_o their_o recession_n and_o go_v over_o to_o the_o enemy_n camp_n we_o may_v possible_o be_v so_o weaken_v that_o we_o can_v not_o support_v ourselves_o but_o must_v be_v force_v to_o fall_v under_o our_o adversary_n 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thing_n in_o comparison_n thing_n certain_o not_o worth_a all_o this_o heat_n thing_n that_o the_o wise_a and_o best_a of_o the_o several_a dissent_v party_n confess_v to_o be_v indifferent_a o_o how_o do_v man_n by_o these_o foolish_a and_o unaccountable_a division_n weaken_v the_o common_a interest_n that_o all_o pretend_v at_o least_o to_o be_v concern_v for_o what_o advantage_n be_v hereby_o give_v to_o the_o adversary_n it_o be_v likely_a indeed_o that_o as_o they_o first_o set_v on_o foot_n so_o they_o still_o continue_v to_o foment_n these_o difference_n they_o laugh_v at_o this_o opportunity_n of_o make_v proselyte_n to_o their_o religion_n and_o a_o plentiful_a harvest_n they_o have_v hereby_o reap_v to_o themselves_o but_o where_o be_v our_o wisdom_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n have_v man_n no_o more_o understanding_n than_o to_o be_v still_o hot_a and_o eager_a in_o their_o contention_n about_o a_o shadow_n when_o there_o be_v a_o enemy_n at_o the_o gate_n that_o be_v in_o a_o 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satisfy_v about_o as_o he_o will_v not_o condemn_v or_o censure_v those_o that_o be_v persuade_v or_o practise_v otherwise_o so_o neither_o will_v he_o raise_v any_o disturbance_n in_o the_o church_n by_o join_v himself_o to_o a_o opposite_a party_n and_o on_o the_o other_o side_n those_o that_o do_v conform_v to_o the_o church_n in_o all_o thing_n will_v not_o withdraw_v their_o charity_n from_o their_o fellow_n christian_n for_o not_o do_v so_o much_o as_o they._n though_o they_o differ_v from_o they_o in_o several_a opinion_n yet_o they_o will_v join_v hand_n with_o they_o in_o all_o christian_a office_n of_o mutual_a love_n and_o charity_n and_o in_o a_o joint_a opposition_n of_o the_o common_a enemy_n but_o alas_o thing_n be_v not_o thus_o with_o we_o and_o i_o note_v it_o as_o a_o fault_n for_o which_o we_o ought_v deep_o to_o be_v affect_v this_o day_n and_o if_o man_n do_v due_o weigh_v the_o sinfulness_n and_o the_o danger_n that_o all_o schism_n and_o separation_n of_o this_o kind_n do_v bring_v upon_o a_o nation_n they_o will_v be_v thus_o affect_v if_o human_a conjecture_n about_o the_o reason_n and_o cause_n of_o divine_a judgement_n may_v be_v allow_v it_o will_v appear_v from_o history_n and_o experience_n that_o there_o have_v be_v as_o much_o war_n and_o bloodshed_n cause_v in_o the_o world_n as_o many_o nation_n desolate_v as_o many_o church_n ruin_v by_o the_o malignity_n and_o evil_a influence_n of_o this_o sin_n of_o schism_n as_o any_o other_o and_o if_o ever_o god_n in_o judgement_n shall_v think_v fit_a to_o give_v over_o this_o flourish_a church_n of_o we_o as_o a_o prey_n to_o that_o mighty_a hunter_n that_o will_v erect_v a_o universal_a spiritual_a monarchy_n to_o himself_o upon_o the_o ruin_n of_o all_o the_o particular_a church_n of_o christendom_n we_o shall_v have_v good_a reason_n to_o believe_v that_o the_o unnecessary_a division_n and_o quarrel_n among_o ourselves_o have_v a_o great_a hand_n in_o bring_v on_o the_o judgement_n in_o all_o appearance_n we_o of_o this_o nation_n may_v be_v impregnable_a as_o to_o our_o religion_n if_o those_o protestant_n among_o we_o who_o have_v be_v so_o long_o separate_v from_o the_o communion_n of_o our_o national_a church_n will_v once_o return_v into_o its_o bosom_n that_o we_o may_v all_o hearty_a join_v together_o in_o love_v and_o assist_v one_o another_o and_o oppose_v the_o public_a adversary_n but_o five_o and_o last_o if_o the_o state_n of_o our_o church_n and_o nation_n be_v not_o near_o so_o bad_a as_o i_o have_v now_o represent_v it_o yet_o there_o be_v another_o thing_n still_o that_o all_o even_o the_o best_a of_o we_o have_v reason_n to_o be_v sensible_a of_o and_o to_o mourn_v for_o as_o that_o which_o of_o itself_o be_v sufficient_a to_o bring_v destruction_n upon_o we_o and_o that_o be_v our_o ingratitude_n to_o god_n for_o his_o many_o mercy_n and_o deliverance_n and_o our_o unprofitableness_n under_o those_o mean_n of_o grace_n that_o he_o have_v be_v please_v so_o long_o to_o afford_v we_o i_o can_v call_v this_o a_o particular_a sin_n it_o be_v if_o you_o will_v a_o aggravation_n of_o all_o the_o rest_n or_o all_o of_o they_o sum_v up_o together_o however_o i_o give_v it_o a_o particular_a consideration_n because_o it_o be_v a_o thing_n that_o god_n have_v set_v a_o mark_n upon_o and_o have_v so_o far_o declare_v his_o displeasure_n against_o it_o that_o he_o have_v determine_v it_o a_o just_a cause_n to_o un-people_n or_o un-church_n a_o nation_n our_o saviour_n tell_v we_o that_o when_o a_o certain_a man_n have_v plant_v a_o figtree_n in_o his_o vineyard_n and_o come_v and_o seek_v fruit_n thereon_o and_o find_v none_o he_o say_v unto_o the_o dresser_n of_o his_o vineyard_n 6._o behold_v these_o three_o year_n i_o come_v seek_v fruit_n on_o this_o figtree_n and_o find_v none_o cut_v it_o down_o it_o why_o do_v it_o cumber_v the_o ground_n let_v we_o apply_v this_o parable_n to_o ourselves_o as_o certain_o the_o reason_n of_o it_o will_v sufficient_o prompt_v we_o be_v ever_o figtree_n or_o vineyard_n more_o curious_o plant_v more_o careful_o dress_v more_o rich_o manure_v more_o secure_o fence_v from_o the_o outrage_n of_o beast_n of_o prey_n than_o our_o figtree_n our_o vineyard_n the_o church_n of_o england_n for_o of_o a_o church_n this_o parable_n be_v necessary_o to_o be_v understand_v be_v there_o any_o one_o of_o the_o protestant_a church_n in_o europe_n that_o have_v be_v so_o regular_o reform_v that_o in_o the_o first_o constitution_n of_o it_o be_v establish_v upon_o principle_n so_o justifiable_a so_o agreeable_a with_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n and_o christianity_n and_o the_o civil_a right_n of_o the_o kingdom_n as_o this_o church_n of_o england_n be_v be_v there_o any_o protestant_a church_n in_o europe_n who_o article_n of_o faith_n who_o discipline_n who_o manner_n and_o rite_n of_o worship_n be_v more_o correspondent_a to_o ancient_a tradition_n and_o catholic_n doctrine_n and_o
a_o sermon_n preach_v on_o the_o day_n of_o the_o public_a fast_a april_n the_o 11_o the_o 1679._o at_o st._n margaret_n westminster_n before_o the_o honourable_a house_n of_o commons_o by_o john_n sharp_a rector_n of_o st._n giles_n in_o the_o field_n and_o chaplain_n to_o the_o right_n honourable_a heneage_n lord_n finch_n lord_n high_a chancellor_n of_o england_n publish_a by_o order_n of_o the_o house_n london_n print_v by_o m._n c._n for_o walter_n kettilby_n at_o the_o bishop_n head_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1679._o a_o sermon_n on_o revel_v two_o 5._o i_o will_v come_v unto_o thou_o quick_o and_o will_v remove_v thy_o candlestick_n out_o of_o his_o place_n except_o thou_o repent_v we_o be_v this_o day_n meet_v together_o to_o humble_v ourselves_o for_o our_o sin_n before_o god_n and_o to_o implore_v his_o mercy_n to_o this_o nation_n in_o the_o preserve_v our_o king_n our_o law_n our_o religion_n and_o our_o life_n and_o in_o bless_v the_o present_a public_a counsel_n in_o order_n thereunto_o and_o never_o be_v a_o work_n of_o this_o nature_n more_o seasonable_a or_o more_o necessary_a than_o at_o this_o time_n and_o to_o we_o of_o this_o kingdom_n for_o as_o our_o sin_n be_v never_o great_a never_o cry_v loud_o to_o heaven_n for_o vengeance_n so_o the_o judgement_n they_o deserve_v do_v never_o more_o visible_o threaten_v we_o than_o they_o do_v at_o this_o day_n insomuch_o that_o if_o our_o circumstance_n be_v due_o consider_v we_o may_v have_v just_a reason_n to_o apprehend_v that_o our_o saviour_n in_o the_o way_n of_o his_o providence_n do_v now_o speak_v to_o the_o people_n and_o church_n of_o england_n the_o same_o word_n that_o he_o order_v st._n john_n by_o the_o way_n of_o letter_n to_o speak_v to_o the_o church_n of_o ephesus_n remember_v from_o whence_o thou_o be_v fall_v and_o repent_v and_o do_v the_o first_o work_n or_o else_o i_o will_v come_v unto_o thou_o quick_o and_o will_v remove_v thy_o candlestick_n out_o of_o his_o place_n except_o thou_o repent_v this_o church_n of_o ephesus_n as_o also_o the_o other_o six_o church_n of_o asia_n to_o each_o of_o which_o st._n john_n by_o the_o command_n of_o our_o saviour_n do_v here_o address_v a_o several_a epistle_n be_v at_o the_o time_n when_o these_o letter_n be_v dictate_v very_a flourish_a church_n favour_v as_o much_o with_o the_o especial_a presence_n and_o influence_n of_o christ_n as_o ever_o any_o church_n be_v this_o appear_v from_o the_o preface_n to_o this_o epistle_n in_o the_o first_o verse_n of_o this_o chapter_n wherein_o christ_n the_o author_n of_o the_o epistle_n be_v describe_v as_o hold_v the_o seven_o star_n in_o his_o right_a hand_n and_o walk_v in_o the_o midst_n of_o the_o seven_o golden_a candlestick_n the_o seven_o star_n be_v the_o angel_n of_o the_o seven_o church_n as_o he_o himself_o interpret_v they_o 20._o that_o be_v according_a to_o the_o sense_n of_o all_o antiquity_n the_o bishop_n the_o precedent_n the_o governor_n of_o those_o church_n his_o hold_v they_o in_o his_o hand_n be_v his_o support_v and_o direct_v they_o for_o the_o good_a of_o the_o people_n the_o seven_o golden_a candlestick_n in_o the_o midst_n of_o which_o he_o walk_v ibid._n be_v as_o he_o himself_o likewise_o expound_v they_o the_o seven_o church_n themselves_o as_o be_v the_o place_n where_o those_o star_n those_o light_n do_v shine_v and_o his_o walk_n among_o those_o candlestick_n be_v his_o presence_n in_o those_o church_n encourage_v or_o reprove_v reward_v or_o punish_v the_o member_n of_o they_o as_o there_o be_v cause_n have_v the_o power_n in_o his_o hand_n either_o to_o continue_v those_o light_n among_o they_o or_o to_o remove_v they_o to_o another_o place_n i_o insist_v on_o the_o explication_n of_o this_o passage_n because_o it_o let_v we_o in_o to_o the_o meaning_n of_o the_o phrase_n that_o we_o meet_v with_o in_o the_o text_n of_o remove_v the_o candlestick_n out_o of_o its_o place_n which_o from_o hence_o we_o plain_o see_v to_o be_v the_o un-churching_a any_o people_n the_o withdraw_a the_o light_n of_o the_o gospel_n from_o they_o well_o but_o this_o church_n of_o ephesus_n to_o which_o the_o epistle_n i_o be_o now_o concern_v in_o be_v write_v how_o much_o soever_o christ_n have_v do_v for_o they_o have_v it_o seem_v make_v but_o a_o bad_a requital_n of_o his_o kindness_n 3._o at_o first_o indeed_o they_o have_v walk_v very_o worthy_o and_o be_v much_o commend_v by_o our_o saviour_n for_o their_o zeal_n and_o piety_n and_o labour_n in_o religion_n but_o now_o they_o be_v fall_v to_o a_o great_a degree_n of_o negligence_n and_o remissness_n it_o be_v true_a they_o at_o this_o time_n continue_v orthodox_n in_o their_o doctrine_n and_o opinion_n they_o do_v both_o know_v and_o profess_v the_o true_a religion_n and_o be_v zealous_a against_o false_a doctrine_n which_o also_o our_o saviour_n take_v notice_n of_o and_o commend_v they_o for_o this_o 6._o say_v he_o thou_o have_v that_o thou_o hate_v the_o deed_n of_o the_o nicolaitan_n which_o i_o also_o hate_n but_o yet_o notwithstanding_o so_o offend_v be_v he_o with_o the_o loss_n of_o their_o first_o love_n the_o decay_n of_o devotion_n and_o charity_n among_o they_o that_o he_o threaten_v they_o solemn_o in_o the_o text_n that_o if_o they_o do_v not_o repent_v and_o do_v the_o first_o work_n he_o will_v remove_v their_o candlestick_n out_o of_o its_o place_n that_o be_v as_o i_o say_v he_o will_v withdraw_v from_o they_o his_o presence_n and_o the_o light_n of_o his_o gospel_n this_o be_v a_o brief_a account_n of_o my_o text_n as_o to_o the_o first_o design_n and_o literal_a meaning_n of_o it_o that_o be_v as_o it_o concern_v the_o church_n of_o ephesus_n i_o now_o desire_v leave_v to_o make_v such_o application_n of_o it_o to_o ourselves_o as_o may_v be_v subservient_fw-fr to_o the_o end_v design_v in_o the_o solemnity_n of_o this_o day_n and_o we_o have_v warrant_n enough_o to_o make_v such_o a_o application_n for_o let_v we_o not_o flatter_v ourselves_o what_o be_v here_o reprove_v and_o what_o be_v here_o threaten_v have_v not_o such_o a_o peculiar_a respect_n to_o the_o particular_a church_n of_o ephesus_n but_o that_o it_o do_v equal_o concern_v all_o church_n so_o far_o as_o they_o fall_v under_o the_o same_o character_n which_o whether_o we_o at_o this_o day_n day_n do_v or_o no_o it_o be_v fit_a we_o shall_v serious_o examine_v ourselves_o about_o here_o be_v three_o thing_n considerable_a in_o the_o text._n first_o a_o great_a sin_n and_o gild_n suppose_v second_o a_o great_a judgement_n denounce_v for_o that_o gild_n no_o less_o than_o the_o un-churching_a of_o that_o people_n that_o have_v contract_v it_o three_o the_o mean_v prescribe_v for_o the_o avert_v that_o judgement_n viz._n repentance_n my_o application_n of_o the_o text_n shall_v proceed_v upon_o the_o same_o head_n that_o be_v i_o shall_v first_o desire_v leave_n to_o inquire_v whether_o we_o of_o this_o nation_n at_o this_o day_n for_o our_o manifold_a sin_n and_o guilt_n may_v not_o be_v judge_v to_o be_v in_o as_o bad_a or_o worse_a circumstance_n than_o the_o church_n of_o ephesus_n in_o the_o text_n and_o consequent_o have_v not_o just_a reason_n to_o fear_v the_o same_o judgement_n that_o they_o be_v here_o threaten_v with_o second_o i_o shall_v consider_v the_o judgement_n here_o threaten_v how_o grievous_a a_o one_o it_o be_v and_o consequent_o how_o great_a a_o argument_n the_o consideration_n of_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v to_o we_o all_o to_o repent_v three_o i_o shall_v speak_v something_o of_o this_o repentance_n how_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v express_v if_o we_o will_v thereby_o prevent_v the_o judgement_n i_o begin_v with_o the_o first_o of_o these_o point_n which_o concern_v our_o sin_n and_o our_o guilt_n to_o make_v some_o representation_n of_o the_o spiritual_a malady_n and_o disease_n that_o this_o nation_n groan_v under_o those_o public_a grievance_n by_o which_o the_o holy_a spirit_n of_o god_n be_v provoke_v to_o withdraw_v himself_o from_o we_o and_o to_o give_v we_o up_o to_o the_o power_n and_o dominion_n of_o other_o master_n this_o i_o must_v confess_v be_v a_o very_a melancholy_n and_o unpleasing_a argument_n but_o yet_o very_o necessary_a to_o be_v insist_v on_o and_o that_o very_o free_o too_o especial_o upon_o such_o a_o occasion_n as_o this_o and_o most_o of_o all_o when_o i_o speak_v to_o those_o who_o concernment_n and_o who_o care_n it_o be_v to_o inspect_v these_o matter_n and_o from_o who_o we_o hope_v for_o a_o cure_n of_o our_o distemper_n it_o be_v here_o take_v notice_n of_o the_o church_n of_o ephesus_n to_o her_o commendation_n that_o she_o retain_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o christian_a doctrine_n in_o opposition_n to_o the_o heresy_n of_o those_o time_n and_o this_o god_n be_v thank_v may_v be_v
practice_n be_v there_o any_o protestant_a church_n in_o europe_n wherein_o the_o word_n of_o god_n have_v be_v teach_v more_o sincere_o and_o more_o to_o the_o edification_n of_o the_o people_n than_o among_o we_o be_v there_o any_o protestant_a church_n that_o have_v more_o comfortable_o live_v under_o their_o own_o vine_n and_o their_o own_o figtree_n have_v more_o free_o enjoy_v all_o the_o benefit_n and_o privilege_n that_o either_o religion_n or_o their_o birthright_n can_v entitle_v they_o to_o than_o we_o have_v do_v be_v there_o any_o protestant_a church_n that_o have_v be_v preserve_v so_o miraculous_o that_o have_v receive_v so_o many_o wonderful_a deliverance_n from_o enemy_n of_o all_o sort_n enemy_n of_o the_o hill_n and_o of_o the_o valley_n and_o yet_o notwithstanding_o all_o notwithstanding_o the_o contrivance_n of_o false_a brethren_n within_o ourselves_o and_o the_o assault_n of_o the_o public_a adversary_n abroad_o do_v still_o not_o only_o continue_v in_o be_v 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